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

edited on october 12th, 2021 @ 4:45pm

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CHAPTER FORTY - THE LOSERS

TANAKA JUMPED UP TO SPIKE, but the ball got blocked as Ennoshita dived down to save it, but it was too late as WakaNan gets the point. Atsushi clenched his jaw, annoyed at how behind they were.

The volleyball was tossed up to Ennoshita who spikes it down. "It's out!" Number 10 from WakaNan called out, making Atsushi slightly growl as he was correct and they get a point.

"Shake it off! Next, next!" Asahi reassured Ennoshita who turned to him.

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

Atsushi saw how Ennoshita narrowed his eyes in annoyance at himself, he looked over and saw that WakaNan was at match point, so he walks over to Ennoshita and slaps his back, making him come back into reality.

Ennoshita winced at the impact before staring at the brunette with widened eyes. Atsushi didn't say anything to him or even glance in his direction, he just wanted him to focus on the game. They all get in their positions as the volleyball gets served and Tanaka crouched down and saved it.

Hinata charged forward as Kageyama sets to him, the blocker from the other side managed to get a one touch, the ball soon gets set by the setter as Hinata and Atsushi jump up to block, the ball bounces off Atsushi's fingertips and out of the court, making the brunette hiss in irritation as WakaNan won the second set.

They get off the court to prepare for the third and final set. This last set will determine if Karasuno will go forward or not. Atsushi ignored the second-years, but they seemed to be trying to cheer Ennoshita up as he focused his attention onto Ukai.

"Nothing you can do if you get blown away, but there's some that you can still dig! You're landing a lot of your attacks. Keep connecting!" Ukai announced.

"Right!"

Hinata suddenly beamed up at Ukai. "Coach!" He called out, making Ukai jump at the sudden calling out. "The Little Giant... was he like that guy, WakaNan's Number 1?" Hinata asked as Ukai glanced over to the other team.

"Let's see... currently in the prefecture, his playing style may be the closest." Ukai informed as Hinata tensed up before giving an annoyed look at Nakashima.

"Hey, don't try to duel with him." Kageyama bluntly stated as Atsushi joined in on the deadpan look.

"He's better in mid-air battles than you are." Atsushi added as Kageyama nods in agreement at his boyfriend's bluntness.

"Just play like you usually do!" Kageyama stated as Hinata turned to the two of them.

"Why do you two have to break my heart like that?"

"That was nothing more than kind advice!"

"Kind?" It's obvious that the other is good!"

Atsushi stared at the duo as Asahi tenses at Hinata. "H-Hinata, calm down..." Asahi begged, but the orange-haired male didn't listen.

"That's why we're talking about what to do about it!" Hinata exclaimed as Kageyama rolled his eyes.

"Don't try to use the brain you don't have!" Kageyama insulted.

"What did you say?!" Hinata growled as Atsushi sighed in irritation before karate chopping their heads.

"Stop fighting, you two. In case you haven't noticed, we got a game to win."

The two of them quickly stopped their bickering and looked away in embarrassment, as Atsushi sighed and shook his head.

TWEEEET!

Karasuno got back onto the court as the final set began. WakaNan's setter tosses the volleyball up to their captain. "Takeru!" He called out as Hinata and Kageyama jump up to block, but the ball got passed them and WakaNan scored the first point of the third set.

The ball gets served again as it hits the top of the net, and rolls to Karasuno's side. Atsushi reacted quickly as he saved the ball. Tanaka went over to cover for him.

"Hinata, get the last hit!" He encouraged as Hinata runs over to spike the ball.

The ball goes far over the blockers hand, making Karasuno stare in shock and annoyance that the spike was out of bounds and the opposing team got the point.

"I'm sorry!" Hinata apologized as Atsushi sighed and looked away.

Hinata was growling at Nakashima as the volleyball gets served and over to Karasuno's side. "All right!" Nishinoya shouted as he receives the ball. Kageyama tossed the ball as Hinata charges over and swings his arm down, but he was a decoy as Asahi came up behind him and smacked down the ball, the ball bounces off the opposing team's arms and into the air.

Nakashima runs to the side to spike the ball, Hinata jumped with Tanaka but Atsushi knew it wasn't going to be enough so he rushed over and jumped beside Hinata to luckily block the ball, as it bounced off his fingertips.

The ball goes towards the edge, Atsushi sighed thinking it was going to be another point for WakaNan, only to be in shock when Hinata chased after the volleyball as he watched with widened eyes as Hinata dived forward and saved the ball, sending the ball back up. Atsushi also saw how Ukai picked up the bench him and Takeda were sitting on to prevent Hinata from crashing into it.

