Chapter 13: Aoba Johsai
"Ahem, what's the difference between a wing spiker and a middle blocker?" Kaedehara Taiichi leaned toward Kunimi Akira, whispering. After all, Kindaichi Yutaro didn't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed.
Kunimi Akira glanced at Kaedehara Taiichi, slightly surprised. "You've been playing this long and don't know?" Taiichi usually seemed like the intelligent type; this was the kind of question Kindaichi would ask.
Kindaichi suddenly felt like someone was badmouthing him—more than one person, even—but after looking around, he found nothing suspicious.
Kaedehara Taiichi was upfront. "I've been focusing most of my energy on improving my stamina lately. I'm still a bit unclear on the theoretical aspects of volleyball, especially the specific roles of these two positions."
Kunimi Akira nodded and explained, "Simply put, wing spikers need strong offensive power to score even against a two- or three-man block. When the team's first touch is off, the ball often goes to the wing spiker, who needs to step up and score with individual skill. Middle blockers, on the other hand, focus on tactical plays, using active movement, height advantage, and teamwork to execute fast, varied attacks to bypass the opponent's block."
"Then I could play wing spiker, right? I want to be the ace!" Kaedehara Taiichi blurted out.
Kunimi Akira gave him a sidelong glance. "No way. That was just about offense. Your receiving is too weak, and wing spikers also need to handle defense, taking on first-touch responsibilities in the back row."
A true ace excels in both offense and defense, Kaedehara Taiichi thought suddenly.
"Besides, who says the ace has to be a wing spiker? Isn't our team's ace Oikawa-senpai?" Kunimi Akira said, looking at Oikawa Tooru with admiration.
Taiichi was surprised. Kunimi usually seemed so laid-back, yet he observed Aoba Johsai's players keenly.
In the end, it's about getting stronger, right? Whether it's starting or being the ace, as long as I'm strong enough, it'll happen.
"System-san, what are my stats now?" After two weeks of training, Kaedehara Taiichi felt like he'd undergone a transformation.
"Kaedehara Taiichi: Speed 90, Power 75, Stamina 70, Jump 65, Technique 55 (Receiving, Serving, Spiking have reached passing level; phased training goals updated)."
"Training Goal 1: Complete 10,000 receives to gain Receiving +1, Serving +1 (until host reaches stat value 70)."
"Training Goal 2: Complete 10,000 spikes to gain Spiking +1 (until host reaches stat value 70)."
Oh, my stamina's gone up, Kaedehara Taiichi noted. But Power and Jump haven't changed. He glanced at the muscles on his arm, having expected some Power increase. The training goals jumping tenfold was expected; as skills improve, each step forward gets harder. Becoming a top-tier player isn't that easy.
"Now, let's split into groups. Upperclassmen team—Front row: Wing Spiker Iwaizumi Hajime, Setter Yahaba Shigeru, Middle Blocker Matsukawa Issei; Back row: Wing Spiker Hanamaki Takahiro, Opposite Hitter Onita Heisuke acting as libero, Middle Blocker Tamiya Toshiki."
"Underclassmen team—Front row: Wing Spiker Kunimi Akira, Setter Oikawa Tooru, Middle Blocker Kaedehara Taiichi; Back row: Wing Spiker Hino Eiji, Libero Watari Shinji, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yutaro."
Manager Mizoguchi looked at the two groups. "Warm up for 30 minutes, then start the match. Show your full potential."
Kaedehara Taiichi felt a surge of excitement. Was this his first time starting? Not as a countermeasure for a tough opponent, but standing on the court from the match's outset.
With this rare chance, Taiichi closely observed his teammates for the first time.
"Oikawa Tooru: Overall Ability 90, Height 184 cm, Power 95, Jump 85, Stamina 90, Speed 88, Specialties: Serving 95, Setting 94."
"Odd, has Oikawa's speed increased?" Kaedehara Taiichi noticed a difference from before.
"Host's judgment is correct. Oikawa Tooru's Speed has increased by 2 points since the previous practice match."
That's terrifying… Let's check the others.
"Iwaizumi Hajime: Overall Ability 86, Height 179 cm, Power 92, Jump 85, Stamina 88, Speed 85, Specialties: Receiving 80, Spiking 85."
Iwaizumi and Sawamura Daichi are both well-rounded players, but unlike Sawamura's defensive focus, Iwaizumi leans toward offense. As a team pillar, he feels more captain-like than Oikawa.
"Hanamaki Takahiro: Overall Ability 81, Height 184 cm, Power 86, Jump 80, Stamina 85, Speed 70, Specialties: Receiving 82, Spiking 85."
Pretty nuanced stats.
"Matsukawa Issei: Overall Ability 82, Height 187 cm, Power 88, Jump 75, Stamina 85, Speed 82, Specialties: Receiving 78, Spiking 80."
Hmm, these stats are nuanced too.
"Kindaichi Yutaro: Overall Ability 78, Height 189 cm, Power 83, Jump 78, Stamina 88, Speed 70, Specialties: Receiving 70, Spiking 83."
Hah, a stamina-focused giant with no brains.
"Kunimi Akira: Overall Ability 79, Height 182 cm, Power 78, Jump 80, Stamina 75, Speed 83, Specialties: Receiving 80, Spiking 80."
He's got high volleyball IQ but never wastes a drop of stamina. His actual performance probably exceeds these stats, like Tsukishima Kei or Kozume Kenma.
"Watari Shinji: Overall Ability 80, Height 171 cm, Power 70, Jump 88, Stamina 78, Speed 85, Specialties: Receiving 85, Setting 82."
I used to think Aoba Johsai's libero was weak, but against Karasuno and Shiratorizawa, it's hard to imagine anyone doing better.
"Yahaba Shigeru: Overall Ability 80, Height 181 cm, Power 78, Jump 75, Stamina 72, Speed 85, Specialties: Receiving 88, Setting 89."
In another school, Yahaba would likely be a starter, but Oikawa's dominance as a setter keeps him on the bench.
Kaedehara Taiichi refocused. Aoba Johsai wasn't weak at all. Except for the libero, everyone was around 180 cm or taller, with solid fundamentals. While they lacked standout traits like other teams, they had no glaring weaknesses either.
Taiichi glanced at the banner on the second floor—"Dominate the Court"—feeling its weight for the first time.
Honestly, Taiichi hadn't felt a strong sense of belonging to Aoba Johsai before. He was only interested in Oikawa Tooru and Iwaizumi Hajime.
Becoming part of Aoba Johsai after transmigrating wasn't his choice.
In Miyagi's "one superpower, many strong" landscape, perennial powerhouse Shiratorizawa, brawny Date Tech, and wildly growing Karasuno might seem more appealing than "average" Aoba Johsai.
But that "averageness" was Aoba Johsai's pride, their balanced excellence proof of their effort. You didn't need to be a genius to step onto the court.
Oikawa Tooru wasn't a genius, and Aoba Johsai had no geniuses.
Aoba Johsai's consistent Miyagi semifinalist status, even reaching nationals once, relied on solid fundamentals and deep team cohesion—because the captain believed in everyone, and everyone trusted their non-genius captain.
Ding. "Host has realized the importance of teamwork and inwardly accepted being part of Aoba Johsai. Reward: Stamina +3."