Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

The referee blew the whistle. Karasuno had the serve.

Kageyama Tobio stood outside the baseline, twirling a volleyball in his hand. He glanced up at the opposing defense. Shiratorizawa's formation was solid, with libero Yamagata Hayato lowering his center of gravity, and Ohira Shion standing nearby, ready to cover for him at any moment.

Throw the ball, take a running start. Smash it down with your right arm at the highest point.

The volleyball hurtled towards the backcourt with great force. Hayato Yamagata moved quickly on his feet, his hands clasped together to meet it. With a "thud," the ball was steadily deflected.

"Pass it in place!" Yamagata shouted.

Kenjiro Shirabu quickly moved into the setter position. His gaze didn't wander; it locked onto the right wing directly. Wakatoshi Ushijima had already begun his run-up.

At the net, Tsukishima Hotaru's eyes were fixed on the hand gestures on the white cloth. A pass to the right wing. Tsukishima jumped, arms outstretched, hand gestures slightly adjusted, blocking the straight line.

Ushijima spreads his body in the air, swinging his left arm down. Heavy artillery fire.

The volleyball slammed against Tsukishima's fingertips, making a screeching sound. Its trajectory was disrupted, its speed reduced, and it bounced high towards Karasuno's back row.

"One touch!" Tsukishima shouted as he landed.

Shirabu Kenjiro stood at the net, his fingers unconsciously digging into his palm. It was that blond guy again. No matter how he adjusted the height and speed of his passes, this bespectacled middle blocker always managed to stick to him like a leech, weakening Ushijima's spikes. Frustration pounded in Shirabu's chest, but he suppressed it.

Karasuno's back row. Lu Ren had already predicted the ball's landing point. He slightly spread his legs, lowered his center of gravity, and steadily set the ball towards the setter's position.

"Well done!"

Kageyama Tobio was already in position. Hyuga Shoyo cut in from the right baseline like an orange lightning bolt. Shiratorizawa's block hadn't even fully closed yet.

Kageyama touched the ball with his fingers and flicked his wrist slightly. The volleyball traveled in an extremely short straight line, precisely delivering it to Hinata's swinging arm.

The weirdo's fast attack.

Hinata swung his arm, and the volleyball hit an open space in Shiratorizawa's half of the court.

The referee blows the whistle. Karasuno 2:0 Shiratorizawa.

Hinata excitedly pumped his fist. Kageyama turned and walked towards the service area.

Hotaru Tsukishima stood at the net, adjusting his glasses. He looked at Shirabu and Ushijima in Shiratorizawa's half of the court, his face expressionless. He had won that point, but the mental calculations in his head were still running. Shiratorizawa's offensive rhythm had been disrupted by Karasuno's defensive net. What he needed to do now was like a crocodile lurking in muddy waters, patiently waiting for its prey to go to the deepest part, and then biting its throat.

Kageyama serves again.

This time, the ball's trajectory was biased towards Shion Ohira. Ohira stepped forward and cushioned the ball.

"Sorry, it's a little short!" Ohira shouted.

Kenjiro Shirabu sprinted quickly, adjusting his position at the net. Satoru Tendo started from the left, moving with incredible speed, preparing for a fast attack. In the back row, Wakatoshi Ushijima also began his run-up.

A multi-pronged attack strategy.

Kageyama Tobio stared intently at Shirabu's movements from across the net. Was Tendo a decoy? Ushijima's backcourt attack was too threatening; Shirabu would definitely pass the ball to Ushijima. Kageyama's weight involuntarily shifted towards the backcourt.

The white cloth touched the ball with both hands. He caught a glimpse of Kageyama's movement out of the corner of his eye.

Karasuno's defensive focus was drawn to Ushijima. Shirabu suddenly changed his wrist, not passing the ball. He gently flicked it with both hands, sending the volleyball over the net and landing straight in the open area in Karasuno's half of the court.

Second attack.

The white sheet fell to the ground, ready for the whistle to signal a point.

A pale arm appeared out of nowhere, directly above the net. It was Tsukishima Hotaru.

He jumped a beat slower than usual, just in time for the second ball to be released from the white cloth. His fingers touched the bottom of the volleyball.

The ball was deflected, but due to the close proximity, it still grazed the net and landed in Karasuno's half of the field.

The referee blows the whistle. Shiratorizawa scores. Karasuno 2-1 Shiratorizawa.

Hotaru Tsukishima landed. Kenjiro Shirabu also stood in front of the net. The two looked at each other across the net.

Bai Bu's breathing was a little erratic. He thought he had fooled everyone with that last shot, but he hadn't fooled this first-year middle blocker. If it weren't for good luck, that shot would definitely have been blocked.

Tsukishima withdrew his gaze, turned, and walked back to his seat. He said nothing, but his all-knowing attitude only fueled Shirabu's anger.

The serve changes hands. Shiratori Sawashima serves.

The atmosphere in the stadium was tense because of this name. Ushijima stood outside the baseline, tossed the ball, jumped, and swung his left arm.

