A/N: Hello, readers! Another chapter is here! Enjoy!

edited on july 30th, 2021 @ 11:28am

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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - GREED

"GATHER 'ROUND!" Daichi shouted as Karasuno ran towards their coach. They were about to play a game with Nekoma, so all of them had determined looks.

"Our first game today is with Nekoma. How did we do yesterday?" Ukai asked before he asked Kiyoko for some of her notes from yesterday's games.

Kiyoko gets her notebook before flipping through the pages. "This will be our third set overall with Nekoma. Yesterday, we had two sets against them and lost both, 17-25 and 19-25." She informed, making Hideaki sigh in disappointment at the low scores.

"Overall, that's not bad. But I know we have more potential." Hideaki thought.

"Well, that just means we haven't won a set off of them yet. But if we calm down and give it all we've got; we should be able to give them a good challenge." Ukai smiled as Hideaki noticed him glancing over at Nekoma who were surrounding their own coach.

"Hinata and Kageyama, this is your first Nekoma set in a while, isn't it? You guys go beat them up a bit!" Ukai encouraged.

"Right!" Kageyama and Hinata shouted in unison.

TWEEEEET!

Karasuno turned around as they headed off onto the court to play. Asahi was on the sides while Hideaki was in.

As they wait for the whistle to blow, Hideaki was stretching out his muscles. "Nice serve, Fukunaga!" Yaku's voice broke Hideaki out of his thoughts as he looked towards the opposing team.

However, his eyes were more fixed on Lev who was smirking at Hinata. Hideaki looked over at his junior who wasn't smirking back but instead just narrowed his eyes at the tall male on the other side of the court.

Lev's eyes trailed over to Hideaki, who gave him a glare in return and making Lev look away.

"I really hope that pesky first-year took my words into consideration. I don't need him to fill up Hinata's head with nonsense." Hidekai thinks to himself, popping his neck.

"Come on! Bring it!" Hinata exclaimed once everyone was ready to begin. Karasuno faced down their destined rivals with them giving them the same determination back.

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The ball was up in the air as Nishinoya dived down to receive it. "Nice receive!" Tanaka called out, as the ball made it's way towards Kageyama who sets to Hinata and the duo do their famous quick attack, making Karasuno score a point.

"All right!"

"Damn it, that's amazing!" Hideaki heard Lev announce, amazed by the attack.

"Shake it off, Lev! That was close!" Yamamoto yelled to him.

"Yes sir!" Lev replied as Hideaki narrowed his eyes as the volleyball was served once more. The volleyball goes back and forth from both teams, as Daichi crouched down and saved it.

"Nice receive, Daichi!" Tanaka praised. Hideaki noticed Hinata run forward and jump up.

Kageyama and Hinata do their attack once more, except this time, Lev was able to read the attack as he used his height to successfully block the ball. Nekoma gains a point when the ball lands on Karasuno's side.

"All right!"

"He actually did it!"

Hideaki panted as he had his eyes narrowed. He glanced back to Hinata who had his back faced to him, so he couldn't tell what expression he had. Lev was walking by to get his original position, but he stopped to stare at the orange haired male, at first nothing happened between the two, until Hideaki saw him lift his arm up and did a motion for Hinata to come at him.

"Is he seriously challenging Hinata?" Hideaki thinks to himself, surprised by Lev's action. Kageyama walked over to say something to Hinata, but Hideaki was too far to hear what he was saying. But he did see Hinata had a calm but eerie look on his face. Hideaki looked away to see that Kenma was serving.

"Nice serve!"

The ball goes to Karasuno's side. "Ryu!" Nishinoya shouted at his friend as he nodded.

"I got it!" Tanaka reassured his team as he saved the ball and sent it towards Kageyama, who sets to Hideaki as Hinata was used as a decoy.

At first, Hideaki figured they lured Lev to think that the ball was going to Hinata, but they were wrong as instead he went over to block Hideaki instead, in which he managed to one touch it.

"Chance ball!" Yaku announced as he received the ball back up into the air. The ball goes towards Kenma who tosses it to Lev as the gray haired male spiked it down.

Nishinoya had ran over to save it but he was too slow as Nekoma got the point. Hideaki scowled at this and growled. "Those damn cats..." He thought.

"All right!" Nekoma cheered for their point.

TWEEEET!

Ukai had called for a timeout as Karasuno crowded around their coach. "Now, calm down. They started off guard against the fast attacks. For the time being, when we're up against Nekoma, let's have Izuki and Tanaka focus on attacking from the left." Ukai informed.

