Zero Cooldown for Thick Skin, Incorrect Output Technique, and the Self-Cultivation of a Support

Chapter 10: A Face Without Cooldown, Incorrect Output Technique, and the Self-Cultivation of Support

In the corner of the gymnasium, the air was thick with tension.

Lu Ren sat cross-legged at the edge of the floor, his face turned towards the wall, his back to the others who were packing up equipment. He looked like a Luohan meditating against the wall, if you ignored the slight tremor in his shoulders.

[System Status: Social Death (Duration: Permanent). Recommended Action: Delete Character and Re-roll.]

"Here."

A bottle of iced cola was placed against his cheek.

The cold jolted Lu Ren, and he turned his head to see Kiyosawa Mashiba squatting beside him, holding another bottle of oolong tea. The girl's ponytail swayed gently with her movements, her eyes holding a mixture of amusement and… well, entirely amusement.

"What? Shy?" Mashiba unscrewed the bottle cap, the bubbles hissing. "That scream just now scared the crows right out of the trees outside."

"I'm not shy," Lu Ren said, taking the cola, stubbornly refusing to admit defeat. "It's a tactical cooldown. My ultimate skill overloaded, the CPU got a bit hot, and facing the wall helps it cool down faster."

"Yes, yes, cooling down," Mashiba couldn't help but chuckle. "So, how are you feeling now? Does your leg still hurt?"

"Physical pain is temporary, but mental trauma is eternal," Lu Ren took a swig of cola, the burst of carbonation slightly easing his embarrassment. "I feel like they're all looking at me differently now. Especially that cross-eyed guy."

As if on cue, a tall figure walked by.

Tsukishima Kei, holding a mop, adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting the light. "If it doesn't hurt anymore, could the 'God of Volleyball' please move? I need to mop the floor. After all, mortals have to do the cleaning."

Lu Ren: "..."

He frantically searched his mind for the "Mute" button.

"Don't mind him," Mashiba patted Lu Ren's shoulder and lowered her voice. "Everyone will only laugh about it for a few days. Once you really master that serve and become super strong, no one will remember today."

"Really?" Lu Ren's eyes lit up.

"Of course."

"No," Tsukishima Kei stopped, a wicked curve forming on his lips. "If you do become strong later, looking back at today's 'Seal Roll' will only make it funnier. It's called the HD Remastered version of your dark history."

Critical hit.

True damage.

Lu Ren felt an arrow pierce his chest.

"Waaaaah-- I can't live anymore!" Lu Ren wailed, burying his head in Mashiba's shoulder and convulsing violently. "This game experience is terrible! I want to leave the server! I want to report this NPC for cheating and abusing players!"

Mashiba's body stiffened.

The boy's hair tickled the hollow of her neck.

All eyes instantly focused on them. Tanaka Ryūnosuke whistled, Sugawara Kōshi gave a doting smile, and even Sawamura Daichi coughed awkwardly.

"Lu Ren..." A "well" symbol appeared on Mashiba's forehead.

"Wuwuwu..."

"That's enough now," Mashiba's shoulder gave a sharp shake, her tone shifting from gentle to cold. "I've already comforted you. If you keep acting, I'll start charging an appearance fee."

The next second.

Lu Ren suddenly lifted his head. There were no tears on his face; his expression was as calm as an old monk who had just finished his morning chants.

"Okay," Lu Ren straightened his collar. "Since the comforting procedure is complete, I should log off now."

He stood up and tentatively moved his right leg.

The soreness was still there, but the stiffness of locked muscles had subsided considerably.

"Huh?" Lu Ren took a couple of steps and realized that as long as he kept moving, the pain actually lessened. "It seems this Debuff is dynamically determined. As long as I don't stop, the pain sensation can't catch up to me."

Mashiba shook her head helplessly and got up to go to the other side. "I'll help Kiyomi-senpai put away the net. Wait for me at the entrance."

"Roger that, Sir."

Ten minutes later, the setting sun painted the sky crimson.

On the grounds of Karasuno High School, most club activities had concluded. Only the occasional sound of baseball hits and the practice pieces from the distant wind ensemble club could be heard.

Lu Ren, carrying his backpack and holding the half-finished cola, walked side-by-side with Mashiba down the sloping path.

As they passed the side entrance of the Second Gymnasium, a series of rapid hitting sounds and roars caught their attention.

"Too slow! Hinata! I told you to be faster!"

"Sorry!"

Lu Ren stopped and looked inside through the wire mesh.

On the empty court, only two figures could be seen.

Kageyama Tobio stood at the net, holding a volleyball, his face a mask of frustrated anger. Opposite him, Hinata Shoyo was bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his face.

"Again!" Kageyama roared.

Hinata immediately got into position, his eyes determined. "Oh!"

The ball was tossed.

Kageyama jumped, and the instant his fingers touched the ball, his wrist flicked with extreme agility. The volleyball shot towards the other side of the net like a precision-guided missile, at an incredible speed.

Hinata Shoyo desperately sprinted, jumped, and swung his arm.

"Hah—"

His palm swung through empty air.

The ball had already zipped past above his fingertips before he could swing, smashing down firmly within the lines.

"Still too slow!" Kageyama landed, his brow furrowed. "You need to spike it the moment it reaches its apex! Don't waste my sets!"