Night had fallen over Miyagi. The gym was empty now, silent except for the soft hum of the lights shutting down one by one. Karasuno's team had already left to eat and celebrate the hard-fought win. But Riku stayed behind.
He sat on the gym bench alone, head tilted back, eyes staring at the ceiling. His muscles ached. His fingers were bruised. His knees burned. And yet… he felt *alive*.
That match had pushed him harder than anything since arriving in this world.
And he had won.
But the system wasn't quiet.
Not tonight.
System Message: New Communication Unlocked
Source: Rob
Do you wish to open the message?
Riku's breath caught. It had been *days* since the strange old man had sent anything—ever since that night at the shrine when he'd been reborn into this world.
"Open it," Riku whispered.
The world seemed to flicker. And then a familiar voice rang in his head, deep and calm, laced with mischief and warning.
"Yo, Riku. Been a while, huh? I see you've made some noise. Blocking a system variant like Kurosawa already? I didn't expect that until chapter fifty."
Riku narrowed his eyes.
Rob chuckled again.
"Good job. But don't get cocky. That was the tutorial boss."
The gym faded slightly. The walls became shadowy, like a dream. A faint glow shimmered around Riku's body.
"Listen closely, kid. The system you've been using? That's just a shell. A mask. The *true* system is alive. It learns. It adapts. And it's not loyal to you."
Riku's jaw tightened. "What do you mean 'alive'?"
"You think Kurosawa woke up on his own? No. The system nudged him. It's testing its users. Pushing them to evolve. You were just the first successful host. But not the only one."
Rob's voice shifted—lower, more serious.
"You're not just playing volleyball anymore. You're in a war of ideologies. Heart versus logic. Passion versus programming. And if you're not careful…"
The shadows behind Riku rippled.
"You'll be *replaced*."
The system buzzed louder now. More frantic.
System Update Pending
Core Fragment Detected: "Foundational Gift – Soul Anchor"
Do you wish to receive it?
Riku frowned. "What's a soul anchor?"
Rob answered.
"Your gift, Riku. Something special I left buried in the system's code. Every great power needs a stable foundation. This will help you forge yours. Stronger body. Sharper mind. A deeper bond between you and your instincts."
A faint orb of golden light appeared before him. It pulsed with a warm, rhythmic energy—like a heartbeat. It hovered in the air, waiting.
Riku reached out.
Touched it.
System Alert: Soul Anchor Accepted
Foundational Strength Increased
New Skill Unlocked: Adaptive Foundation (Lv. 1)
Effect: Your body learns and adapts during battle. The more pressure, the more potential.
For a moment, Riku's body lit up in golden pulses. He gasped—every muscle felt like it had been reborn. His tendons loosened. His legs felt lighter. His vision sharpened.
And his mind…
His mind felt *still*. Clear. No fog. No hesitation.
He stood slowly, curling his fingers into a fist.
"This feels…"
"Stable?" Rob finished. "That's what you were missing. Most people build power on sand. You've got rock now. That's the first step."
Riku looked down at his hands. "So what now?"
"Now?" Rob laughed softly.
"You train. You grow. You build your kingdom on the court, one spike at a time. But keep your eyes open, Riku. The other Variants—they're not sleeping. Some of them are waking up faster than you. And not all of them will fight fair."
Riku stared ahead, silent.
Rob's voice began to fade.
"Oh—and one last thing. That girl you keep sneaking glances at? The one with the clipboard?"
Riku stiffened. "Kiyoko?"
Rob snorted. "Yeah. She's important. Way more than you know. Stay close. Protect her. The system… doesn't like her."
"What?"
But the voice had already faded.
System Message: Communication link terminated
Core Fragment Integration: 35% Complete
Next awakening event: TBD
The gym returned to normal.
Riku stood in the dim light, breathing slowly.
Everything felt more *real* now.
The game.
The system.
His purpose.
And Kiyoko…
He remembered the way she looked at him after the match. Not impressed. Not fawning. Just… watching. Carefully. Thoughtfully.
"Why doesn't the system like her…?" he whispered.
He didn't have the answer.
But he had a feeling he'd find out soon.
The doors creaked open. A soft voice echoed into the gym.
"Still here?"
It was her.
Kiyoko stepped inside, carrying a small towel and a water bottle.
"You forgot this," she said, handing it to him.
Riku took it slowly. "Thanks…"
She hesitated before turning. "That match… you changed something. The way the team moved. The rhythm."
Riku looked at her. "Yeah. We had to. Kurosawa wasn't human anymore."
Kiyoko met his eyes.
"Maybe. But you were."
She walked out before he could answer.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, Riku felt something even the system couldn't explain.
Warmth.