A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Enjoy!

edited on october 27th, 2020 @ 9:31pm

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CHAPTER TWO - THE ACE RETURNS

HIDEAKI HAPPENED TO WALK BY the gym to see Kageyama and Hinata practicing their quick attack. He thought back to what Hinata said and sighed sadly.

"Hell yeah! Our fast attack are gonna run over Neko!" Hinata shouted.

"Neko? They're playing Nekoma?" Hideaki thought.

"We're playing a practice match at the end of Golden Week." Hideaki jumps up and spots Daichi looking at him.

"I see..."

"To us, Nekoma was like some kind of old folktale at the time. There's no fateful connection in the current generation." Daichi started to say. "But now, it's Cat vs Crow: Battle at the Garbage Dump! Now that we have our first rematch with the Neko team I've heard so much about, I'm feeling kinda psyched."

"I'm too ashamed to face Nishinoya and Suga..." Hideaki said sadly.

"I got to hand it to you. You're timid for such a tall guy." Daichi said as he patted his shoulder. "You're the polar opposite of Nishinoya!"

"If you're trying to make me feel better, Daichi. It's not helping."

"Don't worry! Suga and Nishinoya don't have a problem with it. The team doesn't blame you for what happened last year, you know. They're very open minded." Daichi said.

"Aren't you supposed to be nicer than that?"

"You're the exception because you're so timid." Daichi said as he started walking back to the gym.

"E-Eh..."

"Stuff like skipping out on club activities and feeling awkward about showing up... It doesn't matter. If you still love volleyball, that's a simple reason to come back."

"Daichi makes a vaild point..." Hideaki thought, but still wasn't convinced.

"Oh, and also, we have this guy who dreams of becoming the ace. We're gonna be graduating soon, it's time you take in a future ace." Daichi added on.

Hideaki looked down at his spiking hand and remembered all of the memories he made with Karasuno. The good and the bad.

Later that day, Hideaki stopped by again. He heard Hinata calling his name. "Fuck!" He cursed in his head.

That's when Ukai came out of the gym and made him come inside. He walked in to see his former teammates smiling at him.

"All we need is another setter." Ukai stated. "I need to borrow a setter from you guys." He informed, looking at Kageyama and Sugawara.

The two thought about it until Sugawara walked forward, making Kageyama suddenly stop him. "Sugawara. You're not doing this for me, are you?" Kageyama asked. "If you're stepping down so I can step up, I'll refuse."

"Ever since Kageyama joined the team as official setter, I've been relieved. The setter is the pillar of our team's offense. He must be the toughest out of everyone. But I never felt confident about throwing tosses. I've been scared the spikers would repeatedly be blocked because of my tosses. So, I hid behind Kageyama's overwhelming abilities, and enjoyed relief." Sugawara explained.

Everyone stared at him. "When I think of spikes getting blocked... It still scares me. But... let me toss to you again, Hideaki." Sugawara continued as he stared at the ace, who looked shocked. "That's why I'll be on their team. Kageyama. I won't let you outplay me."

"I won't either." Kageyama replied.

"Nishinoya, I'm counting on your nice receives." Sugawara smiled.

"That goes without saying." Nishinoya replied.

"All right. Let's get ready." Ukai announced as everyone got into their positions. They all lined up as Ukai blew the whistle.

"Let's play!"

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So far, there was only a point for each team. Since they kept the ball in play.

"Nice receive!"

Sugawara tossed to their spiker, to which the spiker slammed it down. Ennoshita almost gets it, but was too late, making the opposing team score a point. It was Asahi's turn to serve.

"Nice serve!"

"One more!"

Asahi tossed the ball into the air and jumped, slamming the ball down onto the ground as Nishinoya saved it.

Kageyama got into position and sets the ball to Hinata who quickly slammed it down, getting them a point. The other team was shocked as they never saw Hinata's special attack.

"Yes!"

"All right!"

Kageyama and Hinata beamed, mainly Hinata. "Nice, Hinata, Kageyama." Daichi complimented with a smile.

"Nice Hinata!" Tanaka shouted from the sidelines.

"Thanks!" Hinata smiled happily.

"Hinata, you serve next." Kageyama informed. Hinata took the ball and goes to serve.

"Hinata, nice serve!"

Hinata serves the ball, the ball hitting the top of the net, but it rolled over. "Net in!" A guy from the neighborhood association team exclaimed.

"Whoops." Another guy added as he saved the ball, but he had not the time to get up and save it again. "Sorry! Cover for me." The guy with the glasses announced as another guy from the neighborhood association team receives the ball.

"Pretty boy, you do last."

Hideaki looked up with nerves as he makes a run forward to spike the ball. "Let's block 'em." Kageyama told Tsukishima.

"Don't give orders." Tsukishima spat.

Hideaki jumps up and spikes down the block, Kageyama managed to touch the ball, but didn't realize how powerful the spike would be. The ball was about to touch the ground, until Nishinoya easily saved it.

"Noya!" Tanaka cried out from the sidelines.

"Even if the ball bounces off the wall... I'll keep it in play! So, call for a toss, ace!" Nishinoya announced, making Hideaki widen his eyes at his friend.

"Cover." A guy from the neighborhood association team announced as he looks at the ball.

"All right." Sugawara replied, getting into tossing position.

"Sugawara! Give it to him 'til he scores!" Kageyama said to the third year setter, as everyone gave him a shocked look.

"You're a total sadist, king." Tsukishima teased.

"What?" Kageyama hissed, glaring and growling at the blonde.

"All right!" A guy from the neighborhood association team yelled out, calling for a toss.

Sugawara glanced at him. "Shimada—" He called out, indicating that he was gonna toss to him. When suddenly, Sugawara was cut off by Hideaki.

"Suga!"

Everyone stared at Hideaki who was calling for a toss. "One more!" He shouted. Sugawara stared at him with wide eyes as he sets the ball to Hideaki, who runs forward to spike it.

"You're rooting for the other team, aren't you?" Tsukishima asked. "Well, sorry to say it, but I'm blocking them."

"Of course. What's the point of holding back?" Kageyama replied.

Tanaka cried from the sidelines once more. Hideaki jumps up to spike down the ball, Tsukishima and Kageyama jumped up to block him. However, what they didn't expect was the ball to pass them with with so much force, knocking them down.

Hideaki landed on the ground, his eyes finally turning back to their normal gray.

He looked down at his hand and smiled. "It's good to be back..." He thought.

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

Word Count: 1176 words.