Aoba Johsai eventually lost the practice match.

  Even though Oikawa's serve earhree secutive points to temporarily take the lead, the stark differen overall ability between them and the uy team was insurmountable for the time being.

  However, Coach Irihata was satisfied—the purpose of this practice match had been achieved.

  "Losing a practice match isn't scary. What's terrifying is regretting it after losing during the Inter-High or Spring High tours," Coach Irihata said, sing the room full of slightly frustrated pyers. "If you want to make it to nationals, your oppos will only get strohan the ones you faced today. Third-years, you especially know what I'm talking about."

  Oikawa, Iwaizumi, and the rest of the third-years ched their fists. They uood all too well. This was their final year. In the past two years, they hadn't even made it to nationals.

  "Alright, everyone, we'll foproving serve-receive quality, and then split into groups to practice offeups, deferansitions, and tactical pys. Taichi, finish five ps of diving drills first, then joihers."

  "Yes, sir." Taichi grumbled internally. This petty coach wasn't going to let the punishment slide.

  Volleyball training—with its passing, serving, setting, spiking, and more—seems repetitive and monotonous on the surface. Yet, these drills are the foundation of reag higher petitive levels.

  Every pass involves judgment and movement; every serve demands trol of power and angle; every set tests hand teiques and vision; every spike bihe perfect timing of a jump with precise arm swings. These as, repeated endlessly, refihe smallest teical details ahe athlete's endurance, skill, and tactical uanding.

  Such repetition is not merely practice but a grinding wheel that polishes an athlete's patience, perseverance, and focus.

  [Ding! Begiraining mode has been activated. Every pleted training task will improve the corresponding stats. Side effect: post-training fatigue doubles. Please prepare yourself mentally.]

  Perfect! Taichi thought, full of excitement. Training directly leading to improvement? What could be better? As for the side effect, well, he was young—wasn't sleep the cure for everything?

  [Task one: 10 ps of diving drills. pletion rewards: +1 Stamina, +1 Receiving.]

  The system, ever 'thoughtful', had doubled the inal punishment from Coach Irihata. Taichi had every reason to believe this was its way of ensuring he didn't get free rewards.

  Brushing aside his irritation, Taichi moved to the edge of the court and began his "diving journey."

  Diving in volleyball is a defeeique used to handle fast, low, or difficult-to-reach balls.

  Pyers must judge the ball's trajectory, then push off the ground with their legs to unch their bodies toward it. During the dive, they extend their arms and fio maximize the tact surface area, using their wrists and fio trol the ball's dire and force. After tag the ball, they perform a roll to safely absorb the impad return to position.

  Diving drills train anticipation, quick reas, coordination, precise ball handling, and safe ndings—crucial for expanding defensive ce and creating terattack opportunities during matches.

  One p, then ahe exhaustion mounted with each dive. Taichi's steps grew heavier, and the ache in his muscles spread through his limbs and back. Sweat dripped steadily from his brow.

  "Is he past five ps yet?"

  "Then why's he still going? No way… is this guy trying to outdo everyone?"

  "This kid's insane," someotered, as more pyers turheir attention to Taichi's relentless pace.

  Immersed in his training, Taichi remained unaware of the growing crowd watg him. From the initial struggle, he had found his rhythm, fog solely on pleting the task. As the system dispyed Dives: 9/10, Taichi's determination surged as he ched his teeth, and focused his eyes on the front.

  Though his body screamed in protest, his resolve only deepened. Each dive was executed with i, striving for teical precisioe the mounting fatigue. With a final burst of effort, he threw himself into o dive. The motios initial grace but was imbued with strength and resilience.

  Landing hard, Taichi stayed down for a moment, his body spent.

  [Task plete. Stamina +1. Receiving +1.]

  [Phase objectives now unlocked.]

  [Objective 1: Perform 1,000 successful serve-receives. Rewards: +1 Receiving, +1 Serving (until average stat reaches 60).]

  [Objective 2: Perform 1,000 successful spikes. Reward: +1 Spiking (until average stat reaches 60).]

  Though his chest heaved with boured breaths, a smile crept across Taichi's lips. The palpable growth brought immeisfa. The sensation of tangible improvement? Nothing short of exhirating.

  Meanwhile, his teammates exged uneasy gnces.

  "Why is he lying there smiling like that? It's creepy…"

  "Hey, Taichi, you alright?" A teammate approached cautiously.

  "I'm fiaichi's recovery was swift thanks to the beginner mode, and after a brief rest, he was ready to join the drill.

  "Coach, I start practising serve-receive now?"

  Coach Irihata gave an approving nod. "Go ahead!"

  Paired with fellow first-year Akira Kunimi for the drill, Taichi appreciated Kunimi's effit style. Though often id-back, Kunimi never scked when it mattered, and his banced skill set made him an excellent partner for foundational training.

  One hour ter...

  Kunimi was bent over, clutg a volleyball, breathing heavily.

  "Kunimi, what's wrong? e on, serve already!" Taichi was still full of energy, urging his parto tinue.

  "This guy… wasn't he the one about to colpse earlier? Why does he look like he hasn't tired out at all?" Kunimi gnced around, desperate for an escape. He spotted a familiar face—Kindaichi.

  "Kindaichi, your turn to pair with Taichi. I need a break." Without waiting for a response, Kunimi strolled to the sidelines and sprawled out, seeking a moment's peace.

  Kindaichi hesitated, but seeing Kunimi's state, he stepped in. "Alright, I'll take over."

  Another hour passed...

  "Kindaichi, your stamina's iaichi praised, trying to keep up.

  Kindaichi, drenched i, wheezed out, "Dude, yours is even worse…"

  Taichi checked Kindaichi's stats using the system:

  [Name: Kindaichi Yūtarō

  Speed: 75

  Strength: 83

  Stamina: 88

  Jump: 75.]

  "Not bad," Taichi mused. "Good stamina and strength. Pity about his speed and jump—no wonder he struggled against Hinata in that match…"

  _________

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