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

edited on january 19th, 2021 @ 11:37am

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN - CONDUCTORS

REI AND HIS TEAMMATES WATCH from the stands above the court, their eyes focusing on Aoba Johsai's game. Rei watched as Oikawa did a jump serve that made the ball swerve to the side and get a point. "What? Again?" Hinata asked, shaking.

"He's good." Rei commented.

"That's his fourth ace served in a row." Asahi stated as Rei looked over at the score.

Aoba Johsai

21

Oomisaki

10

"I somewhat feel bad for Oomisaki." Rei stated in his head.

"His power goes without saying, but that control is pretty nasty too." Ukai commented from behind Hinata.

"But if they can do something about that serve..." Hinata spoke but trailed off.

"It's true that his serves are scary, but Oikawa, as a setter, is completely unknown to us." Sugawara spoke, staring down at the game.

Rei watched as Oikawa did another jump serve, the opposing team managed to save the ball as the ball goes up in the air, however, it was Aoba Johsai's chance ball as Rei saw Hayashi receive the ball over to Oikawa as Rei narrowed his eyes at his junior high teammate.

Oikawa gets into his setting position. "You know, setters... are like orchestra conductors." Rei heard Ukai mumble from behind. Rei glanced at him. "Even if you have the same song and same orchestra, if the conductor is different, the sound is different."

Rei hummed in agreement. He remembered Fujita, Jindai's former setter, saying the same thing. He looked over to see Oikawa toss the ball to Iwaizumi, who spikes the ball onto the court and getting a point for his team.

Iwaizumi scores another point for his team as the audience for Aoba Johsai cheers. "How do I put this... They've got a very smooth transition." Sugawara mumbled.

Rei saw that Kageyama was concentrated on the game. "Oikawa and Iwaizumi, that #4 on the left. Apparently those two have been on the same team since grade school. They're linked, both mentally and physically." Kageyama explained.

"Haya-kun is a complete mystery, too. He's not even at his full power. It'll be interesting to play against him in a official match." Rei added as his team looked at him.

"I don't really think the second-year setter's level was lower in the practice match. I mean, they're Seijoh." Ukai stated as Takeda nodded.

"Right." Takeda agreed.

"I think it's just that Oikawa knows everything there is to know about Seijoh's team and is helping them bring out their A-game." Ukai continued as everyone was silent. Rei stared at Oikawa, who was serving again.

"The Great King is so awesome!"

Everyone looked over at Hinata who was beaming down, Nishinoya was also looking excited. "I want to hurry up and play him!" Hinata exclaimed.

"Yeah! I hope he aims his serves at me!" Nishinoya added in determination.

"I totally want to get them!"

"Noya's awesome, too!"

Takeda and Ukai chuckle at the duo. "Well, isn't that promising..." Ukai grins in amusement, as Rei saw Nishinoya look down and point at something.

"Hey, look, Shoyo! A TV crew's here!" Nishinoya announced.

"TV?! Awesome! I wanna be on TV, too!" Hinata added as the two were excited like children on Christmas, Rei rolled his eyes at the two.

"Hey, now..." A voice spoke up, making Rei look down to see a guy staring at the two.

"You two junior high— maybe you're grade school kids? Quiet down a little." The guy stated as Nishinoya and Hinata wince at this and they both had a depressing aura around them.

"Grade..."

"Sorry..."

Their team chuckled and snickered at the two, finding it very amusing. Rei looked back over to the game to watch Oikawa set the volleyball to Hayashi, who scored the winning point.

TWEEEET!

The crowd cheers for Aoba Johsai who won the game as the team walks off the court. Rei watched as Kageyama also gets up to walk off with his bag as his team followed now that the match was over.

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Rei was now on the bus, on the way back home. He was sleepy just like everyone else who was already asleep. He had managed to grab a window seat on the side with Nishinoya right next to him.

