The following week moved fast.Every morning I trained before sunrise.Every afternoon I stayed behind after practice.
Every night I studied match videos and old tournament footage, anything I could get my hands on.The system helped but it didn't replace the grind.If anything, it made the grind matter more.Every hour of work translated into real, measurable improvement and with that improvement came whispers.
"Hayama's jump looks crazy lately."
"Did he always hit that hard?"
"Coach put him in regular rotation practices as a first-year."
By Friday, half the team watched me differentl, not with hostility but with curiosity,expectations,pressure.I felt it all and I embraced it.
___________________________________
Friday Practice Match Day
Minamiyama High's gym buzzed with noise.
Today wasn't a normal practice, we invited a nearby school for friendly practice matches.
North Port High (Kitaura High) mid-tier, same level as us, but with a reputation for strong receives and decent height.
For me, this would be my first real match after getting the system.My first chance to gauge where I stood.
As I tied my shoes, Ryuusei slapped my back.
"Nervous, Kazuki?"
"A bit," I admitted.
"Good. Means you care."
He grinned. "Also means you're ready."
Coach Fujimoto walked in and gathered us.
"Today we're playing three sets. Rotations will change every set. First-years some of you will get court time. Hayama, you're in Set 2."
My heart leapt.
Set 2.
My first real court debut.
The gym filled quickly as North Port arrived tall guys with strong shoulders, clearly used to rigorous training. Their captain a 187cm outside hitter walked with quiet confidence.
Someone elbowed his teammate.
"That's Minamiyama?"
"Yeah. Not that scary."
'We'll see about that'
Set 1: Observation
On the bench, I watched every detail.
Their libero was good. Their middle blocker had slow lateral movement. Their setter loved back sets but floated on tight passes.
Exploitable.
And their star outside hitter, Ishikawa Masato, was strong very strong.
Explosive jump. Sharp angle hits. Calm demeanor. A real opponent.My blood warmed.I wanted to face him.
Minamiyama won the first set barely, 26–24.
Coach nodded.
"Good. But sloppy defense. Setter, faster transitions. Ryuusei, close your block earlier."
Then he turned to me.
"Hayama."
"Yes, coach."
"You're starting on left wing."
A jolt shot through me.
Left wing? As a first-year?
I swallowed my nerves and nodded.
This was it.
My debut.
__________________________________
Set 2: Debut of a Hidden Talent
The whistle blew.
"Minamiyama serve!"
I stepped onto the court, breath steady, heart sharp.The world felt clearer the system's passives subtly tuning my perception.
First play: defense.North Port's star hitter jumped high very high but I read his shoulder Basic Insight highlighting the angle.
"He's going cross!" I shouted.
Our libero shifted just in time.
RECEIVE!
Perfect pass.
Transition.
The setter pointed at me—back!—calling for a pipe attack.
'Me? Back-row already?'
No hesitation.I sprinted, jumped and swung.
[BOOM!]
The ball flew past the block and landed deep.
"In!"
"That was clean!"
"Was that Hayama!?"
Spectators murmured, my team gawked but I wasn't done.
Next play my receive.
The serve came fast.
Old me might've panicked but the system tugged at my awareness.
[Lower hips, stable platform]
I steadied. The ball smacked my arms but floated beautifully to the setter.
"Nice pass, Hayama!"
He rewarded me.
Quick set.
I dashed.
Jumped.
Mid-air snipers locked onto the block two blockers closing in.
Time slowed.
[Jump Timing Sense] adjusted my swing path.
[PAH!]
A wipe shot. Sharp, controlled.The ball brushed their fingertips and shot out of bounds.
"Touch out!" the referee called.
My teammates exploded.
"Wooo!"
"Hayama's on fire!"
"He's a different person!"
But the opposing captain, Ishikawa, narrowed his gaze.His stare was cold, evaluating.A predator sizing up a newcomer.
He walked past me during rotation.
"You're good," he said. Not a compliment an observation.
