Tactical Review of the Strategy Group and the Avengers of the Predecessors

In a disused classroom in the corner of the gym, the air was thick with the smell of chalk dust and old wood.

It had been temporarily commandeered as a strategy room. A dim, incandescent bulb hung overhead, casting long shadows. Except for Lu Ren, who stood before a mottled blackboard, everyone else was squeezed onto a few long benches, like a group of guild members waiting for their mission briefing.

"Let's begin," Sawamura Daichi said, sitting at the front with his arms crossed, his expression serious.

Lu Ren held half a stick of chalk, feeling less like a Volleyball Club rookie and more like a dean forced to give a self-criticism speech. He glanced at Kiyosawa Mashiba, sitting in the corner, who was enthusiastically flipping through her densely-written notebook and gestured to him, "The stage is yours."

"Ahem." Lu Ren cleared his throat, turned, and wrote a name on the blackboard. The handwriting was messy, exuding impatience.

Oikawa Tōru.

"First, this guy," Lu Ren tapped the name heavily with his chalk. "Aoba Johsai's captain, their Set. I hate to admit it, but this guy is a true 'version child'."

Hinata Shoyo, sitting below, tilted his head. "Version... child?"

"Meaning, the strongest Set at this stage," Lu Ren explained irritably, glancing sideways at Kageyama Tobio beside him. "Unlike our 'dictator King' over here who only uses brute force to power through, that Oikawa Tōru is a top-tier support who can Buff the entire team."

Kageyama Tobio's brow instantly furrowed into a tight knot, but he didn't retort. He just stared fixedly at the name on the blackboard.

"I matched up against him for about twenty minutes," Lu Ren recalled the feeling, unconsciously rubbing chalk dust between his fingertips. "His Sets are 'soft.' Not soft from lack of power, but like he's feeding the ball directly into the spiker's mouth. No matter how bad the receive, as soon as the ball gets to him, by the time he Sets it, the spiker feels like they can do anything."

"Being able to make spikers perform at 100% or even 120% of their ability, that's Oikawa Tōru's core mechanic."

Lu Ren paused here, turned his head, and looked Kageyama up and down with the disdainful gaze one might reserve for a "defective product."

"That's the difference, Kageyama. He treats his teammates like teammates, while you treat yours like launchpads."

"Shut up!" Kageyama finally couldn't hold back, veins bulging on his forehead, gritting his teeth. "Senior Oikawa... he was my Senior in middle school. My Serve and Block, I learned them from him."

Lu Ren raised an eyebrow. "Oh? He's your master?"

"Not my master," Kageyama denied crisply, but a rare hint of apprehension flickered in his eyes. "He's... a wall I've always wanted to surpass, but have never beaten. His Serve is stronger than mine is now, and his control is even more terrifying."

Silence fell over the room.

For the arrogant "King" Kageyama to admit inferiority, Oikawa Tōru's value instantly soared in everyone's minds. Tanaka Ryūnosuke swallowed hard, feeling the previously light atmosphere suddenly turn heavy.

Lu Ren shrugged, turned, and wrote the second name next to "Oikawa Tōru."

Iwaizumi Hajime.

"Next is this guy, Aoba Johsai's Wing Spiker, and also the Vice-Captain," Lu Ren drew a circle. "If Oikawa Tōru is the brain, then this guy is the hardest Shield and the sharpest spear."

"I've watched his receive form; his stance is incredibly stable, and his Prediction is precise. And his Spike..." Lu Ren recalled that powerful, straight-line spike. "It's heavy. Not the flashy, technical kind, but pure power dominance. He feels a bit like Senior Daichi, but with stronger offense."

"In a sense, he exists specifically to correct Oikawa Tōru," Lu Ren added. "Oikawa Tōru sometimes pushes things too far in pursuit of the extreme, and that's when Iwaizumi Hajime comes in to cover. That kind of chemistry can't be built just through training."

"Ah, that," Kageyama suddenly spoke, his tone as nonchalant as if commenting on the weather. "Senior Iwaizumi and Senior Oikawa grew up together since they were kids. They've played together longer than I've played volleyball."

Lu Ren's hand holding the chalk froze.

Childhood friends? That kind of "bond bonus" setting was the hardest to deal with. It meant these two could execute complex tactical plays on the court even without speaking.

"Alright, bond locked," Lu Ren sighed and continued to write the third name.

Kindaichi Yutaro.

Beside it, he drew a very vivid sketch of a hairstyle resembling chives.

"Pfft—" Hinata and Tanaka couldn't help but let out stifled giggles.

"Don't laugh, this is a serious tactical analysis," Lu Ren tapped the blackboard. "This First Year Vice-Attacker's defining feature is this unforgettable chive-like hair... or rather, scallion-like hairstyle. He's got good height and a long reach."

"My assessment: a low-spec version of Senior Tanaka."

Tanaka Ryūnosuke blinked, then erupted in joy. "Haha! Low-spec! That means I'm the high-spec version, right? Lu Ren, you really have a good eye!"