Haikyuu!!: Can a reclusive genius fall in love?

The volleyball hall was filled with an atmosphere even more intense than usual on Friday afternoon. The group scrimmage was in full swing, with the score neck and neck, and every point was accompanied by cheers or sighs.

"Chance ball!" Oikawa Tetsu shouted, sending a precise lob over the block and straight into the open space.

Almost simultaneously, a white figure shot out like an arrow. Without hesitation, Yukimura Tsukishiro leaped into the air, his arm outstretched towards the ball that was about to hit the ground. At the last moment before the ball touched the ground, he flicked it with his fingertips, and the ball miraculously returned to play.

"Well done!" Yutaro Kindaichi shouted as he caught the ball and quickly organized a counterattack.

But everyone's attention was focused on Yukimura Tsukishiro, who was still lying on the ground. His elbow was scraping violently against the floor, tearing his tracksuit and revealing the abrasions underneath.

"Yuki-chan!" Oikawa Tetsu was the first to rush over, followed closely by Iwaizumi Hajime. The other team members also gathered around, their faces full of concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Do I need to go to the infirmary?"

Yukimura Tsukihiro slowly sat up, his emerald eyes showing no pain, only his usual calm. He shook his head to indicate he was alright, then made a move that surprised everyone—

He took a small first-aid kit from the side pocket of his backpack. Inside, various medical supplies were neatly arranged: disinfectant wipes, ointment, and several rolls of bandages of different widths.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, he skillfully cleaned the wound with a sterile cotton swab, applied ointment, and then took out a roll of bandage to begin bandaging himself. His movements were fluid and precise, each wrapping just right—not too tight to restrict blood circulation, nor too loose to provide adequate protection. The entire process was completed in one smooth motion, without a trace of hesitation or clumsiness, displaying a level of expertise beyond that of an ordinary high school student.

"Wow..." one of the team members exclaimed in a low voice, "So professional."

Oikawa Tetsu squatted to the side, his brown eyes sparkling with curiosity: "Yuki-chan is really good at this, isn't she?"

Yukimura Tsukishiro didn't answer, but focused on completing the final step, neatly securing the end of the bandage. Then he stood up, stretched his arm, indicating that he could continue the match.

Just as he turned to face the court, the hem of his shirt inadvertently fluttered for a moment due to the large movement.

Standing to his side and slightly behind, Oikawa Tetsu and Iwaizumi Hajime caught a glimpse almost simultaneously—below the right shoulder blade on Yukimura Tsukishiro's back, a faint, vertical scar was faintly visible. The scar looked quite old, its color slightly lighter than the surrounding skin, but it was still clear that the depth and length of the wound were far beyond what could have been caused by an ordinary sports injury.

Their eyes met briefly in the air. Oikawa Tetsu's ever-smiling lips tightened slightly, while Iwaizumi Hajime's brows furrowed even deeper. Doubts and questions quietly arose in their hearts, but neither of them voiced them on the spot.

"Let's continue the match," Iwaizumi Ichi broke the silence first, his voice lower than usual.

Training resumed, but the atmosphere had clearly changed. Oikawa Tetsu's passes remained accurate, but he seemed more thoughtful; Iwaizumi Hajime's instructions were still decisive, but his gaze kept glancing at Yukimura Tsukishiro's back.

Yukimura Tsukishiro seemed completely oblivious to the attention of the two, remaining fully focused on the match. His movements were still agile, and his smashes still powerful, though occasionally, when his movements became too exaggerated, he would furrow his brow slightly, as if the old injury was still a reminder of its presence.

During the break, Oikawa Tetsu sat down next to Yukimura Tsukishiro as if by accident: "Yuki-chan, that save you made was amazing, but you don't need to push yourself so hard in the future. Safety first."

Yukimura Tsukishiro was taking small sips of water when he heard this, and simply nodded slightly.

"Speaking of which," Oikawa Tetsu said, trying to keep his tone light, "Yuki-chan's bandaging skills are amazing. Did you learn that when you were learning boxing?"

Yukimura Yuebai paused almost imperceptibly, a fleeting, elusive emotion flashing in his emerald eyes. He put down the water bottle, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the bandage wrapped around his wrist.

"...It's just a habit," he finally replied softly, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Iwaizumi came over and handed Yukimura Tsukishiro a clean towel: "Is your elbow alright? Do you need to rest it?"

Yukimura Tsukishiro shook his head and took the towel: "It's alright. We can continue."

After training, the team members left one after another. Oikawa Tetsu and Iwaizumi Ichi deliberately slowed down their packing, waiting until only they and Yukimura Tsukishiro, who was organizing equipment, remained in the gym.

"Iwa-chan," Oikawa Tetsu's voice was unusually low, "that scar..."

"Ah," Iwaizumi responded briefly, "It's not an ordinary wound; it looks more like a cut from a sharp weapon."

They watched as Yukimura Tsukishiro meticulously wiped each volleyball clean and placed it back in the basket, his movements precise and precise. As he bent over, his shirt tightened slightly at the back, revealing the faint outline of the scar.

"Yuki-chan seems to have a lot of secrets," Oikawa Tetsu said softly, his brown eyes no longer showing their usual lightness, but filled with complex emotions—curiosity, worry, and a hint of inexplicable protectiveness.

Iwaizumi didn't answer, but his gaze never left the white-clad figure. As the vice-captain, he had seen all sorts of sports injuries, but that scar... that was definitely not a mark left by ordinary sports.

Xuecun Yuebai seemed to sense their gaze, suddenly straightened up, and turned to look at them. His emerald eyes appeared exceptionally clear in the afterglow of the setting sun, yet also exceptionally unfathomable.

The air seemed to freeze between the three of them. Oikawa Tetsu quickly put on his usual smile: "Yuki-chan, want to go buy a drink together? I know the vending machine just got matcha-flavored milk~"

Yukimura Tsukishiro watched them quietly for a long time, then gently shook his head: "...I'll go back first."

He slung his backpack over his shoulder, nodded slightly to the two of them, and then turned and left. The setting sun cast a long shadow of him, and his white figure gradually disappeared into the distance at the end of the corridor, as if carrying countless unsolved secrets.

Oikawa Tetsu and Iwaizumi Ichi stood still until the figure completely disappeared.

"I will prepare first aid supplies before the next training session," Iwaizumi said suddenly.

Oikawa Tetsu looked at him with some surprise.

Iwaizumi's expression remained as serious as ever: "Just in case."

They exchanged a glance; no words were needed, a tacit understanding was already reached. Regardless of the past Xuecun Yuebai carried, at this moment he was a member of the Qingcheng Volleyball Club—that was enough.

As for those secrets, the truth will come out one day.