The Karasuno team had finally arrived at the court where they would face off against Shiratorizawa, the center court. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation and tension, and as (y/n) observed her fellow teammates, she couldn't help but chuckle at the various expressions that adorned their faces.

Some of the players were brimming with excitement, their eyes gleaming with the prospect of the match ahead. Others wore nervous expressions, their shoulders tense with the weight of the impending battle. And then there were those who couldn't help but steal glances at the cheerleaders from the Shiratorizawa team, their envious stares impossible to miss.

The pre-game commotion was nothing short of chaotic. Hinata, perhaps fueled by nervous energy, found himself in need of a bathroom break. Asahi, with a nervous stomach, clutched his abdomen while Yamaguchi sought out antacids to calm his nerves. Kageyama, on the other hand, was positively ecstatic at the prospect of playing on the center court, his excitement practically radiating from him.

In contrast, Tanaka and Nishinoya had their attention diverted by the Shiratorizawa cheerleaders, and their boisterous comments prompted Daichi to yell at them to focus.

Coach Takeda, ever the calming presence, tried to restore some order, but even he couldn't hide the anxiety etched on his face. Beside him, Keishin and (y/n) shared a moment of camaraderie, laughing at the chaos that seemed to follow Karasuno wherever they went.

The sudden commotion from the stands caught (y/n)'s attention. Saeko, Tanaka's spirited older sister, was shouting about finding a spy in their midst. However, it turned out to be none other than Tsukishima's older brother, who had come to watch the match.

Tsukishima, already in his characteristic state of annoyance, seemed further irritated by his brother's presence.

Finally, the formidable Shiratorizawa team made their entrance, a sight that could make anyone's heart skip a beat. They exuded an air of intimidation, and it was clear that they were not to be underestimated.

Ever the diplomat, (y/n) approached the Shiratorizawa players she had met on previous occasions with a warm and friendly demeanor. As she extended her greetings, she couldn't help but notice the stark contrast in their responses.

Ushijima, the formidable ace of Shiratorizawa, maintained his usual stoic composure. He regarded (y/n) with a nod and replied, "Good luck," in a tone that was as steady as his presence on the court.

Tendou, the wild-haired middle blocker known for his unpredictable antics, greeted her with a mischievous grin. "Ah, the Conniving Crow returns," he teased, "I've been looking forward to this."

Semi, the team's calm and collected setter, appeared somewhat exasperated by his classmate's eccentric behavior. He let out a sigh and offered a polite smile. "I apologize for his antics," he said to (y/n), his tone laced with a hint of amusement. "It's hard to rein him in sometimes."

Goshiki, the eager first-year who aspired to become the next ace of Shiratorizawa, exuded youthful enthusiasm. He beamed at (y/n) and declared confidently, "You'll see, I'll be the greatest threat on the court today. Just you wait."

The other members of Shiratorizawa, who had been observing this interaction, wore expressions of curiosity and mild confusion. They exchanged glances, silently wondering how their opponents from Karasuno seemed to have a connection with this spirited young woman. Their interest in (y/n) piqued, but they remained focused on the impending match, recognizing that Karasuno was not to be underestimated.

As (y/n) exchanged these greetings and pleasantries, she couldn't help but appreciate the diverse personalities within the Shiratorizawa team. Each player had their own unique quirks and strengths, and it was clear that they were a force to be reckoned with on the volleyball court. With the formalities out of the way, both teams prepared to face each other in what promised to be an intense and exhilarating match.

Both teams began their warm-up routines. Ushijima, demonstrating his remarkable power, unleashed an impressive spike that sent the ball soaring high into the stands. The other members of Shiratorizawa exhibited the same level of strength and skill as they prepared for the match ahead.

Refusing to be intimidated, Tanaka suggested to Hinata and Kageyama that they showcase the trick they had perfected during their training. With a nod of agreement, the duo executed an impressive attack, with Hinata's spike driving the ball straight down. It was a display of their determination and readiness.

As the two teams continued to warm up, Keishin stepped forward, his voice carrying over the court as he delivered a motivational speech. "(Y/n)" he said, turning to her with a grin, "You know what to do."

With a determined nod, (y/n) stepped beside him, echoing his sentiment. "That's right. This is our moment, our match. Let's show them what Karasuno is made of!"

The gymnasium buzzed with anticipation as the first set of the match between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa was about to begin. The Karasuno team stood united on the center court, their determination evident in their expressions and postures. The weight of their dreams, the echoing cheers of their friends, and the eyes of the spectators all bore down on them.

