A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to the next chapter! Also, "Deadchi" jokes will not be tolerated. They're not funny. Enjoy the chapter!

edited on september 14th, 2021 @ 7:01am

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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - NEXT

IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT JOHZENJI was more focused and no longer pulling anything reckless like in the first set. Takashi watched as Tobio and Tsukishima jumped up to block a spike. But the spike was a feint.

"A feint!" Nishinoya exclaimed, as Daichi dived down to save it but was unsuccessful.

"Yahoo!" Johzenji cheered as Takashi sighed and looked at the scoreboard.

Karasuno

19

Johzenji

15

Takashi looked back at the game as he saw Tsukishima spike down the ball, but it got saved. He sees Johzenji's setter jump up to spike, as Tobio also jumped up to block, however the setter instead changed position in mid-air and tossed the ball to someone else. Takashi held back a snicker at his brother's expression.

"Those guys are pissing me off with their annoying tricks." Uyeda mumbled.

"Johzenji seems to be doing well after their time out." Nagata pointed out.

"I agree. They're starting to play serious now. That's not good." Takashi said.

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Takashi watched as Tanaka spiked down the volleyball, but the ball got saved by their Number 7, in which Terushima quickly sets the ball up.

"It's up! Last hit!"

Takashi watched with narrowed eyes. He smirked in pride when Tsukishima jumped up and blocked the ball, making Karasuno get a point when the volleyball hit the court.

"Shut out!" Uyeda and Kobayashi exclaimed while Takashi and Nagata chuckled at their two juniors.

"Man, that Tsukishima guy you told me about reminds me a lot about myself back when I played for Karasuno." Uyeda sighed. "I was the blocker who pissed our opponents off. I'm sure it's going to be the same for Tsukishima."

"Tsukishima, nice serve!" Daichi encouraged as the blonde was up to serve. Takashi saw that Hinata was now back in the game.

Takashi watched the game continue when Tsukishima served, Daichi managed to receive the ball as Hinata raced off. "Nice receive!" Tanaka complimented. Takashi widened his eyes when he saw that Johzenji's blockers weren't crowding Hinata like they were before.

Hinata spikes down the ball, in which someone receives it, but the ball almost touched the court when it bounced off the libero's arms, Terushima was quick to react when he kicked the ball back up, and Takashi watched as their Number 7 jumped up and slammed down the ball, getting a point.

Takashi narrowed his eyes a little. "I see now... Instead of blocking Hinata, they're receiving his quick instead." He explained.

"Even I have to admit, that's a smart move." Kobayashi added.

Takashi saw that Karasuno had 20 points with Johzenji catching up with 18 points.

Soon the game continued when Johzenji served the volleyball into the air. "Got it!" Nishinoya called out as he received the ball, in which Tobio tossed it up to Hinata. Takashi was a little surprised on how Hinata zoned in on an open spot as he slammed it down and got Karasuno a point.

A few more plays later, Karasuno was at 23 points and Johzenji at 19, Takashi watched as Hinata and Tobio do their attack again, but this time Terushima was there to touch the ball, and sent it back up. Takashi watched as Johzenji's Number 9 spikes down the ball and it bounces off Tanaka's arm and got a point for Johzenji.

"All right!"

Takashi tapped his fingertips on his chin. "So their aim is to touch the ball before they can hit it into an open space they cannot reach." He muttered to himself, sighing in frustration.

The game continues as Takashi watches Hinata and Tobio do their quick attack. "Bring it!" Terushima challenged. Takashi smirked when he saw Hinata tap the ball lightly over the net and got Karasuno a point. He sees Daichi give a thumbs up in his direction.

Takashi looks over and sees Uyeda laughing as he points to Johzenji.

"You see that? That's how Karasuno gets shit done!"

The current Karasuno team were sweat dropping at one of their alumni's sudden outburst as Kobayashi smacked him upside the head.

"Shut up, Uyeda!"

"They're at match point!" Takashi noted.

The game went on as Takashi continued to watch the game. However, he was surprised when Johzenji did another synchronized attack.

"Be careful! It's different from before!" Keishin warned.

Daichi jumped up to block Terushima, but the Johzenji captain spiked down the ball as no one had time to receive it as it touched the court. Everyone stared at the referee with the flag to see if Johzenji had gotten a point.