He had his headphones on, listening to music that came from his phone. His eyes were heavy as his head rested up against the window. He thought back to his junior high days, where everything came crashing down.

(Flashback)

"You were slacking, Kaito! You were a hundred behind the normal spikes that you do. You're lucky Shou, Takumi, and I were there!" The red headed captain shouted at their ace.

"Shut up! I did my best!" Mizuki shouted back.

"Saika! How many spikes did Kaito get?" The red head asked their manager.

"Um... 95." Nishimoto replied quietly.

"You usually get at least 150! What's up with you?" The red head asked again.

"You wanna know what's wrong with me? It's all of you! You guys are dragging this team down. If we don't beat Shiratorizawa Junior High during Nationals, it's not gonna be on me. From now on, the only one who can beat me, is me!" Mizuki shouted as he left the locker room.

"Way to go, Kawamura!"

"Shut up, Daisuke! You're in no position to talk! Should I talk about your sets now that we're on that topic?"

Rei quietly left the locker room without his teammate noticing. He could hear the shouts of his captain and vice captain. Once he was far away from the the locker room, he sobbed into his green and black volleyball jacket.

"Everyone's changing... We're not a team anymore. Volleyball isn't fun with them like it used to be."

(End Flashback)

Rei felt a tear go down his cheek. "I stopped enjoying volleyball after that. It wasn't fun to me. But..." He looked at his new team, who were still sleeping soundly. "Being in Karasuno has made me realize why I love volleyball so much. I don't regret joining their team, and I'll go to Nationals with them."

Rei sighed as he closed his eyes, deciding to get some rest on the ride back to Miyagi.

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Rei didn't know how long he was sleeping for, until he felt someone poke his cheek making him grumble and swat away their hand. They poked him again, making him furrow his brows and groan in annoyance.

"He looks calm while sleeping. Can we let him just stay like this?"

"Stupid, we can't leave Shiro on the bus."

"Kageyama's right. We need to wake him up."

"Oh, before you do, let me get a picture first!"

"Noya! You're too loud."

SNAP!

"Hey, can you send me that later?"

"Daichi, can you wake him up?

"Sure."

Rei felt someone shake his shoulder gently. "Hey, come on, time to wake up." Rei heard Daichi call out to him.

Rei groaned as he opened his eyes to see his teammates staring at him. "We're home. Time to get up." Daichi informed with a gentle look. Rei just nodded as he stretched and followed his team off the bus.

"Oh, and Noya-senpai?" Rei spoke up.

"Yes?" Nishinoya asked.

"You better delete that picture of me sleeping and not send it to anyone. Got it?" Rei growled, bouncing off the bus as he heard Nishinoya gulp.

"S-Scary..." Nishinoya mumbled out.

"All right. We're going to have a meeting." Takeda announced as everyone got off.

"Right." Everyone replied tiredly.

"Takeda-sensei! The volleyball club is on TV!" A teacher from the school calls out, this gained the teams attention.

"TV?!" Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka yell in excitement as they raced over.

Everyone got inside the faculty room, interested to see themselves on TV. "Please excuse us!" They said as they entered and looked at the TV.

"Now then... the first and second matches of the Miyagi Prefecture Preliminaries for the Inter-High School National Sporting Competition Volleyball Tournament were held, and heated matches ensued." The lady on TV announces.

"Oh!"

"It's really on!"

"TV!"

Rei stared at Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka who were sitting right at the front of the TV to watch. "It's just the local news." Tsukishima stated bluntly.

"Shut up!" Tanaka hissed at the tall first year.

"TV is TV!" Nishinoya added as Rei sighed at the two.

The TV showed Shiratorizawa. "First, in the I Block, we have the ace player, Ushijima Wakatoshi, leading the reigning champions at Shiratorizawa Academy in their first game along with the help of Kawamura Riku, one of the Inhumane Players. They played against Ohgiminami High School, winning 25 to 10 in the first set, and 25 to 6 in the second set, not giving their opponents the slightest chance against them. They showed everyone why they're reigining champions." The lady on the news announced as Rei's team looked at their first-year libero.

