Ryosuke, having accomplished his mission, grinned and winked at Tsutomu Goshiki and Hinata, looking as smug as a cat that had just caught a mouse.
"See that, you two little idiots? Next time someone insults you, just act pitiful and report them. Don't waste time arguing. You'd be better off using that time to practice a few more balls."
Tsutomu Goshiki nodded thoughtfully. What Ryosuke did today opened a whole new door for him. From then on, Tsutomu Goshiki stepped onto a rather strange path with no turning back, and the way he spoke gradually took on a subtle, sarcastic tone. Of course, that is a story for later.
Hinata also looked at Ryosuke with admiration. How could Ryosuke be this amazing? His admiration for Ryosuke was now almost on the same level as his admiration for Udai.
"Let's go, Tsutomu Goshiki." Ryosuke gave Hinata a few more reminders before finally leaving when Reon and Ushijima called out to them.
Hinata quickly went to change his clothes. Since Coach Washijō told him to pick up balls, there had to be a reason. If he wanted to learn new skills here, he could only rely on his own observation.
But he still had to keep up with the basic training. He could not just focus on picking up balls.
The training schedule at the Golden Training Camp was similar to that of the National Youth Team, with only the coaches' arrangements differing. Coach Washijō had deliberately created a camp that closely resembled the National Youth Team to ensure these kids would not fall behind. Originally, it was meant to help his own players adapt.
Unexpectedly, the camp gradually became famous. Every year, countless people came here, all with the same thought. Since they could not make it to the National Youth Team, they could at least experience the intensity of its training.
"Everyone, ten laps!"
Ushijima and Reon led the group from the front, shouting.
Shiratorizawa's track was different from other schools. Most schools had 400-meter tracks, but Shiratorizawa's was 600 meters.
Futakuchi looked suspicious. "You guys are doing physical training this early in the morning?"
Tsutomu Goshiki jogged past him, giving him a look as if he were an idiot.
"What physical training? This is just the warm-up."
Futakuchi and Koganegawa froze.
"You call this a warm-up?!" Futakuchi's voice nearly cracked from shock.
"Then what do you call physical training?" Futakuchi asked uneasily. At his school, ten laps already counted as physical training.
Tsutomu Goshiki did not quite understand the question, but he kindly explained.
"Physical training is usually in the afternoon. Twenty laps, plus squats and four hundred receive drills. Some people also have extra individual training."
Futakuchi's vision went dark, and his steps stumbled. Twenty laps… He had never run that much before. Was Shiratorizawa full of monsters? Even their training plan was this terrifying.
Hinata heard this as well but looked completely unconcerned. Just twenty laps. Not bad. After finishing, he could probably still play a couple of matches. He mentally estimated his remaining stamina.
Then he suddenly thought of his seniors and shuddered, quickening his pace. Forget it. He should think about how to explain this later. Just imagining Daichi-senpai with that ominous aura made him tremble.
After ten laps, everyone except Shiratorizawa and Hinata was panting heavily.
Tsutomu Goshiki curiously walked around those squatting on the ground, the curiosity in his eyes almost painful to them.
Koganegawa leaned against the wall. So Shiratorizawa's training was really this intense. No wonder he could not beat that weak-looking Tsutomu Goshiki in running.
Since a lot of time had been wasted in the morning lining up and welcoming players, after finishing the first run, they immediately did another ten laps, effectively completing the afternoon's physical training as well.
While running, Tendo thought to himself. So they only run twenty laps in the morning. That means after this, I do not have to run anymore, right? Including the warm-up, that is thirty laps total. That means I am running ten laps less.
At the thought of running ten fewer laps, Tendo's eyes widened, and a smile crept onto his face.
After finishing, Tendo was about to tell Ryosuke about his discovery when Reon suddenly called out.
"Tendo, add ten more laps tonight."
"Huh?!" Tendo was both confused and shocked. Why did no one else have to run, but he still did?
Reon seemed to see through his thoughts and rolled his eyes.
"Even with those ten extra laps, you are still running ten laps less. Stop looking like you are about to die."
