A/N: Hello, readers! Another chapter is here! Enjoy!

edited on january 30th, 2021 @ 9:05pm

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

CHAPTER EIGHT - GOLDEN WEEK TRAINING CAMP

THE GAME HAD FINALLY ENDED, as the Association team looked at Karasuno's current team. "Well, if nothing else, we sure got to relive our youth. Call the toss, ace! That kind of stuff." The guy with glasses states with a smile. "Youth is great, isn't it?" He adds as another guy chuckles.

"As long as I'm here, you're invincible! I wish I could say that. High schoolers are awesome!" The guy informed. Atsushi looked at Kageyama and Nishinoya, who looked a bit flustered.

"You guys make us old folks feel left behind."

"S-Sorry."

"You guys have a long way to go, but when you pull it together, you'll probably go far."

Everyone smiled at those words. "Thank you very much." Daichi bowed as everyone did the same.

"Thank you!"

The Association team leaves, waving goodbye to them. Everyone headed back inside as Ukai gave them some last minute words.

"Anyway, receiving. We're nothing if we can't receive. Starting tomorrow, you've got rigorous training ahead." Ukai stated.

"Yeah." Everyone said in unison.

"Thanks." Daichi announced as everyone bowed at Ukai.

"Thanks."

"And don't forget to stretch." Ukai added as Daichi nodded.

"Stretches!" Daichi shouted as everyone sat down to do some stretches.

Once they were done, they cleaned up the gym. Atsushi got out a mop as he cleaned the floor. Soon enough, everyone finished cleaning the gym.

Ukai then clapped his hands. "All right. Lets huddle up and finish practice." He called out as the team huddled up.

The team formed a circle as their heads were close together. Atsushi was between Kageyama and Hinata.

"Karasuno..."

"Fight."

"Yeah!"

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

Atsushi woke up and yawned. He reached over to his nightstand and looked at the date. "Four more days left until the practice match with Nekoma." He thought. He got ready for the day and headed downstairs.

He locked his door and placed his keys in his pants pocket. He started walking towards Karasuno until he heard the sound of a bike. "Atsushi!" He turned around and saw Hinata on his bike.

"Oh, Hinata. Good morning."

"Good morning!" Hinata replied back cheerfully. "Say, are you excited for the game?"

"I suppose so. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out. Since Noya-san and Asahi-san have returned." Atsushi replied as Hinata nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I thought that too. Say, have you been to Tokyo before? Do you know what Nekoma is like?" Hinata asked.

"Hmm.. Sorry, I don't know what Tokyo or Nekoma are like. But they're most likely a strong team." Atsushi replied.

"I bet they have strong players on their team." Hinata stated. "I can't wait to meet them!"

"Yeah, me too."

Both Hinata and Atsushi walked in silence as they headed towards Karasuno.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

Class for Atsushi was boring as usual, with the exception of talking to Tsukishima and Yamaguchi. But once it was break time, he headed towards the gym to meet everyone. "All here?" Ukai asked.

"Yeah." Everyone replied in unison as Takeda and Ukai stand in front as the team surrounded them.

"The practice match against Nekoma is in four days. Inter-High preliminaries will be soon thereafter. We've got no time, but you guys are full of holes. Since that's the case, there's only one way for you to win. Practice. Practice, and practice." Ukai stated.

"Save the ball, even if you have to barf." Ukai ordered.

"Yeah!" Hinata shouts back, but he was the only one.

"You already did, Hinata..." Atsushi thinks to himself, remembering the match with Aoba Johsai.

Everyone got in line as Ukai was going to throw a volleyball at them so they could receive it. The first to start was Yamaguchi, who failed to receive the ball.

"Hey, how many does it take for you to get it right?" Ukai shouted. "Concentrate!"

"One more."

"Here goes!"

Ukai spiked the ball and Yamaguchi managed to receive it. That was five successful receives, and the next one up was Daichi. Yamaguchi made his way back to the line, groaning in pain.

Daichi managed to get it five times.

Kageyama was next and had a bit of trouble, but he managed.

Hinata was next, he was most likely the worse at receiving but eventually got five successful receives. Finally, it was Atsushi's turn.

Atsushi walked to the front and stared at the ball in Ukai's hands. "Ready? Go!" He yelled, spiking the ball down to the brunette. He quickly moved to the far right and saved the ball easily. Ukai looked a bit stunned as he blinked. "Good. Here comes the others!" He announced.

Ukai spiked the ball to the left side, but thanks to Atsushi's quick reflexes he sped over and saved the ball. Eventually, he was finished. "Well done. You have quick reflexes. That'll come handy in matches." Ukai praised.

"Uh, thanks." Atsushi replied.

"All right. Spiking comes next."

"Yeah."

Sugawara and Kageyama were the setters as everyone broke off into two groups. Atsushi was in Sugawara's group.

