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

edited on november 28th, 2021 @ 6:33am

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CHAPTER FORTY-THREE - THE DESTROYER

REI WATCHED AS THE BALL that Number 16 slammed down was out making the point go to Karasuno instead. The black haired male let out a sigh of relief. "Talk about lucky..." He muttered to himself as he glanced over at the score.

Karasuno

25

Aoba Johsai

23

Karasuno had won the first set against Aoba Johsai making Rei happy. They get off the court as they grabbed their drinks as they switched sides. While switching, Hinata stopped and stared at Number 16.

"Ah, that guy from earlier there. He's starting this set." Hinata informed as Kageyama hummed.

"Since he's subbing in for Kunimi, he might be pretty quick-witted. Be careful." He said as Rei nodded in agreement.

"Something about him doesn't sit right with me. We should be on high alert." Rei added on.

Daichi soon gestured for everyone to huddle up, as Rei stood in between Kageyama and Nishinoya. "Let's stay on the groove and settle the score! We're gonna win the second set, too!" Daichi announced as his team nodded.

"Yeah!"

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Asahi was up to serve. "Asahi-san, get one! Nice serve!" Nishinoya encouraged. Asahi then threw the ball up and did a jump serve.

"Out!"

Rei blinked as the ball went out and Aoba Johsai got the first point. "Damn it! Sorry!" Asahi apologized.

"So close! You'll get the next one!" Sugawara shouted from the sides.

"Shake it off!" Nishinoya added.

"Your face looks scary!" Daichi stated.

"What'd you say?" Asahi questioned in confusion.

Rei chuckled before looking forward to see that Oikawa was now serving. He slams the ball, as Nishinoya was about to receive it but he stopped himself and ducked down.

"Out, out!" He exclaimed as he turned out to be correct, and Karasuno gets the point.

Rei could hear Oikawa groaning and grumbling in annoyance as he apologized to his teammates. Tsukishima was up to serve next.

"Tsukishima-kun, nice serve!" Rei encouraged as the blonde hits the ball and sends it over the net, it touched the net and rolled off as Iwaizumi slides down.

"Bastard!" Iwaizumi exclaimed as he saved the ball.

"Nice cover, Iwa-chan!"

Rei stood beside Nishinoya. "Who will Oikawa toss to?" He thought. "Mad Dog-chan!" Oikawa shouted out, as Rei raised an eyebrow at the obvious nickname. Oikawa tosses it over to Number 16.

"An open toss to the right?" Rei thinks to himself with shock.

"Three blockers!"

To Rei's shock, Number 16 jumped up and hit the ball, which was even more surprising considering he was sprinting towards the net. "What an insane cut shot..." Rei noted, gulping as the crowd went wild at the spike.

"Mad Dog is amazing!" Hinata announced in amazement, as Kageyama stayed quiet. They get back into position as Iwaizumi was up to serve.

He hits it over the net as Daichi slides down to receive it. "It's coming back! Chance ball!" Oikawa announced making Rei scowl a little.

"Damn it! Sorry!" Daichi apologized.

Rei was surprised when he saw Number 16 and Kindaichi run forward. "A double quick?" He wondered as he saw how Oikawa tossed to Number 16 who slammed it down. Hinata tried to block him but was unsuccessful.

Iwaizumi was up to serve once more. "Iwa-chan, one more! Nice serve!" Oikawa encouraged his friend. Iwaizumi hits the ball as Daichi saved it. The volleyball goes towards Kageyama who sends it over to Hinata who slammed it down. Iwaizumi slides down and used his one hand to receive it.

"Yeah!"

"Nice receive!"

Rei saw how Oikawa was going to set the ball, his eyes following the potential players. However, he was shocked when Number 16 jumped up and slammed the ball over and got the point, but he also crashed into Hanamaki who fell down.

"A-Are you all right?" Oikawa asked in concern.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine." Hanamaki reassured him, holding an 'okay' sign.

"They're landing it, but the combination plays look a bit violent. Ever since Number 16 subbed in, the rhythm of their attacks has changed." Rei thinks to himself, noticing the changes.

Next one to serve was Iwaizumi. His teammates shouted words of encouragement as Iwaizumi slams the ball, but it hits the net and Karasuno gained a point.

"Sorry!" Iwaizumi apologized as Oikawa chuckled sheepishly at him.

Kageyama was up to serve next, who did his usual jump serve, however Hanamaki received it and sent the ball back up.

"Nice, Makki!" Oikawa praised. Rei saw how Number 16 charged forward, as both him and Hinata locked their eyes onto him.

Hinata jumped up to block him, however he ended up being a decoy as Oikawa tossed to Hayashi instead. "A broad jump from Haya-kun!" Rei thought as the ball hits the ground and got the point.

"Let's lock this down. That's a Seijoh team that we're not familiar with." Daichi informed as Rei huffed in annoyance.

Kindaichi was the one serving. The ball gets hit over the net and Nishinoya crouched down to save it. "Got it!" He said.

"Left!"

"Center!"

