The morning sun hit the pavement of Tokyo, reflecting off the glass windows of Nekoma High.
Ryuu Gojou walked through the school gates, wearing his uniform with the top two buttons undone and his signature sporty sunglasses perched on his nose. He felt cool. He felt mysterious. He felt like the strongest sorcerer in existence.
He took three steps, tripped on a loose paving stone because the tint was too dark, and almost face-planted into a vending machine.
Ryuu caught himself with cat-like reflexes, posing against the machine as if he meant to do it. He looked around. No one saw. Good.
He took off the sunglasses and stared at them.
'Okay, let's be real here,' Ryuu thought, frowning at the black plastic frames. 'I just wanted to copy Gojo because he looks cool. But wearing these at 7 AM makes me look less like a powerful anime character and more like a blind jazz musician.'
He sighed, folding the glasses and stuffing them into his pocket.
'Plus,' he glanced upward, staring at the empty sky. 'It might be cringe for the readers. Can't have the audience thinking I'm a try-hard chuunibyou. I'm a high-spec chuunibyou. There's a difference.'
Without the glasses, his face was fully exposed. His golden, dragon-like eyes seemed to glow in the sunlight, contrasting sharply with his messy crimson hair.
"Whoa! Ryuu!"
A loud voice boomed from behind him. Ryuu turned to see a grey streak approaching. It was Lev Haiba, looking like a baby giraffe learning to walk.
"Good morning!" Lev shouted, practically vibrating with energy. "Did you see me yesterday? I almost touched the net when I jumped! Almost!"
Ryuu blinked, his golden eyes scanning Lev's lanky frame. "Lev, you're 190 centimeters tall. If you can't touch the net, that's not a jump issue. That's a coordination issue. Your limbs are confused about who's in charge."
Lev laughed, completely missing the insult. "You're so funny, Ryuu! Hey, are you excited for the Golden Week camp? I heard we're going to the mountains! Is there snow? Are there bears?"
"It's May, Lev. There's no snow. But if there are bears," Ryuu cracked his knuckles, grinning, "I'll assert dominance. I'll make the bear our mascot."
_________________
Here is the insertion for the beginning of Chapter 3, covering the classroom introduction before the Golden Week trip.
Chapter 3: The Protagonist Seat and the Golden Week
The morning sun hit the pavement of Tokyo, reflecting off the glass windows of Nekoma High.
Ryuu Gojou stood outside the sliding door of Class 1-3. He could hear the homeroom teacher, a tired-looking man named Sensei Tanaka (no relation to the bald guy), droning on about upcoming exams.
Ryuu adjusted his collar. This was it. The staple of every high school anime. The Transfer Student Introduction.
'Okay, Ryuu,' he coached himself. 'Don't be weird. Be cool. Be mysterious. But also approachable so you can copy homework later.'
"Come in," the teacher called out.
Ryuu slid the door open. SLAM.
Okay, maybe a little too hard. The track rattled aggressively.
He stepped into the room. He wasn't wearing his sunglasses—school rules, unfortunately—so his golden eyes were on full display, contrasting sharply against his messy, vibrant crimson hair. At 190cm, he didn't just walk in; he invaded the room's atmosphere.
The class went silent. Then, the whispers started.
"Who is that?"
"He's huge!"
"Is he a model? Look at that hair."
"Is he a delinquent? He looks like he fights bears."
Ryuu walked to the chalkboard. He picked up a piece of chalk. He wrote his name in massive, aggressive kanji that took up half the board.
GOJOU RYUU.
He turned around, rested one hand on his hip, and flashed a grin that he had practiced in the mirror for ten minutes that morning.
"Yo," Ryuu said, his voice deep and smooth. "I'm Gojou Ryuu. I just transferred here. I like volleyball, sweet things, and winning. I dislike losing and waking up early."
He scanned the room. The girls were blushing. The guys were looking at him with a mix of jealousy and fear.
'Perfect,' Ryuu thought. 'I have established dominance.'
"You can sit..." The teacher looked around, searching for an empty desk.
Ryuu's eyes locked onto the back row. Specifically, the seat next to the window.
The Protagonist Seat.
It was empty. Of course it was. It was destiny.
"I'll sit there," Ryuu announced before the teacher could speak. He walked down the aisle, ignoring the stares.
As he passed a desk, he saw a familiar head of silver hair. Lev Haiba was sitting there, looking like he was trying to fold his long legs under the small desk like an origami crane.
"Psst," Lev whispered loudly. "Ryuu! We're in the same class! That's so cool!"
Ryuu paused. "Lev? Why are you in the smart class?"
"I'm not!" Lev grinned. "This is the regular class! You're in the regular class too!"
Ryuu's smile twitched. 'Right. My grades were... average.'
He sat down in the window seat. He looked out at the school courtyard. He propped his chin on his hand.
