~Back In The Game~

~Chapter Twenty-Six~

-Last Time-

    "Hinata, you little squirt! Don't butt in like that!! You totally ruined my chance to say something cool!!!" You giggle at them. The whistle is blown indicating the start of the next rally.

–-

    The Municipal Team serves and Ennoshita receives the ball. He calls for cover from Kageyama while Ukai thinks about how everybody needs to work on bumps and passing. Kageyama runs to get into position to set along with Hinata coming to his spot.

    'Hm. He figured out quickly where the ball would be coming down. First step is confident and correct.' Ukai thinks about Kageyama. 'This setter's supposed to be a rookie, right? So. Who's he going to use...' Ukai's thought is answered as he sees Hinata jump.

    Ukai, Takinoue, Shimada, Ashai, and Noya stare at Hinata. They are shocked by how fast and high he can jump. Hinata hits the ball and earns his team a point.

    "Yeah!! Nice one, Hinata! Kageyama!" Tanaka praises.

    Noya, Asahi, and Ukai are left with their mouths agape. Suga is looking at Asahi and Noya expectantly, while Takeda is looking at Ukai the same way. You have a look of pride as you see their reactions.

    "Whoa!! Shoyo, that was awesome!! So awesome even I couldn't help but stop and stare!" Noya praises excitedly as the first-year blushes.

    'There were no hand signs. No verbal cues. And they still...?!' Ukai thinks before speaking. "Hey, you!!" He yells causing Hinata to flinch and he and Kageyama to look at the coach. "Why did you jump where you did?! How did you know?! Short Stuff!"

    "Short...?" Hinata begins. "Well... I just jump wherever I want, because the ball always comes wherever I am. Coach."

    '...!! My eyes don't wanna believe it, but I know I saw it. When Short Stuff jumped, his eyes were closed. Are you telling me that rookie setter was able to match his set to his movements that perfectly?!' Ukai is shocked. 'And how can he be so completely sure the ball is always going to be there? What normal player can trust so much that he'll jump and swing totally blind?'

    "YOU TWO FREAKS OR SOMETHIN'?!" Ukai yells at Hinata and Kageyama.

    "Freaks...?" They respond simultaneously. Tsukishima chuckles.

    "Why?" Hinata asks.

    "Don't ask me." Kageyama replies.

    "At first I didn't get what that whole conversation right before the game was about..." Ukai begins, getting you and Takeda's attention. "But...I think I see now. So that rookie setter's likely a prodigy of some sort. Compared to a player like him...the normal slobs have to feel inferior. But... A set and a spike happen in less time than a single breath." He continues as the game resumes. "Players need a whole lot of hours working together to get that kind of timing down. Faith like that isn't something you can build in a day. So if we say what our rookie setter has is overwhelming talent... then what his senior there has is years of trust and stability." He observes each of the players before beginning again. "This Karasuno team is pretty dang good!"

    'Took you long enough.' You think with a chuckle.

    "Why didn't you tell me sooner, sensei?" Ukai asks Takeda with a pat on the back, while you roll your eyes.

    "I did. Multiple times."

    The game continues with Ukai's attention refocusing on Hinata.

    "Who woulda thought short stuff would be a middle blocker just from looking? He's got a mean quick attack... but how's his blocking?" Hinata is standing by the net getting ready to block. Asahi is standing across from him and notices his intense stare. This makes Ashai avert his gaze.

    "Oh, come to think of it, this game is Hinata's first chance to play against the ace position that he's idolized so much." Takeda points out.

    "Hm?"

    "Well, you see, Hinata's idol is a player called "The Little Giant." He was someone who played during Karasuno's golden age. That's why he chose to attend Karasuno, too. He is always giving his best, saying that someday he's going to be an ace too. And now in this game, Hinata gets to face off with Karasuno's current reigning Ace!"

    "Now isn't that neat. Though from this angle, it looks a lot like a grown man playing an elementary kid." Ukai replies. This makes you slightly laugh as you look at the two. You see Suga uses a hand signal for Asahi. 'Probably telling him the kind of set he's going to use.' You think.

    Hinata looks at Asahi with such concentration that it's a bit scary. Karasuno serves and Noya receives it, passing it to Suga. Suga sets it to Ashai. 'A shoot.' You think. Asahi jumps and gets ready to spike but is surprised when he sees Hinata in front of him in the air, ready to block.

    'He popped up out of nowhere!!' Asahi thinks.

    Asahi spikes the ball and it hits Hinata's hand with great force. The ball ricotes off of Hinata's hand and goes behind him. Daichi and Tsukishima run to save the ball from hitting the ground but neither make it in time. The ball hits the floor earning a point for the Municipal Team. Asahi watches as Daichi talks to Hinata.

    "...I knew he could jump, but it's really shocking to see him pop up right in front of my face like that. How high can he go?" Asahi says to himself.

    "That was awesome!" Hinata says looking at his red and stinging hands. "And he hasn't played for a month!" You smile fondly at the first year.

    "Yo, Hinata!" Kageyama begins. "You're using your hands wrong when you block! If you're trying to stop them, your hands go like this!" He demonstrates. "See? Like this!" Hinata doesn't pay attention to Kageyama because he's too focused on watching Asahi. "Are you even listening to me, boke?!" Since Hinata still wasn't paying attention, Kageyama started squeezing his head. 'At least Kageyama tried helping him...' You think.

    "Kageyama, you're going to hurt him..." You say worryingly. Kageyama stops squeezing Hinata's head and just stares at him.

    "Hey..." Kageyama begins but is interrupted by Hinata.

    "Man, the Ace is awesome!! He can hit the ball so hard it doesn't matter if there's a block! It's still gonna smash through and score a point!"

    "..."

    "? What?"

    "Nothing." Kageyama says walking away.

    "?"

    "We're running out of time, so let's dive right into the second set, everyone." Daichi says. The game continues. Hinata starts staring at Asahi and gets lost in his thoughts.

    '...If I was as tall and strong as he is...then I could...Whoa whoa whoa!' Hinata starts shaking his head. 'Don't think about that. The Little Giant was awesome and short too! Though he was taller than me. Still...'

    "Asahi!!" Someone calls out for Asahi to spike.

    'That's so cool...'

    "?! Hinata!!" You and Daichi call out at the same time.

    "Huh?" Hinata snaps out of it and sees the ball flying toward him. Before he could react, the ball hit him straight in the face, causing him to fly backward.

    "?! That idiot!!" Kageyama yells.

    "AAAA" Asahi yells, frightened.

    "GAAAH!!" Tanka yells worriedly.

    "HINATA!!!" You scream, quickly running over to him.

~To Be Continued~