It was the next day, and the soft morning light streamed into Miyamura's room through the curtains. His mother's gentle voice roused him from slumber.
"Izumi, dear," Iori called from the doorway, "it's time to wake up. Breakfast is ready."
Miyamura yawned and stretched before giving his mother a drowsy smile. "Good morning, Mom."
"Good morning, Izumi," she replied, returning the smile. "Hurry down when you're ready. We have a special day planned."
Intrigued by her words, Miyamura nodded and quickly got up went to bathroom and finished his toothbrushing and shower. He was eager to find out what this "special day" entailed.
As Miyamura descended the stairs, he couldn't shake off the curiosity that had been gnawing at him ever since his mother's mention of a "special day" while waking him up. His steps were lighter, and his eyes sparkled with intrigue.
Reaching the dining room, he greeted his parents with a bright, eager smile and a hearty "Good morning." They returned his greeting with warm smiles of their own.
But before he could even sit down, Miyamura's excitement bubbled over. "Mom," he began, his curiosity getting the better of him, "you mentioned a special day when you woke me up. What's it about?"
Iori, with her motherly affection, couldn't resist his eager anticipation. She exchanged a knowing glance with Naozumi and then turned her attention back to their son.
Her voice was gentle and filled with a sense of delight as she replied, "Izumi, your father and I have planned a special outing for today."
Miyamura's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but grin. He was captivated by the idea of an unexpected adventure. "An outing? Where are we going?" he asked, the anticipation almost palpable in his voice.
Naozumi exchanged a knowing glance with Iori and then looked back at Miyamura with a hint of mischief. "Well, Izumi," he said, "it's a surprise."
The mystery deepened, and Miyamura's interest was piqued further. He probed further, "What about the shop? If we're going somewhere, who will take care of it?"
Iori pondered for a moment before responding, "We'll just close the shop for half a day, or maybe even the whole day if necessary."
Miyamura's curiosity soared. He couldn't help but wonder where this surprise outing would take them. After breakfast, he retreated to his room to prepare for the day ahead.
Upon returning to the ground floor, he found his parents already dressed and ready to go.
They made their way to the car, and Naozumi skillfully maneuvered it out of the garage. Once everyone was comfortably seated, their journey to the unknown destination began.
As the car glided smoothly along the road, Iori decided to initiate a conversation to pass the time during the drive. She turned to Naozumi with a thoughtful expression and inquired, "Naozumi, how is the renovation of our building that we decided to turn into a mall's going? Didn't you visit there yesterday?"
Naozumi nodded and replied, "Yes, I did. The renovation is nearly complete. They've only got the coloring of the ground floor's interior left to do." He continued, "And guess what? The Adagaki family has already booked some of the stores for their business."
This piqued Iori interest, and she interjected, "Adagaki family? What kind of business are they opening here?"
Iori, who was equally curious about this development, responded, "Apparently, the Adagaki family didn't have any stores in Miyagi prefecture, so they've chosen Sendai as their starting point. Our new building happened to be in the most suitable location for their business."
Miyamura furrowed his brows and asked confused listening his parents conversation "Which building renovation and mall....are you talking about?"
Iori chuckled softly and replied, "The one in the commercial district, dear. The building that we own."
Miyamura's eyes widened as he realized they were talking about their own property. The prospect of their building becoming a bustling mall was both surprising and exciting.
As the car continued to move forward, the anticipation grew within Miyamura. He couldn't contain his curiosity and asked his parents, "When are we going to reach this surprise special place?"
Naozumi and Iori exchanged a knowing glance and then Iori smiled at her son. "We'll be there very soon, Izumi."
A minute or two later, the car came to a stop. Miyamura was puzzled, and he eagerly asked, "Did we reach our destination?"
Iori pointed to the left, and there, he saw a two-story building complex with a sign that read, "Rixe Volleyball Association" The realization of their destination struck him, and he couldn't hide his excitement.
He turned to his mother with wide eyes, a look of sheer excitement and disbelief on his face. It was as if he was saying, 'Is what I'm thinking correct?'
Sensing her son's excitement, Iori confirmed with a warm smile, "Yes, Izumi. Last night, I inquired with the club near our house about you joining, and they invited us to visit the club today. That's how this special outing came to be!"
Miyamura's heart swelled with joy. It was a surprise beyond his wildest dreams. He couldn't wait to explore the world of volleyball.
His father parked the car near the entrance of the Rixe Volleyball Association after which they entered the complex, after entering they were greeted by the vibrant atmosphere of a place dedicated to the sport of volleyball. The sound of balls being spiked, the rhythmic thud of serves, and the joyful laughter of young athletes filled the air.
Inside, they were met by the head coach, a friendly and experienced-looking man named Coach Endou, who had a warm smile on his face— He was a vollyball player during his university days and after retiring from his job he founded the facility with other Volleyball enthusiasts like him.
He extended a greeting to Miyamura and his parents, welcoming them warmly,"Welcome to Rixe Volleyball Association. I'm Coach Endou. It's a pleasure to have you here," he said, his enthusiasm for the sport evident in his voice.
Iori introduced herself and her family, and Coach Endou nodded in acknowledgment. "I'm glad you could make it. We've heard a lot about your interest in volleyball, Izumi," he said, addressing Miyamura directly. "How do you think about a tour of our facilities?"
Miyamura's eyes lit up with excitement as he nodded vigorously. "Yes, please! I can't wait to see everything."
The coach led them on a guided tour of the complex. They explored spacious training halls filled with young athletes honing their skills.
There were separate courts for practice matches, and Miyamura couldn't help but watch players of his age group in awe as they played with skill and determination.
