"The sky belongs to those who jump higher."
Volleyball is a game of six players, but sometimes, one person can change everything.
Years ago, Hikarizaka High was the strongest school in the prefecture. The crowds supported them, every opponent feared them, and the name of Hikarizaka echoed everywhere.
At the center of that team was one man:
Kazuki Arata. He was known as the Golden Ace. His spikes were powerful, his jump was unmatched, and he played with a fire that inspired everyone around him.
But during a national match, Kazuki collapsed mid-air. His body gave up before his dream could be completed.
Hikarizaka lost their hero. They lost their championship. They lost their identity.
Since that day, the team has struggled. They waited for someone who could bring back their golden days.
The legend of Arata became only a memory.
But legends do not disappear. They return, in different forms, with new strength, and a new story to continue.
A younger brother rises in silence. A hidden talent
The gym of Hikarizaka High buzzed with activity. Balls bounced, sneakers squeaked, and whistles pierced the air. Among the players, one figure drew every eye.
Hayato adjusted his sleeves, eyes calm and calculating. Short in stature compared to the others, he looked unassuming at first—but when he jumped, it was like he could fly. Each spike came down with terrifying speed, landing perfectly every time.
The coach blew the whistle sharply. "Pairs for warm-up drills! Move!"
Hayato launched himself into the air for the next ball. Sneakers squeaked on the polished floor as he twisted mid-air, slamming it down with precise force. His teammates barely had time to react.
One of them muttered, "How… does he jump like that?"
Hayato's expression remained cold. "Focus," he said softly, almost to himself. With every jump, he pushed himself harder, perfection in motion. The gym was his domain.
The gym was silent now. Hayato practiced alone, each jump and spike precise, perfect—but his calm eyes held a shadow no one could see.
His mind drifted back years ago, to a rainy afternoon at Hikarizaka High. He and his older brother had trained together every day. Short in stature, Hayato had struggled to keep up, but his brother had always pushed him forward.
"You'll fly higher than anyone if you try," his brother had said, smiling. "One day, you'll lead this team."
But that day never came. A sudden accident took his brother away, leaving Hayato alone with grief and determination. From that moment, he vowed to perfect his jumps, his spikes, his every move. Cold. Focused. Untouchable.
A ball bounced toward him. Hayato leapt with unbelievable height, twisting in the air, and slammed it down perfectly. Landing silently, he whispered to himself, "I'll never let anyone fall short. Not again."
The gym remained empty, but every jump echoed his brother's memory. Each spike a promise, a tribute, and a reminder: skill mattered more than height, determination more than words.
The gym was alive with the sounds of bouncing volleyballs and sneakers squeaking across the polished floor. Hayato stood at the center, observing his teammates carefully. Today, the coach had decided to introduce the full lineup for the first official practice match.
"Alright everyone," the coach called. "Let's see how our team looks on the court."
Hayato's sharp eyes scanned the court as each player stepped forward:
Sora Nakayama – Setter: Calm and strategic, always calculating the best play
Riku Tanaka – Libero: Quick on his feet, incredible reflexes, a wall on defense
Daichi Fujiwara – Middle Blocker: Tall, reliable, strong at the net
Kaito Sugimoto – Opposite: Powerful spikes, aggressive, loves to intimidate
Shun Moriyama – Outside Hitter: Flexible, agile, good at reading the opponents
Hayato noticed something strange: one spiker position was still empty. His cold eyes narrowed.
"Coach," Hayato asked, walking over, "who's going to fill the remaining spiker spot?"
The coach smiled faintly, eyes twinkling. "Ah… that's a special case. Let's just say a new player is coming from abroad. Someone fast, unpredictable… a wild card. You'll see soon enough."
Hayato tilted his head slightly, intrigued despite himself. He liked challenges, and this new player sounded like someone who could push him.
The team continued practicing, each member showing their skills, but Hayato's mind lingered on the empty spiker position. A spark of anticipation flickered in his cold eyes. Soon, he thought, the court would change forever.
The gym was tense. Hikarizaka High's team faced off in a practice match, ready to test their skills. Hayato's sharp eyes scanned the court, cold and calculating. The first few rallies went smoothly, with their main spiker dominating the plays.
