"...Hmm... The atmosphere around Karasuno is different..." Oikawa said, a hand on his hip as he looked at the tense yet fired up group. Suddenly, a ball rolled up to him. "Oh?"
"Sorry about that!"
Kneeling down to pick it up, another hand touched the other side of the ball just as he did. Kageyama and Oikawa made eye contact. They both glared, lightning appearing between the two of them.
Then, they started to fight over the ball like children, each of them pulling it towards them, but stuck in a stalemate.
"Well, well... if it isn't Tobio-chan, who was miserably defeated last time," Oikawa mocked, a taunting look on his face.
"We've come to win this time," Kageyama retorted, an annoyed look on his face.
An irk mark appeared on Oikawa's face as Kageyama pulled the ball closer to him. "I depressed the hell out of you last time. All that's left is that Ushiwaka bastard!" Suddenly, Oikawa let go of the ball, spreading his arms out to his sides which made the younger setter fall back from the sudden force. "I'm gonna have you get out of the way again, Tobio."
"Uwah!" Kageyama fell to the ground, flipping over and Oikawa laughed.
"Wahahaha! Take that! Nyahahaha!"
"Is he really a third year student?" Hanamaki asked himself as he watched the scene. "He's really into it."
Hinata trembled, trying not to laugh and Suga had depressing marks around him. "It's way too early to let Oikawa get to him..."
"Pft!" The ginger covered his mouth.
"Oh man..." (Y/N) scratched her head as she approached the setters. "That's just being plain mean, Tooru-senpai. Come on Tobio," she said, helping the teen up from the ground. "Ignore the mean old senpai and continue warming up."
"O-Old?!"
She stuck her tongue out at him. "Bleh. Old."
Oikawa took mental and emotional damage from that.
Yahaba looked at Karasuno's side of the court, a ball in his hands as Hanamaki focused on receiving spikes.
"Hey," he muttered and Kindaichi turned to him.
"Yes?"
"Karasuno's got another girl." They looked at Yachi who caught a bouncing ball ("Yachi-chan I'm sorry!"). "She's a cute one."
"Here," Yachi said with a smile, handing the ball to Yamaguchi.
Flames seemed to surround Kindaichi and Yahaba. "Yeah... I wonder why I'm feeling so frustrated."
"All right," Yahaba blurted out and slowly threw the ball towards Yachi. "Pardon me!" He jogged towards her, gaining her attention and the sun somehow seemed to appear, making Yahaba appear bright as his facial structure changed to make him appear more hot. "Could you get that?"
Just as Yachi started to bend down, Hanamaki messed up his receive from Iwaizumi's spike, making the ball fly towards Yachi. "Crap. Look out!"
"Urk!" "Kya!"
Smack!
Everyone froze as Kiyoko appeared in front of Yachi, smacking the ball away with a nonchalant expression.
'She's strong...!'
(Y/N) had sparkles around her. "How cool!"
While he was frozen, Tanaka approached Yahaba, a ball in hand. "Here ya go." He smirked, shoving it into his hands as he patted his shoulder.
"...Thanks." Yahaba robotically muttered and went back to his side of the net. "Tch! It didn't work. Karasuno's guard is too strong!"
"You're a showoff, Yahaba-san," Kindaichi replied, sweat dropping.
"Forget it! Let's warm up!"
Tweeeeet.
"Let's have a good game~" Oikawa winked, shaking Daichi's hand.
"Let's have a good one."
"Is your body doing alright?"
Daichi smiled. "Yeah, thanks. I had a long rest and even feel better now."
"Is that so?" Oikawa let go of his hand. "Y'know, there's something kinda dignified about you, Sawamura-kun."
"Another penalty?! You must really like 'em, huh?!" Kuroo taunted, smirking.
Bokuto appeared, hyper as always. "Hey hey hey! Taking a break?! Then let's practice!!!"
"Haaaah? You want a break?" (Y/N) evilly smirked, a sadistic gleam in her eye. "Add two more weights on your wrists, you'll be doing five more laps around the court just for asking me to take a break."
"...Over the last four months, we were jostled around by one scoundrel after another..." He answered, looking more drained.
"I don't really get what you mean, but it must've been tough," Oikawa replied, confused.
"Tails is Aoba Johsai. Heads is Karasuno." The ref flipped the coin and it landed on heads.
"We'll receive first."
"Then, we'll be serving."
The two leered at each other.
"Ossu~ Looks like I made it in time," Takinoue greeted, waving. "Huh?"
"Hey there. I'm Tanaka Ryunosuke's big sis~" Saeko nodded at him from beside Shimada.
"Sup." 'Tanaka's sister...! They look alike...!'
"These are the semifinals... Wait, then that means... They'll go to the nationals if they win both this game and the next?! That's amazing, ain't it?!" The woman exclaimed.
"They'll have to defeat two incredibly strong schools to get there though..." Shimada responded, paling.
Tweet. "Line up!" Tweet. "Let's have a good game!" The two teams bowed.
Miyagi Prefecture Spring High Representative Playoffs, Semifinals : Aoba Johsai High School vs. Karasuno High School.
"...Yeaah, I'll just come right out and say it. Seijoh is a bad matchup for you guys," Ukai bluntly said, arms crossed and the boys all stared at him with blank faces. "Because they're a team with a high level of adaptability and stability. Still, you've got no choice but to surpass them. Go out there and overcome that defeat."
(Y/N) nodded, sneering. "I'm sure as hell we all want revenge for last time, so let's do that then. Show Seijoh how much we've grown and that we won't back down without another fight. This won't be a repeat of last time." She pointed at her boys. "This time we will win and go to face Shiratorizawa in the finals!"
"YEAAAH!" They cheered.
On Aoba Johsai's side...
"...I likely don't have to tell you guys, but Karasuno is a formidable opponent," Oikawa began.
"It's rare for you to speak so frankly," Hanamaki pointed out and Oikawa groaned, putting his hands on his hips.
"That's because I still can't shake the memory of our last match with them. If we let our guard down, they'll eat us alive." The brunette grinned. "Let's go out there and start this thing off with a sizable lead. Mkay?"
"Yeaaah!"
"Aaalright." Oikawa turned to face the court, shaking his hands around. "Well then, I'll be-"
"We're counting on you, captain," Iwaizumi, Hanamaki, and Mastukawa cut him off in unison.
Oikawa turned to them, looking shocked. So were the coaches. He looked sheepish. "That's kinda embarrassing..."
Iwaizumi walked past him, pausing for a moment as he tapped his shoulder. "We'll be counting on your serve at the very beginning. If you screw up, you're treating us to ramen."
"I'll take a large serving of chashu in mine," Hanamaki said, also patting his shoulder.
Matsukawa did the same. "I'll have a side of gyoza with mine."
"And it doesn't count if the serve just stays in bounds, either!"
"C'mon, you first and second years ask for something too!"
"Really?!" The underclassmen looked pleased and the third years were all shits and giggles. Oikawa huffed, a triangle shaped smile on his face as he stood there.
(Y/N) looked over at them as she overheard them saying Oikawa would treat them to ramen. '...Can I ask for food too? I'm hungry.' "Ah, Shoyo, Tobio, before you go." The two stopped walking, turning to the girl with raised brows.
"Yes?"
Wordlessly, she held up her fists to them, a smile on her face. Hinata smiled while Kageyama still had the same expression as they raised their own fists, bumping theirs with hers. "Have fun out there boys."
"Osu." "Yeah!"
The boys got onto the court and Oikawa went up to serve first. "Make it count, Oikawa-san!"
"Augh! Oikawa-kun's serving right from the get go???"
"Is he really that incredible?" Saeko asked, hearing the men groan.
"That's some real artillery," Shimada commented.
Takinoue nodded. "That serve's dangerous since you can suddenly shift the glow of the game in your favor with it. Frankly, there's a good chance of that happening."
"Give 'em a good one!"
"Shoyu ramen!" Iwaizumi shouted.
"Tonkotsu!" Hanamaki yelled.
"Tantanmen!" Mastukawa demanded.
"Miso!" (Y/N) ordered, joining in as her stomach growled.
"Do you want me to make it or screw up?! Which is it?!" Oikawa screamed and turned to (Y/N). "I'm not treating you to ramen either!"
"Booo!"
Tweet!
With the whistle blowing, the start of the match began.
