Before Iwaizumi could even greet them, Oikawa spotted Ushijima and the others behind him. And don't ask why it wasn't Captain Oikawa leading the group—Oikawa simply wasn't the most reliable person.
With a dramatic "whoosh," Oikawa popped out from behind Iwaizumi.
"Ha! Little Ushiwaka! Watch us wipe the floor with you today!"
Ushijima replied calmly, "The one who will win is Shiratorizawa."
Then he added, "Oikawa, you should—"
Before he could finish, Reon quickly covered his mouth.
Ushijima: "?"
Reon smiled at Iwaizumi. "See you on the court. We'll head in first."
Iwaizumi nodded and dragged the flailing Oikawa toward center court. Just like that, Reon and Iwaizumi successfully prevented what would've turned into a childish captain showdown.
Behind them, Tsutomu Goshiki whispered to Ryosuke, "Why does Oikawa-senpai always pick on Ushijima-senpai?"
Ryosuke was still lost in his nerves about having to anchor the Block alone today and didn't hear a word.
It was Yamagata who answered instead.
"That's because Ushijima-senpai has always had the upper hand over Oikawa. That's why Oikawa dislikes him."
Tsutomu Goshiki nodded with an "ohhh, I see" expression.
When both teams entered the arena for introductions, the cheers nearly blew the roof off the gym.
"Oikawa-sama!!"
"Shiratorizawa! Shiratorizawa! Shiratorizawa!"
"Ushijima-senpai, have my babies!"
…Yeah. Something weird definitely slipped in there.
People waved streamers and flowers everywhere. Compared to the slightly empty venue two days ago, the gym was now completely packed.
Hinata followed his seniors through the crowd, craning his neck to look around. Kageyama, dressed casually with his hands in his pockets, still wore that permanently grumpy "the world owes me money" expression.
"So many people…" Daichi murmured.
Sugawara nodded. "Next time, Daichi, we'll be playing on a stage like this too."
"Of course! Next time we're beating Aobajosai!" Nishinoya shouted energetically from behind.
"Alright! Find your seats! Stop wandering around!
Kageyama! Don't fight with Hinata! Tsukishima, zip it! Asahi! You're watching the match, not playing it—stop looking like you're about to throw up! …Sugawara, don't encourage them!"
Daichi looked utterly exhausted trying to manage Karasuno's particularly lively flock of little crows.
They noisily found seats. Not long after, Date Tech arrived as well, practically bringing half their entourage with them.
Futakuchi ran a hand through the hairstyle he'd carefully done that morning, grumbling, "I was supposed to go on a date… Why do I have to watch the finals… So annoying…"
Koganegawa answered bluntly, "Kamasaki-senpai said you're about to become captain, so you need to act like one. No more chasing girls all the time."
He even patted his chest, insisting those were Kamasaki's exact words. Still, why did Futakuchi look even more miserable now?
Aone frowned at the crowd moving around him.
For the sake of watching the match… I'll endure it.
Outside Sendai Gymnasium, Udai lingered for a while, staring at the message Ryosuke had sent inviting him to watch.
In the end, he made up his mind and stepped inside. He wanted to see, through Ryosuke, the youth he himself had once chased.
...
In the infirmary, Saito adjusted Tendo's IV drip.
An unnatural flush colored Tendo's face. The back of his hand was bruised from the needle. Propped against a pillow, he stared at a tablet streaming the live final.
Saito handed him a prepared medicine drink. Tendo narrowed his eyes, waiting for the match to begin.
"Ryosuke… don't let everyone down."
On the court, Ryosuke suddenly glanced up toward the stands, feeling as though someone was watching him.
Probably just his imagination.
"Ryosuke! Stop spacing out—come warm up!"
Reon called out.
Ryosuke set down his towel and nodded. His palms were damp—his nerves were obvious.
As soon as he stepped onto the court for warm-ups, the crowd stirred again.
Tsutomu Goshiki studied Ryosuke's focused expression and ran over to say something to Reon.
Mid-spike, Reon glanced at him in surprise, then looked at Ryosuke.
"How did you even tell Ryosuke was nervous from that expressionless face of his?"
So that was it—Tsutomu Goshiki had said Ryosuke looked nervous.
"Because when he's not nervous, his face looks relaxed," Tsutomu Goshiki insisted seriously.
Reon set the ball down. Since they were the same year and close friends, he decided to believe him and walked over.
Ryosuke was quietly bouncing the ball, trying to steady himself. His expression was serious.
Reon called him aside.
