At one point during junior high, Atobe Kyuka played tennis. When the sport started getting more and more dangerous, he decisively walked away. He then tried out several other sports, finally settling on volleyball in his third year of junior high. At the national tournament, he lived up to everyone's expectations by... getting knocked out in the first round.
Turning down a place in the senior high division of Hyotei, Atobe Kyuka learned from his mistakes and chose Nekoma, a prestigious volleyball school.
The volleyball club's results had been average in recent years, but with Coach Nekomata in charge, it should be fine.
*
It was very much not fine!!!
The veteran coach who had led the volleyball club to nationals multiple times retired because of health issues!
The school didn't appoint a new coach!
The teacher supervising the volleyball club didn't care at all!
The senpai-kohai hierarchy was intense!
*
Atobe Kyuka looked gravely at the Kagego A-chan across from him.
Kagego A-chan snapped his fingers. "Well, what's done is done. Become Nekoma's king!"
Little scene:
At the Tokyo qualifiers for the Interhigh, some players gathered and started talking about Nekoma.
"Have you heard? Nekoma has several first-years starting this year."
"I thought Nekoma had been pretty decent in past years. Why did all the third-years quit the club together?"
Someone whispered mysteriously, "I know a little about what happened. Did you know Nekoma's volleyball club is actually a delinquent gang? The current captain lay low for three years, then finally staged a successful coup with help from their newly recruited ace, their strongest hitter."
"Seriously?"
"Of course. Their strongest hit... I mean, their ace, used to play tennis."
"Gasp!" Everyone sucked in a breath.
Reader's notes:
1. The protagonist is the same age as Kuroo, Yaku, and the others. The volleyball story begins when he's in his third year of high school.
2. The protagonist is Atobe's older brother, two years his senior. There will be some tennis content, but not too much. Volleyball is still the main focus.
PS: They're brothers, but their personalities are completely different.
3. The author only watched the anime last year and decided to write this story this year. I looked up a lot of the volleyball rules as I went, so there may be a few mistakes. I hope readers won't mind too much.
---------------- Below is a preview of an upcoming story ----------------
"Life Simulator, but Volleyball"
You get your hands on a volleyball simulator game.
Choose a different school at the start, compete with your teammates, unlock all kinds of achievements, and ultimately dominate the country.
It's incredibly exciting. As a completionist, you obviously plan to play through every school, but there's one problem...
Looking at all the different animals in the character portraits, and even plants and screws, you can't help falling silent. Is this the developers' weird sense of humor, or are the NPCs literally not human?
Giving up on figuring it out, you draw the only plant and become a little sapling.
"Ding!"
"Generating character card. Talent acquired: Born Rebel.
Talent description: You're one of a kind. Make the world bow at your feet!"
System notification: You have automatically received one skill card: [Reincarnation Eye].
You let out a piercing scream. Why does a volleyball simulator have something like this? Can it even work in the game!?
"Ding!"
"Generating character card. Talent acquired: Everyone's Affection -10.
Talent description: Language is an art. Don't lose because you don't know how to express yourself."
System notification: You have automatically received one skill card: [I'm Bald, but I'm Stronger].
You look it over: It's definitely useful. At least you won't get beaten to death.
"Ding!"
"Generating character card. Talent acquired: Exceptional Intelligence.
Talent description: You are the Einstein of the volleyball world."
System notification: You have automatically received one skill card: [Mind of a Madman].
You: "..."
Can this game get any worse!!!
Theme: One day, you will find what you love
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!