The first one to go was Tanaka, who runs forward. "All right!" He yelled as he spiked down the ball. Kageyama had set to Ennoshita.

Next to go was Asahi, who spiked Sugawara's toss with ease. Kageyama tossed to Hinata who also spiked it with ease as well.

Atsushi heard amazed gasping from Ukai. "Looking good." He praised as Sugawara looked over at Kageyama.

He seemed to be in deep thought as Yamaguchi called out to him.

"May I go next?"

"Sure, sorry."

Yamaguchi managed to spike it down, it was a bit weak but not bad. After Yamaguchi it was Kinoshita. Atsushi was next.

"You ready?" Atsushi asked Sugawara who nodded. The brunette tossed the ball up towards Sugawara as he ran forward. Sugawara glanced at the ball before looking up at Atsushi. He heard Sugawara gasp.

The look on Atsushi's face said it all. His eyes grew dark as it reminded Sugawara of a demon and Sugawara could've sworn he saw crow wings.

Atsushi was up in the air as Sugawara snapped back to reality and tossed the ball for him. Atsushi spiked Sugawara's toss, making the ball slam onto the ground with a huge amount of power.

Everyone looked in surprise as Atsushi touched the ground.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Atsushi asked.

Kageyama gulped. "You can tell he's related to one of the top three aces in the country..." He thinks to himself.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

Practice was soon over as it was dark out. Atsushi followed his team to where everyone would be staying. "Wow! This is where we're staying?" Hinata exclaimed in happiness as he runs in.

Hinata ended up checking every room in the building as Atsushi sweat dropped at him. "You need to calm down." Kageyama told him.

"But this is my first time at training camp." Hinata whined.

Tsukishima walked over. "I have to hang all day with this slovenly bunch? What's so fun about that?" Tsukishima spoke to himself mostly as Atsushi held back his laughter.

"Tsukishima, you bastard..." Tanaka growled.

"Kiyoko's within a 500-meter radius of us! How can that be slovenly?" Nishinoya growls as well as Tanaka and Nishinoya glared at Tsukishima who rolled his eyes and looked annoyed.

"How pitiful that you can't understand how refreshing this space is. It's like the wellspring in the Ou Mountains." Tanaka sighs in happiness. Sugawara smiled innocently.

"Shimizu's home is nearby, so she's not staying here."

Atsushi ignored the smiles that Nishinoya and Tanaka faces when Kiyoko appeared to be making dinner.

Everyone's bags were in the rooms as they began eating. Kageyama, Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka were wolfing down the meal. Atsushi was eating at a normal pace.

"Seconds, anyone?" Kiyoko asked as Tanaka and Nishinoya bounced over with empty plates.

"Yes, please." They said in unison.

"S-Sure." Kiyoko slightly stuttered.

Once dinner was all done, everyone headed to the shared bedroom. Third-years had a bath first, then second-years, and finally first-years.

Atsushi was walking to the showers, when he spotted Tanaka and Hinata. "Someone... Someone I've never seen before... is here." Hinata stated.

Tanaka laughed nervously. "That's impossible. We're the only ones here today." He said.

Hinata turned to Tanaka. "It looked like... a child." He informed.

"Y-You're seeing things. You probably saw yourself in a mirror or something." Tanaka reassured him.

"You're probably right. I'm seeing things, right?"

"Uh-huh. You're seeing things, just seeing things."

Atsushi smirked as he walked up to the two. "Boo!" He exclaimed.

"A ghost!" Hinata and Tanaka shouted in unison.

Atsushi laughed. "I overheard you two talking and just had to take the perfect opportunity. You should've seen your faces!" He said.

"Atsushi, you bastard!" Tanaka exclaimed.

Hinata was still shaking. "That wasn't funny!" He said.

Atsushi wiped a tear off his eye. "Man, that was amazing." He commented. Just then, the three heard a loud footstep.

"A ghost!" Hinata and Tanaka shouted in unison again as Atsushi just blinked. It turns out it was just Nishinoya.

"What's with all the noise? You'll make Daichi flip out!" Nishinoya informed.

"Eh? Hinata, it was just Noya!" Tanaka said as he punched the orange haired first-year.

"B-But he shrank!" Hinata yelled as Tanaka and Atsushi laughed at Nishinoya.

"You're 10 cm shorter, Noya-san!" Atsushi added as he chuckled.

"Ryu, you bastard! Stop laughing! That goes for you too, Atsushi!" Nishinoya yelled at them. Just then, an arm grabbed Nishinoya's shoulders.

"Keep it down. You'll make Daichi mad—"

Nishinoya, Tanaka, Atsushi, and Hinata screamed for their life. "It's me, Asahi!" Asahi informed.

