[Gyukaku, a yakiniku restaurant near Aoba Johsai High]

  With over 620 branches across Japan, Gyukaku is one of the rgest yakiniku s in the try. Known for its wide sele of over a hundred ingredients and budget-friendly prig, it's a favourite choice among Aoba Johsai students fatherings after events.

  Tonight, after Coach Irihata and Team Manager-coach Mizoguchi finalized the starting lineup, the volleyball club members gathered here to rex and clear their minds.

  "The starting lineup is as follows: Setter Oikawa Tooru; Wing Spikers Iwaizumi Hajime, Hanamaki Takahiro, Kunimi Akira; Middle Blockers Matsukawa Issei, Kaedehara Taichi; and Libero Watari Shinji."

  With the annou of the starting lineup, the internal sele process for Aoba Johsai's volleyball team finally came to an end.

  Three first-years were sidered, but only Kindaichi Yūtarō failed to make the cut. Among the sed-years, only Watari Shinji earned a spot, leaving most of them with another uful year. For the third-years on the brink of graduation, those not selected were left with a bitter sense ret.

  "Excuse me, another drink, please." Third-year Tamamiya Toshiki raised his hand to call for the waiter.

  "Toshiki, it's just juiot Shōchū. You 't get drunk on that," Oikawa Tooru quipped, grinning mischievously as he leaned closer.

  Without hesitation, Iwaizumi Hajime nded a swift ki Oikawa's backside. "Idiot! You know underage drinking is illegal. Stop giving people weird ideas."

  Tamamiya shot a gre at Oikawa. "You're such a pain, you know that? We've got plenty of pints about you."

  Oikawa merely smiled at Tamamiya, knowing that some things could only be said in moments like this.

  Both third-years from Css 5, Tamamiya and Oikawa had joihe volleyball club as first-years and shared a det retionship. Yet, over the past three years, Tamamiya had never oepped onto the court in an official match. He wasn't the only one. Aoba Johsai had plenty of pyers like him.

  "You're a jerk. You know that?" Tamamiya's voice grew louder, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Good at volleyball, det grades, handsome to boot. Every time you py, girls flock to see you. It's infuriating….Are you some kind of genius?"

  At first, Oikawa nodded along, pleased with the pliments and wishing Tamamiya would tinue. But then, the wenius' struck him like a sp in the face. His expression stiffened. Was that really how others saw him?

  "But Shiratorizawa…"

  "That's exactly why—" Tamamiya cut him off, his voice trembling, almost on the verge of tears. "This is our st year, Oikawa! You have to beat Shiratorizawa. Show the whole try that Aoba Johsai exists!"

  Oikawa froze, the words dragging him back to his first year. He remembered vividly how he and Iwaizumi had joihe volleyball club together. When the coach asked them their goal, they had shouted in unison, "To reaationals!" The memory of their bright, determined voices still echoed in his mind.

  But now, as third-years, Aoba Johsai had fallen to Shiratorizawa time and time again. The once-clear goal of 'reag nationals' had bee a silent dream, buried under yers of doubt.

  Did he want to defeat Shiratorizawa? Of course, he did. His drive to reaationals had never waned. But somewhere along the way, Oikawa had stopped picturing himself leading Aoba Johsai to victory over Shiratorizawa.

  [Ding! Task triggered: Ace's Resolve.]

  A meical voice suddenly echoed in Kaedehara Taichi's mind.

  [When Aoba Johsai's ace, Oikawa Tooru, begins to waver in his resolve, the host must deliver their owion as the team's ace to stabilize the situation. Reward: Unknown.]

  "What?!"

  Taiearly spat out his soda. He had just beeed for the starting lineup—how could the system expect him to make such a decration now? He was just a bystander, yet the system alushed him to stir things up!

  But the system's voice was cold and uing.

  [Failure in three seds: Three…Two…]

  What?! That fast?!

