The Ultimate Volleyball Guide, Up!

[For a completed novel of the same type, check out This Volleyball Is Non-Negotiable, a story set in Inarizaki High School’s volleyball club.]

A story about a genius boy trying to survive among a bunch of volleyball idiots.

Kazehaya Kazuya is outstanding in every way, and always seems like he exists on a plane beyond ordinary people.

Like a prince from a shoujo manga.

But this prince can spike a ball so hard on the court that it buries someone’s head in the floor, and you can’t even dig it out

Kenma: Thank goodness Kazuya isn’t our opponent.

Kazuya thinks so too. It’s great that he got to come to Nekoma. The upperclassmen may be inhuman, the first-years may be unreliable, and Coach Nekomata may exploit him... but he still really likes Nekoma!

Kuroo: I’m so touched that Kazuya thinks of his upperclassmen that way!

Kazuya: ...There’s no saving them. There’s no saving Nekoma.

*

Kazehaya Kazuya doesn’t have anything he particularly loves, whether it’s the sport he’s stuck with or manga. He hates the sweat on his body when he exercises and the tedious stories built from repetitive text and scenes. But when that ball spun through the air, he couldn’t help looking over.

It’s volleyball. It must be exhausting! Chasing after it on the court must be exhausting...

In high school, Kazehaya went to Nekoma, where he ran into a bunch of kittens. Looking at the ball in his hands, he wore an expression of pain. If only he’d known, he’d have died before leaving Miyagi.

“Kazuya, one more ball!”

Nekoma, a traditional powerhouse in Tokyo, is known alongside Karasuno as one of the “fallen powerhouses.” The team has no particularly outstanding offensive strength, but everyone is good at receiving, leaving no gaps in their defense. What they lack is an undisputed ace.

Kazehaya Kazuya spends every day busy with volleyball club activities. Before he knows it, he’s become an attacker to be reckoned with.

Kazehaya Kazuya: I hate trouble. I hate trouble... (muttering on and on)

Everyone at Nekoma: Are you a shy little kid?

Other volleyball teams: If you don’t want him, give him to us. We’re jealous of Kazuya-chan...

Everyone at Nekoma: You can have anything in your dreams.

Kazehaya Kazuya was hailed as one of the most selfless stars of the “Monster Generation.” Throughout his three years of high school, he led Nekoma to the national tournament again and again, winning the highest honor.

Reading Guide

· Contains original settings, so don’t nitpick. Nekoma’s match results will be changed.

· Slight Kuroo and Bokuto later on.

· The story leans toward everyone pampering the protagonist.

· The pairing is set: it’s Kuroo. There’s little romance during high school, and everyone is an adult when they start dating.

· The protagonist has the aura of a sports prodigy. It’s a wish-fulfillment story, so jump right in.

· My writing has its limits. Don’t read if that bothers you. If you stop enjoying it, please quit in time.

!!! You don’t have to understand, but please respect the author’s tastes.

Theme: Where there is passion, there is possibility