I'm only a weakling | haikyuu

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝘄𝗼: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲

Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless, 

there is no intelligence where there is no need of change.

➶➶➶➶➶

23–23.

That feeling of the game inching closer with each point was... uncomfortable.

In the stands, the older man who'd been commenting loudly throughout the match now sat in silence beside Hibari, who was bundled up in his usual disguise. With hands clasped in front of his mouth, the older man watched the tense game, deep in thought.

Though Karasuno's score was neck-and-neck with Shiratorizawa's, he could see that Shiratorizawa wasn't yet fighting tooth and nail. Meanwhile, Karasuno was clearly pushing hard, just to keep up. Even so, he was impressed that Karasuno had managed to bring the game to this level.

There was no denying it, Karasuno's current strength couldn't be underestimated.

But despite this acknowledgment, his expression remained serious. Deep down, he knew that if Shiratorizawa only had Ushijima, Karasuno's chances would look different. But this Shiratorizawa wasn't just a team built around Ushijima's powerhouse offense; they also had an even more challenging "monster".

Unlike Ushijima's straightforward power, your style was trickier, requiring opponents to have not only raw skill but also rock-solid mental composure and emotional control.

But judging from what he was seeing now...

The older man's mouth lifted into a slight smile behind his hands, his face still stern, though he couldn't quite hide the surprise in his eyes.

It seemed that Karasuno wasn't fazed by your mind games. Their libero wasn't intimidated by your targeting, and their Ace never hesitated to go for the spike, even with you in his way. And that small middle blocker of theirs—even after being blocked, he could still laugh.

In the face of your tactical strength and experience, Karasuno's attitude was something he'd rarely seen.

In a way, Karasuno was like the perfect counter to your style.

It seemed that they wouldn't be called "the flightless crows" for much longer. Instead, they might gain a new reputation for holding their own against you.

'Even if they lost this match...'

'No.'

'At this point, who could really say how it would end?'

➶➶➶➶➶

'Will this bait work?'

On Shiratorizawa's side, the players began to look uneasy as the match tightened. If, at the beginning, they had been strategizing out of respect for your admiration of Karasuno, now they were thinking purely from necessity.

They were starting to feel just how tough Karasuno could be.

This hit home most clearly when Nishinoya took on the role of setter, catching them off guard and helping Karasuno win a crucial set point.

Ohira stared, stunned, at the ball that had just flown out of bounds. For a libero to suddenly set... while it was possible, it was hardly a typical move to make at such a critical moment. 'Isn't that a bit too risky?'

Even with you on the team, giving Shiratorizawa more adaptability than before, there was still a gap. Compared to Karasuno, where each player brought unique, unpredictable strengths, Shiratorizawa's lineup was more straightforward.