“Wake up, quick, wake up... How can you fall asleep standing up? The coach is calling you!”
Maple Field Taiichi was pushed from behind. Looking at the slightly angry uncle in front of him, his mind jolted, and his memories gradually became clear. This was an Aoba Johsai training camp, and he seemed to be a substitute who had fallen asleep on the sidelines!
“Taiichi, after the game, do five dive rolls around the court. Now, go in and replace Matsukawa. Use your speed to coordinate the first receive well; you absolutely cannot let the opponent score with their serve.”
The moment he heard the name Taiichi, Maple Field Taiichi's body instinctively moved. After hearing the coach's instructions, he suddenly realized something—he had transmigrated into the world of Haikyuu.
But besides some basic volleyball he learned in a university PE class, he didn't know how to play volleyball at all... Maple Field Taiichi dizzily walked onto the court. How could he possibly compete with the monsters in Haikyuu?
Just then, a voice popped into Maple Field Taiichi’s mind.
“Genius All-Round System is activating. Host, please wait...”
“Welcome, Host, to the All-Round System. Now matching to the Japanese High School Volleyball League standard.”
Huh? Although as a loyal reader of web novels for ten years, he was already familiar with the transmigration-plus-system trope, when it actually happened to him, Maple Field Taiichi was still a bit dazed at first.
“Ding, data matching successful. Now explaining the High School Volleyball League ability value standard to the Host: With an average ability value of 60 as the standard, school team players can reach a maximum of 100 points, and below 50 points are amateur enthusiasts. Among them, 60-69 points are ordinary school team players, 70-79 points are intermediate players, 80-89 points are excellent players, and 90-99 points are top-tier players... The Host's current ability value is 65.”
“Are there no players with an ability value of 100?”
“100 points only represents the burst state of a top-tier player at specific moments.”
After roughly understanding the situation, Maple Field Taiichi looked at the panel that suddenly appeared before his eyes:
Host: Maple Field Taiichi.
Height/Weight: 184cm / 72kg.
Ability Value: 65.
Speed: 90.
Power: 75.
Stamina: 60.
Jump: 65.
Technique: 40 (Technique comprehensively evaluates serving, receiving, setting, spiking, and blocking. Different positions use different reference standards).
“...” Alright, so besides my physical conditioning, I'm really useless. What's the point of me going on court like this now? What if I get absolutely crushed, then benched by the coach, and never get another chance to play? Ah! That's too tragic, don't you think, Mr. System?
“...”
“Now providing the Host with a Newbie Benefits : a one-time Newbie Gift Pack.”
Maple Field Taiichi wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt the System emphasized “one-time” particularly strongly.
Newbie Gift Pack:
1. An Excellent Player Experience Card (a one-time player experience card: The Host can temporarily gain the excellent abilities of that player, effective for five minutes).
2. Newbie Training Mode: Before the Host's various skill levels reach an average ability value of 60, stamina recovery during training will be abnormal, and he will not enter an exhausted state.
3. 10 Stamina Potions (Stamina Potion: Each use restores the Host's stamina to a half-full state, not usable in official matches).
Maple Field Taiichi looked at the spinning Newbie Gift Pack before him, his heart surging. Now was the moment to make a splash.
“Mr. System, use the Excellent Player Experience Card.”
“Received.”
Maple Field Taiichi watched the golden card before him with anticipation. After he responded, the card spun wildly in place.
“Ten consecutive golds, guaranteed no off-banner. Ten consecutive golds, guaranteed no off-banner...” Although he knew it was useless, chanting this during draws had become an ingrained habit for Maple Field Taiichi.
“...” The card's rotation speed slowed, eventually stopping with a “ding.” On the card face was a boy with spiky crimson hair and a playful expression.
“Tendō Satori!”
Could it be that he drew him because both names have the character 'Sleep' (Juè)? Maple Field Taiichi looked at the person on the card. His overall ability value was 88, just a little short of reaching top-tier. Not bad, not bad. The key was a sparkling gold stat in the technique section—Blocking 92! Maple Field Taiichi's index finger was already itching; he really wanted to try it out.
“Taiichi, you're so bold, sleeping on the bench. Did you dream of anything~?” As soon as Maple Field Taiichi stepped onto the court, Oikawa Tooru turned around and asked with a smile.
I dreamed you got hit by Iwaizumi, Maple Field Taiichi thought silently, but his face showed an honest, apologetic expression.
“Don't mind him, just focus on playing.” Iwaizumi Hajime's steady voice came. It was hard to imagine that the captain wasn't Iwaizumi but that person.
“Yes.” Maple Field Taiichi immediately straightened his face and took his position.
Aoba Johsai's opponent today was a university team from Miyagi University. To give the new First Years a more direct understanding of their shortcomings, this training session adopted a 6v6 format between the university students and Aoba Johsai.
Aoba Johsai's side was centered around Third Years Oikawa Tooru, Iwaizumi Hajime, and Hanamaki Takahiro, with the remaining First and Second Years rotating every 5 points. While allowing new players to experience strong opponents, the coaching staff was also exploring the most suitable lineup for Aoba Johsai this academic year.
The current score on the court was 【Miyagi University 15 vs 9 Aoba Johsai】.
Miyagi University's Ace, Maeda, had already scored two consecutive points with his serves. The third time, Aoba Johsai managed to get the first receive, but it wasn't perfect, giving the opponent a chance ball. The opponent's Ace delivered a powerful spike that left Aoba Johsai with no power to resist.
Losing three consecutive points, and it was still the opponent's serving turn, Maple Field Taiichi could feel the heavy atmosphere as soon as he stepped onto the court.
The whistle blew, and the referee signaled Miyagi to serve.
Maeda stood five meters behind the service line again, calmly bouncing the volleyball. After getting into rhythm, he squatted slightly, then tossed the ball up, rushing forward. Just one step from the service line, Maeda quickly jumped, and his right hand heavily struck the falling volleyball. The volleyball flew towards Aoba Johsai like a cannonball.
So fast! Maple Field Taiichi couldn't react at all. Standing on the court and watching the opponent's Ace serve, the pressure was even greater!
“I got it!” Aoba Johsai's Second Year Libero, Watari Shinji, quickly moved. With the experience from the previous three balls, he successfully judged the ball's landing spot this time and received it. However, it was just a receive; the volleyball bounced off Watari Shinji's arm and back to Miyagi University's back row.
“Chance ball!” The opponent received the first receive beautifully, the setter quickly followed, and the Ace, Maeda, confidently rushed to the net and jumped. This was the rhythm! Even if they could receive his serve, what of it? As long as it wasn't a good receive, this point was still his.
Maple Field Taiichi quickly moved to the front row when the ball bounced back to Miyagi's side. He stared intently at Maeda's movements. As if driven by a mysterious force, Maple Field Taiichi's mind immediately judged the direction of Maeda's spike. The moment Maeda jumped, Maple Field Taiichi jumped with him.
“Thwack!” That was the sound of Maeda's spike.
“Slap!” That was the sound of the ball hitting Maple Field Taiichi's hand.
“Thud, thud, thud...” That was the sound of the volleyball hitting the ground.
Coach Irihata stood up. This blocking point came as a complete surprise! It seemed to be blocked purely by instinct. Could this year's First Year have a blocking genius?!