The National Youth Training Camp Facility.
Although Karasuno lost to Aoba Johsai in the qualifiers, Tobio Kageyama, just like in the original story, was still recognized by the national team coaches for his immense talent and received an invitation to the youth camp.
"Hey~~ I heard you guys beat Shiratorizawa in the qualifiers? How did you manage that? Was Ushijima just having an off day?"
It was lunchtime. Kageyama was quietly eating in the cafeteria when a tall, gloomy-looking guy wearing a face mask suddenly walked over and bombarded him with questions.
Kageyama fell silent for a moment, then replied, "No, from what I could tell, Ushijima was in good form that day."
"Then how? What did you guys do? Did someone manage to shut Ushijima down on the net? And if you beat Shiratorizawa, how did you end up losing to Aoba Johsai afterward?"
The man in the mask was none other than Sakusa Kiyoomi.
Hearing that Ushijima had been knocked out of Nationals again, and this time, not even by Aoba Johsai, Sakusa was visibly agitated.
"Shut down Ushijima-senpai on the net?"
Kageyama thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Doesn't seem like it. We probably beat Shiratorizawa just because, overall, our team was stronger. And we lost to Aoba Johsai for the same reason, because their team was stronger. That's all."
As always, Kageyama's words were blunt and straightforward.
"Ahh, sorry about that," a voice chimed in with an apologetic tone. From behind Sakusa stepped out another player, his eyebrows like two ink dots, Motoya Komori.
"That's just how he is. He gets a little obsessed with anyone he thinks might be a threat to him."
Then Komori asked curiously, "By the way, isn't that Akashi guy from the same prefecture as you? Since you got invited to the youth camp, why didn't he?"
"I'm not sure about that," Kageyama said with a shake of his head.
In fact, he had been wondering the same thing. He had half-expected a rematch against Akashi Asuka at the camp, but after arriving, he hadn't seen Asuka anywhere.
They were both first-years.
The idea that Kageyama had been invited but Akashi hadn't? He found that hard to believe.
"Akashi turned down the youth camp invitation," Sakusa suddenly interjected.
"Huh? He turned it down?"
Komori and Kageyama both froze at the revelation, and even the players at nearby tables couldn't help but look up in surprise.
It seemed like none of them had ever considered that someone might actually refuse an invitation from the National Youth Training Camp.
"Why?" Komori asked, clearly baffled.
"He said he had other things to do. And anyway, the youth camp isn't mandatory, is it? What's so strange about saying no?" Sakusa replied coolly.
"Still…"
Komori was speechless.
He wanted to say, That has nothing to do with whether it's mandatory! I mean, they were high schoolers, who in their right mind would turn down a chance to train with the national team?
"Wait a second!"
Komori suddenly caught something odd. "Sakusa, don't you usually hate talking to people? How come you know so much about Akashi-kun? Even Kageyama, who's from the same prefecture, didn't know this."
The truth was, during that summer night at the beach, Sakusa had not only gotten Akashi Asuka's autograph, he also managed to add him on social media.
Over the past few days, Sakusa and Akashi had been messaging frequently.
Mostly because Sakusa had been pestering him to update his fanfiction.
As for the youth camp thing, Akashi had just casually mentioned it in passing during one of their chats.
A guy adding another guy on social media?
What's wrong with that?
Absolutely nothing.
But for some reason, when faced with Komori's questioning gaze, Sakusa felt a strange pang of guilt.
"…I've got stuff to do. Later." With that, Sakusa quickly turned and strode out of the cafeteria.
"Hey! Wait, Sakusa! You still haven't told me how you found out! Come back!"
Komori chased after him in a panic.
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Once the two of them were gone...
Kageyama's lunch companion, Chigaya Eikichi, a middle blocker from Shinzen High, finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Whew~~ That guy's intense. The pressure from all these monsters is unreal. Say, Kageyama, isn't your prefecture's qualifier a bit too insane? Even a powerhouse like Shiratorizawa only got third place this year?"
Chigaya had thought the competition in Saitama was brutal, they'd fought their way to the finals, only to lose in five grueling sets. That had been devastating enough.
But for Miyagi Prefecture to be so competitive that a team with Ushijima Wakatoshi ended up in third place?
That was just... unreal.
"Second, third, doesn't matter," Kageyama said calmly. "If you don't make it to Nationals, none of it means anything."
Chigaya sighed and nodded. "You've got a point. If you don't make it to the national stage, the rest is just empty talk."
At the youth camp, Akashi Asuka's rejection had sparked a wave of speculation and buzz.
But meanwhile, the protagonist himself,
Akashi had already led Aoba Johsai to Sendai City's Third Gymnasium.
Located in a quieter part of town, the Third Gymnasium was much smaller than the First or Second. Fewer people usually came here to train.
Today, however, it was practically empty, because the entire volleyball court had been rented out by a single team.
"Long time no see, Oda!" When Akashi and the others arrived, Ryuhei Sanashita greeted Miki Oda with a wide grin.
"We saw each other just a week ago. And let's not forget how badly you crushed us, don't tell me you already forgot," Oda replied with a helpless expression.
"Well, whatever. My brother's team has already started warming up. You guys should get ready too."
"Roger that!"
Sanashita led the group into the gym, with Akashi and Nobuteru Irihata following behind Oda to meet her brother.
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In the locker room, Aoba Johsai's players were buzzing with excitement as they changed into their uniforms.
"Ahhh~~ We're really playing against pro athletes. I'm getting nervous just thinking about it. By the way, where's the restroom? I need to pee before we start."
"Exit and turn right. Don't screw this up, you dumbass Oikawa. If you choke out there, I will beat you up."
"Relax, Iwa-chan. I would never embarrass Aoba Johsai."
Oikawa Tooru hummed a cheerful tune as he left the locker room, heading toward the restroom.
But just as he turned the corner,
Wham!
A head of bright orange hair collided straight into Oikawa's chest.
"Ah? Huh?!"
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria