𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖

xi - third set

"Oh, you're back Oikawa," The Aoba Johsai coach said once he saw who was behind him. "How's your leg?" He questioned.

"A-okay," The player held up his hand, putting his pointer and thumb together. "I can get back to regular practice. It was just a light sprain," Oikawa explained with a light smile.

"Sheesh. You should be more careful," The coach scowled. "We demanded that they play Kageyama, you know. It would be really cheap of us if we didn't play our own starting setter."

"I apologize," He rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish look on his face as some girls on the wrap-around squealed, so like the celebrity he was, Oikawa waved at them.

"Kageyama-kun," Tanaka looked ready to kill, his eyes buldging with anger and jealousy as he pointed to the new arrival. "Who's the pretty boy? He's really getting on my nerves."

"That's Seijou's captain," Kageyama told him, his eyes on said person. "Oikawa-san. He's a really aggressive setter, and I'm sure he's one of the best attackers on the team on top of that," He went on. "Also, he's a total jerk."

"That's scary coming from you!" Hinata squeaked.

"Might even be worse than Tsukishima."

"Sounds horrible..."

"You know the guy?" Tanaka questioned, his gaze on the new arrival. "Does that mean he's from Kitagawa first?"

"Hai," The first year confirmed his suspicions. "He was my senpai in junior high."

"Hey there," Oikawa had finally turned and saw the opposition appraising him. "Long time no see, Tobio-chan," He waved, smiling. "It's been forever. How's ruling your kingdom coming along?"

Kageyama ignored him in favor of turning to his teammates with more information. "I learned how to serve and block by watching him play," He informed them with a grave tone. "He's seriously good," The setter glanced at Hinata. "But stay focused on the match. We've gotta win this last set."

"G-Got it."

"Quit trying to scare him, Tanaka-san!" Kageyama warned as the man was making his usual faces at the new arrival.

"Anyway, go warm up," Seijoh's couch demanded of the setter. "And be more thorough than usual."

"Hai," Oikawa agreed, heading to do just that, but he took a moment to look back at the Karasuno team with a smirk.

"I seriously wanna kill him!"

~*~

The third set flew by, and it was finally Karasuno at set point with Seijoh at twenty. However, Kindaichi didn't let that phase him as he scored a point by aiming at Tsukishima, who was still in because he was serving. With that point, though, Crow switched in. Not only that, but Oikawa also did by subbing with Kunimi for the server's position.

"Give us a good serve, Oikawa-san!"

"You could have all the offensive power in the world," The pinch server mused, holding up the ball. "But it wouldn't mean a thing if you never got to attack." He pointed at Tanaka, who was in the back row at that moment beside Daichi who was in the middle back position.

And he served at him, the force of the ball causing the cueball to shank it. "From what I've watched, in this rotation," Oikawa smiled. "Number two is the worst receiver," He mused, turning and walking back with a new ball in his hands. "Another one coming right up."

Tanaka shanked it again, but out of nowhere, Crow came up under the ball and managed to get it to the middle of the court. "I got it!" Daichi sent over a chance ball, making it high enough so that Crow could get back in position. The attack that came after was good, so it got Seijou the point.

"Alright," Daichi spoke up. "Get back, all of you. Tanaka, get closer to the sideline, me and Crow will split the court."

"Hai," the second years agreed, doing as directed. Oikawa pursed his lips for a moment, but still went after the cueball. However, he got it up well that time.

"It's up!" Suga called.

"Oh, he recieved it, atta boy," The Seijou captain grinned. "Maybe I made it a bit too easy for him," He shrugged it off. "But this is our chance to score," The ball was an overpass, which gave everyone time to get in position on both sides. Crow's golden eyes glinted.

"A golden opportunity. Put it away guys."

"I got this!"

"Good job," Crow's lips upturned as Hinata got a hand on the hit, which allowed Crow an easier time, so he set it to Kageyama. Oikawa could do nothing but watch as the game-winning point was scored by Hinata with a freak slide quick. The referee blew the whistle and ended the game.

"Hell yeah!" Tanaka yelled right before the two teams lined up.

"Please give us your thoughts!" Karasuno's team bowed to Takeda, taking him by surprise.

"Something like a critique, sir," Suga whispered to him since he seemed confused.

"Oh, right," He glanced at him before gazing at everyone around him. "I still don't know much about volleyball," the advisor started out. "But even I could tell something incredible was going on here," He went on. "A new school year began, some great first years joined us, and things didn't go too well at first, but I think I realized something today: Alone, they might be nothing special, but when certain people come together, they form something far greater than the sum of their parts. Even as we speak, there might be encounters taking place that could change the world. It could be anywhere, like in a faraway country, or maybe on the other side of the earth. Or they could be taking place in the remote countryside of a tiny island country in the far east in the perfectly average volleyball team of a perfectly normal high school," He smiled. "Watching the match, I felt like something like that had happened at Karasuno. I have nothing to back this belief up, but I still think it's much better than not believing. I'm sure you guys will grow much, much stronger..." He finished.

Absolute silence.

"Sorry!" Takeda stammered. "Was that too flowery? Did you get weirded out?!"

"No of course not!" Daichi assured him instantly. "Thank you." He bowed, so everyone followed suit and echoed.

"S-sure.."

And thus, it was finally time to pack up and go home. Crow was definitely ready for another nap.