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

edited on august 14th, 2021 @ 5:00am

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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - ILLUSIONARY HERO

HIDEAKI JUMPED HIGH AND SPIKED down the ball as it got past Kuroo and Bokuto. "Oh! That was awesome, Izuki!" Bokuto praised.

"Thanks." Hideaki said before turning to Akaashi. "That was a great toss as well, Akaashi." He added as Akaashi turned red and just nodded in appreciation.

It was dark out as their practice had ended hours ago. He has been hanging out with Bokuto, Kuroo, and Akaashi for some extra practice.

As he was training with his fellow third-years and second-year, he was surprised when he saw Tsukishima walk in and stare at them. Hideaki and Akaashi were the first ones to notice him as he paused their practice.

"Oya?" Akaashi said as Tsukishima blinked. Bokuto turned and saw Tsukishima as he smirked.

"Oya, Oya?"

Soon Kuroo came over and had the same grin on his face.

"Oya, Oya, oya..."

Tsukishima sighed and walked over to them. "There's something I'd like to ask you. May I?" He asked, looking mostly towards the third-years, which made the two grin.

"Sure!" They replied in unison, curious to see what Tsukishima wanted to know. Hideaki was interested as well.

"Thank you very much. Both of your schools are sometimes considered powerhouse schools, right?" He asked, making Kuroo and Bokuto slightly tense a little.

"Well, yeah." Kuroo replied.

"Even if you were able to make it to nationals, actually winning there would be difficult, right?" Tsukishima questioned as Hideaki glanced at the two captains.

"But not impossible!" Bokuto exclaimed as Akaashi calmed him down.

"Now, now, let's hear him out." Akaashi informed as Hideaki nodded.

"This is just a what if." He added as the two calmed down.

"I am generally curious about this. Why do you get so desperate to do all this? Volleyball is just a club, and maybe you'll get to write, "I worked really hard in my club in high school," on your resume, right?" Tsukishima asked as Hideaki slightly winced at his words.

"Just a club, huh? I used to have the same mindset as Tsukishima..."

Hideaki watched as Bokuto narrowed his eyes.

"Just a club?"

Tsukishima flinched a little as everyone watched Bokuto.

"That almost sounds like someone's name."

"Huh?" Hideaki thought, confused about what he said. Kuroo gasped in realization as he looked at Bokuto with surprise.

"Oh, like Mary Club?"

Akaashi, Tsukishima, and Hideaki stare at the two with unimpressed looks as they continued talking.

"No wait, I guess it was "just some club."

"Aw, man! So, it doesn't sound like someone's name. Man, I was so close!"

"Damn it!"

"Would it be better if I made a retort?" Tsukishima asked Akaashi who turned to look at him.

"Nah, there would be no end to it." Akaashi replied.

"When they act like idiots, it makes you wonder how they're so good at volleyball." Hideaki spoke up making Tsukishima and Akaashi nod in agreement.

"Say, Four-Eyes." Bokuto announced, smiling at the tall blonde.

"It's Tsukishima." He corrected.

"Say, Tsukishima! Is volleyball fun?" Bokuto asked as Tsukishima widened his eyes before making a thinking face.

"No, not really..." He replied. Hideaki wasn't really surprised by his answer.

"Maybe that's because you suck at it?"

Tsukishima stiffened at Bokuto's words, obviously irked by it as Hideaki held back his laughs.

"I'm a third-year, and I've gone to nationals. I'm better than you. Way better than you!" Bokuto said as he gave a peace sign.

"You don't have to tell me that."

"But I've only recently started thinking that volleyball is fun."

This took both Hideaki and Tsukishima by surprise as they both made a sound of shock.

"Ever since my straight become unstable in matches. I've always been good at landing cross-court shots, but the blockers started blocking those. I got frustrated and practice the hell out of straights. And... in the next tournament, I didn't let the same blockers touch the ball at all. I shot through them. Just that one shot made me feel like my time had finally come." Bokuto ranted as he laughed.

Hideaki jumped back a little when Bokuto then turned to stare at Tsukishima, who also had jumped back at his sudden stare.

"It's all about whether or not you have a moment like that. What happens in the future, if you can win the next game... stuff like that doesn't matter for now. Crushing the guy in front of you, and the exhilaration of playing at 120% of your skills, is everything." Bokuto added as Hideaki and Tsukishima stared in shock.

"Well, in the end, that's my story, and it might not fit anyone and everyone. I don't really understand why you say it's "just a club", but I don't think you're wrong. But once that moment arrives for you, that's the moment you'll be hooked on volleyball." Bokuto announced as he lifted his finger and pointed at Tsukishima.

