Age 8: His first volleyball experience, and the official start of his volleyball career.
Age 15: Wearing his school's uniform, he leads his team to win the national junior high tournament three years in a row, becoming a rising star.
Age 18: Special admission to a high school, a professional contract, the National Best Rookie award, a place on the national team... He makes a name for himself while still young.
This is the life plan Shimozuki Ikurei made for himself in the game Volleyball Life Simulator.
It was just a game, so as long as he was willing to grind, reaching all those goals should have been easy. But he only got halfway through.
Because he transmigrated into the game.
The face in the mirror was unmistakably his own at fifteen or sixteen, complete with the appearance mod he'd used for his in-game character at fifteen: eyebrow and ear piercings, plus colored streaks in his hair. The wall behind him was covered with trophies and awards from his past.
Every single one of them was related to volleyball.
And there was only one way to get out of the game: complete the plan he'd started with.
Shimozuki Ikurei, who had spent over a decade in real life as a reclusive shut-in who could barely crawl out of his shell and had practically zero athletic ability: ...?
Everyone at Nekoma had heard the name of their club's new member. He'd won every competition for three years straight in junior high. Volleyball Monthly even gave him his own regular column. The renowned Shimozuki Ikurei had left an impression on everyone, to one degree or another. In the end, though, he was known as
expressionless, cool, and quiet; on the court, he played with machine-like precision, the heart of the team and the player everyone looked up to.
No one knew why he'd chosen Nekoma when all the powerhouse schools were vying to recruit him... Amid their anticipation and nervousness, the volleyball club members finally met him in person.
He looked gloomy and exhausted, with obvious dark circles under his eyes. Blue-and-white dyed streaks, an eyebrow piercing barely visible beneath his bangs, and eight earrings glittering in the light.
Everyone: "..."
A delinquent?
Could someone tell them what he'd been through?!
After spending some time with him, they realized he only seemed aloof because he was socially anxious. Before a practice match, he had to be coaxed for days just to get on the court. During conditioning, he panted so hard they felt sorry just watching him. All in all, even Kenma seemed cheerful, sunny, and healthy standing next to him...
Everyone again: "..."
But this unbelievable ace, once he stepped onto the court,
was even more dazzling than before.
Theme: Finding yourself
