Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

The next day, Tokyo Gymnasium. The venue for the quarterfinals.

The wooden floor reflected the blinding white light of the overhead lamp. The creaking of sneakers against the floor echoed throughout the room, the air thick with the chill of a deep winter stadium and the mingled scents of Yunnan Baiyao (a traditional Chinese medicine). The entire Karasuno High School volleyball team stepped onto the court. Contrary to expectations of post-match fatigue and sluggishness, the team was exceptionally well-organized, each player's steps carrying a fierce, swift energy.

Hinata Shoyo walked at the front. Unlike usual, he wasn't excitedly looking around; his eyes were fixed intently on the opposite side of the court, his gaze sharp and almost murderous. Tanaka Ryunosuke had his sports jacket zipped all the way up, his chin deeply hidden in the collar, his jaw muscles bulging slightly from tension. Nishitani Yu was stretching, her hands pressed firmly against her knees, the bones making a crisp "crackling" sound. This group exuded a resolute determination, as if they were about to blow up a bunker, as if what lay ahead of them wasn't a volleyball net, but a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire.

On the sidelines. Lu Ren was wearing loose black athletic pants, with a Karasuno team jacket casually over them. He hadn't played today, and he was listlessly holding a tactical board. He yawned widely, stood on one leg, and had a shiny, dripping ice pack strapped to the ankle of his other foot.

Hinata stopped abruptly as he passed the bench. He slowly turned his head, his gaze fixed on Lu Ren's ice pack, his eyes visibly red-rimmed.

"Lu Ren," Hinata said, his voice low and carrying a tragic air of desolation, "You just stay here and watch. We'll win back your share, with interest."

Lu Ren's eyelids twitched violently.

"Go warm up." Lu Ren resisted the urge to roll his eyes and pointed to the court.

Hyuga nodded emphatically, then turned and rushed towards the net as if he had received a military order. As Tanaka passed by, he patted Lu Ren's shoulder with his broad hand, the force of which almost made Lu Ren stumble.

"Leave it to me." Tanaka said only three words, his face, which usually carried a hint of arrogance, now filled with a chilling intent. He strode away without looking back.

Lu Ren grimaced and rubbed his sore shoulder, letting out a long sigh inwardly. They'd gone too far. These guys were now in a bizarre "martyr" state, as if ready to burn their lives at any moment.

Uyang Shishin stood beside the coach's bench, holding a notebook in his hand, his gaze sweeping back and forth over the players warming up on the field, his brows furrowing more and more tightly.

"This is so abnormal." Wu Yang leaned close to Lu Ren, lowered his voice, and said incredulously, "Yesterday's battle with Yin Ju was so intense, he was completely exhausted. How can he still have this kind of momentum today? What kind of magic potion did you give them last night?"

Lu Ren didn't even look up, casually drawing a map of Outai's positions on the tactical board with a marker.

"Just a little psychological trick," Lu Ren said casually, as if he were commenting on the weather. "It's just giving them a reason to win."

Wu Yang looked at the exaggerated ice pack on Lu Ren's leg.

"Playing the victim?" Wu Yang raised an eyebrow.

"This is called making good use of emotional resources." Lu Ren snapped the pen cap shut. "They were too tense. If they were only thinking about 'winning,' the pressure would easily cause their movements to become distorted. Now, they're all thinking about 'fighting for their disabled teammates who can't leave the court,' so their attention will be focused on the ball like never before. Just watch, these mad dogs will tear the other side's net apart today."

Wu Yang's lips twitched slightly, then he shook his head and didn't press the matter. No matter how dirty the methods, as long as he could win, that was all that mattered.

Across the net, Oudai High School's half of the court.

Hoshino Koki was doing high knees. His movements were wide, but his gaze was fixed on Karasuno's side, like a radar, even beyond the net.

"Something's not right." Xinghai stopped what he was doing, put his hands on his hips, and frowned.

Hirugami Yukiro walked over to him, casually twirling a volleyball in his hand.

"What's wrong?" The God of Daylight followed the sea of ​​stars' gaze.

