After officially joining the Karasuno Volleyball Club, Hayato immediately jumped into basic training with the rest of the team. He had no complaints. Talent was only part of the equation. Without the foundation of day-in, day-out training, even the most gifted athlete wouldn't go far.
Following a round of intense receiving drills, Coach Ukai blew his whistle.
"Ten-minute break! Hydrate and catch your breath."
Hayato, already drenched in sweat, gratefully took the towel Kiyoko had prepared, wiped down his face, and grabbed a bottle of water, taking several big gulps.
"Phew~"
He let out a relaxed sigh. The training was definitely intense—even with his athletic conditioning, Karasuno's rigorous schedule wasn't easy to keep up with.
"Kuroha-kun! That wipe-out shot earlier—was it intentional?!"
The moment the break started, Hinata bounded over, eyes wide with curiosity. Hayato already knew Hinata's name from introductions, though he hardly needed them—he knew all of them. Still, he smiled warmly and explained.
"Yeah, it was deliberate. During that last rally, I noticed your block had a slight gap. So I angled the spike for a wipe-out. But honestly, the main reason was... I saw Nishinoya-kun behind you. His defense is ridiculous—I didn't want to risk hitting it clean."
"Of course! Noya-senpai is our Guardian Deity!"
Hinata puffed out his chest with pride, as if the compliment had been directed at him instead.
Before Hayato could respond, Kageyama yanked Hinata aside and launched a barrage of questions.
"Kuroha-senpai! Where'd you learn that technique?! How are your jump serves so accurate? How do you develop that kind of touch?!"
His questions poured out like rapid fire.
"Whoa, slow down there, Kageyama," Hayato chuckled. "As for techniques... I mostly learned from watching videos. Match replays, training clips—stuff like that. I'd just study and imitate what I saw. For the jump serve, I've been practicing it daily ever since I picked it up."
Across the gym, the third-years watched with subtle relief.
Despite Hayato's incredible skill, they had feared he might be aloof or arrogant. But he wasn't like that at all. He talked to everyone, laughed easily, and blended in like he'd been there for months.
"Even after we graduate... he might be the one to carry this team forward," Asahi murmured, deep in thought.
It was clear—even after a short time—that Hayato had all the qualities of an Ace: presence, skill, and unshakable confidence. More than that, he felt like an Ace.
Asahi lowered his gaze. Deep down, he already knew... Hayato surpassed him.
Daichi and Sugawara didn't say anything, but they gave Asahi quiet pats on the back. They felt it too. Hayato hadn't just joined the team—he'd elevated it.
Sugawara sighed softly, his thoughts drifting to Kageyama. That same overwhelming gap in skill—the one he had felt when Kageyama arrived—he now saw reflected in Asahi's eyes. It wasn't easy being left behind.
"Hey, come on, no sulking."
Daichi clapped his hands. "We should be excited! A newcomer this good is a blessing, right?"
He paused, then added, "What do you think? Could Hayato rival Ushijima?"
The question silenced the group. Ushijima Wakatoshi—Shiratorizawa's monstrous Ace. The strongest in the prefecture.
"Well... Hayato's good," Asahi started, cautiously.
"But compared to Ushijima—"
"He might actually be on that level," Sugawara cut in. "Asahi, you were across the net. But Daichi and I were beside him. We felt it. His technique, his aura—it's real."
Daichi nodded in agreement. In that practice match, he barely had to lead. Hayato did everything—receive, defend, score, bait blockers. Even without the ball, his presence forced the opposing team to adapt. He made space for others. Freed up Tanaka. Covered every gap.
That was the mark of a true Ace.
The break ended, and everyone returned to training. Once the main practice was over and night had fallen, it was time for free practice.
Hinata and Kageyama immediately made a beeline for Hayato. One wanted to learn how to do a wipe-out shot; the other wanted to set for Hayato and test out his timing.
Hayato chuckled at their eagerness, calmed them down, and got to work. First, he showed Hinata the mechanics of the wipe-out—how to read the block, adjust your angle, and use the opponent's hands against them. Once Hinata was off practicing, Hayato called Kageyama over.
"Kiyoko-nee, can you help toss a few balls?"
Kiyoko nodded silently and began feeding balls while Hayato and Kageyama warmed up their coordination.
Soon, the real training began.
They placed a row of empty water bottles across the court. Kiyoko would silently choose one at random. Kageyama would set the ball. Hayato had to spike it toward the bottle she chose—without knowing which in advance.
Run-up. Jump. Set. Smash.
Crash!
The exact bottle flew off the floor. A perfect hit.
Their rhythm was perfect. Again and again, they spiked, knocking down bottles one by one—never missing a single target.
Other club members gathered to watch, mesmerized by the synchronization between the two.
After the final bottle was knocked over, the gym burst into applause. It wasn't just impressive—it was awe-inspiring.
"Amazing..."
Hinata's eyes sparkled as he stared at the duo. He immediately ran over and begged Kageyama to do the same drill with him—only to be brutally rejected.
"You don't have that kind of ball control."
Hinata deflated. But Hayato patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'll help you get there."
Coach Ukai, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but grin. His excitement for the upcoming training camp skyrocketed. Just wait until the others see our new future Ace.
After practice, Kiyoko offered to walk Hitoka home. Hearing this, Hayato quickly chimed in.
"I'll go with you. It's not safe for you two to walk alone."
Kiyoko gave him a small nod. She didn't refuse.
Tanaka and Nishinoya groaned with envy when they learned Hayato and Kiyoko were neighbors. Kiyoko ignored them, but Hayato smiled and offered:
"If you guys ever want to hang out, just come by my place."
The Kiyoko Fan Club—Tanaka and Nishinoya—were instantly won over. They would've followed the group that very night, but Ennoshita caught them red-handed.
"Study. Now. Final exams are coming. Fail, and you're banned from the training camp."
The threat worked.
After parting ways with their teammates, Hayato and Kiyoko walked Hitoka home. On the return trip, the train was packed with commuters.
Using his tall frame, Hayato created space by the door for Kiyoko, planting his arms above her against the glass to block the crowd. It was an unintentional kabe-don pose, and Hayato realized it a second too late.
"Ah—sorry, Kiyoko-nee…"
Kiyoko blinked, tilting her head at his expression.
"What's wrong?"
"I just... uh... I'm still sweaty from practice. I probably smell…"
She leaned in slightly and sniffed, then smiled.
"Hmm. Smells like citrus detergent. Not bad at all."
With a small laugh, she reached up and flicked his nose.
Hayato froze.
It was something she used to do when they were kids—whenever he was being cheeky or bratty. The motion stirred memories so vivid it made his chest ache. Even though he wasn't the original Hayato... somehow, it didn't feel wrong.
Wasn't he still Hayato, in the end?
Shaking the thought away, he smiled gently.
"That's true."
Just then, the train jolted. The packed commuters stumbled, causing a chain reaction. Hayato was shoved forward.
"Ugh—sorry again!"
Now there was zero space between them. Kiyoko's face was pressed into his chest, and he felt a certain softness at his abdomen.
"There's nothing we can do about it."
Kiyoko's voice was calm, but Hayato glanced down and caught the faintest blush creeping up her ears.
He quickly turned away, pretending to admire the night skyline through the train window.