A/N: Hello, readers! Sorry for the long wait! The past few weeks have been rough for me, so I haven't been able to update as much. Enjoy the chapter!

edited on april 30th, 2022 @ 3:30am

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CHAPTER FORTY-NINE - CHALLENGER

"FREE BALL!" Nishinoya shouted out as he received the ball and everyone else started to do the synchronized attack. Tobio sends the ball towards Daichi, who ended up getting blocked.

Futakuchi clenched onto his stomach as Aone walked over to see if he was okay in which Futakuchi just held up his hand.

The whistle blew as Karasuno was currently in the lead by one point.

Ukai walked over towards Hinata and Tobio. "Yeah... The best thing for you to do..." He started to say.

"...is to get lost in the crowd, right?" Hinata finished.

"Free ball!"

Date Tech realized Hinata wasn't running up as Karasuno did their synchronized attack once more. Kageyama tosses over towards Asahi who jumps up and spikes the ball.

"Asahi-san, nice kill!" Tanaka complimented as Karasuno had won the set.

TWEEEEET!

"All right! A round of diving drills!" Daichi breathed out.

"Daichi, we won." Asahi informed.

"Oh... Force of habit." Daichi stated.

"Seal walk!" Futakuchi shouted out.

The Date Tech members then began walking like a seal. "It looked like Date Tech hesitated on their last block." Takeda pointed out.

"Up until now, whenever Kageyama was the setter, Hinata wasn't involved with the synchronized attacks. Because he was attacking one tempo faster." Ukai explained.

"So everyone else was coming in on a first tempo attack and Hinata-kun was on minus tempo." Takeda spoke.

"Everyone is on guard against that freak quick attack. They'd be on guard as soon as they saw it, and even more so once they know about it." Ukai continued on. "But right now, we're playing against Date Tech. Even if they were to change up their block formation for strategic purposes, it's still rare for them to let their opponents confuse them."

Tsukishima took a drink of his water. "The amazing thing about Date Tech is that even when Hinata gets in a freak quick attack, they're able to move on from it." He pointed out.

"Yeah, it doesn't faze them." Yamaguchi agreed.

"Just because Date Tech is really good at blocking, that doesn't mean they're trying to stop everyone. Even if they can't completely stop an attack, they'll have at least two blockers show up, and they can at least touch Hinata's freak quick attack. Even if they can't fully stop an attack, if they can limit its range, their floor defense will probably get it. And..." Tsukishima paused for a moment. "In the last half of the game, Hinata will be exhausted and get rooted."

"Say what?!" Hinata exclaimed.

"Karasuno will be completely helpless. That's Date Tech's ultimate, ideal story!"

"Hey, what team are you on?" Sugawara questioned.

"The more Hinata scores, the more likely they are to hesitate. But..." Tsukishima trailed off.

"But we're in the fourth set and I can't say I'm seeing much hesitation..." Takeda was saying.

"They sure are resilient. And that's exactly why..." Ukai began.

"...is get lost in the crowd, right?"

Tobio took a moment to respond as he glanced over at Hinata. "Yeah. Sounds good to me." He responded.

"The first time I saw your quick, I thought it was awesome! It was love at first sight." Ukai started to say.

Takashi blinked. "Keishin, that almost makes you sound like a pedophile." He commented as Ukai sent him a glare. "Sorry. Continue."

"A quick that could be done from anywhere. It meddles with blocks and its speed is terrifying for any blocker. I thought its speed was almighty. But... Against skilled read blocking, all that speed is that you just get removed from the list of possible attackers." Ukai continued on.

"Hinata's used his speed as a weapon more than anyone else, yet he managed to bring this up on his own... Just because it's effective, that doesn't mean a player will automatically want to do it." Takashi thinks to himself.

"One touch!"

Nishinoya rushes over. "Nishinoya!" Daichi shouted out.

"Got it!" Nishinoya reassured, tossing the ball over towards Tobio as everyone started doing the synchronized attack once more.

"Until the very last moment..."

"Stay as a possible threat..."

"...until the very end!"

Tobio tosses the ball towards Daichi, who was able to score a point.

"All right!" Ukai cheered.

"Daichi-san, nice kill!" Tanaka complimented.

Futakuchi jumped up as Hinata and Daichi jumped up to block him.

"That's too far, Kogane!"

"Dink!" Hinata called out.

"Sorry!"

Asahi and Nishinoya barely received the ball.

"Sorry, cover!"

"Kageyama!" Tanaka shouted out as Tobio rushed forward.

"Got it!" Tobio reassured, tossing the ball up in the air as Hinata scored a point.

Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka all cheered. "You know... Using the freak quick attack after having him blend in is quite effective." Takeda pointed out.

"With read blocking, you're following where the ball goes up, but the ball's not the only thing you're following. The ball's been received. The spikers are about to attack. The setter. Your eyes try to instantaneously gather all the information you need. That's why we're giving them even more information to process. Hinata's great at increasing that kind of information. He's insanely annoying to the opponents. Where's he coming from? When will he make his next move?" Ukai ranted on.

"Not to mention, Tobio is skilled enough not going to give anything away. Thanks to him, Hinata is able to attack from anywhere at any time." Takashi added on.

"And after getting lost in all that information... The minus tempo attack suddenly bears its fangs." Takeda stated.

