A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Sorry that I haven't updated this in a while. I've been busy with college and work. Also, I researched that professional volleyball has five sets, but I'm only gonna write about two because my ass is too lazy to write all five sets. Enjoy the chapter!

Bold = speaking English.

edited on january 21st, 2021 @ 9:18pm

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CHAPTER FIVE - JAPAN VS USA

TAKASHI COULDN'T SLEEP.

He groaned in frustration, trying to stop himself from having an anxiety attack. "Kashi? You okay?" Tenma asked sleepily.

"I'm fine, Ten. Go back to sleep. It's..." Takashi looked over at the bright red digits. "...2:30am."

Tenma sighed as he cuddled closer to Takashi, running his fingers through his black hair, trying to calm him down. "I thought your anxiety attacks stopped after we graduated high school."

"I thought they did too. But with Japan's first match today they came back." Takashi stated. "What if we lose? It'll be my fault as captain."

"You won't lose." Tenma said. "You have the power to bring out a players abilities. You'll win."

"Thanks, Ten."

The next morning, Takashi was in a dark blue shirt with 'Japan' on the back of it, black shorts, and white tennis shoes. He grabbed his black and red volleyball jacket and put it on.

He followed his fiancé out of their apartment as they headed towards the stadium where the match was being held. Which was packed with people.

"I better head to the locker room. I'll see you after the match, Ten." Takashi stated.

Takashi walked into the locker room to see his team already in there changing. He changed into his red and black jersey with the number 1 on it in white as well as matching shorts. He put on his knee pads and took out tape from his volleyball bag.

"You still tape your fingers?" Matsuda asked. He wore his black and white number 2 jersey with matching shorts, knee pads, and his elbow pad which covered his left elbow.

"Been doing it since high school. It gives my tosses more power." Takashi responded.

"Ready for the match, Yama-chan?" Miura questioned. He was wearing the same red and black jersey with the number 5 on it. "I couldn't sleep at all last night, I was nervous!"

Takashi finished taping his fingers, putting his tape back in his volleyball bag and putting on his volleyball jacket over his jersey. "I know what you mean. I had an anxiety attack last night. Ten helped me through it." He admitted.

"Hey, both you and Miura will be fine. You got me watching your back." Matsuda reassured them.

"Thanks, Ren." Takashi said, looking at his team. "Let's go."

"Yeah!"

Takashi led his team out onto the court, where the USA team were already waiting. They wore a white jersey with blue outlining. Takashi took off his jacket and handed it to Japan's manager, Harada Miki.

"Captains." The referee said as Takashi and USA's captain, Damon, walked towards each other.

"Let's have a good match." Takashi spoke in perfect English, shaking Damon's hand.

"Heads is Japan. Tails is USA." The referee explained as he flipped the coin. It landed on heads. Japan was serving first.

Miura took the ball and spun it, getting the feeling of the ball in his hands.

"Give us a nice serve, Miura!"

The red headed ace threw the ball in the air as he jumped and spiked the ball, giving USA's libero, Gage, barely any time to save it.

The first point went to Japan as the crowd cheered.

Next, it was USA's turn to serve. Damon jumped up and spiked the ball. However, Matsuda was able to receive it, making it head over to Takashi.

"Nice receive, Matsu!"

"Miura!" Takashi shouted to the ace, tossing up the ball normally. Miura remembered what Takashi told him before the match started.

"Eh? Are you sure you want to do your Emperor toss right off the bat?" Miura questioned.

"Why not? It'll give them sure one hell of a greeting." Takashi smirked.

Miura watched Takashi's hands as Takashi moved his palms outwards, arching backwards as he tossed the ball to Miura. The red head was able to spike it harshly as the ball slammed onto the ground like a gunshot.

The toss left USA's team in shock.

USA's coach called for a time out as both teams headed towards their coaches.

"Seems like they called a time out." Miura mumbled. "What do you think they're gonna do now, Captain?"

