---
The bus hissed to a stop outside Karasuno High, its doors creaking open as the players slowly spilled out, jerseys damp, bodies aching, but spirits undeniably high.
The dusky sky was tinted orange as if reflecting the victory still burning in their blood.
Daichi turned to the group, clapping once. "Great job today. We beat Aoba Johsai clean. Be proud, but stay focused—we've still got gaps to fill. Rest well. Tomorrow, we dissect everything."
"Hell yeah!" Tanaka pumped a fist into the air, his voice breaking the fatigue like a war cry.
Yamaguchi smiled shyly. "We really won..."
Tanaka rolled his eyes. "Barely. That Oikawa serve nearly nuked us."
Hinata slung his bag over his shoulder and caught Kiyoko's eye. "Good night, Shimizu-senpai," he said, his voice quiet, respectful.
She nodded in return. "Good game, Hinata."
As he walked toward his bike, the others chattered behind him, the buzz of post-match adrenaline refusing to die down.
But Hinata was already deep in thought. He knew this was only the beginning.
Oikawa still hasn't peaked, he thought, gripping his handlebars. But neither have we. We're not ready yet—not for Date Tech. And not for Shiratorizawa.
He pedaled through the crisp air, the sounds of the match replaying in his head—the thump of serves, the sting of blocks, the final silence after his line shot scorched past Oikawa's fingers.
---
At home, he stepped through the door with a soft, "I'm back."
Natsu charged him like a cannonball. "Did you win?!"
"Yeah," Hinata chuckled, setting down his bag. "2-0. We shut them out."
"YEAH!" she bounced. "Did you do any crazy fast moves?"
Hinata chuckled again and moved to the kitchen, where his mom was setting the table. "Dinner's ready, Shoyo. You look wiped."
He sat, already reaching for a bowl of rice. "Their setter, his name is Oikawa—his serves were monsters. Like bullets. He was targeting tall Jerk Tsukishima's corner over and over. Nearly broke our rhythm."
Natsu blinked. "Tsukki didn't cry, did he? Hahahah"
Hinata grinned. "Nah. He grumbled like usual. But I closed the set with a line shot. Oikawa couldn't even move."
"Boom! Take that, King of the Pretty Boys!" Natsu declared.
Their mother laughed softly. "I'm glad you're safe. And proud of you, Shoyo."
Hinata nodded, swallowing a mouthful. "We're improving. But there's a long way to go."
Natsu tugged his sleeve. "What's next?"
He hesitated, then said, "I need to make sure we stay a team."
' That no one else breaks like Asahi-san did.' His voice was quiet.
His mom glanced at him, concern flickering in her gaze. But she said nothing, trusting him to carry whatever weight he held.
---
Meanwhile, in town, Takeda's breath misted as he approached the shuttered Ukai Store, the dull glow of fluorescent lights barely reaching the sidewalk.
He pushed the door open, greeted by the familiar jingle.
Behind the counter, Keishin Ukai looked up from a magazine. "Takeda-sensei. Another speech?"
"Yes," Takeda said firmly. "Karasuno just beat Aoba Johsai. A clean win. But we won't last without someone to guide them."
Ukai tilted his head, unimpressed. "You beat Aoba Johsai? With Oikawa?"
Takeda nodded. "We did. But only just. His serves nearly shattered us."
Ukai scratched his head. "Sounds like he's still scary. So why come to me?"
"You're the grandson of Coach Ukai. You know the game. These boys—they're not just kids. They're the spark of something that could revive Karasuno."
Ukai gave a dry laugh. "You make it sound like a movie script. I sell instant ramen and beer. Not dreams."
Takeda took a breath. "First years Hinata. Kageyama. Tsukishima. They're talented—but they're raw. Unpolished. They need a strategist. A backbone. You."
Ukai looked away. "I've got a life, sensei."
"I'll be back tomorrow," Takeda said calmly. "I'm not giving up."
As the door clicked shut, Ukai stared after him. A flicker of conflict passed over his face—but it disappeared behind a cloud of cigarette smoke.
---
The next morning, the Karasuno gym buzzed with renewed energy, though soreness lingered in their limbs. Daichi stood at the whiteboard, marker in hand.
"Let's break it down," he said, tapping the word "SERVES" scrawled beside Oikawa's name. "Oikawa's jump serves were killers. Four aces in a row. He zeroed in on Tsukishima's corner and broke our rhythm."
Tsukishima scowled, arms crossed. "I wasn't the only one missing receives."
"No," Daichi agreed. "But he saw your hesitation and exploited it. You three—Kageyama, Yamaguchi, Tsukishima—are our weakest in receive. Train hard this week."
Yamaguchi gulped. "Y-Yes!"
Kageyama frowned, nodding. "Got it."
Tsukishima muttered, "Fine. Whatever."
Hinata leaned against the wall, arms folded, his expression calm. "We need to start reading his toss. His body angle tells more than the ball."
Everyone turned.
"Trust me," Hinata added, meeting Daichi's gaze. "It's not just about reaction—it's anticipation."
Daichi blinked. He hadn't expected that level of insight from Hinata. But he nodded. "Good point."
Tanaka leaned on the wall. "I'm telling you, Oikawa's scary. If not for Hinata's final spike, we might've cracked."
Daichi turned back to the board. "Their third years—especially Iwaizumi—hit hard. But our block line held. Kageyama's tempo with Hinata was clean. Tanaka's spikes broke their rhythm. And that last play—Hinata's line shot—froze Oikawa."
"It was satisfying," Hinata said softly. "I waited for his hesitation."
The gym quieted for a moment.
Daichi gestured to the lineup. "Front row—Hinata, Tsukishima, and I—formed a solid wall. But our back row still lacks punch. We need Noya back."
That silence again.
Tsukishima raised a hand, voice dry. "So… who's this 'guardian deity' you keep mentioning?"
Sugawara stepped forward, voice calm. "Nishinoya. Our libero. Got suspended after defending Asahi."
"Asahi?" kageyama asked, feigning mild curiosity.
"Last year's ace," Sugawara explained. "He was incredible. But during a match, he got blocked—over and over. Eventually, he… broke. Said he couldn't call himself an ace anymore. Quit. Noya punched a teacher over it. Suspended."
Yamaguchi whispered, "That's awful…"
Tsukishima shrugged. "Sounds like a weak mindset to me."
"Say that again?" Tanaka growled, stepping forward.
Hinata moved first, placing a hand on Tanaka's shoulder. "He doesn't get it. Yet."
Tsukishima scoffed. "What, you gonna cry too?"
"No," Hinata said calmly. "I've seen what happens when a team forgets to believe in each other. You haven't."
The room went still. Even Kageyama looked sideways at him.
Daichi cleared his throat. "That's enough. Tsukishima, keep your opinions to yourself unless you've earned them."
Sugawara smiled faintly. "We're hoping they both come back. With them, we could be a real threat."
Hinata nodded. They will. Because I'll make sure of it.
"We need to prep for Date Tech," Daichi said. "Tall blockers, fast read blocks. Hinata, your timing will be key."
"I'll handle it, I'll smash through them with power Spikes and break thier so called Wall" Hinata said confidently. "And I'll help the others improve receive."
Kageyama raised a brow. "You sound like a coach."
"Maybe someday," Hinata replied.
The team chuckled, the tension easing.
But even as laughter returned, the ghosts of Nishinoya's fire and Asahi's absence loomed, quiet but undeniable.
---
To be continued…
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