"Ah! It's my turn!"
Daichi, who had been standing off to the side, immediately stepped forward when he saw Sugawara finish writing. He leaned on the table with his elbows, thinking about what to write.
"Hurry up, Daichi! Takeda-sensei will be back any second!"
Sugawara slapped his shoulder with a loud, crisp smack.
Daichi rubbed his shoulder, completely unfazed. "I know, I know. Let me think. Stop rushing me."
Daichi let out a sigh. Sugawara was really getting more and more violent these days.
"Dear Ennoshita,
I'm Daichi Sawamura, the current captain of Karasuno. I've been hinting for a long time that you'll be the next captain, but for some reason, you've never acknowledged it.
I want to say that you've done an excellent job in everything. There are things I might not handle well, yet you've managed them perfectly. Being captain doesn't require you to shine the brightest, but you need to be the pillar everyone relies on. You have to pay attention to each person, to their actions and their emotions.
Honestly, I wasn't a qualified captain. When I became a third-year, the former captain suddenly handed the position to me. I wasn't prepared at all. Back then, Karasuno couldn't even schedule a single practice match. I didn't know how to do anything.
Compared to me, Ennoshita, you're much more fortunate. I'll pass on everything I've learned in this role to you, little by little.
Ennoshita, you are the next captain. No one else can take on this responsibility."
Daichi filled an entire page. Sugawara, standing nearby, was dying of curiosity, but Daichi covered the paper so he couldn't see it. Sugawara was so frustrated he was practically clawing at himself.
"Huh? Who wrote this one?"
Nishinoya picked up a sheet of paper that had fallen on the ground.
"Ah! That looks like Kinoshita-senpai's. He wrote his earlier than us!" Hinata said, tapping his palm.
"Oh, then let's read it together."
Nishinoya's mischievous side kicked in again.
"Nishinoya, that's not very nice," Sugawara said seriously, leaning over.
"You want to read it too, Sugawara-senpai."
"Hehe." Sugawara grinned, not denying it at all.
The three of them huddled together, whispering as they read what Kinoshita had written.
"Dear Ennoshita,
This is Kinoshita. As a second-year just like you, I'm completely ordinary. You can comfort others and lead by example, but I can only stay in the back as a substitute. I used to feel pretty jealous of you.
I know you've always been hung up on that summer with Coach Ukai. But that wasn't your fault. Anyone would have done the same. It's human nature to seek comfort and avoid hardship. Don't take all the blame on yourself. You've already made up for it in so many ways. No one is perfect.
I hope that from now on, you can face things openly and stop being tormented by guilt that doesn't belong to you."
Kinoshita's face turned bright red as he heard Kuiya reading his words aloud. It felt like public execution.
Ennoshita couldn't hold it in any longer. Tears slipped through his fingers as he choked on sobs, refusing to lift his head. The usually steady and composed him was now crying like a child in front of everyone.
Ennoshita had always been someone who struggled internally. Every time he thought about that wasted summer, that precious opportunity, the renowned Coach Ukai, and how everyone else had trained so hard, it weighed on him.
Meanwhile, he had stayed in his air-conditioned room, reading manga and eating watermelon. By the time he realized it, the opportunity was already gone.
"Thank you… thank you, everyone…"
He lifted his head, eyes red and voice thick with emotion. He had never imagined that everyone had so much they wanted to say to him. He was deeply moved.
Kuiya was very satisfied with what he saw. This contrast was exactly what audiences loved. The steady person becoming vulnerable, the timid becoming brave. These were the real highlights. He looked at Ennoshita as if he were something precious.
"Is there anything else you'd like to say to everyone?"
Ennoshita took the tissue handed to him, wiped his tears, and slowly calmed himself before answering.
"I really… thank you all for your encouragement. Ever since I chose volleyball, I've known that I'm just an ordinary person.
No talent. No perseverance.
But thankfully, I met all of you. I know it. Every day, in your own ways, you've been telling me that I'm good enough. Daichi-senpai's praise, Hinata's shining eyes, Kageyama's awkward thanks…
From now on, I'll keep standing behind everyone, just like I always have."
As he spoke, tears welled up again. It was like some switch had been flipped. Once he started, he couldn't stop.
Kuiya ended the interview at that point, giving Ennoshita time to compose himself. Then he wandered off to chat with Takeda-sensei.
Kuiya casually draped an arm over Takeda's shoulder and started talking about Karasuno's players. Takeda responded enthusiastically, answering everything. He really liked people like Kuiya. No matter what you said, Kuiya would always respond, and he could talk about anything.
Takeda himself was quite talkative, so he naturally warmed to someone like Kuiya.
"Tsk."
Ukai clicked his tongue loudly for no apparent reason, startling Kinoshita nearby, who thought the coach was annoyed at him.
"Kinoshita."
Ennoshita walked over after calming down.
Kinoshita took a big step back, face red, waving his hands.
"Don't say anything emotional, okay? That's way too cheesy. Say it to someone else, not me."
Ennoshita smiled and stepped forward, pulling him into a hug.
"Ugh!"
Kinoshita froze, completely caught off guard. It happened so suddenly he didn't even know where to put his hands.
"I won't say it out loud. It's all in this hug."
Ennoshita let go with a smile, then went to help Kuiya collect the papers, leaving Kinoshita standing there in a daze.
...
After everything was cleaned up, it was time for Kinoshita's interview.
Everyone was enthusiastic. Kinoshita because it was his first time and it felt fun, and the staff because they were close to getting off work and eager to finish.
Kinoshita sat in the interview chair, touching here and there, looking around with curiosity. In reality, it was just a normal chair.
Takeda and the others didn't find it embarrassing. It was everyone's first interview, so being a little excited was understandable.
