Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

It took Takeda Ichitetsu a while to catch his breath on the sidelines. The dull thud of the ball hitting the floor felt like it had struck him squarely on the head. He pushed up his slipping glasses, his voice still trembling: "Wow...that was such a powerful sound. Is this...a volleyball spike?"

"Thump."

The echoes still reverberated above the empty stadium.

Hinata Shoyo was pressed against the net, his fingers gripping the mesh tightly, his eyes wide open like saucers, his pupils reflecting Higashimine Asahi's still steaming figure.

"This is... the ace." Hinata muttered to himself, as if he had seen a top-level player with maxed-out gear unleash a forbidden spell in the beginner's village.

Kageyama Tobio walked up behind him and gave him a cold glance: "You were the one who insisted on watching Ace, and now that you've seen it, don't tell me your legs went weak with fear."

"Who, who's got weak legs?!" Hinata instantly bristled, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, turning around and shouting at Kageyama, "I may not have Asahi-senpai's height and strength, but I can fly! I can fight back! Now it's my turn to shine!"

"Then shut up and let the scores do the talking." Kageyama turned around, his back revealing a defiant spirit.

Standing in the back row, Lu Ren watched these two overly energetic guys and couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly. Is this the standard dialogue for a shonen manga protagonist? They were clearly stunned by that loud bang, yet they can instantly pump themselves up. This kind of "invincible" mentality is truly enviable.

The game continues.

Score 2-3. Town team serves.

Dong Fengxu stepped onto the service line. He took a deep breath and tossed the ball high into the air.

Run-up, jump, swing your arms.

Although his movements were still a bit clumsy, his innate sense of power was undeniable.

"I'll take it!" Daichi Sawamura had already judged the landing point and firmly assumed a horse stance. The volleyball hit his forearm with a crisp sound, losing most of its force, and obediently flew towards the net.

"Great pass!"

Kageyama Tobio was in position. His gaze swept across the air, and the moment his fingers touched the ball, he didn't hesitate at all.

Passed down from behind.

Ryunosuke Tanaka was already poised on the left flank, his running start resembling that of a thug about to start a fight, accompanied by a strange shout: "Alright!!!"

There was no barrier net.

The older men from the town's gang were clearly not used to this fast-paced offense and defense.

"Bang!"

Tanaka delivered a diagonal spike, the volleyball landing precisely on the baseline.

"Yay!!!" Tanaka waved his fist after landing, making a face at the other side of the net. "How about that! My spike was pretty sharp, wasn't it!"

3:3. A tie.

"Stop showing off, bald guy." Lu Ren passed by him and casually tossed the ball to Tsukishima in the service area. "That long-haired BOSS on the other side just respawned and is still casting."

Karasuno serves.

Hotaru Tsukishima served the ball expressionlessly. It was a standard overhand serve, but in this high-pressure situation, consistency was her greatest strength.

"Nishiya!" Sugawara called out.

No reminder was needed at all. The orange-red figure appeared at the ball's landing point as if by teleportation. Nishitani Yuu bent her knees slightly, placed her hands under her body, and her movements were textbook perfect.

"Asuga-senpai!"

The volleyball traced a perfect arc and landed in Sugawara's hands.

At this moment, Dong Fengxu had already taken a running start.

Looking at that tall figure, Sugawara made up his mind and sent the ball out with both hands.

"Asahi!"

Dong Fengxu jumped.

But just as he swung his arm, everything suddenly went dark.

Tobio Kageyama, Hotaru Tsukishima, and Ryunosuke Tanaka.

It was still the same three people blocking the way. The wall that had just been violently breached now seemed to have been reinforced with a layer of steel. Tsukishima Hotaru's calm eyes were fixed on Higashimine Asahi's shoulder, and the moment Higashimine Asahi swung his arm, the three of their arms pressed down in unison.

"Snapped!"

This time, the ball didn't manage to force its way through as it had before. It struck the blocker's hand, bounced weakly, and landed on the town's team's court.

Karasuno took the lead with a score of 4-3.

Dong Fengxu landed and stared blankly at the volleyball rolling away.

"Senior Xu!!!"

