Saturday!
The sky was clear and bright.
Akashi Asuka, carrying a convenience store bag, walked towards Oikawa Tooru's house with Mishita Ryuhei.
"What did you buy?" Mishita Ryuhei asked curiously, looking at the bag in Akashi Asuka's hand.
"Since we're visiting a senior, of course, I have to buy a suitable gift," Akashi Asuka said with a righteous expression.
"A gift? When did you become so polite?" Mishita Ryuhei looked at Akashi Asukasuspiciously. In his impression, although Akashi Asuka wasn't stingy, he was clearly not the type to be overly polite.
"This time it's different. What if Oikawa-senpai has elders at home? It wouldn't be good to go empty-handed!" Akashi Asuka said righteously.
"That's true," Mishita Ryuhei nodded, acknowledging Akashi Asuka's statement, but for some reason, he felt that something was off.
...
Soon after.
The two arrived at Oikawa Tooru's house, but it seemed there were no adults at home.
Iwaizumi Hajime, Hanamaki Takahiro, and Matsukawa Issei had already arrived. Their purpose for being there was simple: to help Oikawa Tooru with his studies.
As they entered the room, Akashi Asuka and Mishita Ryuhei saw Iwaizumi Hajime holding a textbook in one hand, and his other hand clenched into a fist, hanging over Oikawa Tooru's head like the Sword of Damocles.
Oikawa Tooru and Kyotani Kentaro sat upright and formally.
Matsukawa Issei and Hanamaki Takahiroseemed to be doing nothing, but if one observed closely, they would find that the two were guarding the door and window openings, respectively.
The three used the '2-1 tactic' from volleyball to firmly confine Oikawa Tooru and Kyotani Kentaro in the room.
"Oh! You're here."
Seeing Akashi Asuka and Mishita Ryuhei enter the room, Iwaizumi Hajime looked up and greeted them, then resumed staring intently at the two by the desk.
"Thank you for your hard work, three seniors. I bought some snacks on the way, everyone please take a short break!"
Upon hearing this, Iwaizumi Hajime raised his right hand and checked his watch. He found that the study session had already lasted for three whole hours, and after some thought, he said, "Alright, then let's take a short break."
As soon as he said this.
By the desk, the two who were usually the most unruly in the Volleyball Club simultaneously let out a sigh of relief, their bodies immediately slumping down.
Akashi Asuka took out the snacks he bought on the way and distributed them one by one. Because of the hot weather, he mainly bought cold drinks, potato chips, cola, and similar items.
Everyone received a portion, and when it was Oikawa Tooru and Kyotani Kentaro's turn, Akashi Asuka pulled out two workbooks from the plastic bag with a backhand motion: "Here, these are the gifts I prepared for you two. Don't be shy."
Oikawa Tooru: "..."
Kyotani Kentaro: "..."
The outstretched hands of the two being tutored suddenly froze, and the expressions on their faces visibly stiffened at a rapid pace.
The sudden 'gifts' not only surprised Oikawa Tooru and Kyotani Kentaro, but even Mishita Ryuhei, who had come with Akashi Asuka, was stunned for a moment, and then his expression quickly turned to one of horror as he looked at Akashi Asuka.
Good heavens.
Please, be a human!
Is this something a human being would do?
"Cough, cough, cough~~"
Hanamaki Takahiro and Matsukawa Issei, who were slurping on ice pops, almost spat out what was in their mouths on the spot, coughing until tears nearly came out.
It was Iwaizumi Hajime, the patriarch, who remained the most composed. He calmly took the two workbooks, flipped through them a few times, and then his eyes lit up: "Oh? Not bad! Akashi-kun, the workbooks you chose are quite targeted."
Akashi Asuka smiled honestly: "Hehe~~ It's good if they can be put to use. To help the two seniors choose suitable study materials, I even specifically reviewed third-year knowledge last night!"
Oikawa Tooru: "Σ(??Д??;)"
Kyotani Kentaro: "(??Д??)ノ"
Are you a devil?
Just to buy us a workbook, you even specifically reviewed third-year textbooks in advance?
Is this something a human being would do?
At this, even Iwaizumi Hajime was speechless.
Not far away, Mishita Ryuhei, Hanamaki Takahiro, and Matsukawa Issei all collectively took a small step back. Although with their current grades, they probably didn't need tutoring.
But if they ever slipped up, they certainly didn't want this devil to tutor them.
And so, Oikawa Tooru and Kyotani Kentaro's joyful weekend officially began.
...
...
Meanwhile.
On the other side.
Apart from Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio, the other players from Karasuno High Schoolhad already arrived at Nekoma High School in Tokyo, officially beginning their two-day and one-night Tokyo expedition.
What?
Where did Kageyama Tobio and Hinata Shoyogo?
Do you even need to ask? Of course, they're studying!
In the original story, facing the four High Schools in the [Fukurodani Academy Alliance]: Fukurodani Academy, Nekoma High School, Morisen High School, and Ikebukuro High School.
Karasuno, missing its first-year duo, was initially rotated quite miserably.
But this time it was different.
Because Karasuno had an additional Oda Miki, they were... rotated even more miserably.
Don't misunderstand.
The reason for this outcome was not that Oda Miki dragged the team down, but rather that when the players from Morisen High School and Fukurodani Academy heard that Karasuno was from Miyagi Prefecture, they played even more fiercely.
The reason was simple.
We lost to your Aoba Johsai in the National Tournament; that was indeed due to being outmatched.
But now your Miyagi Prefecture preliminary team has come here to play practice matches with us. If we lose again, wouldn't we become the subordinates of your subordinates?
As teams that once made it to the National Tournament, we have our pride, don't we?
"Uh~~ How come it feels like after the Karasuno High School people arrived, the Fukurodani and Morisen people suddenly became full of motivation?" The Ikebukuro High School player scratched his head, wondering.
"It's probably because they all once lost to the Miyagi Prefecture representative team—Aoba Johsai High School!"
"Oh! I see."
The Karasuno people didn't notice this aspect of things. After all, it was only their first time playing against strong schools in Tokyo today, so they just thought this was the strength of Tokyo and National-level High Schools.
Until near lunchtime.
Karasuno's first-year duo finally arrived in Tokyo, rushing with the help of Tanaka's older sister.
However... the outcome still didn't change much.
But the crows began to spread their wings.
The chicks broke out of their shells.
Facing a flock of crows in a state of thirst, no one could be sure how high they would ultimately fly.
...