Takashi pointed to the male with blonde hair. "Their setter will either do a setter dump or will serve. Their first attack will be to try and get Miura subbed out. So Miura, it's important not to get frustrated during their attacks. That's what their plan is." He started to say.

"Ren, at my signal, I want you to do your libero toss. USA's team is skilled, but they're not that skilled." Takashi continued as Matsuda nodded. "Show them just who they're up against, and that we won't go down without a fight."

"Yes, Captain!"

Meanwhile, on USA's side, Damon sat down as their manager, Sarah, gave him a water bottle as he gulped the water down. He looked over to Japan's side and his jaw clenched seeing the sight of Takashi.

"Those Japanese players really surprised us. Especially their captain." The setter, Thomas, was saying.

"Elliott, what do you know about him?" Damon asked his ace, looking at him.

The dark skinned male looked back at his captain. "From what I researched, Kageyama Takashi is a well known and well respected volleyball player in Japan." Elliott replied.

"It explains why so many Japanese are cheering for him." Gage muttered.

"That settles it then. Thomas, I need you to do a setter dump. Try to catch them off guard. Our first attack is trying to get their ace subbed out. Him and their captain work well together. If we get him out, we'll have control of the game." Damon explained to his team as they all nodded.

The game resumed as both teams headed back onto the court. Damon smirked at Takashi, thinking that they finally had control of the game. However, Takashi just chuckled and looked at him. Damon raised an eyebrow.

Like he was instructed, Thomas did a setter dump. But Matsuda was right on it as he received the ball. "Miura!" He shouted to the ace.

"All right." Miura exclaimed, spiking the ball and gaining a point for Japan.

He stood up and looked at Damon. "There's something you need to know about Yama-chan, American." The red head started to say. "He's always ten steps ahead. He knows what you're about to do before you even do it. That's why he's our captain."

Damon understood him perfectly. He was a professional volleyball player, so of course he had to learn other languages.

Takashi looked at the score.

Japan

15

USA

10

"Not bad... but it's only the first set." Takashi thought.

Elliott, USA's ace, was next to serve as he spun the ball a few times. "Elliott, give us a nice serve!" One of the USA players shouted.

The dark skinned male tossed the ball up into the air and spiked it to the other side which happened to be Matsuda's blind side. He tried to receive it but it was too late, giving USA a point as they cheered and praised their ace.

"Sorry, Captain." Matsuda apologized, walking up to Takashi. "They aimed right where my blind side is."

"Don't mind, don't mind." Takashi said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let's get that point back, shall we?"

Matsuda nodded as they went back to their positions. The game continued and eventually, Japan took the first set as they cheered.

They headed over to the sidelines as Miki gave them their water bottles and towels. "We took the first set, but no doubt that USA won't give up without a fight. What are you plans, Yama-chan?" Miura asked.

"They won't go down without a fight, but neither will we. We'll take the second set too and the sets after that. We'll win the game. I'm trusting you guys." Takashi told his team. He turned to Matsuda. "Ren."

"Yeah." Matsuda replied, already knowing what he was going to say.

Takashi placed down his water bottle as he wiped the sweat from his face. "I'm up to serve. I'll show them just who they're dealing with." Takashi said as he set the towel down on the bench.

"I always forget how scary Yama-chan is when his Emperor side comes out during games." Miura commented as some of his teammates muttered in agreement.

Matsuda chuckled. "It's what makes him a great captain. He leads our team well." He reminded him.

The second set began as both teams headed onto the court. Takashi was up to serve as he spun the ball a few times.

"Captain, nice serve!"

Takashi glanced on the other side of the court, spotting USA's ace. "There!" He thought. Takashi decided to do a jump serve as he tossed the ball into the air, jumped up, and spiked it hard, sending it towards the dark skinned male.

Elliott tried to receive it but the power was so strong it smacked his hand and fell onto the ground, gaining Japan a point.

"Elliott!" Damon shouted, seeing his ace holding onto his hand with the non injured one. His teammates shouted for him as the game was put on hold.

