Chapter Text
Part-II
Kageyama’s POV
It was simply more, much more incredible than he could have ever expected. The Olympic-level reputed coaches, huge volleyball courts with teraflax floors (they don’t have wooden floors here, how cool is that!), national-level players, and the facilities provided for the athletes at the training center were all top-notch.
He was feeling like he had stepped into a whole different reality. An entirely distinct world of volleyball that is quite sophisticated but preserves the essence of the sport. A world where this sport is treated with the sincerity and dedication it deserves to be treated with.
A world whose glimpse Kageyama didn’t know how desperately he needed until now. And now that he has seen it, he is on cloud nine. He is going to dedicate his time here only to volleyball without any distractions like school and homework. And he will gladly take this reality over anything any day of the week, thank you very much.
The day Takeda-sensei shared the news that he has been invited here, his reaction could only be described as shell-shocked. Though his teammates were ecstatic for him. It felt nice. It felt like he was indeed taking a solid first step towards the fulfillment of his dream to stand on the world stage.
Like he would be getting ahead of someone, of everyone, who also dreamt the same thing for themselves. And if these people really want to share the spotlight with him, want to stand with him or even against him on that stage, then they better find ways to try and catch up. Until then they meet, he will be running ahead. Catching up to those who have outrun him in that race already.
Him being here, at this training camp with these talented players, was more than proof that he did almost catch up. Although the thought of spending every waking moment with these unfamiliar faces was kinda the part of the situation he didn’t really want to focus on. Okay…maybe not all of them were unfamiliar.
He could recognize the ace spiker of Itachiyama, Sakusa Kiyoomi, even in his sleep. It was impossible for him not to. The raven had watched multiple replays of the Itachiyama vs Shiratorizawa game for reference before Karasuno was gonna go against the latter. He was on the edge each time he pressed the replay button. The game was frightening and exhilarating at the same time.
To see one of the top three ace spikers in Japan having trouble counteracting the power-packed spikes and receives of Ushijima-san was truly nerve-wracking. So, imagine how thrilled he was when he had a run-in with the same ace at the entrance of the training center.
He didn’t even waste a second to quickly introduce himself to the upperclassman. And although the man only grunted as an acknowledgment, Kageyama was excitedly looking forward to learn volleyball techniques from him. Because at the end of the day it was only about volleyball for him.
Another person he recognized who surprisingly knew him in return was a first year. He remembered playing against him during Fukurodani’s summer training camp. But for the life of him, Kageyama couldn’t recall the other’s name.
And he found himself hesitating to ask to not come off as an idiot when they both were dining together. People having dinner together should know each other’s names already, shouldn’t they? Instead, like a normal person, he decided to call the other broccoli no. 2 in his mind, courtesy of his curly hair. Pfff…..if Hinata was here he would have totally agreed with the nickname.
To be honest, up until now, broccoli no. 2 was a decent person to be around. The curly-haired boy was the one to start conversations just about everything. He also didn’t exactly appear bothered with Kageyama’s usual silence on topics other than volleyball.
The other also took it upon himself to give the raven some tidbits about some invited players he recognized.
“And the one who is sitting beside Sakusa-san is Komori-kun, he is a fantastic libero. Oh! and that tall one there with bleached blond hair is a second-year setter from Hyogo prefecture. I heard some other players talking that he is known as Japan’s best high school setter. He is also------”
The boy was still going on but Kageyama couldn’t focus on anything after hearing the word setter. His mood changed instantly. And before he knew he started a questionnaire in his mind while staring at the setter.
‘A setter and Japan’s very best at that. But why Kageyama hasn’t heard of him yet if he was that good? What school does he go to? How many hours does he practice daily? What is his gameplay? Does he mess with people’s psychics like that Nekoma’s setter? or does he use his teammates’ strong points like that shit-stain Oikawa? or maybe like Fukurodani’s setter—’
His thoughts came to a halt when the broccoli head called out his name precautiously, “Umm…Kageyama-kun, everything okay?”
