They didn't see this coming. Holding up the number 10, Yamaguchi was shaking in fear. They were going to switch Hinata for their pinch-server. Above the stands, Shimida was strangling his hair in frustration, hiding behind the wall.

"Is Keishin an idiot," he harshly whispered, "I told him that it could be out of our luck."

"But he's willing to take that luck," Takinoue implied.

Yamaguchi was hearing his friends as they told him to calm down. Even so, he could feel the pressure weighted on his back, something he never felt before.

"Come on, Yamaguchi!"

The boy exhaled shakily. Gripping the ball, he stared onto the court. He made a running start as he threw the ball up. When he jumped, both Iwaizumi and Oikawa realized there was no force into it.

'A pinch-serve!?' they thought.

Yamaguchi hit the ball.

'Go in!' Karasuno hoped. The ball was starting to wobble in midair. However, as it fell down, it hit the net first before it hit the floor.

Fweet!

"Ah~so close," Shimida sighed.

"...I-I'm sorry," Yamaguchi stuttered. He felt ashamed for acting so cowardly, and then fail to make the serve. He apologized to the coach, and was about to say the same thing to Daichi.

"I'm sor--"

"Make sure you get it next time," he reassured. Yamaguchi clamped his mouth, as he gave a frustrated look.

"H-hai!" The rest of the members turned back to the court, and somehow their aura changed, as if all the tension broke off.

"Geez, I'm no match for the captain," Ukai smirked, "he knows what to say." Takeda watched the game, but thought about their missing person.

'I hope Hinata-kun made it to her friend...'

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Fast Forward>>>>>>>>>>>>>

They quickly got out of the car. Mizuki looked back at Shotarou.

"You sure this is enough?"

"Trust me, we have everything." They ran into the building with grocery bags in their hands.

Mizuki went towards the front counter.

"E-excuse me..."

"Hai?" The woman questioned.

"We're here to see Akira Skye."

"Akira Skye....um...ah, here it is. She's on the second floor in room 211. Are you here to visit?"

"Hai."

"Then can I ask you to wear these name tags."

By the time they reached the room, the doctor was inside doing a check up on the girl She was about 5'11'', withblonde hair and blue eyes. She sat on the hospital bed as the doctor checked her eye sight.

"Excuse me~" Shotarou bellowed, getting their attention. The blonde's far beamed.

"Shotarou-san! Mizuki! Hello~!" She waved.

"How is she, doctor?"

"She'll be fine. Nothing damaged. She just collapsed from exhaustion. I'll let you three have some privacy."

"Thank you doctor." Mizuki bowed to him as he left. The orange-hair girl sat beside Akira.

"It's been a long time, Mizuki," Akira spoke in English. Mizuki did the same.

"You too Skye. But seriously..." She reached out and then pinched Akira's cheeks.

"Ow-ow-ow-ow--"

"How many times did I tell you? Don't eat all of your snacks in one go and then starve the next hours."

"I-I'm sorry....ah!" Akira saw the bag of goodies. She grabbed one and pulled out some snacks.

"You got me food? Thank you~!" The blonde immediately chowed down. Mizuki sweat dropped while giving a deadpan look.

"I swear, you are a glutton. Only you can eat this much food." Akira sheepishly smiled.

"So...when are you getting out?"

"I should be able to get out today. So how are things since we've graduated?"

"Good."

"Mizuki is the assistant coach to Karasuno High," Shotarou implied, "her brother is a member of the boy's volleyball team."

"No way! You're coaching now!? Awesome~!"

"Calm down. You just recovered..."

"So what are they like? Are they strong?" Akira leaned her face towards Mizuki's, making her uncomfortable.

"W-well...yeah. I mean, they're not as strong as some schools, but they can hold their own."

"Sounds like you really care about them."

"Hai," Mizuki smiled, and Shotarou did the same too.

"Remember when we first met during our sophomore year?" Akira asked.

"How could I not? Your energetic personality and gluttonous side was hard to forget."

"Couldn't you say some nicer words?" Akira joked, making Mizuki laugh.

"You haven't change."

"What do you mean, Skye?"

"Even though we were rivals, we're still friends. No matter who won, you still thought of me as your friend, and never held a grudge from any loss."

"Really?"

"Hai. When I heard you were applying to a university in Japan, I thought I could surprise you. I'm also here to enroll."

"Wow, no kidding? That's great. Are you going to continue playing volleyball?"

"Of course," Akira grinned, "just like you, I wanna become a pro volleyball player."

