Haikyuu: Reborn in Karasuno

On the second day of training camp, Hayato stirred awake earlier than most and noticed two empty futons in the first-year section.

Unsurprisingly, Hinata and Kageyama had already headed out for their usual morning run.

Quietly slipping out of bed, Hayato made sure not to disturb the others. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small plastic container of protein powder. Ever since returning from Hawaii, he'd made it a habit to supplement Hinata's workouts with protein—morning and night. This camp would be no exception.

As he made his way to the outdoor track, he was surprised by how empty it was. Most students seemed content with the intense daily training and didn't feel the need to do extra. But aside from Hinata and Kageyama, a few notable figures were already there: Bokuto from Fukurodani, Goro Masaki from Seikawa (affectionately called "Cod Roe Lips"), and Kuroo from Nekoma.

Clearly, captains of powerhouse schools weren't the type to sleep in.

"Yo! Hayato!" Bokuto waved eagerly, his energy already off the charts. "Wanna jog with us?"

"Sure." Hayato smiled and joined them, settling into a slow, steady pace.

Ahead of them, Hinata and Kageyama were neck-and-neck in their own sprint battle, yelling insults and trying to outpace each other. Some things never changed.

Jogging beside Kuroo, the Nekoma captain offered an apologetic look. "Hey… about last night. I think I might've hit a nerve with your 'Glasses-kun.' Sorry if I upset him."

"It's fine," Hayato replied. "We talked. He just needed some space."

Kuroo nodded, satisfied. "Still, gotta say—didn't expect a player like you to come out of Karasuno."

"Seriously," Bokuto added. "You're insane at volleyball. How long've you been playing?"

"Just one year," Hayato replied casually. "Back in my second year of junior high."

"…One year?" Kuroo and Bokuto chorused in disbelief.

Kuroo let out a long whistle. "No way. Lev's got similar physical traits, and he still can't receive worth a damn."

"Wahaha!" Bokuto barked. "Man, that's wild!"

Hayato scratched his head. He couldn't exactly explain that he had years of experience—just not in this lifetime. Right now, he was relying purely on his physical conditioning and refined instinct. He didn't see himself as a genius. After all, he never made Japan's national team in his previous life. That title belonged to people like Ushijima, not him.

Still… the pride of an Ace never left him. And it was that pride that pushed him the moment he stepped into Karasuno's gym.

"Speaking of which…" Hayato looked to Bokuto. "I heard you're one of the top five Aces in the country."

Bokuto puffed up immediately. "Yep! Pretty amazing, right?"

"Yeah, except you've never cracked the top three," Kuroo teased.

"Hey! Don't bring that up right now!"

Kuroo smirked. "So, what are you getting at, Kuroha?"

"I'm just gathering information," Hayato said, deadpan. "I want to know more about the top Aces. Care to share?"

Bokuto perked up, thrilled to be the center of attention.

"Alright, listen up!" he began, raising a dramatic finger. "First, there's Ushijima Wakatoshi from Shiratorizawa. Left-handed. Absolute cannon of a spike. You'll face him in the Miyagi finals, so be ready."

Hayato nodded, already familiar with Ushijima's reputation—and his ridiculous power.

"Then there's Sakusa Kiyoomi from Itachiyama. That guy's wrist control is nuts. He's basically maxed out both offense and defense."

"Third is Kiryu Hachimitsu from Mujinazaka. Not flashy, but he's the king of adaptability. Give him a bad set, and he'll still make it work."

"Fourth is Aran Ojiro from Inarizaki. Dude's a physical beast—strong, consistent, and fundamentally solid. No major weaknesses."

"And of course," Bokuto grinned, pointing to himself with both thumbs, "you've got me, Bokuto Koutarou, rounding out the top five!"

Hayato chuckled, impressed. The descriptions aligned with the fragments of info he recalled from the anime. Each one sounded like a true monster on the court.

"So, Kuroha," Bokuto leaned in. "Since I shared that with you… how about we play a bit tonight?"

Hayato smiled. "Sure. I'd be honored to train with one of the best."

Kuroo groaned. "Great. Once this guy starts spiking, he doesn't stop. You've doomed yourself."

"Eh, it's worth it." Hayato shrugged. "Training with an Ace from a powerhouse school—this is how we level up for Nationals."

Kuroo raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Didn't you say yesterday that you weren't going to push too hard?"

"Yesterday was yesterday," Hayato replied. "After hearing about all these monsters, I can't afford to stay the same. And Bokuto-senpai's right in front of me. It'd be dumb to waste the opportunity."

His answer made Kuroo chuckle and Bokuto laugh proudly.

"Wahaha! You're sharp, Kuroha. You're gonna go far."

After finishing their jog, Hayato regrouped with Hinata and Kageyama and handed them their water bottles.

"Drink up," he said. "You two burned half your energy just racing each other."

Hinata gulped down the drink without hesitation. Kageyama took a sip, then paused.

"Wait… what's in this?"

"Protein powder," Hayato replied casually. "It helps build muscle. Trust me."

"Oh." Kageyama blinked, then chugged it. "Tastes weird. Not bad though."

Hayato noted, once again, that none of the teams here seemed to be using supplements. It was all raw effort, talent, and repetition. A pure approach—but maybe not the most efficient one.

After washing up, the three made their way to the cafeteria. Most of Karasuno was already awake and eating. Hayato spotted Tsukishima and gave him a subtle nod. Tsukishima returned it without a word.

He still seemed distant, but noticeably more focused. When Nishinoya told him to eat more, Tsukishima quietly went back for seconds without any sarcastic retort. That small change made Nishinoya light up and slap him on the back.

"Eat up! You can't crush the competition on an empty stomach!"

The second day of the training camp was about to begin—and Hayato felt more ready than ever.

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POWER STONE!!!

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