Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Doing My Best
After the third round of competition, Rikkai University still maintained a perfect record.
I thought my blocking would be my weakness, but I gradually made great progress in the game without realizing it.
Everyone had to admit that Yuihara Xiangcheng had a very accurate eye for people. Even someone like Brigida who was not very good at passing the ball at the beginning was trained like this.
At the start of the Round of 16 match, a familiar voice rang out from the stands: "Come on, fellow juniors!"
Everyone looked up and saw Kotomi Igarashi, wearing the No. 12 Kanagawa Prefecture NEC Red Rockets jersey, waving the Rikkai University flag.
Against the backdrop of the azure sea, the two golden characters "Upward" depict the image of the Rikkai University women's team.
Let’s go up again!
Be better than you have ever been, and be better than you have been every day.
Every ball that flies over the net requires them to look up, lower their center of gravity, squat down, and then pass it steadily to their teammates.
The dozens and hundreds of days and nights of training together, the unremitting efforts to hone their skills and coordination, in those days when no one cares, will all be transformed into the strongest shields and the sharpest spears at this moment.
Seize every opportunity to break through the shadow of failure.
Let’s go up again!
The passionate school song of Rikkai University, which has not changed for decades, came to their ears. This sound attracted more and more people to come and watch the game, and this sound also accompanied them all the way to the top.
Fight to the battle with the defending champion Chunshi Academy.
This time, the Rikkai University cheering stands were so packed with people that everyone had to stand up to watch the game. This was not only the first time in Rikkai University volleyball history, but also the first time that a team from Kanagawa Prefecture could reach the finals of a national competition after a long period of decline.
At this important moment, Xiangcheng thought she would be very excited.
But when those faces from the past appeared one by one, she felt that everything had become a thing of the past.
Santa Maria did not survive the third round, and this time they were not even qualified to play against Rikkai University.
Nana Hinatani suggested that the coaching staff would definitely need a major overhaul, and Xiangcheng simply smiled. A change was definitely overdue, but applying the principles of competitive sports to a junior and high school competition seemed overly utilitarian.
Now, on the final stage, it was them and a team she was very familiar with.
Twelve years ago at the national competition, she sat in Chunshi's coaching seat, wearing a specially customized Chunshi team uniform, and watched the team go national in style.
There is a sentence printed on their team flag to this day:
Do my best.
The name at the signature is Chen Shengshanchuan.
Xiangcheng's grandfather.
Xiangcheng seemed to still see his grandfather twelve years ago, sitting silently in the coaching seat with his arms folded, waiting for the judgment of fate.
She stared at the field intently, watching every jump of the sisters who gave their all.
That was the first time she thought, "I want to jump this high in the future and stand on the national competition field."
Twelve years have passed since that day.
Chunshi's coaching seat was empty, with only the team flag lying there quietly, carrying all his expectations.
Let those who strive for success challenge those who strive for success.
Keep every ball in the air.
"Hello everyone, we are now bringing you an exciting volleyball match between 'Upward' and 'Try Your Best'..."
"I'm very happy to be the commentator for this game. Hello everyone, my name is Ichiro Kawaira! I'm the current coach of the Kanagawa Shonan team, a student of Mr. Tatsuo, and a senior of the Harumi players!"
"Now let me introduce the players from both teams. First up is the defending champions, Chunshi..."
"Rikkai University player, number 1 Matsumoto Genkane, a very stable setter... The most noteworthy player is number 5 Yuihara Kaoru. Not only is she Rikkai University's ace spiker, she's also the granddaughter of Coach Tatsuo. She possesses extremely delicate techniques and an ability to read the game..."
"We could hear the Rikkai University anthem being sung in the Rikkai University cheering booth. It was very inspiring!"
"That's right, ah, Tatsuo-sensei's widow is also in the support seats! She is here to witness this moment too—"
"The game started. Rikkai University's No. 1 player served first, with a powerful jump serve that went straight to Harumi's setter. Harumi... the libero and setter instantly switched positions, and the libero received the serve very steadily!"
"Yes, Harumi's team members are still adhering to the motto of doing their job well. Harumi attacks! Yuihara Kaoru reacts quickly and blocks the straight line with number 8 Brigida."
"In transitions, Rikkai University's libero also played very well. As expected, the setter's offense was handed over to Yuihara Kaoru. Let's see what she does... a small diagonal shot! A small diagonal shot that went through the gaps between the blockers. Beautiful! Rikkai University scores the first point!"
…
"The third game has begun. In the previous two games, both sides won one game with a slight advantage of 2 points."
"Yes, the match was very tense and intense, comparable to a professional tournament. We saw Rikkai University replace their third-year main attacker with first-year player Nana Hinatani at the start of this game."
"This player and Yuihara Kaoru went to the same junior high school, and their techniques are similar, but she's better at gravity spikes."
