The gym buzzed with the familiar chaos of a Karasuno afternoon practice.
Shoes scraped the floor. Volleyballs thudded against arms and floors. Orders echoed from second years corralling first-years into warm-up lines. But at the heart of the noise stood two players who didn't need instruction.
Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio.
Opposite each other. Yet somehow already in orbit.
Hinata bounced on his toes, muscles still humming from yesterday's scrimmage.Kageyama stretched his shoulders in silence but kept sneaking glances at Hinata. His mind wasn't on basic drills.
Neither of theirs were.
Daichi, whistle in hand, called the team together.
"We're going to rotate combos today," he said. "Setters, test different tempos. Hitters, adapt. Communication is key."
He turned to Kageyama. "You and Hinata. Let's see what kind of rhythm you two can find."
"Copy," Kageyama replied.
"Don't die," Sugawara said to Hinata with a wink.
Hinata grinned. "No promises."
They stepped onto the court.
Kageyama took his place at setter. Hinata moved behind him, just out of view of the opposing blockers.
Neither said anything.
But everything was understood.
[System Notice]Synergy Test: Quick Attack Phase 1
Trust Sync: ✔Physical Threshold: ✔Timing Window: ✔
Optional Mode: Ghost Sync ActivePredictive Movement + Visual Delay Engaged
Hinata crouched, heart steady.Three steps. One breath.
He launched himself before the toss even left Kageyama's hands.
It was blind.
But it wasn't a guess.
He knew.
And the ball was there.
Perfectly there.
Hinata's hand met it at the apex of his jump.CRACK.
The ball slammed into the court, untouched.
Silence.
Tanaka's voice broke it. "What the hell was that?!"
"He didn't even see the ball," Yamaguchi said, stunned.
Sugawara blinked. "Did you guys… plan that?"
"Nope," Hinata said, landing and turning with a grin. "Felt it."
Kageyama didn't smile. But he didn't argue.
"Again," he said.
And they did.
[System Update]Quick Attack Phase 1: Complete
Skill Unlocked: Phantom Sync Lv. 1Improves blind timing execution between designated partner setter
Synergy Progress — Kageyama Tobio: 24%
They ran it again.
Once.Twice.Three times.
Each faster than the last.
Hinata moved like a blur. His feet barely made a sound—his steps ghosted across the floor.
And each time, Kageyama delivered the ball as if they shared a single thought.
After the final hit, Daichi called for a break.
The team gathered around them.
"Is that… even legal?" Tanaka whispered.
"It's definitely not normal," Tsukishima said, arms crossed.
Sugawara stepped forward, giving them both a nod.
"I've seen a lot of combinations," he said. "But that… that's something different."
Kageyama finally broke his silence.
"…He's fast."
Hinata grinned. "You're accurate."
Daichi crossed his arms. "Whatever it is — work on it. Could be your biggest weapon."
Later, during cool-down stretches, Kageyama sat beside Hinata.
He didn't look over as he spoke.
"I still don't like people I can't trust."
Hinata didn't look back. "Then I'll earn it."
A pause.
"…You already are."
[System Log]
Core Stat Progress:• Technique: B → B+• Reflex: B → B+• Jump: B → B+
Skill Path: Quick Build → Stage 2 Unlocked
Next Unlock Goal: Timing Variance + Setter Flow Match
Hinata looked up at the gym ceiling as the rest of the team laughed and shouted around him.
The quick attack wasn't just a move.It was a language only he and Kageyama spoke.And they'd just started the first sentence.