Chapter 6: Karasuno
The following week, Kaedehara Taiichi threw himself almost entirely into volleyball training, his days revolving around eating, sleeping, and playing volleyball.
As for class time, for Kaedehara Taiichi, it had become a precious period for rest. During one math class, the teacher called him to the blackboard to solve a problem. But for a student who had endured the crucible of China's college entrance exam, the difficulty of Japanese first-year high school math was like a gentle breeze—nothing to fear.
Kaedehara Taiichi calmly handled the question, effortlessly solving the problem. After that, no teacher bothered him again. Of course, this was merely a small interlude in his week of training.
According to the system's standards, the factors influencing a person's ability were speed, strength, jumping, stamina, and technique. Speed, strength, jumping, and stamina could be improved to some extent through scientific training methods and persistent effort, but an individual's innate talent largely determined their potential and ultimate ceiling in these areas.
Technique, as a skill acquired through training, was a key factor improved through daily practice and practical experience. Its potential for growth was relatively large and had a decisive impact on an individual's competitiveness in matches.
With the system's help, Kaedehara Taiichi could steadily improve his technique. However, achieving comprehensive improvement in blocking, serving, receiving, setting, and spiking within a single week was unlikely.
One couldn't chew too much at once. His energy should focus primarily on blocking and receiving. Blocking was his reason for being on the court, and receiving was what kept him there—after all, if he couldn't receive, everything would end.
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A week passed quickly, and Kaedehara Taiichi's receiving and blocking had progressed to a basic level. After Saturday's training, Aoba Johsai, hosting at home, awaited Karasuno's arrival.
Kaedehara Taiichi dragged Kindaichi Yutaro to the school gate to greet Karasuno's team.
"Why do I have to come?" Kindaichi grumbled reluctantly.
"Because you were teammates with Kageyama before, obviously. I'm pretty curious about him too," Kaedehara Taiichi replied. Truth be told, he was more curious about Hinata, though no one had yet noticed Hinata's special qualities.
"He's nothing special. Sure, his skills are top-notch, but he's totally unfit for team play," Kindaichi said, frowning again. "Because he's always so self-centered."
"Let's not talk about him. Speaking of Karasuno, I heard their manager is a beauty, right?"
"Really?" Who knew Kindaichi, this blockhead, had such a side…
"Of course. The senpais mentioned her. She's quite famous…" Shimizu-senpai's reputation spreads far, doesn't it?
Outside the gym, a bus slowly pulled up, and the door opened. A group of figures in Karasuno uniforms streamed out.
Kaedehara Taiichi and Kindaichi leisurely approached the Karasuno players when a figure suddenly dashed past them at high speed.
"So fast!" Kaedehara Taiichi's eyes followed the figure. That must be Hinata.
"Hinata Shoyo: Height 163 cm, Speed 95, Strength 65, Stamina 99, Jump 95, Technique: Blocking 60, Receiving 60, Spiking 65." The system's prompt sounded promptly.
Kaedehara Taiichi couldn't help but gasp. What kind of monstrous stats were these? His physical attributes were practically at human limits. Even at just 164 cm, the impact was overwhelming.
In the blink of an eye, Shoyo vanished. Meanwhile, the rest of Karasuno's team approached.
"Sorry, we're from Karasuno's volleyball club, here for a training match at your coach's invitation. The guy who just ran off is one of our players—he had a stomachache and headed to the restroom," said, as expected, Sugawara-mama.
It's really Karasuno! Kaedehara Taiichi was so thrilled he couldn't speak. When he first transmigrated, he was caught up in the tension and excitement of the match, overlooking this feeling. At this moment, he felt a surge of awe—he was truly in the volleyball world he'd once dreamed of!
"Hey, Taiichi, why're you zoning out?" Kindaichi elbowed him.