"But don't get cocky. You haven't faced my full power."
I smirked.
"Then stop holding back."
His eyes sharpened.
"Ok then!"
The First Rivalry Clash
I rotated to front row.
Their setter immediately set to Ishikawa testing me.He approached, explosive, precise and dangerous.Ryuusei moved to block, but Ishikawa swung around him straight toward me.My body moved before fear could hit.I leapt, arms raised
[THWACK!]
The ball struck my hands hard but deflected upward.
"BLOCK TOUCH! PLAY!"
Our libero saved it,setter to me a high outside set.I jumped and Ishikawa leapt to block me.Our eyes locked mid-air.
For a split second, the world felt still.
Two rivals.
One moment.
Instinct took over.
I widened my swing path
[BOOM!]
I hammered the ball through the seam of his block.His head snapped around in surprise as the ball hit the floor.
Point!
The gym erupted, Minamiyama side:
"WHAT A HIT!"
"HAYAMA'S CRAZY!"
"HE JUST CHALLENGED ISHIKAWA!"
North Port side murmured.
Their star had been beaten cleanly.I landed, breathing heavily.Ishikawa stared at me eyes blazing now.
"…Interesting."
Ryuusei slapped my back. "Holy shit, Kazuki! You're provoking their ace one-on-one already!?"
"Why not?" I grinned.
But inside?
Adrenaline burned hot.
This was volleyball.
This was rivalry.
This was why I loved the sport.
Not because I transmigrated.
Not because of the system.
But because moments like this felt alive.
The Set Heats Up
The rest of Set 2 became a duel.
Me vs. Ishikawa.
He hit sharp shots I dug them.
I spiked strong he blocked some.
He scored.
I scored.
We traded points like enemies bound by fate.
Whistles blew.
Sweat poured.
Crowds cheered.
The scoreboard climbed.
22–22.
Coach Fujimoto called a timeout.
We huddled.
"Hayama," he said, eyes serious. "Can you handle the last swing?"
My heart thudded.
"Yes."
"Then we're playing through you."
I nodded.
We returned to the court.
Serve receive.
Clean pass.
Setter looked at me.
Time slowed.
My steps aligned.
My breath steadied.
My heart roared.
I jumped.
Ishikawa jumped too.
Our hands rose.
Our power clashed.
I swung.
[CRACK!]
[BOOM]
The ball exploded past his block, landing deep.
23–22.
Another serve.
A block from Ryuusei made it 24–22.
Match point.
Final play a long rally, chaos everywhere.
Then
"Hayama! Open!"
The setter tossed a fast ball.
Crowd held its breath.
I didn't hesitate.
I soared higher than before and spiked.
[BOOM!]
Point!
Set won.
25–22.
The gym thundered.
My teammates rushed me.
"Let's gooo!"
"Hayama, you monster!"
"That was insane!"
Coach Fujimoto nodded, impressed.
"You stepped up."
But across the court, Ishikawa stood silently.
He approached slowly for a moment, I thought he might be pissed.Instead, he extended his hand.
"You're strong," he said quietly.
His grip was firm.
Serious.
A rival's respect.
"What's your name again?"
"Hayama. Kazuki Hayama."
He nodded.
"I'll remember it."
And he walked away.
My chest tightened but with excitement, not fear because this was just the start.My first rival, my first real test and I passed.
System Notification
As I grabbed my bag after practice, the system chimed:
[RIVAL DETECTED: ISHIKAWA MASATO]
Stats compared. Rivalry Level: Low →Medium
Motivation Boost acquired (+5% EXP for training against strong opponents)
[TODAY'S GROWTH:]
Jump Height +1
Power +2
Receive +1
Game Sense +2
Spiking Fundamentals Lv.2 → 41%
Talent Fragment: Discipline Freak (2/10)
I stared at the screen, heart full.
'I really… fought on equal ground today'
The world of Haikyuu wasn't fiction anymore.
It was my reality and I was rising.
One spike at a time.