"Kanasano's condition is too abnormal." Hoshino pointed to Tanaka, who was frantically spiking the ball at the net to warm up, the sound of the spiking was deafening. "Yesterday they were dragged into a quagmire by Nekoma, and their physical strength was greatly depleted. Normally, this morning's warm-up should be very dull, with heavy steps. But look at them, their eyes are shining, like they've been injected with chicken blood."

Bai Ma Yasheng walked over from the back row. His height of over two meters made him stand out in the crowd, like a moving iron tower.

"It's just a last gasp," Hakuma said, scratching his head dismissively. "With that kind of high-intensity match, you can't recover just by sleeping. They're just pushing themselves through now. Once the excitement from the first set is over, their stamina will plummet."

The God of Daylight didn't reply. His calm eyes were fixed on Hyuga Shoyo at the net. Hyuga took a run-up, jumped, and spiked the ball. The volleyball slammed onto the floor like a cannonball, making an extremely loud bang.

"They're not just putting on a brave face." The Day God refuted White Horse's conclusion, his tone grave. "Their movements are incredibly fluid, without the slightest sign of muscle stiffness. Their mental state is also excellent. This isn't the performance of a fatigued team. There's... a strange obsession within them."

Xinghai squinted, searching for that familiar figure in Wuye's ranks like a falcon.

"Number 13 isn't on the field." Xinghai keenly sensed the key point.

Houshin glanced at Karasuno's bench. Lu Ren was sitting lazily on a bench, with thick ice packs strapped to his legs and a tactical board in his hand.

"It seems yesterday's tug-of-war cost him dearly." A glint of light flashed in Houshin's eyes. "Kasuno's tactical brain has shut down."

"Without him, Karasuno's offensive system will be much simpler, and there will be far fewer unpredictable variables." Hoshino turned and walked towards the baseline, his eyes turning sharp. "Get ready. Today they will definitely use the most primal violence to attack our defenses."

Warm-up time ended. The referee blew the sharp whistle. The starting players from both sides lined up at the baseline, and the atmosphere instantly turned icy.

On Karasuno's side: Hinata, Kageyama, Sawamura, Tanaka, Higashimine, Tsukishima. Nishiya stood on the sidelines, his gaze fixed intently, ready to make a substitution at any moment. Riku Ren was not present.

In the stands, Lu Jianguo held up a telephoto SLR camera, the lens precisely aimed at the field.

"Why haven't I seen Xiao Ren on stage?" Qingze Yazhi clung to the railing, craning her neck to look down, her face full of anxiety.

"Didn't you see that huge ice pack on his leg?" Lu Jianguo pressed the shutter, snapping a picture. "He overexerted himself yesterday. Today's tough battle will depend on the others giving it their all."

Kiyosawa Yashiro twisted her fingers with some worry: "Can we win? That short guy with white hair on the other side can jump even higher than Hinata."

"Just keep watching and you'll see. The team our son led is incredibly resilient." Lu Jianguo didn't say anything more, focusing intently on the camera.

The match officially began. In the first game, Outai served.

Hoshino Koki took the ball and walked to the baseline of the service area. He dribbled the ball twice, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He tossed the ball, took a run-up, and jumped. His movements were as fluid and precise as a textbook example, without a single unnecessary pause.

A powerful volleyball strikes the ball with a mighty palm. A powerful jump serve! The ball moves at incredible speed, with a terrifying spin that tears through the air, heading straight for Karasuno's backcourt corner.

Sawamura Daichi's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly shifted his feet to the side, positioning himself in advance. He crossed his arms, pressing his weight firmly down. The volleyball slammed into his forearm like a hammer blow, with astonishing force. Sawamura gritted his teeth, let out a muffled groan, and steadied himself. The ball was lifted high, wobbling slightly, but flew accurately towards the net.

"Pass it in place!" Sawamura roared.

Kageyama Tobio sprinted towards the landing point like a cheetah. Karasuno's offensive engine was instantly activated.

Hyuga cut in from the middle like a ghost. His speed was even faster than yesterday! His thigh muscles exploded with astonishing power, propelling him into the air. Tanaka launched a fierce attack from the left flank. Higashimine was poised to strike from the right. A breathtaking, simultaneous multi-pronged attack.

At the net in Ogata, Hirugami Yukirou was frighteningly calm. He wasn't fooled by Hyuga's dazzling movements at all. His gaze, like a scalpel, was fixed on Kageyama's fingers. The moment the pass was made, Hirugami moved his feet decisively. Not the middle, but the left wing! He instantly judged Kageyama's passing route.

