Ryosuke woke up at six in the morning, bright and energetic, completely unaware of the storm that had blown through the night before.
Keigo packed Ryosuke's luggage while nagging nonstop. "Once you're back, no running around. Train when you're supposed to train. Take care of your health. Message me every day. Coach Washijō sends me updates about you daily.
And don't even think about sneaking off to mess around."
His tone turned serious at the last sentence.
Ryosuke pouted. "Don't even think about sneaking off to mess around~" he mimicked in a singsong, dripping with sarcasm.
Keigo smiled through gritted teeth. He couldn't hit him—this was his own kid. What if he knocked him stupid?
Seeing Keigo's dark expression, Ryosuke immediately chickened out.
He hummed and clung to Keigo's arm. "Okay, okay, I got it. Why do you worry so much? Relax. I'll train properly."
With a sour look on his face, Keigo escorted him out the door.
Sitting in the car, Ryosuke rolled down the window and waved. "I'm off, big bro! I'll miss you!!"
His smile was dazzling and carefree.
Keigo gave a small nod and watched as the car slowly drove away.
Matsukawa had been sent by Keigo to drive Ryosuke. The moment the car disappeared from view, Keigo went to change his clothes and headed out himself.
Killing intent practically radiated off him. Kid, let's see what kind of monster you are.
Sakusa—danger.
The night before, Mr. Sakusa had just finished negotiating a business deal and was enjoying a massage in a VIP suite when his precious son stabbed him in the back without warning.
Staring at the incoming call, Mr. Sakusa answered with a headache already forming. "What is it, son?"
Upholding the fine tradition of getting straight to the point, Sakusa opened with a bombshell.
"I accidentally left a mark on Keigo's younger brother's neck. There was a mosquito bite, and I twisted it with my hand. Keigo probably saw it by now."
Sakusa paused briefly.
"That mark looks a little ambiguous."
Honesty above all—that was Sakusa's style.
Mr. Sakusa's hand jerked, nearly dropping the phone. After several deep breaths, he exploded in fury.
"You little brat! Now you remember to call me? Where were you earlier?! Just wait right there—I'm coming back immediately. Stay at home and don't move…
I'll call and explain first, but that excuse sounds fake the moment you say it. Do you think he'll believe you? You idiot, are you trying to kill me? That kid treasures his little brother like he's made of gold. This is infuriating!"
He was clearly beyond angry.
Only then did Sakusa feel slightly relieved… Why was he so worried about what Keigo might do? Mainly because Keigo was a full-blown brother-con, and he controlled a massive portion of Tokyo's upper-class wealth.
Of everyone raised in that wolf's den of a household—the Hanyu family—Ryosuke was the only one who came out still a little white flower.
Keigo, on the other hand, was a little lunatic. At such a young age, he had single-handedly stabilized the Hanyu family. The heads of other conglomerates never dared challenge him just because he was young.
The Sakusa family was also considered a prestigious household in Tokyo and had always maintained decent relations with the Hanyu family. But trying to take Keigo's precious little brother home? In the past decade, only Kiyoomi Sakusa had dared to attempt it.
Almost the moment Ryosuke left, Keigo headed straight for Itachiyama.
What would happen in Tokyo next remained unknown. Whatever unfolded had nothing to do with a certain Ryosuke—carefree, heartless, and a bit of an idiot.
Meanwhile, Ryosuke was already on his way back to Miyagi.
Time was tight. Since he'd stayed overnight, he had to make it back to school before class started.
The car was driven at near life-or-death speed.
He barely made it into the classroom at the exact second the bell rang.
Catching his breath, Ryosuke set down his backpack and finally relaxed.
After second period, Goshiki and Ryosuke headed to the gym together. It was the volleyball club's routine—every Monday after second period, the whole team gathered for a meeting.
"Ryosuke, how was your weekend? I didn't see you come to practice."
After two days apart, Goshiki's clinginess seemed to have leveled up. He stood on tiptoe and slung an arm around Ryosuke's shoulders.