"Shut up you guys!" Daichi shouted.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

The next day, everyone headed back to the gymnasium to do their practices. They were currently doing receives. After some time, Hinata did five successful receives.

"All right. That's the whole rotation." Ukai stated. "Next, running." He informed with a grin.

Atsushi put on his running shoes as he waited with Nishinoya and Kageyama as Hinata was putting his shoes on.

"Hurry up, moron." Kageyama rushes.

"Shut up." Hinata hissed and followed the setter with Nishinoya and Atsushi right behind them. They eventually caught up with the rest of the team.

As the team were running up a hill, Atsushi was next to Nishinoya as Daichi and Sugawara were at the front. Kageyama and Hinata were at the very front as they kept racing each other.

"Hinata, don't yell unnecessarily. It'll slap your strength." Daichi warned.

However, he was completely ignored as Hinata ran faster, completely being out of the team's sight. Even Kageyama was shocked and confused at this.

Everyone stopped running. "What an idiot." Atsushi sighed. "I'll go bring him back."

Atsushi finally found Hinata talking to a male with blonde hair and black roots, wearing a red volleyball jacket.

Atsushi walked up to the two and slapped the back of Hinata's head, making the first-year fall forward.

"Hinata, you idiot! For once, don't challenge Tobio to a race! That's how you get lost!" Atsushi shouted at his teammate.

"I'm sorry, Atsushi!" Hinata apologized, rubbing the back of his head.

"Kenma!"

Atsushi looked up to see a male with a bedhead hairstyle and wearing the same red jacket walking up to the pudding head.

"Kuroo." Kenma said, gathering up his bag and following his teammate.

"See you very soon, Shoyo." Kenma waved as him and the rooster head left.

"Next time, don't go running off on your own. Or else I'll just leave you." Atsushi warned, making Hinata whine at the brunette.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

Atsushi and Hinata had finally arrived back to the building. Lunch was made by Takeda and Kiyoko. Tanaka and Nishinoya went all out again while Atsushi didn't have much. He wasn't that hungry.

After dinner was done, everyone headed to bed. Atsushi was wide awake, not being able to sleep. He spotted a bright light coming from Sugawara's futon, but didn't question it.

Atsushi sighed to himself as he turned around. He tried to sleep but couldn't.

"I hate having insomnia."

Atsushi was still feeling drowsy by the time everyone woke up, they all headed to the gym where Ukai showed them who will be in what positions for the match. "For the Nekoma battle, this will be our starting order." Ukai stated. Atsushi looked over to see that he was in the starting order as a wing spiker.

"It's a configuration you're barely used too, so I'm not expecting you to synchronize right away. We now have our libero and the ace has returned, but don't rely on those facts or think victory is assured. Victory goes to the team that connects. Let's see how this configuration works." Ukai explained.

"In the battle against Karasuno's long-standing rival, Nekoma."

"Yeah!"

After that, everyone started to pack everything up as Atsushi took the mop and headed towards the equipment room.

Atsushi headed back to his room where the third and second years already were there. He sighed as he curled up under the blankets.

"Are... you okay? You been acting different today." Kageyama asked as he looked at his friend with concern.

"Just a bit tired. I'll be fine by morning." Atsushi reassured him.

"Are you sure?" Kageyama asked.

"Yeah. My insomnia is just acting up again." Atsushi responded. "It's normal."

He heard some movement and then being pulled into someone's chest. "Tobio... What are you doing?" Atsushi questioned.

"Helping you sleep." Kageyama answered.

Atsushi smiled as he cuddled closer to Kageyama and breathed in his scent.

For the first time in awhile, he was finally able to sleep.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

The next day, Atsushi was feeling a bit better. The team was at the gymnasium practicing our serving. Kiyoko came into the gym with two bags.

"Everyone." She called out, making the team walk over. "Uniforms." She finished as she handed out the uniforms. Atsushi took the black and orange uniform out of the plastic bag.

"Number 13..." Atsushi thinks to himself.

"Kageyama is one notch higher than me..." Hinata hissed, making Atsushi, Tsukishima, and Tanaka smirk. "I knew he was gonna say that." The three of them said in unison.

Ukai explained that number 10 used to be the Little Giants number when he played for Karasuno, who was Hinata's inspiration.

Atsushi was packing up his things in his bag for tomorrow. "You feeling better, Atsu?" Kageyama asked, walking up to him.

"Yeah. Thanks for what you did, Tobio. It really helped."

"N-Not a problem."

Finally, it was time. Karasuno walked up to Nekoma High. When they arrived, they saw Nekoma's team also walk over as both teams stared at each other, not saying a word.

The air was so tense, you could cut it with a knife. "I can already tell this is gonna be an interesting match..." Atsushi thought, slightly grinning.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

A/N: Another chapter done! Hope you enjoyed!

Word Count: 2521 words.