The Sun with A False Eternity

Let The Competition Begin!

 Kageyama jumped up and down, trying to get some more feeling into his legs. They had just about finished warming up, and it looked like Shiritorizawa's game was going to be over soon, just as Asahi had predicted.

"I'm so excited!" Hinata stood beside Kageyama, shaking his hands, emphasizing his statement. The two of them had run over their quick attack as many times as the captain would allow before the game began.

"Alright everyone line up!" Takeda shouted, drawing the attention of the entire team. They did as they were told, getting into formation and exiting the practice area to begin heading over to where they would be playing in their official match.

The gym was huge, with high ceilings and many rows of seats. There weren't a ton of people in those seats, but there were still enough to draw out another gasp from the middle blocker who walked behind Kageyama. The setter rolled his eyes but the small sound from the ginger made him feel more at ease. His anxiety about Hinata hadn't dropped since his visit to the hospital, and he didn't think it was going to change anytime soon. His nerves had gone down slightly every practice that his friend had proved that he was okay again, but he wasn't sure it would ever fully leave.

So when they split up in the gym while everything got set up, Kageyama kept his eyes on Hinata, who had gone over to talk to Yamaguchi but instead found himself next to Tsukishima. The setter watched as the teen animatedly talked to the other middle blocker about something. Hinata looked healthy enough. Nothing about him had changed drastically, other than him looking a bit paler than usual. But Kageyama simply chalked it up to the weather changes and moved on, still clinging to the fact that everything was going to be okay.

A few minutes later they were called to bow in, and they quickly moved to do so, getting into formation once again. Kageyama rhythmically went through the motions, hardly listening to anything that was going on around him.

Once all the formalities had been taken care of, Coach Ukai called them into a huddle one final time before the game started. "We're finally here. From further research, this team was one of the best at the Interhigh prelims. This may sound a bit scary, but I think it'll make for a more interesting match. So go out there and do your best, alright?" The coach waited until he saw the team nod. "Alright Asahi, you're up first. Get a good serve in, alright?"

Kageyama quickly headed out to the court, his heartbeat matching the squeak of his shoes hitting the ground.

Coach was right, we're here. He couldn't say for certain he knew exactly what it meant, but it reminded him that nothing else mattered at the moment. Nothing else matters right now but this game .

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"Nice receive Daichi!" Tanaka called out. Kageyama panted slightly, his eyes quickly flitting around the court, trying to find the ball. They were about fifteen minutes into the match, with a score of 10 to 10. The score was tied. Karasuno still hadn't used the main weapon in their arsenal, however.

There! Kageyama spotted the ball moving through the air, and without thinking twice about it he shifted his feet towards it. Is it time yet? Is he ready? No! No time to think about that. Hinata's got this. Kageyama sent the ball directly towards the tiny middle blocker who had already leapt off the ground without hesitation.

Will it make it? Was that good enough? Kageyama landed and turned quickly, then watched as the ball soared through the air and connected with the palm of the ginger teen. The ball slammed down on Johzenji's side of the court before the opposing team had time to react.

"ALRIGHT!" Hinata landed and raced towards Kageyama, a huge grin on his face. He looked out of breath and more flushed than usual, the excitement completely lighting up his face. He held his hands out for a high-five, to which Kageyama met with a little too much aggression, judging by the look of pain on the middle blocker's face.