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The gym buzzed with energy. For the first time in a long while, Karasuno's team was whole. The return of both the guardian Nishinoya and the ACE Asahi marked the beginning of something new. Something powerful. There was a silent agreement in the air—Karasuno wasn't going to be the same team anymore. It was time to rise.
Hinata, stretching his legs near the baseline, glanced at the others. He knew deep down that, technically, his skills surpassed Asahi's. His speed, jumping ability, and ability to adapt to any situation were borderline monstrous at this point. But being an ACE wasn't just about who could hit harder or jump higher. It was about something more profound—trust, responsibility, and being the one your team could rely on during the toughest moments.
"Asahi-san has that," Hinata thought, smiling faintly to himself. "They trust him. They look at him and believe."
The team was lively again. Laughter and conversations filled the air. They had gathered by the court and were beginning light stretches. Hinata clapped his hands to get their attention. "Hey! Let's play a 6v6 match today. We've got everyone now, right?"
Everyone nodded. Daichi, arms crossed, looked over the team thoughtfully. "Good idea. We need more game time as a full team."
"I second that," Kageyama added, bouncing a ball against the floor. "We need to refine our rotations."
But Hinata had another reason too—his stat growth depended on constant match play. And the next time he faced someone like Ushiwaka, he wanted no regrets. They were nearly on the same level, after all. Hinata was confident that his receives and blocks were better, but Ushiwaka's spike and serve matched his. SS-grade for sure. If Hinata wanted to surpass that, he had to keep grinding.
Just as they began forming their teams, the gym doors opened. "Good afternoon, everyone!" came the familiar voice of Takeda-sensei.
"Sensei!" several voices chimed.
Takeda walked in with a bright smile, followed by a man wearing a white tracksuit and a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. "I have someone I'd like you to meet."
The team turned, eyebrows raised.
"This here is your coach."
"Coach? Really?" Daichi asked, surprised.
The man tugged off his cap slightly. "Only for the upcoming practice match against Nekoma. Don't get too excited."
"Wait," Tanaka squinted. "Aren't you the guy who runs the Sakanoshita store?"
"Yep," Ukai replied with a shrug. "Ukai Keishin. Former Karasuno player. Takeda here dragged me back in by throwing around words like 'destiny' and 'reviving old rivalries.'"
Takeda chuckled nervously. "Well, I may have brought up the historic matches between Nekoma and Karasuno…"
"But Nekoma? Really?" Tsukishima asked, clearly intrigued.
"Yes," Takeda confirmed, adjusting his glasses. "The match is scheduled for May 6th in Tokyo. I've already spoken to their coach. This could be the first real revival of our old rivalry."
Ukai clapped his hands. "But first—we've got a warm-up match tonight. I've invited the Karasuno City neighborhood team to face off against you all. Match starts at 6:30. I want to see what you've got."
"Tonight?!" Tanaka looked like he was struck by lightning.
"Don't worry," Ukai smirked. "We're borrowing three of you to balance the teams."
Right on cue, a few older players entered the gym, greeting Ukai warmly. Only four of them showed up, just like in the anime.
"Thanks for coming at such short notice," Ukai said.
"Wouldn't miss it," one of the men replied. "We've been curious about the new Karasuno."
"Alright," Ukai called out. "Nishinoya, Asahi, and Sugawara—you'll join the neighborhood team."
Sugawara blinked. "Huh? Me?"
Ukai nodded. "We need a setter, a wing spiker, and a libero to even things out."
Nishinoya pumped his fist. "Let's gooo!"
Asahi smiled faintly. "Guess I'm playing against you all."
Sugawara looked over at Kageyama, then approached him.
"Kageyama," he started, voice calm, "I know you're the better setter. I've accepted that. But today, I want to fight one last time. Not because I think I can beat you… but because I want to give you my best. I want to feel what it's like to go all out against you."
Kageyama stared at him, taken aback. "Why?"
"Because being the main setter isn't just about tossing the ball well," Sugawara said softly. "It's about understanding your team. Being there for them. Creating chances they didn't know they had. You're good, Kageyama. Better than me. But I want you to see what kind of setter I've become too."
Kageyama, for a moment, was silent. Then, with a respectful nod, he said, "I'll make sure you regret it."
Sugawara smiled. "I'd expect nothing less."
He turned toward Nishinoya. "Let's make this count. Give me some killer receives."
Nishinoya grinned, practically vibrating with excitement. "You got it, Suga-san!"
Sugawara looked at Asahi next. "Hey, can you trust me to set for you?"
Asahi chuckled. "Always."
Hinata, watching all of this, felt a strange warmth settle in his chest. The way Sugawara spoke… his emotional intelligence, his maturity—it was something else. He wasn't just a player. He was a glue that held people together.
Ukai walked to the center of the court. "Teams!"
Team A: Hinata (WS), Daichi (WS), Tanaka (WS), Tsukishima (MB), Kageyama (S), Ennoshita (MB).
Team B: Asahi (WS), Sugawara (S), Nishinoya (L), with two senior middle blockers and two wing spikers from the neighborhood team.
Everyone took their places on the court. The air was heavy with anticipation. Sweat and determination filled the space like static.
Ukai raised the whistle to his lips.
FWEEEEEEET!
The match had begun.