"You know....thinking back on our adventures, we're sort of like my brother and his friend."

"Friend?"

"Their both first-years. They used to be rivals in middle school, but now...they became Karasuno's reckless duo. His teammate is a setter just like you."

"No way. That's so cool."

"Yeah...look, I have to get going."

"Eh? Already?" Akira pouted.

"My team is fighting Aoba Johsai. I can't miss any more of the action, now."

"....Then, go. Wish your team good luck for me."

"Hai."

In no time, Mizuki and her mom were driving down the streets.

"Will I be able to make it?" She asked herself.

"Don't worry," Mrs. Hinata smirked, "I'll go full speed if I have to."

"Eh?"

SCREECHH~!

"A-ah!" Mizuki fell back on the seat as her mom drove faster. They were about halfway from the stadium.

"We just have to make this next turn, and--"

SCREECH!

"Ah!" They both shouted in unison. They got caught in the middle of traffic.

"No way..."

"At this rate, we won't make it."

"Like hell! I'm going, mom!"

"W-wait, Mizuki!" Mizuki slammed the car door shut and then ran towards the side walk. She ran and ran, without stopping for anything. She tied her hair up to get it out of the way.

'I can't miss this!' she shouted in her head. She jumped over a short wall. Mizuki was headed towards the stadium doors, dodging the people blocking it. It took five minutes, but she made it. She slammed the door open and looked around. She ran down the hallway, almost out of breath. When she found the gym, she immediately looked inside the open door.

"Yosha~~!" She heard Karsuno scream, and the crowd cheering. Her eyes followed the score board.

'No way...'

They were tied, 24 to 24, a deuce. When Mizuki was gone through that time, everyone was seeing a great match. Watari setting a ball from far back, Hinata and Kageyama's combination, a pipe penetration move, and even Kageyama's successful one-touch toss to Hinata, all were giving their best. Both opponents were sweating, out of breath, and feeling their muscles become numb. Still, they had their heads held high. There were so many surprises that made the crowd on edge.

"This...this is the third set," Mizuki mumbled, "its now or never. Karasuno...if you get two more points, then..."

The referee blew the whistle. Tanaka served the ball over the net, which Hanamaki caught.

"Nice receive!" Kindaichi jumped, which Hinata did the same. However, his hand swiped down, and Iwaizumi spiked the ball.

"Alright~!"

"Aoba Johsai got a point!"

"So close...ah..." Just then, Mizuki saw Oikawa take the ball, his back facing the others. She gripped on the side of the door. The setter put the ball to his face and closed his eyes.

'We won't let you take the next one,' he said to himself. With one throw, he jumped up.

'One more, and we'll regain the advantage.'

BAM!!

He spiked the ball to the other side, heading towards Nishinoya.

"Nishinoya!"

The libero stood his ground. His eyes didn't look away as the ball spun towards him. In that brief moment, Nishinoya bent his head as the ball passed him on the right. Everyone stood still as the referees were deciding the move.

FWEET!

The put their flags pointing up, calling it out. The crowd cheered.

"Good call, Nishinoya," Daichi said.

"Hai," the libero nodded.

On the side, Shimizu looked to see Mizuki. She smiled at her as Mizuki smiled back. The orange-hair girl stood by Ukai and Takeda.

"Welcome back," Ukai smiled.

"I've been watching for a while." She looked at the score board; 25 to 26.

"Their at match point again. Even if I didn't see it, I can tell by their aura. Their physical fatigue is the same, but their metal fatigue is greater." She took a deep breath.

"Hang in there~Karsuno~!" She shouted, getting their attention. Hinata smiled widely.

"Nee-san!" Mizuki smiled back, and nodded.

They watched as Karasuno and Aoba Johsai were battling for the win. One by one, the ball was being tossed everywhere. The coaches were shouting as they advised their teams. The talliers were flipping the scores, until it reached to 31 to 31.

"They've went over 30 points."

"This is rough on both of them," Shimida gripped the rail.

"But," Takinoue implied, "I think Karasuno is just barely hanging on. Seijoh should be worse off mentally, but..."

"Nice serve, Oikawa!" Oikawa was next to serve. At first, people believed he would reminisce on his missed serve. That's not the case. Knowing this was a crucial pint in the match, Oikawa didn't falter as he spiked the ball with a powerful force. Karasuno receive the ball as it got thrown back and forth. Hinata and Asahi were in the front, waiting for the next attack.

'Calm down. Calm down,' Hinata repeated in his head, 'don't act as a decoy.'

