Haikyuu : The Unstoppable Force

---

Walking down the long corridor, Akira stepped into a vast, open space filled with the buzz of anticipation and discussion.

Outside the corridor, a large fluorescent display dominated the area, casting a bright glow over the people gathered beneath it.

Groups of players lounged around, resting and waiting for their matches, while some stood in front of the screen, deeply engrossed in conversation.

"Ah, I lost the last qualifying round! How am I supposed to get promoted to Group C now?" groaned an older man, pounding his chest in frustration.

"Stop dreaming," another person nearby teased mercilessly.

"With your level, making it to Group C is like inviting a beating. Don't forget—starting in Group C, you're up against professional-level players!"

"Who cares? Even if I get knocked back to Group D after a couple of matches, at least I'll have played against professionals! That experience is priceless!" the older man retorted with determination.

Their conversation shifted to more high-level topics.

"Did you catch the latest Group S match?"

"Of course! Group S players don't show up often, and their matches are something you can't miss!"

"Yeah! That Wakatoshi Ushijima is unreal. Can you believe he's still in high school?"

"Unbelievable. He doesn't pale in comparison to professional players, though."

Akira listened silently as he approached the display, catching snippets of admiration for Ushijima.

Taking out his phone, he scanned the QR code on the display and followed the on-screen prompts.

"Oh? Is this a matching system?" Akira murmured to himself, intrigued.

The Miyagi Arena used a computerized system to manage its vast roster of players, assigning matches based on skill level and past performance.

Players ranged from E-Class, for beginners, to S-Class, reserved for the best of the best.

The system ensured fair and competitive matchups, eliminating manual errors and long wait times.

---

Meanwhile, Akira's entrance didn't go unnoticed.

"Wait... isn't that the ace from Yugama Middle School?" a young man with a pale complexion muttered, his eyes fixed on Akira.

"What are you staring at, Kento?" A deep voice interrupted him. The speaker was Iwai, a muscular and mature-looking man who seemed to be Kento's older brother.

"I told you before—we're not ready for this kind of place yet. When you're a pro like me, then it'll be time to step onto this stage," iwai added, giving Kento a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

But Kento didn't respond. He was still staring at Akira, his expression a mix of awe and nervousness.

"Kento?" iwa frowned, following his brother's gaze. "Who's that? Do you know him?"

Kento snapped out of his daze, blushing as he stammered, "Uh, sorry, big brother! I spaced out for a moment."

Iwai raised an eyebrow. "You seem to know him. Why don't you go say hi?"

"No, no, no!" Kento waved his hands frantically. "I know him, but there's no way he knows me."

A wry smile crossed his face as he added, "He was my opponent in the junior league. His team—Yugama—won the championship that year. He was their captain."

"Oh? Just a high schooler, then," iwa said with a shrug, clearly unimpressed.

"Kento, I've told you before—this place isn't meant for high schoolers. Even if he's the best among you, this arena will only teach him how it feels to lose."

Kento frowned but didn't argue. He glanced at Akira one last time, a mix of admiration and pity in his eyes.

---

Unaware of the attention, Akira finished registering on the system.

The fluorescent display lit up with his name and assigned him to an E-Class match. His lips curved into a determined smile.

This wasn't about where he started—it was about how far he could go.

As he made his way toward his designated court, the whispers about him began to fade.

The eyes that had watched him with skepticism or curiosity would soon witness firsthand why Akira had no intention of staying at the bottom for long.

😮‍💨

---

"No, it's not!" Kento protested, shaking his head vehemently at his brother. "He's incredibly strong! That match... we only lost because he practically won it single-handedly!"

"Hmph," Iwai chuckled, clearly unconvinced. "Kento, do you have any idea what the strength of a professional player actually looks like?"

"I'm telling you, if any high school student could match professional players, we might as well disband the pro leagues!"

Kento frowned but refused to back down. "Brother, I'm serious! If you had been his opponent, you'd understand. That suffocating pressure, the sheer powerlessness he creates on the court... I still can't forget it."

Iwai's expression hardened. "Kento, you'll never become a strong player with this mindset! What will you do when you face someone even stronger?"

He placed a firm hand on Kento's shoulder. "You can't let fear hold you back. What matters is challenging stronger opponents and using those challenges to improve yourself. Success only comes after you've faced failure time and time again!"

Kento's hesitation was clear, but his brother wasn't about to let it slide.

He sighed heavily, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Fine then. Since you think he's so strong, let's find out for ourselves. How about I challenge him to a match?"

Kento's eyes widened. He thought about the overwhelming pressure Akira had exerted during their middle school match, his nerves wavering.

But when he met his brother's determined gaze, mixed with a silent encouragement, he felt his resolve returning.

"All right... let's do it," Kento finally agreed.

"Now that's more like it!" Iwai grinned. "Let's go!"

---

Akira was studying the rules displayed on the large fluorescent screen when a booming voice called out beside him.

"Excuse me! Are you Akira-san?"

Startled, Akira turned to face the source of the voice. A tall, muscular man with a confident air stood before him. Behind him, a younger man with a familiar face hung back, looking somewhat uneasy.

"Yes, that's me," Akira replied cautiously. "Do we know each other?"

The younger man stiffened at Akira's question, his discomfort clear. The older man, however, stepped forward and gave a polite bow.

"My name is Iwai," he announced. "I'd like to challenge you to a match. Please, let me learn from your skill!"sarcastically added

The area fell silent for a brief moment before the crowd erupted into a frenzy.

"What? Did he just say Iwai?"

"He's a professional player! Why would he challenge someone so young?"

"Does he have a grudge against this kid? Or is he just doing this for fun?"

"Don't forget, Iwai is famous for his love of challenges.

He's even spent time in Group B before dropping back to Group C!"

"That young guy doesn't stand a chance. He looks like a high schooler—probably just an E-Class player at best."

"I hope he knows he can refuse the challenge. A low-level player doesn't have to accept matches from pros, after all. If he doesn't, it'll be brutal..."

The voices swirled around Akira, but he paid them no mind. Instead, he studied Iwai Tai and Kento with interest, a calm smile forming on his face.

"Very well," Akira said confidently. "I accept your challenge."

The crowd gasped.

"Is he crazy?"

"Doesn't he know who he's up against? Iwai is no joke!"

Akira, however, was unfazed. He felt a flicker of excitement coursing through him.

This was his chance to face off against a professional player.

How much stronger would they be? How intense would the match get? He could already feel his blood boiling with anticipation.

As the murmurs of disbelief grew louder, Akira stepped forward, ready to prove himself on the court.

Bonus Chapter - 400 Power Stones