TWEEEET!

The referee raised the red flag, signaling that the ball was out, and Karasuno won the match.

"All right!"

"Yahoo! They did it!" Kobayashi cheered.

"Now it's onto the quarterfinals." Nagata added on.

Soon they all lined up and stared at Johzenji who looked as though they still wanted to be on the court.

TWEEEET!

"Thank you very much!"

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Takashi, Kobayashi, Uyeda, and Nagata were walking to congratulate the team. "Hey, you! Karasuno's #4!" Kobayashi exclaimed, getting Nishinoya's attention. "You're the current libero, right?!"

"That's me. Nishinoya Yuu, second-year!"

"Kobayashi Ryouta. I was Karasuno's libero when Kageyama-senpai played." Kobayashi greeted. "Your receives were awesome, man! I was amazed! It puts me at ease to know Karasuno has a good libero guarding their backs."

"You think so?!"

"Duh! Let's be friends, Nishi!" Kobayashi said as the two exchanged numbers.

"You must be Tsukishima. I'm Uyeda Yuudai. I was one of the middle blockers on Karasuno back when Kageyama-san played." Uyeda introduced himself. "That was a nice block you did there towards the end."

"Thanks, Uyeda-san." Tsukishima responded.

They suddenly heard a whistle go off, making them look curiously at the courts to see their opponent. "The game on Court B's done?" Hinata questioned as they walked over to see who they would be up against.

"If so, the winner is our next opponent."

The four Karasuno alumni peeked into the gym to see Karasuno's next opponent.

"That's the team Keishin said that the boys needed to look out for before the Inter-High prelims." Takashi explained.

"I can see why. I heard their defense is just as good as Nekoma's." Nagata pointed out.

"Think they'll be fine?" Uyeda asked.

"Of course they will be. The current team is really strong, you know?" Takashi reassured them.

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Karasuno had arrived back at their school gym once the day was over as they surrounded Ukai, Takashi, and Takeda. "Congratulations on completing the first day." Takeda stated.

"Thank you!" Everyone shouted back in reply as they were all sitting down.

"Wakutani Minami, our next opponent, is not like any previous opponent. They have third-years like us. They're a highly polished team. Their defense and tenacity are close to Nekoma's. Don't lose your temper just because you can't get your attack in. Especially you guys, you psyched-up simpletons." Ukai stated as he looked towards Tobio, Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka.

Daichi smiled. "It will be all right. We've got their backs." The captain reassured them making Nishinoya, Tanaka and Nishinoya beam at his comment. Tobio stayed silent.

"W-We're counting on you guys!" Hinata, Tanaka, and Nishinoya said in unison.

Daichi then stood up. "All right, we're going to make it through tomorrow, too." He claimed as he held his hand out, his team getting up and getting into a circle with their hands stretched out in the middle.

"Karasuno, fight!"

"Yeah!"

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The next day, they were back at Sendai City gym on the court, warming up. Takashi was up in the stands with Nagata, Kobayashi, and Uyeda when he heard cheers.

"Hurray, hurray... Ta-ke-ru!" The male shouted as the whole family started to cheer.

"Hurray, hurray, Takeru! Hurray, hurray, WakaNan!"

"Huh? What's wrong, Kageyama-senpai?" Kobayashi asked, seeing that his senior was looking distressed.

"It might just be my gut feeling, but considering this is WakaNan, our boys might have a hard time." Takashi said.

"Says the one who told us they'll be fine." Nagata scoffed.

"Like I said, it's just a gut feeling I have." Takashi stated. "Their stats are freaking me out as well."

"Especially their captain... His stats are exactly like how Ten's were. That doesn't make my gut feeling any better." Takashi added in his head, narrowing his eyes at Wakutani's captain.

"By the way, it seems Saeko showed up." Nagata commented, getting Takashi out of his thoughts as they see Saeko talking to Shimada and Yachi.

"Saeko-san has a younger brother on the team, right?" Uyeda asked.

"Yeah. I actually texted her and asked if she was coming to watch and she said she was." Takashi answered.

TWEEEET!

Both teams lined up as the game started and they bowed. "Let's play!" Both teams announced, as they get into position.

"Bring it!" Hinata challenged.

