Reasons for Choosing Volleyball (Bonus Chapter for 50 Moon Tickets!)

On the first day of the summer training camp, Karasuno held the top spot on the rankings with an impressive 6 wins and 4 losses out of 10 matches. Kiyoko diligently recorded the specific scores of each game in her notebook.

1st: Karasuno: 6 wins, 4 losses

2nd: Fukurodani: 5 wins, 5 losses

3rd: Nekoma: 4 wins, 6 losses

4th: Kamomedai: 3 wins, 7 losses

5th: Nohebi: 3 wins, 7 losses

The last two teams were undoubtedly unsatisfied. After their training sessions concluded, the players from Nohebi and Kamomedai stayed behind for individual practice. The Karasuno players, not wanting to fall behind, also continued their training. Fortunately, other gymnasiums were available for use, and Morisaki High School, being financially well-off, had three gymnasiums on campus.

Hayato, having finished his matches, didn't plan on training further and decided to head for dinner first. The managers from various teams had already prepared dinner in the cafeteria, awaiting everyone's arrival. As he was walking towards the third gymnasium, he was called out. As expected, it was the Bokuto and Kuroo duo.

"Yo, Kuroba-kun, can you help us set up a net?"

"You played really well today, how about it, interested in playing a couple more rounds with us?"

Kuroo beckoned Hayato over, while Bokuto appeared very enthusiastic. He had indeed had several good duels with Hayato today.

"Ah, well, I'm a bit hungry and was planning to eat first. Why don't you ask someone else, senpais?"

These two were third-years, and Hayato, being a second-year, naturally had to call them senpai. It was different from Karasuno; they weren't very familiar with each other, so being casual wasn't appropriate.

He had intended to use this as an excuse to get away, but to his surprise, the two of them walked over, each slinging an arm around him, and led him into the gymnasium. Seeing that he couldn't refuse...

Just then, Tsukishima, who wasn't participating in individual training, walked over after resting, seemingly heading for dinner as well.

"You two senpais, how about we bring one more person for a 3v3?"

Inside the gymnasium were Akaashi, who was responsible for setting balls for Bokuto, and Lev, who was being trained by Kuroo in receiving. With Hayato and Tsukishima, the numbers were perfect. Both of them brightened at the suggestion.

Tsukishima, however, showed a fleeting expression of disdain upon realizing Hayato had thrown him under the bus.

"Um, I..."

Before he could utter his prepared excuse, Kuroo's taunt, "You're also a wing spiker, shouldn't you be practicing blocking more?" coupled with Hayato's follow-up, "How could our Tsukishima possibly be weak at blocking?" effectively shut down Tsukishima's excuses with a coordinated attack.

Provoked, Tsukishima joined the 3v3 match.

Considering the team compositions, Bokuto and Hayato were paired with Lev, while Kuroo teamed up with Akaashi and Tsukishima. This evenly distributed two players from each school.

"Oh, an interesting combination. Hayato, even though we're on the same team, I won't lose to you."

With this grouping, Bokuto didn't feel regretful about not being able to face Hayato. Playing on the same team as a player of comparable skill was also quite enjoyable, wasn't it?

A game of rock-paper-scissors determined the winner, who would get the first serve. Kuroo's team won the right to serve first.

Kuroo sent an opportunity ball over. Bokuto set it to Hayato, whose spike was touched by Kuroo and Tsukishima. Akaashi set the ball, and Kuroo jumped up to spike. At this moment, Bokuto was in the backcourt. When the two giants, both over 190cm, jumped to block, they formed an iron wall. Unfortunately, this iron wall had too many weaknesses. Kuroo directly aimed for the gap between Lev's hands, breaking through the block. Bokuto, in the back, couldn't react in time to save the ball, allowing Kuroo to score.

"Damn it, they scored first."

"Yeah~"

Kuroo celebrated happily, while Bokuto was annoyed at being scored on. Kuroo then lectured Lev, telling him not to leave such a large gap between his hands when blocking and raised his own hands to demonstrate what a standard block looked like.

After playing 3v3 for a while like this, Bokuto, whose spikes were blocked by the Kuroo-Tsukishima combination, stopped playing and crossed his arms.

"Hmm~~ Spectacles-kun, your ability to predict ball trajectories is amazing, but your blocking is a bit weak."

