A Small Squall

"Our first match today is against Nekoma. How did we do yesterday?"

After finishing their warm-ups, Coach Ukai called everyone over and asked Kiyoko. Kiyoko flipped to the page recording their match results in her notebook.

"Today is our third match against Nekoma. Yesterday's results were 25:21 and 20:25, so we have one win and one loss."

"Meaning, we're tied with them. Even with Hayato joining us, your coordination isn't quite there yet. So, for the upcoming match, you all need to calm down and play seriously. You'll find an opening to win. Hinata and Kageyama haven't played against Nekoma in a while, right? This is your chance to get revenge."

Coach Ukai first summarized yesterday's matches, then looked at Hayato, who nodded in acknowledgment. Finally, he turned his expectations to the two first-year students, offering them encouragement.

After Hinata and Kageyama replied in unison, everyone walked onto the court together.

The lineup for today is Kageyama, Hinata, and Tanaka in the front row, with Tsukishima and Nishinoya rotating. Tsukishima, Daichi, and Hayato are in the back row. The opposing team will serve first.

"Bring it on~"

Hinata exchanged a glance with Haiba across the net, got into a defensive stance, and shouted loudly.

"Nice receive!"

As Tanaka's words fell, Hinata and Kageyama's Monster Quick Attack successfully scored, making the score 10:12. Although the match was only halfway through, Haiba, with his unusual reach and height, was gradually keeping up with Hinata's offensive rhythm. He had almost touched that last ball.

This made Hinata increasingly anxious. Since Karasuno scored, Tanaka served according to the rules. After the opponents received it, they hit it back, but thankfully, Daichi received it perfectly.

"Opportunity ball!"

With Daichi's shout, Hinata jumped again, and Kageyama tossed the ball to him. However, this time, Haiba, who jumped diagonally upwards, blocked the ball solidly.

Because the spike was powerful, the ball bounced back into the court very quickly after being blocked. Nishinoya couldn't save it, and Nekoma scored a point. Haiba, who successfully blocked, was praised by everyone else.

"It was figured out this quickly?"

Teacher Takeda looked incredulous.

"Nekoma was already good at that quick attack, and now with that newcomer's height and amazing reaction speed, it's going to be tricky,"

Coach Ukai said, looking at Haiba, who had repositioned himself, with a headache, his arms crossed.

Haiba, standing at the net, beckoned to Hinata, signaling him to bring it on.

Hinata, his fighting spirit ignited, looked back at him defiantly.

At this moment, Kageyama discussed with Hinata about switching to a regular quick attack. Kenma, Nekoma's setter, also guessed Kageyama's intention and called Haiba over, instructing him to switch to an Adaptive Block.

The so-called Adaptive Block refers to jumping to block after clearly seeing the direction of the toss.

Kenma sent the ball over with a regular serve. Tanaka received it steadily, and Karasuno launched another attack. This time, Hayato rotated to the front row, and Kageyama directly passed the ball to Hayato.

"Kuroba-senpai!"

"Got it!"

With Hayato's attack, even though Haiba had switched to an Adaptive Block, his hangtime in the air was still no match for Hayato's. He delivered a powerful spike that went through the double block and straight towards Kenma.

Facing the fierce volleyball, Kenma dodged it directly, enraging Nekoma's Coach Nekomata, who shouted at him.

"Kenma, no dodging!"

"Your arm will break."

"It won't break!"

Hayato, knowing Kenma's personality well, had specifically aimed for him with this spike. They scored again, and the Karasuno members were all very happy. However, Hinata wasn't as pleased. He had jumped too, but neither of the two blockers on the opposing side had even looked at him, which made him very resentful.

Kenma also noticed that Hayato had deliberately aimed for him. Looking at Hayato celebrating the score with his teammates, Kenma fell into thought.

Just as Hayato was about to try the same move again, Kenma, who had already discussed it with the libero Yaku, retreated directly. Yaku came to receive the ball, thwarting Hayato's attack.

"Tsk, as expected of someone who plays with their brain. Your mind works so fast."

Sighing in frustration, Hayato quickly joined Kageyama to prepare for a block. Due to rotation, their libero had just gone off the court, and Hinata had moved to the back row, leaving them at their weakest defensively.

After a successful touch, the ball remained in Karasuno's half. Shouting "Opportunity ball!", everyone assumed Hayato would be the main attacker again, but Kageyama executed a secondary attack and scored.

"Well done, Kageyama!"

Hayato ruffled his junior's hair and praised him happily.

"Thanks for the compliment."

Kageyama was also very happy to have scored.

The two teams continued to trade points. When Hinata rotated to the front row again, he became more agitated by the opponent's provocation. Just as Kageyama saved Nekoma's spike and Daichi tossed the ball up.

This ball was originally meant for Hayato's attack, but before Hayato could even jump, he felt a predatory aura. Glancing sideways, he saw Hinata, full of fighting spirit, preparing to jump. And it wasn't a decoy jump; his eyes were completely fixed on the ball, and Hayato immediately understood that Hinata was going to steal the ball.

A more dominant, irresistible aura, that of the King of the Sky, emanated, startling everyone around. Although aura is a very mysterious thing, at this moment, everyone could feel Hayato's intent.

This ball is mine, and no one is allowed to take it.

Hayato leaped high and spiked the ball successfully. After landing, he took several deep breaths to calm himself.

"Whoa, that was scary."

Haiba, one of the three blockers, had directly faced the Hayato who seemed like the King of the Sky. His expression was blank, yet full of aggression, his eyes fixed on the volleyball like a bird of prey spreading its wings and swooping down from the sky to hunt.

The events that unfolded in this brief moment made everyone off the court hold their breath.

"Hinata just tried to steal the ball that was passed to Hayato, didn't he?"

Sugawara, a bead of cold sweat on his face, made a guess, and Asahi beside him nodded in agreement.

"How should I put it, Hinata's jump posture and direction just now scared the life out of me. I thought the two of them were going to collide, but Hayato's sudden burst of power completely stunned Hinata."

Hinata, who had also reacted, quickly bowed to Hayato.

"I'm terribly sorry, Kuroba-senpai, truly sorry. I was just too focused on the ball."

"Well, well, things like this happen occasionally. It's a relief that no one got hurt."

Hayato, retracting his intimidating aura, smiled gently, helped Hinata up, and then cautioned him to always observe the actions of those around him. The overwhelming, god-like aura he had possessed moments before was completely gone.

"Hinata, you idiot, watch your surroundings! Otherwise, what's the point of calling out?"

After scolding Hinata, Coach Ukai leaned back in his chair with a sigh of relief that there had been no collision.

At the same time, he watched everyone comforting Hinata, and the harmless-looking Hayato.

"Even though Hinata's action just now was unintentional, the sheer aura he exuded was enough to stun him. Kuroba Hayato, I have to admit, he has now fully evolved into Karasuno's ace."

Taking a deep breath, Coach Ukai glanced at Asahi, who was on the substitute bench, with a complex feeling in his heart.

On the other side, Coach Nekomata also noticed Karasuno's situation. With his arms crossed, he watched the combination of Hinata and Hayato.

"A sudden raptor has occupied the crows' nest, and the little crow within, wanting to do something, was ruthlessly suppressed by the outsider king? Interesting. What will happen next? Will the outsider king integrate into the nest, or will the little crow rise to the challenge?"

"Well, however, those who don't pursue change will never be able to evolve. How far Karasuno can go depends on how they handle it."

After summarizing, Coach Nekomata decided to continue observing.

And after this small disturbance, the match resumed. No further situations like the one just now occurred, and the game ended with a score of 25:20.