A powerful jump serve. The volleyball, with its intense spin and pressure, hurtles straight into Karasuno's backcourt.

Sawamura Daichi stood in the back row. He stared intently at the ball's trajectory. The ball landed very deep. Out of bounds? Or in bounds? Daichi's mind raced, trying to make a decision.

The ball rapidly magnified in view.

"Inbounds!" Daichi reacted at the last second, leaning back and forcefully reaching for the ball with both arms.

boom.

The ball hit the ground, bounced high, and flew towards the right side of Karasuno's half of the field.

"Make amends!" cried the earth.

The first pass was inaccurate. Kageyama was too far from where the ball would land, and there wasn't enough time to organize the play.

Lu Ren quickly surged forward from the back row. He ran to the ball, but instead of using a set pass, he raised both hands above his head, making a perfectly standard setter's hand gesture.

"Tanaka-senpai!" Riku Ren shouted.

The volleyball was smoothly pushed to the left wing. Ryunosuke Tanaka took a long run-up and leaped high into the air.

At the net in front of Shiratorizawa, Tendou Kaku was already in position. The double net was launched into the air.

Tanaka watched Tendo's arm from the air, choosing not to confront it head-on. Instead, he twisted his wrist and slammed it down hard on the outside of Tendo's hand.

The thug went out of bounds.

The volleyball hit Tendo's hand, changed its trajectory, and flew out of the court.

The referee blows the whistle. Karasuno 3:1 Shiratorizawa.

"Well done, Tanaka!" The earth clapped.

"Lu Ren passed the ball well!" Tanaka landed, laughing and giving Lu Ren a high five.

Lu Ren flicked his wrist: "Basic operation."

Karasuno makes a substitution. Tsukishima Hotaru moves to the back row to serve, and Hinata Shoyo moves to the front row.

The two players crossed paths on the sideline. Tsukishima stopped and whispered to Hinata, "Wait a minute, if they return my serve perfectly, given the current situation, there's a high chance they'll launch a fast attack."

Hinata paused for a moment, then turned to look at Tsukishima.

Tsukishima adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "When the time comes, just do your best to jump in front of Number 5."

Number 5, Tian Tong Jue.

Hinata nodded vigorously: "Leave it to me!"

Tsukishima stood just outside the baseline. He glanced at the opposing formation. Ohira Shion and Yamagata Hayato had expanded the defensive area.

Toss the ball, take a running start. Jump float.

The volleyball barely spun in the air, its trajectory unpredictable. Ohira Shion aimed precisely at the landing point and steadily nudged the ball up with both hands.

"Perfect pass!" Ohira shouted.

Shirabu Kenjiro ran to the net. Just as Tsukishima had predicted, Ushijima was heavily marked by Karasuno, and Shirabu decisively opted for a fast attack to disrupt the rhythm.

Tendou Satoru cuts in from the middle and jumps.

With a push of his hands, the white cloth sent the volleyball precisely to Tendo's face.

Tendo swings his arm, preparing to smash.

Just as he exerted his strength, an orange figure suddenly rose from the ground without warning, directly blocking his spike path.

Hinata Shoyo.

Tendo's eyes widened. How did this little guy get here?

The volleyball hit Hinata's fingertips and bounced high into the air.

"One touch!" Hyuga landed without pausing and immediately began to run backward.

In the back row of Karasuno, Tsukishima Kei had moved to the ball's landing point. He used both hands to pass the ball high towards the net.

"Counterattack!"

Kageyama Tobio quickly cut into the setter position.

Hinata Shoyo started simultaneously from the back row, accelerating to full speed and heading straight for the net. Higashimine Asahi spread out on the left wing, while Tanaka prepared on the right wing.

Shiratorizawa's defensive formation was drawn to Hyuga's fast break. Tendo Satoru landed and immediately jumped again, preparing to block Hyuga. Shirabu also moved with him.

Kageyama jumped at the net. He raised his hands above his head, glancing at Shiratorizawa's block out of the corner of his eye.

Everyone stared at the ball in his hand, waiting to see who he would pass it to.

Kageyama's gaze fell on Hinata, but his wrist made a completely opposite movement.

He didn't pass the ball.

With a gentle flick of the left hand at the bottom of the volleyball, the ball flew over the net and landed straight in the blind spot of Shiratorizawa's half-court defense.

Second attack.

The ball landed.

The referee blows the whistle. Karasuno 4:1 Shiratorizawa.

The entire stadium was silent for a second, then erupted in thunderous cheers.

Kageyama landed, turned around expressionlessly, without making a single unnecessary movement. But his arrogant aura could be smelled from halfway across the court.

On the sidelines, Lu Ren sat on the bench, covering his face with one hand.

"I knew it." Lu Ren muttered through his fingers, "This guy is definitely not one to suffer a loss. He had a second ball stolen by Bai Bu earlier, and this time he's going to return it intact."

Sugawara Koji chuckled beside him: "Kageyama's competitive spirit can be quite frightening sometimes."

