Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

Sawamura Daichi's gaze lingered on Lu Ren for a full three seconds, like that of a security inspector scanning for contraband.

The oppressive feeling gradually subsided, finally turning into a helpless sigh.

"Since you're here to join the club, let's start with self-introductions." Sawamura Daichi pointed to the two people next to him. "I'm the captain, Sawamura Daichi, a third-year student. My position is outside hitter, but I mostly handle defense and receiving."

Lu Ren quickly updated the file in his mind.

*【Sawamura Daichi: Lv. ? ? ?, Class: Paladin/Tank. Characteristics: High defense and HP, comes with a 'Leader's Aura' buff, which boosts the entire team's morale. Hidden Attribute: Attack power doubles when enraged. Strategy Advice: Play it safe, don't be reckless.】*

"I am the vice-captain, Sugawara Koji, also a third-year student, and my position is setter."

The silver-haired boy who had tried to break up the fight walked over, his smile gentle and warm. He even patted Lu Ren on the shoulder considerately, saying, "Don't be scared by Dadi's appearance just now; he's usually very easygoing."

Lu Ren stared at Sugawara's narrowed eyes.

Although he seemed like a typical "newbie guide," Lu Ren's intuition told him that the squinty-eyed guys in this game were usually not simple.

*【Sugawara Koji: Lv. ? ? ?, Occupation: Support/Strategist. Characteristics: Gentle yet cunning, strong control over the situation. Seemingly harmless, but may actually know the entire team's dark history. Danger Level: A.】*

"Ryu Ren, right?" Sugawara asked with a smile. "Have you played volleyball before?"

"No. I'm a complete newbie player," Lu Ren answered readily. "I haven't even finished the tutorial."

"Huh? A newbie?"

The bald man—Ryunosuke Tanaka—shoved his face close, his nostrils almost touching Lu Ren's face, "Hey kid, volleyball isn't some easy game. If you're just playing around, you'll suffer a terrible fate!"

As Tanaka spoke, he deliberately flexed his biceps, his face bearing the provocative expression typical of a delinquent.

Lu Ren took a half step back, disgustedly avoiding the spittle that the other person was spraying.

*【Tanaka Ryunosuke: Lv. ? ? ?, Class: Berserker. Characteristics: High attack, low defense, has a built-in taunt skill, extremely short mana bar, easily turns red. This type of hot-blooded, idiotic NPC is usually used to create atmosphere in the story, and is also the easiest cannon fodder to be used as pawns.】*

"I'll try my best not to die," Lu Ren said dismissively. "After all, resurrection coins are quite expensive."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" A vein throbbed on Tanaka's forehead.

"Alright, Tanaka, stop scaring the new students." Sawamura Daichi interrupted Tanaka's spellcasting animation, turned around and took a form from the shelf next to him. "Since you've decided to join, fill out the application first. Although we're short-staffed right now, we don't just take anyone. If you can't stick it out, I'll personally ask you to leave."

"learn."

Lu Ren took the form and pen and sat down on the bench by the side of the field.

Qingze Yazhi immediately came over and watched him write like a worried old mother.

"Write neatly! Don't write like a scribble!"

"Okay," Lu Ren replied lazily.

Name: Lu Ren.

Class: Grade 1, Group 4

Height: 181cm.

Weight: 70 kg.

Application location: ...

The pen stopped at the "Apply for Location" field.

"Why did you stop writing?" Qingze Yazhi asked.

"I'm thinking," Lu Ren said, twirling his pen, "which position offers the best value for money."

"Value for money?"

"It's that position where you can stand still and no one criticizes you, but occasionally move and you can win MVP, and ideally, you can openly coast along on the court," Lu Ren analyzed seriously. "Outside hitters are too tired, they have to jump all the time; setters are too mentally taxing, they have to memorize tactics; liberos are too miserable, they just get attacked. Is there a 'mascot' position?"

