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

edited on september 21st, 2021 @ 5:50am

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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - PLACE TO PLAY

TERUSHIMA'S TEAM DECIDED THAT THEY would be receiving as Karasuno was going to serve first. Tadahiro could tell that everyone was nervous as it was the qualifiers. "Those are so awesome!" Hinata exclaimed, making everyone turn to him. "Your new glasses look so cool, Tsukishima!"

This made Tadahiro blink as he looked towards Tsukishima and was a little surprised to see he was wearing professional glasses instead of his normal ones.

"You've been saying that nearly every day, Hinata." Yamaguchi mumbled, as Tsukishima gave the orange-haired male his usual annoyed look.

"Hinata, your standards of "cool" make me uneasy, so I'd like for you to stop saying that." Tsukishima informed, making Hinata irked.

"What was that?"

Tadahiro chuckled as he walked on over. "Hina-chan isn't wrong, Tsu-chan. You do look pretty badass." He complimented.

"Not you too, Kagami-san..." Tsukishima muttered as Tadahiro snickered in amusement. Soon enough they had to go line up to face off against the opposing team.

TWEEEET!

Karasuno lined up by their number, staring at Johzenji High as the whistle blew.

TWEEEET!

"Let's have a good game!"

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The sounds of Johzenji cheering could be heard as Tadahiro focused onto Ukai who gathered the team around before the game officially started.

"We're finally at the qualifiers. And we're up against a semifinalist from the Inter-High preliminaries. I see good competition. For the first shot, give it you got Azumane!" Ukai spoke as the ace nodded.

Daichi gestured to have everyone get into a circle. "Karasuno fight!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah!" His team shouted back in unison. Tadahiro was on the court with Tanaka on the sidelines.

"Asahi, nice serve!"

Tadahiro glanced towards the referee who blows the whistle making Asahi do his jump serve, the ball reached the other players as it goes into the air. Tadahiro saw Terushima race after the ball.

"Chance ball!" Kageyama shouted. Tadahiro widened his eyes when he saw Terushima had jumped up and managed to spike the ball from all the way back of his side of the court, making Johzenji get a point while Karasuno was shocked at the sudden action.

The crowd cheered as Tadahiro blinked. "A strong hit from the end line? On top of that, it was right after a quick spin." He mumbled as Tsukishima glanced at him.

"Normally, you'd return it with an underhand pass." Tsukishima added as Tadahiro nodded in agreement before turning his attention back on the game.

Johzenji serves the ball as it comes over to Karasuno's side. "Got it!" Asahi said as he receives the volleyball.

Tadahiro smirked and ran forward. "Left!" He announced, making Kageyama toss the volleyball over to the red head.

He had jumped up and smacked down the ball as a guy from the opposing team managed to save it, but the ball hits the net, making Tadahiro think Karasuno was going to get a point, but to his surprise the guy who tried to block him used his foot to save the volleyball from touching the ground and the ball goes into the air.

No one from Karasuno had time to block as a spiker from Johzenji slams it down and gets a point. Tadahiro scowled a little as the crowd chants Johzenji's cheer. He sighed, running a hand through his red locks.

"These guys are hard to read. It's pissing me off." Tadahiro thought.

"One more!"

The ball gets served from Johzenji. However, the volleyball hits the net and lands on the ground, making Karasuno get a point.

Soon Tsukishima was up to serve. "Tsukishima, nice serve!" Daichi encouraged, as Tsukishima sends the ball into the air. A guy from the opposing team saves it as a spiker jumped up and smacked down the ball, getting Johzenji another point.

Johzenji's #3 serves, as the ball goes over the net, dropping over to Karasuno's side. "We're lucky! It's a net ball!" Tadahiro heard Terushima say, making him narrow his eyes.

"Damn it!" Tadahiro said as he dived down, his quick reflexes kicking in.

"Nice reflexes!"

"But it might not connect!"

Tadahiro looked back and saw that Hinata had jumped after the ball, connecting it back to them, however, he panicked a little when he saw that Hinata may hit the wall.

"Hina-chan!" He called out but he saw that Hinata managed to place his foot onto the wall and bounce off like it was nothing.

