A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to the last chapter of season three! Enjoy!

edited on february 2nd, 2022 @ 6:48am

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CHAPTER FORTY-TWO - THE BATTLE OF CONCEPTS

HINATA SLAMMED THE BALL PAST Kawanishi, but Ushijima was there to catch the ball on time. "Shirabu!" He called out.

"Right!"

"A straight!" Tsukishima warned. "Ready, and..."

Tsukishima and Asahi jumped up to block Ushijima as Hinata received the ball with his face, the impact knocking him back. Tanaka quickly dived down to save the ball before it hit the court.

"Kageyama, get the last!" Tanaka shouted to the first-year setter before turning over towards the orange-haired male. "Hinata, are you okay?"

"Yeah." Hinata reassured as Tobio received the ball.

"It's in!"

Yamagata received the ball back in the air. "Got it!" Shirabu informed. "Ushijima-san!"

Shirabu tossed the ball into the air as Takashi watched Ushijima run up. "We're gonna stop him!" Tsukishima exclaimed as him, Asahi, and Daichi jumped up to block.

"Whenever we do 3-person blocks, we always close in on cross spikes, but on the last one, let's close on a straight spike. It'll be a trap we set up for one whole set or more. Out of the dozens of three-person blocks we've jumped today, we've always made a route for the ball to escape through. We can't mess up this timing. We won't let it go above us. Ushiwaka knows that this is the one spot where he can comfortably hit a straight."

Ushijima spiked the ball as he went towards Tobio, who easily received it. Hinata had looked up and an image of Ushijima towering over him was seen as he slammed both Hinata and Tsukishima to the ground.

A hand reached out to Hinata and Tsukishima as Daichi rushed over to receive the ball as he slowly lifted Ushijima up.

"Asahi, get the last!" He shouted out.

Asahi jumped up as he was the next one to lift Ushijima. He spiked the ball, but ended up getting blocked. Tanaka was the next to appear as he quickly received the ball into the air.

"Chance ball!" Tanaka shouted as Tobio got into setting position.

Daichi, Asahi, and Tanaka were all lifting Ushijima off of Tsukishima and Hinata. "Their #10 is coming!" Kawanishi called out.

However, he looked over to see that Hinata wasn't moving at all. "Their #10 isn't running up?" Tendou thinks to himself.

"He's slowing down his tempo, from a minus tempo to a first tempo, and then..." Ukai Sr thought as Karasuno started to do their synchronized attack. "mixing in."

"Shit!" Tendou exclaimed.

Everyone had determined faces as they got ready to attack. Tobio threw the ball up as everyone jumped up. A flock of crows were flying towards a large eagle. Hinata slammed the ball as Yamagata dived down to receive it. The ball bounced off of his arms as it headed towards out of the court.

The ball had slammed onto the court as everyone was silent, too stunned to speak.

TWEEEEET!

Karasuno now had 21 points with Shiratorizawa at 19.

Then, cheers erupted from the audience.

"What? Seriously?!"

"That's my little brother! The one with the glasses!" Akiteru exclaimed to the man next to him, making Kichiro chuckle a bit.

Nagata, Kobayashi, and Uyeda cheered in happiness. "They won!" Kobayashi exclaimed, hugging Uyeda.

Daichi was breathing heavily as he turned around, hugging Asahi. Sugawara soon joined them as the three third-years began sobbing out loud.

Tobio, Hinata, and Tsukishima were watching their seniors until Tanaka engulfed Tobio and Hinata into a hug followed by Ennoshita.

Nishinoya fell on top of Tsukishima. "Tsukki!" Yamaguchi shouted out as him, Kinoshita, and Narita followed. Ukai, Takeda, and Kiyoko were also tearing up.

A tear roll down Takashi's cheek as more soon followed. "Kags, are you crying?" Nagata teased his friend.

"Shut up! My eyes are just sweating!"

"Sure they are."

Meanwhile, Shiratorizawa looking defeated. "Farewell, my paradise." Tendou announced.

"Hey, it's time to line up." Tobio informed.

"I-I can't stand up..." Hinata stated, his legs were shaking.

"Come on, Shoyo!" Nishinoya announced as him and Tobio began dragging him.

TWEEEEET!

Both teams bowed to one another.

"Thank you very much!"

The audience clapped as both teams shook hands.

"Talk about an upset."

"Damn it, why doesn't that bastard Ushiwaka look more upset?" Oikawa commented in irritation as Karasuno bowed to Washijo, Saito, and Miura.

"Thank you very much!"

"Is Karasuno's #10 about as tall as I am?" Washijo asked.

"Huh? Yes, I believe so." Saito replied.

"He'll probably continue to grow, though." Washijo stated. "The higher his goals get, the more treacherous his path will be."

"Sorry, Hinata. We were trying to close in on that straight but we didn't make it in time..." Asahi apologized. "Are you okay?"

"Totally fine!" Hinata reassured.

"It's because the course was so narrow that he was able to pick that up." Tobio commented.

"Kageyama does good work. Though, considering his older brother is one of the top three setters in the country, I'm not really surprised." Iwaizumi complimented.

"Did you notice it, too, Iwa-chan?" Oikawa asked. "Apparently when Four-Eyes came back, he gave some kind of directions about blocking. Like closing in on Ushiwaka's straight. That's why after the serve, Tobio suddenly switched places with the shrimp who was in the path of the cross, because Nishinoya-kun wasn't there."

"And then he returned the ball at the last moment. Your student's not bad." Iwaizumi finished.

"He's not my student!" Oikawa exclaimed in irritation. "And on top of everything, he was able to accommodate the shrimp, who came here to do something different. It's painfully obvious."

"Well... all of their good work only happened because of the blocks of that first-year with the glasses." Iwaizumi pointed out.

