A/N: Hello, readers! I finally finished editing the season two chapters! Enjoy!

edited on january 24th, 2022 @ 6:37am

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CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT - THE CHEMICAL CHANGE OF ENCOUNTERS

"ALL RIGHT, first-years, introduce yourselves!"

"Right!"

A first-year Hideaki watched as a male with gray hair stepped up. "I-I'm Suga Koushi from Nagamushi Junior High. I played setter." He introduced himself. He then bowed. "Thank you for having me."

"I-I'm Azumane Asahi from Sekodai Junior High. I played left. Thank you for hafing mwe!" Asahi stammered as he dead panned. Sugawara turned away to keep himself from laughing. Hideaki stepped up to his seniors next after Asahi.

"I'm Izuki Hideaki from Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High. I played left." Hideaki bowed in greeting. "Please take care of me!"

"I'm Sawamura Daichi from Izumitate Junior High! I played left. After seeing Karasuno's match at nationals, I decided I would come to Karasuno! Thank you for having me!" Daichi was the last to introduce himself.

Their seniors looked down in shame. "Oh, I see. That's great. Let's strive to win at nationals!" Tashiro exclaimed.

"Right!"

"Oh, I'm Tashiro. I guess you can call me the captain of this club." Tashiro greeted.

"All right. I'll stop by again once you guys are done."

"Right!" Tashiro replied before turning to his team. "All right, let's start practice!" He announced.

"Right!"

"Um... That teacher was the advisor, right?" Sugawara asked as the four first-years turned to their senior. "Is there someone else that's more like a coach?"

"Nope." Kurokawa simply replied before walking away.

"That was Kurokawa-kun from Hisa Junior High, right?" Daichi questioned.

"Do you know him?" Asahi then asked.

"Our schools played each other, and I remember his offense and defense both being really good." Daichi replied.

"Seriously? That's awesome." Sugawara commented.

"We finally made it to the Karasuno!"

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The volleyball team was currently practicing in the gym. Tashiro tried to receive the ball coming towards him but ended up missing. "Hey, Kurokawa. Tell me the secret behind receiving serves." Tashiro said, going up to the second year.

"I'm the type that goes right for the ball once the other team hits it." Kurokawa answered.

"I see..." Tashiro said.

"Clean up!"

"Right!"

"Say, even though there's a tournament coming up, we haven't had many practice matches..." Daichi pointed out.

"They were saying that ever since Coach Ukai's been gone, we've lost connections with other schools." Asahi explained.

Sugawara then walked over. "Apparently, even the school we regularly had practice matches with declined the offer for the most recent match." He added on.

"Why?" Daichi finished.

Kurokawa then walked by. "It means that we're not worth their precious time." He responded to him.

"Um..." Daichi spoke up, getting their seniors attention. "Could I stay behind and practice a little more? I'll make sure to lock up!"

Asahi raised his hand. "M-Me, too!" He added.

"Me, too! We'll let Sensei know, too!" Sugawara said.

"I'll stay, too." Hideaki informed.

Tashiro had a look of bewilderment on his face. "S-Sure..." He replied.

The four first-years were sitting down on the court in a circle as Daichi clenched the volleyball. "We can't go on like this! It may seem like there's time, but there really isn't!" Daichi exclaimed.

"You totally sound like a teacher!" Sugawara pointed out.

"Are you really the same age as us, Sawamura-kun?" Asahi questioned.

Hideaki let out a long sigh. "You kinda remind me of a certain someone I grew up with, Sawamura." He commented, thinking back to his boyfriend and childhood best friend.

"Even if we just pick up the balls, there's still something we can do!" Daichi declared.

It was the next day as the volleyball team was practicing once more. Kurokawa spiked the ball as Daichi received it with his hands. "Hey! Why did you catch that?" Kurokawa asked.

"I-I'm sorry!"

After practice, the four first-years were practicing on their own as Sugawara hits the volleyball, making it crash into the empty water bottle. The four studied together and Daichi had asked a first-year Kiyoko about being manager for the team.

"Starting tomorrow, we have the Inter-High qualifiers. Let's do our best so that we don't have any regrets."

"Right!"

"Let's strive to win at nationals!" Tashiro exclaimed in determination.