"...Unfortunately," Hanamaki mumbled under his breath. Oikawa threw the ball up, running up and jumping as he smacked it with a lot of power. "It's a given that you'll make it."
Daichi grit his teeth as he moved to the side, somewhat diving as he got the ball up.
'Dammit, as expected...!' Irk marks appeared on both of the captain's faces as they clenched their jaws.
"Woah?! Oikawa's serve is back in the air after only one hit!"
"But it's over the net!" Kindaichi was already in the air when Hinata jumped up to block it. "He's gonna hit it down."
"Hrg!" Kageyama squated, lunging as he was able to get his hand on the ball to hit it back up in the air.
"Tch." "Nice one Kageyama!"
'But Kageyama had first touch! They can't do a quick. It'll leave their attack dull,' Kindaichi thought to himself only for his eyes to widen in surprise.
Nishinoya jumped from the back, setting the ball up to Asashi who was behind Hinata. Asashi spiked the ball down, going past Kindachi's block and the ball slammed against the floor.
"YESSSSSS!" "Nice kill."
"OOOH?!" Asashi and Nishinoya looked at each other in shock, shouting.
"The two who scored are more surprised than anyone!!!"
"Gaaah!" Oikawa groaned, annoyed that his serve got cut off immediately and also due to the fact he'd now have to treat his fellow teammates to ramen.
"Here we go." Ukai grinned. "This is Karasuno, reborn!"
Clapping, the blond giggled. "Now that's the way to start a game. I'm getting excited here!"
1-0.
"Give them a good one, Kageyama!"
"Focus!"
Spinning the ball in between his hands, Kageyama threw it up, doing a jump serve and aimed it towards the back corner right beside Hanamaki.
"Makki!" "!!"
'What an amazingly good course!'
Hanamki went to receive it but then suddenly pulled his hands apart, making the ball go through them and land outside the white line. "Out!"
"Woaah! What great judgment skills!"
"Good call, Makki!"
"NGGGGGH....!!!" Kageyama looked pissed.
"That's a scary face!" Hinata called him out.
"Don't worry about it! That was close, you'll get the next one!"
"Give 'em a good one, Iwaizumi-san!"
'This guy's serve has likely gotten stronger too...' Daichi and Asashi were on the same wavelength. "Bring it on!"
Serving the ball, it curved right by Asahi who got it up, but stumbled to the ground. "Kh!" 'Damn! It's going long!'
"Nice!"
"Wow, is the chain of amazing serves continuing?!"
Both Kunimi and Kageyama jumped up into the air, both reaching for the ball.
"Sorry Kageyama!" "Hit it over, Kunimi!"
Luckily, Kageyama was able to get his hand on it and lightly hit it back which made Tanaka jump up and spike it down past Kindaichi who jumped and Kunimi who was landing.
"ORYAAAA!"
"Nice kill, Tanaka!" "Nice toss, Kageyama!"
"Tch."
"Thank you!" Asahi breathed a sigh of relief.
"He really got that in there?!" Ukai blurted out.
"Wow, way to have confidence in your players." (Y/N) stared disapprovingly at him and when she turned her head to the side she let out a breath, clenching her jacket. 'Man, that shocked me. I didn't think he'd get that.'
"You thought the same as me too!" Ukai accused her, pointing a finger at her and she jolted.
Silence...
"Say something dammit!"
"Now now, calm down Ukai-kun." Takeda sweatdropped, pulling him away from the girl.
Kiyoko put a hand on her shoulder. "You really like riling Ukai-san."
"Tee-hee." (Y/N) let out a chuckle, all smiles. "He makes it easy."
"Kh..." Hinata looked aggravated. "I wanna hit the ball too...!"
Tweet! "Nice kill!" Squeak squeak.
"Nice receive!" Yachi cheered along with Saeko.
"Tsukishima!" Noya yelled as Kageyama set it up to him.
"Nice one, Watari!" Oikawa praised as the libero got the ball up. He ran under the ball, jumping to set it up and Mastukawa, Kunimi, and Hanamaki ran up.
Quickly, he set the ball to Hanamaki who was beside him for a quick, but Tsukishima seemed to predict that and jumped up, blocking his spike, making the male irked.
"Ugyaaa!"
"Alright!"
"Sorry!" "My bad, it was a little low!"
6-5, Karasuno's lead.
Hinata in, Nishinoya out, Tsukishima's serve.
"Give em a good one, Tsukishima!"
"Woah... they're fighting on even ground right from the very start...!" Takinoue commented. "Yup... Though, it's clear that Hinata wants to hit a quick set already."
'Dammit... Aside from serving, I still haven't touched the ball once...!'
"How come??"
"In the final play of their last match against Seijoh, Hinata's perfectly timed quick set was knocked straight down, ending the game," Takinoue explained to the two females who weren't there last time. "It even left an impression on us, so Hinata and Kagetama probably can't shake the memory of that hit."
"Give em a good one, Tsukishima!"
Squeak squeak.
"Iwaizumi!" The ace spiked the ball past the two person block, hitting a straight.
"Nice course!"
Just as he thought they'd get the point, Karasuno's captain swooped in, getting it up. "Nice on, Daichi-san!"
'Now!' Kageyama set the ball up to Hinata and he spiked it, but it got blocked by Kindaichi.
"Yesss!"
Before the ball could fall, Tsukishima received it. "Alright! Way to get there!"
"N-Nice one Tsuishima!" Tanaka praised.
Ennoshita and Suga deadpanned. 'He tripped over the words!'
"Nice on Tsuki!!!"
"It's coming over! Back up!" Iwaizumi barked out snd Oikawa ran back, using his fist to hit the ball back so it could stay in play.
"Hrg!"
"Nice one, Oikawa-san! Cover it!" Watari shouted.
"Dammit, next time I'll- HUARGH?!" Kageyama had kicked Hinata in his ass.
"Keep... your head... put straight, dumbass!"
'Learn to language.' Tsukishima was not impressed and neither was Tanaka.
'Same to you!'
"Kiyoko, why are we surrounded by idiots?" (Y/N) asked the black haired beauty.
She shrugged. "Who knows, (Y/N)."
Watari bumped it up. "It's all yours, Iwaizumi-san!"
"Got it!" He spiked it and it hit Hinata's palm.
"Nice one touch!" "One more! One more!"
'That bastard, he really kicked me hard...!'
Asahi bumped the ball up. Tanaka and Daichi ran up.
'One more time. Go. Go. Take the despair from that hit-' Everyone seemed to be getting flashbacks of the game, the fights, all that practicing and arguing...
Kageyama and Hinata jumped into the air.
'-And smash it!!!'
Hinata spiked the ball down past Kindaichi and it hit Watari's forearm, but flew out.
Tweet.
"ALRIGHT!!!"
"Yeaaaah!" Hinata and Kageyama cheered, high fiving each other.
"Now, we're at the starting line!" Suga declared.
"Feh... gone and made a comeback, have you?" Oikawa scoffed, pissed. "It's all thanks to my advice though!!"
"You think the match between Seijoh and Karasuno is still going?!"
"They're probably still on the first set!"
"Give em a good one, Oikawa-san!"
"Gh!" "Nice receive Daichi-san!"
"Grrr!"
"Second time Daichi-senpai got it up," (Y/N) noted, nodding approvingly. "Everything seems to be going smoothly thus far."
Hinata ran to the other side of the court for a broad attack when Kageyama jumped up to set. 'Are they only going to use receives to cope with Hinata's broad attack this time too?' He set the ball to him and Hinata spiked it, getting the point.
"Uoooh!" "Nice course!"
17-15, Karasuno's lead.
'So it's not a fluke after all. Number 10 is really choosing the course of his hits.' Watari frowned.
"...Hmm." Matsukawa hummed and Yahaba looked at him curiously.
"Give em a good one, Kageyama!"
Watari got the serve up, but it flew towards Hanamaki instead of Oikawa. "Sorry about that! Cover it!"
"It's all yours, Makki!" Oikawa shouted.
"Got it," the teen casually said, tossing the ball up smoothly. "Kunimi!"
"Right."
'He tossed it like it was perfectly natural, even though he's not a setter!'
Kunimi hit the ball, getting it past Tanaka and Hinata. "Nice kill!"
"Yaay! Nice kill~" Hanamaki cheered, five fiving him.
