The third set.

The final set.

Ayame took a deep breath and slapped her cheeks as they gathered around her and the coach.

"I don't want to admit this but, the Seijoh we are facing right now are completely different compared to last time we fought them" she bit her bottom lip as she glanced at Seijoh "But, we mustn't dwell on that matter. Our rotation will stay as it is. Whenever their big servers like Oikawa-san is up to serve, try to step back a bit and let the spikers participate in the receive if we have to. As long as we can keep the ball in the air, we can still fight"

"OSU!!"

"There's no such thing as an invulnerable team. If we keep on pushing through, we'll find a crack in their defenses"

"OSU!!"

The whistle sounded, indicating that the final set will begin.

"This is it...the last set" she tightly gripped her pencil as she watched them on court "I won't let it happen again. During the Interhigh prelims, I let my fear and weakness take over but, it won't happen again. I'll show them that I've changed!"

As what she expected, there is no significant lead in points in the current set. Oikawa's serves were really a problem and the players could barely receive it properly back to the setter. Not only that, but #16 also proved to be a handful for them.

Of course, she knows that Seijoh has their own fair share of troubles from the Karasuno team.

When Asahi's jump serve did a curve to the corner of the back court, Ayame nearly jumped from her seat in surprise.

"Ni-Nice course!!"

"Asahi-san, that was awesome! I'm glad your serve practices paid off as well!!"

For now, she's just watching how to match would fare. The only thing they could do is fight with all they got.

*Change court*

"They kept on picking up the quick. It seems that their only choice to counter the quick is to have a blocker narrow the ball's course to a receiver" she placed her thumb on her chin "Either Shoyo-kun should use it as an advantage to finally use that or they find a way to use Shoyo-kun's abilities other than that..."

She glanced at Seijoh's side "What's more, Kyotani-san has completely fitted in Oikawa-san's team. Ah... this will be hard. For now, I'm relieved they've gotten used to Oikawa-san's serves somehow"

The game resumed. For the latter half of the game, Seijoh has taken the lead.

"Urgh...Oikawa-san's serves are amazing... I hate to admit it but I admire his tenacity of pulling off a serve that increases in both power and control every time he would serve..."

She was chewing the end of her pencil to bite off the anxiety building up inside her. Oddly enough, she doesn't feel pressured or nervous at all. It's more like, the thrill and energy of the game affects her indirectly and she could somehow feel what the players are currently feeling.

She grinned in amusement (and slightly nervous and relief) when Hinata and Kageyama developed an impromptu spike, a spike that goes directly to the attack line. It happened because the shorter teen was too close to the net and the setter had to adjust for him.

Hinata's new weapon: the feint, was also utilized.

The match dragged on until both coach and assistant coach decided to let Yamaguchi play in this set again. He sat next to her while waiting for the substitution call while holding Hinata's number sign.

"You don't seem nervous at all" she told him.

He smiled "Just a little. I don't feel afraid to serve anymore, thanks to you"

"You've changed. I'm so proud of you, Tadashi-kun" she smiled when she saw the air of confidence around him. She could somehow sense that Seijoh has gotten a bit wary when they saw him.

Who wouldn't be wary of the guy who scored five consecutive points with his serve?

Yamaguchi breathed out and did his serve.

It floated to Kyotani and he barely received, but Iwaizume covered for it. Karasuno countered but Seijoh's ace was persistent with the receive and they took the point.

Yamaguchi gritted his teeth in frustration as he was switched out. Hinata returned to the court after telling him "Don't mind, Yamaguchi!"

"That one couldn't be helped" Coach Ukai told him after he came back "The opponent was too good"

"Don't mind" the teacher added.

"Hai"

Ayame could tell he's frustrated by it. Coach Ukai called out to the teen before he could return back to the other bench players "Yamaguchi!"

He smiled at him "That was a great serve"

She grabbed the teen's hand and gave it a light squeeze "It's okay to be frustrated. It's natural. You can be frustrated when your serve was received. But remember, your serves are amazing, Tadashi-kun"

His eyes slightly widened and he bowed, squeezing her hand back lightly before letting go and returning back to the other players, a hopeful and determined smile never leaving his face.

***

When Oikawa made a service ace, it was like a slap to the face for Karasuno. Ayame bit her bottom lip when reality sunk in.

"He finally controlled it..."

"Sensei"

"Right"

They called for a timeout. The players gathered around them while Coach Ukai looked troubled after that serve "It's that again..."

Surprisingly, the team didn't seem to mind it at all.

"We're just gonna have to pick it up" Daichi simply said, with Nishinoya and Asahi nodding in agreement "Right, strategist Ayame?"

She smiled "That's right. If you can handle mom's serves, then I'm pretty sure you can receive Oikawa-san's serves as well"

"That's right!" the libero grinned "Kazumi-san's serves were intense as well!"

