Chapter 37: The Rival of the Emoticon Champion
Yuihara Kaoru's eyes fell on her grandfather in the stands.
Grandpa's face turned red, and he held one hand in a tube shape on his mouth. When he saw Yuihara Kaoru, he did not forget to raise his other hand and slowly clench it into a fist.
This was his silent encouragement.
Xiangcheng withdrew his gaze and continued to fight.
She and Aiko Masuda took turns attacking with their left and right hands, and with the help of Harumi Igarashi and Megumi Kobayashi's quick attacks and Haneio's back-row attacks, they finally resolved the crisis of the game.
After the game, Ms. Misaki reviewed the game for everyone in the school's volleyball hall.
"In the second game, this team didn't have any particularly outstanding players, but their steady style is still worth learning from."
Several people sat cross-legged on the floor, concentrating on watching the video projected on the whiteboard.
Indeed, they also faced a situation like Furukawa Gakuen, where they selected a star player and placed the entire offensive core on that person. As long as a weakness was discovered, they would be completely helpless.
Volleyball is a sport that requires six players, and even more so, the abilities of all players on the court. If the teams' skills are uneven and they're focused on both the front and the back, it's bound to be difficult to win.
Teacher Misaki added, "You guys worked together very well this afternoon. Keep up the momentum."
In tomorrow's match, we will face the seeded player of the tournament, Higashikyushu from Oita Prefecture.
Rikkai University's performance today is enough for East Kyushu, which had a bye in the first game, to study carefully.
Teacher Misaki's eyes scanned all the players several times.
Haneio and Kobayashi Megumi have relatively little experience on the field and are not very good at reading the course of the game. They are the type of players who can only perform at an average level and have a relatively low ability to predict risks.
Abe Makoto and Masuda Aiko were able to adjust themselves in times of crisis, and they have gained good experience in these games.
The only ones who can truly read the game on the court are Yuihara Kaoru, Matsumoto Genon, and Igarashi Harumi. Igarashi is more easily excited and may be confused by false appearances, while Matsumoto is calmer, but too calm. When encountering difficult situations, she wants to defend at the first moment.
Yuihara Xiangcheng is better, but it seems like this child's obedience is just fake.
Today's sudden change of direction of the spike and the frantic attempt to test the opponent's psychology at the edge of the baseline always left Teacher Misaki with a sense of doubt in her heart.
Putting these thoughts aside, Teacher Misaki decided to watch some highlights of East Kyushu's past competitions with them.
Everyone's attention fell on the opposing setter. His domineering aura shone through the entire court—his unexpected passing lanes, his coordination with teammates, and the pressure he exerted when he was in the frontcourt.
Matsumoto Genon and Yuihara Kaoru couldn't help but exchange glances.
Matsumoto Genyin remembered what teacher Misaki said, "The team member's red rope should be held in the hands of the setter."
This is what it means to really hold it together.
After the group disbanded, Matsumoto Genon and Yuihara Kaoru stood there without moving. After everyone had left, they simultaneously pushed out the basketball hoop.
Physical fatigue had long been replaced by a strong desire to fight.
In addition to the setter, Dong Jiuzhou also has strong attackers, blockers, and receivers to cater to the setter's performance.
Rikkai University's technique is weak and their bench is not deep. Because of this, they need to improve their smash success rate.
They kept hitting the ball, passing it, and spiking it. After an unknown amount of time, both of their clothes were soaked.
Yuihara Kaoru picked up the last volleyball and suddenly said, "Senior, you must have put a lot of effort into making my smash more powerful."
Matsumoto Genon recalled the nights he spent exchanging details with Mizunoe and studying the footage: "Didn't those two matches have an effect?"
"Who said I won't be the center~" Xiangcheng smiled cunningly.
"Yeah," Matsumoto Genon sat on the ground hugging her knees. "I watched your match, and that's why I wonder...how could someone be so presumptuous?"
"But after all this time, every time you dunk the ball I passed you and score, I understand more and more what Mizunoe said, 'It's a pleasure to pass the ball to you.' No matter how unsure I am about that pass, you always find the angle."
Yuihara Xiangcheng also sat down: "If I can stay in the air longer, I can adjust better, so it can be considered a talent?"
"Why... don't you want to keep playing? Play professionally, on a global stage?"
Xiangcheng recalls her junior high school days.
Santa Maria's training is very professional and standardized. The attacker's take-off height, the arc of the hand swing, the angle when wrapping the ball, and the landing point of the ball are all strictly controlled.
The penalty for failure is also - all players sit in a circle and point out where you made a mistake one by one.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm not Yuihara Kaoru, I'm just a spiker, and this spiker can be called anything."
Matsumoto Genyin thought absentmindedly for a moment, then asked, "Do you think it will be the same if you become a professional?"
"Let your hobby be a beautiful existence~. On this road, it's great to meet friends like you. If we can go a little further," Yuihara Kaoru stood up, "that would be great!"
"Yeah!" Matsumoto Genon smiled and said, "Although I don't have the same talent as you, but...if I don't play hard, I'll have to go back and inherit the family business."
"Wow, big guy!"
The two walked out of the volleyball hall side by side. Yuihara Kaoru seemed to have thought of something: "Tomorrow if... just pass the ball to me."
Matsumoto Genyin was stunned for a moment: "Okay."