Hideaki and Tanaka nodded in understanding.

"Got it!"

"All right!"

Hideaki didn't hear Hinata say anything, which made him worry. He was off today and he knew the reason why. He didn't say anything to him because he figured his junior needed time to collect his own thoughts. That, and he didn't do anything out of line. Sugawara and Ukai must've detected that he wasn't being himself either.

"Let's calm down and get that point." Yamaguchi spoke, which made Hideaki blink and sigh in exhaustion as he drank from his water bottle.

TWEEEET!

They all headed back onto the court once they heard the whistle and cooled down. Once everyone was back in position, the ball goes into the air as Hideaki kept his eyes on it.

"Cover! Cover!"

"Left!"

"Double block!"

"Got it!"

Yamamoto jumped up to spike the ball, in which Kageyama reacted and saved it. "It's up! Nice, Kageyama!" Tanaka yelled.

"Nice cover, Tobio!" Hideaki yelled as well as the ball goes to Daichi.

"All right, let's get the last ball!" Daichi encouraged his team as he sent the ball into the air. "Sorry! It was a bit short!" He apologized.

"Hideaki!"

"Last ball!"

"Yeah!"

Hideaki charged forward and had jumped up to slam the ball down. He thought that Karasuno would get a point, however, he saw Hinata had jumped up as well. Hideaki was in shock as his eyes were completely fixed on the ball, he also didn't seem to notice the hawk-eyed male.

Everyone watched as Hideaki bumped Hinata in the air, in which their orange haired teammate falls down from the collusion.

Hinata landed on his back as the ball came back down and landed on Karasuno's side of the court, no one really paid attention to the point as they all stared in shock at Hinata. Asahi of course, was the first one to panic.

"H-H-Hold—" He stuttered, shaking like a leaf, but paused when Hinata got up. He paled at Hideaki, realizing what happened.

"I'm sorry!" Hinata apologized, then started to bow repeatedly for a second. "I was focused on the ball! I'm sorry! Are you all right? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Hinata continued to ask for forgiveness which made Hideaki sweat drop at him.

"I'm perfectly fine..." He reassured him.

"I'm so sorry!" Hinata exclaimed.

Tanaka stared at Hinata with a concerned look. "Hey, be careful." He said, wanting Hinata to calm down.

"No matter what, Shoyo's the one that goes flying." Nishinoya added with a worry but slightly amused look.

"Why do you think we call things out, you blockhead?" Ukai exclaimed, pointing at Hinata who shrunk at the scolding.

"Right, I'm sorry." He apologized as Kageyama went over.

"Moron! Hinata, you moron!" He hissed.

"Now, now, calm down, Kageyama."

"Yeah, you should ease a little."

"I'll calm down, when Hinata stops being a moron!"

"Yeah!"

Kageyama and Hideaki were both equally fuming and annoyed at their teammate, but Hideaki believed Kageyama was more upset with Hinata at the fact that he had interrupted the game by acting reckless. Hideaki was more unhappy because he knew the reason behind Hinata's actions, because Lev's words to him still lingered in his mind.

"I'm almost certain Hinata was acting on instinct just then, but it looked like he was trying to steal the toss from me." Hideaki noted, staring at Hinata.

Hideaki kept his eyes on Hinata who walked over to Kageyama. "Hey Kageyama..." He spoke, making Kageyama look at him with curiosity.

"What?" Kageyama replied bluntly.

"The quick attack goes like whoosh... I'll..." Hinata trailed off as he paused. Everyone else waited for him to finish his sentence.

"...stop closing my eyes."

Everyone gasped lightly as Hideaki watched Kageyama blink before giving Hinata an annoyed and dark look. "Huh?" He questioned, making Hinata jump back before regaining his posture.

"We can't keep doing this. It's no good to do a fast attack that you let me hit." Hinata spoke up as Kageyama raised his eyebrows.

"You learned the normal fast attack because the other was something you couldn't manage, right?" Kageyama asked, which made Hinata go quiet and not respond right away. "I don't know what's going on with you right now, but if you have something to say, I'll listen to it later." Kageyama spoke as everyone could feel the tension between them.

"But if you're saying you're gonna do that right now, I have no intention of tossing the ball to someone who I know will miss."

Hideaki watched as Hinata narrowed his gaze as he tightened his fists as he watches Kageyama walk away from him. Everyone else also watched, unsure of what to do.

