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

edited on november 3rd, 2020 @ 12:13am

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CHAPTER EIGHT - GOLDEN WEEK TRAINING CAMP

THE GAME HAD FINALLY ENDED, as the Association team looked at Karasuno's current team. "Well, if nothing else, we sure got to relive our youth. Call the toss, ace! That kind of stuff." The guy with glasses states with a smile. "Youth is great, isn't it?" He adds as another guy chuckles.

"As long as I'm here, you're invincible! I wish I could say that. High schoolers are awesome!" The guy informed. Rei looked at Kageyama and Nishinoya, who looked a bit flustered.

"You guys make us old folks feel left behind."

"S-Sorry."

"You guys have a long way to go, but when you pull it together, you'll probably go far."

Everyone smiled at those words. "Thank you very much." Daichi bowed as everyone did the same.

"Thank you!"

The Association team leaves, waving goodbye to them. Everyone headed back inside as Ukai gave them some last minute words.

"Anyway, receiving. We're nothing if we can't receive. Starting tomorrow, you've got rigorous training ahead." Ukai stated.

"Yeah." Everyone said in unison.

"Thanks." Daichi announced as everyone bowed at Ukai.

"Thanks."

"And don't forget to stretch." Ukai added as Daichi nodded.

"Stretches!" Daichi shouted as everyone sat down to do some stretches.

Once they were done, they cleaned up the gym. Rei got out a mop as he cleaned the floor. Soon enough, everyone finished cleaning the gym.

Ukai then clapped his hands. "All right. Lets huddle up and finish practice." He called out as the team huddled up.

The team formed a circle as their heads were close together. Rei was between Kageyama and Hinata.

"Karasuno..."

"Fight."

"Yeah!"

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Rei woke up and yawned. He reached over to his nightstand and looked at the date. "Four more days left until the practice match with Nekoma." He thought. He got ready for the day and headed downstairs.

He locked his door and placed his keys in his pants pocket. He started walking towards Karasuno until he heard the sound of a bike. "Oshiro!" He turned around and saw Hinata on his bike.

"Oh, Hinata-kun. Good morning."

Good morning!" Hinata replied back cheerfully. "Say, are you excited for the game?"

"I suppose so. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out. Since Noya-senpai and Asahi-san have returned." Rei replied as Hinata nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I thought that too. Say, have you been to Tokyo before? Do you know what Nekoma is like?" Hinata asked.

"Sorry, I don't know what Nekoma is like. Though, there's two people there that I know who go to that school." Rei responded. Hinata beamed in excitement.

"Neko has one of the Inhumane Players?" Hinata asked as Rei nodded.

"Yeah. He was the former ace on my junior high volleyball team. They also have our former manager as well." Rei replied.

"You sound like you two were close."

"Hmm... You could say that. I made a promise to him back in junior high. That I would always guard his back. During one of our games during our second-year, he told me he didn't need me anymore. It was the year when every one of my teammates changed." Rei explained.

Hinata stayed silent. "We weren't a team anymore. All they cared about was winning. That's why I attended Karasuno. To defeat all of them." Rei continued.

Hinata nodded in understanding. "We'll beat your former teammates, Oshiro. That's a promise." He said. Rei smiled as they continued heading towards Karasuno.

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Class for Rei was boring as usual, with the exception of talking to Yachi. But once it was break time, he headed towards the gym to meet everyone. "All here?" Ukai asked.

"Yeah." Everyone replied in unison as Takeda and Ukai stand in front as the team surrounded them.

"The practice match against Nekoma is in four days. Inter-High preliminaries will be soon thereafter. We've got no time, but you guys are full of holes. Since that's the case, there's only one way for you to win. Practice. Practice, and practice." Ukai stated.

"Save the ball, even if you have to barf." Ukai ordered.

"Yeah!" Hinata shouts back, but he was the only one.

"You already did, Hinata-kun..." Rei thinks to himself, remembering the match with Aoba Johsai.

Everyone got in line as Ukai was going to throw a volleyball at them so they could receive it. The first to start was Yamaguchi, who failed to receive the ball.

"Hey, how many does it take for you to get it right?" Ukai shouted. "Concentrate!"

"One more."

"Here goes!"

Ukai spiked the ball and Yamaguchi managed to receive it. That was five successful receives, and the next one up was Daichi. Yamaguchi made his way back to the line, groaning in pain.

Daichi managed to get it five times.

Kageyama was next and had a bit of trouble, but he managed.

Hinata was next, he was most likely the worse at receiving but eventually got five successful receives. Finally, it was Rei's turn.

Rei walked to the front and stared at the ball in Ukai's hands. "Ready? Go!" He yelled, spiking the ball down to Rei. He used his misdirection as he quickly moved to the far right and saved the ball easily. Ukai looked a bit stunned as he blinked. "Good. Here comes the others!" He announced.

Ukai spiked the ball to the left side, but thanks to Rei's misdirection he was able to save the ball. Eventually, he was finished. "Well done. I can see why you're called The Phantom. Your misdirection will come handy in matches." Ukai praised.