"Hey, I've been thinking this for a while, but why don't we strive for something more attainable?"

"What?"

"They say that aiming for goals that are too high is connected to losing confidence, and not good."

Tashiro clenched his fists at his teammates claim.

"Wh-What the heck?"

"Every time I would mention winning at nationals, you would just scoff and ignore me... Now you want to argue with me?" Tashiro exclaimed. "What the heck? Why the heck am I sort of happy about this, damn it?!"

"Wha? Like I would know!"

"I don't feel like we were able to share our goals, but I feel like we're definitely doing better than before!" Tashiro stated. "And we all share the desire to win the upcoming match. We're gonna win this thing!"

"Yeah!"

TWEEEET!

Karasuno

17

Araigawa

25

"Karasuno's fallen back down to earth..."

Daichi clenched his gym bag as he was sobbing. Along with Asahi and Sugawara. While Hideaki just clenched his fist in anger and looked away.

Daichi, Sugawara, Asahi, and Hideaki were in the gymnasium with Tashiro. "We started working together way too late. You know how they say, "Chance favors the prepared mind," right? There's a chance that Karasuno may never get stronger... Even if they do, it might be years from now. Even so, if the chance appears, you'd better grab it!" Tashiro sobbed.

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Tsukishima was up to serve. The whistle blew as Tsukishima hits the ball. Leon spiked past Hinata and Tanaka. The game resumed as both teams were tied with 20 points. Hideaki jumped up to spike but was blocked.

"Chance ball!" Leon shouted, receiving the ball.

"Damn it!" Kagami commented.

"Guard that desparately stolen half-step lead with everything you've got!" Shun stated.

"Goshiki!" Shirabu shouted, tossing the ball towards Goshiki.

Hinata went up to block as Kageyama dived down to save the ball. Nishinoya jumped up. "Leave it to me!" He reassured, tossing the ball in which Hideaki jumped up to spike it and got a point for Karasuno.

"Nice kill, Hideaki!" Daichi complimented.

"I can't lose to Hinata or Tanaka." Hideaki claimed.

"Kageyama, you got a great receive, too." Daichi told him.

"Thanks." Kageyama replied.

The game resumed as Kawanishi jumped up to spike the ball, gaining a point for Shiratorizawa and making them tied with Karasuno once more.

The buzzer sounded as Semi had switched in with Shirabu. "Their serve is strong! We're gonna cut it off at one!" Daichi announced.

"Right!" Nishinoya and Hideaki replied in unison.

TWEEEET!

Semi threw the ball up in the air as he did his jump serve. "Nishinoya!" Daichi called out as Nishinoya received the ball.

"Sorry! It's long!" Nishinoya apologized.

Kageyama jumped up to get the ball as he sent a one handed toss to Hinata, who spiked it down and gained a point for Karasuno.

"All right!"

"Man... That move's gotta be hard to repeat." Kagami sighed out.

"We're counting on you!" Nishinoya told Tsukishima, slapping his hand as he was switched out with him.

"Tsukki! Don't lose to Hinata!" Hideaki heard Yamaguchi call out.

"Huh?!" Tsukishima commented, turning around as Yamaguchi flinched at his look.

"It's not like we're competing." Tsukishima said to himself. The buzzer went off as Tsukishima turned to Kageyama. "Hey."

"Huh?"

"We're counting on you!" Hinata informs Yamaguchi before taking the number plate.

"Right!" Yamaguchi replied.

"I can do it, but can you?" Kageyama challenged.

"Well... I practiced with Akaashi-san, so..." Tsukishima responded bluntly, making Kageyama be taken aback.

"This guy's practicing with Fukurodani's setter?" He thought in irritation. "I'm super jealous!"

Yamaguchi caught the ball that was tossed to him. "Huh? Looks like he's going to hit really close to the edge this time." Hyuga pointed out.

TWEEEET!

Yamaguchi did his jump floater serve, aiming it right at Ushijima, but Leon received it on time.

"Goshiki!" Ushijima shouted.

"Right!" Goshiki replied.

"Three blockers!"

Daichi, Tsukishima, and Hideaki jumped up to block. "One touch!" Tsukishima and Daichi shouted in unison.

"Why, you..." Tanaka commented, diving down to receive the ball.

