A/N: Hello, readers! I apologize for the lack of updates. It's been a rough week for me but I'm trying to get back into the mindset of writing again. Enjoy the chapter!

edited on may 27th, 2022 @ 3:50am

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CHAPTER SIXTY - CHALLENGER

"FREE BALL!" Nishinoya shouted out as he received the ball and everyone else started to do the synchronized attack. Kageyama sends the ball towards Daichi, who ended up getting blocked.

Futakuchi clenched onto his stomach as Aone walked over to see if he was okay in which Futakuchi just held up his hand.

The whistle blew as Karasuno was currently in the lead by one point.

Ukai walked over towards Hinata and Kageyama. "Yeah... The best thing for you to do..." He started to say.

"...is to get lost in the crowd, right?" Hinata finished.

"Free ball!"

Date Tech realized Hinata wasn't running up as Karasuno did their synchronized attack once more. Kageyama tosses over towards Hideaki who jumps up and spikes the ball.

"Hideaki-san, nice kill!" Tanaka complimented as Karasuno had won the set.

TWEEEEEEET!

"All right! A round of diving drills!" Daichi breathed out.

"Daichi, we won." Hideaki informed.

"Oh... Force of habit." Daichi stated.

"Seal walk!" Futakuchi shouted out.

The Date Tech members then began walking like a seal. Tsukishima took a drink of his water.

"The amazing thing about Date Tech is that even when Hinata gets in a freak quick attack, they're able to move on from it." Tsukishima pointed out.

"Yeah, it doesn't faze them." Yamaguchi agreed.

"Just because Date Tech is really good at blocking, that doesn't mean they're trying to stop everyone. Even if they can't completely stop an attack, they'll have at least two blockers show up, and they can at least touch Hinata's freak quick attack. Even if they can't fully stop an attack, if they can limit its range, their floor defense will probably get it. And..." Tsukishima paused for a moment. "In the last half of the game, Hinata will be exhausted and get rooted."

"Say what?!" Hinata exclaimed.

"Karasuno will be completely helpless. That's Date Tech's ultimate, ideal story!"

"Hey, what team are you on?" Sugawara questioned.

"The more Hinata scores, the more likely they are to hesitate. But..." Tsukishima trailed off.

"One touch!"

Nishinoya quickly rushes over. "Nishinoya!" Daichi shouted out.

"Got it!" Nishinoya reassured, tossing the ball over towards Kageyama as everyone started doing the synchronized attack once more.

"Until the very last moment..."

"Stay as a possible threat..."

"...until the very end!"

Kageyama tosses the ball towards Daichi, who was able to score a point.

"All right!" Ukai cheered.

"Daichi-san, nice kill!" Tanaka complimented.

Futakuchi jumped up as Hinata and Daichi jumped up to block him.

"That's too far, Kogane!"

"Dink!" Hinata called out.

"Sorry!"

Hideaki and Nishinoya barely received the ball.

"Sorry, cover!"

"Kageyama!" Tanaka shouted out as Kageyama rushed forward.

"Got it!" Kageyama reassured, tossing the ball up in the air as Hinata scored a point.

Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka all cheered. Hideaki then looked at the score.

Karasuno

04

Date Tech

01

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The sun was soon setting outside. "Make sure you keep concentrating. Timewise, this is our last set." Ukai announced.

"Right!"

"Izuki, even if you're tired, try to maintain good form." Ukai told the hawk-eyed ace.

"Yes, sir." Hideaki replied.

Karasuno was in the lead with 13 points as both teams returned to court.

"Tsukishima!"

Kageyama sends the ball over towards the middle blocker. However, the ball ended up missing.

"I've been setting like I usually do. Is there a problem—" Kageyama began as he saw Tsukishima was panting heavily.

"Sorry, but I'm not a machine or a monster like Hinata." Tsukishima informed, causing Kageyama to have an irritated look on his face.

"Keep an eye on your teammates' conditions."

"Right." Kageyama simply said.

"Cover!"

"Ryu!" Nishinoya called out as Tanaka ran forward and slammed the ball down. However, it was an out.

"It's no use! I totally suck today!" Tanaka complained.

"Wow, Tanaka's sounding defeated. That's rare!" Daichi commented.

"But that was a great line shot." Kageyama complimented.