"Uh, thanks." Rei replied.

"All right. Spiking comes next."

"Yeah."

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Practice was soon over as it was dark out. Rei followed his team to where everyone would be staying. "Wow! This is where we're staying?" Hinata exclaimed in happiness as he runs in.

Hinata ended up checking every room in the building as Rei sweat dropped at him. "You need to calm down." Kageyama told him.

"But this is my first time at training camp." Hinata whined.

Tsukishima walked over. "I have to hang all day with this slovenly bunch? What's so fun about that?" Tsukishima spoke to himself mostly.

"Tsukishima, you bastard..." Tanaka growled.

"Kiyoko's within a 500-meter radius of us! How can that be slovenly?" Nishinoya growls as well as Tanaka and Nishinoya glared at Tsukishima who rolled his eyes and looked annoyed.

"How pitiful that you can't understand how refreshing this space is. It's like the wellspring in the Ou Mountains." Tanaka sighs in happiness. Sugawara smiled innocently.

"Shimizu's home is nearby, so she's not staying here."

Rei ignored the smiles that Nishinoya and Tanaka faces when Kiyoko appeared to be making dinner.

Everyone's bags were in the rooms as they began eating. Kageyama, Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka were wolfing down the meal. Rei was eating at a normal pace.

"Seconds, anyone?" Kiyoko asked as Tanaka and Nishinoya bounced over with empty plates.

"Yes, please." They said in unison.

"S-Sure." Kiyoko slightly stuttered.

Once dinner was all done, everyone headed to the shared bedroom. Third-years had a bath first, then second-years, and finally first-years.

Rei was walking to the showers, when he spotted Tanaka and Hinata. "Someone... Someone I've never seen before... is here." Hinata stated.

Tanaka laughed nervously. "That's impossible. We're the only ones here today." He said.

Hinata turned to Tanaka. "It looked like... a child." He informed.

"Y-You're seeing things. You probably saw yourself in a mirror or something." Tanaka reassured him.

"You're probably right. I'm seeing things, right?"

"Uh-huh. You're seeing things, just seeing things."

Rei smirked as he walked up to the two. "Boo!" He exclaimed.

"A ghost!" Hinata and Tanaka shouted in unison.

Rei laughed. "I overheard you two talking and just had to take the perfect opportunity. You should've seen your faces!" He said.

"Shiro, you bastard! Screw you and your low presence!" Tanaka exclaimed.

Hinata was still shaking. "That wasn't funny!" He said.

Rei wiped a tear off his eye. "Man, that was amazing." He commented. Just then, the three heard a loud footstep.

"A ghost!" Hinata and Tanaka shouted in unison again as Rei just blinked. It turns out it was just Nishinoya.

"What's with all the noise? You'll make Daichi flip out!" Nishinoya informed.

"Eh? Hinata, it was just Noya!" Tanaka said as he punched the orange haired first year.

"B-But he shrank!" Hinata yelled as Tanaka and Rei laughed at Nishinoya.

"He's right! Your hair only makes you look taller!" Tanaka stated.

"Ryu, you bastard! Stop laughing!" Nishinoya yelled at him. Just then, an arm grabbed Nishinoya's shoulders.

"Keep it down. You'll make Daichi mad—"

Nishinoya, Tanaka, and Hinata screamed for their life while Rei just laughed. "It's me, Asahi!" Asahi informed.

"Shut up you guys!" Daichi shouted.

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The next day, everyone headed back to the gymnasium to do their practices. They were currently doing receives. After some time, Hinata did five successful receives.

"All right. That's the whole rotation." Ukai stated. "Next, running." He informed with a grin.

Rei put on his running shoes as he waited with Nishinoya and Kageyama as Hinata was putting his shoes on.

"Hurry up, moron." Kageyama rushes.

"Shut up." Hinata hissed and followed the setter with Nishinoya and Rei right behind them. They eventually caught up with the rest of the team.

As the team were running up a hill, Rei was next to Nishinoya as Daichi and Sugawara were at the front. Kageyama and Hinata were at the very front as they kept racing each other.

"Hinata, don't yell unnecessarily. It'll slap your strength." Daichi warned.

However, he was completely ignored as Hinata ran faster, completely being out of the team's sight. Even Kageyama was shocked and confused at this.

Everyone stopped running. "What an idiot." Rei sighed. "I'll go bring him back."

"I'll come with you. Don't want you to get lost as well." Sugawara said as the two started chasing after the orange haired male.

Sugawara and Rei finally found Hinata talking to a male with blonde hair and black roots, wearing a red volleyball jacket.

Rei walked up to the two and slapped the back of Hinata's head, making the first year fall forward and the pudding head flinch.

"Hinata-kun, you idiot! For once, don't challenge Kageyama-kun to a race! That's how you get lost!" Rei shouted at him.

