Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

The stadium doors were flung open with a loud "whoosh".

The cool evening breeze slipped in through the crack in the door, carrying away some of the stuffy, sweaty smell inside the hall. Tanaka Ryunosuke, who was practicing his spike, was interrupted by this sudden noise halfway through his jump. The volleyball slammed against the net with a "thud" and bounced back into bounds.

Everyone stopped moving. The squeaking of sneakers on the floor disappeared, replaced by an eerie silence.

Takeda Ittetsu stood panting at the door, a blush of triumph on his face. He turned to the side, as if displaying some rare treasure, and made way for the blond man behind him, who had his hands in his pockets and looked displeased.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work!" Teacher Takeda's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "Gather together!"

Sawamura Daichi paused for a second, then clapped his hands: "Assemble!"

The entire Karasuno volleyball team quickly lined up in front of the net. Riku slowly moved over from the water dispenser, still holding a half-full bottle of water in his hand, and his gaze swept over the blond man.

He wore a red tracksuit with the collar open, revealing a white T-shirt underneath. His slightly sallow blond hair was combed back, his brows were furrowed, his eyes were fierce, and he exuded a decadent aura that said, "Don't mess with me, I'm annoyed, I want to go home."

Lu Ren raised an eyebrow. Isn't this the owner of Sakashita Store? His appearance and demeanor make him look more like a small-time gang leader who collects protection money in the back alleys of arcades than a volleyball coach.

"Let me introduce you all," Ittetsu Takeda cleared his throat, his tone solemn, "this is Mr. Koshin Ukai. Starting today, he will be our coach."

The air froze for three seconds.

"ha?!"

The first to speak was Tanaka Ryunosuke. He pointed at Ukai Koshin, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets: "Isn't that the shopkeeper from Sakashita Department Store?!"

Hinata Shoyo's mouth dropped open, and he pointed, "Ah! It's that kind guy who gave us the energy bars!"

Kageyama Tobio tilted his head, seemingly trying to connect the two professions of "convenience store clerk" and "coach".

"Coach?" Sawamura Daichi, as the captain, was also somewhat shocked, but he remained calm. "Teacher, is this true?"

"It's true." Takeda Ittetsu nodded vigorously, as if afraid everyone wouldn't believe him. "Ukai-kun is not only a graduate of the Karasuno volleyball team, meaning he's your senior, but... he's also the grandson of that famous Coach Ukai!"

This title was like a depth charge dropped on a calm lake.

"Ukai... Coach's grandson?" Sugawara Koji repeated in surprise.

In the eyes of these high school students, the surname "Ukai" is practically legendary in Miyagi Prefecture's volleyball world. He was the legendary player who led the former Karasuno team to the national tournament.

Standing at the end of the line, Lu Ren adjusted his non-existent glasses and muttered under his breath, "Even though they're from a prestigious family... isn't this sudden change in style a bit too much? Are you sure it's not a genetic mutation or a mix-up at birth?"

Hotaru Tsukishima, standing beside him, scoffed, "Perhaps he inherited some strange trait from a previous generation."

"Hey! You over there, four-eyed guy and dead fish eyes!" Wu Yang's temple throbbed, and his fierce eyes instantly locked onto Lu Ren and Yue Dao. "Don't think I can't hear you just because you're quiet. Especially you, you dead fish eyes, were you just mentally making up stories about me being a gangster?"

Lu Ren remained expressionless, unscrewed the bottle cap, and took a sip of water: "Coach, I just feel that your temperament is very... tough. Rather than coaching volleyball, I feel you are more suited to developing business in a place like Shinjuku."

"You brat..." Wu Yangxi gritted his teeth, probably because he had never seen a student who dared to be so sarcastic on their first meeting. But he quickly took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. "Forget it, I don't have time to argue with you bunch of brats."

He took a step forward, and his lazy aura instantly vanished, replaced by a sharpness born of years of experience.

"Listen up, my term ends after the Sound Horse Tournament. Now that I've taken over, I have no intention of playing house with you guys." Ukai Shishin glanced at his watch. "Now, everyone warm up. The matches start at 6:30."

"A match?" Sawamura Daichi was taken aback. "But Coach, the opponent is...?"

If it's an internal team match between red and white teams, there's no need to specifically emphasize the time.

"I've already called over all the opponents." Wu Yangxixin's lips curled into a wicked smile, and he pointed behind him with his thumb. "Since we're going to see your strength, what's the point of just watching you practice? Of course, real matches are the best way to prove anything."

"Who is the opponent?" Tanaka clenched his fist excitedly.

"Kanasano Town Association Team".

"ha?"

Everyone was stunned once again.

Town Association? Isn't that just an amateur group organized by the neighborhood committee?

"Stop spacing out! Get moving!" Wu Yang shouted, his coaching authority, ingrained in his DNA, erupting instantly.

"yes!!"

The shout startled everyone, and they instinctively scattered to begin warming up.

While stretching his legs, Lu Ren observed the newly appointed "temporary" coach.

Wu Yangxi was not idle. He took his phone and walked to a corner of the stadium, his brows furrowed, as if he was making a call to someone.

