𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖

xxxiii - second round outcome

"Well," Tsukishima deflected the comment. "No matter how you look at it, their blockers have singled you and Crow out, rather than me."

"I know," Asahi replied. "But that won't be a problem."

"Tanaka, nice serve!" The team called as Tanaka hit the ball over the net.

"Nice receive!"

"Nice spike Sasaya!" Date Tech cheered as the first point was scored for them. Thus, the ball switched hands and Karasuno went into serve receive with Crow being pushed up to the net by Kageyama as Asahi pulled back to pass.

"We're your average snotty delinquents when we're out of uniform," Futakuchi muttered to Aone as they stood together, ready to block anything that came their way. "We have to be good juniors for the duration of the match." No brows nodded in agreement.

"Kageyama!"

"HIIIIYYYYAAA!" Hinata went up to hit, only for it to be sent to Asahi on the outside. He got the point, hitting over one and a half blockers. Thus, Hinata went backrow to serve. When Date Tech attacked, Kageyama got a touch, which made it easier for Tanaka to get the ball up.

"Nice Tanaka!"

"Nice receive!" Kageyama lifted his hands as he positioned himself under the ball.

"I'm open!" Asahi called.

"Watch for number three!" Moniwa yelled as they triple blocked the ace. Kageyama let slip a smirk as he back set to Crow, who slammed it in the middle of the court so hard it bounced into the stands.

"WHOA DID YOU SEE THAT?!"

"THAT'S CROW-SAMA FOR YOU!"

"NICE KILL CROW-SAMA!"

"NICE KILL CROW-SAMA!"

"NICE ONE CROW!" Tenma waved from the stands, having been the one to catch the ball. The ravenette raised an eyebrow, so you finally showed. With that, he peaced at him before going and bringing it in with the team for a cheer.

"Way to go!"

"Now that's how you spread the ball around," Tanaka slapped the setter on the back with a laugh. "Using everybody as a decoy now, huh mister?"

"I guess so," He replied with a slight chuckle.

"Don't worry about it!" Moniwa encouraged on the other side of the net to his players. "We just need to keep our eyes open for all the possibilities!"

"Right!"

Soon enough, Hinata came back to the front row. "All right, bring it!"

"Nice serve, Tsukishima!"

"Nice receive!"

"One touch!"

"It's up! Nice going!" Tanaka yelled. "Kageyama cover!"

"Send it my way!" Hinata shouted as the setter ran towards the ball. Sending it right to him, the ginger got the point with not a single blocker to be found.

"YES!"

"Nice Hinata, Kageyama!"

"He's even faster when he's right in front of you," Kasasaki grumbled as he looked at the place the ball had landed for the point. "Is he a monster?!"

After a few more rounds of Hinata being the greatest decoy, Date Tech's coach called a time out with gritted teeth. "Yes!" Karasuno cheered, the score being ten Date Tech to thirteen Karasuno. After the time out, it was Hinata's serve.

"Hinata, nice serve!" The bench called as the ginger tossed the ball up and hit it over the net.

"Nice receive!" Date Tech said.

"I'm open!"

"YES!" The team cheered when they got the point from a block.

"Nice job Tsukishima," Crow complimented.

"Thanks," Was all he said in reply, but he nodded as well.

"Hey, Tsukishima," Asahi addressed as the ravenette moved away. "You know how you said it was your job to hold down the fort while Hinata is in the backrow?" He brought up his previous words. "It's pretty amazing to accomplish that against an opponent like Date Tech. I know that Hinata and Kageyama are pivotal to our current offense, but it's also vital to endure while that combination can't be used. It's just like having to receive to set up the spike even if you can't make the hit directly. Holding down the fort right now," His facial expression was serious as he went on. "Is directly linked to our victory."

With that said, the whistle was blown. Two more points were alotted to Karasuno before Date Tech got the ball back. It was Futakuchi's serve, so he top spin served the ball. "Sorry!" Tanaka apologized as his receive was a bit off. "Kageyama cover!"

"Got it!" The setter did as told.

"I'm open!" Asahi called with his hand in the air for a moment.

"Azumane-san!" Kageyama sent the ball to him.

"The left spiker's coming!" Moniwa yelled as Date Tech's blockers bunched together to mark Karasuno's ace. Right as he hit it, Aone moved his hands' positioning and blocked him. It was Date Tech's point, everyone thought. But no, Crow covered it and got it up nice and high.

"Kageyama!"

"Right!" He got under the ball as Crow darted for the other side of the court. Right then the Date Tech blockers were shifting to the sides, Kageyama set Tsukishima a quick and got the point.

"Good choice," Crow patted the setter on the shoulder as the team cheered.

"Thank you!" He smiled with a nod in return. So, at 22 Karasuno to 16 Date Tech, Crow went back to serve. It was no surprise to anyone that knew the ravenette's skill that he won the set with his top spin serves. From over on Aoba Johsai's court, a certain someone scoffed.

"He got it from me, guys."

"We know."

"Don't brag about teaching the competition, moron."

"So mean!"

The entire Karasuno team screamed in victory as the final point was assigned. Nishinoya sprinted over to Crow, intent on giving him a rolling thunder hug, but the ravenette was smart enough to gracefully dodge the oncoming assault.

After everyone calmed down enough to remember formalities, the two teams lined up on the end lines before the referee whistled, signalling for them to bow. "Thank you for the match!" The two teams echoed as the audience clapped. They then gathered at the net to exchange handshakes.

Right as the two teams were leaving, Aone stopped Hinata and offered him his hand with a pained scowl. The ginger looked confused at first, but he ended up shaking his hand. That is how Hinata and Aone became friends, and how Karasuno beat Date Tech in straight sets.