"Kinoshita-kun, the interview is starting."
Kuiya signaled for him to settle down and look at the camera, then began the final segment.
"Kinoshita-kun, in your second year, and even within Karasuno as a whole, you don't seem to stand out much. What do you think about that?"
A direct hit right from the start.
Kinoshita froze for a moment, then quickly recovered, lifting his head with a carefree smile.
"I don't really think anything about it. That's just how it is. I don't have the talent of the first-years, the persistence of the other second-years, or the composure of the upperclassmen. It's normal."
Liar.
Ennoshita glanced back. Kinoshita's hands were unconsciously twisting together. He always did that when he lied. And the disappointment on his face was way too obvious.
He wasn't even trying to hide it properly.
Of course, Kuiya didn't believe him either.
"But Nishinoya told me privately that you're his hero."
"Really?!"
Kinoshita shot up from his chair. If they weren't in the middle of an interview, he probably would have rushed right up to Kuiya.
"Yes. You're the hero of Karasuno's Guardian Deity. When Nishinoya was struggling, you saved a ball he couldn't receive. That meant a lot to him."
"Hahaha, no way, no way. Come on, don't say that…"
Kinoshita blushed, though his expression turned a little smug.
"So, can you tell me your real thoughts now?" Kuiya pressed.
The slightly awkward atmosphere instantly became relaxed. Kinoshita answered more openly now.
"Of course I feel a little down. That's just how it is. I'm not them, after all. But being able to help everyone even a little makes me really happy."
He was clearly thrilled about helping Nishinoya, smiling like a child.
"Now that your peers have all become so strong, does that make you feel bad?"
"Not at all. They've become excellent, but they've paid a lot for it. I've always been like this because this is my limit. I just can't go any further."
Now that everything was out in the open, Kinoshita answered whatever was asked without hesitation.
"After this tournament, now that you've recognized your own ordinariness, what do you think about your future?"
"The future…"
Kinoshita rubbed his chin.
"The future is still far away. It only really starts after I graduate. By then, I want to become a tour guide and travel the world watching matches.
That doesn't mean I'm giving up volleyball. Everyone expresses their love for it differently. I hope I'll become that kind of person."
Seeing the time, Kuiya quickly asked the final question.
"Is there anything you'd like to say to everyone who has supported you?"
Kinoshita's eyes lit up.
"That's such a cool question."
He thought for a moment about how to answer.
"Thank you all for staying with us all this time. Karasuno has officially spread its wings. Everyone, please look forward to what we'll do next. We won't let you down.
If you have the time, come watch Karasuno's matches with your family."
Without realizing it, Kinoshita had just brought Karasuno a new wave of supporters. In a way, he had made a big contribution.
"Alright!"
Kuiya stood up and let out a relieved sigh. Finally done.
"Thank you, Kinoshita-kun, for your cooperation, and thank you to everyone at Karasuno. I hope we can meet again at the next Spring High. Everyone, see you…"
"Wait!"
Ukai stood up.
Kuiya looked puzzled. Wasn't he usually quiet? What was this about?
Under everyone's curious gazes, Ukai put an arm around Kuiya and led him outside, whispering something.
"Mr. Kuiya, since you're already off late, why not stay a bit longer?"
Kuiya blinked. So this is the quiet type? Turns out he's the kind who asks for overtime.
"Why not interview Takeda-sensei as well? The kids all have questions for him. They've even prepared materials."
Kuiya hesitated, but he was tempted. Takeda clearly had interesting stories worth covering.
"I'll go talk to the staff…"
In the end, Kuiya decided to stay and went to negotiate.
Surprisingly, the staff agreed immediately, completely unlike their usual eagerness to leave on time.
Kuiya walked off, confused.
The reason was simple. Takeda-sensei treated everyone with genuine respect. Since arriving at Karasuno, he had personally handled many things. Pouring water, turning on the AC, handing out snacks, chatting with everyone. He never acted superior.
Unlike some others from smaller schools in Miyagi who lacked ability but carried themselves arrogantly, looking down on others.
Meanwhile, bigger schools at least made people feel comfortable.
Everyone had a great impression of Takeda-sensei, so when they heard he would be interviewed, they agreed without hesitation.
"Takeda-sensei, sorry, but we'll need you to work a bit longer with us."
Kuiya walked over to him.
"Oh, okay. I'll go get you some water," Takeda nodded.
Kuiya couldn't help but laugh. Now he understood why no one was complaining. Being respected felt good.
"I mean, could you please cooperate with our interview?"
"Hmm… Huh? Me?"
Takeda looked up, confused. His gentle face behind round glasses made him look a bit dazed.
"Yes. We hope you can give us this opportunity."
"But…"
"Come on, Takeda-sensei, just do it!"
"Yeah!"
Nishinoya and Tanaka, who had been eavesdropping, suddenly rushed over and pushed him into the interview chair.
Takeda looked helpless, unsure what was happening. He glanced at Ukai, hoping for help.
Ukai paused, then deliberately looked away.
Kinoshita and Ennoshita stood nearby, smiling expectantly.
At that point, Takeda understood. Everyone wanted him to do this.
He nodded, both helpless and touched.
"Whoa! Takeda-sensei agreed! Everyone, come quick!"
Tanaka shouted down the hallway, and Daichi and the others poked their heads out.
The sound reached the lounge, and everyone laughed.
"Really?" Daichi looked surprised.
"Hey, Daichi, stop talking. Just listen. Don't close the door!"
Sugawara called out to Hinata.
Hinata tilted his head innocently.
"But if we don't close the door, then it's not eavesdropping."
"......…"
"Hah, the shorty actually has a point," Tsukishima mocked.
"Right? Right?"
"......…"
...
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