The gym buzzed with tension.
Karasuno had been invited to a joint practice and scrimmage against Aoba Johsai, one of the strongest teams in Miyagi Prefecture. Though it was "just a practice," the energy in the air felt like the first round of a battlefield engagement.
Riku stood near the sideline with a towel draped over his neck, his eyes scanning the opposing players as they warmed up.
Tall blockers. Athletic wings. Clean technique. And that setter—he's dangerous.
Then he saw him.
Tooru Oikawa.
Tall. Lean. Smiling like a fox with a secret. He looked nothing like a monster, but Riku's system interface flared the moment their eyes met.
[System Alert: Threat Detected – Oikawa Tooru]
Title: "The Grand Setter"
Class: Genius Strategist
Abilities: Precision Serve | Psychological Manipulation | Court Vision Lv.4
This guy... he's not just good. He's a natural-born predator.
As Karasuno warmed up, Kuroda jogged beside Riku, eyeing Oikawa's side.
"You ready for this?"
"I don't know," Riku admitted honestly. "But I want to see how far I have left to go."
Kuroda smirked. "Good answer."
Coach Ukai clapped his hands. "We're doing four sets—standard rotations. Everyone gets playtime."
Daichi led the starters, with Hinata and Kageyama subbing in later. Riku was rotated in as a sub-opposite in the second set—right when Aoba Johsai started pressing hard.
Set Two – Baptism by Pressure
Oikawa's serve sliced through the air.
Riku tried to receive.
THWACK.
The ball rocketed past his shoulder, skimming the floor.
"Receive failed," Ukai muttered. "Watch his jump serve curve."
But it wasn't just the curve.
It was how Oikawa watched him. Coldly. Playfully. Calculatingly.
It wasn't just technique—it was psychological warfare.
[System Warning: Mental Pressure Detected – Oikawa's Presence]
Temporary Penalty: -10% Analysis Effectiveness
Unlock Condition: Hold Serve or Score Under Direct Marking
He's disrupting my system?!
Wait—no. It's me. I'm overthinking. He's using my brain against itself.
Riku steadied his breath.
Oikawa served again.
This time, Riku predicted the drop.
He dived—palms low.
Smack.
The ball bounced clean into the air.
Nishinoya grabbed it mid-air, bumping it to Sugawara.
Tanaka spiked.
Point.
"Nice receive!" Daichi shouted.
Riku exhaled.
[Quest Update – Stand Against a Setter]
Objective 1 Complete: Survive 1 Serve from Oikawa
But Oikawa wasn't done.
Next rally, he set so quickly the blockers didn't even jump.
Karasuno got dunked on by a perfect quick.
"His disguise was flawless," Sugawara muttered. "It's like he knows where we're weak before we do."
"He's watching rotations," Riku said. "And reactions. Timing, breath, eye movement. He's reading us like code."
"And you?"
"I'm reading him too."
[Analyze – Activated (Forced Focus)]
Trait Synergy Triggered: Courtmind Lv.1
Prediction Range Narrowed to Primary Action in 1.2 Seconds
Cooldown: 5 Minutes
Oikawa flicked another serve.
Riku moved early, as if hearing the ball before it hit air.
He dived—smack—another receive.
Suga bumped it to Daichi.
Daichi faked the spike—sent it to Riku.
It was sloppy, but Riku leapt.
Boom.
Off-speed spike.
Point.
Even Oikawa blinked at that one.
Then he smiled. A real smile.
"Number 9, huh?" Oikawa called out from across the court. "You're interesting. Like a mini-robot."
"Not a robot," Riku replied. "A system."
Oikawa chuckled. "Even better."
Set Three – Systems vs Instinct
The third set was chaos. Hinata and Kageyama subbed in, raising the tempo to a level even Aoba Johsai had trouble adjusting to.
But Riku wasn't benched.
Coach Ukai kept him in as a second defensive wing and tactician.
He called reads mid-play, guided Tanaka's back-row coverage, and coordinated with Sugawara to read Oikawa's fakes.
At one point, he even caught Oikawa bluffing a dump shot and repositioned himself before the set.
Dig secured.
Point saved.
Aoba Johsai's lead shrank.
Karasuno pushed forward.
And Riku felt something click.
[System Upgrade: Tactician's Instinct → Combat Strategist Lv.1]
New Passive: +5% Team Coordination Efficiency
Unlocked Trait: "Echo Read" – Gain positional hints from teammates' reactions
But it still wasn't enough.
Oikawa closed the set with a devious no-look backset that even Riku didn't catch.
Point.
Set won.
Post-Game
Karasuno lost 3–1.
But the margin was narrow.
And the team chemistry had leveled up significantly.
"Better than expected," Coach Ukai said, wiping sweat off his brow. "Still got a long way to go."
Players slowly filtered toward their bags.
Riku stood at the edge of the court, watching Oikawa stretch.
The setter approached, wiping sweat with a towel.
"You're not bad, System-kun," Oikawa said. "But here's the thing…"
He leaned in slightly.
"No matter how much data you read, some things—some people—are just chaos."
Riku didn't flinch.
"I like chaos. It's a chance to evolve."
Oikawa smirked.
"I look forward to breaking your mind in the qualifiers."
Then he walked off, humming to himself.
[Quest Complete: First Rival Setter Encounter]
Stat Gains: Volleyball IQ +0.6 | Defense +0.4 | Focus +0.5
New Quest Chain Unlocked: "Master the Mental Match" (0/3 Completed)
Defeat a superior setter using pure coordination and awareness
Reward: System Evolution Option – "Strategist's Domain" or "Instinct Override"
As Riku packed up, Kiyoko approached.
"Don't beat yourself up," she said softly. "He's not unbeatable."
"I know," Riku replied.
"I watched your movement. You're adapting faster than anyone."
"…Thanks."
She glanced at him once more, then added, "By the way. Your first tournament's in two weeks."
Riku nodded.
"I'll be ready."
She smiled, just a little.
"I know you will."