Haikyuu: Reborn in Karasuno

The gymnasium was aglow with lights, casting a stark contrast to the darkness outside. Tonight marked the final practice match, and the two teams facing off were Seikawa and Nekoma High School.

In the midst of the match, Hinata stood by the sidelines, reflecting on his previous game.

"In the last set, the opponent managed to catch up with my Freak Quick during the latter half. If it weren't for Haiba, I would've had my attack blocked," he muttered, thinking about how Date Tech and Aoba Johsai had managed to shut down his moves before. "I guess the Freak Quick can't always be relied upon against strong opponents."

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke his reverie. "Yaku, nice receive!"

Hinata turned to find Inuoka from Nekoma, who had been a formidable presence during their last encounter. He noticed that, for some reason, Inuoka wasn't playing tonight.

"Huh? Inuoka isn't playing?" Hinata asked aloud, puzzled.

Back when Karasuno had played against Nekoma, Inuoka's performance had been remarkable, especially in blocking Hinata's Quick. Now, it felt strange to see him sitting out.

Then Hinata's gaze shifted to the court where a gray-haired boy had just spiked the ball, sending it soaring for a point.

"So cool, who is he?" Hinata wondered aloud.

"Haiba Lev," came a voice from above, as Hayato rested his arm on Hinata's head. "He's over 194 cm tall! Pretty impressive, right?"

Hinata looked up at the taller Hayato and blinked. "Wait, he's taller than you?"

Hayato chuckled, "Yeah, he's got that height advantage. Honestly, though, he's a powerhouse."

The two of them watched as Haiba Lev continued to dominate the court, and Hinata couldn't help but feel a little envious.

"Darn it, I wish I could share some of his height," Hinata muttered, genuinely impressed.

As the practice match came to an end, Kuroo, Nekoma's captain, yelled, "Good work, everyone!" signaling the conclusion of the day's drills.

After dinner, Hinata found himself talking to Inuoka and Kenma, Nekoma's setter. They chatted casually, and it was during this conversation that Hinata learned more about Haiba.

"Haiba Lev's setting and serving are pretty bad, though," Kenma said, commenting on his strengths and weaknesses. "Worse than yours, Hinata."

Hinata, always eager for improvement, pouted. "What, am I your standard for 'terrible'?"

Kenma smirked. "Well, your technique could use some work, but your energy is good. Hayato, though, his serve? I couldn't even receive it. It hurt like crazy when it hit my arm."

Hinata puffed up with pride. "He's amazing, right? My senior's the best!"

Over time, Hinata had come to see Hayato as his idol. Not only was he tall and skilled, but he also generously shared his knowledge with Hinata.

"Haiba and Kuroo. What a coincidence!" Inuoka remarked, drawing attention to the name connection.

Kenma nodded, adding, "Coach Ukayama also mentioned it. Crows have black feathers, right? Haiba fits the team perfectly."

At that moment, Yaku walked in and saw the group chatting, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "Look at Kenma, chatting with someone... I never thought I'd see the day."

Hinata was about to leave when he had another encounter, this time at the restroom door. There, standing tall, was Haiba Lev.

"Hey, Karasuno's number 10," Haiba greeted with a slight smile.

"Japanese?" Hinata asked hesitantly, not knowing how to greet Haiba in Russian.

"Oh, I don't speak much Russian. I grew up here," Haiba explained, a bit awkwardly. "So, Hayato's the guy you've been talking about? He's your Ace, right?"

Hinata scratched his head, a little unsure of how to respond. "Actually, Hayato's not our Ace yet. He's only a second-year, just joined. Our Ace is Azumane."

Haiba looked at him, a bit surprised. "Oh. The one with the beard? Hm... Well, he's good, but he doesn't seem like an Ace. He lacks that... I dunno... dominance."

Hinata stared at Haiba. "What do you mean?"

Haiba shrugged. "Compared to Hayato, Azumane doesn't show that absolute confidence. It's not as strong as Hayato's obsession with the game."

Hinata couldn't help but inwardly agree with Haiba's assessment. But just as he was about to argue, Haiba added, "But Azumane is still really strong. I'm not saying he's bad."

"True," Hinata mumbled, before Haiba suddenly commented.

"You're shorter than I thought."

Hinata bristled. "What? What do you mean, you jerk?!"

Haiba laughed, raising his hands in defense. "Sorry! I didn't mean it that way. But I've seen you jump. You've got some serious air. Though, I can jump higher."

At this challenge, Hinata leaped up on the spot, but his head slammed into the doorframe, and he dropped back down, clutching his head in pain.

"Ow! Damn you, Haiba!"

Haiba chuckled, clearly entertained. "I'll beat your Quick tomorrow. I'm Nekoma's Ace, after all."

Hinata looked up, competitive fire burning in his eyes. "We'll see about that."

Haiba grinned. "Well, I'm off now. Let's see who's better on the court tomorrow. Bring it on, little guy."

As Haiba walked away, Hinata couldn't help but smile to himself. "The Ace… huh?" he muttered, gazing at his hands. He knew he had a long way to go, but he also knew tomorrow would be another chance to prove himself.

The next day, after a full night of rest and recovery, Karasuno's players warmed up in preparation for their match. Coach Ukai had already noticed the change in Karasuno's dynamic, thanks to Hayato's leadership.

"You see that new guy? His technique is already at Ace level," the Nekoma manager commented, eyeing Hayato as he warmed up. "His mentality and skills have elevated Karasuno. This year's Spring High is going to be very interesting."

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POWER STONE!!!

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