A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to the next chapter! I usually publish a chapter before I watch the episode. But I needed to watch the episode while I was writing for the third years conversation because my memory is horrible. Enjoy!

edited on march 15th, 2021 @ 6:51pm

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - THE THIRD DAY

TADAHIRO WOKE UP THE NEXT day in a bad mood. "Today, Oikawa is going against Shiratorizawa and Ushiwaka. That pretty boy better keep his damn promise." He thought. Tadahiro got up and put on his uniform. He looked at his black and orange jersey that was hanging up on his closet door knob.

"To think that our match against Aoba Johsai might've been my last." Tadahiro thinks to himself. "Would Dai-chan really want to send us to retirement early and let the second and first-years take the mantle a little earlier?"

"Now that I think about it... I wonder how the second and first-years are handling it. Of course they would be feeling as equally shitty as we do. Us third-years feel like we let them down. They probably think the same." Tadahiro noted. His mind wandered to Kageyama and Hinata. "I feel like those two are taking our lost to heart..."

He just sighed to himself and looked away from his jersey, before grabbing his school bag and his phone before heading out of his apartment.

Tadahiro arrived at school as he walked through the third-year hallway with his head low. Nobody went up to question him. The red head figured that they must've heard the news about their lost in the Inter-High.

He walked in class 3-4 and spotted Daichi and Sugawara sitting at their desk. He didn't make eye contact with them as he went to the back of the classroom and sat down.

He could see Daichi having his head rested on his hand as he was writing down notes. Sugawara just had a blank expression.

"Dai-chan... I wonder how he's feeling. He must feel like he let all of us down. He worked so hard to get us where we were. Just to have us get kicked off the court just like that." Tadahiro thought.

Tadahiro looked in his bag which was opened. His black volleyball jacket was inside. He quickly zipped up his bag, not wanting to look at it.

During break, Tadahiro met up with Daichi, Sugawara and Asahi. "I think it's best that we back out here." Daichi began.

Asahi looked at him with shock. "Huh?" He said.

"I wanted all of us third-years to be able to compete in the spring tournament, so I wanted us to hang in there until then and go to Tokyo to fight. But..." Daichi continued as he paused.

"After watching the first and second-years, I think it might be better to hand the club over to them." Daichi said. "Their futures are so full of promise, that it might be better to let them start as the mainstays of a new team. That way, the team will—"

Sugawara was about to say something, but Tadahiro beat him to it. "And you're so full of shit, Dai-chan." He interrupted, Asahi and Sugawara looked at him with shock. "Tell me, do you really mean that? Because that sounds to me like you're giving up and taking the cowardly way out."

Tadahiro walked closer to Daichi. "If you already made your decision, I won't object." Tadahiro continued.

"I don't want this to be the end. If we give up, we're giving up everything that we've worked so hard for over the years, and if I'm being honest, I don't want to stop playing with you guys. So I say we need to keep playing, if not for us, then for the first and second years on the team. We need to show them that we're not quitters just because we lost the Inter-High." Tadahiro ranted.

"I'm staying, as well as Suga-chan and Asa-chan." Tadahiro said with the two nodding at his words. "We're kicking this loss to the grave and come back stronger in the Spring. We'll defeat everyone in our path, including Oikawa and that bastard Ushiwaka."

"Besides, you still got to fulfill that claim you made to Hina-chan and Kage-chan. Don't think I don't know about that. Suga-chan told me." Tadahiro finished, shocking Daichi. "So I'll ask again, what do you really want, captain?"

"That's... the first time he called me captain..." Daichi thought.

Tears began to appear in his eyes. "I... Of course I want to keep playing! I want to keep playing volleyball with you guys!" Daichi exclaimed.

Asahi, Sugawara, and Tadahiro all smiled.

The five third-years met up with Takeda. "If you guys try too hard and end up hurting yourselves badly enough to affect your futures, but still want to play, we will probably stop you. There are times where it's not best to act based on how you're feeling." He began.

"However, if you're able to keep challenging yourselves, there are choices. That's what I think." Takeda said. "Of course, I'm not saying the scoring poorly on an exam is nothing. To overcome difficulties, you need effort, endurance, and sacrifices."

