[May 6th - The Final Day of Aoba Johsai's Training Camp]

  The st day of Aoba Johsai's volleyball club training camp had arrived.

  "I really wish we could watch the practice match between Nekoma and Karasuno," Taichi Kaedehara muttered, sprawled out on the gym floor.

  "If you don't train properly, you'll end up getting eliminated by Karasuno and watg them pete oional stage from your TV," came the sharp retort from Shigeru Yahaba, his voice drifting over from the other side of the court.

  Was it just his imagination, or had Shigeru's remarks grown increasingly cutting since Kentarō Kyōtani rejoihe team?

  There was that oime when Akira Kunimi was sg off during practice. Just as Hajime Iwaizumi was about to give him a proper scolding after the match, Yūtarō Kindaichi hurriedly intervened, saying, "Yahaba-senpai has already ha."

  At that moment, Iwaizumi felt a twinge of relief. He silently resolved that from now on, the unruly first-years and even Kyōtani would be Shigeru's responsibility.

  Whehird-years retired, Shigeru would undoubtedly be the best didate for team captain.

  The final day of Aoba Johsai's camp tinued with interaining, each pyer giving their all to prepare for the challenges ahead…

  [Elsewhere, at Karasuno General Sports Park]

  The atmosphere at Karasuno's gymnasium was charged with excitement. Surprisingly, the most exhirating person wasn't a pyer but their retively new coach, Keishin Ukai.

  A match between Karasuno and Nekoma had always been dubbed a 'historic rivalry'.

  However, of the current Karasuno lineup, only Keishin had firsthand experience pying against Nekoma High.

  Word had it that Nekoma's current head coach, Manabu Naoi, had been Ukai's oppo ba the day—though both of them had been benchwarmers more often than not.

  What truly unnerved Keishin, though, was Nekoma's overall coach: the legendary Yasufumi Nekomata.

  Not only was he a celebrated figure in the volleyball world, but he also shared a close friendship with Keishin's grandfather. Being in Nekomata's presence always made Keishin feel like a child standing before an elder.

  In his memories, Karasuno had always lost to Nekoma. This time, though, they had to win—no matter what.

  "Just you wait, you city boys. We're going to show you what we're made of!" shouted Ryūnosuke Tanaka, the team's resident mood-maker, pung the air with enthusiasm.

  "Yeah!" the Karasuno pyers roared in unison, their morale s.

  As Keishin surveyed his team, he could see it in their faces. Each of them radiated fidend determination. Even the usually tense ones were brimming with energy today.

  "Listen up. Don't get as nervous as you did st time," Tobio Kageyama said sternly, gring at Shōyō Hinata from the sidelines.

  "Got it! Everyone on this side of the is a teammate!" Hinata replied, his voice slightly stiff. While his expression still betrayed a hint of nervousness, his eyes gleamed with siy and resolve.

  "Should be fine….I hope," Daichi Sawamura murmured, the first-years before turning his gaze to the pyers from Nekoma who were noroag from the other side of the court.

  "Line up!" he called.

  The two teams formed lines on the court, their uniforms trasting starkly. Nekoma, vibrant red, faced Karasuno, shrouded i bck.

  After five long years, the fabled Battle at the Garbage Dump betwees and the Crows was about tnite.

  --------

  [Karasuno 22 vs. 25 Nekoma][Karasuno 23 vs. 25 Nekoma][Karasuno 22 vs. 25 Nekoma][Karasuno 24 vs. 26 Nekoma][Karasuno 25 vs. 27 Nekoma][Karasuno 30 vs. 32 Nekoma]

  After three matches (a total of six sets), Karasuno had fought with everything they had, yet they failed to win even a si.

  "A newly formed team, just barely pieced together."

  "Individual abilities are uneven, and teamwork is far from seamless."

  "An ued lineup fag an unfamiliar oppo."

  If one sought to analyze Karasuno's loss objectively, there were plenty of reasonable expnations.

  However, none of them ged the fact that they had beeed.

  Looking at the determined expressions on Karasuno's pyers, though, it was clear—they would e back stronger ime.

  "Line up! Let's hear the feedback from the coaches!"

  This had bee a cherished tradition after training matches. Both teams would gather in front of the opposing coach to receive their critiques.

  Coaekomata of Nekoma gazed at Karasuno, a team often referred to as "The Fallen Giants—The Flightless Crows." He couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia and admiration.

  "Holy, you're strohan I expected, especially your offe's true to Karasuno's scrappy, all-enpassing style. But I think this match has also shown you the importance of reception if you want to sustain your attacks."

  "This isn't something that be rushed. Defensive skills take time, repetition, and experieo develht now, as a team, Karasuno is raw and urained. But your potential is overwhelming. Keep training, and you'll definitely bee stronger. I'll see you at Nationals!"

  "Thank you for the guidance!!" Karasuno's pyers bowed deeply toward Coaekomata.

  Meanwhile, Coach Ukai kept his ents to Nekoma brief. After losing six straight sets, he felt too embarrassed to offer mu the way of advice.

  The pyers from both teams began ing up the gym and pag up their equipment. As expected, those with simir energy levels quickly found one another.

  For example, Taketora Yamamoto and Ryūnosuke Tanaka.

  Or Shōyō Hinata and Sō Inuoka.

  "You're amazing, Shōyō! That quick attack of yours—it's just like whoosh! and then bam!" Inuoka excimed, jumping to mimic the move as he spoke. "Oh, by the way, I'm Inuoka! First year."

  "You're amazing too! You're so tall, and you still move like whoosh! like that!" Hinata responded enthusiastically, boung on his feet as he spoke. "It's like Taichi—you even block my spikes!"

  "Yeah, yeah! And you're like Taichi too, with those killer spikes!"

  Somehow, both of them saw a refle of Taichi Kaedehara in each other.

  "No wonder I couldn't get past you at the start of the match. So you guys just had a practice match with Aoba Johsai, huh?" Hinata said, realization dawning on his face.

  Thankfully, after being blocked by Taichi in their previous match, he had already begun w otack strategies. Otherwise, today's loss might have been even more devastating.

  "But Taichi doesn't feel like a first-year at all," Inuoka remarked. "Even Kenma-senpai and Kuroo-senpai were paying a lot of attention to him."

  "Really?" Hinata mumbled. A month ago, when Karasuno pyed against Aoba Johsai, Taichi had been a substitute. Even then, he'd been impressive, but Hinata hadn't expected him to bee a key pyer that even Nekoma's stars would focus on.

  What Hinata didn't realize was that he himself was also someorong teams kept an eye on.

  Oher side of the gym, Tobio Kageyama was h around Kenma Kozume like a vengeful spirit.

  "Excuse me, when did you start pying volleyball? Who was your coach? When did you start setting? Could you teach me how to fake sets?" Kageyama rattled off his questions in rapid succession, refusing to let Kenma escape.

  After hearing that Nekoma had mao take a set from Aoba Johsai, and that even Oikawa Tōru held Kenma in high regard, Kageyama had tched onto him with a vengeance.

  Kenma, visibly drained by the relentless questioning, gnced over at Kuroo Tetsurō for help, only to be met with an amused smirk.

  "You're on your own, Kenma," Kuroo mouthed silently, leaving his setter to fend for himself.

  _________

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