"When did he get here? And how come I didn't hear him walk up?" Kenma thinks to himself, blinking in confusion.

"I'm sorry, Oshiro!" Hinata apologized, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ken-chan!"

Rei looked up to see a very familiar female with long pink hair wearing the same red jacket that the pudding head wore and a clipboard in her hand.

"Nishimoto." Kenma said, gathering up his bag and following the pink haired manager.

"Nishi-san..." Rei muttered as the pink haired female smiled at him.

"It's nice to see you again, Rei-kun." Nishimoto greeted.

"Likewise." Rei responded.

"Let's go, Ken-chan. Kuroo-san has been looking all over for you. I can tell him I found you." Nishimoto said.

"See you very soon, Shoyo." Kenma waved as him and the pink haired female left.

"You know her, Shiro?" Sugawara questioned.

"Yes. Nishi-san and I went to junior high together." Rei answered as Sugawara nodded in understanding. Rei looked over at Hinata.

"Next time, don't go running off on your own. Or else we'll just leave you." Rei warned, making Hinata whine at the libero.

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Rei, Hinata, and Sugawara had finally arrived back to the building. Lunch was made by Takeda and Kiyoko. Tanaka and Nishinoya went all out again while Rei didn't have much. He wasn't that hungry.

Meanwhile, two players were talking to each other about another team.

"Say, isn't their setter kind of on the short side?"

"Yeah, and he's kind of spindly."

"You think he's their backup setter?"

"The short, spindly guy you think of... is the spine and brain of Nekoma's team..." Kuroo stated.

Karasuno was at the gymnasium practicing their serving. Kiyoko came into the gym with two bags.

"Everyone." She called out, making the team walk over. "Uniforms." She finished as she handed out the uniforms. Rei took the orange jersey out of the plastic bag.

"Number 13, huh?" Rei thinks to himself.

"Kageyama is one notch higher than me..." Hinata hissed, making Rei, Tsukishima, and Tanaka smirk. "I knew he was gonna say that." The three of them said in unison.

Ukai explained that number 10 used to be the Little Giants number when he played for Karasuno, who was Hinata's inspiration.

"Out of every time we played Nekoma, we had always lost to them. Even when the Little Giant had been playing, which was when Karasuno was at it's best. So, let's clear our name and take the win!" Ukai said.

"Yes, sir!"

"Okay, now let's resume practice!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Nekoma must seriously be a good team. What are their players like?" Takeda asked.

"I really don't know their current status, but they've always had good receives. The only thing I do know is that they managed to snatch a prodigy player that was apart of the Inhumane Players." Ukai explained.

"One of Oshiro's old teammates?" Takeda questioned as Ukai nodded.

"Even as a first-year, he managed to become one of the top three spikers in Japan. They also have a manager who specializes in strategies and analyzing players. Other than that, they're our opposite. They're called Neko for a reason. They're flexible." Ukai said.

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Meanwhile, in a court where Nekoma was playing, a player from their opponent team was freaking out. "What is this? I keep hitting it, but the ball won't land on the other side of the court! It's like they already know our moves!"

Kenma then sets the ball as a blue haired male, Nekoma's prodigy player, runs up to the ball in a flash and spikes it, sending the ball to the ground on the other side of the court. Nekoma had won the second set 25-13.

"Kenma, your tosses are amazing as ever." The blue haired male complimented. "They're almost exactly like Fujita's were."

"They only have one prodigy player, but everyone else doesn't stand out. So why are they that good?"

Later, the Nekoma team was found in their hotel. "Does our fateful opponent, Karasuno, have a female manager? Yes or no? My yakisoba bun says no!" Yamamoto said.

"What? I want them to have one, so I say yes!" Inuoka stated.

"Me too!" Shibiyama agreed.

"What if it's far worse, and their manager is more beautiful than ours?" Yamamoto said as he cried. "I would never forgive them!"

A book hits his head. "Oww!" Yamamoto exclaimed, rubbing his head.

"You shouldn't spend your time worrying about that, dumbass." A blue haired male in a Nekoma volleyball jacket said.

"What was that for?!" Yamamoto complained.

"You were pissing me off, as per usual. Be grateful for Saika. If she hadn't decided to become manager, we would be in deep shit."

"Tch, protecting Nishi-san as always." Yamamoto muttered. "Kenma, what do you think?"

"It wouldn't matter anyway."

"Of course you would say that."

"All I care about right now is meeting an old teammate of mine, and see if he's improved since I last saw him." The blue haired male stated as he grinned.

Their pink haired manager stops writing strategies for the team as her pink eyes stared into her childhood friend's blue ones. She calmly sets down her clipboard.

"Of course he did. He's the guy I love, after all."

Finally, it was time. Karasuno walked up to Nekoma High. When they arrived, they saw Nekoma's team also walk over as both teams stared at each other, not saying a word.

The air was so tense, you could cut it with a knife. "I can already tell this is gonna be an interesting match..." Rei thought, slightly grinning.

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

Word Count: 2695 words.