Kazuma Numai (Japanese: 沼井和馬,Numai Kazuma) is currently a third-year student at Nohebi Academy. He plays on the Boys' Volleyball Team as a wing spiker and the ace.
Numai is a fairly tall volleyball player, with muscular build. His undercut hair is dark, suggesting he may have dyed his hair in a lighter color. On court, he wears the green and yellow jersey of Nohebi with the number 4 on it, indicating his status as the ace.
Personality[]
Numai seems to dislike being called a "cheater," implying he is wary of his teammates' cheap tactics. However, he is close to the rest of the team, and comforts Kuguri when they lose against Nekoma. He was shown to have great willpower, giving his all so that his team would be able to make it to Nationals, and continue to play like normal with a dislocated thumb.
Plot[]
Spring High Preliminary Arc[]
Numai is unable to play against Nekoma after having lost to Itachiyama due to his dislocated thumb, which results in Nohebi having to replace him with Kuguri. He is shown not saying anything after Yaku injures his foot in the middle of the game and cries in his teammates' arms.
Kuguri scores against Kenma's and Kuroo's block and Numai praises him for this, and even goes as far as to say that Kuguri is a better player than him. Nohebi's #9 tries to tell him otherwise, but Numai tells him that Kuguri's technique is sounder than him. When his teammates fail to try to convince him otherwise, Numai scolds them for not doing so[1].
Right after when Fukunaga scores against Nohebi, Numai yells at them to grab them a ticket to nationals no matter what it takes, and his team becomes more motivated to win.
As the match was nearing the end of its second set, Numai gets subbed in for Sakishima as the team's pinch server. Alisa notices that Nohebi's cheering section gets much louder at this and Akane explains that it's because he's their ace. As Numai is serving, Nohebi's cheers die out and his serve bumps the net, which makes it hard to receive, though Fukunaga is able to do so and shots it near the back of the court, though it goes out before anyone is able to receive it, though he and Akane block the referee's line of sight and both yelling out at the same time to assure that the ball did go out.
At his second serve, Numai's hand is seen shaking and he acknowledges the pain but dismisses it because he wants to show that Nohebi aren't only cheaters and then scores a service ace[2]. After this, Numai yells that this isn't the end for Nohebi (since they are now in the lead), and the whole team cheers. After Numai is benched once more, Suguru is seen to take Numai's words at heart and refuses to let Nekoma win the match. Not long after, Kuguri earns Nohebi a point and Numai comments that he's 'too good'. Kuguri then looks at his teammates, hesitates, and gives them a look of determination. Numai smiles at this.
After Nohebi's loss, Kuguri goes to Numai and apologizes for having let himself get manipulated by Lev's block, but Numai says it's okay and admits that he's just relieved that Kuguri gets as frustrated as anyone else over this kind of thing and they both cry. Soon after, the third-years all stare at Suguru with a tried look on their faces, and Sakishima says that there is no mercy for the lucky guys, and they all start attacking each other playfully while having tears in their eyes[3].
Statistics[]
High School Statistics
Power
5/5
Jumping
4/5
Stamina
4/5
Game Sense
2/5
Technique
2/5
Speed
3/5
He was shown to have a powerful jump serve, being able to score an ace off Nekoma even with a dislocated thumb.
Nohebi Academy: Numai seems to get along well with his teammates, especially with the third-years since he is one himself. As Nohebi's ace, he can easily motivate his teammates and change the tide of a match. Even if admitted to hating his team's 'cheating' methods and being called a cheater, he still cares for his teammates and counted on them to win against Nekoma to get to nationals.
Naoyasu Kuguri: Numai is well-aware of Kuguri's talent and potential as a volleyball player, admitting that the first-year was better than him with his only "flaw" being that he doesn't get as enthusiastic as the rest of the team. Numai supports his junior when he makes amazing plays and is also there to support him when Kuguri felt upset at having been manipulated by Lev's block.
Quotes[]
(To himself) "Man, Kuguri's good. I always knew he was better than me."[1][4]
(To Nohebi) "That's where you're supposed to say: 'No, it isn't!'"[1][4]
(To himself) "Damn. My hand hurts, but... it's only pain. Suguru says that being called 'cheaters' is a compliment... but I hate it. That's why... I'm gonna shut them all up!!!"[2][4]
(To Nohebi) "We aren't done yet! This isn't the end of the road for us!!"[2][4]
(To Kuguri) "I'm relieved that you get just as frustrated as anyone else over this kind of thing."[3][4]