Tilting his head, he asked, "Ryosuke… why do I feel like you're taller than me now??"
"Really??" Ryosuke turned to compare heights. "Feels like I did grow a little… Did I get taller again??"
"After the meeting, you two grab Yunohama and go to the team doctor for a checkup."
That familiar, concerned tone could only belong to Reon.
The two turned around. "Reon-senpai!"
Reon nodded. Ah, the kid had grown taller. There was an oddly paternal satisfaction on his face.
The three of them walked into the gym and found that most people were already there.
Semi and Tendō were arguing.
"I saw Semi out on the street yesterday—with his girlfriend. But seriously, his casual clothes are so ugly."
"Huh?? Tendō, are you asking for a fight?!"
"Yohohohoho—" Tendō's bizarre laughter rang out.
"But your casual clothes really are ugly," Shirabu added expressionlessly as he passed by.
"Hey! You two!!"
The moment Tendō spotted Ryosuke, he abandoned Semi and threw himself onto Ryosuke instead, resting his chin on top of his head and gripping his shoulders as he swayed him back and forth.
"Little Ryosuke didn't text me all weekend. Tendō-senpai is heartbroken, waaaah—"
"Tendō-senpai, are you a pervert? Please don't touch my waist!"
Ryosuke was long immune to Tendō's fake crying.
Tendō suddenly pinched him hard.
"Senpai!" Ryosuke yelped—this time it genuinely hurt.
Tendō immediately let go. "Sorry, Little Ryosuke. Did I pinch too hard?"
Ryosuke's face darkened. "It's fine, senpai. Just don't use that much strength next time."
Tendō smiled and nodded, hiding the gloom in his eyes. Behind his back, his fingers were already cracking audibly.
That mark was an outright provocation. Who did it… It had to be that fake goody-two-shoes Sakusa.
His eyes churned with emotion as he stared at Ryosuke. Little Ryosuke… aren't you my kitten anymore…
A chill ran down Ryosuke's spine. That sensation of being watched crept up again. He looked around nervously, like a cat with its fur standing on end.
His danger radar really was sharp.
Tendō fell silent, though no one knew what calculations were brewing in his mind.
Kawanishi clicked his tongue quietly, lamenting that Ryosuke had been targeted by a predator lying in wait.
A moment later, Coach Washijō entered with the advisor.
The first thing he did upon stepping inside was glare fiercely at Ryosuke, condemning someone's shameless behavior of staying out all night.
Ryosuke shrank his neck and darted behind Ushijima. Only Ushijima-senpai's broad back could give him a sense of security.
Ushijima glanced at the inexplicably guilty-looking Ryosuke and instinctively straightened, blocking Coach Washijō's line of sight.
Coach Washijō snorted but didn't say anything in the end.
The advisor pinned a sheet to the small blackboard.
Coach Washijō scanned the room and spoke slowly. "IH is one week away. Up next is the prefectural tournament.
Last year, Shiratorizawa won the prefectural tournament, so we have a bye in the first round this year.
The format is single elimination. Forty outstanding teams from Miyagi Prefecture will be divided into eight groups of five. The tournament lasts three days.
Groups will be decided by lottery. Tomorrow, Ushijima and I will go draw lots. Let's hope this year isn't like last year."
The moment he finished, everyone except the three first-years turned to look at Ushijima. He stiffly turned his head away, pretending not to notice.
Goshiki blinked in confusion and asked Reon, "Reon-senpai, why is everyone staring at Ushijima-senpai?"
Reon snorted. "Thanks to your captain, last year we drew straight into the group of death. We faced Aobajosai, Date Tech, and Wakutani in the group stage—basically eliminated each other internally. Then the quarterfinals right after. Three straight days—almost killed us."
Goshiki's eyes widened in shock.
Ryosuke, meanwhile, thought he could almost see grievance written across Ushijima's face. You can't really blame the captain for bad luck…
Even though it was all joking, Ryosuke felt a little sorry for him.
From behind, Shirabu said calmly, "No matter what, it can't be worse than last year. Relax."
Reon sighed. "True."
