Chapter 1: The Ghost in the Gym
The sharp scent of sweat, rubber, and hardwood floors filled the Miyagi Prefecture gym. The energy buzzed low — restless students filing into the stands, curious eyes watching the warm-ups. All eyes drifted toward Kitagawa Daiichi, the legendary powerhouse middle school with a long list of regional titles.
Shirosawa Middle School stood quietly on the opposite side.
Their warm-up was calm. Efficient. No cheers, no flashy spikes. Among them was a first-year captain with dark, slightly curled hair and a medium build — an athlete barely taller than his tallest teammate. His name was Krish Aran.
He adjusted his wristband — a plain black compression wrap — and stared across the net. He wasn't focused on Kageyama, nor the spikers, nor the libero. He was focused on the sound of the court. The rhythm of their steps. The inconsistencies between calls.
Kitagawa Daiichi looked polished on the surface.
But underneath?
Flaws. Predictable routes. Ego in the middle blocker.
He cracked his neck. "Start slow," he told his setter. "I'll make them expose themselves."
The match began. Kitagawa Daiichi served first. Krish received calmly, rotated back, and signaled a high ball to zone 2.
The setter hesitated — then obeyed.
Krish leaped. The spike wasn't fast. It wasn't heavy.
It was perfect.
Aiming between the rotating back-row and a libero who shifted left too early — Krish's ball hit floor untouched.
Ace. 1–0.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]Successful Spike Registered: 1/10
Murmurs in the crowd started instantly.
"Who was that?"
"That wasn't even fast… how did it land clean?"
Krish turned back to his teammates, gave a simple nod, and took his position.
No expression.
Only calculation.
The ghost had entered the court.