Feb 28
in my heart i like to think that hinata shouyou and hinata natsu are like ishikawa yuuki and ishikawa mayu
like. powerhouse siblings that are so well-known and loved in the volleyball world. are we seeing the vision.
seen from Germany
seen from Maldives
seen from Russia
seen from T1
seen from Germany
seen from South Korea
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Netherlands
seen from Italy
seen from Kazakhstan
seen from France
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Italy
seen from China
seen from India
seen from United Kingdom
in my heart i like to think that hinata shouyou and hinata natsu are like ishikawa yuuki and ishikawa mayu
like. powerhouse siblings that are so well-known and loved in the volleyball world. are we seeing the vision.
Hinotori Nippon (JPN) defeat Canada 3-2 in their fourth and final match of week one of the 2026 VNL season. They, along with Brazil, head into week two as the only undefeated teams, with a total of 11 points. Japan is currently ranked #2. Congrats, Japan!🇯🇵 | 📸: volleyballworld
Familiar Strangers
Italy had become Mayu Ishikawa’s second home over the years. The once unfamiliar language, the rich scent of espresso in the morning, and the echoing voices of passionate volleyball fans—she had embraced them all. It was her third year with Novara, and though it hadn’t been easy, she could finally say she had adjusted.
But that didn’t mean it wasn’t lonely.
Her older brother, Yūki Ishikawa, the pride of Japanese volleyball and the men's national team, was also in Italy—just five cities away. Five cities. In a smaller country, that might mean occasional dinners or weekend meet-ups. But for them, it had become a gap of silence. No messages, no calls, not even the casual sibling meme exchange others might take for granted. Their careers had swept them into different rhythms, and somewhere along the way, the distance had settled in—not out of bitterness, but simply… life.
Still, she thought of him sometimes—when she was taping her ankles before a game, or when the silence of her apartment after a loss felt too heavy. But she never reached out. She didn’t even know if she should.
The season’s curtain-raiser was set in Perugia—a joint event celebrating both SuperLega and Lega Volley Femminile. An elaborate affair, full of press, fans, music, and reunions. All Italian club teams, men and women, gathered in one large venue that buzzed with energy.
Mayu stood among her Novara teammates near the refreshment area. Laughter bubbled up as they joked about the off-season, trading stories and teasing one another in a mix of Italian and English. She smiled, genuinely enjoying the warmth, until she noticed them—two unfamiliar men hovering near their group.
At first, she thought nothing of it. Italians were friendly, sometimes too friendly. But when one of them inched closer, giving her a long, unsettling stare while pretending to sip from his glass, her body stiffened.
“Hey,” he said, slurring slightly, eyes fixed on her. “You’re that Japanese girl from the team, no? Very pretty. Very small, huh?”
Mayu gave a polite, strained smile, trying to angle her body toward her teammates.
“Grazie,” she muttered, barely audible.
But the man didn’t move on. Instead, he hovered—his eyes trailing her movements, his presence unsettling.
“Let’s go over there,” her teammate Sofia whispered in her ear, sensing her discomfort.
As they shifted toward the other end of the space, Mayu's heart beat faster. She didn't like confrontation. She wasn’t afraid, not exactly—but the feeling of being cornered sent goosebumps down her arms.
She scanned the hall, searching for anything familiar, for anyone who could ground her—and then she saw him.
Yūki.
Eight tables away.
Seated with his Perugia teammates, laughing over something that Simone Giannelli had probably said. His hair was a little longer than she remembered, and he looked broader now, more solid. Still annoyingly handsome, still surrounded by people.
For a second, she hesitated.
They hadn’t spoken in months. Not since the last national team meeting, when they passed each other in the hallway and exchanged nothing more than a nod.
Would he even want her to come?
But then she felt that man's gaze again—and her instincts overrode everything.
She didn’t walk. She ran.
“Yu-kun!”
Yūki turned, confused. The voice was familiar—almost surreal. He blinked twice, and there she was, rushing toward him with an expression he couldn’t quite read. It wasn’t joy. It was something else. Her voice shook when she said his name, and that’s when he knew—something was wrong.
He stood up just in time to catch her in a light embrace. Her fingers clutched his sleeve like an anchor.
“Hey,” he said softly, almost in disbelief. “Mayu?”
She nodded, burying her face quickly in his shoulder, hoping no one would notice how rattled she looked.
Yūki’s arm instinctively came around her shoulders in a protective side-hug.
His gaze swept the room—and there he was. The guy. Tall, greasy-haired, pretending to look elsewhere, but his eyes kept darting toward them.
Yūki’s jaw clenched.
“Is he bothering you?” he asked quietly into her hair.
She didn’t answer, but her silence said enough.
He tightened his hold on her and turned to his teammates.
“Guys,” he said, voice casual but edged, “this is my little sister. Mayu.”
Giannelli blinked in surprise. “La sorella?” “The Mayu Ishikawa?” another asked, eyebrows raised.
Mayu, still half-hiding beside her brother, gave a polite nod and forced a smile.
Yūki subtly shifted so he was between her and the man. He didn’t make a scene, didn’t even look back again—but the message was clear. She’s not alone. Not anymore.
Mayu felt her breath even out slowly.
She didn’t know what came next. Maybe they’d part ways after tonight and return to their separate lives. Maybe they’d go back to being strangers with the same last name.
But in that moment, when Yūki’s hand remained gently at her back, guiding her into the circle of his teammates like she belonged there, she felt something she hadn’t in a long time.
Safe.
Like maybe—just maybe—eight tables wasn’t that far after all.
Ishikawa Siblings @ TBS's 「The TIME」
🗓️ January 5, 2024
⚠️ non-verbatim. rough trans with ai-translator apps so might not be 100% accurate.
Hinotori Nippon (JPN) are defeated by Brazil 1-3 in the quarterfinal match of the 2026 VNL Finals. With this loss, Japan are officially eliminated from the tournament. Better luck next season, Japan! | 📸: volleyballworld
Hinotori Nippon (JPN) defeat Poland 3-2 in their fourth and final match of preliminary round of the 2026 VNL season. Japan advance to the VNL finals, where they will face Brazil in the quarterfinals. Congrats, Japan! | 📸: volleyballworld
Hinotori Nippon (JPN) defeat Ukraine 3-1 in their second match of week one of the 2026 VNL season. Captain Mayu Ishikawa was the top scorer of the match with 22 points. Congrats, Japan!🇯🇵 | 📸: volleyballworld