Haikyuu: Rise of Sengoku

Akashi Kana hadn't started her vacation yet, she was just taking advantage of the weekend to help her brother, Akashi Asuka, pack his things.

Since Asuka was entering the same high school as Kana, the plan was for him to move in with her for the upcoming year.

Spring break wasn't like summer break, only a little over two weeks long.

With their parents working during the day, no one could really watch over Asuka at home. So they decided it would be better for him to move in with Kana early, and it would also give him a chance to get familiar with the high school environment.

"I didn't expect you'd actually lead the team to the nationals!" Kana said, leaning casually against the doorframe with a chip bag in one hand. She watched Asuka folding clothes, looking at him with new eyes, as if seeing her brother in a whole new light.

She'd heard a little about it from their parents during the summer, but hadn't really paid much attention then.

After all, she knew there was a big difference between having the potential to reach nationals and actually making it there.

To put it simply: every year, at least four or five high school volleyball teams in Miyagi prefecture have the potential to qualify for nationals, but there's only one spot available to actually advance.

So when Kana finally heard from their parents that her brother really did lead his team to nationals, she could hardly believe it.

You have to understand: whether in middle or high school, Kana herself had never even come close to reaching the national level in any club activity.

"It's not too hard, actually." Asuka said without looking up as he continued folding. "This year, there weren't many strong schools in the prefecture. The only real threat had some internal issues during the competition. Otherwise, it would've been tougher to qualify."

Kana blinked in confusion. "Wait, what? That sounds like nonsense."

Her fists clenched tightly.

If this had been two years ago, she would have probably punched her brother right in the forehead.

But now, thinking about the muscles she'd unexpectedly noticed on him during summer, Kana reluctantly dropped the idea.

Beating up your brother is better done sooner rather than later, any later, and you might not stand a chance.

"Oh, by the way, Asuka, why did you choose our school? With your volleyball skills, you should've qualified for a special recruit from Shiratorizawa, right?"

"Yeah, they did approach me, but I turned them down."

"Why?"

"The scholarship they offered wasn't as good as this one."

Kana raised her eyebrows. "Scholarships? Are there still scholarships for special club recruits?"

Asuka put down the clothes and looked back at her, a bit exasperated. "No, it's not a club scholarship, it's a merit scholarship based on academic performance."

Kana still looked puzzled. "If I remember right, our school only gives scholarships to students who rank in the top 100 on the entrance exam, right? You're not telling me you scored that high?"

"No way. Absolutely not."

Before Asuka finished, Kana started laughing and waving her hands. "No way, our family doesn't have those 'academic genius' genes, okay?"

Asuka smiled faintly. "You really are my biological sister. But I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. I did pretty well on the exam, I ranked 29th in the whole prefecture. Because of that, the school waived my tuition and gave me a pretty good scholarship."

Though Asuka was great at volleyball, he hadn't based his high school choice solely on that.

Who knows what might happen in the future?

Maybe someday, something unexpected would happen that would stop him from playing volleyball.

It wasn't impossible.

After all, the "Competition System" protected him during normal training, but if he got injured or sick from something outside training, the system couldn't help.

So even with the system, Asuka had no intention of giving up academics.

On the contrary.

He planned to aim for the University of Tokyo as his first choice for college.

That meant he couldn't go to a lousy high school.

And the higher scholarship was just a simple practical matter, to help cover food expenses.

Since his Strength attribute broke 80, Asuka noticed his body demanding more energy during training. If he ate the same old rice and veggies like before, even seven or eight bowls wouldn't be enough, and he wouldn't recover well the next day.

So lately, Asuka spent all his pocket money buying high-energy beef.

It was a significant expense.

He didn't want to bother his birth parents for money, considering beef prices and his appetite, that would be a heavy financial burden for them.

So he'd been thinking about ways to earn money.

Luckily, the scholarship he got eased his financial worries for now.

Honestly?

If he hadn't experienced it himself, Asuka never would have thought that a modern-day transmigrant like himself would one day struggle just to afford food.

If anyone else heard that, it'd be embarrassing for a transmigrant.

Kana had no idea how many thoughts had just flashed through Asuka's mind, because at that moment, she was frozen like a statue.

All she could think was: "29th in the entire prefecture? No way. I've never even ranked 29th in my grade all these years."

"By rights, our family shouldn't have these genes! Could it be that when we were kids, Mom and Dad accidentally swapped me with another kid?"

"No, that can't be it. After all, Asuka looks so much like me, anyone can see we're siblings."

"So that means we do have 'genius' genes. But why have I never shown any sign of it? Could it be… I'm just too useless?"

"No, no, no, impossible, absolutely impossible…"

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