Haikyuu: Reborn in Karasuno

Even with the new semester, Hayato's life hadn't changed much.

Club activities, studying, going back home—a two-point-one-line routine with barely a ripple.

"Hmm~ I feel like everyday life's just too bland right now, Hayato. What do you think?"

"Peace is a blessing. We're already in our second year of high school—don't expect any big developments, okay? Is your chuunibyou phase arriving late, Ryu?"

During P.E., the boys had been led to the second gym for a volleyball match. Hayato and Tanaka, not chosen to play in the current round, leaned against the wall, hugging their knees and chatting while they watched the others.

"It's not like that," Tanaka replied. "Don't you feel like after the preliminaries, our lives are just… club activities?"

"What else? You're not the male lead in some romance anime."

Tanaka stared, speechless, at Hayato's bluntness.

"So why are you so sharp-tongued today?"

"Someone knows."

Ah. Tanaka remembered.

That morning in homeroom, the teacher had announced Karasuno's annual school festival for the end of September. Each class needed two executive committee members. The girls' side had Hatogaya Koyuki volunteering immediately, but the boys stayed silent—until Tanaka bravely (or perhaps recklessly) recommended Hayato.

With the usual "anyone but me" logic, the rest of the boys agreed, and since the girls generally liked Hayato, they didn't object either.

"We still have club, you know? And I'm training the first-years right now, you know? And you sold me out at a time like this."

Tanaka shrugged with a sheepish grin.

"I just… trusted your ability. How about I treat you to Chinese steamed buns after school?"

"…Deal."

The position was already his, so Hayato let it go. It wasn't a lot of work anyway—he just didn't like extra hassle.

The boys' game ended, and the teacher called in replacements. Unfortunately for them, that meant Hayato and Tanaka.

"Haha, we've got a volleyball club regular on our side—Class 3, watch out!" someone from Class 1 grinned.

"Hmph, we've got Nishinoya on ours. Don't think you'll win that easy."

Three club regulars on the court instantly made things more interesting.

"Yo, Ryu, Hayato—just because it's P.E. doesn't mean I'll go easy," Nishinoya called, flashing his trademark grin and a V-sign.

"That's what I was hoping for," Tanaka smirked back.

From the sidelines came a cheerful voice—

"Kuroha-kun, Tanaka-kun, good luck!"

It was Koyuki, resting from her own basketball match. She smiled brightly at them. For Nishinoya, she only gave a quick apology—it was class vs. class, after all.

Tanaka tried to play it cool, but the satisfied look on his face made Nishinoya bristle.

"Damn it, Ryu, you bastard…"

The game began. The difference between volleyball veterans and casual players was immediately obvious, and before long, it turned into a showcase for Hayato and his teammates. Spikes, receives, and blocks—Hayato's presence dominated the court.

Every time he leapt and landed a clean spike—

"Ohhh~!"

came the admiring chorus from the sidelines.

It didn't take long before most of the girls were chanting his name.

"Damn normies," muttered a few of the boys under their breath.

Class 1, powered by the volleyball club trio, took the win. As they left the court, Koyuki came forward with a high-five.

"You played great, Kuroha-kun."

"Thanks."

"Tanaka-kun too—nice work."

Tanaka held onto the memory like treasure.

"It's just a high-five," Hayato sighed.

"How would you, a light novel protagonist, understand our suffering?" Tanaka retorted.

Back in the shared classroom, Nishinoya pounced on Tanaka, locking him in a headlock.

"Ryu, you bastard! Taking advantage of being in the same class as Takanori!"

The cicadas outside droned lazily as the boys wrestled and laughed.

Just another ordinary day.

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