"That was a nice toss," Kunimi replied tiredly.
Tanaka grinded his teeth together. 'Doing something like that so smoothly... that bastard's good!'
"As usual, Aoba Johsai's proficiency... or rather the way they function like clockwork... is incredible," Takeda mumbled.
"Like mentioned before, Seijoh is a team that can adapt and work smoothly with each other," (Y/N) replied, sighing.
"Yeah. What a pain in the ass," Ukai muttered.
"Give em a good one, Iwaizumi!" The ball almost hit Kunimi, if only he was a little taller.
"Sorry!"
18-16.
Hanamaki spiked it and the ball ricocheted off of Nishinoya's inner elbow.
18-17.
Watari out, Matsukawa in, Kindaichi's serve.
"Hey, c'mere a sec," Matsukawa said, making Hanamaki and Kindaichi huddle up.
"Give em a good one, Kindaichi!"
"Bring it on!" 'Everyone aside from the jump serve guys are gonna aim for... There it is! The spot just vacated by the back row setter.' "Got it!"
"Nice one Tanaka!"
"Alright!" Takinoue cheered. "Go hit em with another broad attack, Hinata!"
As Hinata ran, Mastukawa followed, making Ukai narrow his eyes. 'Is he going to block it?'
'It'd be tough to stop you with just one blocker, but...' Mastukawa jumped straight up as Hinata brought his hand back to spike.
"Ah!" (Y/N)'s eyes widened, seeing Matsukawa's position and Kindaichi moving. "So that's his plan!"
'You won't be hitting a cross court spike like this, now will you? You can't, can you?' Hinata jumped, hitting a straight when he saw Matsukawa's face.. "Urg!"
Kindaichi received the ball, ready for it. 'There it is! A straight spike right down the middle!'
"Forget about the cross court spike and wait in a position for a straight."
"Nice receive Kindaichi!"
'They forced the path of the spike!'
"Counter!" Asahi jumped up to block Kunimi and Hinata reached over, but the boy was able to spike the ball down in the gap between them.
'Holy crap, that's some pressure...!' Hinata thought to himself, looking at Matsukawa fearfully. 'Dammit, third years are really scary!'
"Nice kill," Matsukawa said to Kindaichi. "If you can force the spike's path, it's possible to receive even the best of them."
The first year nodded. "I'll give it a try next time."
Oikawa shuddered. "You're scary, Mattsun."
Tweet.
"Nice serve!" "Nice kill!"
"How's the Karasuno vs Seijoh match going?"
"It's back and forth, I guess?"
Push em back! Push em back!"
"So Karasuno's performance last time really wasn't a fluke after all..."
22-21, Karasuno.
"Nice receive!"
Hinata observed his surroundings, knees bent. "The timing of Seijoh's quick set seems to be just a bit slower than ours, so wait a little longer... before you jump!" He jumped into the air, blocking Kindaichi and Watari dived, just missing the ball.
'That's payback.' Hinata looked smug.
Kindaichi glared. 'Don't get so full of yourself over one point.'
23-21.
"Alright...! They're making good use of what they learned last time!" (Y/N) pumped a fist in the air.
"Karasuno's ability to respond to things has improved... We're gonna need to do more than just weather it if we want to win..."
"Hmm..."
"Nice receive!"
"Go on and give him a little payback Kindaichi!" Just like Oikawa said, Kindaichi paid Hinata back by spiking the ball down past him.
"Nice kill!"
"Way to go Yuutaro! Push em back, one more!"
"Give em a good one, Oikawa!"
"Hoo..." Oikawa took a deep breath and the aura around him seemed to change, something Iwaizumi and (Y/N) took note of.
"Mind the back of your head," Iwaiumi said, scaring Kindaichi.
"Eh?!"
"Bring it on!!!" Daichi and Noya yelled.
Oikawa threw the ball into the air and then slammed it down.
BAM!
Before anyone could move, it had already hit the court, flying towards the back wall.
Fwip. It was out.
"UARGHHH?! Sorry!!!" Oikawa cried out, hands messing with his hair.
"What a shame~" Hanamaki laughed. "Nice serve attack though!"
"We'll get the next one," Iwaizumi replied.
"That was lucky! Let's go get another point," Daichi said, smiling as he clapped his hands. However internally he was freaking out. 'Whaa?! What the heck was that?! Did he seriously get even more powerful?! That was practically a spike!!'
"Awesome!" Noya had sparkles in his eyes and Kageyama looked constipated, jealous of the serve. Meanwhile Hinata was shaking, scared.
(Y/N) took a deep breath. 'That was... holy hell... I didn't expect a serve like that. If he could have 100% control over it then he'd be a super powerhouse.' "To be honest, I don't think I can do a serve that powerful unless I build up some more muscle."
"Your serves are already strong," Kiyoko replied.
"But not strong enough." Her fists clenched. "... "I need to be stronger so I can face them... In order to beat a monster, I must become a monster myself." That would have been my mindset if I had not met you guys." (Y/N) admitted, unclenching her fists. "But I don't think I completely need to be a monster to face them, him. Even a human can beat a monster if they try, right? Heh."
"(Y/N)..." Kiyoko smiled, putting a hand gently over hers. 'I'm proud of how much you've grown these past few months.' "No matter what, we'll always be by your side."
She blushed. "Mhm. But damn, Tooru-senpai really is amazing."
Daichi frowned. 'Could that power have been unintentional...? No, I get the feeling that it wasn't a fluke at all. Did he purposefully increase the power, despite the risk it would pose...?'
"That serve had a pretty good feel to it too..." Oikawa whined.
"Don't dwell on it!" Iwaizumi snapped.
"Kaaay."
"Yup. We don't have the leisure of being scared. If we intend to win that is," Coach Irihata said aloud.
"Nice serve Kageyama!"
"Oof!"
"Good one Watacchi!" Oikawa praised and (Y/N) sat straighter. '-Cchi? Man, he and Ryo really are similar.'
He set the ball up to Iwaizumi. "Nice kill Iwaizumi!"
"Way to go Hajime! Push em back Hajime! One more!"
"If Seijoh gets one more point, it'll be deuce."
Tweeeet!
"Huh? Seijoh's... doing a member change now?!" Shimada exclaimed, surprised.
"Here...? Really?" Oikawa looked done.
In #16 Kyotani and out #13 Kunimi.
"...I've never seen that player before," Takeda mentioned.
"Same." Ukai turned to look at (Y/N).
"Nope. Never seen or heard of him," the blond answered.
"Make it a good one, Iwaizumi-san!" Throwing the ball up, he did a jump serve, aiming it towards Daichi.
"Gh! Sorry, it's a bit short!"
"Tanaka-san!" Kageyama called out, setting the ball up.
"Right!" Tanaka spiked the ball and it hit Kindaichi's hand.
"One touch!" "Free ball!"
"Got it" Watari said, bumping it up to Oikawa.
Oikawa jumped, hands above his head as he looked at the first year running up to the net. 'Kindaichi...'
However, just as he set the ball up, Kyotani ran between them, shoving Kindaichi out of the way, making the boy fall to the ground on his butt.
"Woah?!"
"Careful!"
Kyotani jumped up, spiking the ball past Hinata, making the Karasuno team stunned.
'The gears which had fit together so cleanly and functioned so perfectly are driven into disarray, and in that moment, they become something strange and unfamiliar.'
The flag went up into the air and the whistle blew, the results shocking everyone.
'OUT OF BOUNDS?!'
"L...Lucky..." Suga mumbled as the score changed to 25-23, making them win the first set.
"Sorry," Kyotani mumbled.
Oikawa was taken aback, looking scandalous. 'That was clearly for Kindaichi, yet he barged in and even hit it out! And that was set point too! Where should I even start?!'
Thankfully, Seijoh had someone named Iwaizumi to put him in his place. "That was too reckless!" he yelled, an irk mark on his face as he punched the top of Kyotani's head.
'Iwaizumi!' they all thought, relieved.
"Yeah yeah! Well said! That's the most important part!" Oikawa said.
"I'm okay though..." Kindaichi sweatdropped.
A bump mark was on Kyotani's head as an annoyed aura surrounded him. "I haven't been on the court, so I was a little anxious..."
"What's up with that guy...?"
"Seijoh actually put someone like him in?"
"They won the first set!" Yachi screamed.
