A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Enjoy!

edited on august 6th, 2021 @ 6:09pm

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CHAPTER THIRTY - ILLUSIONARY HERO

ATSUSHI JUMPED HIGH AND SPIKED down the ball as it got past Kuroo and Bokuto. "Oh! That was awesome, Atsushi!" Bokuto praised.

"Thanks..." Atsushi said before turning to Akaashi. "That was a great toss as well, Akaashi-san." He added as Akaashi gave him a nod of appreciation.

It was dark out as their practice had ended hours ago. He has been hanging out with Bokuto, Kuroo, and Akaashi for some extra practice. Bokuto had somewhat been mentoring him and teaching him how to use both of his hands equally.

As he was training with the third-years and second-year, he was surprised when he saw Tsukishima walk in and stare at them. Atsushi and Akaashi were the first ones to notice him as he paused their practice.

"Oya?" Akaashi said as Tsukishima blinked. Bokuto turned and saw Tsukishima as he smirked.

"Oya, Oya?"

Soon Kuroo came over and had the same grin on his face.

"Oya, Oya, oya..."

Tsukishima sighed and walked over to them. "There's something I'd like to ask you. May I?" He asked, looking mostly towards the third-years, which made the two grin.

"Sure!" They replied in unison, curious to see what Tsukishima wanted to know. Atsushi was interested as well.

"Thank you very much. Both of your schools are sometimes considered powerhouse schools, right?" He asked, making Kuroo and Bokuto slightly tense a little.

"Well, yeah." Kuroo replied.

"Even if you were able to make it to nationals, actually winning there would be difficult, right?" Tsukishima questioned as Atsushi glanced at the two captains.

"But not impossible!" Bokuto exclaimed as Akaashi calmed him down.

"Now, now, let's hear him out." Akaashi informed as Atsushi nodded.

"He's just talking hypothetically." He added as the two calmed down.

"I am generally curious about this. Why do you get so desperate to do all this? Volleyball is just a club, and maybe you'll get to write, "I worked really hard in my club in high school," on your resume, right?" Tsukishima asked as Atsushi slightly winced at his words.

"Just a club, huh? It's so much more than that."

Atsushi watched as Bokuto narrowed his eyes.

"Just a club?"

Tsukishima flinched a little as everyone watched Bokuto.

"That almost sounds like someone's name."

"Huh?" Atsushi thought, confused about what he said. Kuroo gasped in realization as he looked at Bokuto with surprise.

"Oh, like Mary Club?"

Akaashi, Tsukishima, and Atsushi stare at the two with unimpressed looks as they continued talking.

"No wait, I guess it was "just some club."

"Aw, man! So, it doesn't sound like someone's name. Man, I was so close!"

"Damn it!"

"Would it be better if I made a retort?" Tsukishima asked Akaashi who turned to look at him.

"Nah, there would be no end to it." Akaashi replied.

"It's a good thing these two are good at volleyball." Atsushi spoke up making Tsukishima and Akaashi nod in agreement.

"Say, Four-Eyes." Bokuto announced, smiling at the tall blonde.

"It's Tsukishima." He corrected.

"Say, Tsukishima! Is volleyball fun?" Bokuto asked as Tsukishima widened his eyes before making a thinking face.

"No, not really..." He replied. Atsushi wasn't really surprised by his answer.

"Maybe that's because you suck at it?"

Tsukishima stiffened at Bokuto's words, obviously irked by it as Atsushi held back his laughs.

"I'm a third-year, and I've gone to nationals. I'm better than you. Way better than you!" Bokuto said as he gave a peace sign.

"You don't have to tell me that."

"But I've only recently started thinking that volleyball is fun."

This took both Atsushi and Tsukishima by surprise as they both made a sound of shock.

"Ever since my straight become unstable in matches. I've always been good at landing cross-court shots, but the blockers started blocking those. I got frustrated and practice the hell out of straights. And... in the next tournament, I didn't let the same blockers touch the ball at all. I shot through them. Just that one shot made me feel like my time had finally come." Bokuto ranted as he laughed.

Atsushi jumped back a little when Bokuto then turned to stare at Tsukishima, who also had jumped back at his sudden stare.

"It's all about whether or not you have a moment like that. What happens in the future, if you can win the next game... stuff like that doesn't matter for now. Crushing the guy in front of you, and the exhilaration of playing at 120% of your skills, is everything." Bokuto added as Atsushi and Tsukishima stared in shock.

"Whoa... Bokuto-senpai's so cool!" Atsushi thought.