But as the match continued, cracks began to show. The team relied too heavily on that one spiker, ignoring openings and failing to coordinate effectively.
A powerful spike came toward their side. Hayato jumped, flying through the air, and blocked it with precision—but it wasn't enough. The ball hit the floor, and the referee blew the whistle.
The scoreboard told the story: Hikarizaka High had lost.
The team froze. Murmurs spread. "We… we lost? How?"
Hayato landed silently, eyes cold but sharp. He had done his best, yet it wasn't enough.
The coach sighed, calling the team together. "Listen," he said, voice serious. "Relying on one spiker won't carry us. We need balance, speed, unpredictability. That's why I'm bringing someone in—from abroad. Fast, wild, unpredictable. Nicknamed… 'Blaze'."
The team exchanged curious glances. Who was this new player? And why had the coach waited until now?
Hayato's eyes narrowed. A challenge, he thought. Someone fast and unpredictable… maybe this would finally push him.
The airport was buzzing with reporters, cameras flashing, and fans whispering excitedly. Everyone had heard rumors of a new player joining Hikarizaka High—a fast, unpredictable spiker from abroad.
"Yes, we're expecting him any minute!" a reporter said, holding a microphone toward the entrance. "Do you know what makes him so special?"
Another replied, "They say he's incredibly fast, unpredictable… like lightning on the court. His nickname? Blaze."
Inside, security staff prepared the path. Cameras rolled. The crowd pressed forward, trying to catch a glimpse of the mysterious player. Everyone was curious—who was Blaze, and how would he change the team?
Suddenly, the glass doors opened. A figure stepped through, calm but confident, carrying a small bag. The reporters shouted questions, flashes going off like fireworks.
"Blaze! Can you comment on joining Hikarizaka High?"
"Where are you from?"
"Do you think you'll fit into the team?"
Blaze didn't speak immediately. He walked steadily, eyes focused, moving through the crowd as if he barely noticed the chaos. His presence alone demanded attention.
A few fans whispered in awe. "He… he moves like he's flying already."
"Look at his speed! That nickname isn't lying," someone muttered.
The coach, standing nearby, nodded subtly. "He's exactly what we need," he said quietly.
Blaze finally reached the waiting van, turning his eyes briefly toward the airport crowd. The reporters shouted again, but he only gave a small nod, silent, focused, mysterious.
As the van pulled away toward Hikarizaka High, a sense of anticipation filled the air. The team, and especially Hayato, would soon see the wild card in action. A new storm was coming—and it was called Blaze.
The gym doors opened, and a hush fell over the team. Word had spread quickly: the mysterious wild card, Blaze, had arrived at Hikarizaka High.
The coach stood at the side, calm, but there was a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Everyone, meet your new teammate… Blaze," he said.
From the entrance, a figure stepped in. Short, lean, and moving with smooth, confident strides, Blaze carried himself like he owned the court already. Cameras weren't here, but the air was thick with curiosity and tension.
Sora Nakayama, the setter, whispered, "Is… he really that fast?"
Daichi Fujiwara, the middle blocker, crossed his arms, eyeing him critically. "Looks confident. Let's see if he can back it up."
Hayato stood silently, cold as ever, observing. His sharp eyes studied Blaze's movements. Every step, every slight gesture seemed measured, precise.
Blaze's eyes scanned the gym, noting each player, each position. He paused briefly at the empty spiker spot—the one the coach had hinted about—and smirked faintly, almost invisible.
The team felt it: someone new had entered, someone unpredictable. A storm was about to hit Hikarizaka High—and his name, or rather his nickname,
Coach clapped once. "Alright. Blaze, join the court. Let's see how you move."
Blaze nodded lightly and walked to the empty spiker spot — the spot that had been waiting for him. His steps were smooth, almost too quiet.
Sora, the setter, swallowed. "I'll toss a normal one first," he said nervously.
Blaze didn't respond. He simply crouched slightly, preparing to jump.
Sora tossed.
And Blaze vanished for a moment.
He moved so fast that the team barely saw his run-up. His jump was explosive — not just high, but sharp, controlled, like he had full command of the air itself. In an instant, his hand connected with the ball.