The ball gets served as Daichi received it and sends it up. Tobio and Hinata do their quick attack right off the bat, as Karasuno gained the first point.

"Right on!"

"All right!"

"Hinata, nice kill!"

Takashi was expecting the opponents to be scared after the attack, however the captain just smiled. "All right, we'll cut the next one quick!" He stated as his teammates nodded in agreement.

"Yes!"

"Yeah!"

Takashi blinked in confusion. "That's strange..." He commented as his fellow alumni looked at him.

"What's strange?" Kobayashi asked.

"Karasuno's past opponents either had a look of shock or surprise every time my brother and Hinata do their quick attack. But WakuNan seems calm." Takashi explained.

"That can only mean one thing. WakuNan has been researching them." Nagata stated as Takashi nodded in agreement.

"There's no one in Karasuno that you can call a flightless bird anymore. They're the most outrageous team in the prefecture. We're super lucky to be able to play them." Takeru thought before looking up at the stands where Takashi was.

"Not to mention, one of the greatest pro setters is watching. That's an honor in itself."

Tobio was up to serve next. "Opponents who aren't surprised by that quick... Now what are they going to do?" Nagata wondered as Takashi chuckled.

"Have you forgotten, Nagata? There's one weapon that Karasuno has." He informed.

"Huh?" Nagata said in confusion as he blinked in realization. "You finally taught him your toss?!"

"I did." Takashi smirked. "I knew we were going against WakaNan, so I had a conversation with Tobio to use it whenever he feels the need to."

"The Emperor toss is right where it belongs. As Karasuno's most powerful weapon! Let's see how you handle it, WakaNan!" Takashi thinks to himself.

Soon the game continued.

"Kageyama, nice serve!"

Tobio did his jump serve, and just when Takashi thought they might get a point, the captain of the other team appeared over at the ball and saved it, Takashi watched as the players charged forward.

Their number 2 spiked the ball as Asahi was late on receiving it.

"They're pretty fast... Karasuno just has to be faster." Takashi thought.

"Don't react to each and everything the spikers do! Go after the ball!" Tobio scolded Hinata, who looked annoyed.

"I-I know that, in my head!" Hinata hissed out.

"But whether or not the body moves is different. I know how that feels." Tanaka spoke from the back. They went on with the game as the ball gets received.

"Nice receive!" Nishinoya praised as Tobio and Hinata do their quick attack, but Number 4 from the opposing team saves it.

"It's up! Cover!" He called out.

"We're gonna stop this! Ready, and..." Daichi counted down as they jumped up. However, Takashi saw that the spiker aimed for Hinata's fingertips as he slammed it down and the ball was sent flying into the stands where someone quickly caught it.

"Blocked out?" Tanaka mumbled, as everyone was a little shocked to see what happened.

"All right!" The opposing team cheered for their point as Nagata narrowed his eyes at Takeru.

"Nakashima Takeru... His style seems familiar, does it?" Nagata asked as Takashi had an intense aura, making Uyeda yelp.

"That little bastard stole Ten's playing style. Tobio and Hinata better kick his ass." Takashi growled with his fist clenched.

"Nakashima Takeru... His play style might be the most similar in the prefecture... to the former Little Giant." Ukai said as looked up towards the audience where Takashi looked pissed. "It seems Takashi has noticed as well."

"There can only be one Little Giant, and until that day comes where I see someone take that title respectfully and actually earned it, that title will always be Ten's. Even though he stopped playing volleyball." Takashi said. "That little copycat is going down."

Nagata chuckled. "There's no way he could be Udai in any shape or form anyhow." He said. "Where there's a Little Giant, there's the Emperor. Tobio and Hinata mirror that perfectly."

The game continued as the ball went back and forth. Takashi glanced at the scoreboard.

Karasuno

14

Wakutani

15

"So this is how it's gonna be, huh? They won't get too far ahead of us, but Karasuno won't be able to take the lead either." Takashi thought.

"I don't know how much Nakashima could see. But rather than aiming for small spaces like Hinata, I think he uses angles." Nagata said. "I think he changes the angle of his spikes. He'll hit it against the blocker's hand, to change up the angle of the rebound."

Uyeda had a deadpan look. "Uyeda, it's written all over your face." Kobayashi commented.

