Although Kageyama Tobio didn't fully uand what Oikawa-senpai meant by "stig to the status quo," he caught the gist of the rest—finding new ways to attack was indeed necessary.

  Kageyama stood motionless, lost in thought, not even notig Oikawa and Iwaizumi leaving.

  "Shōyō, are you okay?" Taichi asked as he observed Hinata Shōyō suddenly bowing his head in front of him.

  Ah, that Kageyama guy is seriously g iional intelligence. He yelled so loudly even though Hinata was right there!

  "I'm fine. I know my skills are still g," Hinata replied, lifting his head. His expressiorayed a mix of determination and frustration.

  "By the way, I read your message st night! I was so excited I couldn't even sleep!" Hinata's downcast mood vanished almost instantly, repced with his usual brightness. " you tell me more about Nakashima Takeru-senpai?"

  "Let's set Nakashima-senpai aside for now. Actually, I happen to know The Little Giant," Taichi said nontly, dropping the revetion like a bomb.

  "What?! Really? That's so cool!" Hinata excimed, his eyes sparkling with admiration as he looked at Taichi.

  Hahaha, this was the kind of rea Taichi was fishing for. Nakashima Takeru might be impressive, but he cked that 'wow' factor. Taichi's ego swelled with satisfa.

  "I first saw him during a televised Spring Tour when I was iary school…" Hinata began, his voice slipping into a nostalgie.

  "And it was Karasuno's match. You happeo catch The Little Giant in a," Taichi tinued seamlessly.

  "How did you know that?" Hinata asked, his face filled with amazement.

  Oh, I know everything, Taichi thought smugly to himself.

  "Because I was the same," Taichi said with a grin. "I saw The Little Giant's matches too. Plus, your height makes it kind of obvious, doesn't it?"

  "Wow, Taichi, you're so smart!"

  Oh my gosh, so dazzling. Is this the power of a little suhe pliments ing—I'm loving it!

  "So, what's The Little Giant like?" Hinata pressed on.

  "Well, he's incredibly strong. I even learned a bit from him—fighting in midair."

  "Fighting in midair? That's so cool!" Hinata's eyes lit up before a thought struck him. "That's exactly why I came to Aoba Johsai today—I want to learn how to fight at the highest point!"

  "Eh? From me?" Taichi was taken aback, mainly because he felt embarrassed about his current skill level.

  "Ahaha, not quite." Hinata scratched his head sheepishly. "Our coach has already taught me a lot, but I haven't fully grasped it yet."

  "Oh, well, I do have a move or two I show you," Taichi said, finally deg to demonstrate what he had learned from The Little Giant. After all, Udai Tenma hadn't held back when teag him.

  "Really?! Teach me, Master!" Hinata excimed eagerly.

  Master? Hearing Hinata call him that made Taichi break into an untrolble grin. Oh no, now I'm kind of tempted to join Karasuno myself!

  "Hey, Oikawa-senpai's calling you over to practice spiking." A sudden, stern voiterrupted them.

  "Huh? Why would The Grand King want us to practice spiking here?" Hinata asked, tilting his head as he g Kageyama.

  Kageyama scowled and yanked Hinata aside. "I'm not talking to you, idiot. I meant him."

  Kageyama pointed a fi Taichi.

  …

  How should I put this? I used to like Kageyama, but this guy's emotional intelligence is seriously…

  Taichi pushed Kageyama's hand down. "I don't like being poi. And for your information, I'm Kaedehara Taichi, first year at Aoba Johsai. o meet you, Little King."

  "What?" Kageyama gred at him at the mention of the niame.

  "Hinata calls Oikawa-senpai The Grand King, doesn't he? So I figured calling you Little King wouldn't be an issue," Taichi said with a friendly smile.

  "Yeah, Kageyama, Little King sounds pretty cool too! I want a cool niame like that," Hinata chimed in, iing himself betweewo.

  "Move aside, dumbass." Kageyama shoved Hinata away again. "Fine. Let's go practice spiking."

  "Of course."

  -----

  Kaedehara Taichi and Kageyama Tobio stood on the court, with Oikawa Tōru and Iwaizumi Hajime from the sidelines. On the opposite side, Hinata Shōyō was ready to retrieve the ball.

  "Kageyama, set it like you do for Hinata. I want to see how Taichi ha," Oikawa instructed from the side.

  "Yes, Oikawa-senpai!" Kageyama replied. He then turo Taichi. "Just jump forward and spike at yhest point. Swing your arm decisively—don't hesitate."

  "Got it." Taiodded.

  Taking a deep breath, Taichi sprinted from the baselioward the . Just before reag the , he leapt powerfully, his body arg gracefully in midair, his arm swinging forward with precision.

  "Swish!"

  The ball grazed Taichi's fiips and nded outside the court.

  "Sorry, the set was a bit too high," Kageyama immediately admitted.

  His speed is almost on par with Hinata's, but with that height, his jumping ability is disappointing. His attack point is even lower than Hinata's.

  Kageyama's gaze briefly showed a trace of pity, which Taioticed—and it irritated him.

  The sed ball.

  Taichi jumped to spike again. As he leapt, the ball hadn't reached him yet, and he couldn't resist gng toward Kageyama mid-air.

  "Swish!"

  The ball flew past Taichi at an incredible speed before he could even swing, leaving him whiffing at empty air.

  "Your swing is too slow," Kageyama remarked ftly, this time pg the bme squarely on Taichi.

  Taichi said nothing, standing still as he repyed the moment in his mind.

  "Taichi, try again," Oikawa enced from the sideline.

  One ball. Two balls. Three balls.

  Taichi came frustratingly close each time but couldn't quite ect.

  Kageyama was visibly growing impatient, holding the ball and standing motionless in the tre of the court.

  "Once more," Taichi said, looking straight at Kageyama.

  "There's no point. You don't trust me. When you hesitate, your arm swing naturally slows down," Kageyama replied calmly.

  "Let me take over." Oikawa stepped onto the court, taking the ball from Kageyama's hand. "Taichi, just do what you were doing earlier."

  Without saying a word, Taichi prepared for another run-up and jump.

  "Bang!"

  He hit it! At the exaent Taichi swung his arm, the ball appeared perfectly in front of him—precisely where it o be!

  "Is this what it feels like?" Oikawa muttered, staring at his hands, trying to recapture the fleetiion of that perfect e.

  Kageyama remained unruffled, his expression calm. He had never sidered himself the most exceptional setter—just the one who wao win the most. For Oikawa-senpai to achieve this result felt natural to him.

  Taichi stood frozen on the court, a whirlwind of emotions ing within him. He couldn't believe he had actually pulled it off—it felt like a dream.

  He gnced over at Hinata and saw an equally emotional expression on his face.

  Hinata had always thought that without Kageyama, he was nothing.

  But now, he khere were other setters in the world, not just Kageyama Tobio, who could deliver the ball to him just as perfectly!

  _________

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