A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to the last chapter of season three! Also, the joust between Atsushi and his older brother will be happening! Also, some slight spoilers for season four, nothing too major, I'll just be mentioning a team that will appearing in that season. Enjoy!

edited on february 20th, 2022 @ 7:11am

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN - THE BATTLE OF CONCEPTS

HINATA SLAMMED THE BALL PAST SAKAMOTO, but Wakatoshi was there to catch the ball on time. "Shirabu!" He called out.

"Right!"

"A straight!" Tsukishima warned. "Ready, and..."

Tsukishima and Asahi jumped up to block Wakatoshi as Hinata received the ball with his face, the impact knocking him back. Atsushi quickly dived down to save the ball before it hit the court.

"Tobio, get the last!" Atsushi shouted out to his boyfriend before turning over towards the orange-haired male. "Hinata, are you okay?"

"Yeah." Hinata reassured as Kageyama received the ball.

"It's in!"

Yamagata received the ball back in the air. "Got it!" Shirabu informed. "Ushijima-san!"

Shirabu tossed the ball into the air as Atsushi watched his older brother run up. "It's frustrating... All throughout my junior high career, all I heard was the same exact thing, over and over..." He thinks to himself.

"You'll never be as good as your older brother!"

"Stop trying to be like Ushijima-san!"

"His skills will always be overshadowed by yours!"

"Atsushi!"

The brunette looked over and saw Daichi smiling at him, along with Sugawara and Asahi. The second-years and his fellow first-years were right behind them, staring at him.

"That's right... I always held back my power because I was afraid of what others thought of me. My seniors in junior high would always resent me because they thought I was trying to be like Toshi-nii. Karasuno... they didn't treat me like dirt. They welcomed me. So I have to swallow my pride and my admiration for Toshi-nii in order to win!" Atsushi told himself, and began running up the same time as Wakatoshi.

"I'm going to prove to everyone that I'm not just "Ushijima Wakatoshi's little brother!" I'm going to make a name for myself!"

Atsushi jumped up the same time as his older brother, locking the two of them into a joust and shocking the audience, Iwaizumi and Oikawa, as well as both Karasuno and Shiratorizawa.

"A joust!"

"It's Ushijima versus Ushijima! I didn't think we would see them actually battling it out!"

Wakatoshi made eye contact with his Atsushi, his glare staring right back at him. "I've spent my entire volleyball career trying and trying to prove to everyone that I'm not just your brother! They constantly compared me to you everyday!" He ranted on. "Karasuno... they didn't do that! They didn't care if I was related to the famous Ushijima Wakatoshi, as long as I could help them move forward, that's all that mattered! Do you have any idea what it's like living in your damn shadow? News flash, Wakatoshi, you don't have a fucking clue!"

Atsushi pushed the volleyball onto Shiratorizawa's side, an image of him with Shiratorizawa's team shattering, as if he was finally letting go. Yamagata quickly received the ball back over, in which Kageyama was able to save it.

Suddenly, Wakatoshi remembered what Oikawa had told him right before the match.

"Your younger brother..." Oikawa began, looking back at the older Ushijima.

"What about him?" Wakatoshi asked.

"During our match against each other, I could tell that he was holding back." Oikawa replied. "In truth, I would hate to be on the opposite side of the court when Atsu-chan plays seriously. He could be a monster if he wanted to be. You may not have realized, Ushiwaka. But you're the one holding him back from showing his true potential."

Hinata had looked up and an image of Ushijima towering over him was seen as he slammed both Hinata and Tsukishima to the ground.

A hand reached out to Hinata and Tsukishima as Daichi rushed over to receive the ball as he slowly lifted Ushijima up.

"Asahi, get the last!" He shouted out.

Asahi jumped up as he was the next one to lift Ushijima. He spiked the ball, but ended up getting blocked. Atsushi was the next to appear as he quickly received the ball into the air.

"Chance ball!" Atsushi shouted as Kageyama got into setting position.