Atsushi was impressed that Hinata did a perfect slide on his stomach and came up with no injuries. "Counterattack!" Ukai shouted from the sides, Kageyama sets the ball up high as Hinata jumps up and slams it down, getting Karasuno a point.

"Yeah!" The two of them cheered as Atsushi blinked in surprise when Hinata crashed into Kageyama. "Are you all right?" Asahi shouted in concern as Atsushi jogged over to check on the two, only to sweat dropped at them as they seemed fine.

"I had too much momentum there."

Asahi was trembling as he panicked that the two got hurt. "Be careful! Seriously, be careful!" Asahi begged as Kageyama turned to him.

"Colliding with a lightweight like this guy doesn't faze me at all." Kageyama stated as Atsushi snorted in amusement and laugh when the duo start to throw hands at each other, but Hinata was dodging with ease at Kageyama's punches as Kageyama was dodging Hinata's. Atsushi was just laughing at the two in amusement.

"That was awesome! Nice kill!" Ennoshita praised the two, making Atsushi stop as he ceased his laughter.

"Even if we're backed into a corner, we still have the firepower to break through. That's our weapon." Kageyama stated.

Atsushi smirked in amusement at Kageyama's words. "I think I heard something like that from Ennoshita-san at some point." Kageyama added as Atsushi nodded in agreement.

"Yeah." Ennoshita smiled at Kageyama.

"Let's go! Killer serve!" Hinata exclaimed out happily, wanting to play more. Both teams eventually had six points each. Tsukishima had also joined with Atsushi and Hinata on the sides.

"Feint!" Nishinoya exclaimed as Ennoshita was quick to react as he dived down and saved the ball in time.

"Nice receive!" Asahi praised as Nishinoya covered for Ennoshita and sending the ball up, making the ace spike it but it turned out to be an out.

Nishinoya yelled in frustration making Atsushi sweat dropped from the sides. "That toss was low! Sorry!" He exclaimed as Atsushi sighed and glanced at Ennoshita who stared at the ground with gritted teeth, making the brunette frown a little.

Atsushi watched as he bowed to everyone. "I'm sorry." He apologized, making Atsushi raise an eyebrow at him. He sees Tanaka raise an eyebrow before grinning.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tanaka asked as Ennoshita looked at his fellow second-year. "If you're trying to do exactly like Daichi-san does.. You're 10 years— No, that's too long... you're a year too early!" Tanaka exclaimed as Atsushi smiled a little at his comment.

"That just now was a nice receive, no matter what anyone says!"

Ennoshita had continued to stare at the second-year before smiling at him. Atsushi watched as they all get back into their positions, as he glanced back at the other team who stared right back.

The game went on with Karasuno at 6 points and WakaNan having 7, Kageyama tossed to Tsukishima who spiked it, but the ball got saved, as Nakashima jumped up to spike the ball, he does so as Ennoshita chases the volleyball, but was too late as the ball went out of bounds and WakaNan gets the point, making Atsushi sigh a little in disappointment.

Atsushi soon sees Ennoshita gather the others around him, making the brunette wonder what Ennoshita was plotting. Soon they went back into the game as Atsushi leaned up against Sugawara who didn't mind his weight being leaned on him as they watched the game.

Atsushi watched as Hinata was called back into the game as he stayed out, making him pout but didn't voice it out.

Kageyama tossed the ball up, as Hinata was a decoy as Tanaka rushed in and slammed the volleyball, in which WakaNan's Number 2 saves it, the other player sets the ball up to their captain with Hinata and Kageyama about to block.

The volleyball grazed Hinata's hand, as Atsushi watched with nerves as Ennoshita chased after the ball, he dives forward, his hand extended to connect the ball, he succeeded making Atsushi sigh in relief as he gets off of Sugawara and watched the match in curiosity.

"Ennoshita!"

Atsushi jumped at the sudden voices of Yamaguchi, Sugawara, Narita, and Kinoshita, as Tsukishima and Atsushi stayed silent. Nishinoya ran over and sent the ball to Hinata.

"Hinata, get the last hit!" Nishinoya shouted, as Hinata rushed in as Atsushi saw three blockers jump up.

At first, Atsushi figured there was no way Hinata was going to get through the blockers, until him and Tsukishima both flinched when he did a rebound like Bokuto taught him.

"All right! Got it!" Nishinoya said as he receives the ball.

"What? He hit the block on purpose?" Narita questioned.

"A rebound." Tsukishima explained, making Sugawara turn to him.

"Where did he learn that?" He asked with interest.

Atsushi smirked as he crossed his arms. "Back during the summer training camp. Bokuto-senpai taught him it." He replied.

"But I'm sure that was just a fluke." Tsukishima added on as Atsushi shrugged.

"Didn't look like one to me." He stated.

"One more!"