  In a panic, Taichi shot to his feet, actally knog over his soda in the process. The previously quiet atmosphere grew restless as everyouro him, puzzled by his sudden outburst.

  "I….I'll bee Aoba Johsai's ace!" Taichi blurted out, his voice trembling.

  "???"

  "What did Taichi just say?"

  "I didn't quite hear that…"

  "I'll bee Aoba Johsai's ace, lead us to defeat Shiratorizawa, and make it to nationals!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted again, louder this time, his voice crag slightly.

  "Pfft, hahahaha…" The sed and third-year seniors couldn't help but burst into ughter.

  "Taichi, what are you doing?" His first-year teammates thought he might have gotten drunk, even cheg the spilt soda nearby to firm it wasn't spiked or anything.

  Oikawa T Taichi, notig a mix of awkwardness in his expression—but also, unmistakably, a fiery determination.

  Seated o Taichi, Kindaichi Yūtarō tugged at his sleeve, urging him in a low voice, "Dude, you are embarrassing us. Sit down already…"

  Oher side, Kunimi Akira covered his face with one hand, internally menting, Why did I have to sit here of all pces?

  The brief otion seemed to lighten the mood. Iwaizumi Hajime gave Oikawa a ge on the back, and Oikawa nodded before turning to Tamamiya Toshiki. "Don't worry. This year, I'll make sure we make it to nationals."

  "Yeah. I believe in you."

  -----

  After finishing their meal, Aoba Johsai's pyers began to leave the yakiniku restaurant one by one. However, Iwaizumi signalled for the starting lineup of twelve pyers to stay behind.

  Oikawa cast a g Hanamaki Takahiro and smirked. "Takahiro, it's our st year at Aoba Johsai. Don't embarrass us, okay?"

  Hanamaki replied nontly, "Rex. I have no iion of graduating with regrets."

  "And Matsukawa…"

  "I know." Matsukawa Issei cut him off before he could say more, his tone calm but resolute.

  "Watari, the bae depends on you," Oikawa said, addressing the usually quiet Watari Shinji sitting in the er.

  "Yes, Oikawa-senpai," Watari responded crisply.

  "And Kunimi, don't get nervous. You've got the skills—just focus on showing them."

  "Uood."

  Finally, Oikawa turo the substitutes—Tamamiya Toshiki, Yahaba Shigeru, and the others—and bowed deeply.

  "You are the stro support we have on the bench. Whearters falter, we'll t on you to step up. Even though you may not get many ces to py, your trust and itment meahing to us. Thank you. We'll bring back the victory for all of us."

  Kindaichi, startled, shot up to attention and excimed loudly, "Yes, Oikawa-senpai! I'll do my best!"

  The others exged looks, uo suppress their ughter. "What's with this sudden seriousness? That's not like you at all."

  Standing quietly to the side, Taichi observed it all. As a member of Aoba Johsai's volleyball team, he could feel the unshakable trust his teammates had in Oikawa Tooru. That trust seemed even strohan Oikawa's belief in himself.

  As a setter, Oikawa didn't just dictate the rhythm of their offeh his teical skill—he uhe team with his resiliend determination. This bond of trust and reliance was the driving force that pushed Aoba Johsai forward, stantly striving to surpass their limits.

  But wait—didn't they just skip over me in that versation?

  Taichi couldn't help but g Oikawa. "Uh….Oikawa-senpai, don't you have something to say to me too?"

  "Hmph? Didn't you just decre yourself as Seijoh's ace? What else is there for me to say?" Oikawa turned his head to the side with an exaggerated pout.

  "..."

  Seriously? I'm trying to steal the ace position from you, and this is how you act? Taichi thought, frustrated by Oikawa's childish antics.

  Iwaizumi cpped his hands, calling everyone's attention back. "Tomorrow's match against Wakutani Minami is the first for our new lineup. Let's make it a win!"

  "Yes!"

  _________

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