Daichi, Asahi, and Atsushi were all lifting Wakatoshi off of Tsukishima and Hinata. "Their #10 is coming!" Sakamoto called out.

However, he looked over to see that Hinata wasn't moving at all. "Their #10 isn't running up?" Tendou thinks to himself.

"He's slowing down his tempo, from a minus tempo to a first tempo, and then..." Ukai Sr thought as Karasuno started to do their synchronized attack. "mixing in."

"Shit!" Tendou exclaimed.

Everyone had determined faces as they got ready to attack. Kageyama through the ball up as everyone jumped up. A flock of crows were flying towards a large eagle. Hinata slammed the ball as Yamagata dived down to receive it. He bounced off of his arms as he headed towards out of the court.

The ball had slammed onto the court as everyone was silent, too stunned to speak.

TWEEEEET!

Karasuno now had 21 points with Shiratorizawa at 19.

Then, cheers erupted from the audience.

"What? Seriously?!"

Daichi was breathing heavily as he turned around, hugging Asahi. Sugawara soon joined the two as the three third-years sobbed out loudly.

Kageyama, Hinata, Atsushi, and Tsukishima were watching their seniors until Tanaka engulfted Kageyama and Hinata into a hug while Ennoshita engulfted Atsushi.

Nishinoya fell on top of Tsukishima. "Tsukki!" Yamaguchi shouted out as him, Kinoshita, and Narita followed. Ukai, Takeda, and Kiyoko were also tearing up.

"Hey, Atsushi! What are you crying for?" Ennoshita asked.

"I'm really happy, Ennoshita-san! Am I dreaming?" He sniffed.

"If you are, then I must be, too."

"We won! We really won!" Atsushi told himself, still not believing that they were going to nationals.

Then, he looked past Ennoshita, seeing Shiratorizawa looking defeated. "Farewell, my paradise." Tendou announced.

"Hey, it's time to line up." Kageyama informed.

"I-I can't stand up..." Hinata stated, his legs were shaking.

"Come on, Shoyo!" Nishinoya announced as him and Kageyama began dragging him.

TWEEEEET!

Both teams bowed to one another.

"Thank you very much!"

The audience clapped as both teams shook hands.

"Talk about an upset."

Atsushi looked at his older brother's retreating figure. "Damn it, why doesn't that bastard Ushiwaka look more upset? His own kid brother defeated him, after all." Oikawa commented in irritation as Karasuno bowed to Washijo and Saito.

"Thank you very much!"

"You really are something, you know?" Daichi spoke, causing Atsushi to look at his captain. "Facing off against your older brother like that."

Atsushi smiled. "I thought about the team and suddenly had a surge of power come within me. At that point, I didn't care if I was going against my former heroes." He explained.

"Former?"

"Mmm." Atsushi responded. "You, Suga-san, and Asahi-san. The three of you are my new heroes. Along with the rest of the team."

Daichi felt himself tearing up as he crashed into his junior. "Atsushi!" He exclaimed.

"Daichi-san, that's too much!"

"Kageyama does good work." Iwaizumi complimented. "Atsushi isn't that bad, either. The joust he had with Ushiwaka took me by surprise."

"It's like I told that bastard Ushiwaka. He was holding his own brother back from showing his true potential as a player." Oikawa spoke. "It's frightening that he's only a first-year. By his third-year, he'll be a true monster."

"Come on, let's go home. I'd rather die than see the awards ceremony." Oikawa continued on as him and Iwaizumi began leaving the court.

"You really are a crappy guy." Iwaizumi commented.

Karasuno then lined up to face their supporters. "Thank you for all your support!" Daichi announced as his team bowed.

"Thank you very much!"

"Sawamura, Sugawara, Azumane!" Michimiya shouted out. "Congratulations on your victory!"

The three third-years waved as Daichi held up the charm that Michimiya had given to him before the game.

Meanwhile, Shiratorizawa were thanking their supporters. "Sushi-chan has been bashed for being just like Ushijima-san. I think... he finally swallowed his pride and shoved the admiration for his older brother aside and decided to finally play seriously at the last minute." Sakamoto spoke up, causing Goshiki to glance over towards him.

