Chapter 2: Training

I open my eyes and look around, realizing that I am lying in a crib inside what is probably my room. I observe my tiny hands and realize how challenging these initial years will be as just a baby unable to do anything on my own. As absorbed by my thoughts, an uncontrollable urge to cry overcomes me, and so I do... WAAH WAAH WAAH...

I cry for a moment until I see a beautiful woman entering my room and picking me up. I notice that this woman has blue eyes and white hair, resembling a female version of Satoru Gojo. Right behind her is what must be my father, who, unlike my mother, has black hair but the same blue eyes. I also observe that both are quite tall; I even think they might be volleyball or basketball players, as it would be a waste of height otherwise, unlike those who choose to be the third goalkeeper in a small football league, as most people do. Anyway, it's going to be terrible getting used to this baby life, having to be breastfed and needing help for everything, but what can I do? It's the price I pay to be tearing up the volleyball courts in this fantastic universe in the future.

A year and a half has passed, and after much suffering, I am already walking relatively well. I discovered that my parents are famous professional volleyball players (from the Japanese national team). My mother, Satsuki Nakamura, is a setter for the Japanese women's national team, and my father, Miyamura Nakamura, is Wing Spiker for the Japanese men's national team. Furthermore, I found out that my name remained Hajime, but they changed my last name to Nakamura.

After I learned to walk, my parents took me to watch a "practice" where they played with family friends. While they played, I sat in the stands watching.

Hajime: I'll use these matches to memorize movements and engrave them in my head hehehe... this will help a lot in the future.

It was during one of these practices that my parents caught me Copying movements in the stands while they played.

Miyamura: Look, dear, Hajime imitating our movements hahahaha.

Satsuki: How cute! My little boy will be a great player and represent the Japanese national team like us, right, dear?

Miyamura: If he inherits my genes, for sure, hehehe.

Satsuki: Oh, please. I hope he only gets your height and leaves the rest to me.

And so the years passed with this routine of watching my parents play and learning as much as possible, until at the age of 6, I enrolled in Sakura Gakuen Elementary School. Since my parents are famous volleyball players in Japan, we are definitely not a family with little money, so I was placed in one of the best schools that also focused on developing volleyball players. On the first day of school at this institution, I met my classmates and teachers and had a basic elementary lesson. My parents enrolled me in the volleyball club where the tryout was something basic, just a simple written test to ensure the child really knows the rules of volleyball. And so, my first day of school comes to an end.

The next day...

Miyamura: So, Hajime, now that you're in elementary school, your mother and I would like to start your training to become a volleyball player. Do you really want that?

Hajime: Of course, Dad! I want to become the best volleyball player in the world and make you proud, hehehe.

"Both Miyamura and Satsuki smile at their son's determination and are happy that their child wants to follow the path they have paved. What parent wouldn't want their child to see them as a role model?"

Miyamura: So, first, you must choose which position you want to play.

Hajime: I want to be an opposite hitter.

Miyamura: Then let's start with the basics, reception(Although, he usually does not participate in the reception).. your mother will teach you this part because she's better than me at it, hahaha...

Hajime: Oh no, Dad, I want to learn to spike.

Miyamura: Relax, son, everything in its time.

Satsuki: So first, you must master this reception position.

"Hajime uses his perfect copy to copy his mom's position."

Satsuki: That's right, son, it's perfect.

Satsuki: To make good receptions, you need to have good movement and proper footwork to approach the ball correctly. Additionally, you must know how to position yourself and not be too far ahead of your ideal position.

Hajime: I understand...

Miyamura: Now it's my turn. I'll explain the attacking part. Often, balls will come in various forms—high, low, slow, or fast—and you must be able to adjust for each of these moments. You should also use your vision to read the play and see how the opposing team's block is set up to choose the best way to attack.

Miyamura: Satsuki, set for me, I'll show the movement that should be done.

Satsuki: Okay.

"Miyamura spikes."

Miyamura: See, son? That's how it should be done.

Hajime: I understand everything (Although I've already memorized it while watching them train, I just have to adjust it for my left hand).

"My parents continued explaining some additional concepts, like blocking."

And so the years passed with me training with my parents and playing with the other students at school.