Tendo thought about it and realized it made sense. No matter how he calculated it, he was still running ten laps less. His mood immediately improved again.
Kawanishi smiled and shook his head. Tendo had really been tormented by running.
After the run, it was time for lunch.
Everyone gathered back in the gym, drenched in sweat as if they had just been pulled out of water. The gym's air conditioning was not turned on. It usually stayed off unless it reached forty degrees, to prevent students from catching colds.
A strong smell of sweat filled the air. When Coach Washijō arrived, he immediately caught it and wrinkled his nose in disgust. The smell was truly overwhelming.
Looking at the students, aside from Shiratorizawa, all of them were collapsed on the floor to varying degrees. Coach Washijō shook his head slightly. Their endurance was even worse than Tendo's. That would not do. How did they usually train?
Oikawa sat in a chair, his hair soaked with sweat, his carefully styled look from the morning completely gone. Futakuchi and Koganegawa sat on the floor, leaning back. The players from Johzenji could still stand, but their legs looked like they barely belonged to them.
Takeru Nakashima from Wakutani was doing fairly well, still able to stand and stretch. Hinata, though tired, remained full of energy.
Coach Washijō felt puzzled. Did shorter players naturally have better stamina? It did not seem like that when he was younger.
He checked the time. It was almost time to eat. Thinking of a certain picky eater, Coach Washijō frowned and quickly arranged the afternoon training.
"This afternoon, we begin formal training. This morning was only warm-up. In the afternoon, there will be two-on-two matches. I will assign setters and attackers. Whatever position you usually play at school will be shuffled. Be mentally prepared."
After speaking seriously, Coach Washijō hurried off, leaving behind a group lying on the ground, questioning their lives.
The Shiratorizawa players glanced at each other but paid no attention to the others. This was nothing. Tendo had run through it without much trouble. These people were just too weak.
Ryosuke waved at Hinata.
"Come on, let's eat."
Hinata looked hesitant.
"But Coach Washijō said…"
"Does everything he says have to be followed? Just listen to me. It is fine." Ryosuke patted his chest confidently. It was just a meal.
He brought Hinata to the cafeteria.
As soon as they arrived, Reon followed behind them carrying a large bento box.
Ryosuke used his meal card to get Hinata his usual fried rice. Looking at Hinata's small frame, Ryosuke hesitated but still swiped for three portions.
Because Hinata said one was not enough. But he was so thin. Could he really eat that much?
Once they sat down, Ryosuke watched Hinata eat and slowly widened his eyes. Hinata finished an entire bowl of rice in no time.
Meanwhile, Ryosuke had not taken a single bite. He glanced around as if witnessing something unbelievable.
Reon walked around the cafeteria and finally spotted them sitting under the air conditioner. Watching Hinata eat so enthusiastically, Reon nodded. A good appetite was a blessing.
Then he looked at Ryosuke. He was poking at his noodles with his chopsticks, barely eating a few strands. Reon frowned. What was going on? He usually liked noodles.
He weighed the heavy bento box in his hand and remembered Coach Washijō's instructions.
"Make sure Ryosuke finishes his meal. No matter what he does, whether he acts spoiled, throws a tantrum, or rolls around, you must not give in."
Ryosuke's picky eating had reached an outrageous level. When he was in a bad mood, he would not eat. When he was in a good mood, he still would not eat. If the food was not good, he would not touch it. Even if it tasted fine, he would only take a few bites.
Everyone at Shiratorizawa knew about it.
Reon sighed and sat down beside Ryosuke with the bento box.
Ryosuke, who had been absentmindedly picking at his food, felt a shadow over him. He looked up, saw Reon, and smiled sweetly.
"Reon-senpai."
Reon gently ruffled his hair, eyes full of sympathy. You little fool. You are in for it.
He nodded at Hinata as a greeting.
"The coach had this bento prepared for you. You have to finish all of it."
Ryosuke froze. He looked at Reon, then at the unopened box, his face turning pale. He opened his mouth, ready to make an excuse.
Reon stared at him closely. Ryosuke broke out in cold sweat and said nothing.
Reon-senpai is terrifying. Ryosuke screamed internally.