"Let's see what kind of surprises we will give you!"
"Okay, Rikkai University scores with their serve, and Matsumoto Gensune still chooses a powerful jump serve..."
"Yuhara Kaoru's right-handed spike... No, she changed her attack instantly after jumping and fooled the blocker!"
"The score is 24:24 again."
“Who will reap the fruits of victory?”
"In the final moments of the match, at this crucial point, both sides had already played seven rounds, and everyone was fighting tooth and nail to get the ball over the net."
"At this point, their bodies were already extremely tired, and their movements were deformed in various ways. But despite this, they still persevered through the competition with extraordinary perseverance."
"Yes, nothing is more important than hard work, and nothing is more moving than hard work. This game has demonstrated the power of progress and is full of calls for hard work."
"In the 11th round, Yuihara Kaoru took off again. It was a standard straight-line spike, and Harumi's blocker had already touched the ball."
"The volleyball flew to the Rikkai University side. It looks like it's out of bounds."
"Chun Shi applied for the challenge."
"Chun Shi's challenge was successful. It was a shot that touched the line, even though it only reached the edge..."
"Congratulations to Harumi for winning the IH National Championship Women's Division again! Congratulations to Rikkai University High School for achieving unprecedented success in their journey of striving for progress!"
it's over.
This summer.
The players of Rikkai University looked at each other in a daze, unable to believe that they had ended the last round like this.
With such dazzling achievements, with such unremitting and regretful struggle.
Matsumoto Genyin was the first to burst out laughing: "We are so awesome!"
"Yes! We are awesome!" Cheer as much as you can, even the runner-up is so precious.
Niou Masaharu still climbed up weakly: "It's really touching!"
Yagyu Hiroshi supported him: "There's no need to be so brave."
"That won't do," Niou said, "I must ask you face to face, what kind of barbecue devil is Yuihara Kaoru?"
"Huh..." A woman muttered softly from the back, "Who still dares to eat meat grilled with oranges these days?"
"Didn't you know she once knocked out an entire team?"
"I was quite happy to see her teasing others~"
"Hana, you've only been in Osaka for a little over a year, has your accent changed so much?"
"Ahaha Haruko, Nongshitenboji Temple is so magical——"
...Niou Masaharu closed his eyes and made a mistake.
He shouldn't have trusted Yuihara Kaoru's craftsmanship.
"This team flag... is for you," Harumi's captain presented the folded flag with both hands. "Starting with my mother, three members of our family have been coached by Coach Chen Sheng. I didn't have that blessing, but being able to compete against Coach Chen Sheng's granddaughter today is a relief."
Xiangcheng straightened his expression and held up the banner written by his grandfather with both hands. "Thank you very much. You are an incredible opponent."
Captain Chunshi folded his hands and said, "You too. But I always thought you would come to Chunshi!"
"I thought about it once, but I moved just as I was about to start high school." Xiangcheng smiled, her blue eyes sparkling. "But twelve years ago, I sat in your coaching booth!"
"That's right, Coach Xiangcheng!"
Hearing the familiar name from childhood, Xiangcheng couldn't help but shed tears.
But she still kept smiling: "Goodbye Chun Gao."
"Goodbye!"
Do my best and leave no regrets.
Xiangcheng looked up at the iron dome-like roof again, searching for familiar traces from his childhood among the grilles that had been repaired several times.
She has moved on.
I once again questioned my own heart amidst the unintentional warmth of many people.
I will always have a passion for this sport, both on and off the court.
"Where are the flags? Will you put them away or hang them up when you get home?" Yukimura Seiichi carefully helped her fold the flags neatly and put them in her bag at the entrance of the venue.
"There doesn't seem to be anywhere else to hang it at home," Xiangcheng said worriedly. "Besides, if I hang it up, Dahu and the others might use it as a scratching post. It would be terrible if they tore it apart. But if I put it away, it would be a shame."
"In that case, would you like me to draw you a picture?"
"Huh? It seems possible, is it the 1:1 flag? Isn't it too easy?" "Stupid Xiangcheng, you underestimate me too much."
"Is that my birthday present?"
"If that's the case, I think I can save half the money on birthday presents?"
"No, I want a 200% gift."
"Has it become Overbearing Orange now?"
On the other side, the two old friends looked at Xiangcheng who was immersed in the conversation with her boyfriend with a frown on their faces.
"Is it just that... sweet?"
"I don't know either."
"It seems like he didn't even notice us."
"Haruko, this world can no longer accommodate pure love warriors like you and me."
"Should be called a single dog..."
"Shut up."
"Admit it, Hanari—Kaoki is a true warrior of pure love. Where is the love between you and me?"
"Goodbye, I have nothing in common with you people from Kanto anymore."
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The author has something to say: We are about to enter the last part, and it is expected to be completed in the middle of the month~
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