Atsushi watched as Hinata ran forward for a spike, however he was a decoy with Kageyama setting to Tanaka instead who jumped up and hits the volleyball, as the ball bounces off a players arm and Karasuno gets the point.

Both Hinata and Tanaka yell out to cheer for the point and Tanaka bonks him on the head. Atsushi then saw Kageyama was questioning Hinata on where he learned the rebound before he saw that Nishinoya said something to Ennoshita before walking away, making Ennoshita smile brightly at whatever Nishinoya said.

The game resumes before the whistle blew to change sides, as Atsushi got up and followed his team to the other side of the court. They continued to watch the match with WakaNan's setter tossing to their captain  in which Atsushi smiled and cheered when Tsukishima blocks it and gets a point.

"We caught up!"

Atsushi saw how both teams were now at 13 points. Soon Ennoshira serves the volleyball, but the other team got the point when their spiker slams it down. After that Karasuno gets the point back and now Asahi was serving, as he did his jump serve, the ball did get saved but it was a long one as the ball was coming over to the net.

Kageyama and Nakashima jump up to see who can push the ball in, in which Atsushi cheered when Kageyama got the ball in but then Number 2 from the opposing team came in and saved it as Number 5 covered for his teammate.

The ball gets sent over to their captain as Atsushi gulped in nerves, as he gets a point when the ball grazes Kageyama's fingertips and onto the court.

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TWEEEET!

Karasuno called for a break as Atsushi checked the scoreboard with both teams being at 18 points. Hinata and Atsushi were back in the game a couple of rounds ago. Atsushi was exhausted and wished for the match to be over as he walked over to the sides and took a drink from his water bottle. Everyone was panting from exhaustion and Atsushi felt like he could collapse at any given moment.

TWEEEET!

A couple of plays later, Atsushi looked at the scoreboard to see what the scores were.

Karasuno

20

WakuNan

19

"Hinata, serve!"

"Right!"

Atsushi watched as Tsukishima walked on over to Kageyama with Atsushi being right next to him.

"Ukai-san said..." Tsukishima began, catching Atsushi's attention.

"Huh?" Kageyama and Atsushi said in unison.

"Since it's the tail end of the game, it might be better to consolidate the tosses to Azumane-san." Tsukishima explained as he walks away to his position.

"Right..." Kageyama responded as Atsushi hummed in agreement.

The whistle blew as Hinata served the ball over the net, the ball gets saved as Atsushi saw how they were coming in with a fast attack. Tanaka also took notice as well.

"They're coming in with a fast attack!" He told everyone.

Tsukishima jumped up to block as the spiker slams the ball and Tanaka receives it. "Nice receive!" Kageyama praised as he gets under the ball to set. Asahi, Tanaka, Tsukishima, and Atsushi all ran forward in unison for the synchronize attack while Ennoshita and Hinata stayed behind.

Atsushi smirked when Kageyama tosses the ball to him as he jumped up and slammed it down past the blocker as WakaNan's captain failed to save it.

"All right!" Karasuno cheered as Tanaka jumps over to the brunette and gave him a double high five.

After a few more plays Atsushi checked the score once more.

Karasuno

23

WakaNan

21

"We have to win this, we won't let Daichi-san down!" Atsushi thinks to himself, wiping the sweat off of his forehead as he rested his hands on his knees. Asahi was serving the ball.

"Asahi-san, nice serve!" Nishinoya encouraged as Atsushi watched from the corner of his eye to see Asahi doing his jump serve, he winced when he saw that it was going to be an out. He turned out to be correct as WakNan got the point.

"I'm sor—"

Nishinoya cut him off by smacking Asahi in the sides. "Next! One more!" He praised as Atsushi sweat dropped.

Soon it was WakNan's turn to serve the ball, the opposing team was at 22 points with Karasuno having 23. Atsushi watched as the player serving smacks the ball. However, he saw that it was going to be an out.

"Out!" Atsushi and Nishinoya announced together as they were both correct and now at match point.

"Nice call!"

They rotated with Hinata and Atsushi at the front. Soon Tsukishima served the volleyball, as the opposing team saved it and the setter tosses it to their captain. Hinata and Atsushi jumped up to block, but Atsushi widened his eyes when the captain did a feint instead. Tsukishima dived down to save it but was too late.

Atsushi gave a pat on the back to Tsukishima to assure him it was okay, in which the blonde gave him a nod of appreciation. WakaNan was serving once more.

Number 2 on the opposing team smacks the ball, as the volleyball hits the net, but it was a net in, as Nishinoya dived down and receives it.

"It's up! Nishinoya, nice!" Ennoshita praised as Atsushi watched Kageyama toss to Hinata. However, he widened his eyes when he noticed the ball was a little high for Hinata to reach.

But to his shock, Hinata used his other hand and tapped the ball over the net.