“Huh…..yeah I am fine,” Kageyama responded earning a questioning look from the other.
“Sorry if I am out of line but you have been looking down at your sushi and stabbing it for a while now like it has offended you or something.” The other said laughing nervously.
When the raven looked down at his dinner plate with wide eyes, he found that it sure was a mess. The blond setter was already gone when he glanced in his direction again. He will get his answers about the setter in the upcoming days anyway.
“No, it’s fine. I just didn’t like it that much,” Kageyama said stabbing that sushi again. Broccoli head only nodded as an answer.
“Are you excited for our first training day tomorrow, Kageyama-kun?” the boy quietly asked when they both were heading to their rooms after dinner.
“I am always excited for volleyball,” the raven simply shrugged before bidding the other goodnight.
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It was cold and slightly late when Kageyama stepped outside to look around the camp in his free time while enjoying some warm milk. He stumbled upon so many spacious volleyball courts other than the main gym, equipped with TVs, cameras, and whatnot.
He also took notice of basketball and tennis gym courts, realizing that the national training center housed athletes from all kinds of sports. Figures. A few players were still going on with their practice in these courts. Looking at these people who were so dedicated to their favorite sports made him happy.
After roaming around for one hour, he decided to end his little tour. It would not leave a good impression on the coaches if he was late tomorrow morning on their first training day.
He was about to take a turn to their dorm when he heard some quiet meows coming from a dim-lighted hallway. He followed the noise to come face to face with a small black cat sitting idly on the sill of a window. Hmm…..looks like a stray.
Animals had always been a sour topic for the raven as befriending them was another task he didn’t find as easy as playing volleyball. He always liked animals but unfortunately the same couldn’t be said about those little furries.
His lack of experience with them didn’t help either, because now he was holding a staring contest with the cat. The raven was staring so as to not scare the animal away and the cat was just simply staring at him with what? curiosity? maybe judgment? Should he stop staring? Should he just pet the cat on the head? What did Hinata tell him about approaching cats? How come that dumbass can do it so easily and I can’t?
“Maybe I should take this as one of our challenges. I would tell him when we meet after the week that I got to pet a cat and that he lost?” he smiled, satisfied with his smart idea.
Seeing his approaching hand, the small creature quickly jumped from its spot and hurriedly ran away inside a secluded room.
The first thought that came to his mind when he entered the room following the cat was “Woah! It kind of looks like Karasuno’s volleyball court minus the wooden flooring.”
He let out a pleased hum after taking a detailed look at the gym. “It’s way too far from the main training gym. If it’s not in use tomorrow, then maybe I could practice here in quiet after practice sessions.”
He left the gym quite delighted with himself at finding a perfect spot for his practice. He took a turn near the vending machine to get back to his room, walking through a little dark hallway.
Kageyama was throwing another fleeting glance at the gym when his torso straight up knocked into something. He said a little “oooff” silently and immediately stiffened when he realized that it wasn’t something but rather someone he had collided with.
The man was just standing there. His back obscured the only light coming from the hallway behind him, making it hard to see his face.
‘Should I say sorry first? Why isn’t he saying something? Who even is he? Ugghh… it is too cold here, my face is gonna freeze.’ With these thoughts running through his mind, the raven focused his eyes on the figure again. Quite rude to stare at someone and not even apologize, you stupid head.
He would give this statue a piece of his mind once he sees who the heck even is he. Adjusting his eyes to the soft light coming from the vending machine, he managed to see the other’s face a bit clearer. And then his eyes widened a little in recognition. It is that second-year blond setter Chigaya-kun was talking about!
Well, the seniority of people has never stopped him before from speaking his mind (he challenged Ushiwaka-san with Hinata, for god’s sake). But then a thought changed his mind.
“Daichi-san and Suga-san would not like it if I get into an argument with anyone here. Let alone an upperclassman,” he thought as he straightened his posture.