'This is it,' Ryuu thought. 'The view. The breeze. Now I just need a childhood friend to run in with toast in her mouth and the anime tropes will be complete.'
_____________________
Two Days Later
Class was boring. Incredibly, mind-numbingly boring.
Ryuu stared at the math teacher. The man was writing an equation on the board.
Ryuu activated his Emperor's Eyes.
Usually, he used this for tracking 120km/h serves or analyzing block formations. Right now, he was using it to track the trajectory of a fly buzzing around the teacher's head.
'Target lock,' Ryuu thought. 'Speed: 2.3 meters per second. Trajectory: Erratic. Probability of landing on Sensei's bald spot: 85%.'
The fly landed.
Ryuu smirked. 'Bullseye.'
"Gojou!" The teacher barked, turning around. "You're smiling. You must know the answer to this problem."
Ryuu didn't even blink. He looked at the board. He hadn't been listening for forty minutes. He didn't know what the variable $X$ was. He didn't care about $X$.
But he saw the teacher's notebook lying open on the desk. From this distance, it was just a blur to normal people. But with his enhanced vision?
"The answer is 42," Ryuu said lazily.
The teacher paused. He looked at his notes. He looked back at Ryuu.
"...Correct," the teacher muttered, looking defeated. "But show your work next time."
"My work is in my head, Sensei," Ryuu tapped his temple. "It's too advanced for paper."
The bell rang. Finally.
"Golden Week!" Lev shouted, jumping up and knocking his chair over. "Ryuu! It's time for the training camp!"
Ryuu stood up, stretching his arms until his back cracked. He looked at the window one last time.
"Goodbye, Protagonist Seat," Ryuu whispered. "I'll be back after I conquer a few prefectures."
________________
The bus ride to the Golden Week training camp was an exercise in patience for the rest of the Nekoma team.
Ryuu had claimed the seat next to Kenma. Kenma, who cherished his personal space like a holy relic, looked like he was contemplating jumping out the window.
"Hey, Kenma. Kenma-senpai. Kenma-chan," Ryuu poked the setter's shoulder.
"Stop," Kenma whispered, his eyes glued to his PSP. "I'm fighting a boss."
"Is that Monster Hunter?" Ryuu leaned over, resting his chin on Kenma's shoulder. "You're using the wrong sword. You need lightning element for this wyvern. Don't you know the meta?"
Kenma's eye twitched. "I'm doing a raw damage build. Go away."
"Boring," Ryuu groaned, slumping back in his seat. "Wake me up when we get to the boonies. I need to conserve my energy for crushing the hopes and dreams of country bumpkins."
From the seat behind them, Kuroo leaned forward. "Gojou. Behave. We're guests at Shinzen High. And Karasuno is coming too. Don't start a war before we even get on the court."
Ryuu adjusted an imaginary pair of sunglasses on his face before remembering he wasn't wearing them. "Captain, I am a pacifist. I only start wars I can win in five minutes."
"That's not what pacifist means," Yaku pointed out from across the aisle.
They arrived at the training center in Saitama. It was a sprawling complex surrounded by trees. The air was fresh, and the sound of cicadas was already starting.
Ryuu stepped off the bus, stretching his long arms. He was wearing his red Nekoma tracksuit, unzipped to show a black t-shirt underneath.
"Ah, nature," Ryuu declared loudly. "The perfect place for a murder mystery. Or a volleyball training camp. Usually the same thing."
"Move it, Ryuu," Yamamoto shoved him gently from behind. "We have to unload the bags."
As they hauled the equipment toward the gym, Ryuu spotted them.
A beat-up bus had just parked nearby. A group of students in black tracksuits were stumbling out. They looked exhausted, disoriented, and slightly terrified.
'Karasuno,' Ryuu thought, a genuine smile spreading across his face. ' The protagonists have arrived.'
He recognized them immediately. There was Daichi, the sturdy dad-captain. Sugawara, the mom-setter. Asahi, the Jesus-looking ace who looked like he was afraid of the wind.
And then, the duo.
Kageyama Tobio, looking angry at the world. And Hinata Shouyou, a ball of orange energy bouncing around.
Ryuu decided it was time for introductions.
He handed his bag to a confused Lev ("Hold this, apprentice") and strolled over toward the Karasuno group.
Tanaka and Nishinoya were currently in the middle of their "City Boy Intimidation" routine. Tanaka was making a scary face, and Nishinoya was strutting around with his chest puffed out.
"Ooh? What's this?" Tanaka shouted, spotting the Nekoma players. "City boys! Look at them, Noya! They look like they don't even know what dirt is!"
"Scary!" Noya agreed, though he looked excited.
Ryuu walked right up to Tanaka.
Tanaka froze. He had to look up. Way up.
Ryuu loomed over the shaved-head spiker. He tilted his head, his golden eyes locking onto Tanaka's aggressive stare. The height difference was comical.