"Yes! Very good!" Shimada cheered.
"Ride the momentum and get the second set!" Takinoue voiced out, loudly.
Handing the boys water and huddling up, (Y/N) stood up from the bench. "Welp. I have no idea what just happened, but let's keep up the good work!" She smiled, hands on her hips. "You've all been playing well so far and let's keep that up. The end of that set was something else, but don't think we'll get lucky again. Keep sharp."
Tweet!
"Ah..." Hinata and Kageyama looked at Seijoh's side of the court. "It's that guy from before! He's starting this set!"
"He took Kunimi's spot. It's possible that he's very smart. Let's be careful," Kageyama replied.
"You just do whatever you want! If you try to jump in I won't toss it," Oikawa ranted and Kyotani didn't respond.
"That was dangerous. Don't do it again," Iwaizumi said.
The boy looked at him. "Yeah."
"Why do you only answer to him?!"
"Kyotani... challenged Iwaizumi-san to a lot of things but lost badly," Yahaba explained, recalling how he lost to him in the athletic festival, the school marathon, and arm wrestling during the cultural festival. "Now he only listens to him."
"Like a pack of wolves...?" Kunimi questioned, unsure.
Asahi was up to serve first for the second set and unfortunately it was an out.
"I'm so sorry!!"
"Let's get the next one!"
"What a scary expression."
He was still down about it. "What am I doing?!"
"Don't mind!"
1-0, Seijoh.
"Oikawa-san nice serve!"
Doing another jump serve, the ball headed towards Nishinoya. The boy then ducked down, the ball going right past his shoulder. "Out!"
"Nice call Nishinoya!"
"Why?!" Oikawa was in agony, looking at the ceiling, pissed. "Sorry."
"It's ok. Let's get the next one."
"He made another service error."
"But it's really fast. Your arm will break if you touch that."
Daichi looked at where the ball landed, it was closer to the line than before. 'His aim seems to be getting better...'
"Nice one, Tsukishima!"
Serving the ball, Tsukishima panicked for a moment when it hit the net, but luckily it went over.
"Bastard!" Iwaizumi blurted out, diving to get it up.
"Nice one, Iwa-chan!"
"It's over the net!" Asahi yelled. "Chance ball!"
Quickly, Kageyama set it to Tanaka, but he wasn't able to finish the kill as Watari leaned over, receiving the cross shot.
"Nice Watari!" "Yes!"
Kageyama got prepared for an attack. 'Right now, of the three people in the front row... Who's going to hit it??'
'As expected, first, I need to calm him down.' "Mad dog~" Oikawa called, setting a high toss.
'He could have tossed it to anyone, but he tossed it to the right?'
'Mad dog? What kind of name is that? So cool!'
"...Huh? What?! He's starting from right next to the net?!" (Y/N) blurted out watching as Kyotani ran up from the net.
"Three man block!"
Tanaka, Hinata, and Kageyama all jumped up to block him, but Kyotani slammed it down to the other side of the court where no one was.
"What?!"
"Eh?! It was super inside! It even got past that block!"
"That's why he started from there...! If he goes at them straight, he has more choices, but it's easier to get blocked. However, if he starts out there, he can cut in across the net. Using his right hand from the right side allows him to hit such a slanted spike," (Y/N) mumbled to herself, writing it down in her notes.
"Nice serve!" "Bring it!"
"Ngh!" Daichi dived, getting the volleyball up, but it was long. "Damn it. Sorry!"
"It's coming over! Free ball!"
"Eh?! A double attack!"
Both Kindaichi and Kyotani ran up. Hinata noticed Kindaichi's fearful expression and jumped to the other side to block Kyotani, but he was a second late, unable to stop his spike.
"Nice spike!" "Ngh."
"Just because he's a dog doesn't mean he always bites. Don't hesitate. Just keep charging. Chibi-chan knew that you weren't going to hit it," Oikawa said, advising Kindaichi who flinched.
"Sorry. It was a little scary."
"As expected, suddenly adding a member disrupts the rhythm," Mizoguchi sighed.
Irihata chuckled. "Now now. Don't say that yet."
"Iwaizumi-san, nice serve!"
"Got it!" Daichi yelled, cleanly receiving it.
"Nice receive, Daichi-san!"
Hinata slammed it down, but Iwaiumi just dove in the nick of time to get it. "Yesssss!"
"Nice!!!"
'C Quick!' The decoy thought as he saw Oikawa prepared to set to Kindaichi, however to his shock, Kyotani appeared out of nowhere. 'He jumped out from behind him!' He quickly jumped to block Kyotani, but failed once again.
Due to the sudden momentum, Hanamaki got slammed into, falling to the ground. "BWAH?!"
"Are you alright?!" Oikawa asked, concerned.
Tanaka looked at the scene. 'Watching Seijoh unrefined like this...'
"Y'know, this is sort of amusing, seeing them all disrupted," (Y/N) commented. "But, that #16 scored three points already. He's no joke and is hard to predict since we know nothing about him."
"Both now and during the first set, #16 keeps weaving right though the middle," Takeda muttered.
'Even though he has scored consecutively, the plays have all been very rough...' Daichi observed. 'Ever since #16 came on, the attack tempo has gotten...'
"Got it!" "Nice serve!"
Iwaizumi fumbled on his serve, almost hitting Hanamaki's head, scaring the boy. "Sorry!"
"...Finally got one point." Yachi gripped the railing.
4-2, Seijoh's lead.
"Kageyama, nice serve!"
The boy served the ball and Hanamaki received it, body tensing as it hit against his forearms. "Ngh!"
"Nice Hanamaki!"
Kyotani ran up again with an intense expression. 'Here it comes! RIght down the middle!! A showdown against Mad Dog!' Hinata jumped up to block him, but Oikawa did a backwards set, sending the ball to kindaichi.
'After #16's attacks comes... Kindaichi's spike!!'
"Nice spike!" "Let's get another!"
Oikawa looked back at their mad dog. 'He's mad because he was used as a decoy. His previous spikes made it more effective. Your teeth... let me sharpen them.'
"Cheer up," Daichi said, taking charge. "This is... a side of Seijoh that we don't know."
"Yes!"
"Nice spike, Kindaichi!" Oikawa brought them into a huddle, despite Kyotani's resistance.
5-2.
"Oikawa completely controlled that last play..."
"Urgh..."
"Damn." (Y/N) scowled. "It's always the setters... manipulative bastards."
The game went on, both teams not wanting to give up.
"Got it!" Noya called, receiving it.
"Nice!" Kageyama shouted and set the ball to Hinata who just got it past Matsukawa, but Iwaizumi dove to stop it from falling.
"He got it up! Cover!"
'Have they developed a way to track Hinata...?'
"The last ball's for you!" Hanamaki yelled, bumping it to Kyotani. ("Nice cover!") "Sorry, it's a little close to the net!"
"Three man block!" Watari shouted. 'If he spikes it now, he'll definitely get blocked.' "Top into the block!"
Kyotani, however, did not listen to the libero and spiked it at full power. The ball hit Daichi's arms and got sent to the ground right beside Oikawa.
"Nice block!!!" Yamaguchi and Suga complimented.
"Nice spike," Tsukishima muttered.
"What a clean swing..." Yahaba looked done.
"You idiot! Have you ever thought about tipping the ball!" Mizuguchi scolded.
"But if I don't hit it at full strength, I won't feel satisfied!" He complained, making everyone dumbfounded.
"You...!"
"Stop it." Irihata had lines on his forehead, looking just as annoyed. "What we should be working on right now is creating a situation for him to spike in."
"Ah..."
"Is he an idiot?" (Y/N) asked, pointing at him with her pen as she looked at Ukai to confirm if she just heard what he said correctly.
"He took Kunimi's spot. It's possible that he's very smart. Didn't you say that?" Tanaka quoted and Kageyama blushed.
"I said it's possible!"
"It's too bad that this guy doesn't know the greatness of tipping!" Hinata added.
5-3
Squeak squeak.
"Nice receive!" "Hanamaki!" "Nishinoya!"
Mastukawa jumped up to block Hinata and Kageyama used him as a decoy, setting up Asahi. He spiked the ball and it hit Kyotani's hand, making it a one touch.
"Ngh!"
Hanamaki dived, hitting it back with his fist clenched. "Got it!"