Kageyama tosses to Hinata who slams it down, but Iwaizumi dived down in time and sent the ball back up. "So, their style is to always have one middle blocker glued to Hinata-kun." Rei thought, narrowing his eyes a little.

"It's up! Cover!"

"Got it! Kyotani, take the last hit!"

Rei saw how Hanamaki sent the ball over to Kyotani. "Sorry! It's close to the net!" He stated as Rei's eyes followed the ball, as Daichi and Hinata jump up to block him. Kyotani spiked the ball down, in which the two successfully block it and get the point.

"Nice block!"

"All right!"

"You idiot! You had other options like a soft hit or a tip!" Mizoguchi shouted from the sides.

"An attack doesn't feel good if I don't land a hard hit for the kill!" Kyotani shouted back, as Rei stared blankly at him.

Everyone gave a dumbfounded look at Kyotani, as even Oikawa sighed in tiredness. "Damn yo—" Mizoguchi began but was cut off.

"Now, now, Mizoguchi... What needs to be corrected will be corrected in due time." Irihata said in a calm, yet stern tone.

"Right..." Mizoguchi nodded.

Rei turned to Kageyama with a grin. "So, you were saying about him being smart?" He teased as Kageyama tensed up.

"I only said he might be!" He defended as Rei snickered.

"To not know the pleasure of a tip, such a waste!" Hinata commented.

Soon they continued on with the game, as the ball goes from Karasuno's side to the opposing side. "Makki!" Oikawa shouted to Hanamaki, who hits the volleyball in which Rei receives it.

"Nice, Shiro!" Daichi praised.

Kageyama tosses the ball up and over to Asahi who hits it down, but Hanamaki dived down and saved it. "Nice, Makki!" Oikawa said as he gets under the ball to toss. "Mad Dog-chan!" He called out, setting the ball over to him.

Rei noticed how Kyotani was coming from the side again, like he had done with his cut shot. However, he accidently hits the ball in the net, and Karasuno gets a point.

"That spike from Number 16... It's like whoosh! And zoom! It's so cool!" Hinata announced as Daichi and Rei sweat dropped at their teammate.

The game goes on, as the ball gets served, and Oikawa was about to set the ball. He does so as Kyotani jumps in the air, as Rei saw him hit the ball down and gain a point as the ball bounced off of Nishinoya's arms.

Oikawa was smirking in response.

Kyotani was serving, as he did a jump serve, however it was going to be an out. "Out!" Rei announced as the volleyball goes out of the court and Karasuno gets a point. Aoba Johsai was at 9 points with Karasuno only being at 8.

It was Iwaizumi's turn to serve as he hits it over the net and Nishinoya crouched down a little and received it. Kageyama sends a toss to Asahi who slammed it down as the volleyball was coming at Iwaizumi in which he received it.

"Cover! Cover!"

"Makki, get the last hit!"

Rei watched as Oikawa sends the ball to Hanamaki, as Kageyama and Hinata jump up to block him, the ball rebounds back. "Got it!" Watari announced.

"One more, one more!" Oikawa stated as the receive was off. Oikawa runs after the ball with Hinata tailing him.

Oikawa tosses to Kyotani, in which Rei saw that his timing was faster. Kyotani scored a point.

"That was a nasty angle he spiked from..." Rei thinks to himself, staring at Kyotani who held a satisfied look on his face.

The game continued as Hinata called for a toss as Kageyama does so, however Hinata was a decoy as Kageyama sends the toss to Asahi who hits it down, getting a point.

Both teams got points each time someone spiked.

Rei glanced over at the score.

Karasuno

11

Aoba Johsai

13

Rei panted as Nishinoya ran off the court and Tsukishima was subbed in, with Hinata serving next. Rei glanced over at Hinata to see him nod something at Kageyama but decided not to question their motives. The whistle blew as Hinata hits the ball, Watari receives it, as Oikawa tossed to Hanamaki who slams it past Daichi and Rei managed to dive down to the left and send it back up.

"Nice receive!"

Rei saw how Kageyama concentrated on the volleyball and got into position to set. Tsukishima, Asahi, and Daichi all run to do their synchronize attack. Rei smirked when Kageyama did a back-row attack with Hinata.

However, Hinata's attack was blocked and Aoba Johsai gets the point. "Did you think now was the time to use that? I thought so, too." Oikawa looks down at Kageyama as the two glare at each other.

Rei could tell Kageyama was trying to control his temper with Hinata growling at the back-row attack debut. Rei sighed and pulled Kageyama away from Oikawa.

"Don't let him get to you, Tobio-kun." Rei told him.

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The game went on as Tsukishima and Kageyama blocked Iwaizumi's attack, getting Karasuno a point. Aoba Johsai was at 16 points with Karasuno at 13. Rei gulped a little when he saw that Oikawa was serving, in a blink of an eye when Oikawa did his jump serve, the ball goes to Karasuno's side of the court and Aoba Johsai gets a point.

Oikawa serves again, but he hits the top of the net. "Front!" Ukai shouted as Nishinoya dived down and saved the ball.