Tanaka leaped wildly towards the ball, swinging his arm in a wide arc. However, at the net, Hirugami and Shiroba Mei had already erected a despair-inducing wall. Absolute defense. Their arms were tightly clasped together, not even a wisp of air could pass through.

"Bang!" Tanaka's powerful spike slammed solidly into Hirugami's hand. The ball was blocked, bouncing straight back towards Karasuno's court. Nishitani Yuu roared and dived to save it. Her fingertips desperately grazed the ball, but she still couldn't change its fate.

The ball lands. 1-0. Outai takes the first point.

A gasp of disbelief erupted in the stands. In the very first rally, Outai displayed breathtaking blocking prowess, as if declaring this place their absolute no-go zone.

Tanaka landed, looked at the volleyball rolling on the floor, and scratched his hair in frustration.

"Sorry! This ball is my fault. I hit it too straight and didn't see the block clearly!" Tanaka raised his hand to express his dissatisfaction.

"It's okay, we'll hit it back hard on the next ball!" Sawamura patted Tanaka's back forcefully.

On the sidelines, Lu Ren drew a large red X on the tactics board. The Sun God's judgment was as accurate as a computer. He didn't look at the attackers' running decoys, only at the setter's passing intentions and muscle movements. This kind of extremely rational blocking was precisely the type of defense that Karasuno, a team that relied on instinct and multiple attacking threats, found most troublesome.

"Tsukishima." Lu Ren suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the noisy venue.

On the court, Tsukishima Hotaru turned her head. Lu Ren pointed with his pen at the opposite side of the net, then pointed to his own head, a meaningful smile curving his lips.

Tsukishima adjusted his sports glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold glint. No further words were needed; he understood Lu Ren's meaning all too well. Using reason against reason—that's a game for the intelligent.

The match continued. Hoshino served again. It was another powerful jump serve. This time, he targeted Higashimine Asahi in the back row. Higashimine was a little slow in his footing when receiving the ball, and the ball hit his arm and went out of bounds.

2: 0.

On the third ball, Xinghai aimed for the perfect landing point, but his serve went astray, and the ball slammed into the net.

2:1. Karasuno finally got the serve back.

Kageyama stood in the service court. He took a deep breath and jumped serve. The ball whistled through the air, aiming for Ueyama's libero, Ueyama. Ueyama's fundamentals were extremely solid, and he steadily deflected the ball.

"Great pass!"

Oogawa's setter, Suwa, made a smooth pass while running. The ball flew accurately to the left wing.

Hoshino Kōki began his run-up. His strides were short but extremely rapid, like stepping to a drumbeat. The final step landed heavily on the floor with a dull thud. He jumped! The height defied the laws of physics. He soared into the air, his gaze easily clearing the top of the net, overlooking Karasuno's half of the court.

Hotaru Tsukishima and Tobio Kageyama quickly formed a double block. But Hotaru didn't jump immediately. He calmly watched Hoshino's movements. Hoshino had an incredibly brief moment of hang time in the air. Now! Hotaru and Kageyama jumped simultaneously. Their blocking hands formed an iron gate, firmly blocking the straight spike route.

Hoshino, suspended in mid-air, scanned the gaps in the net like a scanner. Instead of a powerful shot, he deftly twisted his wrist, altering his hitting motion mid-air to deliver a low, close-to-the-net cross-court shot. The ball grazed the edge of Tsukishima's little finger, landing lightly in the corner of Karasuno's frontcourt. Hinata sprinted towards it like an arrow, but the distance was too great, and he missed completely.

3: 1.

Xinghai landed lightly and flicked his wrist. He gave Yuedao a defiant look. Yuedao remained expressionless, not even raising an eyebrow, and turned to walk back to his seat.

"That short guy has such a long hang time," Wu Yang noted quickly from the sidelines, his brow furrowed. "He can see the gaps in the block in mid-air and then calmly change the trajectory of his shot. This kind of play is too difficult to defend against."

Lu Ren placed the tactical board on his lap and shifted to a more comfortable sitting position.

