Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium - Day 2.
The stands were vibrating. Literally.
A massive brass band was blasting a fight song that rattled the plastic seats. A choir of students chanted in unison, creating a wall of sound that drowned out thoughts, conversations, and the squeak of sneakers.
Inarizaki High School (Hyogo).
Ryuu sat in the spectator section, legs crossed, chin resting on his hand. He was wearing his team jacket, looking down at the court with mild irritation.
"It's loud," Ryuu complained. "Do they bring an entire orchestra everywhere? It's volleyball, not a parade."
"They're famous for it," Kuroo said, sitting beside him. "It's pressure. If you're on the court, that noise messes with your rhythm. You can't hear the ball impact. You can't hear your teammates."
"Annoying," Ryuu muttered.
On the court, Inarizaki was destroying a team from Saitama.
The score was 23-14.
Miya Atsumu walked to the service line.
He didn't rush. He stood there, holding the ball. The band was screaming. The crowd was roaring.
Then, Atsumu raised a single fist.
Cut.
The sound died instantly.
The brass band stopped mid-note. The cheer squad froze. The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating, and terrifyingly obedient.
Ryuu's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh," Ryuu whispered. "Okay. That's cool."
"It's creepy," Kenma shuddered.
Atsumu smirked. He tossed the ball.
He took four steps. Hard, aggressive steps.
'Spike Serve,' Ryuu analyzed instantly.
BOOM.
Atsumu smashed the ball. It curved into the corner for an ace.
Inarizaki 24 - 14.
The band erupted again.
Atsumu walked back for the next serve. He raised his fist again.
Silence.
He tossed the ball. This time, he took six steps. His approach was lighter, more buoyant.
'Jump Floater,' Ryuu noted.
Atsumu hit it. The ball didn't spin. It wobbled through the air like a drunk ghost. The receiver tried to bump it, but it dipped under his arms.
Ace.
Game Set Match.
Ryuu watched as the Inarizaki players celebrated.
"He has two weapons," Ryuu murmured. "And he controls the crowd like a thermostat. Hot. Cold. Loud. Quiet."
"Scared?" Kuroo asked, grinning.
Ryuu stood up, stretching his arms.
"No," Ryuu said, looking down at the blonde setter. "I'm just thinking about how satisfying it will be to make that band shut up permanently."
_____________
Nekoma had their own match coming up in an hour. They were heading to the sub-arena to warm up.
As they walked through the connector hallway, they ran into a sea of black jerseys.
Inarizaki was walking out.
The two teams slowed down. The tension spiked.
At the front, Miya Atsumu stopped. He looked at Kuroo, then his eyes drifted to the tall redhead in the back.
"Oho?" Atsumu's Kansai dialect was thick. "If it isn't the kitties from Tokyo."
"Good game, Miya-kun," Kuroo said politely, though his smile was sharp.
Atsumu ignored Kuroo. He walked straight up to Ryuu.
Osamu (his twin) followed, looking bored and eating a protein bar.
Atsumu looked up at Ryuu. Ryuu looked down.
"So yer the 'Monster'," Atsumu said, tilting his head. "I saw yer interview. Complainin' about the court color. Yer a diva, huh?"
Ryuu adjusted his collar.
"I'm visually sensitive," Ryuu deadpanned. "And you're the Conductor. Nice trick with the band. Do they play requests? I like jazz."
Atsumu's eye twitched. "They play playin' music for winners. They don't play for losers."
"Is that why they stopped playing when you missed that set earlier?" Ryuu asked innocently.
Osamu snorted. "He got ya there, Tsumu."
"Shut up, Samu!" Atsumu elbowed his brother, then glared back at Ryuu. "I didn't miss. The spiker was slow."
Atsumu stepped closer. The "Prince of High School Volleyball" facade dropped, revealing the hungry fox underneath.
"Listen, Dragon-kun," Atsumu lowered his voice. "Yer big. Yer strong. But yer sloppy. I watched you play. You rely on power because you don't trust yer team to cover you if you fail."
Ryuu paused.
"I could set to you," Atsumu whispered, a strange glint in his eyes. "I could make you the best spiker in the world. But playing against you? I'm gonna make you look like a clown."
Ryuu looked at the blonde setter.
He felt the charisma. The arrogance. It was magnetic.
Ryuu smiled. A lazy, unbothered smile.
"You talk a lot," Ryuu said. "For a guy who needs a brother to finish his sentences."
Osamu choked on his protein bar.
Atsumu turned red. "We are distinctive individuals!"
"Sure," Ryuu walked past them, brushing shoulders with Atsumu. "See you in the bracket, Twins. Try not to trip over your own ego."
As Ryuu walked away, Atsumu stood there, vibrating with rage.
"Samu," Atsumu hissed. "I hate him. I hate him so much."
"He's funny," Osamu shrugged. "And he's taller than you."
"I'M GROWING STILL!"
Nekoma vs. Sarukawa Tech (Ishikawa Prefecture).
Round 2.
The opponent was Sarukawa Tech. A tenacious, defensive team known for long rallies and not making mistakes. They were basically a discount version of Nekoma.
The game was annoying.
Score: 15 - 15.
Ryuu spiked. They dug it.
Ryuu tipped. They picked it up.
Ryuu blocked. They covered.
"They're sticky," Yamamoto grumbled. "It's like stepping in gum."
Ryuu stood at the net. He was bored. The adrenaline from the Inarizaki encounter had faded, leaving him with a tedious grind.
"Kenma," Ryuu called.
"What?"
"I'm bored. Let's speed this up."
"If you rush, you make mistakes," Kenma warned.
"I don't make mistakes," Ryuu lied. "I make happy accidents."
Next Rally.
Sarukawa served. Yaku received.
Kenma tossed to Ryuu.
The Sarukawa block was solid. They expected Ryuu to power through.
Ryuu jumped.
He remembered Atsumu's serve. The way he changed tempos.
'Rhythm,' Ryuu thought.
Instead of his usual heavy approach, Ryuu delayed his swing. He hung in the air for a split second longer than usual.
The blockers started to fall.
Now.
Ryuu swung. He hit the ball over the descending block.
BOOM.
It wasn't a kill shot. It landed deep in the court.
The Sarukawa receivers were caught flat-footed because the timing was weird.
Nekoma 16 - 15.
"You changed your tempo," Kuroo noted.
"I'm experimenting," Ryuu shrugged. "If the Twins can play with time, so can I."
________________
Nekoma won 2-0 (25-21, 25-19).
It wasn't a blowout, but it was comfortable. Ryuu didn't go crazy. He played efficient, annoying volleyball. He was saving his energy.
Because he looked at the bracket.
Round 3 Opponent:
Inarizaki High.
The match was set for tomorrow morning.
Ryuu sat on the bench, drinking water. He looked across the gym where the Inarizaki players were cooling down.
Atsumu was staring at him. He made a "throat slit" gesture.
Ryuu laughed. He held up his water bottle in a "cheers" motion.
"Tomorrow," Ryuu whispered. "We see if the Fox can eat the Dragon."