"Nice Hanamaki!" Oikawa yelled and set it to Kyotani. "Mad Dog-chan!"
Yachi shrieked, worried. "Eek."
"Here it is again! He's coming across the net!" Saeko yelled.
He ran up, doing the same move, but this time it failed which pissed Oikawa and himself off.
"Well, it's hard trying to spike it directly at a three man block, anyway," Shimada mentioned.
"He looks strong, but he isn't very stable. It's a different feeling from before," Ukai spoke up, sweat rolling down the side of his face. "Number 16 is a double edge sword."
(Y/N) glanced at the man before looking at the teenager with dyed hair. "A risky move by Seijoh to put a double edge sword in..." 'I guess we're similar in a way when we have Shoyo in, but at least he's controllable.'
"Number 16's spike gives off a BAM feeling. It's so cool!" Hinata was in awe.
'Right right?' Oikawa looked smug. 'His power doesn't come from his jumps. His back and abdominal muscles have a lot of strength.'
"Hanamaki, nice receive!"
The ball went to Oikawa and he set it up. Kyotani jumped into the air.
'He curves his body back and then...' Kyotani spiked it down past Daichi and it hit off Nishinoya. 'Releases with a snap.' "Isn't it ferocious? You won't be able to stop it without a blocker."
"Finally scored... Oikawa was brave to set to him. If it were me, I would've set to another person first," Mizoguchi sighed.
Irihata crossed his arms. "You have to be both patient and daring. Being very scared and timid won't work with Kyotani."
6-4.
"Nice serve!" "Bring it!"
Kyotani served the ball, but luckily it was out. "Out!"
"Nice call!" "Tch."
"Even his serves... are so powerful..." Takeda gawked.
The game kept going, both teams going back and forth gaining points, but Seijoh continued to hold the lead in the second set.
13-11.
Hinata served the ball and Watari easily picked it up. "Leave it to me!" Hanamaki spiked it past Tsukishima and Tanaka dived to save it.
"Bastard!" "Nice receive Tanaka!"
'Okay Let's try it.' Asahi and Tsukshima ran up, but Kageyama set it to Hinata who jumped from behind.
"Hinata's back attack!" Yachi screamed.
'My first time doing a back attack!' Hinata spiked it, but his first back attack was ruined when Oikawa did a one person block, the ball slamming down.
"Aren't you treating Chibi-chan like air?" Oikawa said to Kageyama. "You were probably thinking something like, 'Now's a good time to use it!' Right?" Oikawa smirked provokingly "I also thought that way."
'My first back attack attempt was...!' Hinata's face scrunched up.
Kageyama took a deep breath and exhaled, glaring. 'Calm down. Calm down.'
"Urk." (Y/N) gripped her pen tighter. "Manipulative cunning and smart people get on my nerves. Tooru-senpai is really annoying to play against with how he is."
"Go, go, go! Let's get another one!"
She then suddenly smirked, a shadow covering her eyes which showed a hungry expression full of excitement. 'But players like them make the games fun and entertaining... Right now he's making this game so fun to watch with the others. Come on, Karasuno, Seijoh... Show me an even more thrilling game!'
"(Y/N)," Ukai suddenly said, making the girl perk up. "Call Sugawara over."
Her eyes widened for a brief second before she nodded. "Got it."
"Hanamaki, nice serve!" "Nice receive!"
"I thought that it'd be able to get through," Shimada groaned. "They need to hurry up and close the gap or it'll be bad."
"Ah!"
"They're calling Sugawara up?"
"They're switching setters? Kageyama's not doing that badly. That last block was just because Oikawa's too good."
"No," Takinoue replied to his friend. "The one being switched out is probably not #9."
"We can't let this keep going on," Ukai muttered as Sugawara sat between him and (Y/N). "We have to try everything that we can."
"Who is he substituting for?" Saeko wondered.
"It's a tactical substitution."
"Speak Japanese."
"College student..." Takinoue began to explain. "Other than if an athlete gets hurt, some other substitutions include a pinch server, a pinch blocker, or even someone who is tactical."
Iwaizumi spike hit against Kageyama's arm, but it fell onto Karasuno's side of the court.
"Nice spike!"
"Good! Go go go go go go! One more time!"
16-13.
"Last time, Seijoh was backed into a corner and had to take desperate measures and substitute someone in. This time however, they are probably trying to win," Shimada said. "It's only a probably though!"
"Nice serve, Oikawa-san!"
Oikawa spun the ball in his hand. When he heard the whistle he threw it up. 'Ah... here it comes.' He looked at the ball in the air and jumped up. 'The toss... feels good...'
(Y/N) felt like everything was in slow motion. Everyone was frozen to her, the only people moving was her and Oikawa. 'Ah.' A white aura seemed to surround him, it reminded her of Hinata during the first Nekoma practice match. 'He's got it this time.' Her yellow eyes followed as his palm hit against the ball, flying in the air before slamming against the court before anyone could move. Her lips curved up. 'Really... Oikawa Tooru is super amazing.'
Then, this whistle blew and everything seemed to go back to normal. The cheers, the movements, the noises.
Daichi hunched over, taking a deep breath. 'Ferociously... like a slap in the face, the ball pulls you back to reality. He has continuously practiced for victory. That goes without saying. That is a fact. However, he ignites a feeling of deep fear inside.'
"Good good good! Go go go! One more time!"
Tweet.
17-13.
"Serve another good one!"
Oikawa clenched his jaw and puffed his cheeks as he served once again. This time the ball hit the top of the net. "Tch."
"MOVE UP!" Ukai hollered, scaring Takeda and (Y/N).
Nishinoya moved before anyone else. "Nice save Nishinoya!" 'Damn it! I didn't get into position fast enough!'
"Left!"
"Tanaka-san!" Hinata jumped, covering the ball as he bumped it to him.
Iwaizumi, Kindaichi, and Kyotani were all ready for Tanaka. "Three man block!" Whipping his arm back he spiked the ball against Kyotani's arm and it flew out. The two looked at each other, making eye contact.
"Nice Tanaka!" "Thank God..." "very good!"
"Bring it!"
"Ah. Here it comes." Sugawara walked onto the court, taking Tsukishima's place. "The substitution."
"Let's catch up now!" The grey haired setter smiled, slapping their hands. He then whispered something to Kageyama.
"Sugawara-san, nice serve!" "Bring it!"
Sugawara took a deep breath, holding the ball out in front of him. 'It's nerve wracking to have to serve as soon as I get on the court...' When he heard the whistle he served it towards the front of Kyotani.
"Mad Dog!"
"Oooh, not bad! He served to #16!"
"Like this, #16 won't have time to prepare to spike!"
"I said it once, I'll say it again. Setters are always manipulative and cunning," (Y/N) repeated, but she was grinning evilly at Sugawara's move.
Like planned, Kyotani didn't have time to spike, which made Oikawa set the ball to Kindaichi. While he got the ball past Hinata, Sugawara was able to get it up.
"Ngh!" "Nice receive!"
'Thank God I got it.'
Hinata spiked the ball and it hit against Kindaichi's arm before flying out.
"Nice Hinata!" "AAAH!" "WOOOOO!!!"
17-15.
"They're breaking through!"
"As expected, their defense gets better with the third years."
"So it's like that," Shimada muttered, which made Saeko look at him. "Because of the rotation, the players are constantly moving. Their job in the front row and back row are often different. That gives them more strategies. For example, the rotation when Kageyama is in the back row and Hinata is in the front row is their strongest offensive formation. On the other hand, when Asahi, Kageyama, and Tsukishima, three people who are all over 180cm, are in the front row, and the back row is full of their good defensive players, it is their strongest defensive formation. Then the rotation where Tsukishima is serving can be considered a low for both defense and offense. Tsukishima can't participate in blocking and his serve isn't strong enough to be considered an offensive weapon. Taking a constricting formation and changing it for the better is really impressive."
"Nice serve Sugawara-san!"
Sugawara once again served the ball up close to Kyotani would have to lean forward and receive it which irked both him and Oikawa.
'Kyotani may be our ace spiker, but now he can't use any quick spikes... Using the serve to manipulate his movements... Number 2's serve placements are very annoying!'
Daichi received Iwaizumi's spike and at that moment, everything began to fall into place. 'Good.' Suga and Kageyama switched places.
'Kageyama moved back to spike?!'
