There's a difference between jumping high and flying.
Hinata learned that in his past life — after years of grinding, failing, improving.This time, he didn't have years.
He had months.
March 6th — The Day After Defeat
The gym was silent except for the distant drip of water leaking from an old faucet.
Hinata's body ached — muscles stiff, sweat crusted on his skin, and breath heavy.
But his eyes burned with determination.
The screen hovering before him glowed softly:
[Quest Complete: Rival's Pulse Unlocked][New Training Module Unlocked: Solo Simulation Drills][Skill Development: Active]
Hinata wiped his forehead, his fingers trembling slightly.
"Rival's Pulse," he repeated quietly. "I can feel their rhythm... now I just need to master it."
He flexed his fingers, ready for the next step.
March 7th — Early Morning at the Park
The sun had barely risen when Hinata arrived at the park court. The cool morning air bit at his exposed skin, but he barely noticed.
With the ball cradled under one arm, he eyed the worn-out net and uneven court markings. It was far from ideal, but it was his battlefield.
The Volleyball Evolution System's HUD flickered to life beside him, its Auto-Coach module already analysing.
"Jump height detected: 110 cm. Target: 115 cm.""Elbow angle: 82°. Optimal: 77°.""Foot positioning slightly off during approach."
"Got it," Hinata muttered, bouncing on his toes.
He sprinted, jumped, and smashed the ball repeatedly against the net post, correcting each motion as the system instructed.
Minutes turned to hours. Every rep was a step closer to his goal.
March 8th — Breaking Through Limits
Hinata collapsed onto the cracked concrete, chest heaving.
His vision blurred slightly, but the satisfaction of unlocking a new skill warmed him from the inside out.
[Skill Unlocked: Midair Control Lv.1]Adjust spike direction midair within a 15° cone.
"This... this is huge," he thought. "It means I can fake blocks better, even if my jump isn't perfect."
He closed his eyes and imagined himself soaring higher, twisting mid-air, the ball slicing past defenders who never saw the angle coming.
March 15th — Solitary Grind
Most kids his age were out enjoying the weekend, but Hinata was back at it, alone in the gym.
The Volleyball Evolution System suggested a new training quest:
[Hidden Skill Trial: Solo Spike Challenge]Objective: Hit the moving target 10 times consecutively.
He rigged up a makeshift target — a water bottle dangling from the ceiling, swinging gently with each breeze.
With the ball fired from an old volleyball machine, Hinata leapt repeatedly, each spike aimed with precision.
Nine hits.
One miss.
He reset.
Nine hits.
One miss.
His arms screamed in protest, his legs trembled with exhaustion, but he refused to stop.
The tenth tries, the ball kissed the target perfectly
.
March 16th — Reward and Reflection
The system chimed its reward.
[Skill Acquired: Pinpoint Spike Lv.1]Increase spike accuracy by 25% targeting open zones.
Hinata sat on the bleachers, legs dangling.
His fingers traced the faint scar on his right hand — a souvenir from an old match.
"This time, I won't just jump. I'll own the air."
He smiled, already envisioning the day he'd storm the Karasuno gym.
April 5th — Entrance Day
The morning sunlight filtered through cherry blossoms, petals drifting like snow around Karasuno High's entrance.
Hinata stepped up to the gates, heart pounding—not with fear, but excitement.
The worn-out banner proclaimed: "Once Champions." A challenge and a promise.
[Quest Updated: Enter Karasuno's Gym]Bonus Objective: Impress teammates and coaching staff.Hidden Objective: Encounter Kageyama Tobio.Reward: Skill Unlock: Intuition Link Lv.1.
The gym doors creaked open.
Inside, Tanaka and Daichi warmed up with effortless energy, while Sugawara offered a welcoming smile.
Tanaka eyed Hinata skeptically. "New kid, huh? You look like you're in the wrong club."
Hinata chuckled. "Just wait and see."
He dropped his bag and stretched, ready to take flight once again
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