"Well, in the end, that's my story, and it might not fit anyone and everyone. I don't really understand why you say it's "just a club", but I don't think you're wrong. But once that moment arrives for you, that's the moment you'll be hooked on volleyball." Bokuto announced as he lifted his finger and pointed at Tsukishima.

Atsushi noticed Tsukishima widen his eyes at his words. While Atsushi stared at Bokuto with an amazed look.

Tsukishima didn't seem to see Kuroo and Bokuto walk over to stand on both sides of him, until Bokuto clapped his hands.

"Okay!" He exclaimed which made Tsukishima jump in shock and turn to Bokuto. "I answered your question, so jump a few blocks for me." Bokuto smiled as Kuroo smirks. The duo pushed Tsukishima to the net.

"Now, now, hurry, hurry."

"Wait, um..."

Atsushi was deep in thought. "Straights... I wonder..." He thinks to himself.

"Excuse me, Bokuto-senpai?" He called out as Bokuto turned to look at him. "I was wondering if you could teach me about straights, and how to do them?"

"Sure, Atsushi. I'll work with you on it."

"Thank you!"

Akaashi looked towards the first-year. "Seems like someone has a new admirer." He teased.

"Bokuto-senpai may be energetic, but he's really cool. I'm honored that he decided to teach me." Atsushi said as he walked towards the net. Not noticing that Akaashi smiled a little.

"I wonder if he's noticed he hasn't talked about his older brother since Bokuto-san's been teaching him." He thought.

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"Number 4!" Tanaka exclaimed as Hinata and Kageyama jump up to block Bokuto, but Bokuto got past them and scored a point. It was the next day and Karasuno was currently playing against Fukurōdani.

"All right!" Fukurōdani announced. Atsushi sighed and looked at the scoreboard.

Fukurōdani

11

Karasuno

06

TWEEEET!

Karasuno hurried along to surround Ukai, Kiyoko, and Yachi gave out their water bottles to stay hydrated.

"Even if your not able to stop Number 4's spikes, at least try to touch it." Ukai informed as everyone nodded.

"Right!"

"We don't have to stop it?"

Everyone jumped a little as Tsukishima spoke up. They all turned to face him.

"Well... If you're able to actually shut the ball out, there's nothing better." Ukai replied with a smile. Atsushi smirked a little at Tsukishima.

"Bokuto-senpai's words must've hit him hard." He thought.

TWEEET!

They went back to playing Fukurōdani gets another point making them now have 14 points with Karasuno having 8.

"All right!" Fukurōdani cheered for their point.

Soon it was Atsushi's turn to serve as he does his jump serve. However, the libero managed to save it.

"Nice receive!" Bokuto praised as he called for a toss, charging forward, Daichi and Tsukishima quickly followed Bokuto.

"Left! Number 4, Number 4!" Daichi announced.

Atsushi glanced over at Tsukishima, hoping that he was thinking about what Kuroo instructed him to do on how to block a powerful spike.

Atsushi had paused his self-training as Kuroo was explaining to Tsukishima on how to block.

"First, become conscious. Insert power all the way up to your fingertips, so that they will never get blown back. And put your hands in front of you, instead of over your head. In front." Kuroo said, showing Tsukishima and Atsushi.

He then points at Bokuto.

"And then, making this annoying owl shut up!"

Bokuto hisses as he stuck his tongue out.

"Just try it!"

Atsushi watched as Daichi and Tsukishima jump up to block and he grinned when he realized he did exactly what Kuroo told him to do. Atsushi could tell Bokuto was surprised by this as he quickly performed a feint.

"A feint!" Tanaka announced as Nishinoya dived down to save it but he was too late.

"Damn it!" He growled.

Atsushi turned to Tsukishima with a smirk. "So, looks like Kuroo-san's words actually went through you." He said and he looks away before shrugging.

"Bokuto-san, you fled from the competition." Akaashi stated bluntly as Bokuto froze before he started to shout and wave his arm about.

"I didn't flee! I dodged it! With skill, I dodged it!"

One of Bokuto's teammates came over and stared at the captain.

"Caught off guard..."

"Oh, fine! Yeah, yeah, sorry about that!"

Atsushi watched as Tsukishima walks away from the net as him and Bokuto watched with smirk on their faces.

"Would you look at that..." Atsushi thought as he saw Tsukishima and Hinata have a stare down before Tsukishima walked away.

"The sun versus the moon..."

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A/N: Another chapter done! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1573 words.