Without waiting anymore for the blond to say something, Kageyama bowed abruptly in front of him.
“I am sorry for bumping into you! It was slightly dark and I didn’t see you there.” Yeah, that’s enough apology for a simple collision. The blond started to say something but the raven curtly bowed again and started walking simply ending the conversation, before they even started one.
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His fingers were thrumming with excitement when their first training session for the camp started. He could tell that all the players (including himself) were trying to familiarize themselves with each other game plays. It was akin to a warm-up for them.
But the practice alone could be considered on par with tough games Karasuno had played against some teams. “We are gonna get a real good competition from these guys in the upcoming nationals. It’s gonna be exciting!” Kageyama thought with a small smile on his face before making his way to the cafeteria during their lunch break.
The raven was intently observing the serves, sets, spikes, receives, and blocks of these players. “Although the basics of these volley skills are known to every player in the game, different players adapt to these skills in their characteristic way, Tobio. A basic move can be re-modified by a player by keeping in his mind his own strengths and weaknesses.”
These words of his grandfather always rang in his ears. After all, he was the one who introduced the raven to this sport.
“In sports, you should always be adopting different ways to train yourself. Learn new things from your fellow players. Redefine them in your own way and then add them to your arsenal. These things will help you evolve as a player Tobio. Because learning should never be stopped. Because learning is growing.” It took him some time to understand the concept, but better late than never, he supposed.
Their first day ended with everyone gathered around the coaches getting pointers on their gameplay. Kageyama also received some advice from coach Hibarida regarding the jump float serve he pulled off at the end of the session. He hadn’t even gotten off the court and his palms were already itching to try that new trick.
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“Everyone here is crazy good. Especially that guy.” Chigaya nodded his head towards a short player with spiky white hair and big seagull eyes. Yes, he now remembered broccoli head’s name after he heard other players calling him during the practice. “I wonder who that is? Have you ever played against him before, Kageyama-kun?”
The raven hadn’t seen him before coming to this camp, let alone played against him, so he told the other just that. Although he was a little intrigued by the player. He was even shorter than Hinata. If Kageyama hadn’t seen him blocking and spiking today, he would have assumed that the spiky seagull was a skilled libero like Noya-san.
They were parting ways for their day after their dinner when Kageyama spoke, “Well it’s just the first day of the camp, I’m sure we will come to know these players in the upcoming days.”
“I guess you are right about that.” The other frowned looking at Kageyama taking an opposite turn. “Why are you going the wrong way? Isn’t our dorm this way?” And then, with bewilderment written all over his face, he asked, “Are you gonna go practice again, this late at night?”
“Yeah, I am. I feel energized after dinner. I need to practice that move coach told me about,” Kageyama affirmed with a nod, and with that, he was off to the gym.
A cool gust of wind welcomed him when he opened the door of that eerily quiet and well-kept volleyball court. As suspected, it was not used for regular practice. Jackpot.
He was going at the serve for a couple of hours but the satisfaction that comes with decent work was still not there.
Kageyama was no stranger to the fact that moves like these cannot be mastered overnight. But he was adamant to learn and use this new attack to score some points for his team. We will win these nationals, no matter who we play against. This thought was enough to fuel him up to keep going.
It was well past midnight and he was still in the gym, pushing his body to its limits. He needed something out of this practice.
“I can’t go in there tomorrow with no improvement whatsoever. I need to be better, I won’t lose to that dumbass.”
At some point, he got a feeling that he was being watched but quickly ignored the thought of anyone near the gym at this late hour. It must be the cat.
It was a bit tricky, but through trial and error, he got the faintest idea of the timing of the toss that had to be maintained with his three-step approach. He tested the theory on his next attempts and got a smile of satisfaction when the rotation of the ball changed drastically.
“That would surely do it,” he thought while stretching his sore muscles after this strenuous practice.