The gym buzzed with low chatter and the squeak of shoes.
Aoba Johsai had arrived in full force.
Their uniforms were crisp, their expressions calm. Every player stood tall with experience and confidence — a team that had dominated the prefectural scene for years.
Karasuno, by contrast, stood lined up with quiet fire. Their new first-years had yet to prove themselves. Whispers floated through the air from the crowd and benches.
"Is that Kageyama from Kitagawa Daiichi?""He transferred here?""Who's the tiny one beside him?""Looks like a mascot, not a player…"
Hinata heard it all.
And he smiled.
He'd heard worse. In fact, he remembered hearing those exact words years ago… in another life.
This time, they would learn.
"Let's go," Daichi called, clapping his hands once.
Karasuno gathered in a tight huddle.
"Play our game. Eyes up. Trust each other."
Hinata nodded to himself, eyes sharp. Let's get it started.
First Set — Start
Aoba Johsai served first.
Their captain for this match, Yahaba, tossed the ball high and launched a controlled jump serve.
The ball curved low and dipped toward Karasuno's back left.
"Got it!" Daichi shouted, sliding into position.
His receive was clean. Kageyama stepped in.
Hinata had already started moving.
No call.
No words.
Only rhythm.
He was already running the path.
Kageyama didn't hesitate.
The toss was perfect.
Hinata shot forward and launched—
Up.
The gym seemed to hold its breath.
He cleared the net with ease, body rotating mid-air.
Iwaizumi and Yahaba jumped too late, the ball already past them.
CRACK.
First point: Karasuno.
System AlertTempo Quick (Variant I) Activated EXP +10 Opponent Block Sync disrupted (2 rotations)
Trait Effect — Shock Entry:"Opponents suffer Read Delay (-12%) after first untracked play."
Gasps rippled through the room.
From the sideline, a second-year muttered, "Wait… wasn't he just at the ten-foot line?"
Kunimi stared. "No way. That speed…"
Yahaba scowled. "We didn't even see the toss!"
Oikawa leaned forward from the bench, hands steepled under his chin.
"Hah. So the rumor was true."
He smiled slightly.
"That Number 10… is anything but normal."
The next few plays followed quickly.
Seijoh recovered, sending fast sets to Iwaizumi who hammered the ball down with force.
Karasuno tightened their block — Tsukishima slowed Iwaizumi with fingertips, and Daichi pulled off a rolling receive.
Kageyama, intense and unreadable, adjusted instantly.
He mixed his sets: a high ball to Tanaka, a mid to the middle, then once more—he called Hinata.
But this time, the toss was early.
And yet—
Hinata adapted.
He stopped mid-step, cut right, jumped from a different angle.
The spike flew wide, curving into the empty back left.
Yahaba dove too late.
Point.
System Prompt – Memory Sync Active
"Future Playstyle Recalled: Olympic Match vs Brazil"➤ Custom Variation: Delayed Tempo Quick➤ EXP +14
Hinata's Game Sense ranked B+ (Temporary Boost: A- in Match Play)
From the sidelines, Oikawa narrowed his eyes.
"He's not just jumping high. He's changing tempo."
Iwaizumi stepped beside him.
"You recognize that pattern?"
Oikawa's voice dropped.
"…It's international level."
Karasuno surged to a 5–2 lead.
Seijoh's tempo staggered.
Hinata's presence on the court was subtle but unmistakable. He was talking quietly between rallies. Pointing. Shifting Tanaka's positioning by inches. Nodding toward Yamaguchi before the serve.
Every adjustment was small.
But they mattered.
Kageyama felt it too.
He didn't speak much, but something in Hinata's rhythm made him settle. The tosses flowed easier. Cleaner.
They were in sync.
Already.
Mid-Set
Seijoh adjusted.
Kunimi hit sharp cross spikes that clipped the line.
Iwaizumi's serves hit with violence.
Even Yahaba began to set quicker, testing Karasuno's reflexes.
They caught up: 11–11
Oikawa stood finally. Subbing in.
The gym stirred. Even the Karasuno bench reacted.
Sugawara whispered, "Here comes the real problem."
Hinata, still breathing calmly, smiled.
About time.
Oikawa's first serve spun hard toward Tsukishima.
The tall blocker reacted late. The ball skimmed his arms and shot into the air.
Yamaguchi flinched. Hinata lunged—
One-handed save.
Kageyama repositioned.
No quick this time—Tanaka swung from the left and scored off a tip.
Point.
Oikawa raised his eyebrows.
"Hmm…"
Final Rotation – First Set Climax
Score: 23–22, Karasuno.
Karasuno's serve.
Oikawa set to Kunimi—sharp spike—
Tsukishima blocked.
Yamaguchi, sliding, dug the ball up.
Daichi: "OUT!"
Ball flies.
Back into Karasuno's hands.
Kageyama turns.
Hinata already moved.
One last time.
Hinata ran the path.
His steps were silent.
Kageyama tossed high — trusting the rhythm they hadn't even practiced.
And Hinata—
JUMPED.
Higher than ever that set.
The gym gasped.
"He's still going up!""That's not a jump — that's a liftoff!""WHAT is with that kid!?"
Oikawa stepped in, late block—too late.
Hinata spiked with a diagonal cut.
The ball kissed the line and dropped.
25–22. Set won.
Karasuno's bench roared.
Even Tsukishima clapped once.
Yamaguchi beamed.
Hinata?He just exhaled slowly.
One set down. One message sent.
Set CompleteKarasuno Leads 1–0 EXP Gained: +75 Trait Activated: "Aerial Aura"
➤ First-time opponents suffer psychological vertigo effect from max vertical leap (Short Duration: 1 Set)➤ Teammate Sync +5%