Rei narrowed his eyebrows. "That's the school that Kawa-kun goes too..." He thinks to himself.

"25 to 6?" Rei heard Asahi repeat in shock.

"Will they be able to make it to Nationals once again or will a team appear that can stop them? It'll be worth seeing." The lady stated as they moved away from Shiratorizawa.

"Next, the A Block is also drawing interest." The lady started as Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka inch closer, as this was Karasuno's block.

"That's the gym we played at today!" Hinata announced.

"A player you should definitely watch out for is Aoba Johsai High School's team captain, Oikawa Tōru. His dashing good looks draw in female fans, so he's a player with both skill and popularity to spare. Another player you should keep an eye on is Hayashi Shou, also one of the Inhumane Players and has almost as much popularity as Oikawa." The lady on the TV set said as Rei saw Tanaka look as though he was gonna kill Oikawa, Nishinoya had a displeased look on his face, and Hinata just stared blankly at the screen.

"Tomorrow, going up against Aoba Johsai is a team that sped to unbelievable straight-set victory against Date Tech who were to place in the tournaments top eight the powerhouse, Karasuno High School." The lady spoke up, as Rei slightly paid attention when he heard his team.

"We're gonna be on!" Nishinoya, Tanaka, and Hinata beam and blush at this, the screen cuts to Oikawa outside the Sendai gym, smiling at the camera. He waves making Tanaka have a deadly look as Hinata once again had a blank look.

"We asked him what he thought about his opponent, Karasuno High School, who he'll be facing in the third match."

"They're a great team. I hope... they go for broke." Oikawa informed the crew once more as everyone had a dark and depressing aura around them.

"They'll definitely be more heated matches tomorrow. We wish them the best. Next is the weather. We have Komata reporting from the Sendai Station." The lady announced as Rei saw a teacher who called us over panic when he saw the team's aura.

"Th-There was a glimpse of your match at the very beginning! You all looked very cool!" The teacher says but it clearly didn't help them.

"Sensei, thank you." Daichi lowly spoke.

"Oh, it was nothing..." The teacher flinches.

"All right. Well, then... let's do this." Daichi spoke turning around as everyone nodded and walked out of the room with a dark look.

"Do what?"

"A m-meeting!"

Everyone headed inside of the gym. "Today's match against Date Tech is what you call 'the first sip of beer.'" Ukai announced as everyone stared at him with a deadpan look.

"What is he talking about?" Rei thought.

"That deliciousness of the first sip of beer is special, and you only get it in that first sip." Ukai added as everyone stared at him in confusion on what their coach was on about.

"Ukai, we should phrase that differently for the minors here." Takeda suggested as Ukai looked at them.

"Ahem. Well, the match with Date Tech was the first time we used the freak quick against them. Therefore, we were able to catch our opponents off guard. But we fought Seijoh once in the past, so they know at least some of our tricks. Still, I'm certain that your offense is stronger than theirs. First, we need to endure Oikawa's serves. His serves controlling the game's pace is what we want the least, but that's most likely that will happen. So, for right now, we have the basic 'everyone who's not the setter goes after the ball' formation to receive serves." Ukai goes on as they see him draw on the whiteboard.

"However, this time, we won't have the middle blocker, Hinata or Tsukishima, participate in receiving the serve. They'll concentrate solely on attacking." Ukai informed as Rei glanced at his two teammates.

"Kay." Tsukishima responded with boredom.

"Okay." Hinata frowns.

"Hey, don't get so bummed out. We're just dividing up the work." Ukai assured the two before looking back to everyone else. "Oh, also, you guys saw Seijoh and thought, 'Oh, crap. They're strong' right?" Ukai asked as everyone widened their eyes at him.

"But... If you were seeing our match against Date Tech from the stands, you'd hesitate saying, 'What's with that blocking? Talk about scary, we can't win,' right? But you fought them, and won." Ukai stated as everyone listened to him.

