Luke sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the faint blue glimmer where the system panel had been moments ago. The excitement from unlocking the system and discovering the missions still thrummed in his chest, making his fingers twitch with restless energy.
But his stomach had other plans.
Guuurrrgle.
He clutched his belly with a wince.
"...Right. Dinner," he mumbled.
Without another thought, he scrambled out of his room, his small feet padding against the wooden floor as he rushed toward the dining area.
"Slow down, Shoyo, you'll trip!" his mother scolded lightly, her voice carrying a gentle but firm tone.
Luke froze mid-step, blinking.
That voice…
For the briefest moment, he heard his previous mother's voice in his head—the same warmth, the same gentle yet concerned tone. His chest tightened.
But then he saw Hinata's mother, standing by the table with her warm smile, and something in his heart shifted.
It wasn't just the face of another woman.
No.
It was his mother.
The memories he had absorbed filled in the gaps—her voice, her scent, the way she fussed over him, the countless nights she stayed up late despite being tired from work.
She was his mom.
Luke's throat tightened slightly, but he shoved the emotion down, not wanting to alarm her.
"Coming!" he chirped with a grin, forcing the lump in his throat away.
He quickly slid into his seat at the small dining table.
The familiar clatter of dishes and the aroma of home-cooked food made his stomach grumble again. His younger sister, Natsu, giggled at his rumbling belly, her tiny face bright with amusement.
"Shoyo's belly is singing!" she declared with a toothy grin, making both Luke and his mother chuckle.
His gaze softened as he looked at Natsu, her chubby cheeks and bright eyes filled with innocence.
She's still so young… he thought, a warmth blooming in his chest.
In his previous life, he never had siblings. Seeing Natsu's wide-eyed excitement just over dinner made him feel something foreign yet familiar—a protective fondness he had never known before.
"Here, eat up," his mother said, placing a steaming bowl of rice and miso soup in front of him.
The meal was simple, nothing fancy—rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and some pickled vegetables.
But for Luke, it was perfect.
As he ate with his new family, Luke's mind wandered back to the system and his next step.
He could already feel the itch to grow stronger.
Hinata in the original timeline was an athletic freak, but still lacked technical skills and polish. His raw speed and power were wasted without proper technique.
"If I want to become the GOAT, I can't just rely on raw talent. I need skill… and for that, I need proper training."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he formulated his next move.
"I have to join a volleyball coaching center."
The system immediately responded.
[Side Mission: Join a Volleyball Coaching Center]
Reward: What? you expect a freebie?
Luke's chopsticks paused mid-air.
He snorted softly, barely holding back a laugh.
"Smartass system."
The snarky reward message somehow made the system feel more alive, almost like it had a personality.
Still, Luke's grin widened slightly.
Even without an immediate skill reward, joining a coaching center was the right move.
He needed solid fundamentals.
And if there was one thing he was sure of, it was that no amount of raw speed or jump height would carry him against skilled opponents.
"Shoyo?" his mother's voice broke through his thoughts.
He blinked, realizing he had been staring at his rice bowl in a daze, chopsticks still hovering mid-air.
She placed a gentle hand on his wrist, her eyes soft with concern.
"You've been quiet. Is something wrong?" she asked softly.
Luke shook his head quickly, forcing a small smile.
"No, no! I was just… thinking," he replied.
His mother's brows furrowed slightly.
"Thinking?" she pressed.
For a brief moment, Luke hesitated.
Would she say no?
Hinata was still a child, and with school starting in a month, it would make sense for her to be hesitant.
But the need to improve gnawed at him.
"If I want to stand a chance later, I have to start now."
So, he took a deep breath and went for it.
"...I was thinking about volleyball," he admitted, his voice steady but hopeful.
Her eyes softened, slightly amused.
"Volleyball?" she repeated, tilting her head.
Luke nodded quickly.
"Yeah! I've… developed an interest in it," he said, the words coming out faster than he intended.
"I was wondering if maybe I could join a coaching center or something?" he added, keeping his tone casual but his eyes pleading.
For a moment, his mother didn't respond.
Her eyes searched his face, lips slightly parted in surprise.
Then, she sighed lightly, placing down her chopsticks.
"Shoyo…" she began softly, her tone laced with gentle concern.
"You know school starts in a month. Shouldn't you be focusing on your studies?"
Her expression was warm but firm, her eyes scanning his face for any hint of disappointment.
For a split second, Luke's heart sank.
But then, her gaze softened.
"...But I suppose…" she continued, her eyes glimmering with reluctant affection, "it might be good for you to be active."
Luke's eyes widened slightly, hope surging in his chest.
Her lips curved into a small, affectionate smile.
"You have so much energy—you might as well burn it off productively," she added with a chuckle.
Luke nearly let out a breath of relief, grinning brightly.
"Really?! You mean it?!" he asked, barely able to contain his excitement.
She nodded, giving him an amused but warm look.
"We can check out some centers tomorrow when we go into the city," she said with a shrug.
The rush of excitement in his chest made him feel like he was soaring over the net, slamming down a spike.
"Thanks, Mom!" he beamed.
Before he could calm down, Natsu piped up, her tiny fists clenched with excitement.
"Volleyball?!" she squeaked, her eyes wide.
"Can I play too?!"
Her enthusiastic expression made both Luke and their mother chuckle.
"You're too little, Natsu," their mother teased gently, patting her head.
Natsu pouted dramatically, crossing her arms.
"Hmph! I'll get taller!" she declared stubbornly, puffing her cheeks.
Luke laughed softly.
"Yeah? You'll be my setter one day, huh?" he teased, winking playfully.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she nodded eagerly, clapping her hands.
As they finished dinner, Luke pushed his empty bowl away with a content sigh.
His mother smiled as she began clearing the dishes, while Natsu babbled about wanting to be a setter.
Luke's gaze drifted toward the window, the stars faintly glimmering in the night sky.
His mind began racing with plans.
"I'll check out the volleyball centers tomorrow… but I'll also need gear," he thought, already making a mental shopping list.
Knee pads, proper shoes, and most importantly—a good volleyball for solo practice.
He felt his eyelids grow heavy as his body, still adjusting to the youthful frame, slowly gave in to fatigue.
With a soft yawn, he trudged toward his small bedroom, flopping onto the bed.
"Gear tomorrow…" he mumbled sleepily.