Oikawa then stood up. "But I guess the shrimp is a spiker you end up wanting to toss to." He said as Iwaizumi stood up as well. "No wonder he's got Tobio wrapped around his little finger."

"Come on, let's go home. I'd rather die than see the awards ceremony." Oikawa continued on as him and Iwaizumi began leaving the court.

"You really are a crappy guy." Iwaizumi commented.

Karasuno then lined up to face their supporters. "Thank you for all your support!" Daichi announced as his team bowed.

"Thank you very much!"

"Sawamura, Sugawara, Azumane!" Michimiya shouted out. "Congratulations on your victory!"

The three third-years waved as Daichi held up the charm that Michimiya had given to him before the game.

Shiratorizawa had gathered around Washijo, Saito, and Miura.

"We'll have a meeting when we get back. Once the awards ceremony is over, get onto the bus." Washijo told them.

"Right."

Washijo then stopped and turned. "And you'll be hitting a hundred serves later." He added on.

Karasuno gathered around Ukai and Takeda. "Great job, you guys!" Takeda exclaimed, his arms extended out. "I'm... I'm sho happwy..."

Ukai placed his hands on Daichi's shoulders. "Sawamura! Great job... Great job on completing that three-man block in the end." He complimented.

"but even if your thighs were to split open, I'm counting on you guys in the mid-air battles."

"Well, I made a promise." Daichi informed as Ukai nodded.

"Tsukishima!" Ukai shouted, grabbing onto his shoulders next. "No matter what anyone says, you're the MVP today."

"I'm always the MVP, so I'll let you have that title just for today, Tsukishima." Tanaka told the middle blocker, giving him a thumbs up.

"You're definitely the mental MVP." Ukai said.

The awards ceremony soon began as both teams lined up by their jersey numbers.

"And now, I present this award to the victors. Miyagi Prefectural Karasuno High School. Concluding the Miyagi Prefecture Qualifiers of the National High School Spring Volleyball Tournament, your team has emerged victorious. I present you this award in acknowledgement of your commendable performance."

The audience clapped as Daichi accepted the award while Sugawara took the trophy.

"To praise both teams for their good match, and to wish the best to Karasuno High School for their performance at the Spring High School Volleyball National Tournament in January, I'd like to ask the audience to give them another big round of applause."

The audience once again clapped for them.

"Let's go... to the Spring Tournament!"

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Later that day, the team was at ramen shop as Tanaka and Hinata were sleeping on the table. "I'm pretty sure I saw my relative's one-year-old do the same thing..." Ukai commented.

"Tanaka, get up!"

"Kiyoko-san is scolding me!"

"You guys need to decide if you're going to eat or sleep!" Ukai exclaimed.

"Ukai-kun, Kageyama-kun, I'm... sho happwy!" Takeda claimed.

"Sensei, your face is a mess..." Ukai informed.

"And that's the eighth time you've said that." Takashi added on.

"I'm so sorry."

"Make sure you guys don't break any plates." Sugawara scolded.

"Those guys worked hard on this match like their lives depended on it. And now, we're the ones that are gonna have it rough. It's gonna get real busy, Sensei, Takashi."

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After celebrating, Takashi walked into his apartment. "Kashi, how was the finals?" Tenma questioned.

"They won and going to nationals." Takashi responded.

"Really? That's good to hear."

Takashi engulfed Tenma into a hug as he cuddled him. "Does this mean you'll finally make an appearance and come watch Karasuno's current team?" He asked.

"I'll think about it." Tenma promised.

Takashi's phone chimed as he hummed before flipping his phone open.

From: Matsuda Ren.
Subject: Re, They Won!
> Congratulations to Karasuno for making it to nationals. Tokyo is just about to finish up with theirs.

To: Matsuda Ren.
Subject: Re, They Won!
I wish Nekoma luck, then. You guys better win. <

Takashi shuts his phone after sending the text, staring up at the ceiling.

"Karasuno... is finally reclaiming their former glory!"

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The next day, Takashi was at volleyball practice with his team, sending tosses to his teammates.

"Kageyama, Miura, can I speak with you two for a moment?"

Takashi glanced over at his coach before him and Miura headed over to him.

"What do you need coach?" Takashi asked.

"I need you two, plus Matsuda, to help out with the upcoming All-Japan Youth Camp. I know Matsuda is currently out due to helping Nekoma, so pass the message onto him." Hibarida responded.

"Will do."

"Here's the list of everyone who will be attending." Hibarida said, handing Takashi a list as he read it over.

"You're inviting my brother?" Takashi questioned.

"I am."

"That's great. I think this experience would be good for Tobio. He can learn a lot." Takashi stated as his eyes continued going down the list.

"Sakusa Kiyoomi... Komori Motoya... Miya Atsumu..." Takashi thinks to himself before pausing.

"Hoshiumi Korai?" Takashi questioned out loud, putting a hand on his chin in thought. "Where have I heard that name before?"

Miura flinched as he looked over at Takashi. "Y-You sure you want me to tell you, Taka-chan?" He asked.

"Why are you acting like I'll have a bad reaction?"

"Because once I tell you what that guy is known for, you'll flip your shit, and I don't want to be the poor, innocent victim." Miura thought anxiously.

"Hoshiumi Korai is known as the current Little Giant, Taka-chan." Miura revealed.

"The new Little Giant, huh? Is that right?"

"Yes!"

Takashi smirked mischievously as Miura gulped. Whenever Takashi gave that smirk, it was normally during their matches as if he was accepting a challenge, but now, Miura wasn't sure why he was giving it.

"I'll be the judge of that!"

✰ 𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 ✰

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A/N: And that's a wrap up on season three! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1958 words.