Hideaki noticed Tsukishima widen his eyes at his words. While Hideaki stared at Bokuto with an amazed look.

Tsukishima didn't seem to see Kuroo and Bokuto walk over to stand on both sides of him, until Bokuto clapped his hands.

"Okay!" He exclaimed which made Tsukishima jump in shock and turn to Bokuto. "I answered your question, so jump a few blocks for me." Bokuto smiled as Kuroo smirks. The duo pushed Tsukishima to the net.

"Now, now, hurry, hurry."

"Wait, um..."

Akaashi looks towards the hawk-eyed male. "Will you be practicing with us?" He asked as Hideaki nodded.

"Of course." Hideaki replied as they both headed to the net.

After their practice was done, Hideaki was walking back to get some rest.

"Izuki-san."

Hideaki turned around to see his junior. "What can I do for you, Tsukishima?" He asked.

"You have a younger brother, right?"

"Oh, you mean Shun? Yeah..." Hideaki responded.

"Let's say if you didn't make the volleyball team as a regular, and you're not on the bench either. Would you lie to him saying that you did and would make up scenarios just to make him happy?" Tsukishima questioned.

"Well, first of all, Shun doesn't play volleyball like me. He does basketball. But if I had chosen basketball instead and I didn't make the team..." Hideaki trailed off.

"I wouldn't lie to him like that."

Hideaki's words made Tsukishima get taken aback. "Shun means the world to me. I would rather be honest with him than lie and make him hate me." He finished.

"Anyway, what brought this on, if I may ask?" Hideaki then asked.

"Nothing. I was just curious is all." Tsukishima said, walking away.

Hideaki sighed to himself, deciding to think nothing of it as he continued on to his room.

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"Number 4!" Tanaka exclaimed as Hinata and Kageyama jump up to block Bokuto, but Bokuto got past them and scored a point. It was the next day and Karasuno was currently playing against Fukurōdani.

"All right!" Fukurōdani announced. Hideaki sighed and looked at the scoreboard.

Fukurōdani

11

Karasuno

06

TWEEEET!

Karasuno hurried along to surround Ukai, Kiyoko, and Yachi gave out their water bottles to stay hydrated.

"Even if your not able to stop Number 4's spikes, at least try to touch it." Ukai informed as everyone nodded.

"Right!"

"We don't have to stop it?"

Everyone jumped a little as Tsukishima spoke up. They all turned to face him.

"Well... If you're able to actually shut the ball out, there's nothing better." Ukai replied with a smile. Hideaki smirked a little at Tsukishima.

"Bokuto's words must've hit him hard." He thought.

TWEEET!

They went back to playing Fukurōdani gets another point making them now have 14 points with Karasuno having 8.

"All right!" Fukurōdani cheered for their point.

Soon it was Tanaka's turn to serve. However, the libero managed to save it.

"Nice receive!" Bokuto praised as he called for a toss, charging forward, Daichi and Tsukishima quickly followed Bokuto.

"Left! Number 4, Number 4!" Daichi announced.

Hideaki glanced over at Tsukishima, hoping that he was thinking about what Kuroo instructed him to do on how to block a powerful spike.

Hideaki had paused his self-training as Kuroo was explaining to Tsukishima on how to block.

"First, become conscious. Insert power all the way up to your fingertips, so that they will never get blown back. And put your hands in front of you, instead of over your head. In front." Kuroo said, showing Tsukishima.

He then points at Bokuto.

"And then, making this annoying owl shut up!"

Bokuto hisses as he stuck his tongue out.

"Just try it!"

Hideaki watched as Daichi and Tsukishima jump up to block and he grinned when he realized he did exactly what Kuroo told him to do. Hideaki could tell Bokuto was surprised by this as he quickly performed a feint.

"A feint!" Tanaka announced as Nishinoya dived down to save it but he was too late.

"Damn it!" He growled.

Hideaki turned to Tsukishima with a smirk. "So, looks like Kuroo's words actually went through you." He said and he looks away before shrugging.

"Bokuto-san, you fled from the competition." Akaashi stated bluntly as Bokuto froze before he started to shout and wave his arm about.

"I didn't flee! I dodged it! With skill, I dodged it!"

One of Bokuto's teammates came over and stared at the captain.

"Caught off guard..."

"Oh, fine! Yeah, yeah, sorry about that!"

Hideaki watched as Tsukishima walks away from the net as him and Bokuto watched with smirk on their faces.

"Would you look at that..." Hideaki thought as he saw Tsukishima and Hinata have a stare down before Tsukishima walked away.

"The sun versus the moon..."

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