Nothingness.
There was no pain. No sound. No form. Just... awareness.
*Is this death?*
Time stretched endlessly—or didn't exist at all.
Then, light.
A flickering orb shimmered into existence before him, like a pixel blooming into a screen. More lights followed, forming constellations, until stars surrounded him in a cosmic sea of purples, golds, and blues. Galaxies spiraled past his vision.
And from that light stepped a man.
He looked human, but off. His features were crisp and symmetrical, too perfect to be normal. His silver hair swept back effortlessly. He wore what looked like a volleyball jersey layered under a long, royal-blue cloak etched with strange runes. In his hand was a clipboard that glowed like a command console.
The man grinned.
"Yo. Took you long enough."
Riku blinked. "What…?"
"Welcome to the Transition Room. Or as I like to call it: the Cosmic Locker Room."
"...Did I die?"
"Very much so. Elevator. Instant. Not even a chance to say goodbye."
Riku felt a strange detachment from the information. Like he already knew it.
"Who the hell are you?"
The man gave a dramatic bow.
"Name's Rob. System administrator, interdimensional guide, and part-time volleyball coach. Nice to meet you, Riku Amagami."
Riku blinked. "Volleyball coach?"
"You'll see. But first—let's get to business."
Rob snapped his fingers. A floating blue window appeared before Riku like a game interface.
---
[SYSTEM SELECTION: VOLLEYSYSTEM"]
Reincarnation Candidate: Riku Amagami
Cause of Death: Accidental Freefall at 42 Floors/Second
Talent Category: High Intelligence | Exceptional Physical Potential | Charisma Bonus
Emotional Status: Apathy, Dissociation, Desire for Meaning
Match Found: World of "Haikyuu!!"
Assigned System: VolleySystem v3.6
Main Objective: Rise from beginner to national-level volleyball ace.
---
Riku stared at the window. "Wait—Haikyuu?The anime?"
Rob chuckled. "Bingo. But to you, it'll be your new reality. Think of it like reincarnating into a shonen sports anime. With a twist."
"I don't even play volleyball."
"You will."
A second window opened.
[Initializing Player Profile]
Name: Riku Amagami
Age: 15
Starting School: Karasuno High
Body Type:Tall | Athletic Frame (from past life)
Strength – D |
Agility – D |
Stamina – D+
Volleyball IQ – F
Technique – F | Charisma – B+
Special Traits: Genius Mind | Past Life Memory Retention | Wealthy Background (Local Inheritance)
System Perks: Training Quests | Skill Tree | Stat Growth | Hidden Paths
Side Quest Unlocked: "Win the Heart of the Iron Maiden – Kiyoko Shimizu"
Failure Penalty: Eternal Void of Boredom
Riku raised an eyebrow. "So I'm not just getting a new life—I'm getting a system?"
"A full-on growth tracker. Experience, quests, technique mastery, abilities, the works. You'll be weak at first—can't even serve properly. But with the right training, effort, and decisions… you could surpass even the prodigies."
"And Kiyoko?"
Rob grinned. "Bonus objective. I threw that one in myself. Gotta spice up the high school drama, right?"
Riku gave a short laugh. It was the first real emotion he'd felt in months.
"So what happens now?"
Rob's expression turned serious.
"You're starting at the bottom. No cheating your way in with god-tier stats. You'll sweat, fail, and maybe even fall behind. The VolleySystem responds to *effort*, not entitlement. But the potential? Limitless."
"And my memories?"
"You'll keep your mind and personality. But no future knowledge of the *Haikyuu!!* world—just the basics. No spoilers. You'll have to earn every victory."
A heartbeat passed.
For the first time in years, Riku's chest stirred with something raw.
Excitement.
Challenge.
Life.
He extended his hand.
"Let's do this."
Rob clapped once. "Then welcome to Karasuno, kid. Don't fall for Kiyoko too fast—or do. That's part of the fun."
Light engulfed Riku, tearing him from the void.
As he vanished, he heard Rob's last words:
"Let's see what happens when a genius is forced to climb."