**Karasuno vs. Shizukawa High.**
The whistle echoed across the gym, sharp and clear, marking the start of the first set.
Karasuno's starting lineup stepped onto the court.
**Daichi**, leading with quiet confidence.
**Sugawara**, eyes sharp, fingers twitching in anticipation.
**Asahi**, standing tall despite the nervous energy in his shoulders.
**Tanaka**, practically vibrating with adrenaline.
**Narita and Kinoshita**, determined, steady, and focused.
On the sideline, Rintarou stood with arms crossed. Kiyoko held the clipboard beside him, pen ready. Ikkei Ukai observed silently from the upper bleachers, sipping tea as if watching a chess match.
The gym was filled with soft murmurs. A few students and teachers had gathered out of curiosity. Some recognized Rintarou and whispered excitedly.
But none of that mattered.
Because for Karasuno, this match was about proving something to themselves.
**First Set — 0:0**
Shizukawa's captain served first. A fast, floating serve that barely dipped over the net.
Kinoshita received it, knees bending deep into a clean pass. Sugawara was already in motion.
"Quick set!"
The toss was tight and short—Asahi launched into the air, connecting with the ball mid-peak.
**Boom!**
The spike slammed into Shizukawa's court with unexpected force.
**1:0 — Karasuno.**
Cheers erupted from the small crowd.
Rintarou nodded slightly. "Good start."
Shizukawa wasn't rattled. Their next play was smoother, testing Karasuno's backline. They targeted Tanaka with a sharp cross shot, and he stumbled, barely managing to lift the ball.
Daichi dived, saving it with a pancake. Sugawara tossed a high ball.
Asahi hesitated for a split second.
**Blocked.**
**1:1.**
On the sideline, Rintarou raised his voice slightly. "Asahi! Stop thinking!"
Asahi nodded with a clenched jaw.
The match rolled on.
Shizukawa was well-drilled. Their blocker read Sugawara's patterns, and Karasuno's offensive flow began to falter.
But Karasuno had something else: hunger.
Tanaka's energy lit the court. He chased down loose balls, called plays, and made noise that disrupted Shizukawa's rhythm.
At one point, he dove into the scorer's table to keep a ball alive, scrambled back to his feet, and spiked a high ball that grazed the fingers of two blockers.
**14:13 — Karasuno.**
"Don't underestimate the crazy ones," Rintarou muttered, smirking.
But cracks began to show.
Narita misread a quick. Kinoshita hesitated on a receive. Sugawara's sets began drifting too far from the net.
Shizukawa pounced.
**18:22 — Shizukawa leads.**
A timeout was called.
The team gathered around Rintarou.
"Breathe," he said calmly. "You're reacting to pressure, not managing it."
He pointed to Sugawara. "Stop trying to be clever. Get the ball to Asahi or Daichi. Keep it simple."
"To Tanaka," Tanaka added quickly.
Rintarou gave him a flat look. "Not yet."
He turned to Daichi. "Tighten the back line. Trust your read. You're allowed to yell."
Daichi gave a determined nod.
The whistle blew. They returned to the court.
Rintarou turned to Kiyoko. "They're close."
She tilted her head. "Close to what?"
"Synchronizing."
---
Back on the court, Daichi barked instructions clearly, pointing, repositioning Kinoshita. Suga sent a clean toss to Asahi.
Asahi jumped.
The block closed in.
But this time, he didn't flinch.
He **spiked through the hands**.
**19:22.**
They clawed back point by point. Daichi picked up every loose ball. Tanaka scored on a blind tip. Sugawara dumped a set over on second touch—surprising everyone.
**24:24 — Deuce.**
The gym fell quiet.
Rintarou narrowed his eyes.
"This is it."
Shizukawa's captain tossed the ball for serve.
It flew fast toward the right corner.
Tanaka shifted.
"Mine!"
He jumped, received midair, and sent a perfect pass to Sugawara.
Asahi called for it.
Suga faked the toss—and **sent it back** to Daichi, who had quietly positioned himself mid-back.
Daichi smashed the ball just over the blockers.
**25:24.**
Match point.
Rintarou's hand tightened into a fist at his side.
The next serve came from Asahi. Strong. Direct. Controlled.
Shizukawa's setter went for a quick—Narita missed the block—but Kinoshita, diving from the back, made the save.
Sugawara, calm now, tossed the ball high.
Asahi jumped.
His hand met the ball **with thunder**.
**26:24 — Karasuno wins Set 1.**
The gym erupted. Karasuno's bench leaped to their feet. Kiyoko even let out a soft breath of relief.
But Rintarou didn't move.
He simply nodded and said, "They're starting to fly."
---
**Set 2**
Shizukawa responded with force. They changed rotations, tightened their serve, and broke Karasuno's rhythm early.
Karasuno's coordination slipped. Asahi was blocked twice. Sugawara was caught off guard. Even Daichi missed a dig.
Rintarou didn't call a timeout.
He watched.
The boys looked at each other, confused. Waiting for help.
And then Daichi shouted, "Reset! Calm down!"
Sugawara adjusted. Tanaka refocused. Kinoshita nailed a clutch receive. They steadied.
Still, Shizukawa claimed the second set.
**21:25 — Shizukawa.**
Match tied.
---
**Set 3 — Final Set**
Rintarou gathered them before it began.
"This is your first true test," he said. "You know how to win. You know how to lose. Now decide what you'll become."
The boys looked at each other.
Then Daichi stepped forward. "No regrets. Let's go."
The final set was brutal. Every point was a war. Shizukawa pushed, and Karasuno answered.
Tanaka blocked a spike with his face and shouted through the pain. Sugawara tossed with blind trust. Asahi roared every time he hit.
The energy became electric.
Even the small crowd stood and clapped with every rally.
**24:23 — Karasuno match point.**
Daichi served.
It cleared the net with perfect control.
Shizukawa's receiver fumbled—the ball went up, but off-balance.
Their spiker jumped… but Narita rose with him.
**Block.**
The ball hit the floor.
**25:23 — Karasuno wins the match.**
---
The gym went still for a second.
Then exploded into cheers.
Karasuno's players collapsed to their knees, laughing, shouting, overwhelmed.
Rintarou remained still, his expression unreadable.
Then he gave a small, approving nod.
Kiyoko stepped beside him.
"They really did it."
"They bled for it," Rintarou replied. "That's why it matters."
---
**After the Match — Gym Entrance**
As Shizukawa left, their captain turned to Rintarou.
"They're rough. But they've got teeth."
Rintarou replied simply, "They're just getting started."
Inside the gym, the team was still buzzing.
Asahi smiled—genuinely.
Tanaka was bragging nonstop.
Sugawara was already noting things to improve.
And Daichi?
He looked across the court… and saw his team.
Kiyoko approached Rintarou. "So? Are they good enough for you?"
"No," Rintarou said.
She raised an eyebrow.
"But they're good enough to become something great."