He opened the bento and found it filled with things he did not like.
Rice, boiled vegetables, some unknown meat, a layer of mush, and miso soup.
Everything else he could accept, but what was this unknown mush? It was yellowish and looked very questionable.
"Senpai, what is this?" Ryosuke hesitated, pointing at the lump.
Reon looked at it and also paused. Who made this? What even is this? Would eating it cause stomach trouble?
Facing Ryosuke's questioning gaze, Reon could only make something up.
"It is corn paste, mixed with some grains. Just try it. It should taste good."
It looked yellow, so it was probably corn. Reon was not entirely sure.
Ryosuke held his chopsticks for a long time without moving. Hinata had already finished eating, and now both of them were staring at him. The pressure was immense.
"Ryosuke, why are you not eating?" Hinata asked innocently.
Ryosuke forced a smile, took a bite of rice, and found it tasteless.
"Reon-senpai… I am full."
"No, you are not." Reon's tone was firm.
Ryosuke made a miserable face. With Reon on one side and Hinata on the other, his escape was completely blocked.
Fine. I will eat. Slowly. Let us see if they can keep sitting here once training starts.
Under their urging, he reluctantly took a few bites. Time passed little by little. The two of them sat there silently, watching him eat.
Ryosuke grew anxious. Were they not in a hurry? Why were they still sitting here? He was the one in a rush.
Thinking about the dorm he had prepared for Hinata, Ryosuke sighed and quickly shoved a few more bites into his mouth, eating some vegetables just to get by.
He gave Hinata a look.
Hinata, who had been spacing out, saw him wink and looked confused. Just as he was about to speak, Ryosuke suddenly stood up.
"Hinata, let's see who can run to the dorm entrance first!"
Hinata had not planned to get up, but those words instantly triggered him. He stood up reflexively. This was exactly what he always said when competing with Kageyama.
Before Reon could react, Ryosuke dashed off like the wind. Hinata immediately chased after him.
Reon watched them, thinking how competitive they were. What was there to compete about?
Then he turned back and saw the barely touched bento. His brow twitched. Now he understood why Ryosuke ran.
That little brat did not finish his food. How was he supposed to explain this to the coach?
After running twenty laps in the morning, eating like this would not be enough. This was troublesome.
Then he thought of Hinata's frightening appetite and sighed. Truly uneven. If only Ryosuke could have half of that appetite, he would not have to worry so much.
Ryosuke sprinted all the way to the dorm building, his stomach growling. He was actually hungry, but he just did not want to eat. He had no appetite at all. Everything tasted the same. He might as well sneak some chips later tonight.
He stopped at the dorm entrance and waited. Hinata arrived shortly after.
His hair was blown back, revealing his forehead, his face flushed. Before even stopping, he started praising Ryosuke.
"Ryosuke, you are amazing! How are you so fast? You are even faster than Kageyama!"
His focus was completely off. Ryosuke had thought Hinata would ask why he ran. What a simple kid.
"Of course. When I go to the National Youth Team, I will race Kageyama. Then we will know who is faster." Ryosuke replied seriously.
"Come on. I will show you the dorm. I will be leaving after the weekend, so it will be more convenient for you to stay here alone."
Ryosuke led him over, with Hinata following closely like a child.
As they walked, Ryosuke began to feel troubled. He seemed to have forgotten where the room was.
I remember it being here. He stared at the door. Then why would the key not go in?
Hinata tilted his head, watching him seriously. Ryosuke felt awkward and scratched his head.
"I think I remembered the wrong place. Otherwise, why would it not open?"
Hinata looked puzzled.
"But Ryosuke, that is not a key."
"Huh? Really?" Ryosuke looked down and saw he was holding the spoon he had taken from the cafeteria.
"Ah… of course I know I grabbed the wrong thing. I was just joking with you."
His face turned red instantly. How embarrassing. Making such a stupid mistake. My image is ruined. He cried internally while rummaging through his pocket for the key.
At the same time, he carefully watched Hinata's expression from the corner of his eye. Seeing no sign of mockery, only serious attention, Ryosuke finally let out a sigh of relief.