After the starting lineups for each team were announced, the first set kicked off with Daichi serving. It appeared to be a well-aimed shot, but Goshiki from Shiratorizawa called it out, giving the first point to their side.

A moment later, a serve from Shiratorizawa went into the net, and as Tanaka and Asahi both called out to take it, they ended up stopping in their tracks, allowing the ball to drop. Another point went to Shiratorizawa.

(Y/n) couldn't help but sigh as she watched the early struggles of the Karasuno team. The tension was palpable. But before she could say anything, Sugawara, with his veteran experience, stepped in and yelled at them to calm down. However, this earned him a stern glare from the referee. Fortunately, it seemed to have the desired effect, as the Karasuno players refocused and played better in the next rally.

The match continued with Shiratorizawa maintaining the upper hand. It wasn't until Tanaka managed to score a point with a powerful spike that Karasuno got on the board, but the score remained heavily in favor of Shiratorizawa, 01-04.

As the score reached 03-08, the first technical timeout of the set was called. Keishin used this opportunity to motivate and instruct the team. He emphasized the importance of blocking Ushijima's spikes to disrupt his rhythm and make the balls easier to receive.

In the following play, Asahi managed to deflect Ushijima's spike, but it still went out. Karasuno's blockers attempted to direct Ushijima's attacks toward Nishinoya, who was working hard to adjust to the left-handed spikes, but the power behind those hits made it challenging to control the rebounds.

Shiratorizawa continued to dominate, widening the score to 05-13. Tsukishima tried his best to block Ushijima completely but struggled to make a significant impact. His fixation on Ushijima began to affect his overall performance, and the score reached 07-15.

After another attempt at blocking Ushijima, Tsukishima managed to get a touch on the spike, but it resulted in him jamming his finger in the process.

(Y/n) stepped in to help tape up Tsukishima's finger, offering some advice as she did so. "Whether you think you can or can't, you're right. As soon as you think you'll lose, you'll lose, so don't think that."

Her words, though seemingly simple, resonated with Tsukishima. In the last rally, he had felt he was going to lose to Ushijima, and as a result, his block had likely been weaker. Instead of offering a word of thanks, Tsukishima simply clicked his tongue in annoyance, acknowledging that (y/n) was right.

"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome, String Bean," (y/n) teased, rolling her eyes. "Now go back out there and do what you gotta do."

Ushijima returned to serve for Shiratorizawa. Karasuno had been fortunate that his first serve had gone out, but they knew they wouldn't be so lucky again.

Daichi managed to get the ball up, but Tanaka failed at following up, another point for Shiratorizawa.

Nishinoya, the team's libero, then stepped up to receive the serve, and this time he got it up properly. Karasuno had a fighting chance.

Kageyama prepared to spike the ball directly, but in a clever twist, he set the ball to Tanaka instead, who delivered a powerful spike that hit the court on Shiratorizawa's side. The gymnasium erupted with cheers as Karasuno scored this point, making it 09-17.

The Karasuno players celebrated the hard-earned point, their spirits lifted even in the face of a challenging opponent. Tsukishima was swapped out for Sugawara, and Hinata rejoined the court.

Sugawara took his position to serve. His serve was aimed at Ushijima, but Reon from Shiratorizawa stepped in to receive it. Tendou, the unpredictable middle blocker, then executed a delayed spike that caught Hinata off guard, resulting in another point for Shiratorizawa.

Sugawara was subsequently replaced by Tsukishima, and Reon served for Shiratorizawa. However, his serve went out.

Kageyama was now up to serve, and he instantly scored a point for Karasuno. The gymnasium fell silent for a moment as everyone watched. The second serve from Kageyama was received, and Goshiki delivered an impressive straight-line shot that earned Shiratorizawa another point.

The match continued with intense rallies. Ushijima got the chance to spike again, and Nishinoya managed to get it up. Tanaka covered, and Daichi leaped for a rebound to set up another chance. Finally, Hinata had his moment to attack, making Ushijima receive the ball. The Shiratorizawa ace looked increasingly frustrated, demanding more opportunities to attack. When he finally got the ball, he spiked it down, scoring another point as it hit Hinata's block.

Tendou watched with surprise and amusement as Ushijima grew visibly irritated with an opposing player, realizing that Karasuno was even more interesting than he had suspected.

The set continued, even Yamaguchi got his chance to serve but unfortunatly it went out. Shiratorizawa had the momentum and Ushijima kept scoring.

Despite their best efforts, the set continued with Shiratorizawa in the lead. The score gap had widened and hit 16-25, Shiratorizawa secured the first set victory. Karasuno had given it their all, but they knew they would need to adapt and strategize if they were to turn the tide of the match in their favor.