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

edited on october 27th, 2021 @ 6:26am

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE - THE LOSERS

TANAKA JUMPED UP TO SPIKE, but the ball got blocked as Ennoshita dived down to save it, but it was too late as WakaNan gets the point. Hideaki clenched his jaw, annoyed at how behind they were.

The volleyball was tossed up to Ennoshita who spikes it down. "It's out!" Number 10 from WakaNan called out, making Hideaki slightly growl as he was correct and they get a point.

"Shake it off! Next, next!" Asahi reassured Ennoshita who turned to him.

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

Hideaki saw how Ennoshita narrowed his eyes in annoyance at himself, he looked over and saw that WakaNan was at match point, so he walks over to Ennoshita and slaps his back, making him come back into reality.

Ennoshita winced at the impact before staring at the black haired male with widened eyes. Hideaki didn't say anything to him or even glance in his direction, he just wanted him to focus on the game. They all get in their positions as the volleyball gets served and Tanaka crouched down and saved it.

Hinata charged forward as Kageyama sets to him, the blocker from the other side managed to get a one touch, the ball soon gets set by the setter as Hinata and Hideaki jump up to block, the ball bounces off Hideaki's fingertips and out of the court, making the black haired male hiss in irritation as WakaNan won the second set.

They get off the court to prepare for the third and final set. This last set will determine if Karasuno will go forward or not. Hideaki ignored the second-years, but they seemed to be trying to cheer Ennoshita up as he focused his attention onto Ukai.

"Nothing you can do if you get blown away, but there's some that you can still dig! You're landing a lot of your attacks. Keep connecting!" Ukai announced.

"Right!"

Hinata suddenly beamed up at Ukai. "Coach!" He called out, making Ukai jump at the sudden calling out. "The Little Giant... was he like that guy, WakaNan's Number 1?" Hinata asked as Ukai glanced over to the other team.

"Let's see... currently in the prefecture, his playing style may be the closest." Ukai informed as Hinata tensed up before giving an annoyed look at Nakashima.

"Hey, don't try to duel with him." Kageyama bluntly stated as Hideaki joined in on the deadpan look.

"He's better in mid-air battles than you are." Hideaki added as Kageyama nods in agreement at his senior's bluntness.

"Just play like you usually do!" Kageyama stated as Hinata turned to the two of them.

"Why do you two have to break my heart like that?"

"That was nothing more than kind advice!"

"Kind?" It's obvious that the other is good!"

Hideaki stared at the duo as Asahi tenses at Hinata. "H-Hinata, calm down..." Asahi begged, but the orange-haired male didn't listen.

"That's why we're talking about what to do about it!" Hinata exclaimed as Kageyama rolled his eyes.

"Don't try to use the brain you don't have!" Kageyama insulted.

"What did you say?!" Hinata growled as Hideaki sighed in irritation before smacking both of them upside their heads.

"If I hear another word out of either of you, I'm kicking your ass."

The two of them quickly stopped their bickering and looked away in embarrassment and in slight fear of Hideaki's threat, as Hideaki sighed and shook his head.

"I understand Hajime a lot more now when he has to deal with Tōru." Hideaki thinks to himself.

TWEEEET!

Karasuno got back onto the court as the final set began. WakaNan's setter tosses the volleyball up to their captain. "Takeru!" He called out as Hinata and Kageyama jump up to block, but the ball got passed them and WakaNan scored the first point of the third set.

The ball gets served again as it hits the top of the net, and rolls to Karasuno's side. Hideaki reacted quickly as he saved the ball. Tanaka went over to cover for him.

"Hinata, get the last hit!" He encouraged as Hinata runs over to spike the ball.

The ball goes far over the blockers hand, making Karasuno stare in shock and annoyance that the spike was out of bounds and the opposing team got the point.

"I'm sorry!" Hinata apologized as Hideaki sighed while Kageyama was yelling at the orange haired male at how stupid he was.