They decided to continue on with the game.

"Nice serve!"

The volleyball headed towards them. "Izuki-san!" Tanaka shouted to him, since the ball was coming towards him. He nodded and sends the ball up into the air.

"Sorry, cover!" Hideaki announced as the ball was kept in play, the volleyball heads over to Kageyama. Tanaka ran forward and jumped up, waiting for Kageyama to send it to him. He does once the ball touched his palms. Tanaka smacked the ball down as three blockers from Nekoma managed to one touch it.

"One touch! Chance ball!" Lev exclaimed, making Tanaka growl.

Hideaki took note on the atmosphere around his team which was tense. After all, everyone was on edge ever since him and Hinata collided and then having to deal with the tension between Kageyama and Hinata.

The ball gets spiked down by Nekoma as Nishinoya dived down to receive it but it was too late as Nekoma won the match.

"All right!" They cheered.

Hideaki huffed in annoyance as Karasuno had to endure the penalty, which was to do flying laps. They all lined up, as Daichi was the first one to go.

"Let's go!" He shouted.

Hideaki thought back to what Hinata had said to Kageyama which made him anxious. "At this rate, Hinata's continued greed to improve, will bring down the team." He thinks to himself as he looked at his junior who tried to do a flying lap, but hit his chin as Nishinoya chuckled in amusement, but Hinata just smiled up at Nishinoya.

Takeda had soon gestured them to come closer to him, in which they rushed over. He gave them all a closed eyed smile. "You guys are the weakest of the teams that are here right now, right?" He asked bluntly, which made everyone, including Hideaki, to stare in a dark and defeated look.

"If we were to have an official match with any of these teams, they would be difficult opponents. Do you see them as just an enemy, or do you see them as masters to absorb new techniques from? The fact that you are weak means there is potential for growth. Nothing can be more fun than that." Takeda stated, giving them another close eyed smile.

They were all taken aback by their teacher, as Daichi was the first to speak. "Thank you!" He said, bowing.

"Thank you!" The rest of the team repeated.

As they were on break, Hideaki watched as Sugawara gestured for Hinata and Kageyama to follow him outside. Hideaki raised an eyebrow, curious to what he has to say so he followed them. He reached the gym doors and did his best to listen in.

"It wouldn't hurt to at least try. I mean, he was able to do a normal quick on the fly in the last Nekoma match." Sugawara spoke. Hideaki guessed that he was looking at Kageyama.

"At the time, there was a possibility the normal quick would work, and I thought that was the only chance we had." Kageyama said in a calm but blunt tone, making Hideaki hold back a sigh.

"Before I knew it, we lost the last set with Seijoh." Hinata spoke up, making Hideaki tense a little. He heard a small gasp behind him, which made the black haired male almost yelp, only for him to relax when it was only Ukai who was also listening in.

"By the time I noticed what was going on, the ball was on the floor behind me."

Hideaki frowned at the memory of Karasuno losing to Aoba Johsai. It was a rough day for everyone. It really showed Hideaki how pathetic he was as an ace.

"I was the one that lost, so I don't want you to apologize to me, Kageyama. I want to fight for myself in the air, down to the very last moment!" Hinata declared, staring at him.

Kageyama was silent for a bit. "With the Seijoh match, I understood, just a little bit, how the setter draws out 100% of the spikers." He said.

"That quick attack is your ultimate weapon. Even the smallest error in the timing of that quick attack becomes a fatal mistake. Your opinion is not necessary for that fast attack." Kageyama continued. Hideaki had to admit. He made a valid point.

Hideaki heard Kageyama walk off. He comes to the door and saw Ukai and Hideaki, he didn't seem surprised. However, he just gave them a nod and walked inside the gym.

"Sorry, Hinata. This time, I've got to agree with Kageyama. I think he's exactly right." Sugawara spoke up. Hideaki heard Hinata slightly gasp at his statement. "That fast attack is amazing enough already. Perfecting the other attacks with that at the core is probably what's best for us."

Ukai and Hideaki sighed as the two of them walked out to see Hinata and Sugawara. "Yeah, I agree with Sugawara." Ukai spoke.

"Same here." Hideaki added, making the two jump when they saw them.

"Coach Ukai? Hideaki?" Sugawara questioned.

"You say you want to fight with your own will, but the deviant fast attack depends on a split-second decision." Ukai spoke as him and Hideaki walked over.