"Oho?" Ryuu said, mimicking Tanaka's tone but adding a layer of theatrical flair. "Are you the famous guardians of the Miyagi cornfields?"
Tanaka bristled. "Cornfields?! We're from the city too! Sort of!"
Ryuu leaned down, bringing his face uncomfortably close to Tanaka's. He grinned, showing all his teeth.
"You have a nice face," Ryuu said abruptly.
Tanaka blinked, his intimidation crumbling instantly. "H-Huh?"
"It has character," Ryuu nodded sagely. "Very... thug-chic. I respect it."
He patted Tanaka on the shaved head. Pat, pat. The sound echoed slightly.
"Good texture, too."
Tanaka turned bright red, completely short-circuiting. "W-What the hell?! Don't touch the head! Who are you?!"
"Me?" Ryuu stepped back, spreading his arms wide like a stage performer. "I am Ryuu. The Dragon of Nekoma. The Tyrant King. The guy who forgot his sunglasses this morning so now his eyes hurt a little bit."
"Ryuu!" Kuroo's voice cut through the air. The Nekoma captain walked over, looking exasperated but amused. "Stop traumatizing the locals."
Kuroo looked at Daichi and offered a handshake. "Sawamura-san. Long time no see."
Daichi shook his hand, looking warily at Ryuu. "Kuroo. Your team... seems to have grown."
"In height and in annoyance levels," Kuroo sighed.
Meanwhile, Ryuu had lost interest in Tanaka and had locked onto a new target.
Hinata Shouyou was staring at him. The small middle blocker's mouth was open.
Ryuu walked over to Hinata. He crouched down—squatting like a delinquent—so he was eye-level with the small boy.
"You," Ryuu pointed a finger at Hinata.
"M-Me?!" Hinata squeaked.
"You have the aura of a protagonist," Ryuu whispered conspiratorially. "Orange hair. Short. excessive energy. Do you have a tragic backstory? Did you promise a friend you'd meet at Nationals?"
Hinata blinked rapidly. "I... uh... I want to be the Little Giant!"
Ryuu grinned. "Cute. But giants are overrated. Have you ever tried being..." Ryuu stood up slowly, unfolding his full height until he towered over Hinata like a skyscraper. "...a Monster?"
Hinata shivered. It wasn't fear, exactly. It was the thrill of seeing something incredible. "Whoa..."
"Oi," a sharp voice cut in.
Kageyama Tobio stepped between Ryuu and Hinata. The genius setter glared at Ryuu with intense hostility. "What do you want with him?"
Ryuu looked at Kageyama. The "King of the Court."
'He's intense,' Ryuu thought. 'Like an angry blueberry.'
"Just saying hello to the competition," Ryuu said breezily. He looked Kageyama up and down. "You must be the setter. You look like you drink milk straight from the carton."
Kageyama frowned. "I do. What about it?"
Ryuu laughed. "Nothing. I like you guys. You're funny."
He turned back to his team.
"Hey, Lev! I found a shrimp and a blueberry! Can we keep them?"
"Ryuu, stop kidnapping people!" Yaku shouted, kicking Ryuu in the butt.
"Ow! Violence!" Ryuu rubbed his glutes, looking betrayed. "I'm the Ace! You can't kick the Ace!"
"I can and I will!" Yaku threatened.
As the teams separated to head to their respective changing rooms, the Karasuno team stood there, bewildered.
"What... was that?" Sugawara asked, watching Ryuu's retreating back.
"He's huge," Asahi whispered, looking traumatized. "And his eyes... they were scary."
"He patted my head," Tanaka muttered, still touching his scalp. "He said I had good texture."
Daichi looked at Kuroo's retreating figure, then at the red-headed giant.
"Nekoma..." Daichi tightened his grip on his bag. "They didn't just bring a cat this time. They brought a tiger."
Inside the gym, the practice match was about to begin.
Ryuu pulled on his new jersey. It fit perfectly. Black with red trim.
Number 10.
He looked at himself in the mirror (or the reflective glass of the gym window). He ran a hand through his red hair.
"Okay," Ryuu muttered to himself. "No sunglasses. No cringe lines. Just pure skill."
"Gojou! You're starting!" Nekomata called out.
"Hai, hai!" Ryuu jogged onto the court.
He stood at the net, looking across at Kageyama and Hinata. The vibe in the gym shifted. The playful joker from the parking lot was gone. Ryuu stood tall, his posture relaxed but ready. His golden eyes scanned the court, the Emperor's Eyes booting up, overlaying the court with grid lines and probability percentages.
He saw Kageyama's grip on the ball. He saw Hinata's leg muscles tensing for a sprint.
Ryuu smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.
"Hey, Blueberry," Ryuu called out across the net to Kageyama.
Kageyama glared. "What?"
"Don't blink," Ryuu said, tapping his own temple. "Or you'll miss me."