Tadahiro watched as Nishinoya dived down as well, and saves the ball in time, sliding across the court as the ball goes back up. It went over the net as he saw that Karasuno gained a point when Johzenji didn't reach the ball in time.

Tadahiro grinned as him, Nishinoya, and Hinata high fived each other.

"Yeah!"

Soon it was Kageyama's turn to serve. "Go! Killer serve!" Hinata exclaimed as Kageyama did his usual jump serve. The ball gets saved as Tadahiro watched as the guy from Johzenji did a one hand set as the spiker slammed down the ball, Kageyama managed to save it, meaning he couldn't set.

The ball went back to the opposing team as it got slammed down once more, but Daichi was there to receive it. "Dai-chan, nice receive!" Tadahiro praised his boyfriend as he watched Hinata quickly run to the net and him and Kageyama do their quick attack.

Karasuno got the point as Tadahiro saw how Terushima looked at the duo with an impressed look. Tadahiro chuckled a bit when Kageyama accidently high fived Hinata's hands too hard, as he saw how Hinata's hand was twitching.

"It's hard to predict the opponent's movements, but it's not like the ball is going to disappear. Let's calm down and go at them." Daichi spoke as everyone nodded.

"Yeah!" Hinata beamed at their captain, as Tadahiro saw how Terushima had his eyes narrowed a little at Daichi, as if he was in deep thought.

"The dude's got a serious staring problem..." Tadahiro thinks to himself.

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"Number 10! Number 10!"

Kageyama sets the ball, however Hinata turned out to be a decoy as Asahi was the one to slam it down, successfully getting Karasuno a point. "All right!" Tadahiro's team cheered as he smiled a little.

They continued on with the game, as the ball goes back and forth between both teams, as Tadahiro saw how two players from Johzenji accidently crashed into each other when they tried to save the ball.

Tadahiro chuckled a bit as the ball goes back into the air, making him concentrate and run forward. "Kagami-san!" Kageyama called out as the red head jumped up and Kageyama sets the volleyball to his senior. Tadahiro slammed it down, making the Johzenji player to save the ball almost fall over.

Tadahiro joins Tsukishima in blocking but widened his eyes in confusion when he saw the setter run to the back row as another guy from Johzenji had set instead and the setter spikes it down and gains a point.

Tadahiro got irked at this as he growled and glared at the spot the ball had touched.

"What?"

He looked at the scoreboard to see that each team had 17 points. Tadahiro saw Terushima give him a sly smirk, making the red head glare at him. The game continued as Tadahiro watched Terushima slam down the volleyball and got a point.

Tadahiro saw how the setter from Johzenji crashed into the net, making him deadpan a little but Karasuno gained a point from him touching the net. The ball gets served once more as Tadahiro saw how Hinata slammed down the ball when Kageyama tossed to him, Karasuno didn't get a point as the ball went to their side after a blocker touched the volleyball.

Kageyama and Hinata suddenly do their quick attack and get a point, making Karasuno cheer.

"All right!"

Tadahiro glanced at the scoreboard once more.

Karasuno

19

Johzenji

17

"We're not doing that bad. We just need a few more points and we'll take the first set." Tadahiro thought as he focused back on the game. Kageyama sets to Asahi who slammed down the volleyball, but the libero receives it as Kageyama got ready to block the ball.

Kageyama jumped up until a loud smack was heard followed by the volleyball going back to Johzenji's side and land on the ground, getting a point for Karasuno.

"Nice block, Kag—"

Tadahiro paused his praise as he jumped back when he saw that the volleyball had slammed into Kageyama's face, as he had a nosebleed with a red mark on his face.

"Time out!"

TWEEEEET!

They all look at Kageyama who continued to have a nosebleed as some of his teammates stared in shock. "Kageyama, don't die!" Hinata begged, as Tanaka glanced at Hinata.

"Don't kill him off." He said.

"Hey, until you stop bleeding, we're subbing you out."

"My nose isn't bleeding!"

"It is! Why would you lie about that?"

Tadahiro watched as Kiyoko gave some tissues to Kageyama so he could wipe away the blood. "How are your eyes?" Kiyoko asked.