'Is it going to be a quick' Asahi thought, 'or will it be an ace?'

Suddenly, Kindaichi faked his spike as Oikawa tossed it to the other side.

Kageyama looked up, and to his surprise, it was Kunimi jumping for the ball.

'Its Kunimi?!'

TAP

'A feint!?' the three unison. Kageyama dove for it, but the ball bounced before then.

"Seijoh pulled ahead!"

"Their a match-point again."

"And Oikawa is serving again."

As the Aoba Johsai was rejoicing, Kageyama stood there, watching them. His eyes mostly stared at Kunimi. Ever since middle school, Kageyama always knew that Kunimi wasn't one to take risks or take a game seriously. But now...he's seeing different side of him.

'...not once...have I seen Kunimi laugh like that so openly. Who the hell...are you? How am I supposed to go up someone like you?'

Thoughts ran into Kageyama's head, feeling the uneasy atmosphere around him, as if doubting his knowledge.

"...eyama. Kageyama-san!"

"!?" He snapped back to reality when hearing Hinata's voice. He turned to see the small boy smirking.

"Hey, are you freaking out," Hinata teased, "how lame."

GRAB

"Geh!" Hint's face was being mangled by Kageyama's grip. Hinata pushed his hand away and quickly recovered.

"W-well its obvious that the Great King is better than the King. Its in the names," he then pointed at his head, "and besides, he seems way smarter than you, too."

Soon enough, Hinata was dodging Kageyama's punches.

"Sorry, Kageyama," Daichi smiled at him, getting his attention, "I'll make sure to get the ball back to you next time. Then all you need to do is do what seems right." Kageyama stared blankly at them.

"Kageyama! Stop hesitating," Sugawara advised, "everyone on our team is..."

They boys smiled at him.

"....strong, as they should be," he said.

"I wonder if the King is scared of the Great King?" Tsukishima wondered. Sugawara just chuckled, getting his and Yamaguchi's attention.

"Don't worry. Kageyama...is no longer the lonely King anymore." He could see it. Kageyama was finally throwing his crown and cape aside to become a team player, with the team he trusted.

"Bring it!" Tanaka shouted, as he and the others readied themselves. Oikawa was serving again. He looked at his opponents.

"Talk about annoying," he joked, "Tobio..."

He could hear his voice shouting in the background.

"....I might actually lose to you, considering how fast you evolve...but...." His eyes sharpened as he readied himself.

"!?" Daichi noticed as his eyes widened, seeing Oikawa jump only halfway and lightly hitting the ball.

"Front!" He shouted. The ball was wobbling down, but Daichi recovered it. On the bench, Ukai and Mizuki were gritting their teeth in suspense.

'In this tense situation,' Ukai thought, 'he still managed to find the smallest gap...'

'Oikawa turned it into a feint,' Mizuki's eyes were wide open.

"Asahi, go!"

The wing spiker hit the ball as it tapped on their fingers. Still, Watari caught it at the ball went up. Iwaizumi spiked the ball down, and Tanaka recovered it.

"It went u--ah!" Takeda's eyes widened when seeing the ball going towards Aoba Johsai's side.

"Do it, Kindaichi!" Kindaichi glanced at Hinata from the other side of the net.

'My reflexes and sped always lose to you...but....when it come to height...' He jumped higher than Hinata.

'I won't lose!' He spiked it down.

BAM!

Nishinoya dove in and received it.

"Alright!" Kageyama shouted.

"Kindaichi! Kunimi!" Iwaizumi shouted.

"Hai!" They unison. At that moment, Hinata was running, as Kageyama went after the ball.

'In this position, with this timing, this angle...'

'Kageyama...what are...gasp!' Mizuki's eyes widened.

From the other side, Oikawa gave an eerie smile. No one but Mizuki saw this.

'Don't tell me!' She turned back, and saw Kageyama jumping from the end of the court.

"NO, DON'T!" She screamed as she abruptly stood up. Kageyama tossed the ball, heading towards Hinata.

WHACK!

"Hah!" Hinata swung his arm down to spike the ball. However, when his eyes opened, they were looking right at the three opponents, their arms up in the air. Karasuno stood still, as everything seemed to play out in slow motion. The ball dropping as Kageyama, Nishinoya, and Asahi were diving in. Standing there, Oikawa watched them as he replayed those words.

'...Tobio...I might actually lose to you, considering how well you evolve...but...'

Bounce..bounce-bounce...

The ball rolled passed the fallen three.

'That won't be today,' Oikawa stood tall, looking down at them.