A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Also, I decided to have Seirin watch the semifinal, but Hideaki and Karasuno won't meet them until season three when they are about to go against Shiratorizawa. Enjoy!
edited on november 2nd, 2021 @ 8:28pm
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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX - THE IRON WALL CAN BE REBUILT AGAIN AND AGAIN
OUTSIDE OF THE SENDAI CITY GYMNASIUM, onlookers were looking at a certain group walking towards the building. All of them were wearing the same white, black, and red jacket. However, it was the school name that had caught everyone's attention the most.
Seirin.
The group entered the building when they caught the eyes of a bunch of volleyball players who had finished their games.
"Hey, isn't that..."
"I heard about them! The basketball team that defeated Rakuzan during the Winter Cup finals! Seirin!"
"What are basketball players doing at volleyball qualifiers?"
"Looks like we have gained some attention even in the volleyball community." Hyuga commented.
"It seems so, Hyuga-san."
Hyuga yelped as the team's phantom player appeared next to him. "Give me a little warning next time, Kuroko!" He exclaimed.
"My apologises." Kuroko said with a blank stare.
"Izuki-san, you never mentioned why we came here." Kagami stated.
"I figured since we have a practice match in Miyagi tomorrow, we could watch the semifinals today, and stay a day later to watch the finals." Shun explained. "Besides, according to my Nii-san's texts, Aoba Johsai is playing their quarterfinal right at this moment."
"Aoba Johsai? That's the team they lost against in the Inter-High, right? I remember Hideaki-kun and Oikawa-kun mentioning that." Riko said as Shun nodded.
"I wanted to support him considering if Aoba Johsai wins, Nii-san's volleyball team will have a rematch against them." Shun explained. "Ah, I really hope Nii-san won't recognize me. None of his teammates know what I look like, so that aspect shouldn't be hard."
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"Go, go, let's go! Let's go Date Tech!"
"Go, go, let's go! Let's go Date Tech!"
Hideaki could hear Date Tech doing their cheer as his eyes were glued on the game down below with Date Tech and Aoba Johsai, with the two schools on their second set with Aoba Johsai in the lead with 8 points and Date Tech with 6.
"Um... It seems that Seijoh took the first set."
"Ah, Karasuno!"
Hideaki blinked as he glanced over to see the third-years from Date Tech who must've come to cheer on their juniors. Sugawara, Daichi, and Asahi did so as well. He sighed before turning his attention back towards the game.
He watched as Oikawa sets the ball to Hanamaki who did a feint and got the point. However, not long after, Date Tech got the point back, but it was still a two-point difference between them and Aoba Johsai.
Hideaki watched as Hanamaki did a jump serve, as a player from Date Tech receives it. He noticed Date Tech's Number 7 getting under the ball to set, making him raise an eyebrow in curiosity.
"It seems Date Tech has a new setter." Hideaki thought as he watched the ball go into his palms. "I wonder what kind of set he'll do—"
He paused his thoughts when he widened his eyes and choked on air. "Wh-What the hell was that?" He asked himself as the setter had tossed the ball way high up for anyone to reach.
Hideaki sighed when he saw Futakuchi run forward and spikes the high toss, however Aoba Johsai blocked him and he had touched the net, so the point went to the opposing team.
He leans back into his chair, shocked but slightly amused by Date Tech's new setter as he watched Hanamaki serve the ball, it hits the net and the ball falls to the ground, making Date Tech get the lucky point.
Hideaki watched as the ball gets served again as both teams tried to connect the volleyball. He saw how Date Tech's Number 7 helped Aone block a spike from Iwaizumi. "He's huge for a setter." Hideaki thought as he looked at his appearance.
His hair was mostly blond, except for the middle of his fringe, which is black and styled up. His eyebrows were the same color as his fringe, implying that his hair was dyed blonde.
"That's our new weapon." The third-year from Date Tech spoke, as Hideaki guessed that Daichi, Sugawara, and Asahi were commenting on the setter.