A roar startled him.

Nishitani Yu rushed over, head tilted back, brows furrowed, and pointed at Dongfeng Xu's nose, yelling, "You didn't even jump! The height wasn't enough! It's because you've been slacking off for a whole month and your body's rusted!"

Dong Fengxu shrank back, the momentum from his punch that had smashed through the net completely gone. Now he looked like a large dog being scolded by its parent for doing something wrong: "I...I'm sorry."

Sugawara watched this scene, shook his head with a wry smile, and said, "You're really strict, Nishitani."

Seeing his ace player get humiliated, Tanaka Ryunosuke slapped his thigh with glee: "Hahaha! Asahi-senpai got taught a lesson!"

Sawamura Daichi looked at Tanaka and said, "Those guys over there are frighteningly experienced, and if Asahi really does fully revive, our situation is getting worse and worse."

"You still know that?"

A faint voice emerged from behind the earth.

Lu Ren had somehow moved between the two of them, his eyelids drooping as if he had just woken up: "This is a typical BOSS second-stage berserk mechanism. Although that ball was blocked just now, as long as that long-haired uncle regains his touch, this kind of physical-based push style of play, apart from a max-level account like Xigu, our fragile defense simply can't withstand it."

Tanaka slapped Lu Ren on the back: "What discouraging talk are you spouting! I'm here!"

"Me too! I'm here!" Hinata suddenly jumped out from the side, leaping higher than Tanaka, pointing at his own nose and shouting loudly.

Lu Ren stumbled from the slap, rubbing his back as he returned to his defensive position, muttering to himself, "It's because of you two guys who only have an attack button and no retreat button that I'm worried about defensive gaps..."

Tanaka grabbed Hinata's head and shoved him aside: "Hey! Hinata! Don't you dare interrupt me! I was just about to say something cool, and you've ruined the atmosphere, you idiot!"

"I'm handsome too!"

"Handsome my foot! You're just being cute!"

The game continues.

Hotaru Tsukishima serves again.

This time, the ball was served to Makoto Shimada in the back row.

"I'll take it!" Shimada calmly received the first pass.

Sugawara moved under the ball and caught a glimpse of Takigami cutting in from the right wing.

"Mr. Takinoue!"

The volleyball was passed to the right.

Takigami took a running start and jumped. Facing a double block consisting only of Tanaka and Hinata, this key player of the town team displayed the cunning of an adult. Instead of choosing to force a spike, he flicked his wrist and aimed at the gap between the blocker and the marker pole.

A shot that went out of bounds? No, it was a straight through ball!

"Got it!" Takigami thought to himself with delight. That position was a blind spot in Karasuno's defense, and the backcourt defense had been moved to the other side, so this ball was bound to score.

However, just as he swung his arm, he caught a glimpse of a black shadow out of the corner of his eye.

anyone? !

Lu Ren was like a Voldemort who had been lying in wait in the grass for his prey. He had already started moving the moment he jumped off the water.

It's not about reaction, it's about prediction.

Experienced players like this, facing an inexperienced blocker, will most likely choose to hit a straight shot or a drop shot. Lu Ren gambled on a straight shot.

"Smack."

Just before the volleyball hit the ground, it was steadily caught by a pair of arms.

There was no fancy dive, no thrilling roll. Lu Ren simply appeared at the exact spot where the ball was about to land, as if the ball had been passed to him from the start.

"What?!" Takitsuki landed, his eyes wide as he stared at the calm-faced boy. "That kid... when did he get there?"

"nice shot!"

Kageyama Tobio had no time to be surprised. For him, the ball's flight was a signal to attack.

He quickly moved under the ball.

Hyuga and Tanaka, who had just participated in the block, had just landed and were not yet ready to launch a quick attack.

However, there is one more person.

That man who will always be the most reliable.

"Senior Daichi!"

Kageyama made a back pass, sending the ball to the left wing.

Sawamura Daichi surged forward from the back row, faced an empty defensive area, leaped high, and delivered a powerful spike.

"Bang!"

The volleyball hit the floor.

5: 3.

