Akira POV – The Roar of Victory
The sound of the final whistle still rang in my ears.Piiiiii—! The referee's arm came down, and the scoreboard above Miyagi Gymnasium froze like a captured moment in time:Chidoriyama JHS 2 – Kitagawa Daiichi 0(25–18, 25–15)
I could feel the sweat cooling on my skin under the glaring lights. My lungs burned pleasantly, my legs still tingled from every jump. The crowd's cheer was a wall of sound, a wave that pushed against me as I straightened from my last spike.
"Three-time champions!" The announcer's voice cracked slightly with excitement.
A cheer erupted from our bench. Teammates swarmed me—patting my back, ruffling my silver hair.I grinned, wide and unbothered. "Heh, told you we'd wrap this up in two sets."
Our libero smirked. "You make it sound like you didn't just shut down the King of the Court."
That nickname. "King of the Court." They meant Kageyama Tobio—Kitagawa's pride and nightmare all in one. He was dangerous, that much was clear… but today, I'd made him look ordinary.
I grabbed my towel, running it over my silver bangs, my blue eyes flicking toward Kitagawa's side. Kageyama stood stiff, fists clenched, staring at the floor as if willing it to crack open. His teammates kept glancing at him—hesitant, unsure. That trust? I'd broken it. Not out of cruelty… but because that's what a champion does.
Flashback – Second Set, Mid-Game
The rally began with Kageyama's serve—BOOM!—a bullet. I slid forward, my platform firm. Perfect receive. The ball floated right into our setter's hands.
We went for a quick to the middle, just to mess with their block rhythm. They bit, and when the next ball came to me on the left wing, I had all the time in the world. I leapt—FWOOOSH—legs coiling, arm whipping through the air.
My spike curved wickedly, brushing past the fingertips of their double block.THUNK! The ball landed near the backline. Kageyama's eyes narrowed.
"Too slow, King," I muttered under my breath when I landed.
Kageyama POV – Cracks in the Crown
Why…? Why can't they hit my sets?
My breathing was uneven. Every toss, every quick set—they were mistimed. My hitters hesitated, second-guessed. Even when the ball left my hands perfectly, they seemed unsure.
Across the net, that silver-haired ace looked relaxed. Mocking me with his calm. His blue eyes weren't just watching the ball—they were watching me. Reading me. And when his gaze met mine after a point, it wasn't arrogance—it was a challenge.
Then came the blocks. His timing was unreal. Every time I set a ball near the antenna, BAM!, there he was—hands sealing the net like an unbreakable wall. My teammates' shoulders slumped after each stuff. I could feel it—their doubt settling in.
I gritted my teeth. No… I'll make them believe again.
But before I could rebuild, the set was over. And so was the match.
Hinata POV – From the Stands
I couldn't sit still. My legs bounced, my hands clenched on the railing.
"That's… that's amazing!" I practically shouted.
From beside me, Tanaka grinned. "You mean the silver guy? That's Akira Tōru. Three-time nationals champ."
Three-time…? My jaw dropped. Down on the court, Akira leapt again—soaring, impossibly high. His silver hair caught the light, his form perfect in the air. SMASH! Another point. The crowd roared.
I'd seen amazing spikes before on TV… but this? This was beautiful. Elegant but terrifying. Like an angel turning into a demon midair.
"That's my friend," I blurted without thinking.
Everyone turned to stare. I didn't care. I couldn't take my eyes off him.
Nishinoya POV
From the stands, I cupped my hands around my mouth."YEAH! SHOW 'EM, KID!" My voice cut through the crowd noise, earning a few side-eyes.
Silver hair, calm face… then BANG—another unstoppable spike. I laughed. "That's Chidoriyama for ya. Guy's already playing like a pro."
The other Karasuno members with me exchanged looks. I could tell—they were impressed. Heck, I was impressed, and I've seen some monsters in my time.
This wasn't just raw power. His blocks? Textbook perfect. His receives? Rock steady. And that cheeky little smirk after shutting someone down? Priceless.
Post-Match – Locker Room
"Nationals again, huh?" our captain said, tossing me a bottle of water.
I cracked it open. "Wouldn't be fun any other way."
We laughed, the tension melting. The reporters outside were probably waiting already. That'd be awkward—answering the same "how do you feel" question for the hundredth time.
But a part of me was already somewhere else.
On the other side of the net today had been a setter with insane potential. A guy who could rival the best—if he learned control. And in the stands… a certain orange-haired friend of mine, probably vibrating with excitement.
Foreshadowing – Walk Home
Later, bag slung over my shoulder, I walked out into the evening air. Hinata was waiting near the gate, still buzzing.
"You were amazing!" he blurted.
I chuckled. "You think so?"
"I know so! You have to come to Karasuno—imagine us on the same team!"
I didn't answer right away. Offers from Shiratorizawa, Aoba Johsai, and even Tokyo schools sat in my bag. But… Karasuno, huh?
The sun dipped low, painting the court windows in gold.I smiled faintly. "We'll see."