"This is the true style of play of the 'Little Giants'." Lu Ren tapped his fingertips on the paddle. "Using height and hang time, they treat the opposing blockers as their tools and springboards. Tsukishima's timing for jumping just now was perfect. The fact that they couldn't block it was purely because the opponent's aerial technique was superior."

"Is there a solution?" Uyang asked anxiously.

"Yes." Lu Ren picked up the kettle and took a slow sip. "Force him to play straight shots. He likes to play fancy tricks, so just lock down all his diagonal shots."

On the court, it's Karasuno's offensive turn. Kageyama passes the ball. This time, it's to Hyuga, who's making a high-speed run down the middle. Hyuga leaps high. Hirugami and Suwa quickly form a double block. Seeing this wall in mid-air, Hyuga doesn't choose to blindly spike, but instead gently pushes the ball towards the back row. Higashimine Asahi surges forward from the back row like an enraged black bear. A powerful spike! The ball crashes onto the court at Ogaodai with terrifying momentum.

3: 2.

Karasuno kept the score close. The two sides quickly entered a fierce tug-of-war. Oudai's blocking system was like a precision industrial instrument, constantly filtering and blocking Karasuno's attacks. Karasuno, on the other hand, relied on the mad dog-like ferocity of "we must win for Rikuren" that they had accumulated the night before, and used their flesh and blood to smash a gap in the impenetrable wall.

Tanaka frequently launched attacks from the left wing. Even if he was blocked a second ago, he would still loudly call for the ball without hesitation for the next one.

"Give me the ball!!" Tanaka roared, his eyes bloodshot.

Kageyama passed the ball without hesitation. Facing three tall blockers, Tanaka didn't flinch, forcefully swinging his arm to knock the ball out of bounds. The ball hit Hakuba's fingers and flew towards the stands. Point!

Tanaka landed, forcefully pumped his fist, and let out a beast-like roar. He turned his head and stared intently at Lu Ren on the sidelines. Lu Ren sat on a bench, watching him expressionlessly, and nodded slightly. Tanaka seemed greatly encouraged, as if he had been given a shot of adrenaline, and turned to sprint into defense.

Lu Ren yawned quietly on the sidelines, wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand. These people are so easily fooled, it's heartbreaking.

The score is now 15-14. Outai is leading by one point. A technical timeout is called. The players return to the sidelines, panting, to replenish their fluids.

Hinata grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face haphazardly, his chest heaving violently.

"Their net is so hard..." Hinata panted, "Every time I jump, it feels like there's a wall in front of me without any gaps."

"That Daybreak God's judgment is too quick." Kageyama took a big gulp of water, his eyes gloomy. "He almost never takes any bait. He saw through my passing intentions several times. That guy has a venomous eye."

Coach Wu Yang walked over quickly with a tactics board in his hand.

"Oudai's defensive core is Houjin." Ukai drew the formation on the board. "Not only is he a strong blocker himself, but he can also direct his teammates' blocking system. We need to find a way to disrupt his rhythm and not let him so easily see through our intentions."

Lu Ren sat beside him, legs crossed, without saying a word. He looked at Tsukishima. Tsukishima was slowly drinking water, but his gaze remained fixed on the scoreboard, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"Tsukishima," Lu Ren said.

Tsukishima turned her head and looked at Lu Ren.

"Have you figured out the habits of the Day God?" Lu Ren asked with a half-smile.

Tsukishima put down the kettle, pushed up his glasses with his slender fingers, and a cold smile curved his lips.

"He likes to look at the setter's shoulders." Tsukishima said calmly, as if stating a death sentence. "Before Kageyama sets the ball, the angle of his shoulder reveals the direction of the pass. Hirugami uses this tiny detail to move ahead of time."

Kageyama froze. He looked down at his shoulder, realizing he hadn't even noticed this fatal habit.

"Can we use it?" A hint of appreciation flashed in Lu Ren's eyes.

"Of course." Tsukishima turned to Kageyama, his tone slightly provocative. "For the next ball, you make a feint. Lean your shoulder to the left, as if you're passing to the left wing, but pass the ball to the right wing. Dare to do it?"

Kageyama frowned: "This completely violates my passing habits and is extremely easy to make mistakes in high-speed confrontations."

