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The Karasuno gym hummed with intensity as the second set of the practice match began.
The air was thick with the scent of sweat, and the sound of shoes scraping against the polished floor echoed off the walls.
Karasuno's squad was facing the neighborhood alumni—a mix of seasoned players who hadn't forgotten the sharpness of their former selves, but they were no match for the raw, fierce energy that Karasuno had come to embody.
The scoreboard reset: Karasuno 0, Neighborhood 0.
The first set had been a 25-12 rout, but that didn't mean the game was over.
Hinata's fire still burned hot, his eyes sharp, his body practically vibrating with energy.
Hinata stood back-right to serve, his heart pounding in his chest.
Across the net, the Neighborhood's team was set—Nishinoya crouched low, Asahi towered in his spot with the nerves of a veteran, and Sugawara's steady presence remained the calm in the storm.
Boom!
Hinata tossed the ball high, the gym holding its breath.
The serve was a normal toss, but it was angled so cleverly that it landed just on the sideline, forcing Takenou into a scramble.
Smack!
Nishinoya dove, his body hitting the floor with a sound that made the crowd hold its breath. "Up!" He yelled, sending the ball spinning high.
Sugawara set the ball to Asahi, whose breath caught in his throat.
He aimed for the spike, I need to hit this…
But Karasuno's triple block snapped into place, and the ball was swatted back like it was nothing.
Kageyama grunted in frustration, his expression already darkening. "Tch…"
Asahi slumped, shoulders sagging. Again… he thought, struggling to break through the wall Karasuno had built.
"Next one, Asahi!" Nishinoya barked, never losing his enthusiasm. "You'll get it, just watch!"
The scoreboard ticked up. Karasuno 1 – 0 Neighborhood.
Hinata served again, his mind already in the game. His serve was sharp, precise, flying like a bullet across the court.
Smack!
Takenou barely managed to receive it—shaky, hands still rattling from the previous point. Sugawara quickly set it to Mori. The ball was flying, angled down.
Thwack!
But Tanaka was there, his one-touch perfect. Daichi dove to save the ball, and Kageyama, without missing a beat, set it to Hinata.
Boom!
The ball hit the floor with a thundering crash, smashing past Uchizawa. The crowd roared.
"YES!" Hinata shouted, his voice ringing out in triumph. "Got 'em!" He jumped, adrenaline pulsing through him.
Karasuno 2 – 0 Neighborhood.
Hinata was on fire now. His next serve was clean and firm, floating over the net with a deadly arc.
Smack!
Mori barely managed to receive it. Sugawara quickly set to Asahi, but the veteran was blocked—again.
Kageyama and Tsukishima's block was too much to overcome. The ball came right back to their side.
"Nice!" Tsukishima smirked, turning back with his usual sneer.
Asahi's chest tightened. Why can't I break through?
Karasuno 3 – 0 Neighborhood.
Hinata stood at the line again, eyes narrowed in determination.
He served a clean arc, his confidence growing with every point.
Smack!
Nishinoya popped it up—"Up!"
Sugawara set it to Uchizawa, who came in for a fierce spike.
Crack!
But Daichi was there with the dig, and Kageyama didn't hesitate.
He set to Hinata, and it was a quick attack from the back.
Boom!
The ball exploded through the air, flying past Takenou before anyone could react. Hinata landed in a crouch, laughing with exhilaration.
"Another!" he grinned. "Too fast for them!"
Karasuno 4 – 0 Neighborhood.
The points kept rolling in, one after another. Hinata's serve never slowed, always sharp and precise.
Smack!
Takenou barely managed to receive it, a weak attempt. Sugawara set it to Asahi once more, but once again, Asahi leaped—For Noya!
Thud!
Kageyama and Tsukishima slammed their arms up in unison for the block, and the ball bounced back with a satisfying thud.
"Nice block!" Hinata chirped, his grin wide. He could feel the game shifting, and his energy burned even brighter.
Asahi's heart sank for a moment. I was the ace… but I can't seem to land a solid spike…
Karasuno 5 – 0 Neighborhood.
The team roared as the game surged forward.
Each play felt like a hammer strike, pounding the floor beneath them.
Hinata was everywhere, his quickness leaving defenders scrambling in his wake.
Each spike felt like an explosion, the ball slamming into the floor as if it couldn't handle his speed.
Boom!
The next serve was from Kageyama, his sharp serve breaking through the defense with a speed no one could match.
Smack!
Nishinoya dove for it—"Got it!" He shouted as he sent the ball back high.
Sugawara set it to Mori, who spiked it hard, but the ball slammed into Tsukishima's block again.
Thwack!
Hinata laughed, already running back for the next play. He wasn't giving up. Not now, not ever.
"Got it!" he cheered. "They're just not ready for me!"
The game was shifting. Every spike from Hinata was met with a louder cheer.
He knew his team was watching—he wasn't going to back down from any challenge.
Even when Asahi finally broke through with a spike that slammed past Kageyama's hand, Hinata didn't flinch.
He saw it, his own inner monologue filled with drive. I won't hold back just to get Asahi on our team. He needs to understand what it means to be the ace, even if the score tells its own story. He'll see...
Karasuno 9 – 1 Neighborhood.
The intensity only built from there. Mori served, and Hinata was right there, back on the court.
His quick attack, so fast that the opponent barely had time to react, was unstoppable.
"YES!" Hinata roared as the ball thudded into the floor for another spike.
Karasuno 10 – 2 Neighborhood.
The Neighborhood was rattled now. Asahi's resolve wavered, and Sugawara could only watch, helplessly, as the relentless force of Karasuno's attacks tore them apart.
Karasuno wasn't just playing for the game—they were playing to prove something, to show the world what they were capable of.
The final serve came. Kageyama to Hinata for one last quick.
Boom!
The ball thundered past Nishinoya and slammed into the floor with a cracking echo.
"YES!" Hinata roared, throwing his hands up in triumph. His perfect run was complete—12 spikes, 5 blocks.
Karasuno 25 – 8 Neighborhood.
The gym erupted.
The team, already soaked in sweat and exhaustion, exploded into cheers.
Ukai's mouth hung open in disbelief, and Takeda clapped his hands in sheer pride.
"Told you," Takeda grinned at Ukai.
Nishinoya panted heavily, grinning ear to ear. "He's insane!"
Asahi, breathing hard, nodded in admiration. "I've got to catch up… I'm not letting this kid outpace me forever."
Hinata stood tall, chest heaving.
He had made his mark.
He had shown them all.
And with that, the match ended, but for Hinata, this was only the beginning.
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To be continued...