"Hey? It's me. Can you come over now?... Huh? Still working overtime? Are you a corporate slave?... Okay, okay, hurry up."

Hang up on one, then dial another.

"Hey, Takinoue?... What? You need to deliver? When did your electronics store become so popular?... Stop talking nonsense and get over here right now, we're waiting to save the day!"

After making several calls, Wu Yang's expression grew increasingly dark. He scratched his blond hair and clicked his tongue in annoyance: "These guys, they're all so busy at crucial moments. Is it really that hard to get everyone together at this time on a weekday...?"

After stretching his legs, Lu Ren didn't rush to touch the ball, but instead strolled over to Wu Yangxi's side.

He crossed his arms, looked at the coach who had a constipated expression, and sighed softly.

"That's the helplessness of being an adult, Coach."

Ukai Shishin was startled and turned to look at the dead-eyed boy who had appeared out of nowhere: "Huh?"

Lu Ren's gaze was deep, as if he had seen through the world: "I work diligently, but my salary is as stagnant as constipation. After get off work every day, let alone playing ball, I have to ask my boss and wife for permission to even have a beer with friends. I have a 35-year mortgage and an unfinished car loan on my shoulders. I want to rest, but looking at the ever-increasing prices and bills, I even dream about working overtime."

Lu Ren shook his head, his tone filled with pity for this cruel world: "This is the dungeon called 'Socialite,' which is hellish in difficulty and has no save points. Once you start, you can only grit your teeth and fight to the death. It's normal that your friend isn't answering the phone. After all, at this time, everyone is just a pitiful NPC struggling for a few coins from the boss's spittle."

Wu Yangxi was stunned.

He stared, mouth agape, at the kid in his high school uniform.

These words... are so damn hurtful.

Every sentence hits the nail on the head for adults. Mortgage payments, car loans, overtime, no time for socializing... isn't this a true reflection of his and his old friends' lives?

A strange sense of resonance welled up within him. Wu Yangxi nodded subconsciously, his voice heavy with the weariness of life: "Yes... everyone has their struggles. Back when we were playing basketball, we never thought about these things. Now, life has worn us all down..."

He was about to take out his cigarette case and reflect on life when he suddenly froze.

That's not right.

I am the coach, and he is the student.

What the hell is he talking to me about?

Wu Yangxi suddenly snapped out of his daze, a deep frown forming on his forehead. He slapped Lu Ren on the back, nearly killing him on the spot.

"None of your business!!" Wu Yang roared. "What do you know about mortgages and car loans, you little brat! Is that your concern? Go warm up! If you say another word, I'll make you run laps until you throw up!"

"Cough cough... Violence is not advisable, Coach..." Lu Ren rubbed his back, coughing as he quickly retreated. "I was giving him pre-battle psychological counseling... Ouch, that was really strong."

Watching Lu Ren's retreating figure as he slurred away, Wu Yangxi's lips twitched twice. In the end, he couldn't help but mutter, "You brat, you've got a sharp tongue."

Although he was cursing, the irritation he felt had dissipated considerably.

Just then, the stadium doors were pushed open again.

"Sorry I'm late!"

Several figures walked in.

They weren't wearing matching team uniforms, but rather sweatshirts, making them look like middle-aged men passing by after get off work.

But the moment they stepped onto the court, their relaxed yet confident demeanor clearly distinguished them from ordinary passersby.

"Hey, Qixin! These are the junior students you were talking about?"

The man leading the group had short, neat hair and was carrying a pair of somewhat worn volleyball shoes. He greeted Wu Yang with a smile.

"Takigami, you've finally arrived." Ukai Kishin breathed a sigh of relief, then looked to the other side, "Where's Shimada?"

"The car is parked in the back; we'll be there soon."

The Karasuno team members stopped what they were doing and curiously looked at their "opponents".

Hotaru Tsukishima adjusted her glasses and whispered to Tadashi Yamaguchi beside her, "I thought it would be a bunch of middle-aged men with canes since they said it was a neighborhood guild. But... they look pretty normal."

"Ayumi, that's very rude of you to say that." Although Yamaguchi Tadashi said this, he was visibly relieved.

Lu Ren stood in front of the net, watching the adults who were changing their shoes.

Their gear wasn't exactly sleek; their shoes were old, and their knee pads were faded from washing. The man named Takigami was even rubbing his shoulders, as if he had just moved something heavy.

but.

Lu Ren narrowed his eyes.

He was very familiar with that feeling.

That's the look in the eyes of a veteran player.

Although their skills may have declined due to version updates (and age), and their hand speed may not be as fast as when they were younger, their understanding of the game mechanics (volleyball) and the experience ingrained in their bones are something that these high school students who have just left the beginner village do not possess.

"Don't underestimate them," Lu Ren muttered to himself. "These are elite monsters known as 'Old Hands'."

Ukai Kinshin clapped his hands and shouted, "Alright! Ukai, stop standing there like idiots! The other side isn't all there yet, let's borrow a few people to go over! Hyuga! Kageyama! You two go to the other side!"

"Huh?!" Hinata and Kageyama were both taken aback.

"Hey, what are you yelling for! Hurry up!" Ukai Kishin waved his hand impatiently. "Stop dawdling, the match is about to start!"