Haikyuu: I Grind To Beat My Genius Twin Brother

Oikawa stared at Kikuzawa Yuma's expression and pursed his lips. "What's wrong? Aren't you happy about winning the match, little Yuma?" 

Anyone could see the unwillingness and indignation on his face - losing to first-years had clearly struck a deep blow to Oikawa's pride. 

Not just Oikawa, but Iwaizumi and the others were also brooding over their defeat, glaring at the first-years with eyes that seemed ready to spit fire, itching for a rematch to redeem themselves.

Coach Irihata clapped his hands to mediate. "Alright, that's enough for today's match. The first-years performed exceptionally, but I don't want you getting complacent from this single victory. You all have your strengths, but there's still much room for improvement. Keep working hard."

Turning to Oikawa's group of upperclassmen, the coach said gently, "Your loss wasn't undeserved. This year's first-years genuinely have that level of skill - they're strong, but so are you. However, let me be blunt - if talented players work harder than you, what will you have left to compete with? How will you win?"

"This match served as an eye-opener for the first-years - there's much you can learn from your seniors. For the second and third-years, consider this a lesson. There's always someone better out there. Since we're all teammates in the volleyball club now, I hope you'll encourage each other and grow together."

"Thank you for your guidance, Coach!" xN

Thus concluded the first-years' inaugural match after joining the club.

...

"Kikuzawa... uh, can I call you Yuma? To distinguish you from your brother," Kindaichi approached Kikuzawa Yuma.

"Sure, everyone can just call me and Yuuki by our first names," Yuma readily agreed.

Kindaichi: "Since we'll be teammates now, want to exchange LINE contacts?"

Yuma: "Sure."

Kunimi: "I'll exchange too, for easier communication."

Yuma took out his phone to exchange contacts with both, then glanced at his motionless brother and added, "If you need to contact Yuuki, just reach me first. We're usually together anyway."

Kindaichi and Kunimi had already noticed Yuuki wasn't the sociable type and nodded understandingly.

"My, my~ What are the little newcomers whispering about? Is there something the great Oikawa shouldn't know?" Oikawa joined the conversation with a playful smile.

"Oikawa, don't just barge into others' conversations. It's rude," Iwaizumi grabbed Oikawa by his collar, peeling him off where he'd practically glued himself to Yuma.

"Okay okay, Iwa-chan, you're not my mom..." After straightening his clothes, Oikawa struck what he thought was a cool pose and magically produced his phone. "As your reliable captain, the great Oikawa shall also exchange LINE with little Yuma!"

Yuma held out his phone again.

"Yosh! To celebrate our new members, let's have a team dinner after school!" Oikawa suddenly declared enthusiastically, slapping his forehead.

Iwaizumi crossed his arms. "Good idea. As captain, you should treat everyone."

"Eh?! Me pay? What about club funds?" Oikawa grew worried for his wallet - the club had quite a few members.

"Alright, alright." Hearing the commotion, Coach Irihata stepped in as the responsible adult. "I'll treat everyone today. Eat well, then train hard later."

Oikawa: "Yay! I want ramen!"

Iwaizumi: "Oden."

Matsukawa: "McDonald's!"

Hanamaki: "Sushi!"

...

They ended up at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Coach Irihata watched amusedly as the rowdy students ravaged the poor buffet restaurant. Teenage boys could eat endlessly, especially after a practice match and afternoon training - they'd practically been howling with hunger when leaving school.

The volleyball club descended on the buffet like wolves among sheep, clearing out all meat dishes instantly. Since steaks were cooked to order, the kitchen couldn't keep up with demand. The balding manager was forced to don an apron and help his sweating head chef frantically grill more meat.

"So good~" Yuma shoveled a huge spoonful of ice cream into his mouth, shivering from the cold before closing his eyes in bliss.

"Don't eat so much sweets. It's unhealthy," Yuuki placed a plate of steak he'd secured in front of his brother.

Yuma turned away with his ice cream. "Just for today! We never get this normally."

With former athlete parents, the Kikuzawa brothers had been raised as potential athletes from childhood - their meals and training strictly regulated. Weekly measurements of height, weight and other metrics determined constant adjustments to their diet and regimen. Not just sugar-loaded junk food like ice cream, but even slightly greasy dishes were forbidden.