"Let's switch up!"

Mr. Takeda watched the players talk as if the serve didn't bother them "Their mental strength is amazing. They should be under quite a bit of pressure right now..."

"This kid has really changed..." Coach Ukai thought when she saw Ayame's expression "Back then, she used to be panicky and have a breakdown when pressured like this...I guess those months of training strengthened her mental capacity"

"If we can manage to touch it, we can make it work!" Sugawara placed his hands on the captain and ace's shoulder "We're not gonna lose"

"Yeah!"

"As long as the ball doesn't hit the ground, we can still fight it out" she thought, silently agreeing to the setter.

Oikawa served and Daichi went for the receive, perfectly sending it to the setter. The spikers jumped for the toss and Asahi slammed it past the blocks.

"Seijoh's still at match point" she glanced at the scoreboard "Yuu-senpai is switched out Tsukishima-kun's at the back. Our floor defense changed and we should up the offense more this time..."

"Ayame, should we do what you planned?" Coach Ukai asked her for confirmation.

"Hai" she nodded "Let's send in Suga-san"

Mr. Takeda made the call for the player substitution.

"This is the last battle" the man said as Sugawara switched with Tsukishima.

"Hai..." she clenched her fists "We're going all out even more"

Ayame could not ignore her anxiety but she chose not to let it show. They chose the best and appropriate strategy at this time. She did everything in her power to put the strategy in play.

Kyotani was blocked by Hinata and Kageyama. Iwaizume was forced to do the serve-receive. Sugawara made the first touch, so the two setter play was out. What she didn't expect was Kageyama's sudden dump set when they all thought it was a synchronized attack.

"A-As expected from a genius...His timing was perfect..."

Seijoh asked for the timeout.

She watched when they all talked among themselves "I don't have anything else to say to them. They know what to do now. I believe in them."

"Ayame"

She looked at the owner of the voice, which was Daichi "If you would"

"Eh?"

Shimizu placed a hand on her shoulder "He wants you to encourage them, Ayame-chan"

"Oh"

She nodded in understanding. She closed her eyes and she took a deep breath as they waited for her response. She flashed them a smile as she opened her eyes.

"You guys are strong" She started. She recalled what she said to Oikawa during her visit and smiled proudly "Spread out your wings and breakthrough Seijoh's castle walls. I believe in everyone's strength, so please, believe in yourselves"

She made eye contact with the freckled teen, who nodded back with a smile, knowing what she meant.

"That's all"

"OSU!!"

Score: Karasuno–25, Aoba Johsai–24 (Third Set) (Karasuno at match point)

Sugawara's serve went to the ace and Oikawa sets it to Kyotani, who spikes a cross. Tanaka took the hit, slightly hitting his head. She slightly cringed when she saw the red mark on his forehead.

"Damn it!!"

Kageyama and Sugawara switched positions, doing their two setter play. She could feel the climax of the game as all Karasuno players went for the spike. Asahi spikes it but Hanamaki was able to pick it, but...

"The receive's way too off!" she thought when it went out. Oikawa went after it and pointed a finger to Iwaizume. Ayame's violet eyes widened in realization "Don't tell me... he's going to set it?!"

Using her ability to see a player's movement in slow motion, she analyzed to possibility of doing a super long and fast set from the outside.

"It's possible!"

She abruptly stood up and yelled "Back!"

Seijoh's captain sets it to the ace as his back crashed to the table and chairs. While regaining his footing, Iwaizume spikes it and Daichi was in position after he heard their strategist's warning but it went over. Tanaka ran after the ball and covered for it.

"Get the last!"

Ayame was holding her breath at the rally. When she saw Asahi hit the ball from the end line, she clenched her fist on her pencil as it went over the net. Wataru received and it hit the net but Kyotani covered for it and went up the net.

"Hit it, Kageyama!"

The setter slams it but Kindaichi stopped him, and the ball bounced to Sugawara's forehead.

"Suga-san!" she grew worried when she heard how hard the impact was on his head.

Though thanks to that, the ball was up and Hinata took a step back before running for a spike.

"Give it to me!"

Three blockers up front. The violet eyed girl stood from her seat when she couldn't stop her own adrenaline building just by watching.

"They read the set-up! There must be an opening somewhere around the blockers! Watch the blockers, Shoyo-kun!"

Hinata's spike brushed the blocker's hand and it went off-course to Oikawa's receive.

And took the final point.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

No one. No one made a sound until the shorter teen raised his palm and clenched.

"YOOSHAAAAAAA!!!"

The Karasuno members screamed in relief, triumph and joy after winning the set, their mouths wide open from screaming their hearts out.

Ayame high-fived with Coach Ukai with a grin of triumph on their faces, and high fived both teacher and manager as well.