Ryosuke tilted his head slightly.
For a moment, Reon found himself caught in those clear, cat-like eyes, like staring into a forest lake, forgetting what he meant to say.
"Reon-senpai?"
Reon snapped back.
"Don't be nervous. Just treat it like practice."
Shiratorizawa's third-years were all thick-skinned oddballs who barely understood what nerves were. Reon himself wasn't exactly experienced at comforting someone.
Ryosuke let out a soft laugh.
He had wondered why Reon looked so serious.
"Don't worry, senpai. I'll adjust before we go on."
Reon wanted to say more, but seeing Ryosuke's steady gaze, he simply nodded.
Under Shirabu's sets, Ushijima and Tsutomu Goshiki took turns spiking. The court gradually heated up as the audience waited eagerly.
After fifteen minutes of warm-up—
The prefectural final officially began.
"Beep—"
Both teams stepped forward.
Oikawa turned to his teammates.
"Today, I will—"
"Trust our captain."
Aobajosai finished the sentence together.
The team's usual gentle air sharpened instantly.
Iwaizumi's expression tightened. Hanamaki and Matsukawa adjusted their focus.
"Let's go."
Oikawa led them onto the court.
On Shiratorizawa's side, Ushijima and Reon turned to the team.
"Coach Washijō said no matter what, we must win. Everyone heard that?"
"Yes!"
Tsutomu Goshiki and Ryosuke stood tall, numbers six and eight on their backs. Yamagata dropped his usual playful demeanor.
"Let's go."
Ushijima led them forward.
The teams lined up and bowed.
The serve draw had already been decided earlier—Oikawa got first serve.
Oikawa threw his head back laughing, nearly choking.
"I knew Little Ushiwaka's luck was off!"
Grinning, he stepped to the service line.
"Make it a good one, Oikawa!" Iwaizumi called.
Kunimi, sitting off to the side, muttered weakly, "Nice serve…" barely loud enough for Coach Irihata to hear.
Semi whispered to Kawanishi, "Don't you think Oikawa looks annoyingly smug?"
Kawanishi thought about how Oikawa always provoked Ushijima and nodded honestly.
On the court, Oikawa sneezed, then bounced the ball.
In an instant, his expression turned sharp.
He tossed it, took his approach—
The crowd created a rhythmic chant behind him.
"Ooooh—hey!"
"Thwack!"
His entire body snapped into motion as he drove the serve forward.
The ball rocketed toward Shiratorizawa's court.
"I've got it!"
Yamagata slid his left foot forward and kicked the ball up to save it. His ankle throbbed like it had been struck by stone.
"Cover!"
The ball flew awkwardly.
"I've got it!" Ryosuke shouted, lifting it cleanly.
The set was perfect for Ushijima—height and distance exactly how he liked it.
Ushijima jumped.
Matsukawa, Hanamaki, and Kindaichi blocked.
Ushijima smashed straight into their arms.
Matsukawa gritted his teeth and deflected it upward.
"One touch!"
The crowd gasped.
Hinata's mouth hung open. Nishinoya's eyes shone.
"This is insane!"
Even Kageyama couldn't look away.
"The first rally's already intense," Tsukishima commented dryly.
Watari slid in and dug the ball before it hit the three-meter line.
"Got it! Oikawa!"
"Thanks, Watari~"
Oikawa scanned quickly.
"Iwa-chan!"
Iwaizumi charged in and leapt.
Tsutomu Goshiki hesitated.
Ryosuke grabbed his jersey.
"On three. Arms tight."
"One. Two. Three!"
They jumped together.
Iwaizumi saw Ryosuke in front of him and felt his stomach drop.
He swung anyway.
Ryosuke's arms locked.
His left hand angled—
"Thud!"
The ball slammed onto Aobajosai's side.
"Sorry!" Iwaizumi shouted.
"Beep—"
First point: Shiratorizawa.
Tsukishima leaned forward slightly.
Interesting.
"Nice block, Ryosuke!"
"You're amazing!"
Tsutomu Goshiki stared at him in awe.
Oikawa exhaled.
"We can't target Ryosuke yet. He knows our patterns. Number six—watch him. He's the easiest to shake emotionally."
Iwaizumi nodded and relayed it to Hanamaki.
Shirabu stepped up to serve.
Watari frowned.
Shirabu's serve was unpredictable.
Sure enough—
A soft net serve.
"Damn it!"
Chaos erupted under the net.
Even among strong teams, there were always differences in style.
Kawanishi and Shirabu were clear examples.
...
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