Tanaka, Daichi, Hinata. Asahi, and Kageyama all ran up to attack as Suga got prepared to set the ball up. 'Karasuno's attack.. Includes five.'
He then set it to Kagetama who got a straight, spiking it past Iwaizumi and Kindaichi.
"NICE JOB!" Ukai shouted, pumping his fist.
(Y/N) jumped onto her feet. "HELL YEAH!"
"YESSS!" The three third years cheered.
"N...Nice spike... you idiot," Hinata forcefully complimented. 'His straight spike is very good.'
"Ah! Did they just use two setters?!" Yachi was shocked.
"Ahh... A new term... Ah! Pinch setters!" Saeko looked proud. "There."
"Too long," Shimada replied with blank eyes.
"Good...!" Ennoshita let out a sigh of relief. "We're only one point behind now!"
17-16.
Tweet!
Aoba Johsai High School, 1st Time Out.
"Yay!" Saeko and Yachi high fived.
Shimida was pumped. "Three points in a row!"
Takinoue leaned over the railing. "The timing of that player switch was a really good call!"
"Koshi-senpai!" (Y/N) cheered, hands up in the air.
"(Y/N)!" Suga smiled, approaching her.
"Yay!" the two said, slapping their hands together.
"Good work everyone," Takeda smiled as he helped pass out the waters.
"Good job Sugawara. Let's keep this rhythm up."
When the timeout ended, Suga went back to serve. "Hit em with another one, Sugawara-san!"
Suga served once again at the second year. 'He really is targeting Kyotani!' But instead of receiving it, he shifted over to the side and Hanamaki took his place, bumping it up.
"Got it!" "Nice on, Hanamaki!"
'They took #16 off the serve receive?! Their ability to cope is just as quick as ever...!'
'We know full well the reason Kyotani is on the court. He was put in to give our offensive power that extra oomph. It wouldn't be any good if we didn't let him do so to his heart's content.'
Kyotani spiked it down between Hinata and Kageyama, getting Seijoh another point. "Alright!"
"Way to go Kentaro! Push em back Kentaro! One more!"
Tsukishima switched back in and Sugawara walked off the court, both Ukai and (Y/N) giving him thumbs up.
"Dammit... I wanted to bring us to a tie..." He pouted.
"Nice going Suga-san!" Noya praised him along with the others.
"Left!" "Hrng!" "Nice course Tanaka!"
"Give em a good one, Kageyama!"
"Iwa-chan!" "Ngh." "Nice receive!"
"Cover it!" "Kyotani!"
"Kuh!" "Good one Asahi-san!"
"Daichi-san!" "It's a feint!" "Oikawaaa!"
"Nice on Oikawa!" "Cover it!"
"Wooaaah! He got iiiit!"
"Watacchi!" "Got it!"
Watari jumped into the air, setting the ball to Kyotani who spiked it past Hinata.
"Way to go Kentaro! Push em back Kentaro! One more!"
"...Say, don't you think the way they're concentrating their attacks on #16 is a little unnatural?" (Y/N) pointed out. "It almost feels like they'll switch things up while the attention is focused on him."
"Make it count Kindaichi!"
'No matter how much they're centering the ball on Mad Dog, I won't fall for it this time!'
"Tanaka-san!" "Got it!"
Hinata ran to do a broad attack and Matsukawa jumped so he couldn't do a cross shot which made it possible for Kindaichi to get it up.
"Hoo!" "It's in the air!" "Cover it!"
"Nice one Kindaichiii!"
"Mad Dog-chan!" Oikawa called.
"Number 16 again?!"
"Two blockers!"
Kageyama lunged forward, but the ball hit off his wrists and out of bounds.
"That was a close one Kageyama!" "Dammit...!"
"It's a break!" "YEAAAH!"
"Way to go! Push em back Kentaro! Kentarooo!"
"Y'know, #16 hasn't been wearing down at all..."
"One more!"
Oikawa smirked. "Here we go. It is on now."
"Ref, time out," (Y/N) said, holding her hands in a T shape.
Tweet.
"Ngh!" Oikawa glared at (Y/N). "Right when things were getting good..."
20-17.
"Now Seijoh is at 20 points. If this keeps up, the set's as good as theirs."
"Even if they lose this set, Karasuno still won the first set already, so it'll all be good as long as they win the next one," Saeko reassured.
"...No," Shimada retorted. "They'd be better off winning this set however they can. I get the feeling that they will be in trouble if they don't."
"Yeaaah!"
Tweeeet.
"Hit em with another one, Kindaichi!"
"Forward!" Tanaka yelled, but the ball hit the net, saving him from diving.
"S-Sorry!" Kindaichi bowed his head.
"No biggie."
Matsukawa turned to him. "You were too focused on aiming."
"Make it count Tanaka!" "Here goes!!"
He served it towards Iwaizumi who got it up. Kyotani ran up once again when the ball reached Oikawa. Hinata observed but then noticed Matsukawa running to Oikawa's right. His eye followed the movement which caused him to get distracted and delay his jump to stop Kyotani from spiking. Being late to jump up and block him, he spiked the ball down and hit Tanaka's arm before the ball flew out.
"Way to go Kentaro! Push em back Kentaro! One more!"
Kyotani smirked, fully into the game.
Oikawa looked at Hinata. 'Trying not to be too conscious of him is the same as paying attention to him.'
21-18, Seijoh's lead.
Daichi clapped his hands. "Okay, don't get disheartened! Let's take back one point at a time!"
"Right!"
"Make it count Kyotani!"
"Bring it oooon!"
Doing a jump serve, Kyotani slammed the ball down, it flew past Daichi and landed just right behind him before the white line. Tanaka grit his teeth and Daichi frowned while Oikawa smirked, a shadow over his expression.
'Double edge sword... For Seijoh, putting in #16 is an all or nothing gamble. But I'd thought it was already a success.'
"A service aaaaaace!!!"
22-18.
"Way to go Kentaro! Push em back Kentaro! One more!"
"Sensei!" "Right!"
Karasuno High School, 2nd Time Out.
"Again! That was fast! Now Karasuno's used up all their time outs."
'Have they spent most of this set getting #16 into his groove, while piling up the points and disrupting us with this new weapon...?!'
"Number 16..." (Y/N) spoke up, hands entwined and up against her lips. "Turns out he was a slow starter, but once his engine warms up, he's strong... We weren't careful enough and fell into Seijoh's rhythm."
Shimada looked over at the two teams. "In a match, the atmosphere of a set's endgame has an influence on the set that follows. The way things stand, Seijoh definitely has the advantage... you guys have to take control of this set somehow...!"
"Karasuno, fight!" "Fight!"
Kyotani licked his lips, preparing to serve once again.
Ukai sighed, standing up. "...Geez, I get it already."
"Looks like it's time for our own secret weapon." (Y/N) leaned back, hair falling over her shoulder. "Ready, Tadashi?"
Yamaguchi stood there, fists clenched with an expression full of determination. 'Please, let me go out there.'
"Score with another one, Kyotani!"
Hitting the ball, it flew across the court and Daichi extended his arms out, letting the ball hit against his wrists. "Oof! Sorry! It's going long...!"
"Matsukawa!" "Direct spike!"
The third year had spiked it down, gaining another point for Seijoh.
"Damn it! Sorry!" Daichi apologized, annoyed at his mistake.
"Seijoh's #16 has really hit his stride, huh."
"Way to go Issei! Push em back, Issei! One more!"
23-18.
"Get back a bit. It's probably not going to fall up front," Asahi mentioned, motioning for Tanaka and Daichi to move back.
"Osu." "Right."
Tweeeeeet.
Tanaka watched Kyotani's form with eagle eyes. 'C'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon-'
Slam!
"HRGH!" Tanaka leaned to the side, almost on the ground as he received Kyotani's serve.
"Tanaka!"
"Dash-YAAAA!"
"Tch!"
Kageyama quickly set it to Hinata who jumped to the side and spiked it down with no blockers.
"Yesss!" "Nice kill Hinata!"
23-19.
Hinata's serve, Nishinoya out, and Tsukishima in.
"...Ah. "Ah!" "It's that boy!"
(Y/N) had a hand on Yamaguchi's back along with Ukai and he confidently walked up, switching with Hinata.
"Ooh, there he is! The Scaredy-Cat pinch server!"
