Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

The whistle was like a sharp pair of scissors, instantly severing the extremely tense atmosphere on the field.

25: 23.

The scoreboard froze, and only then did the heavy feeling in my chest belatedly dissipate, replaced by a burning pain in my lungs and a soreness in my muscles. We won. Although it was just a practice match, and although the opposing team's main setter only played the last set, a win is a win.

"Form up!"

Sawamura Daichi's voice was still loud, but it trembled slightly.

Across the net, the Aoba Johsai players displayed a variety of expressions. Iwaizumi gave Kindaichi a hard slap on the back, seemingly to straighten his back. Oikawa Tetsu, the man who nearly broke Karasuno's morale in the final game, didn't seem too gloomy about the loss. He simply stood there, his gaze passing over the net, as if scrutinizing a group of rookies who dared to challenge elite monsters right out of the beginner's village.

The players from both sides walked to the net, bent down, and shook hands.

Thank you for your guidance!

The sound echoed inside the stadium.

Lu Ren, mingling in the group, was about to pull his hand back when he felt a force gripping his palm. He looked up and met a pair of smiling brown eyes.

Oikawa Toru.

"Lu Ren-chan." Oikawa Tetsu didn't loosen his grip; instead, he tightened it slightly, leaned forward, and lowered his voice, "The suggestion I made at the city gymnasium is still valid."

Lu Ren raised an eyebrow. Was this blatant poaching in front of the entire team? No wonder he's the villainous boss; he has absolutely no sense of honor.

"The cafeteria in the west of Aoba Castle should be better than Karasuno's, right?" Oikawa Tetsu added with a grin, "Besides, don't you think it's much more fun to run dungeons with a max-level account than to carry a bunch of low-level characters?"

Lu Ren felt the pressure from his palm, the rough texture from the calluses formed from years of playing with the ball. He glanced at Hyuga, who was grinning at Iwazumi, and then at Kageyama, who, though expressionless, was clearly relieved.

"Indeed, Qingcheng has a luxurious setup, excellent equipment, and you're the number one support in the entire server." Lu Ren shrugged and pulled his hand away. "However, I have a bit of a masochistic tendency."

Oikawa Tetsu was taken aback.

"Buying a max-level account is fun, but the essence of the game is the process of starting from scratch, gradually upgrading trash gear to god-tier equipment, and watching the experience bar slowly climb up." Lu Ren patted the dust off his sweatpants. "This team doesn't even have a proper libero right now, and their defense is as bad as a sieve, but that's precisely why it's so exciting to get back up."

Oikawa Tetsu stared at Lu Ren for a few seconds, his smile deepening, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

"Is that so?" He straightened up, resuming his charming demeanor. "While I respect your masochistic tendencies, the gates of Aoba City's west side are always open for you. After all, I look forward to the day when I can personally shatter your 'pleasure'."

"Then I'll wait and see."

Lu Ren turned around and rejoined the team.

On the sidelines, coach Ittetsu Takeda stood frozen in place. His glasses were even fogged up; he seemed completely stunned by that "weird fast break." He was still unconsciously muttering, "So amazing...so amazing..."

"teacher!"

Sawamura Daichi led his team to Takeda, and they all bowed deeply in unison, saying, "Thank you for your guidance!"

This is an ironclad rule in Japanese sports clubs: after a competition, you must thank your instructor or coach.

That shout finally snapped Mr. Takeda out of his daze. He jolted awake, waving his hands frantically, "Ah! Yes! Um... everyone, thank you for your hard work!"

Sugawara Koji whispered a reminder from the side: "Teacher, you should say something at this time. Something like a concluding remark as an elder."

"Huh? A summary? Me?" Mr. Takeda pointed to himself, looking somewhat flustered. He was a modern literature teacher, and his understanding of volleyball rules was limited to "the ball cannot touch the ground." The match he had just watched was like watching a Hollywood special effects blockbuster; he was simply awestruck.

He took a deep breath and looked at the group of teenagers in front of him, their faces covered in sweat and their eyes shining.

"Um... I really am a complete novice when it comes to volleyball." Coach Takeda pushed up his glasses, his voice gradually calming down. "I don't understand the techniques, but I know you guys just did something amazing."

The entire room fell silent.

"In the new year, although we have some very talented first-year students, we were completely disorganized at first, and they even started to hold each other back." Teacher Takeda's gaze swept over Kageyama and Hinata, and then looked at Tsukishima and Rikujin. "But today, I think I understand some things."

He paused, his eyes becoming somewhat unfocused, as if he could see something grander through the stadium ceiling.

"It doesn't matter if we're not united, it doesn't matter if our personalities clash. The encounter between people is a miracle in itself. Different elements colliding together can create a powerful chemical reaction."

"Perhaps just a moment ago, in this small stadium, a world-changing encounter has already occurred. A reaction called 'evolution' is taking shape, and from now on, you will become stronger, stronger than you can even imagine."

A silence that lasted thirty seconds.

Lu Ren tilted his head slightly, leaned close to Qingze Yazhi's ear, and lowered his voice: "Was Takeda-sensei a poet before? This is so literary. This line would take up at least two pages in a shonen manga."

"Shut up." Qingze Yazhi kept her eyes straight ahead, but her right hand precisely pinched the soft flesh on Lu Ren's waist. "The atmosphere is just right, don't ruin it."

"Hiss—" Lu Ren gasped, clutching his waist and not daring to utter a sound.

Then look at Kageyama and Hinata beside them. These two single-celled organisms are staring at each other, their eyes so empty it's as if they're having some kind of brainwave exchange.

Hinata: What is he saying?

Kageyama: I don't know, but he seems pretty good.

Hinata: Is it about food? Does "chemical reaction" mean cooking hot pot?

Kageyama: Shut up, just nod.