"I honestly think it's pretty hard trying to figure out what to do in that split-second mid air." Hideaki spoke up as Hinata glanced at him and frowned.

"But when I'm doing well, I can see it in slow motion, just like Tanaka said." Hinata argued.

"Well, there are times where blocks are more visible." Ukai stated as he glanced over to Sugawara who nodded in agreement.

"In the practice match against Aoba Johsai... The last point... The Grand King... I could see Oikawa's face. I could see his eyes." Hinata said as Hideaki's eyes slightly widened at the memory.

"I remember Tōru had informed me about that. He was furious." Hideaki thought, chuckling a little at the memory.

"Oh, you felt like you could?" Ukai asked with some sweat rolling down.

"The first time I nailed that fast attack in the 3-on-3, I could see the other side too. I saw the scenery from the summit." Hinata stated.

"So, you mean you felt like that's what you saw, right?" Ukai questioned as Hinata looked up, Ukai, Sugawara, and Hideaki slightly flinched back at the seriousness in Hinata's eyes as he stared at Ukai.

"Oh, there you are. We're starting." Daichi's voice spoke, making Ukai yelp as Daichi was looking for Hinata.

"Oh, we'll be right there." Hinata said as he came jogging over. Sugwara and Hideaki followed as they headed inside for their match against Fukurōdani.

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After that, everyone was doing some warmups as they got ready to face off against Fukurōdani Academy. However, as Hideaki was stretching, he overheard Ukai speak to one of his teammates.

"Narita."

"Yes?"

"Switch out with Hinata next."

Everyone stared in surprise at this, Hinata was the most shocked as they all looked back at Ukai. "Uh, y-yes, sir!" Narita replied, also confused but didn't argue against him.

Ukai noticed the defeated look on Hinata's face and went over to explain why he was switching him out.

"Despite what you think you want to accomplish; you need to chill out today." Ukai informed as Hideaki sighed at him.

"He makes a good point. Hinata isn't himself today. It could cause problems." Hideaki thought, watching the interaction.

"I can't possibly think that trying anything out in the current conditions will succeed. And I can't risk anyone getting hurt with collisions during play like either."

At Ukai's words, Hinata grew silent as he looked down in sadness, but he didn't oppose the fact that he was switched out.

TWEEEET!

The game began as everyone kept an eye on the volleyball as it went to both sides before Hideaki saw Bokuto jump up to spike the ball as Narita and Daichi tried to block him, but Bokuto got by as he grinned brightly.

"All right!" Bokuto cheered.

"Don't sweat it, shake it off!"

"One more!"

Hideaki's teammates from the sidelines called out to them. Hideaki sighed and narrowed his eyes in thought. "I have to make my skills better." He thought as he grew stressed.

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Since it was the last day, with the Tokyo away games, they ended early so that they could go home. Hideaki was helping everyone load their belongings onto the bus, as he yawned tiredly. Kuroo was busy talking with Daichi, but the black haired male knew if he didn't hurry now, he would be clinging to him and he would never get the chance to leave.

"Izuki." A quiet voice had spoke up. The black haired male paused and looked behind him to see Kenma.

"Um, let's have each other's numbers. That way we can get to know each other better." He said, looking awkward. The hawk-eyed male blinked but nodded.

"Uh, sure." He said, giving the second-year setter his phone as Hideaki did the same.

Once they were both done, Hideaki looked up at him. "I hope to see you again, Kenma." He stated, holding out his hand. He nodded in agreement.

"Yeah." He replied, shaking the blackette's outstretched hand.

"Darling! Are you just going to leave without saying goodbye to me?" Hideaki heard Kuroo's voice as he walked over. He sighed.

"I was planning on it." Hideaki muttered but Kuroo heard and just chuckled.

"Say, can I have your number too? I mean, it's only fair if Kenma gets yours." Kuroo asked with a smirk.

Hideaki sighed, knowing that he wouldn't get out of this one. "Fine. Here." He replied, giving him his phone as Kuroo smirked and entered himself in the hawk-eyed male's contacts. Hideaki did the same when he is handed Kuroo's phone.

Lev bounced over. "Can I have yours too?" He asked as Hideaki sighed.

"Just give everyone my number." He said as Kuroo and Kenma nodded.

"Will do, darling." Kuroo smirked.

"Stop calling me that." Hideaki hissed.

"If I do, then will you come to Nekoma?"

"Please say yes! I want to learn from you more, senpai!"

"Lev, stop yelling."

