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3:30 PM
The dismissal bell rang at Sengoku Middle School. Akashi Asuka arrived at the volleyball club early and began his warm-up.
Soon after...
The rest of the volleyball club members trickled in. The coach then announced today's training plan.
But just as everyone was about to start...
The coach suddenly called out to Akashi Asuka.
"Hold on, Akashi. Starting today, your training changes."
He turned and shouted toward the back of the gym.
"Nishimori! Come here. From now on, you're Akashi's setter. Until the tournament begins, aside from practice matches, you'll handle all sets for Akashi."
Nishimori Tomohiko froze when his name was called, then his face paled.
"Eh? Me as Akashi-senpai's setter? But Mishita-senpai..."
"Don't worry about Mishita. He and Akashi will train separately for now. They can re-sync right before the tournament."
The coach's sudden decision shocked not only Nishimori but also the other regulars. The only person unsurprised was Akashi Asuka himself.
Because if he guessed right, the coach's thinking probably matched his own exactly.
Sure enough...
While the rest of the club rotated through basic drills and practice matches, Akashi Asuka did only one thing: spike.
With less than two weeks until the prefectural tournament, there wasn't time to fix Akashi Asuka's glaring weaknesses. Better to focus everything on sharpening his one real weapon: raw attacking power.
Core strength. Spiking technique. Jumping ability.
These three areas would be his sole focus for the next fourteen days.
And so...
For the rest of practice—whether others were drilling or scrimmaging—the gym echoed with constant explosive cracks.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
[Ding...]
[Pushing yourself is just baseline requirement for a true King of the Grind]
[Congratulations. During daily training—spiking—you trained twice as much as your planned amount and completed a low-level grind.]
[Earned: Spike Grind Points +0.1]
······
Because his training plan changed, Akashi Asuka could no longer earn Grind Points by out-training his teammates. Their routines were completely different now.
But if he couldn't grind others... he'd grind himself.
Sneaking in extra reps behind the coach's back was something he had done constantly in his past life.
Back then, he could only add about thirty percent extra to his training. His body's limits forced him to be careful. But now with the system protecting him? Akashi Asuka held nothing back. He pushed his training to the absolute limit.
After all, high-intensity training improved his actual skills too—not just Grind Points.
Someone raised on the principle of "never waste anything" wasn't about to throw away free gains.
One hour. Nearly three hundred spikes.
Akashi Asuka's arm went numb.
And the consequence...
Nishimori Tomohiko got scolded by the coach.
Tossing three hundred balls straight was brutal stamina drain for a setter too.
Akashi Asuka was exhausted—but he knew how to hide it. Years of secret extra training had forged acting skills strong enough to keep his face perfectly calm no matter how tired he felt.
Nishimori? Not so much.
'Sorry, kid. Gotta let you take the fall this time. I'll treat you to food next time.'
Watching Nishimori get lectured from across the court, Akashi Asuka silently apologized.
But he couldn't confess—not because he feared getting scolded, but because if the coach found out about his secret extra training, future solo grinding would get banned outright.
Thing was...
Athletes training alone wasn't always a good thing.
Serious coaches designed training plans with scientific precision. Each session pushed right up to—but not beyond—an athlete's safe limit.
Go past that limit on your own? You wouldn't get stronger. You'd just get injured.
Soon...
Nishimori returned after being scolded for "slacking off and poor stamina."
"Sorry about that, Nishi..."
Akashi Asuka started to apologize as the boy walked back.
But before he could finish, Nishimori suddenly looked up—eyes sparkling.
"Akashi-senpai... so amazing."
Akashi Asuka: '?'
"Your stamina is incredible."
Akashi Asuka: '???'
'Kid, something's off about you. Really off.'
······
Training was boring.
Athletes might look passionate and fired up during games...
But off the court, training meant repeating the same motion hundreds, thousands of times.
Spiking.
Jumping.
Strength work.
Three drills. Day after day. Akashi Asuka executed each with robotic precision. His seriousness even drew strange looks from the coach.
Because in his memory, the old Akashi Asuka never skipped practice... but he'd never been this focused either.
As for the other club members? They barely noticed his changes.
Separated training meant they only felt one thing during scrimmages:
Akashi Asuka's spikes kept getting stronger. Every single time.
Without anyone realizing it...
The day of the prefectural tournament arrived.
······
The moment the coach led them into Miyagi Prefecture Gymnasium, noise crashed in from all directions. The squeak of shoes on polished floors mixed with cheers from the stands—and every volleyball club member felt their scalp prickle.
Even Akashi Asuka's heart raced a little.
He'd played big matches before. But never with this many spectators.
Middle school volleyball didn't draw crowds like the high school tournaments did.
But today was the prefectural sports festival opening ceremony. Nearly half the seats were filled.
Opening ceremonies were basically the same everywhere.
Line up. Take photos.
Someone comes out to "say a few words."
Two hours later...
The ceremony ended.
Matches began.
According to the draw, Sengoku Middle School's first opponent was Uishi Middle School.
Another forgettable team, just like Sengoku, stuck in the lower tiers of Miyagi Prefecture volleyball.
The team changed into jerseys in the waiting area.
When staff called their number, the volleyball club members stepped onto the court—nervous, anxious, hearts pounding...
(End of Chapter)