"Huh? Oh... the guy who came out during the Wakunan match."
"It's understandable he'd be scared though~ When you're in a pinch, serving the last thing you wanna be doing."
"Last time he ended up failing because he was frozen stiff, right...? Is he gonna be okay?"
"Score ten points, Yamaguchi!" Hinata shouted.
"That would end the match though..." He replied, surprised.
"I'll allow it!" the boy replied and made Yamaguchi chuckle.
"Go on and hit it, Yamaguchi!" -Tanaka
"K-Kee-Keep calm!" -Asahi
"Give em a good one!" -Kageyama
"Hit a good one." -Tsukishima
"Go give it all you've got," Daichi encouraged him, smiling.
"Yes!"
"If they screw up here this set's as good as Seijoh's..."
"On the other hand, if they score, Karasuno will hit 20 points and they'll have a chance to come back."
"One two... Focus on a nice serve!" Noya, Hinata, Suga, Ennoshita all shouted, posing with one leg up and their hands extended out towards Yamaguchi. The boy inhaled, calming himself.
"Push em back, push em back, push em back, Seijoh! Go go go go Seijoh!"
"...Everyone just keeps going and changing the mood around here," Oikawa mumbled under his breath.
Tweeeeet.
Yamaguchi took a deep breath and everyone watched in silence as the seconds went by. Then, he threw the ball up, jumping forward and hitting it.
"It's out!" Watari called and Kyotani moved out of the way, however the ball seemed to shift and it fell right before the side white line.
It was in.
Tweet!
"Oh YEAAAAAAAAAH!" They all screamed, going wild, so wild that Suga and Ennoshita had to hold back the short duo from running onto the court to jump on Yamaguchi.
"THAT'S HOW WE DO IT TADASHI!" (Y/N) yelled, holding onto Kiyoko.
"He did iiiit!"
"YAMAGUCHIIIII!"
"Huh wha? Aren't they overreacting? It's just one point y'know?"
"YESSSS!" "IT WAS IN!"
Oikawa's fans paused. "Right, we're rooting for Aoba Johsai."
"That's some incredible improvement... I thought it was out too," Hanamaki blurted out.
"That sort of thing is why I don't like the jump float serve," Oikawa revealed, frowning.
"It's really not that surprising you know," Tsukishima said, which made Tanaka mad.
"You're acting like that aga-"
"After all, you practiced serving more than anyone else over these past five months."
Yamaguchi almost teared up and Tanaka laughed, punching Tsukishima's gut playfully which annoyed the blond.
23-20.
"Hit em again Yamaguchi!"
"So that hit... was a fresh start, huh?" Takeda mumbled.
"We're gonna take it back!" "Ossu."
Ukai nodded. "...Yeah and... It's also the signal for our counter attack."
Tweeeeeeeet.
'Now... for the second one.' (Y/N) watched closely. 'C'mon Tadashi. Show everyone here how much you've improved.'
"Give it all you've got, Yamaguchi," Suga whispered.
"He'll be fine," Ennoshita said, gaining his attention. "Those who run away are undeniably weighed down by it afterward. So, I'm sure that Yamaguchi has felt that too."
Yamaguchi did another jump float serve and it headed towards Kyotani. The teen was in the receiving position, but to his shock the ball changed course, moving upward and hit against his upper arm, flying out of bounds.
"Kh! God dammit...!"
"Th-That's two service aces!!"
"Yessss...!"
"YESSS...! Hell yeah!"
"Yamaguchiiiiiii!!!" The group on the court hounded him excitedly, Tanaka ruffling his hair and Asahi patting his back.
"What's going on?! Is it really that amazing!?" Saeko pondered, curious.
"What Tadashi hit is called a jump float serve. It's hit using the momentum of the jump in addition to the ball itself having no spin. Hitting it with no spin means that the ball's trajectory changes and shifts. You've heard of the knuckleball in soccer, right? It's like that."
"Ohh."
"Yamaguchi, one more time!!"
"Bring it oooon!"
Hanamaki grit his teeth. 'A jump float serve can be dealt with using overhand!' He brought his hands above his head and got the ball up.
"Nice going Makki!!!" "Nnggghhh....!"
'They got it! An attack's coming! This is like the dread of a hunter who has become the hunted,' Yamaguchi thought in a panic as the spikers ran up.
Oikawa set the ball up past Matsukawa and Iwaizumi jumped. "Iwaizumi!" He brought his hand forward, spiking past Daichi and Tsukishima.
Yamaguchi dived forward, letting the ball hit against his chest in order to receive it. "Gh!"
'It hit his body?!'
"Kh... agh...!" 'Not yet...I'm not done yet. I won't hand over the serve just yet.' He coughed, a tear building up in his eye.
"Coveeeeer!"
Tanaka and Kageyama both dived for it. "Hrg!"
"Thanks... Kageyama...!"
Tsukishima looked at the ball flying his way. "Tsukishima! Last hit!"
"Center!" Oikawa, Mastukawa, and Hanamaki jumped to block him. Tsukishima hit the ball and it scraped Oikawa's pinky before landing out which caused the brunette to glare at him.
"Ooooh...! A block out!"
"He did a good job of knocking it off their fingers."
"Tsuki!"
"Nice one Tsukishima!!"
"That makes three points in a row...!"
23-22.
Tsukishima picked up the ball that was rolled back to them and bounced it to Yamaguchi. "...One more."
Yamaguchi smiled. "-Yeah!"
Tweeeet.
Aoba Johsai High School, 2nd time out.
"Physically cutting into our momentum, huh," (Y/N) mumbled, her chin leaning against her hand.
"Making Seijoh call a timeout is kinda amazing, Yamaguchi!" Suga said, patting his back.
"That blasted #12 really put his back into that receive," Iwaizumi grunted, an irk mark on his forehead.
"All he did was take the hit and get lucky though," Oikawa replied, annoyed as well.
Yamaguchi brought his hand to his chest, clenching his shirt. '...It really hurts...!'
"I want to make my body move like they do! I want to hit and receive the ball! I want to battle head to head with strong opponents...!"
When the timeout ended, Yamaguchi went up to serve again. "Hit em again, Yamaguchiiii!!"
Tweeeeet.
"You can't give them the chance to seize the ball. Aim for the edge of the white band with a straight trajectory-" Yamaguchi jumped up and hit the ball "-and strike!"
The ball hit against the top of the net before falling over towards Seijoh's side.
'The only weapon you possess is your serve. One mere serve rotation is all the cancer you have. You ride your pride and the flow of the game on that one attack. That is what it means-'
Watari dived, missing the ball that landed in front of him.
"N...Net iiiin!!!!"
'-To be a pinch server.'
"TADASHI!!!!" (Y/N) yelled, she was hyped up.
Takeda leaned forward. "He's really got luck on his side!"
"That's not all," Ukai blurted out. "...With this, the score's tied...!"
"Karasuno caught up...!"
"YAMAGUCHIII!!!"
"Okay!" Oikawa clapped his hands before spreading his arms out. "Calm down!"
"We are calm," Iwaizumi shot back.
"Well, that one just now was unavoidable," Hanamaki said, holding his hand out for Matsukawa.
"We'll get the next one," Matsukawa replied, clapping his hand against his friend's.
"You guys are so collected that it's upsetting your captain!" Oikawa complained and they all smirked despite the situation they were now in.
Taking another deep breath, Yamaguchi served the ball again, but this time Iwaizumi got it up with an overhead receive. "Got it!"
Oikawa set it to Hanamaki and Tsukishima followed the movement, jumping in time to get a hand on it. "One touch!"
"Nice one...!"
"Hrg!" Tanaka ran back and dived to keep it in. "Cover it!"
"Azumane-san!" Kageyama bumped it up and Asahi ran forward.
"Three blockers!" 'And they're all tall ones too...!'
Holding his breath and puffing his cheeks, Asahi slammed the ball with all his strength. It hit against Oikawa and Mastukawa's hands before flying back.
"It's oUUUUuut!" Tanaka yelled, a hand on the floor just in case it did go in.
"Good call Tanaka!" "Nicely done Asashi!"
"YESSS!"
"No way. Karasuno's unstoppable!"
23-24, Karasuno High School match point.
"One more Yamaguchiiii!!" Hinata and Noya boomed.
