One week after the fierce match against Tamaki Commercial.
It’s the last day of the Inter-High Prefectural Qualifiers. If we win one match in the morning and one in the afternoon, we officially qualify to represent the prefecture.
By the way, maybe because of all the backlash from last week’s ridiculous schedule, the venue today is once again co-ed.
Also, in response to the indecent incident two weeks ago (a male student inappropriately touching a female student — me), the tournament committee (or someone like that) clearly doesn’t want a repeat. People wearing armbands are already posted at the venue, keeping watch.
Around me are the members of Matsujo’s volleyball team. Apparently, Coach Saeki — or more accurately, all the coaches from both boys’ and girls’ teams — have been gathered and reminded to be extra careful.
Honestly… yeah, my bad.
Still...
“Is it just me, or are there way more people here than usual?”
I blurt out what I was thinking.
“Well, today’s the day they decide the prefectural reps for Inter-High. It’s not just the eight teams total — guys and girls — there are also people here from magazines and TV doing coverage. Plus, some schools from nearby prefectures, whose matches aren’t today, might be here to scout out the competition.”
“Wait, there’s TV coverage!?”
“Well, it’s not like one of the major national networks. Probably a local station or an independent one. If we were some nationally-known powerhouse school, maybe we’d get solo coverage from the first match.”
“Whoa, really?”
“Also, whether we win or lose today, the results might show up in the local section of national newspapers — or maybe even with photos in the local papers.”
“That’s amazing!”
“Besides that—”
“Sometimes scouts from universities come looking for future recruits.”
A young female voice I know well comes from behind. When I turn around...
““Mika-nee!””
Both Hina and I say in unison.
“Hey! Long time no see, Yuu! Hina!”
Mika-nee spreads her arms wide. Hina quickly steps away. And in the process, shoves me toward Mika-nee!
And the result — I end up face-first in the ample chest of the second Tachibana sister.
“Yuu, it’s been a while. You doing okay?”
“I’m doing fine — fine enough to play volleyball, at least! So let go of me!”
“What’s that, Yuu? No need to hold back when we haven’t seen each other in so long.”
“I’m not holding back! You’re just smothering me!”
Mika-nee is pretty touchy-feely. She’s been messing up my hair this whole time. Seriously, stop it already! Unlike you with your super short hair, I had to undo my braid, comb it out, and redo the whole thing into pigtails!
Hina clearly knew this would happen and only shoved me. Come on, your hair’s short too! Mine’s way harder to fix if it gets messy!
And another thing — you need both hands to mess up two people’s hair. But just one hand is enough to mess up one person’s. So what’s the free hand doing? It’s locking me in a headlock! I can’t escape!
And because of the headlock, my face is pressed right up against Mika-nee’s soft, giant, extremely uncomfortable lumps.
This is weird.
The eldest sister Ryou-nee, Mika-nee the second, and Hina the third — all of them are well-endowed. So why am I the only one who’s not? Something’s not right.
And to add to that, over a year ago I used to prefer bigger… but now… I don’t. That’s weird too. Why, I wonder.
“Mika-nee! Let me go already!”
“What’s the deal? I live in the dorms and hardly get to see you…”
Even as she says that, Mika-nee loosens her grip. I quickly make my escape.
“Meanie! Meanie! Mika-nee, go away! Waaah!”
Seeking comfort, I run over and cling to Eri-senpai nearby. Healing achieved. I’m not lacking anything. I’m just… average.
“So, Mika-nee. What brings you here? Just to mess with Yuu-chan?”
“Nope. I said it earlier — ‘scouts from universities come looking for future recruits.’”
“Huh?”
“Coach, over here. This short one’s my little sister, Yuuri.”
With that, she pries me off Eri-senpai (Mika-nee is oddly strong for a girl!) and stands me in front of her again.
—Hey!! I told you to stop pressing those things against my head!!
Standing in front of me is a tall guy in a suit — probably mid-40s?
“Nice to meet you, Yuuri Tachibana-kun. I’m Tadashi Oonuki, coach of the women’s volleyball team at Tenma University. If you’re still playing volleyball in two years and unsure about your future, I hope you’ll consider reaching out to me or Tenma University.”