"The giant setter, Koganegawa."
"Well, at least I can put a name to a face." Hideaki thought as he went back to watching the game. He deadpanned when Koganegawa sets the ball too high for Aone in which the ball flies out of the court as Date Tech's coach catches it.
Hideaki chuckled a little as he saw how Koganegawa was apologizing to Futakuchi who was trying his best to reassure him.
"H-He's still in the process of developing! It's only been a short time since he became a setter! He's going to become a big name in the future!" The third-year announced as Daichi calmed him down.
"S-Small mistakes like that happen often." Daichi reassured as Hideaki snickered at the situation before looking over at the scoreboard.
Date Tech
08
Aoba Johsai
11
Hideaki watched as Koganegawa performs a setter dump, but it was too obvious as Hanamaki saves the volleyball, as the ball goes towards Oikawa who sets to Iwaizumi, who spikes past the blockers.
The libero managed to receive it as another player tossed the ball to Futakuchi who spikes the ball, however Aoba Johsai's blockers got a one touch in. Hideaki watched with curious eyes as Oikawa sends the ball to Hanamaki.
"Huh? Don't tell me Number 3 is going to toss?"
Hideaki turned out to be correct when Hanamaki sets to Oikawa who charged forward, however Futakuchi and Aone saw the spike coming and raced over to block, but there was an open spot beside Aone for Oikawa to spike the ball.
He was suddenly surprised when he saw Koganegawa rushing over to Aone's side and jumped into him, aiding the block, as Oikawa hits the ball but the volleyball slams back down towards the court and Date Tech gets the point.
Hideaki snorted in amusement when Koganegawa's body collided into Aone's side in which Aone accidently collided into Futakuchi who falls over to the side. He chuckled once more as he crossed his arms.
The game went on as Aoba Johsai countered and got the point back. "Well, I guess that was to be expected." Hideaki thinks to himself as Futakuchi seemed to be scolding the new setter, Koganegawa. The game between the two teams continued on as Hideaki took a look at the score.
Date Tech
16
Aoba Johsai
18
Hideaki heard the sounds of Aoba Johsai cheering as Oikawa did his jump serve. He sighed when Oikawa slammed down the ball and got a point. "Damn him and his crazy ass serves." He thought. His boyfriend's fan girls screamed from above as Oikawa serves the ball again, but this time, Futakuchi was ready as he dived down and saved it, however this gave Aoba Johsai a chance ball.
The ball gets smacked down again by Aoba Johsai, but Date Tech's libero was there to receive the incoming ball and get it high enough for Koganegawa to do what looked like a jump toss as Aone charged in and spiked the ball down, successfully getting a point.
Date Tech was now at 17 points with Aoba Johsai being at 19. "So fast! So high!" Hinata exclaimed as everyone watched with shock.
"Putting it right where the spiker will hit it..." Ennoshita spoke up as Hideaki hummed in thought.
"That was a combination play that was possible only because the peak of the setter's jump is really high." He informed his teammates.
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Date Tech
20
Aoba Johsai
23
Hideaki watched as Oikawa did a setter dump, which resulted in Aoba Johsai to get the point. Hideaki hummed and looked at the score. "So, it looks like Seijoh is at match point now." He informed, as he could tell the tension around his teammates was visible.
"Which means if they win this match..." Hideaki's thoughts trailed off as he sighed.
Hanamaki does a jump serve, as the ball gets received by Date Tech. Hideaki saw how Futakuchi calls a toss as his teammate does so and sends the ball his way making Futakuchi gain the point when he slams down the ball.
The ball gets served once more as it also gets saved. The ball goes from player to player as Oikawa then sets to Iwaizumi who spiked it, but the opposing team got a one touch, Koganegawa goes under the ball, as Hideaki wonders who he'll set it too.
