"Guardian Angel of Karasuno? Could that be me?" Nishinoya blinked, looking around as if the title didn't quite fit.
Hinata pumped his fist without hesitation. "Of course the team's defense center who'll save every ball. The guardian angel of Karasuno is definitely you!"
Sugawara had already been telling the first-years about Nishinoya before he returned, so the newcomers were half expecting him. Nishinoya's eyes flashed with mischief as he wrapped an arm around Hinata and enthusiastic said, "Receiving is an art, but the title 'guardian angel', that's not bad."
From the other side of the court Shirogane Jin shouted, "You want a ball, senpai?" loud and casual.
"S-senpai!" Nishinoya's face lit up at that word call. Even with his backpack on, he moved like a live wire. If Jin's serve had been that fierce during the Aoba match, the speed explained why everyone had reacted so strongly.
"Of course, a senpai should lead the juniors. Let's play," Nishinoya said, stepping into the backcourt to take position.
"Nishi-don't-" Sugawara startled, a little worried since they'd only just met. Daichi patted Sugawara's shoulder and waved him off. "Let them. Hot-blooded people settle things with volleyball."
Jin casually dribbled the ball twice, tossed it up, and let go of a strong jump serve. The gym rang.
"Front!" Nishinoya called, surprised but ready.
In a one-on-one serve-and-receive, most players aim toward corners to pressure the receiver. Jin did the opposite, he pointed the serve straight at Nishinoya, dead ahead.
Nishinoya watched the revolutions on the ball. As it came in, he leaned back just enough and sealed his arms into his signature diagonal receive. The ball didn't sit perfectly in his platform, but he controlled it and sent a playable pass to the setter.
"One ball and he picked it up, Nishinoya-senpai is good," Jin praised, genuinely impressed. He'd known Karasuno's backcourt had solid liberos, but seeing it in action was different.
Nishinoya had already formed an opinion about Jin. A first-year throwing that kind of serve, if it had been in a real match, it would've disrupted the whole attacking rhythm. 'Interesting', he thought, and smiled inwardly.
"Brat, what's your position?"
"The wing spiker, and Karasuno's ace in the future!" Jin said bluntly, his words full of confidence.
"So you're aiming for the ace seat, huh?" Nishinoya asked with a cocky grin after Jin declared himself Karasuno's future ace.
"I'm aiming for it," Jin said bluntly, brimming with confidence.
Nishinoya crossed his arms and laughed. "Trying to take the ace spot? Bold."
Then he asked about Asahi. "What about Asahi? He still not back?" Nishinoya looked around at the older members.
Daichi and others exchanged uneasy looks. "No sign he's coming back yet," one of them admitted.
"Darn it! That idle guy…" Nishinoya muttered, sounding half-annoyed and half-worried, the way a teammate who cared would be.
Hinata and Kageyama visibly recoiled, Asahi's absence was something everyone felt. Tanaka hurried to Nishinoya's side. "Hey, don't talk like that!"
But Nishinoya was not listening. "If he's not coming back, then why should I wait around either?" he snapped, surprising everyone with the anger in his voice.
Without taking more argument, Nishinoya stormed out of the gym. Hinata, refusing to be left behind, dashed after him.
A system chime cut the noise for a moment.
*Ding!*
"Main mission unlocked: Chapter 1 . Road to Claim the Ace."
Recall Karasuno's former ace and reignite his fighting spirit.
Jin laughed under his breath. "So the main quest finally starts. A system that activates when things matter, fine by me. Road to claim the ace sounds good."
While everyone debated how to bring Asahi back, Jin stepped forward into the circle of older players and said, "Senpai, tell me about Asahi's class. I have a plan to get him back."