Coach Washijō cleared his throat.
"Alright. Train hard these next two days. Tomorrow's the draw. The day after and the day after that, you'll research your opponents. They're all old rivals. Don't embarrass yourselves. Understood?!"
His voice suddenly rose at the end.
"Yes!!"
The gym echoed with a unified response.
Coach Washijō nodded and headed for the door. Just before stepping out, he paused, hesitated, and turned back with a subtle expression.
"Hmm… Tomorrow's draw. Reon, you're coming too."
"Yes!" Reon responded, slightly bewildered at being singled out.
Once Coach Washijō left, Tendō burst out laughing and slapped Ushijima on the shoulder. "That was disgust, right? That look just now was total disgust!"
Ushijima calmly removed Tendō from his back. "It's fine if Reon draws. I don't want to be drained dry in the group stage."
"Oh ho~" Tendō teased.
Ryosuke and the others exchanged glances. Suddenly, Yunohama remembered something and turned to Ushijima.
"Captain, we still don't have our uniforms…"
Ushijima opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Yamagata slapped his forehead.
"Oh right, I almost forgot! Your uniforms are with the PE head teacher. I'll go get them now!"
He dashed out like a gust of wind.
Goshiki clenched his fists and howled, "I finally get a uniform too—!"
Yunohama and Ryosuke looked at each other, the same excitement shining in their eyes.
Receiving the official team uniform was the day every first-year had been waiting for.
Even Yunohama cheered quietly.
Kawanishi and Semi stepped forward to ruffle the trio's hair. "Congratulations! From now on, you'll carry the team forward and keep winning!"
Goshiki's bowl cut practically bounced as he nodded vigorously. "From now on, I'm the ace!"
"Hey, kid. We're still here, you know. Don't get cocky."
Reon put on a stern face. Goshiki knew he was just pretending and grinned fearlessly.
"Coming, coming—"
Yamagata's voice rang out from outside. He returned holding three packages.
"Let's see. This one's Ryosuke's. This one's Yunohama's. And this one's Goshiki's. Alright, go try them on."
He handed them out, hands on hips, nodding with satisfaction.
The three were glowing with joy as they went to change.
In the locker room, Ryosuke opened his package and blinked in surprise. "Huh? Is this a mistake? Why do I have two?"
Yunohama and Goshiki leaned over.
Inside were two jerseys—one white, one purple—both with a bold number 6 printed on them.
Yunohama adjusted his glasses. "Shouldn't be a mistake. Goshiki and I only have one. Yours looks like the one Yamagata-senpai usually wears."
Ryosuke nodded, half-understanding.
Goshiki hugged his jersey and rubbed it against his face excitedly. "I'm number eight! Yunohama's seven! Ryosuke's six! We're all lined up!"
"What are you so excited about…"
After changing, the three stepped out. Ryosuke was wearing the same uniform as the others.
Yamagata clapped. "Looking good, everyone!"
Reon and the others turned to look. Under the gym lights, in brand-new uniforms and brimming with youthful energy, they shone so brightly it was almost blinding. For a moment, it felt like looking at their own first-year selves again.
Holding the extra libero jersey, Ryosuke asked, "Yamagata-senpai… what about this one?"
Yamagata's eyes curved into a smile. "That's the libero jersey. Not sure if you'll wear it in matches this year, but Coach Washijō said that once I graduate, Shiratorizawa's floor defense will be yours."
He gave Ryosuke's shoulder a firm pat. Beneath the jersey, he could feel solid muscle. He couldn't help remembering how thin those shoulders had been when Ryosuke first enrolled.
He nodded, deeply satisfied.
Ryosuke tightened his grip on the jersey and looked up at him with determination. In that moment, senior and junior stood face-to-face—it felt exactly like an inheritance being passed down.
"Alright, back to class. Training resumes this afternoon," Reon said, shooing everyone out.
Back in the classroom, Ryosuke still couldn't calm down. He stared at the uniform tucked inside his desk for a long time.
Only then did he truly realize—
He was really about to step onto the court.
...
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