Another Manager (Akashi Seijuro x OC)

2.21 The Breaker

Author's Note:

I added a little bit to Kuroko's birthday chapter if you hadn't seen it already! (It's also in chapter 1.12 Neko-Karasu Reunion.)

***

Reference:

Aoba Johsai Private High School (Seijoh):
Head Coach - Irihata Nobuteru
Coach - Mizoguchi Sadayuki
#1 Oikawa Tōru (Captain) - 3 - S
#2 Matsukawa Issei - 3 - MB
#3 Hanamaki Takahiro - 3 - WS / Outside Hitter
#4 Iwaizumi Hajime (Vice Captain & Ace) - 3 - WS / Outside Hitter
#6 Yahaba Shigeru - 2 - S / Pinch Server
#7 Watari Shinji - 2 - Li
#12 Kindaichi Yūtarō - 1 - MB
#13 Kunimi Akira - 1 - WS / Opposite Hitter
#16 Kyōtani Kentarō - 2 - WS / Opposite Hitter

Karasuno High School:
Coach - Ukai Keishin
Teacher Advisor - Takeda Ittetsu
Manager - Shimizu Kiyoko - 3
Manager - Akatsuki Ai - 2
Manager - Yachi Hitoka - 1
#1 Sawamura Daichi (Captain) - 3 - WS / Opposite Hitter
#2 Sugawara Kōshi (Vice Captain) - 3 - S / Pinch Server
#3 Azumane Asahi (Ace) - 3 - WS / Opposite Hitter
#4 Nishinoya Yū - 2 - Li
#5 Tanaka Ryūnosuke - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter
#6 Ennoshita Chikara - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter
#7 Kinoshita Hisashi - 2 - WS / Pinch Server
#8 Narita Kazuhito - 2 - MB
#9 Kageyama Tobio - 1 - S
#10 Hinata Shōyō - 1 - MB
#11 Tsukishima Kei - 1 - MB
#12 Yamaguchi Tadashi - 1 - MB / Pinch Server

***

Seijuro: Ai, how are you? Call me when you're free. Don't push yourself today.

Seijuro: I know how important the tournament is, but you can't break yourself for the sake of others. You know I'd rather you take care of yourself foremost. Promise me. I'll be waiting for your call.

.

25-23, Karasuno won the first set from Seijoh.

Ai stayed upstairs while the teams switched sides and watched them from above. One set down.

For the second set, Kyōtani was in the starting lineup this time instead of Kunimi.

Haizaki Shōgo and Kyōtani Kentarō. According to the red tournament booklet, they were all the same age. She shook off the thought. Besides, from what she'd heard from Momoi, he had become a morally better player after losing to Kise. Another negative effect of Akashi's strict reign reversed.

Kyōtani wasn't as sharp a weapon as Haizaki, but he was far from harmless. A Mad Dog, and a dangerous double-edged sword. He was apparently a player from Minami Daisan Junior High.
Ai watched and made note of the player's sharp cross-shoot, a technique done by running parallel to the net before jumping.

The No. 4 in white and turquoise had jump serves that were getting as troublesome as his captain's.

However, the same could be said about Asahi; Iwaizumi wasn't the only ace who had been working on fortifying his serves. Ai was happy to see that their practice matches with Ubugawa had inspired him, but there was a bit of a lack of practice of aiming with the force he used.

.

Kyōtani fell into Hanamaki as he got Aoba Johsai's third point in a row.

"Y-you okay?!" Oikawa cried.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine," the strawberry blond reassured the setter from the floor.

Their attack rhythm had changed completely with their new addition. Ai caught Coach Irihata smiling on the bench.