Coach Oonuki says, handing me his business card.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuuri Tachibana, Mika’s younger sister. Um... is this a scouting offer?”
“It might be a bit early to call it that. I’ve seen some footage of your matches, but I’d like to see you move more like a full-fledged volleyball player. For now, I’m just a volleyball-loving old guy hoping you’ll grow into your potential.”
He smiles wryly at my question. Well, I’m still only good at spikes and serves, and even those only work with an open toss.
“Yuu-chan, that’s amazing! You’re already being approached by the same university as Mika-nee!”
No, Hina. Were you even listening? He said it’s not scouting. Just an introduction.
“Yuu-chan, that’s so cool! Tenma University won the East Japan Intercollegiate last year, and they were runners-up nationally. They’re a top-tier school!”
Well yeah, if Mika-nee’s on the team, of course they’re strong. But Asuka, where do you even get all this info?
“What are you all doing?”
Oh. Coach Saeki is back.
“You must be the advisor. Sorry for the late introduction — I’m Oonuki, coach of the Tenma University women’s volleyball team. A pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh, I’m Saeki, advisor for the Matsubara Girls High School volleyball team. Pleased to meet you as well.”
Yep. This is turning into one of those long, awkward grown-up conversations.
We quietly slipped away.
＝＝＝＝＝＝
Point of View Shift
Yuuri & Hina’s Older Sister / Himesaki High School Alumna
POV: Tachibana Mika
＝＝＝＝＝＝
It’s been a little while since I introduced Yuu—no, I mean Yuuri—to the coach, per his request. Now, the Inter-High Prefectural Qualifier semifinals between Matsubara Girls’ High School and Himesaki High School has begun.
This is a really hard match to cheer for. One team has my little sisters. The other is my alma mater, where the teachers and coaches I’m indebted to are still working. I want both sides to win. But only one team can move on.
The match starts with Himesaki High School’s serve.
…Matsubara Girls’ libero is really good. She covers the serve aimed at Yuuri. Hina sets it up and…
Whoa—
That’s high!
It’s my first time seeing Yuuri’s spike in person, and the contact point is ridiculously high. Not just high school boys’ level—more like pro-level height for men.
The match continues to shift.
…Wait, did Matsubara change up their strategy? They’ve made Yuuri their center ace. I’ve never seen a center ace in girls’ volleyball before—it's more common in the boys' game.
But it does make sense. Yuuri still struggles with twisting her arm all the way through her swings, so she has trouble aiming her spikes in different directions. But from center, she can keep her approach the same and just make slight adjustments to her arms during the jump to change up the direction. It also makes it harder for the opponents to read the trajectory. And setting her up at the center of the block helps maximize height, too.
・
・
・
“So, Coach. What do you think of my little sister?”
“She’s amazing! Look at that, Tachibana! That height! That power! I said what I said before the match to motivate her, but honestly? I’d take her as a special scholarship student right now if I could.”
Well, yeah. That height and that power. She’s got a level of intensity that could shatter the very concept of girls’ volleyball.
“What about my juniors, Coach?”
“…Coach Akai’s work really shows. Every player has at least the minimum technical skill, and beyond that, each of them brings a unique strength to the court. If any of this year’s third-years put in an application to Tenma University with Coach Akai’s recommendation, I wouldn’t rule out reserving some athletic scholarship spots.”
So Yuuri would be accepted unconditionally as a special student, and the others could potentially get in on conditional recommendation. That’s where things stand.
…It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality. This year’s Himesaki third-years are often called a “gap generation.”
Of course, at an average school, they’d be regulars for sure. But Himesaki’s lineup isn’t that easy to break into. These girls haven’t played in official matches for the past two years. Even now, in their third year, only a few of them are getting playtime—and that’s shared time with the younger students.
This year’s third-years aren’t prodigies. Not even high achievers. They’re just ordinary players who’ve worked hard and kept pushing forward. In terms of talent, they probably fall short of both Yuuri and even Hina.
And…
Yuuri, Hina—I want you two to remember this.
Matsubara Girls’ High School vs. Himesaki High School
Set 1:
31 – 33Set 2:
19 – 25Set Count:
0 – 2Himesaki High School advances to the Inter-High Prefectural Finals
Volleyball isn’t a game where the team with the most powerful spikes always wins.
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