The word "ace" was spoken, and the atmosphere immediately grew tense.
Before Kageyama could respond, Hinata slapped Jin on the shoulder, frowning.
"No way! I'm the ace. I'm the main attacker. A newcomer can't just take that!"
Even if his team was just a makeshift group, Hinata clung tightly to the position of ace.
Jin could only sigh at Hinata's stubbornness. His real target had clearly been Kageyama just now.
"The so-called ace is the one who scores the most points. It has nothing to do with position. And between us, Hinata, I'm more suited to be the ace. Just look at these muscles, see?" Jin flexed seriously.
Kageyama glanced at them with cold disdain. "What are you even here for? To make memories? It's normal for people like you to be looked down on."
Hinata bristled, ready to argue, but Jin stopped him. "The King really is arrogant. I'm here to win. To beat you, then the next team, and the next… beat everyone, and then…"
"Then what?" Kageyama's tone sharpened, instinctively offended at someone declaring they would beat him.
Hinata, stirred up by Jin's words, also looked at him eagerly.
"And then, of course, to look super cool doing it, maybe even catch the attention of the managers. The team managers in the future are all really cute, and there's that other girl, and the senpasi from the girls' volleyball team, and-"
Hinata's face went red. "Jin! What are you even talking about? We're middle schoolers, you can't think like that!"
Kageyama clicked his tongue. "Tch. Frivolous idiots like you could never win. On the court, I'll personally crush your dreams." With that, he turned and walked away.
Even though Jin's sudden appearance left the Yukigaoka team confused, having a tall new teammate gave them unexpected confidence.
Hinata tugged Jin along eagerly. "Jin, we've never even practiced together. How are you going to work with everyone? Tell us so we'll be ready."
Jin only smiled and tossed the ball in his hand. As it fell, he swung his right arm upward and cleanly set it high into the air.
"It's simple. Just hold the ball up."
The others stared in astonishment. Even if they weren't experts, they knew a spiker needed a proper toss, but Jin hadn't demanded anything special at all.
The whistle blew. Both teams lined up neatly on the court.
"Hey, look at them. Yukigaoka's players are all tiny. This'll be an easy win," Kunimi muttered lazily.
Kindaichi nodded. "Yeah, no need to go all out."
Kageyama scowled. "Focus. No matter the opponent, never underestimate them."
After the toss, Kitagawa Daiichi served first.
Jin had switched into the back row, ready to receive.
He knew everything about this match. Normally, Yukigaoka had no chance against Kitagawa Daiichi, especially with Kageyama there. But his arrival meant he could change everything.
Kunimi sent a serve spinning toward the back corner. To Jin, it was nothing.
He bent his knees, raised his arms, and cleanly passed the ball into the setter's position without error.
Of course, Yukigaoka didn't have a real setter, just a basketball player filling in temporarily.
Kageyama's eyes narrowed from the front row. Back in the restroom, he had thought Jin was just a big talker. But from that single reception, he could already see the guy's fundamentals were solid.
Maybe Yukigaoka's "ace" really was legit.
"Give me the ball!" Hinata shouted.
It was his first time standing on a real court, his first chance to spike under the gaze of so many people. He could barely contain his excitement.
Kageyama dismissed Jin, he was still in the back row, and moved with Kindaichi to block Hinata.
Hinata jumped high. His thin frame moved with surprising lightness, soaring to a height that shocked even Kageyama.
"This guy's jump is incredible! But…" Kageyama glanced toward Yukigaoka's makeshift setter.
The boy panicked. His toss came off his fingertips wrong, spinning awkwardly and drifting straight for the net.
"Sorry!" he blurted, realizing he had made a mistake.
Kageyama relaxed, certain the play was dead. But in the next instant.
A blur shot forward from the back row.
"What apology? Didn't I say it already, just hold the ball up."
*Boom!*
Jin met the ball midair with a full swing. The spike slammed into Kitagawa's court before anyone could react.
The whistle shrilled. The ball was in.
Kageyama's eyes went wide. "Impossible! From the back row, at that speed… even after a bad toss!?"
Hinata's face lit up. He jumped in front of Jin with sparkling eyes. "Jin! That was amazing! With a bang! You startled even me!"
Jin only smirked and pointed at Kageyama, curling his finger in a provocative beckon.