Late July brought the height of summer.

  The scorg sun bzed overhead, and the air was filled with a zy, carefree vibe.

  Two weeks into the summer break, Udai Tenma had fined himself to his room, w tirelessly on his manga. His workspace was a chaotic mess—disanized sketches, pencil shavings, and dog-eared reference books scattered about.

  Being a serialized manga artist was far more demanding than Tenma had imagined. Even with a clear storyline in mind, managing pag, panel youts, and positioed stant headaches. Yet despite the gruelling process, he felt a blend of joy and agony.

  Every time his pen touched the paper, bringing long-imagined characters and ses to life, pure happiness coursed through him like a refreshing rain.

  But looming deadlines and creative slumps were ever-present shadows, often leaving him in frustration.

  After pleting the first volume, Tenma felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders.

  He decided to take advantage of the break aurn to Miyagi to visit his family. He also po meet up with Taichi to discuss manga insights.

  He hadn't expected te such a strong bond with this friend he had met by ce.

  However, Taichi's singur passion for volleyball ofte little room for other pursuits.

  Oernoon, while strolling through a local shopping street, Tenma's eyes caught a familiar figure.

  "Is that Tsukishima-senpai?" Tenma approached eagerly.

  "Tenma! What a surprise!" Tsukishima Akiteru paused, momentarily startled before his face broke into a warm smile.

  As a former Karasuno High School volleyball teammate, Akiteru was a year ahead of Tenma.

  Despite Tenma's status as Karasuno's ad Akiteru's more modest role as a benchwarmer, their shared love for volleyball had always burned brightly.

  The enter felt uedly nostalgic, as if time had never passed between them.

  "How have you been? Still pying volleyball?" Akiteru asked, his tone filled with geerest.

  "No," Tenma chuckled shyly, scratg his head. "I'm drawing a serialized manga now."

  Akiteru blinked in surprise but rexed wheiced the light in Tenma's eyes as he spoke about his new passion. He smiled with uanding.

  "I'm still pying," Akiteru said. "On a corporate team now."

  "Ha! I always figured you'd stick with it," Tenma ughed. "You used to sit on the bench looking so frustrated all the time."

  Akiteru grimaced, a bit embarrassed. He had only realized how much he loved the game when he was on the verge of giving it up. Luckily, he had persisted, and volleyball still brought him joy.

  Their versation naturally shifted to Karasuno and Akiteru's younger brother.

  "By the way, my brother is on Karasuno's team now. Want to check out their practice?" Akiteru's excitement rose as he mentioned his brother.

  "Absolutely!" Tenma had been meaning to visit Karasuno but kept putting it off.

  Taichi had told him about a first-year named Hinata Shōyō.

  Tenma's curiosity about this pyer had only grown.

  Akiteru checked his watch. "They should be starting practiow. Let's go."

  Though his brother ofteed his visits, Akiteru figured bringing the legendary "Little Giant" would leave no room for pints.

  Tenma and Akiteru arrived at Karasuno's gym as the rhythmic sounds of volleyball filled the air. The impact of the ball and the pyers' shouts grew louder as they approached.

  "Ah!" A sudden scream pierced the air from inside.

  "What's wrong, Yachi?" Kiyoko Shimizu asked calmly.

  Yachi Hitoka, pale-faced, poioward the door. Two unfamiliar faces were peering inside.

  "There's…someone suspicious at the door!" she stammered.

  Tenma and Akiteru exged bewildered gnces.

  Before long, a crowd of curious Karasuno pyers gathered.

  "Wait, wait!" Akiteru waved his arms frantically. "I'm Tsukishima Kei's brother. And this is Udai Tenma, Karasuno's former ace!"

  "Tch." In the er, Tsukishima Kei frowned in exasperation.

  "The ace? Udai Tenma?" The ook a moment tister.

  Hinata Shōyō, standing at the front, lit up with pure emotion. He practically vibrated with excitement.

  "N-o meet you, Little Giant-senpai! I'm Hinata Shōyō!" His voice quivered. "I started pying volleyball because I saw you on TV!"

  He looked up at Tenma with wide eyes, awe-struck.

  Kageyama Tobio scrutinized both of them, his eyes dartiween their faces.

  Tenma chuckled at the familiar enthusiasm, recalling his own first meeting with Taichi. Taichi hadn't been nearly as emotional.

  Maybe that brat wasn't a true fan after all.

  "o meet you, Hinata Shōyō," Tenma greeted warmly. "Taichi told me about you. Karasuno's number 10, huh? That brings back memories."

  "Which team are you pying for now?" Hinata asked eagerly. "Are you in a uy team? Or a pro league? I searched everywhere but couldn't find anything!"

  Tenma scratched his head again. "I don't py anymore."

  "Eh?!" Hinata's face fell, mirrored by the rest of the team.

  Tenma offered a small, apologetic smile. "But I teach you some tips for aerial battles. I taught Taichi ohough it was only for a few hours."

  Hinata's eyes lit up. He leapt into the air.

  "Really?!"

  Tenma watched him soar. "You're flying high."

  "Yes," he nodded. "I'm curious…if I'd ever faced Taichi, how would that match have gone?"

  -----

  Taichi was resting when his phone buzzed with a message from Tenma:

  "Let's have a practice match with Karasu week. My pupil will defeat you!"

  _________

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