Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

The first game was a foregone conclusion; Karasuno lost.

After all, the opposing team was a mixed adult squad called "Machikai," plus the ace Higashimine Asahi, who seemed fragile but was actually a max-level character, and Nishitani Yuu, whose defense was maxed out. This kind of setup would be a complete annihilation in the beginner village.

The whistle had just blown, and the score was now 25-19.

Sawamura Daichi clapped his hands twice, the crisp applause drawing everyone's attention back from the defeat. "It's alright, it's alright! It's just the first game, everyone's just warmed up, we'll catch up slowly later!"

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

During the short break, Lu Ren unscrewed the water bottle and took a sip, but his eyes scanned back and forth across the net like a scanner.

His fingers tapped out a rhythm on his knees unconsciously.

This feeling... I haven't felt it in a long time.

Back when I played AAA single-player games, my palms would sweat slightly when facing a final boss with overwhelming stats and complex mechanics. The current situation is clear: my team consists of a bunch of newbies who haven't even finished the beginner stages and haven't even gotten their gear yet, while the opposing team is full-fledged veterans with top-tier weapons.

Every time you receive the ball, it's like pushing your health bar to its limit; every spike is like giving the boss a pedicure.

But that's precisely why the blood starts to boil.

"The second round begins!"

With the referee's whistle, everyone returned to the field.

Daichi Sawamura serves. The volleyball arcs smoothly through the air, heading straight for the opponent's backcourt.

"I'll do it!"

Nishitani Yu didn't even need to move much; a slight shift in his footwork was enough to block the ball's trajectory. His relaxed and effortless movements were like strolling in his own backyard. The volleyball bounced off his forearm, gently rising before flying precisely to the setter's position.

"Great pass!" Sugawara Koji quickly got into position.

The third-year setter, who had always been overshadowed by Kageyama's talent, now had a clear look in his eyes. He held the ball with both hands, making a feint to pass to the left, but at the last moment, he pushed his wrist to the right.

"Mr. Shimada!"

Makoto Shimada took a running start and jumped, while Ryunosuke Tanaka and Hotaru Tsukishima had already formed a double block at the net.

"Don't even think about going there!" Tanaka roared.

Shimada twisted his waist forcefully in mid-air, trying to avoid the core area of ​​the block. His arm swung, and the spike hit Tanaka's outer arm.

"One touch!"

The volleyball changed its trajectory and flew towards the undefended side and rear.

"Oh no, that spot is empty..." Yamaguchi Tadashi exclaimed from the sidelines.

"Who said no one's here?"

A figure slid almost across the floor. Lu Ren braced himself with one hand on the ground, using the other to catch the volleyball just as it was about to touch the ground.

"Nice, catch!" Kageyama Tobio shouted, quickly running towards the landing point. Seeing that the opponent's defense was not stable, he jumped up and pushed the ball over the net with one hand.

The town team reacted very quickly, and Shimada Makoto made a diving save to retrieve the ball.

"An opportunity ball!"

Sugawara Koji stood under the ball once again. This time, his gaze swept over everyone else, landing on the man who was poised to pounce.

"Asahi!"

Dong Fengxu took a running start. His heavy footsteps sounded like a giant beast stomping the ground, and his long hair flew behind him as he jumped.

Tanaka and Tsukishima jumped again to block.

Lu Ren stood in the back row, his brain working at a rapid pace.

If it were a technically skilled attacker, they would choose to hit the ball out of bounds or lob it. But that big guy's current state clearly indicates he wants to vent. He wants to prove himself; he wants to break free from the cage that once kept him from escaping.

and so--

Instead of blocking the blind spot on the diagonal, Lu Ren moved silently behind Tanaka and Tsukishima.

Just as he expected, Higashimine Asahi did not choose to dodge. His frighteningly large hand slammed hard on the volleyball, squeezing through the gap between Tanaka and Tsukishima's arms.

"Bang!"

Although the volleyball was grazed by the net, losing some of its force, it still slammed into the ground with terrifying spin and kinetic energy.

However, there were already people waiting there.

Lu Ren lowered his center of gravity and brought his arms together.

"Received!"

The moment the ball hit his arm, Lu Ren felt as if a brick had flown towards him. So heavy! Is this what they call an "ace"? Pure, overwhelming power.

Thanks to the cushioning effect of the block and Lu Ren's precise positioning, the volleyball did not fly towards the setter's position, but bounced directly, leaped high, cleared the net, and landed in the town's team's territory.

Nishitani Yu couldn't make the save, and the ball hit the ground.

"Beep—"

Karasuno scores, 1-0.

"Yay!!" Tanaka Ryunosuke rushed over excitedly and slapped Lu Ren on the back. "You're amazing! How did you know the ball would fly that way?"

Sawamura Daichi also gave a thumbs up: "Good shot, Riku Ren!"

Lu Ren rubbed his numb arm and shook his wrist, but his face remained expressionless: "Basic operation. Those guys who are obsessed with 'I want to break through the wall' attack route are as straight as walking a one-way street in a maze. You just need to stand at the exit and wait."

Although he said that, he was secretly surprised. If it could have such power through a double net, he would probably lose half his health if he were hit head-on.

The game continues.

After the rotation, Hinata Shoyo moved to the front row.

Those big, round eyes were fixed on Dong Fengxu across from him, as if trying to see a hole through him.

That height, that strength, that aura that could blast through a net...

