The 'Almighty' King

Karasuno vs Itachiyama - Part 2

Kageyama's POV
As set three went underway, Karasuno went strong, Itachiyama currently having most of their problems with our serves. Their main troubles being with Yamaguchi's float serve, Hinata's perfected shaky projectory serves and Rikiya and I's powerful jump serves. Even with my setter dumps and the attacks we had, Itachiyama was starting to predict our moves. I didn't want to bring out the super quick just yet. It was too early. What didn't help was the constant communications. When I was struggling to think about how we could possibly improve my eyes caught sight of Percephi waiting nervously in the box.
That's when I got an idea.
When the score was at 17-15 to Itachiyama I signaled to Ukai for a time out. It was the last one we had so let's hope my plan worked.
When everyone was gathered around, I took a few sips of my water before explaining my plan.

"Alright we need to shake things up. Itachiyama is predicting everything we're doing. So my plan is to send Percephi in to replace me for a bit."
I scowled when I heard Tsukkishima snicker.
"Wow~ the King has finally put his pride aside."
"Shut your face four eyes." I sighed then turned back to the rest of the team. "Anyway, with the new signals we've discussed and practiced using with Percephi, hopefully Itachiyama will struggle to keep up with us and predict what we're going to do." I further explained.

"Yeah that makes sense. But why not use the super quick?" Marx asked.
"Good question. If we use it now it'll be too early and therefore render it helpless in the future sets when we need it most. This way by sending Percephi in, we can shake things up as well as help to rest myself to gain the best super quick Hinata and I can pull off."

"Holy crap you actually used your brain. Haha! I knew you had it in you." Hinata joked smirking as he jumped up and down.
"Shut up and save your energy boke. When the time does come to use it I need your fastest speed and highest jump."
"Gotcha baby~" Hinata winked.
"Hrk-" I froze and blushed hard covering my mouth.
"D-Dumbass-"
The rest of the team laughed but I guess it didn't matter. At least they were calm and collected ready for the game. Which was what we needed right now. We'd be useless if we were riled up and stressed. I knew that all too well-

But anyway, at the sound of the whistle signaling the end of the time out, I ran onto the court and awaited the right time to send in my first year replacement.

Eventually I was swapped out and I spoke to Percephi close to his hearing aid. "Make me proud." After he smiled and nodded I took his hearing aids from him as we practiced.
I knew he was nervous but this way we had a better chance of success. Sitting on the bench next to Ukai, I watched the first year run onto the court and take his position. He wasn't serving first so we were okay there. He was already in position at the front of the court by the net so hopefully this should ease him into his first real game.

"You sure taking those was a good idea Captain?" Ukai mumbled to me as the next serve was thrown and the set continued.
Clutching the hearing aids I smirked. "Absolutely positive."

Watching carefully, my grin never faltered. Our side of the court was silent now save for the sound of the volleyballs hitting skin and floorboards. Itachiyama's team was utterly baffled no longer going off voice signals to defend.
With Percephi now in play, our team was wracking up points left right and center. Watching my replacement closely, I watched his nerves melt into the wind as his grin became determined even each point they scored.
And eventually we won the third set. I never went back in during that set. I didn't need to. We did just fine.

As the teams exited the court with the score being 25-22 to us, I walked up to Percephi first. His hearing aids were in my pocket so I spoke in sign language to him a proud smile on my face.
"Congratulations Percephi. You did well out there. I'm proud of you." I signed to him.
I chuckled when I was attacked with a hug from him. Patting him on the back, he stood straight and I gave him his hearing aids back.
After putting them in he replied to me.
"Thank you Captain. That means a lot to me." He signed and spoke.

"No thank you. Without you we wouldn't have won that set." With that I bowed out of respect before standing straight as the team rushed forward to ruffle his hair and congratulate him too.

"Good plan Kags. How did you think of that?" Hinata spoke as he walked over to me and hugging me.
I hugged back of course.
"I'm not just a genius in bed Shouyo~" I whispered into his ear.
When he froze and blushed hard I snickered. "Ha payback boke!"
"Bakayama!!!!"
"What did you say to him to get him that flustered?" Rikiya asked as he walked over to me. Folding my arms I smirked.
"My best kept secret pal."

With that the whistle for the forth set blew and we made our way onto the court, myself going back on as the official captain and setter.
I hoped to god this would be the last set we'd have to do. If Karasuno won it then we'd win the game and the tournament all together.

Taking my place by the net for the starting position, I yelled out - "Alright! Let's make this the last set guys!"

"Right!" The team yelled back and the whistle blew signaling the first serve.
Itachiyama was serving first and Malo being our expert libero now, dug up with ease as he had the previous three sets.

"Nice receive!" I yelled as the ball came straight to me. Setting it with perfect precision I sent it straight to Rikiya - our tallest player and most powerful spiker. He was similar to Asahi save for his build. Instead of broad and muscular he was tall and strong. And as impressive as our old ace he powered a spike straight through Itachiyama's triple block.

"Nice kill!" The team yelled as the ball ricocheted off the opponent's floor.

And the set continued this way. Receive, set, spike and block. But it wasn't working now. They still had us figured out. We were starting to fall behind when the scores reached 18-14.
So I finally gave in. Grabbing Hinata's collar, I pulled him close and whispered into his ear. "It's time."
Hearing that he ripped himself from my grip and started jumping with glee.
"Really you mean it?!"
"Eeyup. Let's show Itachiyama the what for."
"Haha! Bring on your best set King Tobio!"
With a smirk, I nodded and the game continued.
Tsukkishkma served and Itachiyama obviously received. Their spikers weren't as powerful as ours so Malo easily managed to dig up the ball and send it straight to me.
"Shouyo!" I yelled, inhaling sharply when I saw him already high in the air before the ball even touched my fingers.

The light forced him to cast a silhouette and his position astonished me.

Setting the ball to him with the falling set, his perfectly smashed the ball on the other side of the court with extreme force, shocking out first years and the entire of Itachiyama's team.

As Hinata landed on his feet with his eyes shining, I felt my heart racing and my cheeks flush.

I think I've just fallen in love again~