Who Says I'm Terrible at Setting?!

New story: Do You Have a Whiskey Partner Too? - A Newcomer in the Organization, Bound to Scotch

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This story:

Yanagiya Makoto is a middle school student who spends his days competing to study harder than everyone else, without caring whether his classmates can keep up or even whether he can keep up himself. Then... he ends up flat on his back in the hospital.

With his family keeping a close watch on him, he has no choice but to pick a sports club and try to get some exercise.

After carefully weighing his options, he chooses the volleyball club:

Yanagiya Makoto pinches out a gap thinner than a strand of hair. "I'm looking for a club that isn't tiring. Just a tiny bit of exercise, a tiny bit."

The orange-haired puppy, Hinata, smiles brightly and harmlessly, thumping his chest as he promises, "No problem! Volleyball club isn't tiring at all!"

On his first day at volleyball practice, Yanagiya Makoto is gasping for breath, sweat rolling from his forehead like beads from a broken string.

Hinata stands beside him holding a volleyball, not even flushed or out of breath. His little eyes keep darting over, his big eyes clearly saying, "Come practice! Pika~pika~"

Yanagiya Makoto feels like a dead fish that's been run over by a car. "Oh my god, let me quit the club!"

*

The boys' volleyball club is practically nonexistent. Plenty of students at the school don't even know it exists.

Somehow, the volleyball club gradually becomes famous: the school's new gym belongs to the volleyball club! And its members have the highest exam pass rate of any sports club!

"Huh? Our school's volleyball club is going to the prefectural athletic meet?"

"Huh? The volleyball club is actually neck and neck with the top-seeded school? They might even win? They're that good?!!"

"Quick! Let's hurry and go cheer them on..."

*

As a setter, the first setter Yanagiya Makoto takes notice of is Oikawa.

They say the guy is exceptionally kind and helpful, exceptionally handsome, and an exceptionally skilled setter. He's an outstanding volleyball player.

At one match, Oikawa praises Yanagiya Makoto without holding back: "Your read just now was really good, and you worked great with your teammates, too!"

Yanagiya Makoto blushes and is just about to thank him.

The next moment, Oikawa sincerely advises him, "It's just that your setting is really bad! I think you'd be better off as a middle blocker or libero..."

Yanagiya Makoto clenches his fist. "My setting! Is! Really bad!"

So the rumors really were all lies! Just you wait!!

*

After graduating from middle school, Yanagiya turns down his beloved Hinata's invitation to attend the same school and passes up the top school, enrolling directly at Seijoh with the highest score.

On the first day of school, Yanagiya Makoto leans against the gym door and waves at Oikawa on the court with a smile. "I'm here! Are you ready?"

Oikawa looks surprised. "Oh my, so my junior admires me that much~ You even followed me here~~"

Yanagiya Makoto: "Heh. I'm here to crush you, old wave!"

Later, people witness this scene at Seijoh's matches:

During the game, Yanagiya and Oikawa work seamlessly together, defeating one opponent after another and earning a place at nationals. As soon as the match ends, they put as much distance between them as possible, as if they want to be farther apart than the Pacific Ocean.

The spectators: Uh... do they get along or not?

Yanagiya Makoto grabs the hand hooked around the back of his neck, eyes blazing. "Oikawa, you jerk! I've told you eight hundred times! Stop grabbing my collar!"

Oikawa's mouth curls up. "Well, you were standing so far away from me just now. People might think we don't get along..."

Warnings! Warnings!!

1. This story has undergone major revisions. Many of the settings and plot points have changed. *Bows and knocks head repeatedly.*

2. There are lots of middle school chapters, and Hinata will mature earlier.

3. The characters are minors in middle school, so they're all just good friends. The romance comes later. (Unless something unexpected happens, Oikawa is the love interest.)

4. OOC x N! Important things bear repeating N times!

Coming soon: Sho Yo's Twin Brother, Zenitsu

No more killing demons. Now he's killing it at volleyball.

Zenitsu was abandoned and left to wander as a child.

His extraordinary hearing left him immersed in people's rejection, disdain, and betrayal. At last, he found a beloved grandfather and teammates he could get close to, only to watch them leave him one by one.

Zenitsu: Maybe I'm just not meant to be happy.

Later, he saves the people he treasures, only to die just before happiness arrives.

Zenitsu falls into darkness with both relief and regret.

He never expected to wake up again.

*

Zenitsu is reborn as a member of the Hinata family.

Parents who insist on hugging him every day, no matter how much he protests; an older brother who talks nonstop and is even noisier than him; and an adorable little sister who always brings him sweets.

- So happy he could cry.

Except the whole family has orange hair!

Zenitsu's yellow hair trembles as he draws his "sword." "Muzan's trickery! Begone!"

When Shoyo comes home and sees his little brother having another episode, he immediately pulls him into a bear hug!

Zenitsu: Help!!

Shoyo: Zenitsu, come play ball with your big brother!

Zenitsu: Big brother?

Zenitsu freezes.

Shoyo hugs him and shakes him around.

Zenitsu cries.

Why is this "demon's" inner voice so charming?! It's like Zenitsu is some kind of treasure!

Zenitsu's "sword" falls to the ground.

For his big brother, he'll play ball!

*

Later, he steps onto the court.

"BAM!!!"

Ushijima's serve tears through the air like Muzan's claws, making everyone's blood run cold.

Zenitsu breaks down screaming.

Zenitsu runs for his life. "It's Muzan! It's an Upper Rank demon! Help!!"

Shoyo takes off after him. "That's a volleyball! Don't be scared, Zenitsu! Big brother's right here!"

Spectators: ...What just flew by?! Was that lightning?!

Ushijima: ...At that speed, which one of us looks more like a demon?

*

A pair of twins who don't seem much alike join the Karasuno volleyball club, and the whole atmosphere at Karasuno changes.

The composed captain roars every day: "Zenitsu!! Your spikes are great! You don't have to close your eyes just because your brother does!!!"

Kageyama, left without a teammate at his back, can't keep up with his teammate for once. "Idiot Zenitsu! You run too fast! Who can even see you well enough to set the ball?!"

Sugawara struggles to keep the team together every day. "Zenitsu! Don't be scared! We're right behind you!!!"

Karasuno's opponents are baffled:

"How did he get that tricky ball?! Does the blond have eyes in the back of his head?!"

"Why are that blond's spikes as terrifying as a thunderbolt?!"

"The blond won, right? Why is he hugging his brother and crying?"

Zenitsu crouches among his teammates, rubbing his head against his brother's chest, with all sorts of concerned thoughts from his teammates filling his ears.

Zenitsu silently grins to himself.

*

The story of an ordinary person with Thunder Breathing and superhuman hearing who becomes the ultimate team favorite, all while being scared out of his wits.