"Tomorrow will be the same."

Everyone stayed quiet, taking in everything Ukai had told them. "All right!" Everyone announced as Hinata and Nishinoya jump up excitedly.

"All right. Let's clarify the formation a bit." Ukai announced.

"Right." Everyone replied.

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The meeting was finally finished. "All right. Make sure you're not late tomorrow." Ukai told them as they nodded.

"Right!"

Everyone headed off their own separate ways. Rei headed on home as he unlocked his door and closed it. He entered his room as he placed his volleyball bag down and took off his volleyball jacket, placing it on his desk chair.

"Perhaps I'll give Ryu-kun a call. I haven't spoken to him face to face in awhile." Rei thinks to himself as he opened his laptop to video call his childhood friend.

Soon enough, Ryu's face popped up on the screen. "Did I wake you up, Ryu-kun?" Rei asked, seeing his friend's tired face.

"No. I was already awake. What's wrong, Rei-chan? You usually never video call me." Ryu asked with concern in his voice.

Rei sighed. "Karasuno is going up against Aoba Johsai tomorrow." He replied.

"Aoba Johsai? Isn't that the team with the amazing setter? I think Oikawa was his name?" Ryu questioned.

"Yes." Rei replied. "It's also the same school that my former junior high teammate, Haya-kun, goes too. My team had a practice match against them, but we don't know what Oikawa is like during a full game, and my teammates don't know what Haya-kun's full power is like either."

"I think you'll be fine, Rei-chan. Aoba Johsai may have Oikawa and Hayashi on the team. But don't forget, Karasuno also has a prodigy player." Ryu reminded him.

Rei scoffed. "I'm anything but a prodigy." He stated. "I don't know. What if this is the last time I get to play with Daichi, Suga, and Asahi? What if we lose, they won't want to go back to the team anymore?"

"Those are all what if's, Rei-chan. Besides, your senpais won't give up that easily if they love being on the team." Ryuu replied. "I think you're just being paranoid. It's just a bad feeling you have, right?"

"Funny, Noya-senpai told me the exact same thing." Rei commented as he chuckled.

It was silent for a moment. "Well, I better let you get some sleep, Rei-chan. You have to be at your best for your match tomorrow." Ryuu finally said.

"Yeah, you're right." Rei agreed. "I'll keep you posted on how we do, okay?"

"You better." Ryuu said. "Goodnight, Rei-chan."

"Goodnight, Ryu-kun." Rei eplied as he exited the video call.

Rei shut off his laptop, placing it on the charging cable and on his desk. He got into bed as he stared at the ceiling.

He closed his eyes, praying to whatever God there was out there let Karasuno have a victory tomorrow.

And he was also praying that it wasn't gonna be the last match that he would play with his third-year senpais.

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In the morning, Rei headed to school. He eventually arrived with the rest of his teammates, thankful that he wasn't late. Soon, Takeda drove the team to the Sendai gym.

Rei was ready to play an intense game of volleyball, as he knew that this wasn't gonna be easy like it was with Tokonami and Date Tech. Everyone was in their positions with Rei being libero while Tanaka was gonna be off the court, but will most likely play during the second round.

Rei watched as Daichi and Oikawa walked over to shake each others hands. "Let's play." Rei heard Daichi say.

"Let's play." Oikawa smiled. Rei had his eyes narrowed at Oikawa, as the two captains walked away from each other.

"Oikawa! Do your best!" A group of girls from above exclaimed.

"Hayashi-kun! Good luck!" Another group of girls, most likely first-years, added, making Rei roll his eyes at them.

"Ain't no way I'm gonna lose! Let's go!" Tanaka exclaimed as he, Nishinoya and Hinata looked pumped up.

Rei saw Daichi walk over to Ukai, as he heard him say that Karasuno will be serving first.

TWEEET!