"...Yamaguchi-kun is certainly the hero of this match," Takeda said and (Y/N) nodded.
"He sure is." She smiled. 'He's grown so much.' "Come on Tadashi! One more!"
He threw the ball up and jumped. 'I've got a good feeling about this one,' he thought to himself as his palm connected with the ball.
It flew between Watari and Kyotani. "I'll get it!" Watari declared, shifting over with his hands in the air, getting it up.
"Damn, he's good," Noya muttered.
Getting under the ball, Oikawa set it to Iwaizumi for a back attack and this time when he spiked it at Yamaguchi, the boy was unable to receive it, falling to his backside from the force and the ball flying out.
"We finally broke their streak..." "Nice kill!"
With that, Yamaguchi switched out, Hinata coming back in before immediately switching with Noya.
"Tadashi," (Y/N) called before he went back to the others.
"Ye-"
The blond pulled him in for a hug, despite the sweat. Yamaguchi tensed up for a moment, blushing. "I'm proud of you," (Y/N) whispered, burying her head into his shoulder. "You did such a good job."
Yamaguchi's eyes widened and he smiled, hugging her back. "Thank you (Y/N)." When they broke apart, (Y/N) patted his arms before he went to the side with the others. "Next time," he began when he approached Hinata. "I'll score ten points, so..."
Hinata beamed. "We won't lose!!!"
'We definitely won't let this chance Yamaguchi has given us slip away!'
"Daichi-san!" Noya shouted as Hanamaki served it at him. Kageyama quickly set the bumped ball up to Asahi who spiked it against Oikawa's arm, making the ball fly out.
"HELL YEAH!" Ukai shouted as the score changed.
"Nice kill!" "YESSS!" "Go...! GOOOO!"
However, that point was taken back quickly with Matsukawa scoring it back.
"Way to go Issei! Push em back Issei!" Him and Oikawa slapped their hands together.
"Yes!" "One more!"
"They took it back so quickly..." Takeda grit his teeth.
"Using a quick set so indifferently when they're backed against a wall like that... and one right through the center no less... If it were me, I'd've left it to the ace," Ukai mentioned.
"That just goes to show how much the third years trust each other," (Y/N) replied, biting her lip, anxious.
Matsukawa was up to serve and Kindaichi switched in when Watari got off the court.
Squeak squeak.
"Watch for a dump shot!" Kindaichi couldn't react as Kageyama had already done a quick to Tsukishima who had slammed it down behind him.
25-26.
"Nice kill, Tsukishima!"
"Oi. Your movements are stiff, Kindaichi," Iwaizumi said, making him flinch.
"Yes! Ah- not at all!"
"Which is it?"
'...This is a critical moment for us... There's no way we'll let this become the 3rd years' final match...!'
"Don't think about unrelated stuff." Kindaichi turned his attention back to the ace. "No matter the situation, what's more important is focusing on the single point in front of you."
"...Osu!!"
"Asashi, scoooore!" "Make it count!"
Running up, Asahi hit the ball down and Hanamaki received it, but not without stumbling back. "It's going long...! Get it...!"
Gritting his teeth as he jumped, reaching out his hand, Oikawa used his finger tips to set the ball to Kindaichi who jumped up to spike it. Spiking the ball down, it hit Asahi's arm before hitting the court.
"YESSS!" Kindaichi cheered and Oikawa ruffled his hair while Iwaizumu slapped his back.
"Way to go, Yutaro! Push 'em back, Yutaro!"
"One more!"
26-26.
The ball bounced against the court as Karasuno tensed up.
And, in modern day volleyball, the serve has become...
"Give 'em a good one, Oikawa-san!!!"
...an ultimate attack which isn't hindered by the blockers' wall.
Oikawa jumped up, his hand slamming against the volleyball. Noya quickly moved to dive for it and it hit against his hands before flying off into the stands.
'Now it really is a spike...!'
Tweet.
"YESSS!" Seijoh cheered, pulling ahead.
"Yesss!" "A break!"
"Way to go Tooru! Push em back Toori! One more!"
The chants of Seijoh filled the gym. "They're really fired up..."
"In volleyball, without a doubt, the decisive most frightening plays are definitely blocks and serves," Ukai muttered.
"God dammit!" Noya yelled, getting back up.
"This isn't something we can do with two people," Daichi said as the back row moved closer together.
"...Azumane-kun's also going to handle the serve receive...?"
"If that's what Sawamura and Nishinoya have decided, then it must be for the best. Oikawa's serves seem to be putting more emphasis on power than control," Ukai explained to the teacher. "It's always better to get the ball in the air however we can, rather than them scoring without us ever touching it... They received countless of Ubugawa and Fukurodani's serves."
"Their very serves are an ultimate attack. Koutaro-senpai's serve is a powerhouse when it stays in bounds, but they are up against Tooru-senpai's serve right now. And while Tooru-senpai has never been to nationals... he should be a national player."
Ukai put a hand on (Y/N)'s back. "Don't worry. They can fight."
"Bring it on!!!"
"Hit 'em hard!!!"
Oikawa threw the ball up in the air and jumped, slamming it down. Daichi's eyes widened and he dived forward, the ball getting up in the air.
"Daichi-san!" "Alright!"
Just as quickly though, a hand was already hitting against the ball, sending it down. Tanaka lunged, arm stretched out and it hit against his hand, going back up into the air.
"Nice one, Tanakaaa!"
"Kageyama!"
He set the ball up to Asahi who spiked it past Kyotani and Kindaichi, but Hanamaki moved forward, bumping it up before falling to the ground.
"Nice receeeeive!"
Kindaichi and Kyotani both ran up, jumping into the air and Tanaka jumped to block Kyotani whale Tsukishima waited. Oikawa set it up and Iwaizumi jumped from the back and both Kageyama and Tsukishima launched into the air, but it was too late as Iwaizumi spiked the ball down between them.
Tweeeeet!
"YESSS!!!"
End of the second set, 28-26, Seijoh's win.
"Woah! They took ack the set! I thought Karasuno was gonna have a straight set victory!"
"We're switching sides! C'mon, chop chop!"
"Osu."
"...That serve really is amazing..." Yamaguchi breathed out.
"Yours was too!" Hinata replied.
"His skill and experience are completely different from mine. He's a third year, so that's probably a given, but it feels like that's not the only reason... The jump serve is the absolute most powerful type of serve, but at the same time, it's very risky. For him to have not only increased its power, but also scored with it when they were backed into a corner... isn't normal," Yamaguchi explained, tone dropping at the end and Hinata gulped.
"Yamaguchi! That was some nice serving back there!" Tanaka praised, smiling.
"Th...Thanks. But I still have a ways to go. I was only able to hit them half as good as I'd have liked..."
"Then be super pleased with the half you did like! Just dieline that self reflection and those regrets, if you got em! Right now, hold onto the good feelings real tight so you don't forget em!"
"Real tight!" Noya repeated, punching his arm.
"And then, go out there and do it again next time. Wahaha!"
"Right!"
"So we're playing a full set after all... Our first practice match, the Interhigh Prelims, and now this..." Daichi crossed his arms, recalling all the times they played with Seijoh. "Somehow, our matches with Seijoh always end up being the most intense..."
(Y/N) grinned. "And that's why it's always fun to play against them, right?"
'...We don't have the slightest intention of losing this set.'
'But I have this feeling I can't quite describe.'
'Difficult to handle opponents'.
'Pain in the ass opponents.'
'Even just last year our teams had nothing to do with each other, and yet...'
'They weren't supposed to be at our level, and yet...'
'We're fated to battle them in full sets.'
The teams of Aoba Johsai and Karasuno will still continue after this. However this is their final set. With these members...
Masters of the Court.
Take to the Skies.
Their last match.
A/N : just spent an entire day writing this like from around 1 to 9:34 (i may have taken one or two genshin impact breaks). I was originally gonna make the entire match one chap, but my hands, back, and eyes hurt and it was really long so I'm just gonna split it.
also hanamaki and yamaguchi carrying their teams on their backs like fr fr. Ryouta and Midorima will appear next chap. Also ik I'm following the manga but next chap I'm def gonna add some of the movie parts into it cuz pain and tears ;)
btw i think this is my longest chap not including the 300k special (i gott start working on the 600k special) YALL R AMAZING BTW THANK U SO MUCH FOR 600K! <3 <3