Hinata was growling at Nakashima as the volleyball gets served and over to Karasuno's side. "All right!" Nishinoya shouted as he receives the ball. Kageyama tossed the ball as Hinata charges over and swings his arm down, but he was a decoy as Hideaki came up behind him and smacked down the ball, the ball bounces off the opposing team's arms and into the air.

Nakashima runs to the side to spike the ball, Hinata jumped with Tanaka but Hidekaki knew it wasn't going to be enough so he rushed over and jumped beside Hinata to luckily block the ball, as it bounced off his fingertips.

The ball goes towards the edge, Hideaki sighed thinking it was going to be another point for WakaNan, only to be in shock when Hinata chased after the volleyball as he watched with widened eyes as Hinata dived forward and saved the ball, sending the ball back up. Hideaki also saw how Ukai picked up the bench him and Takeda were sitting on to prevent Hinata from crashing into it.

Hideaki was impressed that Hinata did a perfect slide on his stomach and came up with no injuries. "Counterattack!" Ukai shouted from the sides, Kageyama sets the ball up high as Hinata jumps up and slams it down, getting Karasuno a point.

"Yeah!" The two of them cheered as Hideaki blinked in surprise when Hinata crashed into Kageyama. "Are you all right?" Asahi shouted in concern as Hideaki jogged over to check on the two, only to sweat dropped at them as they seemed fine.

"I had too much momentum there."

Asahi was trembling as he panicked that the two got hurt. "Be careful! Seriously, be careful!" Asahi begged as Kageyama turned to him.

"Colliding with a lightweight like this guy doesn't faze me at all." Kageyama stated. Hideaki snorted in amusement as the duo start to throw hands at each other, but Hinata was dodging with ease at Kageyama's punches as Kageyama was dodging Hinata's.

"That was awesome! Nice kill!" Ennoshita praised the two, making them stop and stare at Ennoshita.

"Even if we're backed into a corner, we still have the firepower to break through. That's our weapon." Kageyama stated.

Hideaki smirked in amusement at Kageyama's words. "I think I heard something like that from Ennoshita-san at some point." Kageyama added as Hideaki nodded in agreement.

"Yeah." Ennoshita smiled at Kageyama.

"Let's go! Killer serve!" Hinata exclaimed out happily, wanting to play more. Both teams eventually had six points each. Tsukishima had also joined with Hinata on the sides.

"Feint!" Nishinoya exclaimed as Ennoshita was quick to react as he dived down and saved the ball in time.

"Nice receive!" Hideaki praised as Nishinoya covered for Ennoshita and sending the ball up, making the ace spike it but it turned out to be an out.

Nishinoya yelled in frustration making Hideaki sweat drop. "That toss was low! Sorry!" He exclaimed as Hideaki sighed and glanced at Ennoshita who stared at the ground with gritted teeth, making him sigh and run a hand through his black locks.

Hideaki watched as he bowed to everyone. "I'm sorry." He apologized, making Hideaki raise an eyebrow at him. He sees Tanaka raise an eyebrow before grinning.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tanaka asked as Ennoshita looked at his fellow second-year. "If you're trying to do exactly like Daichi-san does.. You're 10 years— No, that's too long... you're a year too early!" Tanaka exclaimed as Atsushi smiled a little at his comment.

"That just now was a nice receive, no matter what anyone says!"

Ennoshita had continued to stare at the second-year before smiling at him. They all get back into their positions, as he glanced back at the other team who stared right back.

The game went on with Karasuno at 6 points and WakaNan having 7, Kageyama tossed to Tsukishima who spiked it, but the ball got saved, as Nakashima jumped up to spike the ball, he does so as Ennoshita chases the volleyball, but was too late as the ball went out of bounds and WakaNan gets the point, making Hideaki sigh a little in disappointment.

Kageyama tossed the ball up, as Hinata was a decoy as Tanaka rushed in and slammed the volleyball, in which WakaNan's Number 2 saves it, the other player sets the ball up to their captain with Hinata and Kageyama about to block.

