Kyōtaarō watched as Oikawa Tōru and Kaedehara Taichi left, a deep sense of defeat welling up within him.

  That first-year couldn't have been at Aoba Johsai for long, yet their synergy already looked impeccable.

  What frustrated Kyōtani even more was that he hadn't mao score a single point against them.

  I really keep going like this?

  "Kyōtani, you've been io py for quite some time now, haven't you?" Shimizu Nobu approached him with a rexed gait.

  With the teams on the court short of pyers, a casual 4v4 had begun—a on sight in the local town sports tre, especially when there weren't many people around.

  Handing Kyōtani a bottle of water, Shimizu tinued, "I've had my suspis, but I didn't expect you to actually be a student at Aoba Johsai. Isn't that one of the top volleyball schools?"

  "I applied but didn't make the team," Kyōtani admitted quietly.

  Shimizu g him, his tone seemingly casual but cutting deep. "So you ran away from the team, wandering around and training aimlessly. That's certainly….an easy and carefree path you've chosen."

  "What?!" Kyōtani bristled, an annoyed look fshing across his face. Still, he refrained from snapping back ht—Shimizu had always looked out for him, after all.

  "Don't get so worked up." Shimizu chuckled, a faraway look in his eyes as if reminisg. "I wasn't much different from you ba the day.

  "Lone wolf high schooler, huh? Teams are reliable, sure—but they also be dht suffog. They're both yreatest allies and the source of crushing pressure."

  "So, are you pnning to avoid all that and spend yh school days pying pickup games with us old guys?"

  Kyōtani fell silent, his mind swirling with thoughts. His love for volleyball was undeniable, yet he had always struggled with eg to his teammates.

  "Those two high schoolers today—clearly, they came looking for you, didn't they? And it's obvious they're strong."

  "If you take the initiative to face the team, the team will respond in kind. They've already taken the first step by ing here."

  "All you o do is take a siep toward them, and together, you'll make each other strohrough your cshes and colborations."

  "Cherish this opportunity. Teams like that don't e around every day."

  With those final words, Shimizu draihe st of his sports drink, stood, and walked away. Whether Kyōtani could sort through his thoughts and make a decision now was entirely up to him.

  Meanwhile, the pyers on the court had fiheir matd were gathering to chat about the visiting high schoolers.

  "Aoba Johsai looks really strong this year. They might even make it to nationals."

  "But Ushijima Wakatoshi hasn't graduated yet, right? Shiratorizawa has been dominating for years now, and that guy is terrifying."

  "It's been years since I've watched Aoba Johsai py. Should we go see them this year?"

  "Sure! Let's round up some people from the shopping distrid cheer them on. Who knows? Maybe the 'Mad Dog-' will make an appearaoo."

  Niames had a way of spreading quickly, and Akiyama thought 'Mad Dog' erfect fit for Kyōtani.

  Amid the lighthearted banter, Shimizu noticed that Kyōtani had left the gym unusually early.

  -----

  At the same time, in Tokyo Station, a group of pyers in strikiracksuits stood out from the bustling crowd.

  "Whoa, this is my first time on the Shinkansen!" Yamamoto Taketora's exaggerated excmation turned heads.

  "Seriously?" Yaku Morisuke chimed in casually.

  "Eh? Yaku-senpai, you've ridden it before?" Yamamoto asked, his surprise evident.

  "Of course, most people have," Yaku replied with a sigh.

  "Yeah, it's pretty normal," third-year Kai Nobuyuki added, joining the versation.

  "I've been on it!" excimed the cheerful first-year, Inuoka Sō.

  Their chatter created a lively and slightly chaotic se.

  "Hey, stick together! This isn't school, you know." Third-year captain Kuroo Tetsurō's voice cut through the noise, reminding the group to stay focused.

  "Yes, Captain!" they replied in unison, only to dive into a opic the very sed.

  "So this'll be the first time we're visiting Miyagi Prefecture, huh…"

  "What kind of pce is Karasuno, anyway?"

  "No idea. I've only ever heard of Sendai."

  Ihis group was her than the Nekoma High School volleyball team, en route to Karasuno via the Tohoku Shinkansen.

  Their strikiracksuits made them the tre of attention irain car, though it was clear they were pletely oblivious to the stares.

  The team eagerly discussed food and sightseeing spots along the way. While Kuroo Tetsurou tried his best to maintain order, he thought to himself, Good thing today's the start of a long weekend. If this were a regur weekday, the train would be full of office workers, and these noisy guys would get nothing but gres all the way to Sendai.

  Thankfully, the passeoday were mostly families on vacation. Children's ughter filled the car, making it far easier to rex.

  Aside from Kozume Kenma, who looked like he was barely tolerating the chaos with headphones on as he pyed a handheld game, the rest of the team was in high spirits. At least Kuroo didn't have to worry too much about them disturbing others.

  The reason Nekoma was heading to Miyagi Prefecture went back to an invitation they'd received from Karasuno.

  Two years ago, Coaekomata returo the team and rekiheir tradition of practising with Karasuno.

  Years ago, before Nekomata became a coach, he was just a regur substitute setter in middle school—Nekomata Yasufumi.

  In his sed year of middle school, during a match, Ikushi met an outside hitter from aeam—Ukai Ikkei.

  Ukai's powerful attacks had domihe game, pletely overwhelming Nekomata's team's setter. That situation gave Nekomata an opportunity to step onto the court and prove himself.

  After the match…

  "Thanks to you, everyohinks more highly of me now. Much appreciated." Nekomata Yasufumi grinned cheerfully.

  "Huh?" Ukai Ikkei knew right away—he couldn't stand this guy.

  "And your spikes? Super easy to receive."

  "…Someday, I'm gonna crush you…"

  From that point on, the two often faced off in practice matches and regional tours.

  "Relying on brute force alone is outdated. Use your brain for once."

  "ime, I'll definitely beat you!"

  However, by their final middle school tour, Nekomata Ikushi had transferred to Tokyo, leaving Miyagi behind.

  Both assumed they'd never cross paths again. But in their sed year of high school, at the national tour, they saw each other's names on the roster:

  Miyagi – Karasuno – Ukai Ikkei | Tokyo – Nekoma – Nekomata Yasufumi.

  Despite that fateful enter, their teams were in different brackets aher made it to the finals. After that, her of them ever made it back to the national stage.

  Years ter, by a twist of fate, both Ukai and Nekomata returo their alma maters as volleyball coaches. With their shared history, it became natural for Karasuno and Nekoma tanize joint training sessions whenever possible.

  They pyed practice matches time and again, but the two teams never faced off in an official tour.

  Eventually, both coaches retired, and their respective teams fell into dee, fading from the national spotlight.

  But now, both the 'cats' and the 'crows' were ready to rise again!

  _________

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