Coach Wu Yang, holding the tactics board, tapped his thigh: "Well done. That's how it should be, completely disrupt their rhythm."

On the other side of the net, Shirabu Kenjiro stared at the volleyball lying on the ground, his face ashen. He looked up at Kageyama Tobio. Kageyama didn't even look at him, instead giving Hinata a high-five.

The feeling of being slapped in the face made Bai Bu's breathing become heavier.

Coach Washi stood up on the sidelines, arms crossed, brows furrowed. Karasuno was a more formidable team than he'd imagined. They not only had a well-developed tactical system, but also players capable of single-handedly breaking through defenses in crucial moments.

The game continues.

Karasuno led 4-1, taking the initiative from the start.

Hotaru Tsukishima continues serving.

This time he changed his strategy, instead of targeting Shion Ohira, he served the ball to Goshiki Kou.

Goshiki is Shiratorizawa's first-year main attacker. He is technically versatile, but his mentality is prone to fluctuations.

The volleyball flew erratically towards Wushegong. Wushegong stepped forward and attempted a two-handed underhand pass. He misjudged the ball's trajectory, and it hit the edge of his arm before flying directly into the stands.

A direct point from the serve. Karasuno 5:1 Shiratorizawa.

"Damn it!" Wu Segong slapped his thigh in frustration.

"It's okay, catch the next ball!" Shion Ohira comforted him.

Hotaru Tsukishima stood at the baseline, spinning the volleyball twice in his hand. He looked at Goshiki Kou opposite him, his eyes unwavering. As long as he could score, he didn't mind specifically targeting his opponent's weaknesses.

The third shot.

This time, Wushegong calmed down and managed to lift the ball.

"The pass is perfect!"

Kenjiro Shirabu orchestrated the attack. Instead of attempting a quick counter-attack, he steadily passed the ball to Wakatoshi Ushijima on the right wing.

In Shiratorizawa, when the game is deadlocked, passing the ball to Ushijima is the only and most effective solution.

Ushima takes a running start and jumps.

At the net, Hotaru Tsukishima and Ryunosuke Tanaka block the ball.

Ushijima made a very slight turn in mid-air to avoid the block, and the volleyball slammed heavily into Karasuno's half of the court.

Within the boundaries. Karasuno 5:2 Shiratorizawa.

Breaking the deadlock with absolute power.

Ushijima landed and turned to walk back to his spot. He didn't celebrate, as if he had just done something insignificant.

Lu Ren watched Niu Dao's retreating figure from the sidelines.

"These numbers are ridiculously bad." Lu Ren wiped his sweat with a towel. "But this is the only way we can score. We've pretty much dismantled their tactical system."

The pace of the match quickened. Both sides engaged in intense tug-of-war at the net.

Karasuno, relying on their multi-pronged attack and tight defensive system, relentlessly suppressed Shiratorizawa. Shiratorizawa, however, managed to keep the score close thanks to Ushijima's individual skill.

The score is now 10-8. Karasuno leads by two points.

The serve returned to Karasuno. Tobio Kageyama stood at the baseline.

Toss the ball, jump, and serve with great force.

The volleyball hurtled straight at Hayato Yamagata. Yamagata calmly parried it.

Kenjiro Shirabu passed the ball to Satoru Tendo. Tendo then launched a deceptively quick attack from the net, exploiting a timing difference.

Hotaru Tsukishima was momentarily stunned and failed to jump in time.

The volleyball hits Karasuno's half of the court. 10:9.

When Tendo landed, Okizukijima made a hand gesture. Tsukishima adjusted his glasses but ignored him.

In the following rounds, both sides had their share of offense and defense.

Hinata's unorthodox fast break, Tanaka's powerful spikes, and Higashimine's backcourt attacks. Karasuno's arsenal is firing on all cylinders.

Ushijima's heavy artillery, Tendo's intuitive blocking, and Goshiki's diagonal spikes. Shiratorizawa was also fighting back desperately.

The score went back and forth.

15:13. Karasuno is in the lead.

Technology paused.

The players returned to the bench.

Lu Ren handed the water bottle to Kageyama: "Good pass. That second pass, he's got a strong sense of revenge."

Kageyama took the water bottle and took a sip: "He provoked me first."

Lu Ren smiled and turned to look at Tsukishima: "How's your blocking going?"

Tsukishima wiped his sweat with a towel: "Ushijima's strength shows no signs of weakening. His physical reserves are beyond those of ordinary people."

"Then let's keep at it." Lu Ren pointed to the tactics board. "His power hasn't diminished, but Bai Bu's passing accuracy is declining. In the last few passes, Bai Bu's passes to Ushijima were five centimeters too low. This shows that Bai Bu is getting impatient."

Coach Wu Yang came over: "Lu Ren is right. Bai Bu's mental defenses have cracked. In the latter half of the third set, serve more to Bai Bu, force him to run, and wear him down."

"Understood," the team members answered in unison.