As they observed the young players in action, Coach Endou leaned in and asked Miyamura, "Izumi, do you see yourself playing alongside them one day?"
Miyamura eagerly nodded. "Yes, Coach! I'd love to join and learn from everyone here!"
The coach smiled, impressed by Miyamura's enthusiasm. "That's great to hear. We always welcome young voleyball admirer like you."
During the tour, they watched a practice match where Miyamura was particularly attentive to the strategies and techniques used by the players. His parents noticed his keen interest and exchanged pleased glances.
Towards the end of the tour, they arrived at the impressive indoor stadium with tiered seating. There, a real volleyball game was in progress on the main court. The speed and precision of the players left Miyamura in awe.
As they watched, Coach Endou leaned in and said, "Izumi, would you like to try a few spikes on the training court? Show us what you've got."
Miyamura's heart raced with excitement. He followed the coach to a training court where he was given a chance to demonstrate his skills.
With his large field of vision and smart spiking, he impressed not only Coach Endou but also the other coaches and players who were present.
As the tour concluded, Coach Endou turned to Miyamura and said, "Izumi, you've got potential, and we'd be thrilled to have you on our team. What do you say?"
Miyamura, brimming with confidence and excitement, replied, "I'd love to join, Coach! I can't wait to become a part of the association."
Coach Endou was thoroughly impressed by Miyamura's skills and agility— they were not perfectly controlled but his smart play compensate for that...
He decided to seize this opportunity to test the young talent's abilities further. During the practice match, he approached Miyamura with an offer.
"Hey, Miyamura, how about joining the next match?" Coach Endou asked with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes.
Miyamura was thrilled by the opportunity. "Sure, Coach! I'd love to."
The next match was set up as a friendly contest between members of the Rixe Volleyball Association who are of the same age group as Miyamura.
As the match unfolded, an opponent prepared for a powerful back row attack, lurking behind one of his teammates to gain momentum. The play seemed almost impossible to read, hidden from view by the player in front.
However, Miyamura's keen eye and large field of vision came into play. Just as the attacker launched into the air, Miyamura spotted his movement from behind the blocking player. With lightning-quick reflexes, he adjusted his position and leaped into the air.
The entire gymnasium fell silent for a split second, and then a collective gasp erupted as Miyamura soared and successfully blocked the attacker's spike. It was an incredible feat, especially for someone so new to the sport.
The coaches, who had been watching closely, couldn't believe their eyes. Coach Endou and his colleagues exchanged astonished glances. A newbie, and yet Miyamura's instincts and agility on the court were exceptional— the other department might be lacking but in these department he was natural.
The players on both teams clapped and cheered, recognizing the brilliance of the block. Miyamura's parents, watching from the sidelines, shared proud smiles. The young athlete had indeed shown remarkable promise, and this single play only solidified his decision to join the Rixe Volleyball Association.
Coach Endou approached Miyamura with a grin. "Izumi, that was an incredible block! You've got real talent and quick thinking. We're excited to have you on board."
Miyamura beamed with pride and gratitude, humbled by the opportunity to be part of this vibrant volleyball community. His journey in the world of volleyball had just begun, and he was eager to embrace every moment of it.
With a sense of accomplishment and newfound excitement for volleyball, Miyamura continued to participate in the practice match. His performance caught the attention of not only the coaches but also his fellow players.
During the match, he displayed remarkable adaptability and a natural understanding of the game's dynamics. He made precise sets, ensuring his teammates had excellent opportunities to attack. His serves, while not as powerful as some, were consistent and strategically placed, keeping the opponents on their toes.
As the match continued, Miyamura's parents watched with pride from the sidelines. Iori and Naozumi exchanged glances, both realizing that their son was not just enjoying himself but was thriving in this new environment.
During a crucial rally, Miyamura found himself in an unexpected situation. The opposing team attempted a deceptive play, aiming to catch his side off guard.
As the ball came over the net, Miyamura saw through their tactic. With a quick and well-timed dive, he saved the ball from hitting the floor, receiving a round of applause from the spectators.
Coach Endou couldn't help but smile at Miyamura's performance. After the match, he approached the young athlete. "Izumi, you have incredible potential. Your adaptability and quick thinking are assets on the court. With some training and practice, you can become a great player."
Miyamura, still catching his breath from the intense rally, nodded enthusiastically. He was not only excited about joining the club but also eager to learn and improve his skills— he only played volleyball only once before afterall!
As the practice match concluded, Coach Endou approached Miyamura with a welcoming smile. "Izumi, it's great to have you here. Your performance today shows a lot of promise."
Miyamura, still brimming with enthusiasm, replied, "Thank you, Coach. I'm really excited to be a part of the team."
They discussed the training schedule, practice times, and expectations for the upcoming sessions.
While they were engrossed in their conversation, Iori and Naozumi watched from a distance, pride evident on their faces. They knew that this decision was not only about playing a sport but also about their son finding his place in a community.
After finalizing the details, the Miyamura family left the Rixe Volleyball Association, their car filled with chatter and excitement.
During the drive back home, Miyamura couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "Did you see, Mom, Dad? It was incredible! I can't wait to start training with them. And the coach said I did well!"
Iori, her son's excitement contagious, replied, "We saw, Izumi. We're proud of you. Just remember to give your best, and enjoy every moment of it."
Naozumi, keeping his eyes on the road, added, "We support you all the way, Izumi. This is the beginning of something exciting."
Miyamura nodded, a mix of determination and excitement in his eyes. He knew that this journey into volleyball was just starting, and he was ready to give it his all.