Correction of the World Line

After finishing their meal at the highly-rated sushi restaurant, Hayato accompanied Kiyoko to a bookstore to buy two review books. They then spent some time at a cat cafe. As the sun gradually set and the evening glow appeared, Hayato's date for the day came to an end.

On the train ride home, Kiyoko, tired from all the day's events, fell asleep leaning against Hayato.

She woke up when they arrived at the station, thanks to Hayato calling her. Realizing she had fallen asleep, Kiyoko quickly rubbed her mouth with the back of her hand, relieved she hadn't drooled.

The two said their goodbyes at Hayato's doorstep. As soon as Kiyoko entered her house, her mother called her over to ask about her date. Kiyoko told her mother everything except for what happened at the lingerie store. Upon hearing that Hayato had taken Kiyoko to the aquarium and they had bought matching couple outfits, her mother nodded in satisfaction.

"So, does this mean you two are officially together now?"

"Not yet. I'm in my third year of high school, so I need to focus on my studies. Plus, Hayato has the volleyball club's tournament to prepare for. We decided to talk about it after everything is over."

Her mother, seeing through Kiyoko's attempt to downplay things, revealed her words without hesitation.

"Saying 'we'll talk about it later' is practically the same as saying you're together now. Honestly, you young people and your complicated ways. But you're right, you are in your third year, and you need to decide on your future path. Oh, but you two need to be careful, alright? It wouldn't be good if you ended up pregnant. It's too early for kids."

"Oh, Mom, what are you talking about? I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to put my things in my room."

With her mother even bringing up children, Kiyoko, unable to bear the embarrassment any longer, quickly interrupted the conversation and ran upstairs with her belongings. Kiyoko's mother watched her daughter leave, shaking her head with a slight smile.

"This child, getting all shy. I wasn't wrong, you know. Young people definitely need to be careful."

Back in her room, Kiyoko placed her things on the floor and then threw herself onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow. Thinking about the bold things they did today, she shyly swung her legs.

Just then, her phone rang. It was a message from Hayato. Kiyoko opened the message and found a picture. It was a selfie Hayato had taken in the mirror, wearing the matching couple outfit.

In the photo, Hayato held his phone in one hand while making a V-sign with the other, his familiar sunny smile on his face. Seeing Hayato smile so happily, Kiyoko's lips curved upwards. She then got up from the bed, found the t-shirt, and took a selfie in front of her full-length mirror, sending it to Hayato.

"Yeah, Kiyoko-senpai looks good in anything."

Hayato's reply came quickly, as always, praising her. Before Kiyoko could respond, she heard her mother calling her downstairs for dinner. After a brief message to Hayato, she went to eat.

As the exam dates approached, the volleyball club had to help the "idiot quartet" with their studies every evening after practice. This left Hayato with no opportunity to go out with Kiyoko. Kiyoko didn't mind, as training camp was the most important thing right now.

After painstaking tutoring, exam day finally arrived. Hayato, sitting in his chair, felt restless. He wasn't worried about himself, but he worried about the others. What if his intervention caused them to score even lower?

With that thought, the worried Hayato finished his last exam. After the teacher collected the papers, he announced the end of class and left. Sitting in his chair, Hayato crossed his arms in front of his face and let out a heavy sigh.

"What's wrong, what's wrong, Hayato? Did you bomb the test?"

Tanaka, freed from his academic torment, sounded relieved as he approached Hayato and patted his back.

"No, it's not that. I'm worried about you guys. What if you fail?"

"Uh, it's already over, so worrying now won't help. Don't think about it. Let's go, it's time for practice. Come on, come on."

Tanaka first comforted Hayato, then pulled him towards the door.

"Tch, how did I end up comforting you? Stop pulling me, wait a minute, I haven't grabbed my bag yet."

Hayato, resigned, was pulled out of the classroom by Tanaka.

Upon arriving at the locker room, most of the team members were already there. They were the "volleyball idiot quartet," after all. Hinata, Kageyama, and Nishinoya had the same expressions as Tanaka just did.