The volleyball grazed Hinata's hand, as Hideaki watched with nerves as Ennoshita chased after the ball, he dives forward, his hand extended to connect the ball, he succeeded making Hideaki sigh in relief.

"Ennoshita!"

Hideaki jumped at the sudden voices of Yamaguchi, Sugawara, Narita, and Kinoshita, as Tsukishima stayed silent. Nishinoya ran over and sent the ball to Hinata.

"Hinata, get the last hit!" Nishinoya shouted, as Hinata rushed in as Hideaki saw three blockers jump up.

At first, Hideaki figured there was no way Hinata was going to get through the blockers, until he flinched when he did a rebound like Bokuto taught him.

"All right! Got it!" Nishinoya said as he receives the ball.

"One more!"

Hideaki watched as Hinata ran forward for a spike, however he was a decoy with Kageyama setting to Tanaka instead who jumped up and hits the volleyball, as the ball bounces off a players arm and Karasuno gets the point.

Both Hinata and Tanaka yell out to cheer for the point and Tanaka bonks him on the head. Hideaki then saw Kageyama was questioning Hinata on where he learned the rebound before he saw that Nishinoya said something to Ennoshita before walking away, making Ennoshita smile brightly at whatever Nishinoya said.

The game resumes before the whistle blew to change sides, as Hideaki followed his team to the other side of the court. The match continued with WakaNan's setter tossing to their captain in which Hideaki cheered when Tsukishima blocks it and gets a point.

"We caught up!"

Hideaki saw how both teams were now at 13 points. Soon Ennoshita serves the volleyball, but the other team got the point when their spiker slams it down. After that Karasuno gets the point back and now Hideaki was serving, as he did his jump serve, the ball did get saved but it was a long one as the ball was coming over to the net.

Kageyama and Nakashima jump up to see who can push the ball in, in which Hideaki smirked when Kageyama got the ball in but then Number 2 from the opposing team came in and saved it as Number 5 covered for his teammate.

The ball gets sent over to their captain as Hideaki gulped in nerves, as he gets a point when the ball grazes Kageyama's fingertips and onto the court.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

TWEEEET!

Karasuno called for a break as Hideaki checked the scoreboard with both teams being at 18 points. Hideaki was exhausted and wished for the match to be over as he walked over to the sides and took a drink from his water bottle. Everyone was panting from exhaustion and Hideaki felt like he could collapse at any given moment.

TWEEEET!

A couple of plays later, Hideaki looked at the scoreboard to see what the scores were.

Karasuno

20

WakuNan

19

"Hinata, serve!"

"Right!"

Hideaki watched as Tsukishima walked on over to Kageyama with Hideaki being right next to him.

"Ukai-san said..." Tsukishima began, catching Hideaki's attention.

"Huh?" Kageyama and Hideaki said in unison.

"Since it's the tail end of the game, it might be better to consolidate the tosses to Izuki-san." Tsukishima explained as he walks away to his position.

"Right..." Kageyama responded as Hideaki hummed in agreement.

The whistle blew as Hinata served the ball over the net, the ball gets saved as Hideaki saw how they were coming in with a fast attack. Tanaka also took notice as well.

"They're coming in with a fast attack!" He told everyone.

Tsukishima jumped up to block as the spiker slams the ball and Tanaka receives it. "Nice receive!" Kageyama praised as he gets under the ball to set. Hideaki, Tanaka, and Tsukishima all ran forward in unison for the synchronize attack while Ennoshita and Hinata stayed behind.

Kageyama tosses the ball to Tanaka as he jumped up and slammed it down past the blocker as WakaNan's captain failed to save it.

"All right!" Karasuno cheered.

After a few more plays Hideaki checked the score once more.

Karasuno

23

WakaNan

21

"We have to win this, we won't let Daichi down!" Hideaki thinks to himself, as he was up to serve next.

