[Friday M, Juh]

  The volleyball team members boarded the bus, carrying their volleyball gear and luggage for the few days, ready to set off for Tokyo. After a five-year hiatus, Aoba Johsai's boys' volleyball team was finally making their return to the Nationals.

  The atmosphere ihe bus was anything but tense. None of the pyers showed signs of pressure on their faces. For most of them, this was their first time advang to the Nationals, and their excitement and anticipation far outweighed any nerves.

  "Do you think we'll see Tokyo Skytree?"

  "Or maybe Mount Fuji…?" Kindaichi leaned against the window, stantly pestering Kunimi Akira with questions.

  Kunimi, barely fazed, unlocked his phone and ha to Kindaichi. Dispyed on the s was an image of Tokyo Skytree.

  "There you go. You've seen it."

  Kindaichi eechless.

  Meanwhile, the third-years were chattering noisily in the fros. Kyōtaarō had already dozed off in his seat, while Taichi Kaedehara sat in a er at the very back, gaming aloer sending messages to Tenma Udai and Kenma Kozume.

  The boys of the volleyball team behaved as they always did, like children on a school trip—or perhaps even rowdier.

  At the front of the bus, Mizoguchi Sadayuki sighed softly while Coach Irihata maintained his usual posed demeanour, sitting with a serene smile aing his eyes.

  The team had opted for a bus instead of the Shinkansen because they heir own transportation for the days they'd spend in Tokyo.

  Having a private vehicle made it easier to shuttle between their hotel, practice venues, and match locations.

  Their destination for the day was a hotel about 5 kilometres from Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. vely, a unity sports tre nearby would serve as a practice facility.

  ------

  "Whoa, this pce is huge!"

  "Look how tall it is!"

  The Aoba Johsai team arrived at their hotel, which towered over them with more thay stories. Its sleek design bined gss curtain walls with premium stone, refleg the sunlight with a dazzling brilliahat exuded both modernity and elegance.

  "This pce must be crazy expensive!"

  "It's so cool…"

  As the automatic gss doors slid open, they seemed to wele the team like a pair of outstretched arms. Above the entrance, a sophisticated LED dispy scrolled through a personalized message:

  "A Warm Wele to Aoba Johsai High School Boys' Volleyball Team!"

  Mizoguchi Sadayuki muttered, "I wasn't expeg this much fanfare."

  "This was all thanks to the school's sponsors," he expio the team. "So, make sure to rest well and give it your best during the matches!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  "Alright, everyone, drop ygage in your rooms a back at the entran twenty minutes," Mizoguchi instructed. "We'll head to the sports tre door to get some practid find our rhythm."

  "Got it!"

  "Taichi, do you feel like the air here is a little thin?" Kindaichi asked, looking slightly pale and struggling to catch his breath.

  "You weren't nervous on the bus, but now you are?" Taichi shot him an exasperated look. "This is ft ground, you know."

  Kunimi, standing nearby, chuckled quietly. Watg Kindaichi's anti the bus, he had assumed the tter was already calm and collected.

  Apparently, that wasn't the case.

  "Well, it is our first Nationals, after all," Watari Shinji said, patting Kindaichi reassuringly on the back to help him rex.

  [Juh, Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium]

  As a historiue with state-of-the-art facilities, the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium was a frequent host of sports petitions aertai events, capable of aodating vast crowds.

  Today, teams and spectators from all over the try gathered us roof.

  The atmosphere was electric, with excitement and passion c through the throng like an unstoppable wave.

  The Aoba Johsai pyers stood ihe arena, surrounded by the buzz of anticipation as the tour's opening drew closer.

  The air was thick with a mix of nervousness and exhiration, each passing momeening the iy. The cacophony of voices reverberated against the lofty ceilings, enveloping them in a thrilling cresdo.

  They did their best to calm their minds. At this point, there was nothio worry about. There was only ohing to do: face their oppos with everything they had!

  This was their first time stepping onto the national stage—the tral stage they had dreamed of for so long.

  "Thank you for your patiehe announcer's voice echoed through the venue, amplified by the sound system installed across the gymnasium.

  "The opening ceremony of the National High School prehensive Volleyball Tour officially begins now! Pyers, please prepare for the mar…"

  The announcer began listing the names of the teams, one by one.

  "Representing Hiroshima Prefecture: Inubushi Higashi Academy."

  "Representing Tochigi Prefecture: Ichirin High School."

  "Representing Tokyo: Fukurōdani Academy."

  "Representing Oita Prefecture: Mujinazaka High."..."Representing Tokyo: Itachiyama Institute."

  "Representing Miyagi Prefecture: Aoba Johsai High School."

  "Representing Hyogo Prefecture: Inarizaki High School."

  "Representing Kanagarefecture: Ubugawa High."

  "Representing Saitama Prefecture: Shinzen High."

  Uhe leadership of Tōru Oikawa, the Aoba Johsai team marched into the venue, joining the ranks of other top teams.

  "Teams scheduled to py in the first or seatches of the day, please proceed to your designated courts to begin warm-ups," the announcer instructed.

  "Everyoick together and don't get lost!" Oikawa's voice took on an unusually authoritative tone as he stepped to the front, guiding his teammates like a true captain.

  "After ging into your uniforms, start warming up immediately!" added Iwaizumi Hajime, ensuring they paid attention to the details. "And make sure to keep track of your passes!"

  Navigating through the crowd, the Aoba Johsai pyers found themselves jostled bad forth.

  Despite their typically imposi advahey blended into the sea of high school athletes, some of whom stood even taller.

  "Did you see that guy just now? He was huge!"

  "Yeah, must've been at least two meters tall. It's terrifying!"

  "Don't lose sight of each other, okay?"

  Amidst the chaotic chatter around them, the pyers started to feel slightly disoriented.

  "Mizoguchi, you seem a bit nervous yourself," Coach Irihata observed, smiling at their young team mahe coach's tone was easygoing, though his eyes gleamed with a nostalgic warmth.

  For a moment, he was reminded of his own first time leading a team at Nationals years ago.

  "Well, it is my first time experieng this," Mizoguchi admitted, gng at the bustling crowd he venue's entrahere are so many people in Tokyo!"

  "Let's make sure the team gets a solid warm-up," Coach Irihata advised, g Komoguchi on the shoulder. "Especially for the first match—it's crucial to get into the right rhythm."

  "Yes, I uand!" Komoguchi replied, his nervousness repced by determination as he straightened his posture.

  "There they are!"

  Komoguchi's eyes lit up as he spotted the familiar blue-and-white jerseys emerging from the crowd. He immediately rushed over to greet the team.

  -----

  "For many of you, this is your first time oional stage, so it might feel overwhelming," Mizoguchi addressed the team, his voice steady and reassuring. "But don't worry. Once you're on the court, it'll feel just like any other match!"

  Oikawa handed over the items used during the opening ceremony to Mizoguchi, who nodded fidently. With a sweepiure, he took the lead.

  "Let's move! Head to our court and start warming up. Follow me!"

  "Yes, sir! Let's go!"

  The Aoba Johsai pyers began making their way toward their designated court, excitement aermination bzing in their eyes as they prepared to leave their mark oional stage.

  _________

  [T/N] - If you guys want to read 50 Chapters in advance of the current story, you support me on my Patreon. Trust me, it's awesome!

  Link - (P)atreon./Iseebbsp;[Remove the brackets]