"Then let's see if you, this 'genius,' dare to take the gamble," Tsukishima said sarcastically, turning and walking back onto the field.

The timeout has ended. The game resumes.

15:14. Karasuno serves. Tadashi Yamaguchi is substituted in. A crucial jump floater.

Yamaguchi stood in the service area, taking a deep breath to calm his wildly beating heart. He tossed the ball, took a run-up, and hit it. A jump float! The volleyball swayed wildly from side to side in the air, as if drunk, aiming precisely at Shiroba Mei, whose center of gravity was extremely high. Shiroba was too tall; receiving such a low, flat float was incredibly difficult for him. He frantically managed to get up.

"Sorry, the pass was too short!" White Horse shouted in frustration.

Suwa makes a difficult pass while running. The ball reaches Seikai. Seikai jumps again. Tsukishima and Tanaka block the shot together.

Lu Ren watched Xinghai's movements intently from the sidelines. Xinghai used the same trick again in mid-air, taking advantage of his terrifying hang time to spot a tiny gap between Tsukishima and Tanaka. "Break through it!" Xinghai's eyes flashed, and he swung his arm for a smash.

However, at the very moment he struck the ball, Tsukishima's previously relaxed arm suddenly snapped inward with incredible speed. The gap vanished! It was a complete trap!

"Bang!" The ball slammed solidly into Tsukishima's hard hand, rebounding violently back onto the Oogawa court with tremendous force. Score!

15:15. A draw!

Tsukishima landed, adjusted his glasses, and looked down at the starry sea across the net.

"Got you, little guy," Tsukishima said in a low voice, his tone chilling.

Xinghai stared at Yuedao, his brows furrowed deeply. This tall, bespectacled man had actually been deliberately feigning an opening in mid-air to lure him in!

It was Karasuno's turn to attack. Nishitani calmly received Omodai's serve in the backcourt. The ball arced perfectly towards the net. Kageyama quickly ran towards the landing point. On the other side of the net, Hirugami, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey, stared intently at Kageyama's shoulder.

Kageyama jumped. In that instant, his shoulder noticeably tilted to the left. Left wing! Hiruzen's brain made a split-second judgment, quickly moving to the right to block Tanaka's spike.

However, Kageyama didn't push the ball to the left with his fingers in mid-air. He gritted his teeth, forcibly twisting his body's momentum, and with an extremely awkward flick of his wrist, the ball shot out from behind him like lightning. Right wing!

Dong Fengxu had already leaped high into the air. There was no one in front of him! Zhou Shen was completely fooled; his eyes widened in astonishment, but it was too late to defend himself. Dong Fengxu swung his thick arm, unleashing a devastating attack!

"Boom!" The volleyball slammed onto the floor with a loud thud.

16:15. Karasuno takes the lead!

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd. Kageyama landed, panting heavily, and glanced at his shoulder, which ached slightly from the forceful twist. Tsukishima strolled over leisurely.

"The delivery was passable, not embarrassing at all," Tsukishima said, a smile playing on his lips.

Kageyama gritted his teeth: "You bastard... shut up!"

On the sidelines, Coach Wu Yang excitedly slapped his thigh hard, wincing in pain.

"Great shot! That completely disrupted their defensive rhythm!"

Lu Ren leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. He casually tossed the tactical board aside. This match no longer needed him to be the "system patch" constantly putting out fires.

Driven by desperation and a sense of responsibility, Karasuno's machine has learned to repair its vulnerabilities and evolve on its own. Tsukishima has built a chilling line of rational defense at the net; Kageyama is learning to break free from ingrained habits and challenge his limits; Hinata and Tanaka are relentlessly assaulting their opponents with their unreasonable physical strength and willpower. Even without him, this "max-level pro player," leading the charge, they could still beat the game.

Lu Ren adjusted the position of the ice pack on his leg, feeling a bit chilly. He looked up and glanced at the ashen-faced people from Outai on the other side of the net.

Absolute defense? Let's see if your iron walls are harder, or if the spears of these desperate madmen are sharper.

The match had reached a fever pitch. The screech of shoes on the wooden floor grew increasingly sharp and piercing, as if trying to ignite the air. The next point, the whistle blew again. The volleyball soared into the air once more. This relentless battle of offense and defense continued.