The next morning, Jin came to school early. After the usual morning classes, the afternoon was reserved for self-study.
Once lunch ended, the volleyball team gathered in the gym. Everyone was already warming up, preparing for the practice game.
"Hey everyone!" Jin called out as he stepped into the gym.
Kiyoko, who had been picking up stray balls, glanced at him and quickly turned away, pretending to be busy. She didn't look at him again.
Jin's heart sank. 'She's still upset about yesterday…'
"Jin, let's team up!" Hinata shouted, tossing him a ball. "Captain said today's game will be three-on-three. Let's make a team of three, me, you, and Kageyama! We'll crush that tall guy Tsukishima!"
Tsukishima adjusted his glasses and gave a flat look in their direction. His expression stayed calm, but his sharp eyes didn't miss anything.
It was clear Hinata and Kageyama had already run into Tsukishima the night before, and if those two teamed up with Jin, winning the rookie match would be too easy.
Even Kageyama, who rarely showed emotion, gave Jin a look. Though he didn't say it aloud, Jin could see it, Kageyama wanted to team up with him.
But the more they expected him to join, the more Jin wanted to mess with them. He tossed the ball back lazily. "Didn't we already work together last time? I just want to be in the 'commoners' group."
At the word "commoners," Tsukishima's eyes twitched.
Jin grinned and looked straight at him. "Hey, tall guy, you're part of the 'commoners' too, right? Wanna join me?"
Tsukishima pushed up his glasses and said coolly, "Doesn't matter. It's just a club activity. Commoners grouping together works for me."
Under Kageyama's dark face, Jin walked right up to Tsukishima and whispered, "You sounded pretty unwilling when you said 'commoners.'"
Tsukishima smirked slightly. "Says the guy who just said the same thing. Tsukishima Kei. Looking forward to it."
"Jin, Shirogane Jin" he replied with equal amusement. "Same here."
Just then, the system dinged in Jin's head.
"Friendship with teammate Tsukishima Kei has increased. Reward: 100,000 yen cash."
Jin blinked. 'Wait - holdup! I didn't even do anything and it went up?!'
It seemed he and Tsukishima were cut from the same cloth. Similar personalities, similar way of thinking—it clicked instantly.
And most importantly… Jin finally figured out how to earn money from the system. *I won't have to worry about food anymore!*
He cursed the system a hundred times in his heart but went back to practicing.
In the anime, Tsukishima didn't truly shine until the battle with Shiratorizawa. But now that Jin was here, he wasn't going to let it take that long.
When everyone had finished warming up, Captain Daichi gathered them in the middle. "We'll run the rookie match now. One set, three-on-three. The point is to see each player's skills clearly."
The teams were decided: Hinata, Kageyama, Tanaka vs. Jin, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi.
Hinata's group won the coin toss and first to deliver the serve.
This was the second time he'd faced Jin, and while Tsukishima's height was a threat, the one Kageyama really watched carefully was Jin.
Taking a deep breath, Kageyama steadied himself, tossed the ball, and jumped. His powerful jump serve slammed across the net like a bullet.
Tsukishima and Yamaguchi both froze, this was their first time seeing his jump serve.
But Jin was already in position. "Still manageable!" He moved quickly, crouched low, and passed the ball cleanly.
The ball floated toward Yamaguchi, who panicked and bumped it high into the air. Tsukishima was a bit off-rhythm but still managed to push the ball weakly into the other half.
"Chance ball!" Tanaka yelled, backing up to prepare for a spike.
At that moment, Hinata dashed with shocking speed, changing direction in a flash.
"Set me!" he shouted, closing his eyes and leaping with all his strength.
Kageyama tracked every movement, his hands lifting the ball at the exact right height.
Sugawara, watching from the side, gasped. "In sync again?! Their timing is perfect!"
Even Daichi's face lit up. The once "flightless crows" finally had a glimmer of hope.
But just as Hinata was about to spike.
Two large hands appeared above the net.
*BAM!*
The ball slammed into Jin's block and bounced straight back onto Hinata's side of the court.
The gym went silent. The cheers for Kageyama and Hinata's teamwork instantly died. Everyone's eyes were locked on Jin's landing spot.
He dusted off his hands, snapped his fingers, and said coldly, "I don't mind crushing the very attack I created for you."(Chapter 9 - just helped them)
The tension in the air was chilling.