It was summer in Tokyo when Kageyama met her for the first time.
A national youth co-ed training camp had gathered the best elementary and junior high players from across the country. He was eleven—tall for his age, already known as "The Crownless King." The moment he stepped into the gym, whispers followed.
"He's the one with private coaches from America.""Didn't he spike a ball through a window last month?""Looks like a model. Are we sure he's a kid?"
Kageyama ignored it all.
He wasn't here to impress. He was here to observe—to find rivals, allies, and adjust his trajectory with precision.
That's when he saw her.
The gym door slid open, and a girl with bronze-toned skin, a lean athletic build, and sharp auburn eyes strode in. Her hair was tied into a messy ponytail, and she wore her jersey like armor—shoulders proud, gaze forward.
She didn't glance at anyone. Not even him.
[Entity Detected: Arisa Takahashi]Age: 12Position: Outside HitterTrait: Adaptive ReflexesCompatibility Score: 89%Relationship Path: UnlockedQuest: Earn Her Respect, Not Her Obedience
Kageyama's fingers twitched.
She was exactly as the system described—and more.
They were split into randomized teams for scrimmages. The gym roared with squeaking shoes and shouted drills. Coaches circled like sharks.
Kageyama's team dominated early. His sets were pristine, unpredictable, fast. Even the older kids scrambled to keep up.
But across the net, Takahashi stood still, expression unreadable.
Until the next rally.
He leapt for a high-speed quick set, feinting left—only for her to read the movement, shift her block, and stuff the spike mid-air.
The ball smacked back into his face.
The gym exploded with sound.
His teammates froze. Even the coaches raised eyebrows.
Takahashi landed smoothly and flicked her ponytail back. "You telegraphed your wrist," she said coolly. "Try again, King."
The air around them thickened.
Kageyama wiped his face, eyes narrowing.
No one had blocked him clean in over two years.
He was… intrigued.
After the match, players broke into corners for water and cooldowns. The tension from the earlier rally still buzzed in the air like static.
Kageyama approached her, towel slung over his neck. "Nice read."
Takahashi didn't even look at him. "Wasn't hard. Your angle was obvious."
He cocked his head slightly. "You say that like most people can react in 0.3 seconds."
Finally, she turned to him.
Her eyes weren't hostile—but calculating.
"You're not bad," she said. "But you're used to controlling the game. That's your weakness."
He blinked. No one—not even his system—had said it that plainly.
[Insight Triggered: "Arisa's Challenge"]Relationship Affinity: +2New Passive Unlocked: Ego Suppression (Level 1)
"Then I'll fix it," he replied evenly. "Want to help?"
She smirked. "Maybe."
And just like that, something shifted between them.
The Next Day
They were paired together for a special two-on-two session.
Her spikes, his sets.
The moment she jumped, he adjusted his toss—not too far left, not too shallow—just enough to match her mid-air approach.
She slammed it down with brutal efficiency.
Again. Again. Again.
By the fourth set, the coach stopped them. "That's enough! Save the gym floor!"
Players watched in silence. There was chemistry there—raw, unspoken. Not friendly, but electric.
Later, Arisa sat beside him at lunch, arms crossed.
"You don't talk like a kid," she muttered.
"You don't play like one," he shot back.
She glanced at him. "You're weird."
He offered a half-smile. "So are you."
And for a brief moment, she smiled back.
Evening
They both stayed late.
He was working on new toss heights. She was practicing her jump timing.
Without a word, they fell into rhythm.
Toss. Spike. Retrieve. Reset.
Until she collapsed onto the floor, sweat pooling on her collarbone. "I hate how good your sets are."
He dropped beside her, chest rising. "I hate how fast you adjust mid-air."
They both laughed. A rare sound in Kageyama's new life.
[Bond Level Increased: Arisa - 7/100]Trait Synergy Detected: Precision x InstinctFuture Flag Activated: "Dual Ace Path – Optional Route"
For the first time, the system gave him a choice.
Stick to canon—or walk this new path beside her.
His chest felt strangely warm.
He didn't answer the system.
But in his heart, the decision was already made.
Three Days Later
The camp ended.
Players boarded trains, exchanged numbers, followed one another on social media.
Arisa stood by the station entrance, duffel bag over her shoulder.
Kageyama approached, hesitant.
"You'll be at Nationals, right?" he asked.
She nodded. "Tryouts next year. Tokyo West team."
"I'll make it too. Miyagi block."
She stared at him a moment. "Don't slow down. I want to beat you at your best."
"You won't."
She smirked. "We'll see."
He turned to leave but paused.
"Arisa."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You should transfer to Miyagi. Karasuno's building a girls' team."
There was a long pause. Then—
"You serious?"
"I don't say things I don't mean."
"…I'll think about it."
As he walked away, the system pinged:
[New Quest Unlocked: Bring Arisa to Karasuno]Reward: Parallel Development ArcRisk: Disrupt Canon Timeline
He didn't care.
He knew one thing for sure:
With her beside him, the game wasn't just about redemption anymore.
It was about rewriting volleyball history.
Together.