"The hours you're putting into the club are hours others are putting into studying and securing their futures, which will give them an obvious lead over you. You all might end up regretting that. Please choose wisely. Choose the path that you will not regret in five, or even ten, years." Takeda finished.

Daichi, Sugawara, Asahi, and Tadahiro were all running to the gym. "Crap, hurry." Sugawara exclaimed.

"Yeah, we are." Kiyoko told Hinata who beamed up at the sight of them.

"You're late!" Tanaka exclaimed.

"Let's go to the spring tournament!" Sugawara said.

"All right!"

Everyone was practicing when Coach Ukai walked in.

"Thank you!"

"You guys are in good spirits." Ukai said as they all rushed to him.

"Please continue to coach us!" Daichi exclaimed.

"Please!"

They all took a seat and gathered around. "We lost in a match that decided our superiority or inferiority. Seijoh was strong and we fell to them. That is our reality right now. As for today's finals for the Inter-High... The winner was... Shiratorizawa." Ukai informed.

"Seijoh..." Hinata began.

"...lost?" Kageyama finished.

"Damn it. Not even Oikawa could beat Ushiwaka?" Tadahiro clenched his fist. "If I want to defeat him, I need to open that second door. No matter what."

"There are teams stronger than Seijoh, even in our prefecture. That just means we have to get stronger. I'm pretty sure you know what our next goal is, but... it's the spring tournament." Ukai announced.

"For the third years who will be participating, it will be their last battle." Ukai continued. "Well, then, let's have the captain pump us all up."

Daichi stood up. "It's the stage that Karasuno has been to just once in the past... Tokyo. The Orange Court." He said, turning around to face the team.

"We're going there one more time!" Daichi exclaimed, turning to stare at his team.

"All right!" Everyone yelled, it made Tadahiro jump as some of his teammates, such as Hinata and Nishinoya had literally jumped in the air.

"Take five!" Ukai announced for them to take a break.

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone headed to the side to grab some towels and water.

"Okay, break time's up!"

"Yes, sir!" Everyone shouted as they continued practice.

"Time for spike practice!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Here goes!" Nishinoya announced, holding up the volleyball as he and Kiyoko help throw volleyballs into the air.

Everyone went at one time. Tadahiro was the last person to spike on Sugawara's side.

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Tadahiro arrived back to his apartment after practice. He closed the door and entered his room, placing his bag down on the ground. His phone buzzed repeatedly as he took it out and saw that his younger brother was calling him.

"What's up, Taiga?" Tadahiro questioned.

"Seirin's going to the finals." Taiga replied.

Tadahiro widened his eyes. "Really? That's great! Who are you playing against?" He asked.

"Rakuzan. Apparently, they're the strongest school."

"You have a great team, Taiga. I'm sure you guys will be fine."

"Are you coming to watch?" Taiga asked.

"Yeah, I am." Tadahiro replied. "Dai-chan and I should be there tomorrow."

"Your boyfriend's tagging along?"

"Yeah. It's been rough since our lost against Seijoh. Everyone took it differently. I figured it would be nice for him to take his mind off volleyball for awhile." Tadahiro replied. "You're finally going to meet who stole my heart."

"Good. I can ask him what possessed him to ask you out." Taiga joked.

"Oi, how rude, Taiga!"

"Well, I'll let you sleep, Hiro-nii. It takes two hours to get to Tokyo by train. So you need all the rest you can get."

"Bye, Taiga. I'll see you soon."

Tadahiro hung up and placed his phone on charge before relaxing on his bed and staring up at the ceiling, thinking about things.

"If not even Seijoh can beat Ushiwaka and Shiratorizawa, what makes me think that Karasuno can? Sure we have strong and talented players, but is it enough?" Tadahiro thinks to himself. "Damn... I really hope my time in America pays off..."

༻ 𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘 ༺

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A/N: And that wraps up season one! Also, I finally figured out a way to include the second door for volleyball. I can't wait for you guys to see it! Hope you enjoyed!

Word Count: 1605 words.