𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖

xliv - do your thing

"Got it!" Nishinoya called as he received the ball.

"Nice receive!" Kageyama got under the ball as Hinata went for another broad. Crow's eyebrow went up. No one was trying to block him.

"Alright, hit it unmarked, Hinata!" Tanaka grinned as the ginger jumped to hit. However, he got dug by the libero like it was a piece of cake. And then, of course, Oikawa setter dumped and got the point.

"You've thought up a good strategy, Oikawa," Crow hummed as he headed to defense.

"It's easy to contain a small fry like chibi-chan over there," The setter smirked in turn as he also headed back. "Now if you don't give us any trouble, we'll be golden."

"Keep dreaming," The ravenette muttered as the referee signalled for the serve. It was Oikawa's serve, and he managed to get a tape roller. "That was bound to happen sooner or later," Crow reminded his teammates. "Shake it off and let's focus on getting this next one."

"Right!" They agreed. The next rally was intense, neither side willing to let the other gain the momentum. However, at the moment of truth, Hinata got blocked and the rally ended with the two teams tied at 19s. Before they could go for another round, Keishin called for a time out. He looked extremely tense, like they were five points behind instead of tied.

Crow kicked him.

"Unless I'm on the ground," He started off as his cousin cursed him out. "You can set to me anytime. I can't guarantee that I'll score, but," He shrugged. "It's pretty damn close. However, don't force a set. Nothing good can come out of getting called on a double, so just take it slow and easy. We're doing fine, but we can't start panicking like this one."

"DAMMIT CROW STOP BEING SO DAMN INFURIATING!"

"You're making it too easy," The ravenette sighed. Soon, the time out ended and everyone was back on the court. The next point was given to Karasuno after Seijoh got in the net for a block, which meant that Hinata was now in the back row.

Crow suddenly got the shivers. As the whistle was blown for a substitution, he found out why. Yamaguchi was holding Hinata's number, meaning he was going to be pinch serving. "Oh boy," The ravenette grimaced at the look on the poor boy's face. "Keishin you sadist."

"Yamaguchi, nice serve," Hinata took his number tag out of Yamaguchi's hand. "But you won't beat me!"

"Yamaguchi!" Keishin called, drawing the first year's attention. "Go change the momentum."

"H-hai!" He said before turning back to the court. Tentitively, he stepped beyond the line. Crow could see how much of an effect that one action had on the boy, seeing how much he was shaking and how his eyes were darting around.

"Way to score a huge promotion, Yamaguchi!" Tanaka grinned.

"Take it easy and do your thing," The ravenette nodded to him with a thumbs up.

"Nice serve."

"N-nice serve," Asahi looked like he was mirroring Yamaguchi's feelings of nervousness. "T-Take it nice and easy now."

"Come on you big baby," Crow patted the ace on the back. Then, glancing back at the first year, he gestured for him to head back to the end line. "Go give it your best."

"H-hai!" He scampered to do so, and was given a ball.

"Hey, Yamaguchi!" Suga called. The entire bench was posing.

"Serve up a nice one!"

Yamaguchi nodded to them before bouncing the ball a few times, only for it to land on his foot and bounce away from him so that he had to chase it down. Crow bit his lip, this is so nerve racking and awkward. Finally, the whistle was blown and the ball was tossed up. A jump floater, huh? Crow hummed to himself as the boy hit the ball, only for it to hit the tape.

Oh well.

The two teams were tied at 20s now. "I-I'm sorry." Yamaguchi hung his head. Crow ruffled his hair a second later, causing him to jerk away.

"You did good. Asahi's serve went under the net in his first official match."

"CROW YOU CAN'T JUST BRING THAT UP OUTTA NOWHERE LIKE THAT!"

"Core memories are core memories," He told the ace with a slight smirk before returning his gaze to the first year. "Besides, thanks to you, I'm sure everyone is less tense. Good job, Yamaguchi."

"I..." He looked like he wanted to cry, but instead just bowed and ran to the substitution spot as Hinata held up his number. I've done all I can, Crow told himself as he got ready for the receive. Now it's up to him whether he'll crumble or rise from this experience.

"Wow, it's like I've been relieved of the worst stress of the day," Tanaka blinked a few times.

"Same here," Asahi agreed with a confused but relieved look on his face. The next point was taken by Tanaka as the libero shanked his spike.

"ALRIGHT!"

"Nice kill."

The rallies got longer, and the exhaustion was building up with each one. Both teams were panting with sweat running down their bodies, their muscles begging for rest that they would not, could not give. Seijoh pulled ahead somehow, now at 23 to 21. Tsukishima diminished the gap by one, only for Aoba Johsai to take it back.

Match point.

Makki hit it out. "Alright, let's catch up."

"YEAH, DON'T BE INTIMIDATED!" Nishinoya yelled. "Let's throw ourselves into it!" He grinned, just as tied as everyone else, but still just as fired up. It was Kageyama's serve, which Kunimi got up. It got through, but Asahi refused to let it hit the ground.

However, the ball sailed towards the net, its trajectory that of an overpass. Crow wasn't going to let that happen. "KAGEYAMA!" He shouted as he jumped at the same time as Oikawa, who was planning on trying to block it. Both setters' eyes widened.

Hinata was ready for it. He was already jumping. However, he wasn't the one to get that set.

As soon as Kageyama's name had left the ravenette's mouth, every muscle in Kageyama's body knew what to do. They had never once practiced this. However, both him and Crow could feel the energy between them, and their chance of success.

There was no hesitation. He placed his trust in the second year and jumped from right behind the ten foot line, soaring forward.

The ball landed right on the back line of Seijoh's court, and the line judge's flag snapped down to signal it in. Everyone on the court could barely believe their eyes: Karasuno's setters had just pulled off a freak quick.