"Damn... he really is amazing." Sakamoto continued.

As they were heading towards their coach, Sakamoto could hear the sobs of his seniors and Goshiki next to him.

"We'll have a meeting when we get back. Once the awards ceremony is over, get onto the bus." Washijo said.

"Right."

Washijo turned back towards the team. "And you'll be hitting a hundred serves later." He informed.

Karasuno gathered around Ukai and Takeda. "Great job, you guys!" Takeda exclaimed, his arms extended out. "I'm... I'm sho happwy..."

Ukai placed his hands on Atsushi's shoulders. "Atsushi! Great job... Great job on that joust!" He complimented.

"It was no big deal, coach." Atsushi told him.

"No big deal?!" Daichi, Asahi, and Sugawara shouted at him, making him get taken aback.

"Tsukishima!" Ukai shouted, grabbing onto his shoulders next. "No matter what anyone says, you're the MVP today."

"I'm always the MVP, so I'll let you have that title just for today, Tsukishima." Tanaka told the middle blocker, giving him a thumbs up.

"You're definitely the mental MVP." Ukai said.

"Wakatoshi-kun, you got pissed off in the end, didn't you?" Tendou asked as him and Wakatoshi were stretching out their legs. "Usually, you'd regroup or leave that to someone else in that situation. I got chills thinking they might actually block it."

Wakatoshi stayed silent as an image of Hinata flashed in his mind. "I wanted to say, "I'm stronger than you." He spoke as Tendou glanced over to him. "Is that childish of me? But I still wanted to say it."

"Isn't what drives most people childish in general? That was a great straight. I felt like I got to see a new side to you, Wakatoshi-kun." Tendou stated as the two of them switched to their other leg.

"Atsushi has certainly grown from his junior high days..." Tendou continued on. "I didn't think he would get caught in a joust with you like that."

Wakatoshi thought back to his joust with his younger brother, thinking back to his words.

"I've spent my entire volleyball career trying and trying to prove to everyone that I'm not just your brother! They constantly compared me to you everyday! Karasuno... they didn't do that! They didn't care if I was related to the famous Ushijima Wakatoshi, as long as I could help them move forward, that's all that mattered! Do you have any idea what it's like living in your damn shadow? News flash, Wakatoshi, you don't have a fucking clue!"

"Nor did I." Wakatoshi admitted.

Meanwhile, Atsushi was looking at the final score with Kageyama and Hinata. "Ushijima-san was so damn cool..." Hinata commented.

"Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio of the concrete... and also Atsushi..." Wakatoshi spoke up as the three first-years turned. "I'll defeat you next time."

"I'll make sure I'll be able to stand on the same level as you!" Hinata declared.

"I'll make you say that I'm better than Oikawa-san!" Kageyama added on.

Wakatoshi said nothing as he turned around and walked away. The awards ceremony soon began as both teams stood in line by their jersey number.

"And now, I present this award to the victors. Miyagi Prefectural Karasuno High School. Concluding the Miyagi Prefecture Qualifiers of the National High School Spring Volleyball Tournament, your team has emerged victorious. I present you this award in acknowledgement of your commendable performance."

The audience clapped as Daichi accepted the award while Sugawara took the trophy. Atsushi looked down at the medal that was placed over his jersey.

"To praise both teams for their good match, and to wish the best to Karasuno High School for their performance at the Spring High School Volleyball National Tournament in January, I'd like to ask the audience to give them another big round of applause."

The audience once again clapped for them.

"Let's go... to the Spring Tournament!"

After the awards ceremony was finished, Atsushi waited for Shiratorizawa to come out as he was wearing his volleyball jacket. His hands were stuffed in his pockets.

"Atsushi."

"Nii-san."

The two siblings stared at each other for a moment before Atsushi glanced over at every Shiratorizawa player.

