After I Heard My Opponent's Thoughts While Playing Volleyball

Tsukimi Haruka has been able to hear other people's thoughts since he was three years old. He's never had a single peaceful day since.

He thought his life was already dramatic enough, but high school had another surprise in store. On his first day, an older man latched onto him, and his luck suddenly dropped below zero. After getting lost, he was mistaken for a thief and had to write a thousand-character apology. And things kept getting worse. Since he'd attracted so much attention on his first day, a mysterious organization called the "Tsukimi Haruka Watch Club" suddenly sprang up in his class, bombarding him with their thoughts in turns. That wasn't all. Before long, he wandered into the volleyball club by mistake. All it took was one jump test for the coach to take notice of him, and through a series of coincidences, he joined the Inarizaki volleyball team.

The only thing worth celebrating was that, aside from volleyballs constantly smacking him in the back of the head, the misfortunes around him were gradually becoming less frequent.

A few scenes:

"Bam!" Another one of Miya Osamu's attacks was blocked. With the twins glaring angrily at him, Tsukimi Haruka quietly flashed a V sign. The two foxes immediately started fighting.

War correspondent Suna snapped a photo of this touching display of brotherly affection. Tsukimi Haruka, the culprit, bribed him on the spot, ensuring a whole collection of blackmail photos of the future superstar.

Tsukimi and Suna shared a special bond, a deep revolutionary friendship. Every day, with Atsumu on their tail, they vowed to protect their hard-won loot to the death.

As time passed, the members of the volleyball team found their way into Tsukimi's heart. And after blocking and jumping time and again, he finally faced up to his love of volleyball.

One

Tsukimi sighed with the weariness of a man who'd seen it all, pulled out a chocolate bar his mom had just made, and held it between two fingers. In the voice of a seasoned veteran, he said, "There are two things in life you should never get involved with."

Volleyball Monthly reporter: "What are they?"

Answer: "Volleyball and Senior Osamu's pudding. The first will make you push yourself to the limit, and the second will make someone come after you."

Reporter: "..." (Silently writes: Tsukimi is fierce and decisive on the court, but funny and witty in everyday life.)

Two

One day during training camp.

Tsukimi stared at the eyes hidden behind his hair in the mirror. After thinking for a moment, he finally made up his mind and rummaged through everything until he found a pair of scissors.

He crept off to find Kita, but ran into Atsumu and Osamu at the corner.

Atsumu: (eyes sparkling) "Are you going to cut your bangs?"

Tsukimi: (backing away, shaking his head) "No, no."

Then the two quickly subdued him and dragged him to the dorm.

Snip, snip, snip. Before cutting, they repeatedly promised to be careful. Two snips later, his bangs were half as long. That wasn't enough: Atsumu and Osamu then started fighting over who had cut off more.

Tsukimi: (trying to stop them in alarm) "Don't fight! Stop fighting!"

Snip. His bangs ended up looking like they'd been chewed off by a dog.

Tsukimi sat in the chair and slowly breathed out, his eyes drained of all color.

Do not disturb. Burn offerings if you need anything...

Atsumu and Osamu: "Senior Kita! We need Senior Kita! A-Haruka's out of commission!"

"Eggplant," Suna said, taking Tsukimi Haruka's "photo of a lifetime" when he was seventeen and saving it with satisfaction.

There's never a dull moment at Inarizaki. Save this now and help preserve every legendary scene!!!

Don't dwell on yesterday. Keep moving forward, young man!

Feel-good power fantasy.

Apologies for the OOC.

A mountain of headcanons.

Writing this for love. Updates whenever inspiration strikes. Enter at your own risk.

2024.7.5

Blurb revised: 2026.5.12

Theme: Volleyball and friends are both indispensable parts of life.