Snapping back, Kaedehara Taiichi said solemnly, "Hello, we're from Aoba Johsai's volleyball club, here to guide you to the gym. I'm a first-year, Kaedehara Taiichi, and this is my classmate, Kindaichi Yutaro."
Rubbing his ribs where Kindaichi had jabbed him, both sides sized each other up. Only Kindaichi, the idiot, was locked in a stare-down with Kageyama Tobio.
"…It's been a while, King. What kind of tyrannical rule are you imposing at Karasuno? I'm looking forward to seeing it," Kindaichi said.
The atmosphere tensed instantly. Middle schoolers and their dramatic taunts.
"Oh, okay," Kageyama Tobio replied calmly, only to be quickly pulled away by his teammates.
Kaedehara Taiichi quietly led Karasuno to the gym. He'd thought this would be an easy match, given Nishinoya Yuu and Azumane Asahi hadn't returned to the team yet, but seeing the system's stats, he realized things wouldn't be simple.
"Kageyama Tobio: Height 182 cm, Speed 88, Strength 90, Stamina 95, Jump 88, Serving 94, Setting 96…" Another all-around monster. Oikawa was right—when it came to setting alone, Kageyama was terrifying.
"Sawamura Daichi: Height 177 cm, Speed 80, Strength 88, Stamina 80, Jump 80, Technique 88 (all-around)…" Karasuno's cornerstone. The captain's balance is almost excessive.
"Tanaka Ryunosuke: Height 177 cm, Speed 80, Strength 90, Stamina 88, Jump 75, Spiking 80…" What a single-minded, specialized guy.
"Tsukishima Kei: Height 188 cm, Speed 75, Strength 70, Stamina 76, Jump 76…"
Compared to the shocking stats of Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio, Tsukishima Kei's numbers were more balanced and average. Kaedehara Taiichi let out a slight sigh of relief, thinking, *Finally, a first-year who seems relatively normal.*
But deep down, Kaedehara Taiichi knew these stats didn't fully capture Tsukishima Kei's true strength. The system's metrics for speed, strength, stamina, and jumping reflected part of a player's foundational qualities but failed to account for other critical factors that determined match outcomes.
For a player like Tsukishima Kei, who excelled with intelligence, his unquantified traits—height and volleyball IQ—were precisely what made him a significant force on the court.
With a heavy heart, Kaedehara Taiichi led Karasuno to the gym. After brief pre-match greetings, the game began.
Aoba Johsai's lineup was Iwaizumi Hajime, Yahaba Shigeru, Kindaichi Yutaro, Matsukawa Issei, Watari Shinji, and Kunimi Akira. Karasuno's lineup was Hinata Shoyo, Kageyama Tobio, Tanaka Ryunosuke, Sawamura Daichi, Ennoshita Chikara, and Tsukishima Kei.
That idiot Oikawa twisted his ankle playing volleyball with his nephew, probably trying some flashy move. Though it was a minor sprain, he skipped training these past few days to recover quickly.
Unexpectedly, the match wasn't as intense as Kaedehara Taiichi had imagined. Hinata Shoyo was so nervous he was completely off his game, his steps chaotic and movements stiff—a far cry from the Hinata Shoyo in Taiichi's memory.
Right, this must be Hinata Shoyo's first high school match. His earlier stomachache and bathroom dash were probably due to nerves.
But Aoba Johsai didn't care about that. Though they didn't know why Karasuno kept their struggling No. 5 on the court, a training match wasn't the place for mercy. Seizing Karasuno's disarray, Aoba Johsai quickly took control of the rhythm.
As expected, Aoba Johsai secured a decisive victory in the first set. Notably, at set point, Hinata Shoyo's serve hit Kageyama Tobio square in the head.
Watching Kageyama Tobio look ready to explode while Hinata Shoyo cowered like a chick, Kaedehara Taiichi silently mourned for Hinata for three seconds.
Winning the first set so easily, with the opponents looking like a comedic duo, Aoba Johsai's team felt a relaxed atmosphere.