"They're fine." Kageyama responded, holding the tissues to his face.

"Do you think their excitement caused him to lean forward?" Takeda asked Ukai.

"Well, this is a good opportunity to cool your head. You won't be able to go back out there until you stop bleeding anyway, so go get yourself looked over." Ukai told Kageyama who didn't look too pleased about that, as Yamaguchi gently gestured for Kageyama to follow him.

"Come on, let's go."

"Hey, Kageyama!"

Tadahiro looked over to Hinata as did Kageyama. "I'll handle things while you're gone." Hinata promised as Sugawara then walked over.

"Yup, leave it all to your upperclassman." Sugawara grinned.

Tsukishima was bouncing the volleyball since it was his turn to serve.

"Tsukishima, nice serve!"

The game went on as Johzenji got a point from their spike. Tadahiro sighed at this and stretched his arms.

TWEEEET!

Tadahiro blinked as he saw that Narita was switching in for Hinata, he was confused but didn't question it as everyone greeted Narita on the court.

Tadahiro saw how Sugawara sets to Narita who spiked down the ball and got Karasuno a point. "Man, I almost forgot... Bench players like Narita-chan can be really reliable too." Tadahiro thought as his team crowded him. Nishinoya was happily shaking Narita by the shoulders.

"That's it! That's it!" Nishinoya praised.

They focused back on the game as Terushima was serving. Tadahiro watched when he spikes down the ball and got a service ace. Tadahiro sighed as he looked at Terushima who bounced around happily.

"Whoo! Service ace! Whoo!"

Tadahiro felt annoyed by him, as he felt his eyebrow twitch. "I'm so close to punching the daylights out of him..." He mumbled as Narita nervously chuckled at him. Daichi clapped to get his team's attention as Tadahiro looked over at him.

"Don't get swept up in their excitement! We're gonna rush them and grab the first set!" Daichi announced as Tadahiro nodded at him in agreement as the game continues, the ball coming back to Karasuno's side.

"Nishinoya!"

"Got it!"

"Nice receive!"

Tadahiro watched as Sugawara sets to Narita who slams the ball down and gets Karasuno a point. "Nice kill!" Sugawara praised as him and Narita high five. Tadahiro chuckled as he turned to the scoreboard.

Karasuno

23

Johzenji

21

"Looks like we're taking the first set." Tadahiro noted as he smirked.

"Chance ball!" Narita announced as he sent the ball back up. "Got it!" Sugawara said as Asahi, Daichi, Tsukishima, and Tadahiro all ran forward in unison, doing their synchronized attack.

The four of them jumped up as Sugawara tossed to Daichi who slams down the ball and got a point for Karasuno.

"All right!"

"We're at match point." Tadahiro thinks to himself. He looked over at Johzenji and raised an eyebrow when he saw them gather around and started talking to each other.

Tadahiro thought nothing of it and got back into his position.

"Narita, one more! Nice serve!"

The volleyball went over the net as Tadahiro saw Johzenji's libero save it, but to his surprise the opposing team were also doing a synchronize attack, they all jumped as Terushima had a big grin on his face.

"All right!"

Tadahiro watched as Terushima completely misses the volleyball and the ball hits the court, getting Karasuno a point and winning the first set.

"Well, that was to be expected..." Tadahiro thinks to himself.

Karasuno walked off the court as Tanaka went over and patted Tadahiro's back. "You're pretty good at those synchronized attacks, senpai, despite never practicing with us." He stated as Tadahiro laughed.

"Thanks, Tanaka-chan." Tadahiro said as Kiyoko started handing out water bottles and towels. Tadahiro thanked her as she gave him a towel and water bottle. The red head put the towel around his neck and gulped down his water.

"This has been bothering me... Johzenji High School's banner..." Takeda spoke up as Tadahiro followed his gaze to their opponent's banner.

Simple and Strong.

"It somehow doesn't seem to mesh with how the team acts, don't you think? If anything, something like "Free and Wild" may be a better match." Takeda stated as Tadahiro hummed in agreement.