"Whoa, Kageyama learned 'encouragement.'" Tanaka stated.

"Nah, I don't think that was just encouragement. I think he was being serious." Hideaki informed.

The whistle blew as Futakuchi served the ball but ended up hitting the net as he yelled in irritation.

"You've still got a ways to go, Futakuchi!"

"How long are you going to be here?" Futakuchi mumbled.

"Don't worry! We're free all day today!"

"All right." Ukai stood up and looked towards the bench players as Yamaguchi had an intense aura surrounding him.

"I love it when these guys are ready to get in there." Ukai commented. He looked over at Kinoshita. "But... Kinoshita!"

Kinoshita flinched at his name being called as he was placed in.

"Nice serve, Kinoshita!"

Kinoshita then did his jump serve.

"Oba!"

Oba tried to receive it but it went out. "My bad!" He apologized.

"All right!" Kinoshita cheered.

"Nice serve, Kinoshita-kun!"

Kinoshita served once more as it went out. Kinoshita soon sends a high five towards Nishinoya.

"Could you not freak out every time you're called on?" Ukai told him. "You know, you managed to score a point regardless."

"Yes, sir." Kinoshita replied sheepishly as he walked away.

"The next time you hide from me, I'm making you sit next to me the whole time." Ukai informed.

"Right..."

The ball was soon served again as Daichi received it. Kageyama then tossed the ball over towards Hinata.

"Got it!" Nishinoya reassured, receiving the ball back into the air as everyone began rushing forward.

Kageyama tossed the ball over towards Hideaki, who spikes it down and Koganegawa yells in frustration.

"Yes." Hinata cheered. "Nice kill!"

Tanaka was up to serve next as he slammed the ball but it got received.

"Hideaki! Slam it!"

However, Hideaki got blocked by Aone. "The greatest wall in the prefecture... His height and strength have gone way up since our last match. But somehow, I'm not scared." He thinks to himself as Nishinoya saved the ball.

"Izuki-san!" Kageyama called out, making Hideaki step back a bit.

"Three blockers!"

"Get in there!" Nishinoya shouted.

Hideaki jumped up as his eyes flashed to a lighter gray before he spiked the ball, causing it to go up into the stands.

"Holy crap! Talk about power!" Hinata exclaimed.

"That's not all." Kageyama spoke as Hideaki's eyes went back to their normal color as he clenched his fist. The whistle blew as Karasuno won the final set.

"Thank you very much!"

Soon, everyone began cleaning up. The four third-years soon met up with Date Tech's third-years as they were leaving.

"Do your best at the Spring Tournament." Moniwa told them.

"We will. Thank you." Daichi said.

Asahi, Hideaki, and Sugawara all sighed in relief as they left.

"The guys at Date Tech are still pretty intimidating." Sugawara informed.

"Definitely don't want to meet them in a dark alley." Asahi added on.

"Moniwa-kun's super nice though." Daichi stated.

"No way. He's the one who put those two intense second-years on a leash." Sugawara commented.

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Night had soon fallen. "Good work!" Daichi shouted out.

"Good work!"

"Don't go overboard with individual practice!" Daichi ordered.

"Right!"

"Especially those who have to bike over a mountain to get home!" Daichi added, referring to Hinata.

"Nishinoya!" Kinoshita called out, holding out a ball. "I'll practice with you tonight again!"

Soon enough, Kinoshita was panting. "One more, Hisashi!" Nishinoya shouted out.

"H-Hang on a second... I can't..."

"Gotta get your heart rate up when you're practicing serves!"

"You jerk!" Kinoshita exclaimed as he threw the ball up. Nishinoya rushed forward to try and receive it but ended up missing.

"Damn it!"

Nishinoya then began doing push-ups aggressively as Rei watched with a bored look on his face.

Tanaka then threw the ball up, knocking Nishinoya back once more but he ended up catching himself.

"Say, Nishinoya..." Kinoshita began, grabbing another ball. "I'm pretty sure you could get by with underhand receives, instead of forcing yourself to do overhand receives, right?"

"I mean, I'd like to just do underhand receives, and I thought I could pull that off. But there are people better than me." Nishinoya then had a look of determination. "It's no fun if you don't try other options once you know they exist."

"There you go, saying something cool again." Kinoshita stated as he served once more.

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A/N: Another chapter is finished! Thanks for reading!