Hideaki sighed at the three. "Oi, Izuki-senpai we're leaving." Kageyama called out to him as he nodded.

"Yeah, I'm coming." Hideaki replied as he waved to Kuroo, Kenma, and Lev in which they stood next to the other teams that came to see Karasuno off.

Soon, Hideaki took his seat which was next to Asahi. He noticed that Kageyama didn't sit next to Hinata like he usually did.

He really hoped the tension between the two wouldn't last long.

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Hideaki had slept the entire ride back to Miyagi, when they had arrived back to the school to drop off the shuttle bus, Takeda turned to them with a closed eyed smile.

"All right, everyone, good work." Takeda spoke as they all bowed.

"Thank you!"

"So, as I mentioned, tomorrow there will be inspections in the gym, so there will be no club activities. You haven't had any time to rest lately, so take it easy and get some rest." Takeda told them, his smile not leaving his face as everyone nodded.

Everyone headed over to the clubroom to put away some things they had brought along with them for the Tokyo games. Hideaki was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep.

"Now that I think about it, I should give Shun a call. I haven't spoken to him since Tōru and I traveled to Tokyo for the Winter Cup finals." Hideaki thought as he walked out of the clubroom.

"Are you heading off, Izuki-san?" Yachi's voice asked him, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I'm exhausted." Hideaki responded. "Get home safe, Yachi."

"I will, senpai!"

Hideaki was walking with Tanaka. "I seriously can't believe you called your older sister to pick them up." He snickered.

"I'm just glad they made it to the training camp in one piece." Tanaka sighed.

"They most likely feared for their lives though." Hideaki stated.

"Someone! Senpai!"

Hideaki and Tanaka both stopped when they heard the voice of their first-year manager.

"Yachi, what's wrong?" Hideaki asked.

"Hinata and Kageyama are fighting!"

Hideaki and Tanaka looked at each other as they took off, following Yachi to the gym where they found Hinata and Kageyama arguing.

"Hey!" Tanaka shouted, getting their attention.

"Stop it, you two!"

Tanaka grabbed Hinata while Hideaki grabbed Kageyama, successfully separating the duo.

They had calmed somewhat down. "You two..." Hideaki began as everyone flinched at his cold tone. Even Tanaka was shivering with nerves.

Hideaki gave Hinata and Kageyama his best cold stare. "...the both of you are pissing me off! I thought the two of you could work things out, but I was wrong. We are a team. No, we are a family. I won't lie, when I came back to the team, you two surprised me in a good way. But now? Now, I'm just disappointed." He ranted as everyone stayed silent, not used to Hideaki being like this.

"You two want to go to nationals? It won't happen if you're getting into pointless fights. It's not affecting just you. It's affecting the team as a whole. We don't need that. Hell, we don't deserve that! Daichi has worked hard on trying to regain Karasuno's former glory, and I'll be damned if I let you two dumbasses ruin that for him. For us." Hideaki finished as he breathed heavily.

"I'm done. I'm heading home. Clean this place up once you're finished." Hideaki stated, grabbing his gym bag that he had thrown at the sides in a hurry. He swung it over his shoulder and walked out of the gymnasium.

"Those two idiots better not ruin our chances to going to nationals. I don't want Daichi to think he made the wrong decision coming back. Same goes for Asahi and Suga." Hideaki thought, walking back to his apartment.

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The next day at school, Hideaki and Tanaka were telling the other third-years that Kageyama and Hinata had gotten into a fight.

"What? They got into a fight?" Asahi questioned.

"There's been tension between them ever since the training camp." Sugawara added.

"I still can't believe you went off on them, Hideaki." Asahi stated, looking over at the black haired male who sighed.

"Yeah, well, I was pissed." Hideaki said.

"And you had every right to be, Izuki-san." Tanaka cut in. "I wonder if they're going to be okay, considering the spring tournament's coming up."

"But this isn't the first time they've ever fought, is it?" Daichi asked, while looking out the window.

"Come to think of it, they were fighting even before they turned in their membership applications." Tanaka replied.

"What? Seriously?" Hideaki questioned.

"The first day, they blew off the Vice Principal's toupee, and they even got shut out of the gym by Daichi." Tanaka responded. "It was ridiculous."

"Well, that also means they've gotten over those things, too..."

Daichi turned to look at them. "Right? So I think we should just believe in them and wait." He said.

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A/N: Another chapter done! Hope you enjoyed!

Word Count: 4194 words.