"Nice cover!"

Tsukishima then ran forward as Kawanishi jumped up to block, but Tsuskishima didn't spike right away. Once Kawanishi's block was low, Tsukishima jumped up to spike, earning a point for Karasuno.

"All right!"

Hideaki glanced over at the scoreboard.

Karasuno

23

Shiratorizawa

21

The game resumed once the time out was over. "Yamaguchi, one more!" Tanaka encouraged as Yamaguchi bounced the ball.

The whistle blew as Yamaguchi did his jump floater serve as it ended up hitting the net. "It's in! Towards the front!" Shirabu called out.

"Got it!" Yamagata reassured as he saved the ball.

Shirabu then tossed the ball as Ushijima jumped up to spike. He spiked past Tsukishima and Daichi, scoring a point for Shiratorizawa.

"Damn it..." Yamaguchi mumbled.

"Ushiwaka's hits aren't easing up." Kagami commented from the stands.

"But since he hits so much, he must be feeling it in his legs by now." Hyuga pointed out.

"Yeah. If Ushiwaka keeps going like this, he'll eventually reach the end of his stamina." Shun agreed.

Karasuno was at 23 points while Shiratorizawa was at 22. "Go, Izuki-san!" Hinata cheered from his spot next to Ukai as Hideaki jumped up to spike in which Ushijima and Kawanishi jumped up to block him.

"Got it!" Nishinoya reassured, tossing the ball up in the air.

Kageyama gets into setting position as Tsukishima jumps up to spike. However, it didn't line up. But Tsukishima extended his hand out and saved the ball before it touched the court. It goes over Shiratorizawa's side of the court and lands as Yamagata was late on receiving it.

"All right! Lucky!" Shun said. "They're at set point!"

"Sorry." Kageyama apologized.

"You apologizing is creepy, so please don't." Tsukishima told him.

"What?!" Kageyama said in irritation as he glanced at the tall middle blocker.

"See? You're fine." Tsukishima said.

TWEEEET!

"Daichi-san, nice serve!" Tanaka encouraged his captain as Daichi served the ball in which Leon received it.

"Ushijima-san!" Shirabu shouted, tossing the ball towards Ushijima.

Ushijima jumped up as Tsukishima and Hideaki tried to block him. Shiratorizawa gains a point as Nishinoya was late on receiving it.

"Damn it!" Nishinoya cursed.

The buzzer sounded as Kawanishi was switched out with Yunohama. "Hm? Could they have a second pinch server?" Kagami questioned.

"Since it's Shiratorizawa, I'm sure they've got a deep team. Please just don't bring this into a deuce..." Shun replied.

The whistle blew as Yunohama performed a jump float serve.

Nishinoya dived over to receive it but it was off. "Sorry!" He apologized.

"Izuki-san!" Kageyama called out, sending the ball over to the black haired male.

Hideaki hits the ball in which he got blocked. Yamagata dived down to save the ball on time. "Wakatoshi!" Leon called out, receiving the ball over to Ushijima.

"Here we go. Ready, and..." Tsukishima trailed off as him, Kageyama, and Hideaki jumped up to block Ushijima.

Ushijima swung his arm. However, he does a feint instead. "Damn!" Tanaka commented. The ball fell onto the court as Nishinoya, Tanaka, and Daichi tried to dive down to save it.

TWEEEEET!

"Nice kill, Ushijima!"

Both teams were now tied with 24 points. "They were totally aiming for the open space..." Shun commented.

"But I thought their setter would've been able to get that..." Kagami pointed out. "It must be exhaustion."

"Is the exhausted setter going to have the face the deuce of despair?" Hideaki heard Tendou ask Kageyama.

"The only time I will ever feel despair is when I won't be able to play volleyball anymore." Kageyama replied.

"All of you guys are monsters." Tendou commented.

Karasuno was currently sitting on the benches, trying to relax their bodies. "The position of defense is fine as it is right now, you were able to follow up with a one touch." Ukai spoke.

"Right!"

"Can you go on, Kageyama?" Ukai then asked.

"Of course." Kageyama responded.

"If you're exhausted, I can switch with you at any time." Sugawara spoke up, jumping up and down as he did so.

"I won't get exhausted!" Kageyama exclaimed.