"U-Um..." Yachi raised her hand, getting Ukai, Takashi, and Takeda's attention. "I'm not sure if this is relevant or not, but previously, former Coach Ukai..."

"So... Shrimpster's minus tempo attack is impressive on its own, but it's sorta being wasted."

"Was what he said." Yachi finished.

"That annoying geezer..." Ukai said in irritation, causing Takashi to snort in amusement.

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The sun was soon setting outside. "Make sure you keep concentrating. Timewise, this is our last set." Ukai announced.

"Right!"

"Asahi, even if you're tired, try to maintain good form." Takashi told the ace.

"Yes, sir." Asahi replied.

Karasuno was in the lead with 13 points as both teams returned to court.

"Tsukishima!"

Tobio sends the ball over towards the middle blocker. However, the ball ended up missing.

"I've been setting like I usually do. Is there a problem—" Tobio began as he saw Tsukishima was panting heavily.

"Sorry, but I'm not a machine or a monster like Hinata." Tsukishima informed, causing Tobio to have an irritated look on his face.

"Keep an eye on your teammates' conditions."

"Right." Tobio simply said.

"Cover!"

"Ryu!" Nishinoya called out as Tanaka ran forward and slammed the ball down. However, it was an out.

"It's no use! I totally suck today!" Tanaka complained.

"Wow, Tanaka's sounding defeated. That's rare!" Daichi commented.

"But that was a great line shot." Tobio complimented.

"Whoa, Kageyama learned 'encouragement.'" Tanaka stated.

"Nah, I don't think that was just encouragement. I think he was being serious." Asahi informed.

The whistle blew as Futakuchi served the ball but ended up hitting the net as he yelled in irritation.

"You've still got a ways to go, Futakuchi!"

"How long are you going to be here?" Futakuchi mumbled.

"Don't worry! We're free all day today!"

"All right." Ukai stood up and looked towards the bench players as Yamaguchi had an intense aura surrounding him.

"I love it when these guys are ready to get in there." Ukai commented. He looked over at Kinoshita. "But... Kinoshita!"

Kinoshita flinched at his name being called as he was placed in.

"Nice serve, Kinoshita!"

Kinoshita then did his jump serve.

"Oba!"

Oba tried to receive it but it went out. "My bad!" He apologized.

"All right!" Kinoshita cheered.

"Nice serve, Kinoshita-kun!"

Kinoshita served once more as it went out. Kinoshita soon sends a high five towards Nishinoya.

"Could you not freak out every time you're called on?" Ukai told him. "You know, you managed to score a point regardless."

"Yes, sir." Kinoshita replied sheepishly as he walked away.

"The next time you hide from me, I'm making you sit next to me the whole time." Ukai informed.

"Right..."

The ball was soon served again as Daichi received it. Tobio then tossed the ball over towards Hinata.

"Got it!" Nishinoya reassured, receiving the ball back into the air as everyone began rushing forward.

Tobio tossed the ball over towards Asahi, who spikes it down and Koganegawa yells in frustration.

"Yes." Hinata cheered. "Nice kill!"

Tanaka was up to serve next as he slammed the ball but it got received.

"Asahi! Slam it!"

However, Asahi got blocked by Aone.

"Azumane-san!" Tobio called out, making Asahi step back a bit.

"Three blockers!"

"Get in there!" Nishinoya shouted.

Asahi jumped up and spiked the ball, causing it to go up into the stands.

"Holy crap! Talk about power!" Hinata exclaimed.

"That's not all." Tobio spoke as Asahi clenched his fist. The whistle blew as Karasuno won the final set.

"Thank you very much!"

Soon, everyone began cleaning up. Koganegawa walked up to Tobio.

"Hey! It seems like you practice a lot, but you don't tape up your hands at all, huh? Don't your fingers hurt?" He questioned. "I hurt my nails all the time. I even tape them just in case now."

"I strengthen my fingers. Like finger push-ups and stuff. My Nii-san tapes his saying it helps his tosses have more power, but it feels off when I tape them, so I try to avoid it. Especially with my fingertips... If there's anything even 0.1 mm between my fingers and the ball, it doesn't feel right. That's why I always take perfect care of my fingertips and nails." Tobio explained.

A lightning bolt struck through Koganegawa. "Finger training?!" He thought. "I'll start today!"

"You won't last three days." Futakuchi informed, walking past the two.

"What about you, Kanekogawa?" Tobio asked.

"Close, but it's Koganegawa." Koganegawa corrected as Tobio turned away. "Hm?"

"Sorry. What's your highest reach, Koganegawa?"

"Let's see... I think it was 340 cm." Koganegawa replied. "The last time I measured it was about six months ago, so it might even be higher now."

"Kogane! See ya later!"

"Yeah!"

Ukai, Takashi, and Takeda bowed to Oiwake, who bowed in response.

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"Ten, I'm back."

Takashi closed the door to his apartment. He hummed as he realized he received no response. He walks over towards the bedroom to find that his husband had fallen asleep — papers of drawings were scattered across their shared bed.

Takashi smiled. "He must've stayed up late drawing again..." He noted before picking up the drawings and setting them neatly on the nightstand.

He changes his clothes and going over on his side, laying on their comforter. Tenma shifts before finally cuddling close to Takashi, who ran a hand through his hair comfortably before finally falling asleep.

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

Word Count: 1860 words.