🦁: Say Present if you were reading this human..
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Chapter 1: Transmigrated?
"Wake up, wake up! How can you fall asleep standing up? The coach is calling you!"
Chen Jue was pushed forward from behind. Looking at the somewhat angry middle-aged man in front of him, his mind jolted, and memories gradually became clear. He was at Aoba Johsai's training camp, seemingly a substitute player, and he had fallen asleep on the sidelines!
"Taiichi, after the match, do five laps of diving drills around the court. Now, go in and replace Matsukawa. Use your speed to support the first pass, and absolutely don't let the opponent score on their serve."
The moment he heard the name "Taiichi," Kaedehara Taiichi's body instinctively moved. After listening to the coach's instructions, he suddenly realized something—he had transmigrated into the world of Haikyuu!!.
But aside from some basic volleyball knowledge from college PE classes, he didn't know how to play volleyball at all… Chen Jue walked toward the court in a daze. How could he possibly compete against the monsters in Haikyuu!!?
At that moment, a voice echoed in Kaedehara Taiichi's mind.
"The Genius All-Rounder System is activating. Please wait, host…"
"Welcome, host, to the All-Rounder System. Now calibrating to the standards of the Japanese high school volleyball league."
Huh? As a decade-long fan of web novels, Taiichi was no stranger to the trope of transmigration plus a system. But having it happen to him left him momentarily stunned.
Ding! "Data calibration successful. The high school volleyball league ability standards are as follows: the average ability score is 60, with school team players maxing out at 100. Scores below 50 indicate amateur hobbyists. Scores of 60–69 represent average school team players, 70–79 are intermediate players, 80–89 are excellent players, and 90–99 are top-tier players… Host's current ability score: 65."
"No players with a score of 100?" Taiichi asked.
"A score of 100 is only achievable by top-tier players during specific moments of peak performance."
Roughly grasping his situation, Kaedehara Taiichi looked at the panel that suddenly appeared before his eyes:
Host: Kaedehara Taiichi
Height/Weight: 184 cm / 72 kg
Ability Score: 65
Speed: 90
Strength: 75
Stamina: 60
Jump: 65
Technique: 40 (Technique is a composite score based on serving, receiving, passing, spiking, and blocking, with different weights depending on the player's position.)
"…" Well, it seemed that aside from his physical attributes, he was pretty much useless. What good was going onto the court like this? If he got utterly crushed, the coach might bench him permanently, and he'd never get another chance to play. How tragic! Right, System?
"…"
"Now providing the host with a one-time beginner's gift package."
Kaedehara Taiichi could've sworn the system emphasized "one-time" just a bit too much.
Beginner's Gift Package:
1. One Excellent Player Experience Card (A one-time card allowing the host to temporarily gain the abilities of an excellent player for five minutes).
2. Beginner Training Mode: Until the host's technique scores reach an average of 60, stamina recovery during training will be extraordinarily fast, preventing exhaustion.
3. 10 Stamina Potions (Each potion restores the host's stamina to half-full. Cannot be used in official matches).
Kaedehara Taiichi stared at the spinning beginner's gift package in front of him, his heart racing. This was his moment to shine!
"System, use the Excellent Player Experience Card."
"Received."
Taiichi watched expectantly as a golden card appeared before him. As he acknowledged it, the card began spinning wildly.
"Ten pulls for a gold, no misses on the guarantee. Ten pulls for a gold, no misses…" Though he knew it was pointless, chanting this while drawing cards was a habit Taiichi couldn't shake.
"…" The card's spinning slowed, and with a ding, it came to a stop, revealing a boy with spiky red hair and a mischievous expression.
"Tendo Satori!"
Was it because both their names had "Jue" (覚) in them that he got Tendo? Taiichi looked at the card: overall ability score of 88, just shy of top-tier—pretty good! The standout was the technique stat glowing in gold: Blocking 92! Taiichi's fingers were already itching to try it out and show off.
"Taiichi, you've got some guts, sleeping on the bench! Did you dream of anything fun~?" Oikawa Tooru turned around with a teasing grin as soon as Taiichi stepped onto the court.
I dreamed of you getting smacked by Iwaizumi, Taiichi thought to himself, but his face showed only a sheepish, "I messed up" expression.
"Ignore him. Focus on playing well," came Iwaizumi Hajime's steady voice. It was hard to believe the captain wasn't Iwaizumi but that guy.
"Yes, sir!" Taiichi quickly composed himself and took his position.
Aoba Johsai's opponent today was a university team from Miyagi University. To help the first-years better understand their weaknesses, the training match was set up as a 6v6 between the university team and Aoba Johsai.
Aoba Johsai's lineup was centered around third-years Oikawa Tooru, Iwaizumi Hajime, and Hanamaki Takahiro, with first- and second-years rotating every five points. This allowed new players to face strong opponents while the coaching staff tested lineups for the year.
The current score was Miyagi University 15 vs. Aoba Johsai 9.
Miyagi's main spiker, Maeda Oki, had just scored two consecutive points with his serves. On the third serve, Aoba Johsai managed to receive, but the pass was imperfect, giving the opponents an opportunity ball. Their ace delivered a powerful spike that Aoba Johsai couldn't counter.
Three points lost in a row, and it was still the opponent's serve. Even just stepping onto the court, Taiichi could feel the heavy atmosphere.
The whistle blew, signaling Miyagi's serve.
Maeda stood five meters behind the service line, calmly bouncing the ball. After finding his rhythm, he crouched slightly, tossed the ball up, and charged forward. Just one step from the line, he leaped, his right hand slamming the ball. The volleyball shot toward Aoba Johsai like a cannonball.
So fast! Taiichi couldn't react at all. Watching the ace serve from the court felt even more intimidating!
"I've got it!" Aoba Johsai's second-year libero, Watari Shinji, moved quickly. With the experience from the previous three serves, he judged the ball's trajectory and received it. But it was just a reception—the ball hit Watari's arms and bounced back to Miyagi's back row.
"Opportunity ball!" Miyagi's team cleanly received the ball, their setter quickly following up. Maeda, brimming with confidence, rushed to the net and jumped. This is the rhythm! Even if they received his serve, if it wasn't perfect, the point was his.
As the ball bounced back to Miyagi's side, Taiichi quickly moved to the front row, his eyes locked on Maeda's movements. Driven by some mysterious force, Taiichi's mind instantly calculated the direction of Maeda's spike. The moment Maeda jumped, Taiichi leaped as well.
Bang! The sound of Maeda's spike.
Slap! The sound of the ball hitting Taiichi's hands.
Thud, thud, thud… The sound of the volleyball hitting the ground.
Coach Irihata stood up, stunned by the block. It seemed entirely instinctual! Could this first-year be a blocking genius?