Chapter 2 The Ball That Chose Me.
The ball hit Arata's palms with a satisfying thud.
He had no idea how long he stood in the small room, tossing the worn volleyball up, catching it, letting the weight seep into his bones. Every throw sent his heartbeat racing. Every catch made his hands ache.
He was alive again.And this time, he was here.
In their world.
The world where giants walked the court.The world where Karasuno soared.The world where Hinata's dream had ended on the pages of a manga.But Arata's could now begin.
He bounced the ball once. Twice. His fingers naturally spread, a setter's grip. He pushed it upward, and the ball spun. Steady. Clean. It floated back into his hands with surprising ease.
Hours passed. Sweat dripped down his temple. His shoulders burned. His arms ached. But he could not stop. He did not want to.
For the first time in his life, Arata felt whole.
"Oi."
A voice snapped him out of his trance. He turned to see a woman standing at the door. Sharp-eyed, hands on her hips. His new mother.
"You are still at it? You have been in here since morning. At least drink some water before you collapse."
"Sorry," Arata mumbled, clutching the ball tighter.
She sighed, but her expression softened. "Your father said the town's youth volleyball team is still accepting players. If you have really caught the fever for it, maybe you should try out."
Arata's heart stopped.
A team.A real team.
His chance to begin.
That night, lying on his futon, he stared at the ceiling, adrenaline buzzing through him.
He remembered his last life. Every regret. Every missed chance. Every moment of watching instead of playing. That would not happen again.
This time, he would start at the very bottom and climb.Through middle school.Into Karasuno.To nationals.To the Japanese national team.To the World Cup.
"I will rise," Arata whispered into the dark, clutching the volleyball to his chest. His new heart beat fast, but steady. "I will rise higher than anyone."
And in his mind, he did not see Karasuno bowing out of nationals.He saw himself standing on a world stage.Crowned Ace of Japan.