As soon as she reached the door of her house, Xiangcheng smelled the familiar aroma of Chinese food. Then she saw her grandmother's car parked on the side of the road, so she quickly rushed back home.
“It smells so good!”
Seven or eight dishes were already placed on the table. Grandpa looked up from the sofa and said slowly, "Are you back? Go wash your hands!"
"Okay!" Having said that, Xiangcheng still ran to the dining table to see what dishes were available today, then moved away Dahu who was trying to get on the table, and then poked his head into the kitchen - grandma was teaching his parents how to bake crispy and delicious grilled fish without spitting out the bones.
Xiangcheng giggled, and Ms. Mikiko rolled her eyes: "Look how good grandma is to you. She knows you don't like to spit thorns, but she still makes us all learn it."
Grandma sighed, "You two are so busy. Whoever has free time should make something delicious for Xiangcheng! Look at how hard she trains all day. She can't afford to not get enough nutrition."
Mikiko paused, "Mom, listen to what you're saying. We're both so busy, and we still have to 'serve' Xiangcheng. Is that appropriate?"
Grandma glared at her and said, "I was also very busy when you were a child. Did I ever starve you?"
Yuhara Nagatomo, who had been working diligently, couldn't help but laugh: "That's not the case. After all, there's no girl in our high school class who can eat more than Mikiko!"
"Hey!" Mikiko was furious. "No personal attacks!"
Grandma shook her head: "After twenty years, they are still a pair of funny people. It's hard for us Xiangcheng."
Xiangcheng nodded vigorously: "That's right! Eating dog food every day!"
"Then you should find one too. Yukimura is very good~" Grandma finally continued the topic.
Xiangcheng waved her hands repeatedly: "No! I think Yukimura..." After thinking carefully, she changed her words and said: "I will be a professional tennis player in the future~"
"So what?" Grandma thought her child was perfect. "Professional players get married too! You two know each other so well—"
"Ahhh, stop it, Grandma!" Xiangcheng's head was like a pot of hot water with the lid off, bubbling with steam. "Not all high school classmates have to be like my parents!"
Mikiko moved closer and stared at Xiangcheng's red face: "How strange, Xiangcheng is actually shy!"
Yuhara Nagatomo also came over: "Oh, it really is!"
"I'm going to change my clothes--" Yuihara Kaoru ran upstairs frantically.
What a family that loves to joke.
As soon as I went upstairs, my phone rang with a new message.
Xiangcheng opened it and saw that Kuroo Tetsuro had taken photos of a table of delicious food and sent a text: Thanks to you, I was able to eat salted grilled fish from Kanagawa.
Not long after, another new message came: So I packed up all your childhood photos and sent them to you.
Before Xiangcheng could reply, another message came: Don't worry, there's no black history of yours, these are all beautiful photos. (The accompanying picture shows Xiangcheng doing a cartwheel and failing to turn over)
Xiangcheng: May I ask who did you send it to?
Heiwei read the message but didn't reply, and when I asked Momo, he said he hadn't read it at all.
Xiangcheng's vision went dark. Her grandmother was already urging her to go downstairs to eat, so she had no choice but to put down her phone and enjoy the meal tonight, feeling confused.
After eating and drinking, Xiangcheng was still thinking about this matter. After going upstairs, he was attracted by the video in the volleyball club group.
Xiao Lin Xing got more game videos of Dong Jiuzhou from somewhere, and they are being uploaded one by one.
Xiangcheng turned on the computer, opened the existing videos, and played them one by one at 0.25x speed, observing and recording some small details.
"Xiangcheng, can I come in?" Grandpa asked at the door.
Xiangcheng quickly pressed the pause button: "Okay, okay!"
Grandpa then pushed the door open and saw the video on Xiangcheng's computer desktop at a glance.
Xiangcheng stood up and let his grandfather sit on the computer chair, then turned on the video.
Grandpa narrowed his presbyopic eyes, moving closer and further away: "This team has the potential to be a champion."
"Ah, do you think so?"
"The first pass is solid, the second pass is good, the attackers are powerful, and most importantly, they all have brains. Tomorrow's game is unpredictable!"
Xiang Cheng was even happier. "Since entering high school, I've rarely encountered an opponent like this! Even if I lose, it's worth it!"
Grandpa shook his head, no longer having any hope for his granddaughter's mentality: "Just play your best, you who don't care about winning or losing."
After he finished speaking, he stood up and saw a painting on the bedside: "Wow, this painting is good, very vivid."
Xiangcheng awkwardly blocked her grandfather's view with her body and laughed awkwardly: "Haha, really?"
Grandpa pretended not to notice her little action, slowly walked out with his hands behind his back, and turned around when he reached the door: "Xiangcheng, if you are not completely sure... don't use that trick too often."
Xiangcheng replied blankly with an "Oh".
"It's also important to rest early and recharge your energy for the battle."
"I know, goodnight grandpa!"
"Hmm...come on tomorrow, I'll still go watch it."
"Okay!" Xiangcheng finally smiled.
The phone beeped and Seiichi Yukimura sent an emoticon.
[Yuhara Kaoru doing a handstand, captioned: "Keep going!"]
Xiangcheng buried his head in the quilt in despair, and the idea of killing Xiaohei became stronger than ever.
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Author's words: Kuroo & Yukimura: suddenly formed the Yuhara Kaguya emoji alliance [lop-eared rabbit head]
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