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

edited on november 1st, 2020 @ 11:58pm

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CHAPTER SEVEN - THE KARASUNO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TEAM

SCHOOL HAD FINALLY ENDED AS Rei headed towards the gym for practice. He met Sugawara on the way there. "You okay?" Sugawara asked.

"I'm fine, Suga-san. A lot has been on my mind recently." Rei replied as Sugawara nodded in understanding.

They both entered the gym. Rei sets his bag down near the sides as he did some stretches.

Suddenly, the door opens to reveal Takeda. "Good job, everyone." He greeted them.

"Huddle up." Daichi announced as Rei followed the team. He widened his eyes when he saw the owner of the Foothill store besides Takeda.

"Let me introduce you. This is Ukai, who will be our coach starting today." Takeda informed.

"C-Coach? Is this true?" Daichi questioned.

"Only 'til the match against Nekoma." Ukai stated.

"Oh..." Daichi replied.

"But this is the guy from the Foothill store. He's really a coach?" Tanaka questioned out loud.

"He's a senpai to all of you. He's the grandson of Director Ukai." Takeda stated making everyone be taken by surprise at this new information.

"What?"

Hinata gets closer. "But that's not the name on your store." He said as Ukai stared down at the orange haired male.

"The store's named after my mother's side of the family. We got no time to waste. Let's get started." Ukai replied before he looks at the team.

"I want to see what you guys are made of." Ukai added. "The game will start at 6:30pm. The opponents have already been invited."

"Who are our opponents?" Rei asked, making Ukai slightly flinch at his presence.

"The Karasuno Neighborhood Association Team." Ukai smirked.

Everyone was practicing their receiving. Rei was paired up with Nishinoya. Which made sense since they were both liberos.

Nishinoya served the ball to him. "Here it comes, Oshiro!" He called out as Rei narrowed his eyes at the ball and received it. The ball bounced off of him.

"Noya-senpai!" Rei shouted as Nishinoya received it back. They continued this back and forth.

"Hey."

A new voice sounded out, making everyone stop and look at the four adults who walked into the gym.

"Wow." One exclaimed.

"Brings back memories." Another guy added, as Yamaguchi stared at him with confusion.

"Um..." Yamaguchi commented as the four guys smiled.

"The team Neighborhood Association..." A guy with glasses announced.

"...is here!" They all said in unison with grins.

"Hey, guys. Thanks for coming on short notice." Ukai greeted, as Tsukishima walked over towards Yamaguchi and Rei.

"I was expecting geezers from a neighborhood association." Tsukishima informed, as Yamaguchi nodded in agreement.

"Me too." Yamaguchi agreed.

"Watch what you say, Saltyshima. Those 'geezers' might just beat you to a pulp." Rei chuckled as Tsukishima glared at him.

"All right! Let's get started." Ukai announced.

"Yes." Everyone shouted in reply.

Rei was on a team with Kageyama and the others. "Hey, it's Asahi!" Hinata suddenly exclaimed, causing everyone to look at Hinata as he looked out the window. "Asahi!" Hinata shouted once more.

Ukai opened the gym door and told Asahi to come join them. They waited for a few minutes as Asahi entered the gym.

"I knew he'd come back." Rei thought.

"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, Asahi." 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!"

"They definitely have an intimidating presence." Rei heard Daichi mumble as some of them stretched their arms and legs before they began.

"Oh? Don't tell me you're intimidated by them, Daichi-san." Rei teased as Daichi kicked his shin. "I was joking! Only joking!"

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So far, there was only a point for each team. Since they kept the ball in play. Rei carefully had his eyes on the ball.

"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.

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.

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.

Rei looked over to see that Nishinoya was concentrated. "Noya-senpai is a really great libero from what I heard. Perhaps I can learn from him." He thinks to himself.

"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.

"Long hair guy, you do last."

Rei saw Asahi look 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 out.

Asahi 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 Asahi widen his eyes at his teammate.

"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 taller male.

"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 Asahi.

"Suga!"

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

Rei sighed in annoyance as he heard Tanaka cry from the sidelines once more. Asahi 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.

Rei smiled to himself. "It seems the team is back together..." He thought.

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

Word Count: 1414 words.