The buzzer concluded the time out as both teams headed back onto the court. Yunohama performed another jump float serve.

"Daichi-san!" Nishinoya called out.

Daichi saved the ball on time as Kageyama tossed the ball over to Hideaki, who jumped up and spiked the ball, earning a point for Karasuno and making them at set point.

Tendou sent the ball over to Karasuno's side of the court as Tsukishima tried to block him, making Shiratorizawa get another point. Ushijima was up to serve as he bounced the ball as the whistle blew.

"Bring it!" Daichi, Hideaki, and Nishinoya shouted in unison.

Ushijima threw the ball up in the air as he did his jump serve. It hits the net as everyone looks in nerves. The ball slowly falls to the ground, but lands on the court.

"Miracle boy, Wakatoshi!" Tendou exclaimed.

"A net in at a time like this?" Hyuga questioned in disbelief.

"Now they've got the match point..." Riko mumbled.

"If they get another point, it's all over!" Shun informed.

Ushijima bounced the ball as he readied another jump serve as Ushijima had another look of determination as Karasuno looked back with the same look.

TWEEEET!

Ushijima threw the ball up in the air as he slammed the ball against his palm. "Nishinoya!" Daichi shouted as Nishinoya quickly raced over to save the ball on time.

"Chance ball!"

Yamagata received the ball as Shirabu tossed the ball as Leon jumped up to spike it. Kageyama and Tsukishima jumped up to block him as the ball bounced off of Shirabu's arms and out of the court, making Karasuno get a point as the crowd cheered.

"Hey, could you not just run into me?" Tsukishima told Kageyama as he held an irritated aura. "You're not Hinata. Jump up. Up."

"What?! This wouldn't be considered bumping into you!" Kageyama defended. "You just lack training!"

"You two!" Tanaka exclaimed, grabbing his juniors heads in irritation.

"I'm counting on you, Karasuno!"

The sudden shout shocked both Karasuno and Shiratorizawa's cheering squad. Hideaki and Daichi had a look of determination on their faces. Hinata was switched back in.

"Go, go, Karasuno! Push it, push it, Karasuno!"

"Hey, Tiredyama-kun." Hinata said as Kageyama looked at him. Hinata gave him a thumbs up. "I can hit any kind of toss, no matter how sucky!"

Kageyama lifted Hinata in the air. "I never suck!" He claimed.

"Right!" Hinata saluted to him.

The buzzer sounded as Sugawara was switched in for Tsukishima, who grabbed his name plate.

TWEEEET!

"Suga! Get a nice serve in!" Daichi shouted at him as Sugawara bounced the ball. He serves the ball up in the air as Leon receives it. Shirabu tossed the ball towards Tendou as Hinata jumped up to block him.

Sugawara easily received the ball. "Nice receive!" Kageyama complimented as he got into setting position. He tosses the ball towards Hinata as Goshiki and Tendou jumped up to block him.

"Out!" Sugawara called out as the ball turned out to be an out.

Karasuno now had 27 points with Shiratorizawa having 26 points. Kageyama was up to serve as he spun the ball in his hands.

"Bring it!"

The whistle blew as Kageyama threw the ball up in the air, doing his jump serve. "Front!" Yamagata shouted as he received the ball.

"Chance ball!" Nishinoya called out as he received the ball.

Hinata then raced up towards the net and jumped up. Kageyama sent the volleyball towards him, however it was short.

He ended up getting the ball past Tendou and Goshiki, who jumped up to block, making the ball fall to the ground.

TWEEEEET!

Karasuno had won the fourth set with 29 points. "Nice, Hinata! Good reaction." Tanaka complimented, ruffling his juniors hair.

"Thanks!"

Hinata was walking around Kageyama when he was suddenly grabbed by the collar. "Nice cover." Kageyama said with a dark and intense look.

"Then at least say it with a nice face!" Hinata told him. "More importantly, Kageyama..."

Kageyama then released him. "We get to play one more set!" Hinata finished.

"Yeah!" Kageyama nodded.

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A/N: I just realized in the first chapter Asahi mentioned that they didn't know Hideaki went to Kitagawa Daiichi. But then I forgot about this episode. Oops. Anyways, thanks for reading!