"Seems like you fired up our captain." Miura commented as Damon glared at him. "His serves are powerful enough to injure his opponent. Well, unless you're Matsu-chan, who can easily receive it. His wrist is most likely broken. Unfortunately, your ace will be out for the whole game."

"That was bad on my part. My apologises." Takashi said. "Maybe now you'll know just who you're dealing with."

Damon clenched his jaw as his team helped their ace off the court. "Damn Japanese... Who knew they played dirty." He thought.

"Nice going, Yama-chan. You took their ace out." Miura stated.

"Things should be easy for us now." Takashi informed as he chuckled. "Can't believe I almost felt bad for him for a moment there."

The game finally resumed after Elliott was sent to the clinic. Takashi tossed to Miura who easily spiked the ball as it landed on the court, Japan had gained another point.

One of the Japan players saved the ball as it headed over to their side. "Ren, now!" Takashi shouted.

"All right!" Matsuda exclaimed as he rushed up to the net. He jumped in the air right at the line as he tossed the ball up. Miura spiked it, gaining Japan a point once more.

Soon enough, Japan ended up winning the match as half the stadium cheered. USA tried, but they couldn't do anything since their ace had been injured.

Both teams walked over to shake hands. When Damon shook Takashi's hand, he noticed a silver ring on his ring finger on his left hand.

"He's engaged, huh?" Damon thinks to himself, following his teammates off the court.

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"Come on, Ten! They'll love you!" Takashi was saying as he pulled his fiancé towards the team's locker room.

"How you have this much energy after a match is beyond me." Tenma sighed. "Alright, I'll meet them. Stop pulling me like a child, Kashi."

Takashi and Tenma opened the locker room as Tenma found his fiancé's team staring at them.

"Congratulations on the win, Captain!" One of Takashi's teammates shouted.

"Thank you, Nishimura." Takashi smiled. "It's not my win, but it's all of ours."

"Oh? Is this your fiancé, Captain?" One of the middle blockers, Fukuda Kouhei, asked.

Takashi smiled. "Yes. This is Udai Tenma, my fiancé. I went to high school with him. And we played on the volleyball team together as well."

"You were the Little Giant back in your high school days. I remember you constantly pissed off my high school teams middle blockers. Including me." Fukuda stated. "Oh, I went to Date Tech."

"I don't go by that name anymore. I actually stopped playing volleyball so I'm sure someone else has taken that title. It's been 5 years after all." Tenma said. Which made Takashi think back to Hinata.

"Good job today, everyone. I'll see you at practice. Dismissed." Takashi said as everyone said goodbye and headed out. Takashi placed his volleyball jacket over his uniform and zipped it. Then, he swung his bag over his shoulder.

"Hey, Ten. Have you ever thought about how many kids you inspired to play volleyball?" Takashi asked.

"What brought this question on?" Tenma asked.

Takashi shrugged. "I always wondered how many kids I inspired and keep inspiring to be a setter. You were an amazing player back in our high school days. I just wanted to ask if you ever wonder how many kids you inspired. Especially if they don't have the height to play volleyball." He replied.

"I guess it's crossed my mind once or twice." Tenma admitted.

"There's this first-year at Karasuno..." Takashi started to say. "His name is Hinata Shoyo. You're his inspiration. He was amazed to find out I was dating you. He also asked how you were doing in volleyball."

"Did you tell him?" Tenma questioned.

"I didn't have the heart to tell him that his inspiration doesn't play anymore." Takashi responded. "You should tell him if you ever get the chance to meet him."

"I will."

Takashi smiled at him. "He may not play volleyball anymore, but he left a huge legacy behind and inspired a lot of kids to play volleyball no matter their height. I'm sure Hinata is just one of the many kids that he's inspired." He thought.

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A/N: Finally another chapter is done! Also, if you guys noticed, I'm starting to put "S1" in front of the chapter numbers. That just means the chapters take place in season one. I'll be doing the samae for seasons 2-4 as well. Hope you enjoyed!

Word Count: 2353 words.