"Hideaki-san, nice serve!" Nishinoya encouraged as Hideaki did his jump serve, he winced when he saw that it was going to be an out. He turned out to be correct as WakNan got the point.

"I'm sor—"

Nishinoya cut him off by smacking Hideaki in the sides. "Next! One more!" He praised as Hideaki sweat dropped.

Soon it was WakNan's turn to serve the ball, the opposing team was at 22 points with Karasuno having 23. Hideaki watched as the player serving smacks the ball. However, he saw that it was going to be an out.

"Out!" Hideaki and Nishinoya announced together as they were both correct and now at match point.

"Nice call!"

They rotated with Hinata and Hideaki at the front. Soon Tsukishima served the volleyball, as the opposing team saved it and the setter tosses it to their captain. Hinata and Hideaki jumped up to block, but Hideaki widened his eyes when the captain did a feint instead. Tsukishima dived down to save it but was too late.

Hideaki gave a pat on the back to Tsukishima to assure him it was okay, in which the blonde gave his senior a nod of appreciation. WakaNan was serving once more.

Number 2 on the opposing team smacks the ball, as the volleyball hits the net, but it was a net in, as Nishinoya dived down and receives it.

"It's up! Nishinoya, nice!" Ennoshita praised as Hideaki watched Kageyama toss to Hinata. However, he widened his eyes when he noticed the ball was a little high for Hinata to reach.

But to his shock, Hinata used his other hand and tapped the ball over the net.

"Chance ball!"

"Hinata!"

Everyone glanced at Ennoshita at his sudden shout to Hinata. "Don't thrash about! What is a good jump?" Ennoshita yelled as Hinata was taken aback before looking forward.

"One that starts with good footing!" Hinata announced, making Hideaki blink a little but then chuckled.

Hinata and Hideaki go where Kageyama was standing. "Watch the ball!" Kageyama stated.

"Yeah!" Hinata replied as Hideaki nodded.

"Right! It ends here. Let's win this game!" He informed.

They watched as the setter tosses to the captain instead, but thanks to Hideaki's quick reflexes he runs to where the captain was going to spike and jumped up in front to block.

Hinata also went over and jumped up to help the brunette block, however the volleyball grazed his fingertips as it past the two, making Hideaki and the rest of his team tense at this. But he was shocked to see Ennoshita smack the ball from the back row, as Kageyama got into setting position as Hinata ran with great speed.

Hideaki smirked and watched as the ball got sent up and Hinata smacks down the ball with his other hand as it goes out of the court.

TWEEEET!

"All right!"

Karasuno cheered for the win as the players from the bench ran over to them. Sugawara slapped Hideaki on the back as he winced at the impact. They were soon called to line up. They then bowed to the other team.

"Thank you very much!"

Hideaki soon walked off the court, glad that they finally get to rest. He paused when he saw Hinata and Kageyama having a punching session, making the hawk-eyed ace sigh at them. Sugawara soon came over.

"Hey! What are you guys doing?" He scolded them both as they eventually stopped and followed the team off the court.

"I swear, you two can be such idiots." Hideaki commented.

"He started it!" The two spoke together in unison, pointing at one another.

Hideaki then pulled on both of their earlobes. "Izuki-san!" They both yelped in unison.

"Dumb and dumber. I don't care who started it. You're giving me a headache." Hideaki stated as he dragged them to follow the others.

When they were walking out of the gym, Hideaki stopped when Tanaka had announced someone's name.

"Daichi-san!"

Hideaki looked up to see their captain smiling at them with Yachi right next to him. "Uh, um... I'm sorry." Daichi spoke up. Everyone was silent for a second until Nishinoya and Sugawara came rushing over.

"Daichi!" The two announced as Hideaki sweat dropped when Sugawara started to punch Daichi in the stomach a few times.

Tanaka looked at the captain with concern. "D-Daichi-san, a-are..." He began as Daichi sent him a smile.

"I'm fine. No, seriously. I got quite a bit of rest. I actually have more energy than before the game. I'll work harder than any of you in the next match." Daichi claimed as everyone stared at their captain in amazement.