Hinata was even excitedly anticipating the upcoming training camp.

"Training camp! I wonder if there will be any really strong players there. Oh~ I can't wait to go~"

"Idiot, Hinata the idiot. Instead of that, you should practice your serves first. You haven't even mastered the drop shot that Kuroba-senpai just taught you."

The boys' locker room of the Karasuno Volleyball Club was as lively as ever today.

Hitoka-chan also officially joined the volleyball club as a manager today. After receiving their black tracksuits with the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club logo, everyone in the club, except for Tsukishima, turned around and gave a thumbs-up with both hands to the names on their backs, loudly welcoming Hitoka.

"Welcome to the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club."

Hayato, mixed in with the crowd, happily made the same gesture. Hitoka bowed.

"Please take care of me."

After the new manager's induction ceremony, regular training began. Tanaka and Nishinoya chatted while playing.

"With two managers and Hayato joining, our Karasuno is starting to look like a strong team, Ryū."

"You can say that again."

Immediately, the two were scolded by Coach Ukai.

"Focus on your training, kora!"

They immediately fell silent and obediently resumed training.

The next day, the exam results were released, marking the moment that would decide the fate of the four volleyball idiots.

To Hayato's relief, with his help, Ryū, that idiot, managed to break the fifty-point mark, scoring significantly higher than in the original story. If Ryū was okay, then the others should be too.

During club activities, in the locker room, Tanaka and Nishinoya, who had both scored over fifty points, proudly showed off their test papers, declaring it the strength of a senior. Sugawara happily added.

"Well done, you two! You usually hover around the passing line. By the way, Hayato, what did you score?"

"Ah, me? 97."

When Sugawara asked him, Hayato pulled his test paper out of his bag. A score of 97 was the lowest, and he even got full marks in two subjects.

"Whoa, how is your brain wired?"

"Sugawara, that wasn't a compliment at all."

"Sorry, sorry."

Sugawara apologized with one hand as he took off his shirt, then he noticed the test paper in Tsukishima's hand.

"Hey, did Hinata fail English? Wasn't he pretty confident before?"

"I realized at the last minute that I'd filled out the answer sheet one space off."

Tsukishima explained with a weak, exasperated sigh. Asahi, who was pulling his gym clothes out of his bag, overheard.

"No way, Mr. Ono, the English teacher, won't let that kind of mistake slide."

"Hinata, you idiot, didn't I specifically tell you to watch out for this before?"

Hearing those familiar words, Hayato couldn't help but scold him in Kageyama's tone.

"Because the more you say that, the more nervous I get."

Hinata explained with a very wronged expression. Daichi, meanwhile, was holding Kageyama's test paper.

"Kageyama's is for Modern Japanese."

"There were a lot of reading comprehension questions this time; before, it was all focused on memorization."

Ennoshita also sounded a bit frustrated. Asahi leaned in and saw Kageyama's test paper.

"He got a perfect score on the kanji. That's amazing."

"Kageyama, are you an idiot too?"

Hayato slapped his own forehead, speechless. He had reminded these two already, so why did they make the same mistake? Was this the correction of the worldline, kora?

"Ah, but Hayato, you sounded just like Kageyama when you were scolding just now."

"Did I?"

Hayato cupped his hands against his cheeks, styling his hair like Kageyama's.

"Idiot, Hinata's an idiot."

"Haha, you really do."

After the joking around, Hayato walked over to them and clapped each on the shoulder.

"Don't get discouraged, you two. There's always the next training camp."

But the two of them acted as if they hadn't heard him.

"How do we get to Tokyo? Do we run there?"

"We'll definitely ride our bikes."

Sugawara broke out in a cold sweat watching the two spirited boys.

"You two are absolutely determined to go, aren't you."

Just then, the savior Tanaka chimed in at the opportune moment, saying his sister could tutor the two of them for Tokyo. The two immediately expressed their immense gratitude to Tanaka.