Hinata pursed her lips, her eyes filled with longing, even mixed with a hint of resentment.

I want to do that too. I want to tear through the defenses with my own strength. Even if I'm just bait, even if all I have is speed...

"Hyuga, don't get distracted!" Kageyama whispered a reminder from behind.

But Hinata didn't seem to listen.

The town's team launched an attack. Sugawara Koji passed the ball again to the red-hot Higashimine Asahi.

"One more ball!" Dong Fengxu roared as he jumped up.

Lu Ren, watching from the back row, saw the trajectory of the ball. It was a wide diagonal shot, one that he was supposed to defend. Just as he was about to move, he noticed that Hyuga, who should have been at the net preparing to block or defend against a drop shot, was inexplicably standing in the path of the ball.

What...is that guy trying to do?

Lu Ren stopped in his tracks.

He could see it clearly: Hinata hadn't positioned himself properly to catch the ball, and hadn't even lowered his center of gravity. The small, orange-clad boy just stood there, his eyes filled with the desire to "catch this ball head-on."

Want to try the ace's worth?

Lu Ren's lips twitched slightly. Alright, kid, some tuition fees are unavoidable. You won't know what positioning is until you get one-shotted by the BOSS's ultimate attack.

"It's up to you now," Lu Ren thought to himself.

Dong Fengxu didn't notice the small man's unusual behavior while in the air; he only wanted to spike the ball. With a swing of his arm, the volleyball shot out like a cannonball.

Hinata only snapped out of his daze when the ball flew right up to him.

Huh? Where's the ball?

How can it be so big?

He instinctively tried to dodge, but his body was as stiff as a piece of wood.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

Then came a crisp "snap" sound, similar to a cleaver cutting a white radish.

The volleyball slammed solidly into Hinata Shoyo's forehead, then bounced high into the air and flew out of bounds.

Hinata leaned back and fell straight down, her limbs twitching on the ground.

The entire room fell silent.

"..."

"..."

Two seconds later, chaos erupted.

"Hinata——!!"

"Hey! Are you still alive?!"

"That sound just now... it was a skull breaking, wasn't it? It definitely broke!"

Ryunosuke Tanaka clutched his head and screamed in pain. Hotaru Tsukishima, though looking disgusted, couldn't help but frown: "It looks like this guy just zoned out. Is catching the ball with his face some new tactic?"

Dong Fengxu was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he stood helplessly by the net, stammering, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! Is he alright? Should we call an ambulance?"

Lu Ren calmly walked to the sidelines and said to Qingze Yazhi, who looked terrified, "Yazhi, please remember this. I take back what I said earlier, 'Playing volleyball won't kill you.'"

Ya-zhi covered her mouth: "Don't complain now!"

Teacher Takeda panicked and started pulling out his phone to call for help, but Ukai Koshin grabbed him and said, "Calm down, teacher! Check the situation first!"

The crowd formed a circle.

Hinata Shoyo, who was on the ground, suddenly moved.

He covered his swollen forehead, slowly sat up, tears still glistening in the corners of his eyes, his voice trembling: "I...I'm fine. I'm sorry..."

Sawamura Daichi crouched down and carefully examined his head: "Are you really alright? Are you dizzy? Do you want to rest?"

"I'm really fine!" Hinata shook his head vigorously to prove himself, only to wince in pain. "It's just... I didn't dodge it completely. And, I'm used to catching the ball with my face..."

Sugawara Koji couldn't help but retort, "Don't get used to this kind of thing!"

Just then, a low-pressure system suddenly enveloped the small area.

The crowd automatically parted to make way.

Kageyama Tobio walked over with a dark expression. He looked down at Hyuga, who was still sitting on the ground, with a gaze even more terrifying than when he had just smashed the ball.

"What are you spacing out for during the game?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling aura.

Hinata shrank back in fear, instinctively moving backward: "I...I didn't..."

"You can fool others, but you can't fool me." Kageyama approached step by step, his already fierce face now even more gloomy. "I know exactly what you're thinking."

Hinata froze.

"Being an 'Ace' is cool, right?" Kageyama crouched down, his gaze level with Hinata's, his tone laced with undisguised sarcasm. "Watching Higashimine-senpai's smashes, you feel like your 'strongest bait' is utterly insignificant, pathetic, isn't it?"

"If I had Higashimine-senpai's height and strength, I could have become an ace—isn't that what you think?"

Hinata's face flushed red after her secret was exposed, and she stubbornly said, "I-I didn't think that way! Well... not at all..."

"Are you an idiot?"

Kageyama interrupted him, his eyes sharp as knives. "After seeing the real ace, besides curiosity and longing, you were also jealous, weren't you? Don't think about these unnecessary things during the game! Your brain capacity is small to begin with; it can't hold that much nonsense!"

Hinata suddenly raised his head, the timidity in his eyes vanishing, replaced by anger at being exposed.

"What's wrong with feeling envious!" he retorted loudly. "Someone like you, who's already tall and skilled, would never understand!"

The air between the two seemed to freeze, thick with tension.

Just then, the sound of the stadium door opening came from the entrance.

A staff member poked his head in: "Hey, it's time to close."

The tense atmosphere was instantly broken.

Takeda Ittetsu quickly ran over and bowed: "I'm so sorry! We'll clean up after this match! I'll take care of the cleanup!"

Wu Yang glanced at the two single-celled organisms still locked in a standoff, then at Lu Ren watching the show from the sidelines, and scratched his head helplessly.