"Um, senpai, we're still leading in the score."

Tsukishima's counter-attack didn't hurt Bokuto. After Bokuto added that Kuroo had blocked most of them, Tsukishima said he was still developing, with room for improvement in strength and height.

"Are you really that relaxed? Be careful, that little guy might steal all the spotlight."

Kuroo wasn't being malicious. He didn't mention Hayato because Hayato was an ace, and his position didn't conflict with Tsukishima's. Hinata, also a wing spiker, was Tsukishima's rival.

"Well, there's nothing I can do about that. Hinata's talent is far superior to mine."

Hearing these familiar words, Hayato knew Tsukishima was unhappy. Just then, Nekoma players walked in.

"Looks like my help isn't needed anymore, so I'll be going."

"Uh, I think I might have provoked him a bit too much, Kuroo-senpai."

Watching Tsukishima leave the gymnasium, Hayato commented from behind the net, while Kuroo scratched his head.

"Because I didn't expect it either. Your Tsukishima-kun actually thinks he's inferior to Hinata. Hinata is still at the fledgling stage in terms of both skill and experience. On the contrary, Tsukishima-kun has height, a good head on his shoulders, and a lot of playing experience. Yet, he thinks that way."

"Hmm~ I'm not entirely sure about the specific reason. I'll go check on him."

After bidding farewell to Kuroo and the others, with whom he had become quite familiar, Hayato also left the gymnasium. He hadn't walked far when he saw Tsukishima ahead.

"Tsukishima."

Hayato called out. He thought Tsukishima would stop, but instead, he walked faster, as if he hadn't heard Hayato's voice.

Quickly catching up to Tsukishima, Hayato tapped him on the shoulder. Although his voice was quiet, Hayato heard Tsukishima give a faint "tsk" as he turned around.

"Kuroba-senpai, is there something you need?"

Looking at the somewhat gloomy Tsukishima before him, Hayato didn't mind.

"About what you said just before you left, do you really think that?"

"Is it about me being inferior to Hinata?"

"Yeah, why would you think that?"

Tsukishima sighed after hearing that and adjusted his glasses.

"Kuroba-senpai, when you got involved in the conflict between Hinata and Kageyama, I noticed you tend to meddle in other people's business. But if someone doesn't want to discuss something, do you have to force them?"

Although his tone was still polite, the implication was clear that Hayato was being nosy.

"We're a team, our goal is the national tournament, and what's wrong with taking good care of our cute juniors?"

As if not catching Tsukishima's hidden meaning, Hayato looked earnestly at Tsukishima's face and said.

They stared at each other, and neither spoke. Finally, Tsukishima gave up.

"Senpai, this is just club activity for us."

"So?"

Faced with Hayato's question, Tsukishima thought for a moment.

"So, someone like you, with talent and ability, someone who is very suited for volleyball, putting in effort for club activities, for the championship – I understand that. But I... don't have that kind of talent."

"Tsukishima, do you like volleyball?"

The sudden change in topic caught Tsukishima off guard. Before he could answer, Hayato continued.

"When I first started, I didn't really like it."

What came to mind wasn't Hayato's memory, but the memory of his previous self.

"Whether it was receiving or attacking, I had to practice repeatedly. The training volume was always immense. Sometimes I wondered why I was practicing volleyball. Then one day, our team fought with all our might and defeated our opponents. As I cheered, I suddenly realized how happy I was."

Hayato was talking about his past, but Tsukishima misunderstood it as Hayato's experience over that year. To become an ace player in just one year, one could imagine how much effort he had put in.

"That's when I realized I liked volleyball and was willing to work hard to become stronger. Do you know, Tsukishima, talent determines your ceiling, but effort determines your floor."

Although these words touched Tsukishima, it wasn't enough, so Hayato added the final piece.

"Even if you talk about talent and ability, you still joined the volleyball club, didn't you? Tsukishima, you're smart and have good physical conditioning. You could have joined any other sports club, but you didn't choose another sport, nor did you run away from yourself. You chose the volleyball club with your own will, didn't you?"

Tsukishima fell silent. That was right. After going through all that, he still chose volleyball. Not anything else, and he didn't run away. He still joined the volleyball club.