"Actually a long time ago, or rather, up until recently, simplicity and fortitude described Johzenji's team accurately." Ukai commented.

TWEEEEET!

It was the beginning of the second set, Tanaka was on the court instead as Tadahiro sat out. He stood beside Sugawara and Yamaguchi, as they watched their team play.

"Hinata, Kageyama, stay calm." Sugawara called out as Tadahiro sweat dropped when he saw how Hinata and Kageyama were yelling to get themselves fired up.

"Shut up, jeez." Tanaka scolded the two. Tadahiro saw how Terushima was talking to Hinata but Tadahiro couldn't make out what it was.

Soon enough, the game of the second set started.

"Nishinoya!"

"Got it!"

The ball gets sent into the air as Tadahiro watched from the sides, Hinata and Kageyama do their freak attack, however Tadahiro was taken aback when Hinata missed the ball completely.

"I warned you guys!" Sugawara told them as Tadahiro began to panic. However, Daichi came to the rescue as he doved in and saved the ball on time.

"Daichi, nice ass-wiping!"

"I told you not to say it like that!"

Tadahiro looked back to see Terushima about to spike the ball, he does so as Daichi once again saves it, making Tadahiro sigh in relief. Not long after, Hinata and Kageyama do their quick attack once more, and this time actually getting it done correctly, making the first point of the second set go to Karasuno.

"All right!"

"All right!"

"Nice one guys!"

Yamaguchi beams at their teammates. "This time, we finally nailed it!" He exclaimed, lightly shaking Tadahiro's arm in excitement. The red head could only chuckle at his juniors excitement.

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The game continued as Tadahiro watched Kageyama set to Tanaka who spiked it down powerfully. "All right!" Tanaka cheered. Tadahiro glanced over at the score.

Karasuno

13

Johzenji

09

Tadahiro focused back onto the game when the ball gets blocked by Hinata and Daichi as Terushima and his team hastily save the volleyball and send it back up.

"Get back!" Daichi shouted as they listened to him and step back, making Tanaka save the ball on time.

"Tanaka, nice!"

Tadahiro's eyes followed Hinata who runs forward as him and Kageyama do their attack and gets Karasuno another point.

"All right!" Sugawara cheered.

"A counter-attack!" Yamaguchi added.

Soon Hinata was serving, but he hits the net and got Johzenji a point instead. After that, it was Terushima serving as he did a jump serve.

"Out!"

Terushima yells in slight frustration at his serve as Karasuno got a point. Soon Hinata was swapped out as he went to Tadahiro's side and now, Daichi was serving.

"Daichi, nice serve!" Tanaka encouraged as Tadahiro looked over to his boyfriend to see him serving the volleyball. Tadahiro noticed that Johzenji was getting panicked as some players were getting distraught since they didn't know who was going to save the ball.

Tadahiro saw how Johzenji's setter had jumped up to the volleyball. "Is he going to do a dump?" He muttered out loud as the setter hits the ball, but it was an out for them, making Karasuno get the point.

"All right!"

TWEEEET!

Johzenji took a timeout, as Tadahiro couldn't blame them.

Tadahiro decided to help Kiyoko out by giving out water bottles, but before he did, he saw how Hinata was looking at the opposing team, making him confused as Kiyoko walked over as well.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Kiyoko-san."

Both Kiyoko and Tadahiro turned around to see Tanaka and Nishinoya looking at them with serious expressions. "I'm not sure why I'm asking, but would you scold us too?" Nishinoya pleaded at her, making Kiyoko confused at the comment.

"If possible, as if you're looking down upon us—" Tanaka added but Kiyoko interrupted him.

"No."

"Then..."

The two second-years turned around making Kiyoko deadpan at them.

"I will not be smacking your butts, either."

With that, Kiyoko walked off, Tadahiro saw Nishinoya and Tanaka be happy about something Kiyoko had said.

Tadahiro sighed to himself. "Why can't I have a normal team?" He muttered.

TWEEEET!

The game had continued with Karasuno at 17 points and Johzenji at 11. Tadahiro noticed that Johzenji seemed to have new and determined energy surrounding them as they walked back onto the court.

"Now the real fun begins, eh?"

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