𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖

xxxv - reviewing

"Takeda-sensei!" Another faculty member called from inside the school as the team unloaded the bus. "The volleyball team is on TV!"

"On TV?!" Tanaka, Noya and Hinata all gasped. "EXCUSE US!" They yelled as politely as possible as they stormed into the office to watch the news section of sports, the others following much less rowdily after.

"Rounds one and two of the National Interhigh Volley Preliminaries for Miyagi Prefecture were held today," The news anchor told the camera.

"It's on!" Nishinoya grinned.

"TV!" Hinata mirrored him.

"The teams in each district played matches that were thrilling to watch," The anchor went on.

"This is just the local news," Tsukishima deadpanned at the three huddling around the TV like it was a god.

"URUSEI!" Tanaka snapped immediately.

"TV IS TV!" Nishinoya agreed just as heatedly.

"Champion ace, Ushijima Wakatoshi, led his team to victory in Block one, giving Shiratorizawa Academy its first victory," She continued. "The score against opposing team Ougi South High were 25 to 10 in set one and 25 to 6 in set two," The anchor announced. "They won by a landslide, never losing the advantage. They proved they were worthy title-holders."

"25 to 6?" Asahi's eyes bulged slightly. It sounded unreal.

"Will the title holders easily secure their ticket to nationals like last year?" She asked as a picture of Ushiwaka and one of his teammates crossed the screen. "Or will a team appear to challenge and stop them? They're the team to watch," She smiled before moving on. "Now, the next player to watch for is in Block A."

"That's the gymnasium we played in today!" Hinata exclaimed excitedly as Tanaka gripped the side of the TV, the three gremlins still beaming at the device.

"The must-watch player is Aoba Johsai High School's team captain, Oikawa Tooru-kun," Immediately upon revelation, Tanaka sneered as Nishinoya scowled and Hinata looked disappointed. "His flamboyant looks garner him many female fans. He's the player with both popularity and talent," She explained. "And playing against Aoba Johsai tomorrow is the team that defeated Date Tech in straight sets, despite all indicators that Date Tech would make the quarterfinals: the verteran team, Karasuno High."

"We'll be on TV?!" The three brightened instantly at the possibility, only for the screen to morph to an interview with Oikawa, causing their expressions to revert back to their extremely angry and disappointed origins.

"We asked him for his impressions of his opponents for the third round, Karasuno high," The news anchor explained before the recorded Oikawa went on to explain just that.

"They're a good team, especially their setter and right side spiker," He smiled. "I hope they'll come at us with everything they've got and fall to pieces."

"We can look forward to another exciting match tomorrow!" She said as the faculty room filled with tension from the blatant slander. "We all want him to do his best. Coming up next is the weather."

"Th-the match was shown for a second at the start of the broadcast!" The faculty member that had called them in tried to explain himself. "You all looked great!"

"Thank you sensei," Daichi replied solemnly.

"Oh, uh.." The air in here hasn't gotten any less thick! The poor teacher sweatdropped, not sure what to do.

"Okay then," Daichi turned, everyone looking murderous as they walked out the door, "Let's get started."

"GET WHAT STARTED?!" The poor faculty member was going to have a heart attack at this point.

"O-OUR MEETING!" Takeda assured him.

"Today's match against Date Tech," Keishin started off once the team was in the gym. "Was the proverbial first sip of beer!"

No one in the gym had a clue what he was going on about, and their faces reflected that.

"That first sip of a beer has a unique flavor!"

"Ukai-kun," Takeda stopped him right there. "Please talk about things that minors can understand."

"Huh? Oh," He realized where he'd gone wrong, so he cleared his throat before crossing his arms again. "So, by using the Date Tech match to debut the deviant fast attack, we were able to take our opponent by surprise. But since we've played Seijoh once before, they already know most of what's inside our bag of tricks besides Crow," He explained. "Keep in mind, however, that you definitely have good offensive power. We need to start by enduring that serve Oikawa does. Having that serve control the match's momentum is the worst and most likely pattern."

Moving to the board, he began explaining his thoughts a bit more. "So as you know, our current formation is based on everyone except the setter or the person the setter is pushing up going after serves. But for this match," He moved back so his players could see what he'd just written. "Our middle blockers, Hinata and Tsukishima, will not take part in receiving serves and will focus entirely on attack. Also, instead of pushing up, Kageyama will be pulled back, so more work for you."

"Not a problem."

"Glad to hear it," The coach smirked before getting serious once again. "One other thing. When you watched Seijoh play, you were thinking Crap, they're too tough, weren't you?" The team flinched, knowing he was right. "But let's just say, for example, we were watching our own match against date Tech as spectators. We'd think What kind of block is that?! It scares me! There's no chance in hell! We'd freak out, right?" He reiterated. "But we fought them and won. And we'll do the same tomorrow."

"Yeah!" The team cheered, Hinata and Nishinoya bouncing around like kangaroos.

"Okay," Keishin brought them back down to earth. "Let's quickly run through the formation!"

"Yessir!"

Meanwhile, Crow was out with an old acquaintance after having left the house for a walk. "So you're advancing as well," The ace said as they walked side by side.

"So it seems," Crow shrugged.

"You don't look very confident."

"Because I'm not."

"That's not like you," His eyes narrowed.

"I haven't played Oikawa at full strength. I haven't played him with his team. There are a lot of factors that go into a volleyball match, as you know," The ravenette sighed as he ran a hand through his loose hair. "Honestly, from where I'm standing, it's a fifty-fifty shot."

"Oikawa may be an exceptional setter and overall player," The man replied. "But you have those same talents. While you are not as tall as him--"

"Sounding like Washijo there dude--"

"-Your explosiveness makes up for it," He gave the ravenette a look. "You jump higher than I do--the tournament favorite--block better than Date Tech, receive better than most liberos, have a serve that matches Oikawa's,  and you're a phenomenal setter as well," Ushijima Wakatoshi told him. "So don't sell yourself short. The only way you have set yourself up for failure is by not coming to Shiratorizawa."

"Ah, and there it is," Crow chuckled, shaking his head. "I told you, the only reason I chose Karasuno was because it's mascot was crows. There's nothing you really could have done, unless you changed your mascot from eagle to crow, which would make no sense."

"...Fair enough," The ace sighed. "But still, you have to win your way to play us, Crow."

"Don't worry," He hummed as they turned the corner onto his street, his eyes glimmering as they passed under a streetlight. "All of my doubts are long gone."