The Cat and the Crow

Vs. Shiratorizawa

[HE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN USHIWAKA!!]

[Kuroo, you created a monster]

[THEY BETTER REPLAY THE SHIT OUT OF THAT]

[Bokuto, you remember what you told him that night at summer camp?]

[YEAH. THAT WAS HIS MOMENT]

[Yeah. God, I wish I could be down there with him]

[Does he know you're there?]

[Not yet. I had to catch a later train, so I was late getting here]

[YOU SHOULD LET HIM KNOW]

[I will. Not exactly sure how. And I don't want him to lose concentration. He's into the game; now more so than ever]

[TIME-LAGGED CHEER]

[Pardon?]

[YELL SOMETHING AS SOON AS THE REST PAUSE OR STOP]

[That's... actually a pretty good idea]

[Even I'm amazed]

[AKAASHI!!]

When he'd arrived, he ran into the gymnasium, and looked for any familiar faces. He immediately caught sight of the Karasuno cheering section, and Akiteru was there in front, standing with Yachi, Tanaka's older sister, and the two guys who had supported the team from the start. Shimada and Takinoue, if he recalled correctly. Tetsuro laughed to himself, realizing he knew about as much about Karasuno as he did his own team.

"Friend of one of the boys down there?" the old man said from beside him.

"Tsukishima," Tetsuro answered. "The one who just shut down Ushiwaka."

"Yeah. The kid who's been conditioning himself to read block since the first serve."

"Has he?" Another reason to curse his lateness.

"Every time the ball goes up, his eyes never leave it, and he's aware of everyone's position on the court. That kill block wasn't just a spur of the moment thing. And it wasn't luck, either. He laid a trap for the Shiratorizawa setter to fall into."

"Wait. The setter? Not Ushiwaka?"

"Collateral damage, so to speak. Kei's been applying pressure in the form of one-touches and blocks," Akiteru said, glancing back at them. "Their setter finally cracked. His set was too low, but Ushiwaka went for it anyway. You saw the final result."

That he did. Akaashi was right; he may have created a monster blocker. And yet, he couldn't be more proud of Kei. Bokuto was right, as well; he needed to let Kei know he was here. Somehow. The timing needed to be perfect, but between both cheering sections, it would be difficult to make himself heard.

"So, who are you here for?" Tetsuro asked the old man. Apparently, he'd spoken loud enough that the four at the rail turned to look at him like he'd lost his mind. The old man also looked at him weird, but shrugged with a grin.

"I'm here to see how well the team has done since I left. My grandson is coaching them now."

"Kuroo, meet Coach Ukai, the former," Akiteru said, introducing them.

"Wait. No. Really?" Coach Ukai was a major player in the story of the Trashcan Showdown.

"You know me?"

"I know of you, sir. You and Coach Nekomata were rivals."

"Friends, too." Ukai added. "So, how do you know Nekomata?"

"Coach Ukai, meet Kuroo Tetsuro, 3rd year middle blocker for Nekoma High," Akiteru completed the introduction.

"If anyone could be considered a spy, Saeko, it'd be him," Shimada said slyly to Tanaka's sister.