"You might as well just fill in 'water dispenser manager'!" Qingze Yazhi rolled her eyes.

"Good idea." Lu Rengang was about to put pen to paper.

*Squeak—*

The stadium doors were pushed open for the third time.

The air, which was originally filled with the smell of sweat and floor wax, seemed to be suddenly filled with a refreshing minty breeze.

Lu Ren subconsciously looked up.

Not only him, but also Tanaka Ryunosuke and Sugawara Koji, who were in the arena, stopped what they were doing.

A girl was standing at the door.

Her medium-length black hair fell smoothly over her shoulders. She wore black-rimmed glasses and had a beauty mark at the corner of her eye. She was wearing her school uniform and carrying a stack of clean number vests.

There were no exaggerated special effects, nor did it come with its own background music.

But as she stood there, she was like a high-resolution SSR character portrait that had accidentally wandered into a pixelated game full of low-poly NPCs.

The art styles are all different.

"Senior Jiezi!"

Just moments ago, Ryunosuke Tanaka had a fierce look on his face, as if he were about to devour someone, but in an instant, he underwent a species degeneration.

He clasped his hands together in front of his chest, a strange blush spreading across his face. He twisted his body into a pretzel shape, and pink flowers seemed to float in the background.

"You've worked so hard! Let me take this vest! Let my dirty hands touch this sacred fabric!"

Lu Ren was dumbfounded.

Can a graphics card handle this rapid face-changing speed?

The girl called Kiyoko—Shimizu Kiyoko—completely ignored Tanaka's madness, walked past him expressionlessly, and headed towards Sawamura Daichi.

"The vest is washed." The voice was cold, like a handful of shattered ice.

"Oh, thank you for your hard work." Sawamura Daichi took the vest and pointed in Riku's direction. "Shimizu, this is the new recruit, Riku. And his... friend."

Kiyoko Shimizu turned her head away.

His gaze, behind his glasses, swept lightly over Lu Ren.

Lu Ren's pen stopped in mid-air.

He stared at Kiyoko Shimizu.

His eyes were very focused.

It's like staring at a rare elite monster that just spawned on the screen, analyzing its loot list and weaknesses.

*【Shimizu Kiyoko: Lv. ? ? ?, Occupation: Manager/Goddess. Special Skills: Group Charm (Passive), Absolute Indifference (Active). This type of aloof character usually has an extremely high difficulty level to conquer, but once successfully conquered, the rewards are enormous. For example… an all-attribute boost buff?】*

Lu Ren was somewhat lost in thought.

The main reason is that the NPC's model is indeed very detailed, even the physical collision effects of the hair strands are done so well.

Sudden.

A sharp pain shot through my right ear.

"hiss--!"

Lu Ren gasped, nearly dropping the pen from his hand.

Kiyosawa Yashiki's fingers precisely clamped onto his earlobe and expertly rotated it ninety degrees clockwise.

"Is it pretty?"

Qingze Yazhi's voice is very sweet, almost cloyingly sweet.

But Lu Ren could clearly hear the sound of blades hidden inside.

"Ouch! Ouch! Let go!" Lu Ren tilted his head, trying to save his ears. "I'm observing my future teammates! This is tactical analysis!"

"Does tactical analysis require staring at someone's legs?" Kiyosawa Yazhi raised her voice.

"I was judging her agility by her gait!" Lu Ren argued. "That's the professionalism of a gamer!"

"I think you have the makings of a professional thug!"

Although Kiyosawa Aya said that, she still let go of his hand. She glared at Lu Ren, then straightened her skirt, put on a bright smile, and walked towards Shimizu Kiyoko.

"Hello, senior! I'm Lu Ren's childhood friend, Qingze Yazhi. This guy's a bit dim-witted, so please take care of him from now on!"

Kiyosawa Ayako naturally linked arms with Shimizu Kiyoko.

Just moments ago, Kiyoko Shimizu had a cold expression, but now, facing her cute junior, her expression softened slightly.