"Well done, Lu Ren! That was a beautiful catch!" Sawamura Daichi gave Lu Ren a thumbs up after landing.

Lu Ren waved his hand, his face showing an expression that said, "It's standard procedure, don't be silly."

Sidelines.

Wu Yangxixin had an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, and his ballpoint pen was tapping loudly on the list.

"interesting……"

His gaze swept over everyone on the field.

"Their overall ball-receiving ability is terrible. Apart from the libero and the captain, everyone else is basically a sieve. The tall guy with glasses is okay at blocking, but he lacks dominance. The bald outside hitter has good momentum, but his technique is too rough."

His pen stopped on the name "Kageyama Tobio".

"But... this setter."

Wu Yang narrowed his eyes.

"His judgment of where the ball will land is ridiculously fast, and he takes the first step without hesitation. Is this spatial awareness and ball control really from a first-grader?"

He then looked at Hinata Shoyo.

"And that little one. Those fast breaks just now... no signals, no instructions. How were they able to execute such a coordinated attack?"

That sense of incongruity grew stronger and stronger.

Hyuga Shoyo jumped way too early on that last shot. It was abnormally early.

"Hey! Little one!"

Suddenly, Ukai Shishin shouted into the arena, interrupting the Karasuno members who were celebrating.

Hinata trembled at the sight of the menacing expression and immediately stood at attention: "Y-yes! What are your orders?! Don't kill me!"

"Who wants to kill you!" Ukai Shishin scratched his head irritably, pointing to the spot where Hyuga had jumped earlier. "Why did you jump from there for that shot?"

Hinata blinked, seemingly not understanding the question.

He scratched his orange hair, his expression a mixture of confusion and nonchalance.

"Why jump...because..."

He glanced at Kageyama beside him, then looked at Uoyo, and said in a clear voice:

"Because no matter where I jump, the ball will be passed to me."

The stadium fell silent for a moment.

Uyang Xixin's mouth was agape, and the cigarette in his mouth fell to the ground.

He choked.

What kind of reason is that?

That's not a reason at all!

This kid... didn't even watch the game.

Without even looking at the trajectory of the pass, or even confirming whether the setter was in position, he jumped up and swung his arm with all his might.

It's like a blind person standing on the edge of a cliff, jumping off without hesitation, simply because they believe someone will catch them below.

"What a joke..." Wu Yang Xixin muttered to himself.

That first-year setter... Kageyama Tobio.

He didn't just have accurate passes. He perfectly coordinated with that little guy's movements.

At the moment Hinata jumps, calculate the height, speed, and hitting point, and then send the ball to that one and only palm like threading a needle.

And every single time.

If there is even a one-millimeter deviation, Hyuga will miss.

But they did it.

"Would an average person... swing their arm with all their might without even looking at the ball, based solely on that little bit of trust?"

Wu Yangxi felt a chill run down his spine.

This isn't just a matter of technique. It's two lunatics playing.

One dared to pass, the other dared to strike.

"What's wrong with you guys..." Ukai Shishin picked up the cigarette from the ground, looking at the two first-year students arguing on the field because "that ball was a little low," his voice a little hoarse, "Are they monsters?"

Standing to the side, Takeda Ittetsu, though not fully understanding the technical details, could sense the awe he felt from Coach Ukai.

"How's it going, Qixin?"

Wu Yangxi took a deep breath, his complexion returned to normal, but his eyes became unusually sharp.

"Although I didn't understand what that silver-haired setter said before the game... 'I want to pass the ball to the ace again' or something like that."

He looked at Sugawara Koji on the other side of the net.

"That first-year setter is indeed a so-called genius. His overwhelming talent is difficult for most people to match. But..."

His gaze shifted between Kageyama and Sugawara.

"The seamless execution from passing to spiking requires extensive practice and time to achieve that level of teamwork. Building that kind of mutual trust takes time and effort."

"If that first-year setter possessed overwhelming talent and extreme speed..."

"Well, we have some here..."

Ukai Shishin watched as Sugawara patted the dejected Higashimine Asahi on the back, and Higashimine Asahi raised his head again.

"It is the trust and stability that have been accumulated over a long period of time."

"This game has only just begun."