"Ah~ Ice cream~ What a wonderful creation~ Thank heavens, thank school, thank coach, thank volleyball," Yuma dramatically proclaimed.

Kindaichi sitting nearby developed imaginary sweatdrops. "Yuma, you're way too exaggerated."

"Can't help it. Strict household," Yuma sighed before taking another huge bite.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! This year the great Oikawa will definitely defeat the Ushiwaka demon!" Their table turned to see Oikawa, apparently provoked by someone, passionately declaring his grand plan to defeat Ushijima Wakatoshi and advance to nationals...

Kindaichi and Kunimi turned back unsurprised. For the Kikuzawa brothers' benefit, Kindaichi explained: "You might not know, but Oikawa-senpai and Iwaizumi-senpai have been overshadowed by Shiratorizawa's Ushijima Wakatoshi for five years - three years in middle school, two in high school. Never won once in official matches."

Yuma nodded. "I know. Ushijima Wakatoshi, the top three national ace, right? I've heard of him."

Kunimi looked somewhat dejected: "This is Oikawa-senpai's last high school year. If they still..." His unfinished sentence was clear to all - for third-years, only two tournament chances remained (IH and Spring High). Another loss would mean Oikawa and Iwaizumi spent six full years under one player's shadow, never making it past prefecturals. For a player of Oikawa's caliber, this was especially cruel.

Yuma sighed deeply. With memories of his past life, he knew this cruel fate awaited Oikawa if original events unfolded. 

"During his time in Japan, he remained virtually unknown, never once leading his team to nationals." This was how people would describe Oikawa nine years later.

"Virtually unknown." Four words summarizing six years of a youth's blood, sweat and tears.

Half the reason Yuma had chosen Aoba Johsai after ruling out Shiratorizawa was precisely because of Oikawa. Competitive sports were full of regrets, but Oikawa's case felt particularly tragic. Had he not been born in Miyagi's brutal competition zone, he should have ranked among Japan's top three setters.

"Defeat Ushijima Wakatoshi? Isn't that obvious?" Yuma raised his voice so the upperclassmen could hear. Lifting his head, his eyes showed no fear or hesitation - only ambition and confidence for victory. The 16-year-old met each senior's gaze with a fearless smile.

"Our goal is the national championship. If we can't even get past prefecturals, we might as well quit." His tone brimmed with such confidence that failing at prefecturals wasn't even a consideration. His vision extended far beyond Ushijima or Shiratorizawa - only the impending national title mattered.

"Broaden your horizons, everyone. Aoba Johsai now has two national middle school champions." Yuma proudly lifted his chin, thumping his own chest and Yuuki's shoulder.

"..."

Dead silence fell over the restaurant, only the sizzling of steaks audible.

Finally, Kindaichi spilled his drink, gaping at the brothers. "Eh—?! Yuma and Yuuki are national champions?!"

"Eh—?!" Yuma looked even more shocked than Kindaichi. "You didn't know? Seriously didn't know?! I thought it was common knowledge!" 

Heaven testify, Yuma genuinely assumed their status was widely known. "What?! We're national champions! You really didn't know?" 

(இωஇ) Devastated. All this time he'd admired how unfazed everyone seemed around national champions, thinking them remarkably composed.

"Little Yuma and Yuuki are national champions? Really?!" 

"Volleyball Monthly only covers high school players, and we only follow Miyagi prefecture athletes." 

"No wonder you're so strong!" 

"I'm sitting with national champions!" 

"Okay okay, back up! We're suffocating here!"

The first-years' quiet table was instantly mobbed, everyone clamoring with questions, their shining eyes practically burning holes through the brothers.

Oikawa suddenly realized: "The coach must've known! Why didn't you tell us, you old fox!" 

Coach Irihata steadied a stiff Coach Mizoguchi, downing some beer while chuckling. "Ah, did I forget to mention? Must've slipped my mind, haha..."

"Back off! Back off!" Yuma frantically pushed through the crowd, trying to extract his pale brother from the enthusiastic mob. "My little brother! He's—he's not breathing anymore—!"

(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻

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