Uyeda flinched. "Well, as a blocker myself, spikers like that really irritate me." He said.

Nishinoya save the ball when it got served as Hinata rushes in quickly and successfully did his quick attack and Karasuno got a point.

"Yeah!"

Soon, it was Tanaka serving. "Tanaka-san, nice serve!" Hinata encouraged him.

"Yeah! Leave it to me!"

"You're seeing it, you're seeing it! You're sure to pick up the next one! Piece of cake, piece of cake!" The captain reassure his own teammates, making Hinata a little annoyed.

"Half of that is just trying to get you riled up. Don't get provoked." Daichi said to Hinata, making the orange-haired male blink at him, but he calmed down. Takashi saw how Daichi and Nakashima both had a challenging look on their faces.

"Our next generation of Little Giants are going all out in a mid-air battle." Nagata began, making Takashi irked.

"Huh?! All I see is a wannabe copycat on WakaNan's team! Don't go spouting that nonsense, you hear me, Nagata?!" Takashi exclaimed as he had Uyeda in a headlock.

"Kageyama-san, calm down!"

"But... don't forget about Karasuno's kingly ace." Nagata continued. "And Karasuno has something WakaNan doesn't. They have the next generation of the Little Giant and The Emperor!"

The ball gets served by Tanaka. Takashi saw how the ball gets spiked down and Tanaka receives it as Hinata runs forward, but he was a decoy as Asahi ran over and powerfully slammed through the blocks and got Karasuno a point.

Daichi and Asahi fist bump each other, but held their hands in slight pain, Nishinoya and Hinata just smiled at them.

"Asahi-san!" Nishinoya cheered.

"Nice kill!" Hinata added.

"Right..."

The game continues with both teams at 17 points. Takashi watched as Karasuno gained another point from Asahi who slammed down the volleyball.

"All right!"

Soon the ball gets served as Tsukishima and Tobio saw the incoming spike, so the two of them jumped up and successfully blocked the spike, getting Karasuno an easy point.

"What?" Their number 2 exclaimed in annoyance as Tsukishima had a teasing smirk on their faces with Tobio staring blankly ahead.

Karasuno was now at 19 points. "All right! This is our chance! Let's get some momentum!" Daichi announced.

"Right!" His team shouted in agreement.

"We're WakaNan, known for our tenacity! This is when we show what we're worth!"

"Yeah!"

"It seems this match is all about the battle of the captains." Kobayashi commented.

"Well, both Nakashima and Daichi both have a good foundation with their team. It should be interesting to watch." Nagata agreed.

"Speaking of, Nagata-senpai. Weren't you exactly the same? You had a rivalry with Miyashiro-san, Nekoma's captain from back then, right? Every time we played them for practice matches it was the same way." Kobayashi smirked.

His comment made Nagata irked. "That damn cat goes to my university. He never lets me hear the end of it. That bastard." He growled as Kobayashi chuckled.

The game resumes as the ball goes back and forth, Tanaka managed to save one. "Asahi!" Daichi shouted as the ball got sent to the ace who spikes it through, but the Wakutani was able to dig it back up.

"Don't let it end, don't let it end! Let's make sure to get this one!"

"Yeah!"

Takashi watched as Tobio, Tsukishima, and Asahi jump up to block a spike from the opposing captain. It was a block out again, with Daichi running over and saving it, as Nishinoya came in as well and quickly dug the ball back up as well.

"Keep connecting!" Uyeda and Kobayashi shouted in unison.

Daichi came running back to the court at full speed to save the ball, however Takashi widened his eyes when Tanaka didn't see Daichi as he was in his way when Tanaka was going to save the ball.

SMACK!

The volleyball rolls over the net and onto the court where Karasuno gets the point, but no one was cheering as they all stared at Daichi with widened eyes and fear.

Daichi laid on the ground as him and Tanaka collided, with Tanaka holding onto his shoulder, but he didn't seem all that injured.

"Daichi-san?"

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A/N: Another chapter is done! And yeah, Takashi seems a little — okay, a lot — irritated with Takeru. I can't wait till Takashi meets Hoshiumi. Should be interesting. And yes, I'll definitely have Tobio use the Emperor toss some point in this match. I just need to find a place to insert it.

Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 3041 words.