"Hello. I'm Kiyoko Shimizu."

"Jiezi-senpai has such great skin! What skincare products do you use?"

"I didn't do any special maintenance..."

Watching the two people quickly establish a "girls' chat channel," Lu Ren rubbed his burning red ears, still feeling lingering fear.

This woman's grip is getting stronger and stronger.

Is this what they call the "childhood sweetheart" bond? It comes with true damage and crowd control effects.

"Have you filled it out?"

Sawamura Daichi's voice rang out overhead.

Lu Ren quickly lowered his head and wrote two words in a flamboyant style in the "Apply for Position" section:

--random.

"Random?" Daichi Sawamura stared at the two words, his brows furrowing deeply. "What does that mean?"

"It means I'm like a brick; I'll be moved wherever I'm needed." Lu Ren capped his pen and stood up. "Or rather, I'm not picky. As long as I can clear the game, I'll play any position. Of course, the premise is not to get too tired."

Sawamura Daichi stared at Lu Ren for a while.

This kid has clear eyes, revealing a frankness that says, "I just want to coast through life."

But beneath that openness, Sawamura seemed to see something else.

The courage he showed in the face of rage just now, and the nonchalant confidence he exudes now.

"Since that's the case..."

Daichi Sawamura put away the form, a meaningful smile curving his lips.

"Then come to the gymnasium on Saturday morning."

"Saturday?" Lu Ren had a bad feeling. "Isn't Saturday a day off? I have a dungeon to run..."

"Those two guys who were just kicked out, Kageyama and Hinata, have challenged me," Sawamura Daichi interrupted him. "They're going to have a 3-on-3 match on Saturday. If they win, I'll approve their membership."

"so?"

"Since you're in a 'random' position, that's perfect." Daichi Sawamura patted Lu Ren on the shoulder with such force that it felt like he was putting a tight headband on Sun Wukong. "You'll participate too."

Lu Ren was stunned.

"Me too? Which side?"

"You're their opponent." Sawamura Daichi smiled kindly, but in Lu Ren's eyes, that smile was more terrifying than a demon king's. "You, Tanaka, and me. The three of us will team up and teach those two arrogant first-years a lesson."

Ryunosuke Tanaka, standing nearby, clenched his fist excitedly: "Wow! Are we going to beat those two arrogant brats to a pulp? Awesome! Count me in!"

Lu Ren: "..."

and many more.

The script is wrong.

I came here to watch a show, how did I suddenly get pulled into a team and have to fight a BOSS?

And he has to fight against Kageyama, the "killer serve", and Hyuga, the "teleportation monster"?

"Um..." Lu Ren raised his hand, "Is it too late for me to change positions now? I think the 'cheerleader' position suits me quite well."

Daichi Sawamura ignored his protest and turned to walk towards the stadium.

"Don't be late. If you dare to stand me up, your application will be worthless."

Lu Ren stood there, looking at the empty pen in his hand.

Qingze Yazhi returned sometime after finishing her conversation, looking at him with a gloating expression.

"Congratulations, Lu Ren. You've already earned a starting position so soon after joining the team."

"This is a trap." Lu Ren said expressionlessly. "This is a main quest that you're forced to accept. Moreover, the rewards are unknown, and the difficulty is extremely high."

"So, are you going to run away?"

Lu Ren glanced at Sawamura and Tanaka, who were warming up, and then at Shimizu Kiyoko, who was tidying up the equipment.

Finally, he sighed, took off his school uniform jacket, and threw it to Kiyosawa Yashiro.

"run?"

Lu Ren flexed his wrists, his knuckles cracking crisply.

His lips curled up slightly, revealing a somewhat crazed smile.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Now that we're already in the instance, there's no reason to quit without fighting the boss."

"and……"

Lu Ren recalled Kageyama Tobio's powerful serve just now.

"Those elite monsters must feel really good to play with."