"Nice receive, Nishinoya!" Daichi praised.

TWEEEET!

Rei looked over to see Sugawara subbing in for Tsukishima, as they exchanged number plates and Sugawara walks onto the court. Sugawara goes over and whispers something to Kageyama. Soon Sugawara runs back to the court to serve, as Kageyama and Hinata were up front to block.

Rei watched as Sugawara hits the ball over the net, as it was aimed at Kyotani. He grinned to himself when Kyotani was late to the attack, Oikawa tosses the ball and Kindaichi hits it, however Sugawara crouched down to his knee and set the volleyball back up.

Kageyama and Hinata do their quick attack and managed to get a point even though Kindaichi was close to blocking them. Karasuno was now at 15 points with Aoba Johsai at 17.

Sugawara was back to serving, he hits it again, and once more aimed at Kyotani, making him late for the attack once more. The ball gets hit but Daichi was there to save it, as Sugawara followed the ball, swapping places with Kageyama.

Sugawara soon tosses to Kageyama who did his line shot and got Karasuno a point.

"All right!"

Rei smiled as he wrapped his arm over his teammate's shoulder. "Nice one, Tobio-kun!" The black haired male praised him as Kageyama blushed but nodded in thanks.

"We only need one more point to tie with Aoba Johsai." Rei thinks to himself.

TWEEEET!

Aoba Johsai called for a timeout, as everyone exited the court. Rei sighed in tiredness as he grabbed his water bottle and drank from it.

"Oshiro." Ukai called to him, making the black haired male look over. "I'll be swapping Tanaka in so you can get your stamina back up."

Rei nodded in understanding. "Don't you worry! Just leave the rest to me, Shiro!" Tanaka reassured, looking at his junior with his chest puffed out.

"Right. Do your best, Tanaka-san." Rei replied.

TWEEEET!

Rei walked over and sits on the bench next to Ukai as everyone else got ready to play. "Suga! One more! Nice serve!" Nishinoya shouted as Sugawara hits the ball, however instead of Kyotani receiving it, Hanamaki switched places and received for him.

Oikawa sets the ball to Kyotani who slams it down and got a point.

TWEEEET!

Sugawara was being swapped back out as Tsukishima subbed in. "Suga nice!" Nishinoya smiled as he runs to get off the court.

"Thanks." Sugawara replied as Rei got up and walked over to the third-year.

"Damn it, I wanted to take it to a tie." Sugawara stated.

The game goes on with Kageyama setting to Tanaka who spikes it down and got a point. "Tanaka-san, nice kill!" Rei called out, giving him a thumbs up in which the second-year beamed at. Kageyama was up to serve.

"Kageyama, nice serve!"

Kageyama does his usual jump serve, as Iwaizumi received it, Oikawa tossed the ball to Kyotani who spiked it down but Asahi was there to save it, with Kageyama following the ball and tossing it to Daichi who did a feint but Oikawa dived down and sent the ball back up.

Hayashi jumps up and sets the ball in mid-air to Kyotani who jumps up as well, and hits the ball past Tanaka and Hinata, getting the point. Rei sighed and ran a hand through his black locks, wanting the game to end with Karasuno victorious.

Kindaichi serves the ball, as it goes forward and over the net. Tanaka was there to receive it as the ball made it's way to Kageyama who tosses the ball to Hinata, but Hanamaki saved it.

Oikawa sets the ball back up, calling out to Kyotani who ran forward, his eyes on the volleyball as he spiked it down, getting another point for Aoba Johsai.

TWEEEET!

Rei sighed in relief when the referee blew that Kyotani touched the net, as both teams huddled together. Once it was done, Kindaichi serves, but the ball hits the net and Karasuno got the point, Tanaka was up to serve as he throws the ball up and spikes it forward.

He saw how Oikawa gets ready to toss once Iwaizumi saved the ball. Rei noticed how Matsukawa was running behind Kyotani, making the black haired male believe he would spike the ball. Hinata must've also realized as he followed him. But to their surprise, Oikawa sends it to Kyotani who slammed it down, Tanaka tried to save it, but failed.

Rei looked at the score and huffed.

Karasuno

18

Aoba Johsai

21

"That's not good." Rei noted. The one who was serving next was Kyotani who throws the ball up and hits it forward with a lot of power, making the black haired male blink as the spike happened so quickly. Aoba Johsai gets a point.

TWEEEET!

Karasuno called for a timeout as everyone walked off the court to cool down. Ukai talked with everyone as Rei didn't really pay attention until Daichi called for everyone to gather in a circle, with Rei being in between Ennoshita and Narita.

"Let's buckle down! Karasuno, fight!"

"Yeah!"

TWEEEEET!

Everyone goes back onto the court, with Rei still being on the sidelines. Kyotani was serving again. "Let's get this one!" Daichi called out.

"Yeah!"

"Stop bugging me, I know." Rei heard Ukai speak, making him follow his coach's gaze to see Yamaguchi looking at the coach with determination written on his face.

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A/N: Another chapter is done! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2708 words.