Hideaki was surprised when he did a dump instead, but it was more of a slam than a dump, as Date Tech gets the point. Tanaka yelled beside Kageyama in amazement.
"This time, he did a dump and smashed it!" Tanaka stated as Kageyama nodded.
"Even if you had to read it, you couldn't pick that one up." Kageyama stated as Hideaki chuckled.
"Well, seems like he's learning." He commented with a smirk looking over to see Oikawa and Iwaizumi, as he saw the intimidating look on Iwaizumi's face.
"I had a strange feeling Hajime wasn't going to like that. Tōru tossed in a position that was far from the net and couldn't get blocked." Hideaki thought.
The volleyball gets served once more, but Date Tech's libero received it as it was going back to Aoba Johsai's side. However, Koganegawa jumped up and saved the ball, as he sets it to Aone who slams it down, but Aoba Johsai's libero saves it.
Oikawa gets under the ball and tosses it towards Iwaizumi, who runs forward. Futakuchi, Aone and Koganegawa all jump up to block the spike that was incoming. However, Hideaki smirked when he saw Iwaizumi break through the iron wall and the ball touched the court.
The whole stadium was in silence as they stared in bewilderment. "He... He shot right between his arms!" Hinata exclaimed as the crowd cheered and Hideaki sees Iwaizumi cheer for his point.
TWEEEET!
Hideaki deadpanned as Iwaizumi was getting praised and his hair ruffled about by his teammates. Some of his own teammates were mumbling about Iwaizumi's performance.
Both teams lined up and bowed to each other saying their thanks. "I guess we know who we'll face next." Daichi spoke up. His team didn't reply, but instead stared at Aoba Johsai.
Hideaki's eyes were mostly focused on Oikawa who was talking with Iwaizumi and Kunimi. He narrowed his eyes before following his teammates.
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"Seems like we know who Nii-san's team is facing next." Shun commented from his spot in the audience.
"Think they'll be all right?" Hyuga asked.
Shun sighed. "I hope so. Nii-san will be going against the two people he cares about the most. Unlike with the Inter-High, there will be no second chances for the three of them. Whichever team wins, continues onto the finals." He replied.
Once Karasuno made it to the gym to practice before the semifinal began, the flashbacks of the last game Karasuno had with Aoba Johsai ran through Hideaki's mind. It was obvious his teammates were on edge as Hideaki was stretching his arms, thinking about last time.
"Back then... I blamed everything on myself. I felt weak. I wanted to release my anger onto Tōru and Hajime. But I just couldn't."
The pain of his fellow third-years and his juniors after was sufferable.
"But now... We're stronger and have more experience. I love Tōru, I really do. And I care a lot about Hajime. But in the end, only one team can continue on. Karasuno will win... and go to nationals!" Hideaki thought as he clenched his fist.
"S-Swallow it! Do you need antacids? A heart stimulant? An AED?"
Hideaki blinked before looking over to see Yamaguchi panicking as Yachi seemed like she was going to pass out.
"What's going on?" Tanaka asked in confusion and concern.
"Yachi's heart... her heart!" Yamaguchi exclaimed as Nishinoya smiled and bounced over.
"Calm down, Yamaguchi!" Nishinoya reassured him as Asahi spoke up, looking nervous.
"Do we need to call the cops?"
Tsukishima turned to him with a judgmental look.
"That would be an ambulance."
After that was over, Hideaki went back to do some last-minute stretching and practice as he paused when he heard Daichi's voice.
"All right, is everyone here?" He asked as he checked the time. "It's almost time." He added as his team all had determined looks.
"All right, let's go!"
"All right!"
Karasuno walked out of the gym and headed over to the main gymnasium where they were about to have their rematch with Aoba Johsai.
"This time..." Hideaki thinks to himself as him and his teammates walked through the doors and onto the court.
"...We're going to defeat Seijoh!"
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A/N: And the rematch with Aoba Johsai begins! Thanks for reading!