"Chance ball!"

"Hinata!"

Everyone glanced at Ennoshita at his sudden shout to Hinata. "Don't thrash about! What is a good jump?" Ennoshita yelled as Hinata was taken aback before looking forward.

"One that starts with good footing!" Hinata announced, making Atsushi blink a little but then chuckled.

Hinata and Atsushi go where Kageyama was standing. "Watch the ball!" Kageyama stated.

"Yeah!" Hinata replied as Atsushi nodded.

"Right! It ends here. Let's win this game for Daichi-san!" He informed.

They watched as the setter tosses to the captain instead, but thanks to Atsushi's quick reflexes he runs to where the captain was going to spike and jumped up in front to block.

Hinata also went over and jumped up to help the brunette block, however the volleyball grazed his fingertips as it past the two, making Atsushi and the rest of his team tense at this. But he was shocked to see Ennoshita smack the ball from the back row, as Kageyama got into setting position as Hinata ran with great speed.

Atsushi smirked and watched as the ball got sent up and Hinata smacks down the ball with his other hand as it goes out of the court.

TWEEEET!

"All right!"

Karasuno cheered for the win as the players from the bench ran over to them. Sugawara ruffled Atsushi's hair as well as Kinoshita. They were soon called to line up as Atsushi smiled. They then bowed to the other team.

"Thank you very much!"

Atsushi soon walked off the court, glad that they finally get to rest. He paused when he saw Hinata and Kageyama having a punching session, making the brunette sigh at them. Sugawara soon came over.

"Hey! What are you guys doing?" He scolded them both as they eventually stopped and followed the team off the court.

"I swear, you two can be such idiots." Atsushi commented.

"He started it!" The two spoke together in unison, pointing at one another. Atsushi sighed as he finally let out a chuckle and smacking their backs to go forward.

"Yeah, yeah. Now let's go." Atsushi said, pushing them both forward to walk with the others.

When they were walking out of the gym, Atsushi stopped when Tanaka had announced someone's name.

"Daichi-san!"

Atsushi looked up to see their captain smiling at them with Yachi right next to him. "Uh, um... I'm sorry." Daichi spoke up. Everyone was silent for a second until Nishinoya and Sugawara came rushing over.

"Daichi!" The two announced as Atsushi sweat dropped when Sugawara started to punch Daichi in the stomach a few times.

Tanaka looked at the captain with concern. "D-Daichi-san, a-are..." He began as Daichi sent him a smile.

"I'm fine. No, seriously. I got quite a bit of rest. I actually have more energy than before the game. I'll work harder than any of you in the next match." Daichi claimed as everyone stared at their captain in amazement.

Daichi then started to lead Hinata, Nishinoya, Kageyama, Tanaka and Atsushi off. "You guys must be exhausted from playing full sets. Come on, rest." He said as Atsushi sighed in relief.

"Gladly." He stated.

"Oh, our next opponent's playing right now." Hinata added on as Daichi let them go. Atsushi then followed his teammates.

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Atsushi was walking up the stairs with Tsukishima and Kageyama as Hinata and Yachi were behind them. Although he could hear the two talk.

"That was amazing! I was watching at the end next to Sawamura-san!" Yachi exclaimed.

"We'll win the next one, too!" Hinata claimed as Atsushi chuckled.

"How Hinata has this much energy even after a game is beyond me."

They all stopped when they saw Yamaguchi was way behind them. "Doesn't Yamaguchi seem down?" Yachi whispered to them. Hinata nodded in agreement, as Yamaguchi stopped his walking.

"Sorry, I'm gonna go to the bathroom, so go on ahead." Yamaguchi spoke as he runs off.

Atsushi frowned, a little worried about him. "He sure psyches himself up a lot to head to the bathroom." Hinata mumbled as Atsushi leans onto Kageyama.

"He must need to take a shit." Kageyama bluntly replied.

"Say "poop!" You're so vulgar, Kageyama!"

Tsukishima then spoke up from beside Atsushi. "I don't think he actually went to the bathroom." He responded as Atsushi looked at him when he walks away.

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Atsushi had sat down comfortably on the chairs from the stands as he eats his energy bar, watching the game below which was against Aoba Johsai and Date Tech. Whoever won would be who Karasuno would go up against next in the semifinal.

The sounds of the two schools cheering squad was heard, but Atsushi paid no attention. Sugawara came up from behind Kageyama, Hinata, Tanaka, and Nishinoya.

"Hey, don't eat too much." Sugawara scolded as Atsushi chuckled and sat in his own spot, having no one around him before narrowing his eyes at the game down below.

"Now... who will Karasuno face off against in the semifinal?"

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A/N: Another chapter is done! Let me know if there's any mistakes! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 3522 words.