Some of Rei's teammates grabbed some volleyballs to practice before the game officially started. "Oikawa-senpai, do your best—" A duo of girls yelled out.

"Karasuno! Fight!" Daichi exclaimed, cutting them off, which make Rei smirk a little.

"They're almost just as equally annoying as Haya-kun's fangirls." Rei thinks to himself.

"Yeah!" His team shouted.

Everyone started practicing some spiking. "Fight!" Daichi yelled as Tanaka spiked down the ball.

"Fight!" Daichi yelled as Nishinoya practiced his receives.

"Fight!" Daichi exclaimed as Hinata spiked down the ball.

Next was Rei, as he got ready to receive the ball. "Fight!" Daichi called out as Rei easily received the ball.

"Next, we'll do serves."

"Right!"

Everyone was doing serves while Rei was practicing receives with Nishinoya. That is until he heard a commotion going on at Aoba Johsai's side.

"I-Iwaizumi! Calm down! We're right before a match!"

"Let go of me, Kindaichi, Hayashi!"

"Now's not a good time! See? Everyone's staring hard!"

"I don't care. I'm gonna hit him."

"Hey! What are you saying?!"

Rei looked over to see Kindaichi and Hayashi holding back Iwaizumi who looked as though he wanted to strangle Oikawa who just had a charming and playful smile on his face. "Iwaizumi-senpai, please calm down!" Hayashi panicked as Iwaizumi struggles to hit Oikawa. Oikawa didn't look phased as he laughs and rolls the trolley of volleyballs.

"And I thought Hinata-kun and Kageyama-kun acted like children." Rei thought.

TWEEET!

"Let's play!"

Everyone got into position as the match was starting. "Hey, Tobio-chan. I came here excited to take down the genius setter, so do your best and hold on." Rei heard Oikawa say to his teammate. Kageyama looked at Oikawa in the eyes.

"We will win—" Kageyama spoke up but got interrupted by Hinata jumping in.

"We won't lose!" Hinata exclaimed.

"Don't butt in when I'm talking, Hinata, you jackass!" Kageyama hissed as Rei saw Oikawa hold a blank look on his face.

Rei sighed as he rolled his eyes at the two, Kageyama then tried to hit Hinata from behind but Hinata sensed him and ducked just in time.

"Oi, you two. Stop fighting." Rei announced as they listened to him. Oikawa looked at Rei as he slightly flinched at his presence. Then he looked at Kageyama.

"We won't..." Kageyama informed as he and Hinata stood side by side.

"...lose this, either!" They both announced.

Rei widened his eyes at them, tapping them on the shoulders. "Come on, Takeda-sensei is going to say some poetry stuff to us." Rei stated as they nod and headed off.

"Shirocchi..." Rei stopped when he heard a familiar voice as he turned and saw Hayashi walk up to join his captain.

"What you want, you stupid blonde?" Rei asked, glaring at him.

"That hurt, Shirocchi. Especially all we've been through together." Hayashi replied. Then, he narrowed his eyes. "This is our first official match where we're on opposite sides of the court. You might've beaten Nakanocchi, but I'm not gonna hold back, so you better not either."

Rei chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I don't intend to lose or hold back." He replied. Rei noticed Oikawa tense up while Hayashi just smirked as he walked away.

They surrounded Takeda who looked at them. "All of you have already defeated Aoba Johsai once. Even if our opponents were not the best at the time, I believe the fact that we won is enough reason to have confidence. Not conceit, but confidence." Takeda announced as everyone nodded.

"Right!"

Karasuno huddled, as Rei was between Nishinoya and Tanaka. "Karasuno... fight!" Daichi yelled.

"Yeah!" They all shouted back, determined to win this game.

Rei felt a shiver go up his spine as he looked at Aoba Johsai, it was as if the atmosphere around the team had suddenly changed. It made him feel a bit intimidated for a split second, before he shook it off.