Daichi then started to lead Hinata, Nishinoya, Kageyama, Tanaka and Hideaki off. "You guys must be exhausted from playing full sets. Come on, rest." He said as Hideaki sighed in relief.

"Gladly." He stated.

"Oh, our next opponent's playing right now." Hinata added on as Daichi let them go. Hideaki then followed his teammates.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

Hideaki was walking up the stairs with Tsukishima and Kageyama as Hinata and Yachi were behind them. Although he could hear the two talk.

"That was amazing! I was watching at the end next to Sawamura-san!" Yachi exclaimed.

"We'll win the next one, too!" Hinata claimed as Hideaki chuckled.

"Now that I think about it, Tōru and Hajime should be having their quarterfinal right about now... I wonder how they're doing..."

They all stopped when they saw Yamaguchi was way behind them. "Doesn't Yamaguchi seem down?" Yachi whispered to them. Hinata nodded in agreement, as Yamaguchi stopped his walking.

"Sorry, I'm gonna go to the bathroom, so go on ahead." Yamaguchi spoke as he runs off.

Hideaki frowned, a little worried about him. "He sure psyches himself up a lot to head to the bathroom." Hinata mumbled.

"He must need to take a shit." Kageyama bluntly replied as Hideaki snorted in amusement. He knew his junior was always so blunt.

"Say "poop!" You're so vulgar, Kageyama!"

Tsukishima then spoke up from beside Hideaki. "I don't think he actually went to the bathroom." He responded as Hideaki looked at him when he walks away.

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

Hideaki had sat down comfortably on the chairs from the stands as he eats his energy bar, watching the game below which was against Aoba Johsai and Date Tech. His eyes were more focused on his boyfriend, who was conversing with his team.

The sounds of the two schools cheering squad was heard, but Hideaki paid no attention. Sugawara came up from behind Kageyama, Hinata, Tanaka, and Nishinoya.

"Hey, don't eat too much." Sugawara scolded as Hideaki chuckled and sat in his own spot, having no one around him

Hideaki heard his phone ding, making him pause his eating and take his phone out of his pocket as he looked at who texted him. He smiled when he saw that it was only his younger brother.

Shun 🏀:
> Hey, Nii-san. Did you win your game?

Hideaki:
Sure did. I'm watching the match between Aoba Johsai and Date Tech. Whoever wins will be Karasuno's opponent in the semifinal. <

Shun 🏀:
> That's an interesting match-up. I bet Aoba Johsai is going to come out victorious.

Hideaki:
So do I. Apart of me still thinks Tōru is still angry that they were the reason I wanted to give up volleyball. I just hope Hajime won't be in the same boat I was. Though, he was always a fantastic ace and was better than me, so I don't doubt that will happen to him. <

Shun 🏀:
> You're just as amazing as he is, and I think he would agree with me. Your anxiety got in the way. Nevertheless, despite who wins, I wish you luck.

Hideaki:
Thanks, Shun. <

Hideaki turns his phone off and shoves it back into his pocket before narrowing his eyes at the game down below.

"Now... who will Karasuno face off against in the semifinal? The Iron Wall? Or Aoba Johsai?"

Hideaki's gaze turned to his boyfriend as their eyes met. He placed two fingers against his lips and pointed it towards Oikawa who just smiled back.

Flashes of Hideaki sobbing into his chest while clenching onto him and being in a near panic attack to the point where he struggled to breathe ran through Oikawa's mind as he stared at his opponents with determination.

"Aki-chan already got his revenge during the Inter-High. But seeing him in that state is something I never want to see again. I'm still angry about it knowing this team was the cause of that. I'm gonna destroy them."

════ ∘◦ᵒ 𓅓 ᵒ◦∘ ════

A/N: Another chapter done! I wanted to give you a little insight of what Oikawa thinks about Date Tech. Let me know if there's any mistakes! Thanks for reading!