I Wanted to Run the Hakone Ekiden, but Ended Up Playing Volleyball

[Complete! Bonus extras to come. A 70% subscription unlocks them.] [My completed volleyball fic on my profile, Uegami's Quest to Become the Best Outside Hitter, has no CP. Feel free to check it out if you're interested.] Basketball, soccer, baseball, speed skating, archery, tennis, swimming... Over the past three years, Tsukikawa Yu, a sports prodigy, tried them all, but he never fell in love with any of them. Instead, he shattered the confidence of every talented athlete in every club. Some cried and switched sports, while others gritted their teeth and, unwilling to give up, resolved to train even harder and beat him next time. But Tsukikawa Yu, the one they all feared, didn't go on to shine in the world of sports as they expected. Instead, he faded from view and became something like an urban legend. Who would have thought that when they met again, it would be on a volleyball court? He stood in the front row alongside a brown-haired player, and no one could score against them. They were known as an unbeatable blocking duo. A sports magazine reporter had finally secured the rights to an exclusive interview with Tsukikawa Yu. Full of confidence, she went to meet him. At the time, Tsukikawa Yu was horsing around with his childhood friend when a microphone suddenly appeared in front of him. "Hello, Tsukikawa. I'm a reporter for Monthly Volleyball. Winning the national championship in all three years of high school with your team is an incredible achievement. What do you hope to do in the future?" For the reporter, this was practically a freebie, the kind of question that let inexperienced athletes express their feelings. But this champion was truly out of the ordinary. "Me?" Even with a camera and countless flashes pointed at him, Tsukikawa Yu wasn't flustered as she had imagined. Instead, he answered calmly, "What I hope to do in the future is run the Hakone Ekiden in college. It's been my dream for years, and now it's finally about to come true." "Huh?!" * Nine-year-old Tsukikawa Yu stared unblinkingly at the television in front of him, his eyes sparkling. A group of adults stood around him, just as transfixed. Together, they watched the runners on TV and the sash being passed from hand to hand. The race known as the Hakone Ekiden took root in young Tsukikawa Yu's heart. He had promised his childhood friend that he'd try volleyball with him the next day, but in the middle of the night, he called him and said, "Rintaro! I want to go running!" The next day, Tsukikawa Yu was punished for it. Then he and Suna Rintaro walked into a gym filled with the smell of Salonpas. By a twist of fate, he ended up on the court as a volleyball newcomer, playing a six-on-six match. "Rintaro, is this the blocking you've been talking about?" Tsukikawa Yu had expected to feel unsure of himself. Instead, though his words sounded timid, his eyes challenged his opponent. Standing at the net, he looked down at the player who had fallen to his knees, confidence shattered. P.S.: 1. This is a power fantasy with some logic, but not much. 2. The protagonist has original teammates in elementary school. Some matches may be original too, but elementary school shouldn't take up much of the story. 3. Because of his father's work, the protagonist will team up with Suna and Oikawa in middle school, then return to Inarizaki in high school. 4. I'm doing my best to learn about volleyball, but I've never played it myself, so there will definitely be some errors. Feel free to point them out. 5. My memory isn't great, so I may get some details wrong. If you can't accept that, please read with caution. [My profile also has the volleyball stories The Versatile Volleyball Superstar and Even at 168 cm, I'll Play Volleyball at Shiratorizawa, the Ace of Diamond story How to Become an Ace Pitcher, and the Detective Conan story Clocking Out at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Then Transforming into a Magical Girl. Feel free to bookmark them if you're interested.] [Below is the blurb for Even at 168 cm, I'll Play Volleyball at Shiratorizawa] 168 cm. A height that goes unnoticed in a crowd, but is a fatal weakness on a volleyball court. Saegusa Yuichi had heard this ever since he started playing. When they won, people said, "A short guy can be the ace and still win? That's amazing." When they lost, it became, "No wonder they lost with someone that short." Knowing his height was a disadvantage, Saegusa Yuichi worked hard to train. He practiced his volleyball skills every chance he got, and even though everyone said Shiratorizawa wasn't the right place for him, he stuck to his choice despite their objections. "I'll make everyone understand that height is only a disadvantage." One day, Saegusa Yuichi heard these words from a short, white-haired senior. Looking Ushijima Washijo in the eye, Saegusa Yuichi said the exact same thing aloud. Tendo Satori: "Coach doesn't look too happy." Ushijima Wakatoshi: "He looks happy to me." Ohira Shion had given up completely on their ace's ability to read people's expressions. CP undecided. Theme: Youth is the time to try new things.