Mr. Takeda stood there in that hopeful pose for a long time, but when he realized no one was responding, he broke out in a cold sweat.

"I'm so sorry!" he stammered, waving his hands hastily. "Was I too poetic? Did I say something weird? Was it too awkward?"

"That's not true!" Daichi Sawamura quickly intervened, bowing again. "You're absolutely right! Thank you for your guidance!"

"Thank you for your guidance!!" Everyone repeated.

After the meeting was dismissed, everyone began packing their things to leave.

Lu Ren stuffed his knee pads into his bag, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kageyama Tobio sneaking towards the end of the corridor. That direction led to the restrooms.

There's a melon.

Lu Ren's radar went off instantly. He gave Qingze Yazhi a look that said, "I'll go scout ahead," then crouched down and slipped along the wall.

The sound of running water came from the toilet.

Kindaichi Yutaro was standing in front of the sink, splashing cold water on his face. It was a way to cool down after being dizzy from Hyuga's nonsensical running around.

Footsteps sounded.

Kindaichi froze when he saw that familiar figure in the mirror.

Kageyama Tobio stood at the door, holding a towel in his hand, his expression as stiff as a dried-out stone.

The two looked at each other through the mirror. An awkward atmosphere filled the air, a feeling akin to "exes meeting again are bound to be bittersweet."

Lu Ren hid behind a vending machine in the corridor, took out his phone, and turned on video recording mode. This was a precious cutscene; he had to record it.

Kageyama opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he were organizing his thoughts. The once arrogant "king" now seemed rather clumsy.

"that……"

Don't apologize.

Kindaichi whirled around, interrupting Kageyama before he could finish speaking. Water droplets dripped from his "leek head" and splashed onto the floor.

Kageyama was stunned: "Huh?"

"I said, don't apologize to me." Kindaichi stared intently at Kageyama, gritting his teeth as if suppressing some emotion. "If you're apologizing for something that happened in middle school, then there's no need for that. Similarly, I will never apologize to you."

Kageyama blinked and uttered a single syllable: "Oh."

This reaction almost made Kindaichi laugh in exasperation.

"You bastard..." Kindaichi took a deep breath, pointed at Kageyama's nose, "Listen up, Kageyama. In my heart, you will always be that domineering, dictatorial, infuriating 'king.' You are the opponent we most want to defeat, the high wall we have to cross."

"If you apologize, if you become docile, then what are we? Commoners you've abandoned?"

Kindaichi's voice echoed in the empty toilet.

"So, don't try that disgusting reconciliation act. I won't make up with you; we were never really on good terms to begin with. And—" Kindaichi stepped forward, his eyes sharp, "Next time, we'll definitely be the winners."

Kageyama looked at Kindaichi, and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes, which were always as sharp as knives.

"Oh," he replied again.

Lu Ren, listening from outside, shook his head. The entire conversation that day revolved around emotions, devoid of any finesse.

Just then, a cheerful humming sound came from the other end of the corridor.

Hinata Shoyo skipped and hopped around the corner, plunging headlong into this chaotic battlefield.

"Ah, the toilet, the toilet... uh?"

Hinata had just stepped one foot into the doorway when she froze on the spot, as if petrified.

On the left was Kindaichi, his face grim; on the right was Kageyama, his expressionless face blank. The air between them seemed to crackle and spark.

Hinata withdrew her foot and hid behind the wall on the other side, just in time to bump into Lu Ren, who was secretly taking pictures.

"Shh." Lu Ren held up a finger to his lips.

Hinata's eyes widened, and she asked in a whisper, "This...this is that, right? The one in the drama? The one where the ex and the current boyfriend bump into each other in the bathroom?"

"Almost." Lu Ren lowered his voice and showed Hinata the photo he had just taken. The composition of the photo was perfect: Kindaichi's angry accusation, Kageyama's wooden posture, the entanglement reflected in the mirror, and Hinata eavesdropping from behind the wall.

"This atmosphere... is completely beyond my ability to get involved in!" Hinata clutched her head, looking utterly devastated. "I just wanted to go to the bathroom!"

In the restroom, Kageyama finally spoke.

He didn't avoid Kindaichi's gaze, nor did he offer any explanation. He simply straightened his back and said in a matter-of-fact tone:

"Kkindaichi."

"We will still win when we face each other again next time."

After saying that, Kageyama turned and left.

As he passed the doorway, he glanced at Lu Ren and Hinata hiding behind the wall, his brow furrowing. "What are you two doing hiding here? Are you bored?"

Hinata jumped in fright: "N-No! I was just passing by!"

Lu Ren calmly put away his phone and waved to Kindaichi in the restroom: "Sorry to bother you, please continue."

Then, dragging Hinata along, they made their escape by following Kageyama's retreating figure.

In the corridor, the setting sun cast long shadows of the three people.

"Kageyama, you were so cool just now!" Hinata exclaimed excitedly, gesturing wildly. "Especially that last line, 'We'll be the ones who win,' wow, you were like a total villain!"

"Shut up, you idiot."

"But speaking of which, Kindaichi actually cares about you quite a bit, right?" Lu Ren chimed in, "His kind of 'I won't let you become good, so you have to be a bad guy for me to defeat' statement is practically a textbook example of tsundere."

Kageyama stopped and turned to look at the two, a hint of confusion on his face: "Tsundere? What's that?"

Lu Ren sighed.

"Forget it, this is too profound for you." Lu Ren patted Ying Shan on the shoulder. "Let's go back. If we don't leave now, Ya Zhi will skin me alive."

Outside the stadium, the bus engine was already running.

The dungeon, dungeon called "Practice Match," was finally cleared. Although no rare equipment dropped, Lu Ren glanced at the system panel (if it existed) and saw that the experience bar called "Bonds" had indeed increased significantly.