The sun sank completely below the horizon, and the noise in the gym gradually ebbed like the tide.
The floor had been polished until it gleamed, and the air was thick with the smell of antiperspirant spray and the burnt scent of rubber friction. Lu Ren leaned against the metal frame of the ball cart, spinning a volleyball in his hand as he watched the people nearby.
Over there, Nishinoya Yū stood solemnly in front of Sawamura Daichi.
"Daichi Senpai." Nishinoya's voice had lost the buoyant energy he'd shown while horsing around earlier. It was as heavy as a stone. "Sorry, but I won't play in that practice match."
Sugawara and Tanaka, who were tidying up the protective gear nearby, paused.
Sawamura Daichi closed the notebook in his hand. He didn't look particularly surprised, only gazed calmly at the short boy who hadn't even reached his shoulder. "Why not?"
"Shoyo's got a lot of potential." Nishinoya Yū pointed at Hinata, who was still practicing his receiving form against the air. "The other first-years all have their own issues too. The glasses guy's mouth is sharp, and that scary-looking setter does nothing but glare, but they're all interesting."
He paused, his eyes shining with startling intensity. "I think this team's going to get stronger from now on. I want to keep practicing here too. I want to receive the balls these guys spike."
Lu Ren raised an eyebrow. Not only was he a top libero, he was also the ultimate team favorite. He really knew how to say the right things.
"But..." Nishinoya's tone shifted, his fist clenching at his side. "If I play in the match and we win... it'd feel like we were proving that 'we can win even without Asahi Senpai.'"
Not even if it was just a