𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖

xxxi - return of the freak quick

It was not Date Tech's day, it seemed, as point after point was given to Karasuno for stupid little mistakes like net touches on blocks or getting tooled, or even missing a serve. However, they were still master blockers that did not let those little things get to them. Instead, it seemed to have powered them up, and in turn they blocked any normal quick that Hinata would try.

"Kuso!" Hinata grit his teeth angrily after getting blocked.

"Don't fret," Kageyama told the ginger. "Focus on the next one."

"Huh?" Hinata looked confused at the certainty in his voice.

"We'll definitely score next time," The setter promised.

"We will?" He repeated, then brightened up with a gasp of realization. "Oh! Wanna go for it?" He started doing his hand gesture thing. "Is it time to do the zoom?!"

"It feels like it's been ages," Kageyama smiled with a hand on his hip. "I want you to use your fastest speed and best jump," He glanced at the opposition for a second before smirking at Hinata. "I'll bring the ball to you."

And that he did. Crow shook his head with a huff as the stands went wild. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

"Yeah!" Hinata beamed.

"Yes!" Kageyama grinned.

"Yeah Hinata!" Nishinoya shook him as the team gathered around.

"Muh man!"

"Good job," Crow said as he joined the group, offering a high five to the two first years. "Keep it up, that was slick."

"Thanks!" They exclaimed in return, both flushing slightly at the high praise from one who didn't praise highly often. And then, Hinata rotated to the back row and Tsukishima came in front row.

"Nice serve, Hinata," Crow tossed him the ball, which he caught.

"Hai!"

"Your highness, I'd like a set further back from the net," Tsukishima told Kageyama. "I don't want to be caught up by blockers."

"Hmph," the setter rolled his eyes, but the beanpole wasn't having it.

"Huh?"

"I said fine!"

"No, you obviously didn't."

"No fighting on the court, especially during a match," Crow sent a look at the two of them, causing shivers to run down their spines. "I get you don't like each other, but communication is key in every sport, including volleyball. Kageyama," The ravenette addressed the setter sternly. "Don't patronize your hitters for communicating with you."

"R-right," Kageyama hung his head slightly. "Sorry, I'll do better."

"That's all we can ask," Crow hummed, heading to his spot on the right side as the serve was hit, only for it to barely miss the ravenette's head as it went into the net.

"Ack, I'm sorry!" Hinata apologized as he made his way off the court to exchange with their libero.

"Dumbass! Hinata you klutzy piece of shit!"

"Shake it off!"

"I've got this!" Nishinoya grinned as he came onto the court for the receiving formation. Crow was pulled back to pass as Tsukishima was pushed up at the net by Kageyama.

"Aone, nice serve!"

"Noya!"

"Got it!" The libero received the ball, and Kageyama set Tsukishima, who got the point.

"That was a normal set," Futakuchi pointed out to Aone, who nodded.

"Was the last one a fluke?" Moniwa questioned out loud. "Or is number ten the only one who can do it?"

With that, it was Crow's turn to serve. Glancing at Keishin to see if he had an opinion on which serve he used, he found that the man was mouthing 'topspin' so that is what the ravenette went with. He tossed it up, did his approach, jumped, and hit it. Easy ace.

"WHOA!!!" The team cheered. "NICE ONE CROW!"

"Crow-sama is so awesome!"

"He's a dual wielder too!"

"How cool!" The crowd exclaimed.

"We got the next one," Date Tech reminded themselves, so with a nod, they got ready for the next serve.

And the next serve.

And the next serve.

Until finally, after four free points for Karasuno, Date Tech finally got the ball up and scored. "What a wicked serve!"

"I can't wait to see Crow-sama serve again when he rotates around!"

"Me too!"

"Alright, let's get it back!" Karasuno got ready to receive the ball. Crow glanced at Kageyama, and saw he was signalling for a backrow attack. Subtly nodding, the ball was soon served over and Nishinoya got it up. Tsukishima went for a quick as Asahi waited on the outside, but it went to Crow in the back row.

Because it was a semi-high set, Date Tech reacted and jumped to block. That just gave the ravenette a chance to tool the block and get the point. "Right on Crow!"

"Nice set," Crow commented to the setter, who nodded to him in return.

"Thank you, nice kill."

The team rotated, meaning that it was Asahi's serve. When the whistle was blown, he hit it over and Date Tech got it up. It ended up as a kill from Futakuchi, so the score turned to six Date Tech to ten Karasuno. The ball switched hands at the next point, so Hinata returned to the court.

"We're going in for another one," Kageyama told Hinata, who nodded.

"Right!"

Thus, the ball was served over, but it was a tape ball so it sort of dribbled over. Luckily, Nishinoya was there and got it up just barely in time. The ball was off, around the fifteen foot, which made the setter run for it. At first glance, anyone would think Kageyama couldn't give Hinata the freak quick from that positioning, especially since he wasn't facing him.

Anyone who thought that had underestimated Karasuno's setter, because that was exactly what he did, and Hinata killed it and added another point to the team's score. "Right on!" Kageyama fist pumped himself.

"Nice one Hinata, Kageyama," Crow gave them a thumbs up, and they grinned in response.

"Thank you senpai!"

"Please don't call me that, Tanaka and Noya will get jealous."

"Wha-- We will not!"

"Oh," Crow glanced at the up ref as a time out was called. "Wow, okay then," He muttered, sauntering off the court as the starters joined him, making their way to the bench to regroup. "Date Tech is flustered, but it won't stay that way for long," The ravenette warned as he took a sip from his water bottle. "We need to take advantage of this."

"I'm right there with ya," Keishin agreed with his hands on his hips. "But don't focus on their side, remember that we have to take care of our own problems before we think of others," He reminded the team. "So far, we haven't been making too many mistakes, so keep going like this and we're golden."

"Yessir!"