January 4th—though the new year had already begun, the festive atmosphere still lingered in the air. A sense of holiday rexation and ease permeated the streets.

  At Aoba Johsai High School, the volleyball team was fully prepared, gathering early at the school gates. U time, when they had departed quietly, this time the entire campus acked with students.

  "You guys go on ahead. This time, we're all ing to cheer you on!" announced Hirata Mitsuaki, the school's discipline director, turning to talk to Coach Mizoguchi Sadayuki.

  Behind him, Aoba Johsai students waved banners and homemade support signs, each expressing their encement for the volleyball team in their own way.

  "Thank you, everyone. We really appreciate it!" Coach Mizoguchi replied on behalf of the eeam.

  Amidst the enthusiastic cheers, the pyers stepped out of the school gates. Their strides were steady and firm, each step carrying the expectations of their cssmates and teachers.

  A bus, arranged specially for the team, was already waiting in the parking lot, adorned with words of encement. A warmth spread through the pyers' hearts as they took in the sight.

  With the roar of the ehe bus slowly pulled away from the school, carrying Aoba Johsai's entire volleyball team toward the grand stage of Spring High.

  Outside the windows, the sery rushed past, but the pyers' minds were already far ahead—focused on their destination.

  For the first time in six months, they were heading to Tokyo again.

  Heading to the nationals.

  This was their sed time breaking into the national tour.

  -----

  After cheg into a familiar hotel, the team followed their usual routine—heading to a nearby gym to move their bodies a bato rhythm.

  pared to their first nationals, when nervous excitement had gripped them, this time the team was noticeably calmer.

  But this calm did not mean a ck of passion—rather, it reflected their growth.

  They had matured. They now had better trol over their emotions, allowing them to el their energy into proper match preparation.

  -----

  The day—Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

  The Spring High School Volleyball Tour opening ceremony was not too different from the Interhigh Nationals they had experienced in the summer.

  Back then, everything—from the grand opening to the fierpetition—had left a deep impression on the first-time partits.

  This time, however, the pyers paid closer attention to the other teams.

  Sihey had set their sights on reag the very top, every team could be a potential oppo standing in their way.

  When the ceremony cluded, Aoba Johsai discovered that, as one of the Interhigh quarterfinalists, they had a bye in the first round.

  "Aw, man, I was hoping to get a feel for the court today," Oikawa Tōru sighed, stretg his hands in boredom.

  "Even a first-time team at nationals could be capable of making it all the way to the end," Iwaizumi Hajime warned, his expression serious. "Don't get careless, dumbass Oikawa, or you'll end up getting eliminated before you even know what hit you."

  "Of course," Oikawa responded, dropping the lighthearted act. His voice was firm. "This is our st ce."

  Iwaizumi knew better than anyone how seriously Oikawa took petition.

  But the setter's tendenaintain a pyful fa?ade could sometimes affect the mentality of the rest of the team.

  Just as Oikawa had said—this was the third-years' final shot.

  That was exactly why they o focus on every detail. They weren't aiming for nail-biting victories. They wao firmly secure every single win.

  "Even though we don't have a match today, we go watch our oppo," Coach Irihata suggested with a grin.

  "And guess what? It's an old rival."

  Court E – Nekoma vs. Kiyokawa

  The match had yet to begin, but Kaedehara Taichi was already making his way over to say hello.

  "Taichi, don't go provoking the other team!" Iwaizumi Hajime called out, a little worried.

  "Rex!" Taichi patted his chest fidently. "I got it."

  "I'll go with him," Oikawa Tōru volunteered. "If I'm there, Taichi won't cause any trouble."

  "Sit down!" Iwaizumi pressed down on Oikawa's head, f him bato the bench. "Stay right here and just watch the match!"

  "Not fair! Why does Taichi get to—ow!" Oikawa yelped mid-sentence as a sharp jab hit his ribs.

  "I got it…I got it, Iwa-…" Oikawa muttered in a trembling voice.

  Their antics drew the attention of several nearby spectators. If not for their matg team uniforms, they might have been mistaken for a bullying i.

  -----

  "Kuroo-senpai! Kenma!"

  Kaedehara Taichi strode toward the Nekoma team, calling out loudly.

  "Taichi!" Kuroo Tetsurō responded with equal enthusiasm. "Didn't expect to run into you this early!"

  "Taichi!" Kozume Kenma, who had been looking exhausted just moments ago, suddenly brightened.

  "If you guys win today, you'll get to py against us," Taichi said cheerfully. "I hope you don't get knocked out too early—I've been looking forward to pying against Kenma in a real 'game over if you lose' match at nationals."

  Kuroo's golden eyes narrowed slightly, and a smirk pyed at his lips. "Oh? Is this the fidence of an Interhigh quarterfinalist?" he teased.

  But Taichi's respoook him by surprise. The younger pyer met Kuroo's gaze head-on, his tone unwavering.

  "No. This is the fidence of the future Spring High national champions."

  Kuroo looked at the oppo standing before him—now nearly eye-to-eye with him i. A mix of emotions stirred within him.

  Unlike his own loud, excitable middle blocker, Kaedehara Taichi's fidence wasn't just bravado. It was built on something solid—tless hours of releraining and back-to-back championship victories in Miyagi.

  "Ha…" Kuroo chuckled, his ughter both amused and appreciative. Beh it was the unmistakable thrill of an impending battle. "That kind of blunt fidence is hard to hate, y'know."

  "Thank you, Kuroo-senpai. Best of lu your match," Taichi said with a polite nod.

  "Mm. Don't worry," Kuroo replied, his expression sharpening. "We're not losing in the first round."

  As the warm-ups began, Taichi turned and walked away. From start to finish, he hadn't said a single word to Kozume Kenma.

  "…Kuro, you still think it's a shame we didn't get to recreate the Dumpster Battle?" Kenma asked quietly.

  "Yeah," Kuroo admitted. "It's something Coach's been dreaming of for years." Then, his tone softened. "But I'm happy to py against Aoba Johsai, too. What about you? Weren't you curious about pying against both Hinata and Taichi?"

  Kenma's golden eyes followed Taichi's departing figure. At that moment, his pupils narrowed into slits—like a cat log onto its prey in the dark.

  "…I think I'd pick Taichi," he murmured.

  "Taichi's stronger now."

  _________

  [T/N] - If you guys want to read 50 Chapters in advance of the current story, you support me on my Patreon. Trust me, it's awesome!

  Link - (P)atreon./Iseebck [Remove the brackets]