The moment Yachi Hitoka entered the gym, the air changed. It was like a fresh breeze blew through, cutting into the sweaty, noisy tension of the boys.
"Cute kohai girl!" Tanaka and Nishinoya said at the same time, practically drooling.
Hinata leaned forward, blinking in surprise. She was about the same height as him, and something about her timid aura made him feel strangely friendly toward her.
Jin smirked, thinking of stepping closer, only for Hitoka to quickly shuffle back like he was dangerous.
'Huh? Did she… recognize me?' Jin thought curiously. 'No way, I disguised myself fine. Weird.'
Before he could dwell on it, Coach Ukai clapped his hands. "Alright, gather up at center court!"
Kiyoko guided Hitoka aside, gently introducing her to the volleyball club. Jin let it go. First-year managers could wait. What mattered now was this practice match, it's time to perform and let the new coach see his ability.
---
The coin toss gave serve rights to the green team. Shimada Makoto stepped up first to serve.
He tossed the ball, jumped lightly, and swung. The float serve crossed the net, hovering wobbly in midair like it was caught in invisible currents.
'Is this guy's the one who taught Yamaguchi the jump float.' Jin thought, eyes narrowing.
"I've got it!" Daichi called, stepping in. But as the ball suddenly dropped, his arms met an empty air.
"Nice serve, Shimada!"
"As expected from you!"
The green team praised, clapping loudly.
Daichi clapped his hands once, unfazed. "Sorry, I'll get the next one."
Jin stood next to him. "Jump floats aren't like normal serves, Senpai. I'll take the next one."
Sure enough, Shimada aimed at Daichi again. The two switched positions in an instant.
Jin bent his knees, eyes locked on the ball. It wobbled, dipped hard, but his arms shot up steady. The receive ball popped high into the air.
Coach Ukai's brows lifted. "Oh? He read it."
Kageyama didn't waste a beat. Reading the court, he saw Tsukishima's line open and passed the set.
"Not so easy!" Mori Yukinari roared, rushing to the net. His timing was sharp, he cut off Tsukishima's spike angle with a solid block.
But Tsukishima's pupils flicked. Midair, he twisted his wrist, changing his spike into a soft lob over the block.
"Mine!" Nishinoya threw himself forward, diving low, arms stretched to scoop the ball back up.
The green team scrambled. Their rhythm staggered, but the ball moved into Sugawara's reach.
"Asahi!" Sugawara called, sending him the set.
Asahi's face tightened, nerves showing, but he charged in anyway and spike.
"Let's go!!" Hinata launched upward, his small frame bursting into the air, matching him at the air.
'So fast?!' Asahi thought, stunned. 'This tiny guy jumps this high?!'
He spike cross-court intending to avoid Hinata's block, but Jin had already moved. From the back row, he burst forward, timing it perfectly.
*BOOM!*
The ball slammed back down under Jin's block, echoing through the gym.
Asahi froze. That wall, unbreakable, suffocatin, it was like Date Tech's Iron Wall all over again. The hopeless feeling of being stopped no matter what.
His chest tightened. Sugawara's steady set, Nishinoya's fearless save… all for nothing, because of him.
The ball dropped fast, but before it hit the ground, Nishinoya skidded across the floor again, stretching his arms out.
*Whap!* The ball popped up cleanly.
"It's up! Nice one, Nishinoya!" Sugawara shouted.
Nishinoya jumped to his feet, eyes blazing. "I'll save anything that gets blocked!" he roared. His voice shook the gym. "So,"
"SET IT TO HIM AGAIN! TO OUR ACE!!"