---
The whistle pierced the air.
Oikawa stepped onto the court.
Karasuno felt it—the shift. It wasn't fear. It was tension, winding up inside their chests like a spring.
Tsukishima adjusted his glasses, eyes narrowing. "So the King's rival finally shows up."
Hinata's eyes flicked toward Oikawa. His heartbeat spiked. He's here. The one Kageyama can't ignore.
The first serve belonged to Oikawa.
He tossed the ball up with the grace of a dancer. The moment it left his fingertips, it was like a silent promise—watch this.
The serve slammed into Ennoshita's zone like a cannonball.
"Shit—!" Ennoshita dropped low, digging it out with a wince. "Up!"
The ball sailed to Kageyama. No hesitation.
Set it. Fast.
He flicked it left.
Hinata was already in the air, like instinct had taken over.
BAM.
The ball exploded off his palm, crashing into Aoba Johsai's court before anyone moved.
"LET'S GOOOOO!" Hinata shouted, punching the air.
He landed and turned to Kageyama, eyes sparkling.
Kageyama grunted, barely looking at him. "That timing was good."
"Damn right it was!" Tanaka yelled. "That was a pound! We ain't afraid of Oikawa!"
Second serve—Kageyama.
He sent it hard and low. It caught Kunimi awkwardly.
The ball veered.
"Point!" Daichi barked. "Nice serve!"
Kageyama just exhaled. Good. Keep them off rhythm. Hinata's ready.
Aoba Johsai regrouped. Watari passed perfectly. Oikawa set without looking.
Iwaizumi's spike was clean and brutal.
The sound echoed.
"Dammit…" Tsukishima clicked his tongue. "Too slow."
Hinata watched them celebrate, breathing harder. They're strong. But we're faster.
Iwaizumi served next. It cut sharply toward Tanaka.
"Mine!"
He dropped to dig, barely getting under it.
Kageyama again adjusted—set to Daichi this time.
Daichi swung down the line.
Blocked.
"Cover!" he shouted, diving.
Ennoshita lunged and popped it up with a desperate flick of his wrist.
Kageyama didn't miss a beat.
"Hinata!"
Hinata zipped in like lightning, faster than the block could form.
His palm struck the ball.
It whizzed through the seam and hit the floor hard.
"YEAHHHH!!" Tanaka whooped.
Hinata landed, chest heaving. That was close. But we got it. This pace—
"Keep it up," Daichi called. "Play smart!"
Each rally that followed had its own weight.
When Tsukishima blocked Hanamaki clean, he couldn't hide the small smirk that crept up. "Read you like a book."
Tanaka chest-bumped him. "Don't pretend you're not pumped!"
When Kageyama faked a toss and set to Tsukishima for a quick, the middle blocker gave a sharp grin as the ball smacked the floor. "Finally, a decent toss."
Kageyama scowled. "The ball went exactly where it should."
The score ticked upward.
Karasuno 19 – Aoba Johsai 15.
The gym buzzed with pressure.
When Hinata leapt for a cross, his body twisted, aiming through a narrow gap.
Crack.
The ball bounced off Kindaichi's fingertips.
"YES!" Hinata yelled. "We're almost there!"
"Eyes sharp!" Daichi called out. "No free points!"
On the next play, Tsukishima misread Oikawa's set.
The dump caught him standing flat.
"Dammit!" he hissed.
"Tsukki—shake it off!" Yamaguchi shouted from the bench.
Oikawa smirked from across the court. "Not quite tall enough, huh?"
Tsukishima clenched his jaw. Mock me all you want. I'll read you next time.
Karasuno 22 – Aoba Johsai 17.
The end was close.
But Oikawa wasn't letting go.
He sent a pinpoint serve toward Ennoshita.
"Low!" Ennoshita cried, scrambling.
The ball clipped his forearms awkwardly.
Kageyama chased it down, flicked it to Tanaka, who hit hard—but was blocked.
The ball rebounded high.
Daichi lunged, managing to save it again.
"Still alive!" he growled.
Back to Hinata.
He soared—again.
Hit—again.
Saved—again.
Watari flung himself into the air, grunting from the impact.
Kunimi returned fire—straight at Daichi.
Thud.
Ball down.
Karasuno 24 – Aoba Johsai 23.
The gym was silent.
Everyone stood on edge.
Hinata's chest rose and fell rapidly. His fingers twitched. If we lose this set, it's on me.
Tanaka exhaled, muttering to himself, "We take this here. No third set."
Oikawa smirked, tossing the ball.
"I won't let you end it easy, Karasuno."
He served.
Whip.
The ball screamed across the court.
Daichi stepped in. "I got it!"
The receive was clean—perfect.
Kageyama leapt, scanning the net.
The blockers shifted.
"Kageyama," Hinata breathed, already in motion.
The toss came.
Hinata sprinted.
The world slowed.
I want this point. I want it more than anything.
He jumped—higher than he ever had.
Three blockers in front of him.
He twisted.
His eyes locked on the line.
There!
CRACK.
The ball scorched past the blockers.
It hit the sideline—barely in.
25–23. Set Won.
Silence.
Then an explosion of noise.
"WOOOOOOO!!" Tanaka hollered, grabbing Hinata in a crushing hug. "You ANIMAL!"
Hinata laughed, dizzy with adrenaline. "I don't even know how I did that!"
Daichi clapped Tsukishima's back. "We held strong."
Tsukishima adjusted his glasses, cheeks slightly red. "Yeah… barely."
Kageyama looked at Hinata. "That last hit…"
Hinata grinned, sweat dripping from his chin. "Yeah?"
"…was acceptable," Kageyama muttered, turning away.
"HA! You're blushing!"
"I am NOT!"
---
"TAKE THAT, FANCY PANTS!" Tanaka screamed, tackling Hinata midair.
Hinata lay on the court, gasping, laughing.
Daichi clapped Kageyama on the back. "Perfect set."
Tsukishima adjusted his glasses with a sigh. "Tch. Finally."
Ennoshita dropped to his knees, smiling through exhaustion.
Sugawara, fists raised from the bench. "That's our finish!"
Kiyoko nodded—composed, calm, proud.
Across the court, Oikawa ran a hand through his hair, sweat dripping.
"That stung," he muttered to Iwaizumi.
Iwaizumi gave a faint smirk. "You're not done yet, right?"
Oikawa's smile returned, sharp and burning. "Not even close."
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