Chapter 62: The Players After the Match
The match ended with Team A rallying back to rewrite the overall score to 2:1, successfully claiming victory.
But everyone, including Team A, was shocked by Ichise Guren's incredible athletic ability and his relentless competitive drive that pursued victory at all costs.
Tanaka Ryunosuke also walked over with a look of amazement. Through this match, he had truly come to understand just how strong Ichise Guren really was.
"At that moment, you could still change your body position and try to receive the ball with your foot."
"Compared to Hyakuzawa's height and Hinata and Kageyama's quick attack, what you displayed was what impressed me most today."
"If it weren't for your stamina being completely depleted at the end of the match, you definitely could have received that ball with a light touch instead of that powerful kick."
"Truly worthy of being the middle school MVP, the ace of a national top-four team."
Tanaka-senpai's straightforward praise made Ichise Guren feel the full force of such direct compliments, even making him somewhat embarrassed. He said with a wry smile:
"A loss is a loss. This shows I still need to keep training hard."
"Come on, give it a rest. You guys don't even have a proper setter or libero."
"Playing like this, although I didn't see your offense, just in terms of defense, your ground-level blocking is S-class level. You'd definitely be in the prefecture's top three."
Tanaka Ryunosuke also patted Ichise Guren's back forcefully with a face full of emotion.
Fortunately, Ichise Guren's physique was sturdy enough to withstand this caring gesture from his senior.
At this moment, Hinata Shoyo was walking toward Ichise Guren together with Kageyama Tobio.
The familiar and generous little sunshine spoke first:
"You're too strong, Guren!"
"If it weren't for having Kageyama's sets this time, Tanaka-senpai's split blocking, and that guy Hoshino's receives—"
"Why am I just 'that guy'?"
Hoshino Masaru directly interrupted Hinata Shoyo's speech.
"I also contributed a lot, show me some respect, you receiving disaster!"
"I won't! You're always calling me a monkey and stuff too!"
Watching the two who hadn't even finished talking before they started bickering and walked away together.
Although Hinata Shoyo's words were interrupted by Hoshino Masaru, Ichise Guren clearly received his meaning. He also knew that Hoshino Masaru understood that the strong and resolute Ichise Guren didn't need that kind of consolation, which was why he had interrupted Hinata Shoyo's statement.
Kageyama Tobio didn't say anything about winning unfairly or the like, simply looking calmly at Ichise Guren and saying:
"This makes it one win, one loss. I'll win next time too!"
"Next time, I'll be stronger!"
"Me too!"
There was no further exchange between the two. Ichise Guren had long ago earned Kageyama Tobio's respect with his strength. Ichise Guren also clearly understood Kageyama Tobio's personality—now that they were teammates, there was no need to exchange any more harsh words.
After all the Team A players had finished talking with Ichise Guren, Hyakuzawa Yudai and Yamaguchi Tadashi came over.
"Sorry, Guren-nii, my receives couldn't help."
"My blocking didn't score many points either."
Looking at Hyakuzawa Yudai, who hung his head somewhat dejectedly.
Ichise Guren smiled.
"What are we being so formal for? We'll just win it back next time, won't we?"
"Yeah!"
The less familiar Yamaguchi Tadashi also apologized, apologizing for not doing many balls properly today. Although Yamaguchi Tadashi at this time was still simply a boy who thought volleyball was just a club activity.
But seeing Ichise Guren's figure today, fighting desperately for every ball and every point, he was moved. He began to feel that when he failed to do what he should have done, it was a grave sin, his face full of apology.
"Well, although we haven't known each other long."
"But one match—winning won't defeat the demon king, nor will it save the world."
"Losing won't destroy the Earth, nor will doomsday come."
"Just try harder next time. I'm not preaching, I'm just simply speaking my honest feelings."
"Yes!!!"
Yamaguchi Tadashi, somewhat like meeting an idol, was slightly excited. After all, that figure running around everywhere on the court really had great charisma.
Meanwhile, the proud and stubborn Tsukishima Kei, who cared about face, didn't approach to strike up a conversation. For him, the current volleyball club was just a club. This match was nothing more than club activity.
If it hadn't been for Hinata Shoyo's provocation before the match started, he wouldn't have played the game so seriously (as he saw it).
Looking at the direction Yamaguchi Tadashi left, and Tsukishima Kei's figure packing up alone.
Ichise Guren casually took a sip of electrolyte water.
No matter how hard you try, if you can never become number one in the world, that means no matter how hard you work, you'll still fail in front of others. Might as well just get scores that don't lose to most people while appearing effortless, then let outsiders think that if he tried hard, wouldn't he be super strong?
This way, when losing to strong opponents, he could still say he hadn't tried hard yet. This way he'd be in an undefeated position in public opinion. Because of his brother's past, Tsukishima Kei held this attitude.
But the face-conscious boy could brush off others' opinions of himself, but he couldn't brush off that flame in his heart that still hadn't been extinguished.
Ichise Guren suddenly thought of a passage he had seen before that could be used to describe Tsukishima's current state. Although not very fitting, he unexpectedly wanted to use it.
[Because he fears he is not a pearl, he dares not polish himself through hard work, yet because he somewhat believes he is a pearl, he cannot associate with common rubble, thus gradually distancing himself from the world and avoiding crowds, resulting in constantly feeding his cowardly self-esteem with resentment and shame in his heart.]
'No, not quite fitting. Tsukishima's competitive spirit is still quite strong.'
'His self-esteem isn't cowardly at all either.'
'Well, smart kids always act a bit awkward before they figure things out.'
'But as a teammate, let's give him some time.'
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