"You guys lost because you placed all your attacks onto Toshi-nii. You didn't connect with one another. I'm just a first-year but all of you know me personally." Atsushi began. "Don't look down on your opponents, you never know if they're the ones who will come up on top."

They all stayed silent, knowing the brunette's words were true. "That's all I wanted to say." Atsushi concluded, before turning around and began leaving.

"Atsushi." Wakatoshi repeated, making the younger stop in his tracks. Wakatoshi stepped forward as he engulfed his brother into a hug, making Atsushi be taken aback.

"Good luck at nationals."

It was only four simple words, but it made Atsushi tear up as he hugged his older brother back. "I'll make you proud, Nii-san." Atsushi promised.

"You already do."

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

Later that day, Atsushi had told Ukai that Shiratorizawa wanted to celebrate his accomplishments. So now, he was in Shiratorizawa's gym. "I envyed you, Sushi-chan." Sakamoto spoke up, getting the brunette's attention.

"Hm?"

"You were related to one of the top three aces in Japan. Not to mention you were a great volleyball player in general." Sakamoto continued on. "I never hated you, I admired you."

"You were a great vice captain and a great friend of mine, Chikao." Atsushi admitted.

"Good luck with nationals. Both you and your team deserve it." Sakamoto told him.

"Go talk to him!"

Atsushi looked up to find Goshiki walking towards him with confidence. "Uh, Ushijima." Goshiki began. "You were really cool during our match!"

"Thanks... Goshiki, right? You're the up-and-coming ace for Shiratorizawa?" Atsushi said as Goshiki nodded. "My friends call me Atsushi."

"You can call me Tsutomu, then."

"Sounds good. Let's play again sometime, perhaps as aces for our respective teams." Atsushi said.

"Yeah!"

The rest of Shiratorizawa watched as Atsushi and Goshiki exchanged numbers.

Both of the siblings soon ended up walking home together. "There's this one volleyball team that you should keep an eye on." Wakatoshi started to say, making Atsushi look at him. "Inarizaki."

"How come?"

"During the Inter-High nationals, they were able to defeat us." Wakatoshi responded. "Their setter is just about as talented as Oikawa. I don't know if you'll go against them, but be wary if you do."

"I will." Atsushi promised as his older brother's words played once more in his head.

"A setter just as talented as Oikawa-san? The only other person aside from him would be Tobio, so that's impossible, right?"

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

It was the next day after the finals. A sign that said, 'Congratulations on going to the Spring Volleyball Tournament, Boys' Volleyball Team!' was in the front of the school as Atsushi was walking with Tsukishima and Yamaguchi as the three of them walked past Hinata's classroom.

"Look's like the idiot's got a huge head now." Tsukishima commented, making Atsushi roll his eyes and Yamaguchi snicker.

School eventually came to an end as Atsushi was in the clubroom, getting ready for practice. "The representative team from Tokyo is just about to be decided, right?" Hinata questioned.

"Yeah." Ennoshita responded. "I think Tokyo, four schools get decided in the first qualifier, and then I think the qualifier to decide the representative is in November."

"I think that Nekoma and Fukurodani both made it." Tanaka commented.

"It's amazing that they made it into the top four schools in Tokyo." Narita pointed out.

"It makes me realize we went to a training camp with some really crazy guys." Ennoshita stated.

Hinata shook with excitement. "We're gonna beat Nekoma! Right, Kageyama? Atsushi?" He questioned.

"That's if they make it through the qualifiers." Kageyama reminded him as Atsushi hummed in agreement.

"Of course they will!" Hinata exclaimed as he went outside of the clubroom.

Atsushi thought back to his brother's words. "Say, Tobio." He spoke, getting Kageyama's attention. "Do you think there's interesting players we'll be going up against at nationals?"

"Yeah." Kageyama simply replied.

"I think so, too." Atsushi agreed.

"And I can't wait to meet them all!"

༻ 𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 ༺

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

A/N: And that's a wrap up on season three! Sorry if the joust wasn't what you expected. Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2818 words.