They soon got onto the court and in positions. Kageyama and Hinata were at the front. Tsukishima, Asahi, and Daichi were at the back with Nishinoya and Rei at the side.

TWEEET!

It was Tsukishima that was serving first. "Tsukishima, nice serve!" Daichi encouraged as Tsukishima throws the ball high and it spikes down. Hayashi ended up receiving it.

"Hayashi!" Someone from Aoba Johsai shouted out.

"Nice receive!"

The two guys in the front line jump out, making Rei eye them down, wondering who Oikawa will toss too. "All right." Oikawa spoke up. Kageyama gets ready to block him, but was surprised to see that Oikawa didn't toss to any of them, but dumped the ball himself.

Rei raced over to receive it, but he was too late as Aoba Johsai gained the first point. Rei widened his eyes as to what happened. The rest of Karasuno were in shock as well.

"It was a setter dump! Just like Kenma tried to do during the practice match with Nekoma. How come I wasn't able to receive it like I had back then?" Rei thought as he blinked. The stadium cheered for Oikawa.

"Come on. I'll be doing the same thing again." Oikawa told them. "Don't stand there so out of it. Pay attention." Oikawa teased.

Rei walked back to his position with Nishinoya. "You all right, Shiro?" Nishinoya asked, showing concern for his junior.

"I'm fine, Noya-senpai. Just shocked I guess." Rei replied.

The whistle blew as it was Aoba Johsai's turn to serve. "Nice serve, Matsukawa!" Rei heard a player announce, as the ball got to their side. Daichi saves it.

"All right!" Daichi announced.

"Daichi, nice receive!" Rei heard Tanaka announce from the sidelines as Rei saw Asahi and Hinata raced forward.

"Come to me!" Hinata exclaimed.

"B!" Asahi yelled out as Hinata and Asahi jumped up. Kageyama uses the quick attack as Hinata spiked it down. However, someone from Aoba Johsai saves it, making Rei growl a little.

He sees Oikawa run forward, making Rei think he was gonna do a setter dump like he said he was. He then saw him jump up, in a spiking position.

"Not this time!" Kageyama called out, as him and Hinata jump up to block him. However, Rei widened his eyes to see him change his position mid-air as he tossed to Iwaizumi, making Kageyama gasp and land on the ground.

The second Kageyama's feet landed on the ground he raced over to Tsukishima to help him block, but it was too late as Iwaizumi spiked it down and got his team a point.

"Damn it." Rei mumbled to himself, feeling a bit irritated.

Soon Aoba Johsai serves once more, as the same guy, Matsukawa, his name was, was going to serve again. Matsukawa serves the volleyball. "Shiro!" Daichi called out as Rei used his misdirection and received the ball, Hinata runs forward.

"Bring it!" Hinata announced.

As Kageyama gets ready to toss, Daichi ran to the side, jumping also to spike the ball. Rei noticed that Iwaizumi and Oikawa stared at their captain, as they thought he was going to spike.

Rei smirked at them as Asahi came from behind instead, Asahi runs forward and jumps.

However, to everyone's shock, Kageyama didn't toss to anyone as he instead did a setter dump. The ball bounces onto the court, getting Karasuno a point but they were confused as to why he did it without telling them first.

Soon the stadium erupted around them. Rei heard clapping from Sugawara. "Do it again!" Sugawara encouraged, making Rei sweat drop at the mother figure of their team.

Rei then looked back at Kageyama who walked close to the net. "I'll..." He starts off, catching Oikawa's attention.

"...be doing the same thing again. Pay attention!"

Rei was a bit taken aback by Kageyama's bold statement but smirked proudly. Oikawa, however, didn't seem pleased by his underclassman as he glared at Kageyama.

"You... stupid little brat." He hissed lowly.

Rei chuckled. "Sure, Oikawa may be an amazing setter. But we got Kageyama-kun who's just as skilled and as flashy as he is. So, give us your best shot, Aoba Johsai!" He thought.

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

Word Count: 4318 words.