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The sound of sneakers squeaking on polished wooden floors filled the Karasuno gymnasium as both teams took their positions. The air was tense, crackling with energy. On one side was Team A, brimming with raw potential. On the other, Team B—led by seniors and experience. The first serve belonged to Team B.
Shimada stepped up to the service line, bouncing the ball a few times before pausing. "Let's make this interesting," he said with a light grin and tossed the ball into the air.
A clean jump float serve cut through the air like a blade, arcing toward the back corner—right where Hinata stood.
All eyes zeroed in on the orange-haired first-year. The seniors from Team B, especially the neighborhood team players, had quietly bet on him fumbling the receive. A float serve wasn't easy, even for seasoned players.
But Hinata's eyes were calm. No panic. No hesitation.
Thump.
With perfect timing, Hinata slid into position and raised his arms. The ball made contact with his palms and bounced gently off in a flawless overhand pass to Kageyama.
"Nice receive," Kageyama called out instinctively, clearly impressed.
Hinata smirked to himself. The King's getting tamed... slowly.
There was a moment of stunned silence from Team B. Even Nishinoya, standing on the sidelines, blinked in disbelief. "That receive... it was textbook," he muttered. "No wobble, no misread… clean form."
"Wasn't that a float serve?" one of the neighborhood players whispered.
Sugawara chuckled lightly. "That kid's full of surprises."
Kageyama, now back in control, assessed his options. Tanaka-san's ready… let's go with him. In a flash, he sent a crisp set to Tanaka, who was already taking off.
Tanaka roared as he spiked the ball with all his might, aiming for a sharp diagonal.
The middle blockers of Team B, however, were no amateurs. They had anticipated the hit and formed a solid two-man block. The spike met their hands but ricocheted slightly to the back, creating a one-touch.
Takinoe, positioned at the back, read the deflection perfectly.
"I got it!" he yelled, popping the ball up in a perfect dig. It sailed high.
"Asahi!" Sugawara called as he positioned himself.
"I'm on it!" Asahi's voice was focused and determined. He sprinted into motion, muscles coiled like springs. Sugawara gave him a clean set, and Asahi jumped.
Tsukishima and Kageyama rose to block, but Asahi's eyes were locked onto a new angle. With a loud grunt, he smashed the ball across the court—and out of bounds on purpose, curving it sharply. The sheer force made it impossible to track.
Boom!
The ball hit the floor just outside the block, bouncing off the edge of the court.
"YEAAAH!" Asahi yelled, clenching his fists. He spun around and exchanged a triumphant high-five with Sugawara.
"Nice one, Asahi-san," Sugawara smiled.
"Feels good to hit again."
Team B: 1.
Team A: 0.
Shimada went back for the second serve. He eyed Daichi this time, and with a focused breath, sent another deadly float serve across the court.
Daichi, however, had trained hard. Especially against Hinata's own float serves, which were terrifying in their own right. He calmly stepped in and bumped the ball up to Kageyama.
"Alright," Daichi nodded. "Give 'em hell."
Kageyama, surveying the court, was deep in analysis. But his thoughts were interrupted.
"Kageyama!" Hinata's voice rang clear.
The setter's eyes flicked forward. Hinata was calling for it—not out of desperation, but with certainty.
Kageyama's lips curled into a smirk. "Heh… loud as ever." He set the ball slow and high, right where Hinata wanted it—near the right-side corner, just past the three-meter line.
Hinata was already in motion. His shoes thudded against the wooden floor as he accelerated like a bullet. He soared.
"He's jumping from back there?!" one of the blockers shouted.
Two blockers shot up, timing it perfectly. But—
BOOM!
Hinata's hand met the ball with a sound that echoed across the gym. It wasn't raw power. It was perfect form, momentum, and technique. The ball hit the line—right on the edge—leaving no room for doubt.
"Line shot…" Asahi whispered, eyes wide. "He aimed there?"
The blockers landed, silent.
Ukai, standing by the sidelines, had frozen. His eyes followed Hinata as he landed, his arms still in motion from the follow-through.
He hadn't just seen a spike.
He had seen art.
Ukai's whistle slipped from his mouth and dangled loosely from his neck. His jaw slackened. "That jump form… that body control… What in the world have they been feeding him?"
Asahi clenched his fists quietly. Hinata's words from earlier echoed in his mind: "From one ace to another." The fire returned to his eyes.
I'm not going to lose to you, he thought, determined.
Team A: 1.
Team B: 1.
The teams swapped positions. The ball rolled to Hinata.
Kageyama watched him with curious excitement.
Hinata gave him a side glance and a grin.
Tanaka stepped beside him, whispering to Daichi, "This is where we pray for the opponent's safety."
"I don't get it," one of the seniors said, confused. "How bad could a first-year's serve be?"
Sugawara replied, "You'll find out."
Ukai narrowed his eyes, after hearing Sugawara's words.
As the team rotated, they swapped Shimada out for Nishinoya in the back row. Even he wanted a front-row seat to this serve.
Hinata took a few steps back, holding the ball in one hand. He closed his eyes briefly. One breath. Two.
He opened them again, eyes sharp like a predator.
Ukai stood anticipation building in his chest.
Let's see what you've got, kid.