"This match feels like we are in a National tournament. I'm glad everyone's hard work paid off!"

Both teams did their greetings and bowed to each other. The violet eyed girl saw Shimizu tearing up a bit and she smiled a little.

"Shimizu-san" she started "We're going to let our dream to play in the Orange Court true before you graduate. I swear, we'll take the third years there."

The third year beauty saw the seriousness on the girl's violet eyes and was touched by her words and promise. She gave a small smile and patted her head.

"Thank you, strategist Ayame"

Ayame smiled back, but she was hiding her uneasiness when she recalled that last point "I'm pretty sure that somehow, Oikawa-san knew where the ball would go. He was in perfect position after all. If it wasn't caught by the block and changed trajectory, the chances of him receiving is pretty high and Seijoh could've took the point from us"

The Seijoh players stood in front of Karasuno's coach, assistant coach and teacher.

"That was a very heartwarming match" Mr. Takeda told them.

"Yeah. You guys are also strong as well" the man nodded in agreement.

Ayame observed their expressions. It was obvious how most of them are sad and frustrated of their loss but they masked it with their poker and polite face. She recalled that the Karasuno team also felt that way during the Interhigh.

"It's okay" she told them "You don't have to hide your frustration and sadness. We all feel that way"

They stared at her in shock. In her eyes was her usual kindness and gentleness as she softened her tone. She no longer viewed them as opponents in a match. Right now, she could only see high school teens that play volleyball wholeheartedly like them.

"All of us play volleyball for plenty of reason. Whether it may be we want to win in a match or defeat certain people or maybe because we love this sport. But it all goes down to one thing: we play volleyball because it is fun and brings us together" she stepped forward to them "The frustration of losing may still be there. Whether it will fade away or you carry it as some sort of drive to improve, it is up to you how you carry that feeling. But don't forget, never forget, the feeling when you won as a team"

How could someone so short feel like she's a lot taller than them with her words?

"Carry on these feelings as you move forward. Do not be hindered by the loss. Do not blame yourself whether it is your fault or not. Keep going forward. You can cry in frustration all you want" She stopped in front of them, particularly where Oikawa and the third years are.

She looked up at them straight to the eye "Remember that there are people that believe in your strength. Continue to play without regrets. I'm not saying this as an assistant coach of your opponent's team but I'm saying this as a fellow person who loves volleyball like all of you"

The players could feel their walls breaking inside.

Ayame breathed deeply and gave them a close eyed smile "I'm so proud to all of you, Aoba Johsai volleyball team"

The dam broke and the players couldn't stop the tears that were falling down their faces. Her words were so pure, straightforward, and genuine that it moved them to show their vulnerability to her, even just a bit. Some were looking away while some wiped the tears with their shirt and arms.

She wasn't pitying them or anything. She only wanted them to move on and be strong and show their vulnerability often. Because she herself know that feeling.

Coach Ukai and Mr. Takeda stared at her in awe.

"She's really an amazing person/kid..."

Oikawa clenched his fists as his hair covered the expression of his face, though the tears are evident on his cheeks "Ayame-chan, is it okay to hug you?"

She nodded without hesitation "Hai"

Oikawa launched his self to her and cried his frustrations on her shoulder. Iwaizume gritted his teeth as he leaned on them, followed by Hanamaki and Matsukawa until all members of the Seijoh team shared a group hug with Ayame in the middle.

The atmosphere was warm and comforting as they cried their frustrations and feelings of loss around her and of course, the girl patiently listened to them all and accepted it.

Karasuno saw that, of course, and it triggered Nishinoya and Tanaka's switch to pull their beloved assistant coach from the pretty boy and his team.

"Oi, you two, quit it" Daichi scolded them as he grabbed their collars.

"But, Daichi-san-!"

"You don't have to worry about it" he told them as he looked at his "little sister", who is in the middle of the hug "Let's just let her be for a while"

The mature minded players could tell that Ayame was being kind to Seijoh, regardless of the fact they are opponents in a match. They knew that her kindness knows no boundaries (well, most of the time, so far) and from their perspective, it looked a mother comforting her children.

"I'm surprised you're not jealous, Yamaguchi" Tsukishima told him.

The freckled teen shook his head and watched her "I know that Ayame is a really nice and kind person. Friend or foe, she treats them equally and empathizes with them. There's no need for me to be jealous because I know who she is and I'm proud of her"

The megane could only smirk from his response "You're not wrong there"

Coach Irahata saw the scene where his players were around Karasuno's assistant coach "You guys are lucky to have a person like her in your team. Thank you for letting her empathize with my team"

"I know it was troublesome on your part so I hope you forgive us" Mizoguchi told them.

"No, please don't apologize" the captain said "We already know that our Ayame-chan is a kind person to begin with"

"Is that so?"