BOOM.
The ball slammed the floor before any blocker even reacted.
Daichi blinked. "What… what was that speed?"
Riku muttered, "He teleported… no way that was a normal jump."
Hayato stood silently, eyes narrowed. This was the first time someone else in the gym felt like a threat… or maybe a rival. Blaze's timing, his footwork, the angle of his spike — all of it was chaotic yet precise.
Coach crossed his arms, impressed. "As expected from the wild card."
Blaze landed quietly, barely making a sound. He didn't celebrate. Didn't smile. Just adjusted his wristband and looked at Sora again.
"Next toss," he said softly.
The team froze. His voice was calm, but carried confidence.
Sora tossed again — this time faster, higher.
Blaze leapt even higher than before, twisting mid-air and sending the ball to the far corner, perfectly placed.
BOOM.
Another clean point.
"Unpredictable…" Riku whispered. "He changes angles mid-air."
Hayato stepped forward slightly, eyes locked on Blaze.
A cold stare vs. a blazing aura.
The gym felt like it wasn't big enough for the two of them.
Blaze looked back for a moment — and smirked.
The wild card had officially entered the team
After practice ended, the team gathered in the strategy room. The air was still heavy from what they witnessed in the gym. Blaze sat quietly in the corner, not speaking unless necessary.
Coach placed a clipboard on the table. "Sit. We have things to discuss."
Everyone took their seats. Hayato sat near the back, arms crossed, eyes still analyzing Blaze silently.
Coach pointed at the whiteboard. "Today showed us something important. Our team has potential… but we don't understand each other yet."
Sora, the setter, raised his hand slightly. "Coach… Blaze's speed… how do I time his sets properly?"
Coach nodded. "You'll learn. He's unpredictable, but that's his strength."
Blaze looked up for the first time. His voice was calm. "Just toss it. I'll adjust."
The room paused. His confidence wasn't arrogance — it was certainty.
Daichi leaned forward. "But what about our defense? With two fast attackers, our formation changes."
Coach clicked the marker. "Exactly why we're meeting. With Hayato and Blaze, we can build a dual-attack system. Balance. Speed. Pressure."
Hayato's eyes narrowed slightly. "As long as he keeps up."
Blaze didn't react, only gave a small nod.
The coach continued, "Tomorrow, we begin synchronization training. Everyone needs to learn new rotations. Positions will shift. Roles will change."
Riku whispered, "This is getting serious…"
Coach smiled slightly. "Because now, we finally have all the pieces."
Blaze looked around the room quietly, observing every player.
Hikarizaka High's true journey was about to begin.
The next morning, the gym was silent…
Until Sora screamed.
"WHO ATE MY ENERGY BAR?! I LEFT IT RIGHT HERE!"
Daichi pointed at Riku. "Bro, you always look guilty. Confess."
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" Riku said, panicking.
At that moment, Blaze walked in, holding the empty wrapper calmly.
"I thought it was free," he said.
The entire team froze.
Sora gasped. "YOU?! YOU'RE THE ONE?!"
Blaze blinked innocently. "It was on the table. Tables are for sharing."
Hayato, leaning against the wall, muttered, "Idiot."
Blaze turned to him. "I heard that."
"Good," Hayato replied coldly.
Coach entered the room just in time to see Sora shaking Blaze's shoulders.
"WHY DID YOU EAT MY PROTEIN BAR?!!"
Blaze just shrugged. "I was hungry."
Coach sighed. "This is why I said don't leave food out."
Daichi opened his bag. "At least I still have my snacks."
Everyone stared.
Blaze stared too.
Three seconds later, Daichi was running around the room screaming as Blaze chased him silently like a ninja.
"STOP—STOP—STOP—BRAH I NEED THESE FOR BULKING!" Daichi yelled.
Hayato shook his head. "This team is stupid."
Blaze paused, looked at him, and said, "I'm still eating your snack next."
Hayato froze. "…Try me."
The whole team burst into laughter.
Even Blaze cracked a tiny smile.
For the first time, the tension broke — and Hikarizaka High finally felt like a real team.