Chapter 35: Pre-Camp Preparations

Ryosuke said helplessly to Goshiki, “Looks cool, right? Just wait until they start spiking—then you’ll really suffer.”

Goshiki puffed out his chest. “I’m not scared! I’m the man who’s going to challenge the ace!”

Ryosuke reached out a claw and tickled Goshiki at the waist. Goshiki’s puffed-up chest instantly deflated like a balloon.

“Don’t tickle me! That’s so itchy, Ryosuke!”

Ryosuke ignored him and met Coach Washijō’s questioning gaze with an innocent expression.

Coach Washijō looked at the noisy youngsters and spoke sternly. “This training camp is a great opportunity. I don’t want anyone slacking off or cutting corners!”

Standing in the crowd, Tendo rubbed his nose and stayed quiet. He was afraid that if he looked up, he’d meet Coach Washijō’s eyes head-on.

“You’ve all been given the materials already. Don’t embarrass me during the practice matches!” Coach Washijō emphasized again and again how important the training games were.

He was worried that some brat might suddenly do something stupid and turn Shiratorizawa into a laughingstock in every possible sense.

After that, Coach Washijō stepped aside and let the advisor take over. Compared to that fierce old man, the students clearly preferred dealing with the advisor in his thirties.

Coach Washijō slowly walked out the door and stood outside, watching flocks of white birds rise into the sky to hunt.

Hidden behind those white birds were many unseen enemies, watching greedily, ready to drag them down from the air at any moment.

“This year… there are quite a few formidable opponents,” Coach Washijō said, smiling faintly—a rare sight.

Over on the advisor’s side, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. Coach Washijō’s presence was simply too oppressive; being stared at by those vulture-like eyes made anyone uneasy.

Yamagata picked up one of the profiles, glanced at it, and couldn’t help complaining. “Isn’t this a bit much? They even dug up this person’s recent worries and favorite foods?”

Out of sight, Ryosuke awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth. When Coach Washijō had given him the assignment, he hadn’t listened carefully—and ended up printing everything.

The advisor shot a meaningful look at Ryosuke, who looked like he wanted to crawl into a crack in the floor.

“Alright, that’s enough fooling around,” the advisor said. “The day after tomorrow, we leave for the training camp. Gather at the gym entrance and we’ll take the bus together.

“This camp is a big one—most of the well-known schools from the Spring Tournament will be there. Watch your behavior and don’t disgrace Shiratorizawa, got it?”

Ushijima and the others didn’t react much, but Ryosuke and the other first-years nodded like chicks pecking at grain. After all, this was their first training camp since entering middle school.

“That’s all for today. You can go now. Pack your luggage when you get home and have your parents sign the consent form.”

The advisor left as soon as he finished speaking, clearly afraid these kids would delay his clocking out. He walked off at top speed.

Ryosuke sighed. “The advisor really is impressive.”

Goshiki nodded deeply in agreement.

Yunohama looked at the two of them like they were idiots and turned to leave.

Ryosuke quickly grabbed him. “Yunohama-kun, let’s go together. I want to buy knee pads and sports shoes—can you and Goshiki help me pick them out?”

Before Yunohama could respond, Tendo enthusiastically dragged Ushijima over. “Alright, alright! Little Ryosuke, we’re going too!”

Tendo swayed over, his giraffe-like neck bobbing as he dragged Ushijima along.

Ryosuke looked at Ushijima for confirmation. Ushijima instantly understood Ryosuke’s silent question and nodded.

“Okay then, let’s all go together,” Ryosuke decided cheerfully.

“Hey, hey, hey! I never said I was going!”

“Come on, come on, Yunohama-kun~ Don’t be so serious~”

“Tendo, that drawn-out tone is weird.”

“Ushijima-senpai! How did you train to get so strong?!”

“……”

The group left in a noisy cluster.

Since starting middle school, Ryosuke had never bought daily necessities or sports equipment by himself. Mrs. Washijō and Coach Washijō handled everything for him.

A while ago, the stitching on Ryosuke’s knee pads had come loose. He hadn’t mentioned it, planning to buy a new pair eventually. Today, he finally had the chance.

This sporting goods store was the largest in Miyagi. Calling it a store was almost an understatement—it was more like a supermarket, and many athletes shopped here regularly.

Goshiki’s eyes sparkled as he stared at a pair of shoes displayed behind the glass. His eyes practically popped out of their sockets. If Yunohama hadn’t grabbed the back of his clothes, Goshiki would’ve already rushed inside.

Seeing Goshiki barely containing himself, Tendo grabbed him and started running. “Hurry up, hurry up! Let’s go take a look—they’re way too slow!”

“Tendo-senpai! Please don’t drag Goshiki into your nonsense!”

Yunohama shouted in frustration. How could a senior be this unreliable?

He hurried after them, worried that the clueless Goshiki might get lost inside the store.

In the blink of an eye, only Ushijima and Ryosuke were left standing there. The other three had vanished somewhere.

“Senpai, could you recommend some knee pads for me?”

As they walked, Ryosuke suddenly asked. Since he was a senior, he had to be more experienced.

Ushijima stopped and picked up a knee pad from the shelf. The brand wasn’t obvious.

“This one. It’s comfortable and provides strong support. You should also get a long knee pad for your left leg.”

Ryosuke looked up, completely confused. “A long knee pad… for my left leg?”

Ushijima explained seriously, “You’re jumping off one leg most of the time as a middle blocker. If this continues, your left leg won’t be able to handle it.”

“Wow, senpai, that’s amazing! Thank you so much!”

Faced with the junior’s enthusiasm, Ushijima didn’t say anything, but inwardly he was quietly impressed.

Polite, knows to ask seniors for advice, and enthusiastic in just the right way.
Very comfortable to be around.

Ushijima and Ryosuke spent a long time in the knee pad section. In the end, Ryosuke picked the knee pads Ushijima recommended, along with a long knee pad for his left leg.

Ushijima, meanwhile, spotted a wrist guard he liked. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to take it as well.

The two wandered around the store looking for Goshiki and Tendo.

“Wakatoshi-kun! Over here~” a voice called out from afar.

“You can tell it’s Tendo-senpai the moment you hear that voice.”

Ushijima was silent for a moment before saying, “You can just call me by my name.”

Ryosuke froze. Calling a senior by their given name felt incredibly disrespectful.

But when he met Ushijima’s straightforward gaze, Ryosuke hesitated, then couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

“Then… Wakatoshi-senpai.”

“……”

So he still added senpai after all.
…Was I being too stiff?