Karasuno's Mangers: Little Ukai and The Runaway

40: The Benefits of Eating Kiwano

On the last day of the training camp, the alumni came together to play a practice set against some of the current third years.

"Are you ready, Bokuto?" Kuroo grinned as he draped an arm over his friend. "We've got Sugawara as our setter, so don't be going easy just because your favourite setter's on the other team."

"I'd never!" he gasped. Bokuto then turned to Yaku. "We have nothing to fear because our team has the greatest libero!"

"Don't make me blush," he scoffed. "The other team has strong floor defence too. Still, with me and Daichi's steady receives together, I think we'll get a strong start."

Daichi smirked and slapped Asahi's back. "You're not nervous, are you, Ace?"

"Don't say that, Daichi! Bokuto's on the team, he's the ace!"

"And you're still a timid little pushover," Sugawara rolled his eyes.

On the opposite end of the court, Akaashi eyed their opponents. He had been dubbed the captain of the team because no one else volunteered. "We have to watch out for Bokuto's cross-court spikes."

"I'll make sure to tighten his cross-courts if our libero can back me up for his straights."

Nishinoya gave the second-year blocker from Fukurodani a thumbs up. "I've got your backs, not to worry."

"I'm pretty confident with my back attacks, so if I could hit a few of those, Akaashi?"

"Sure, Tanaka," he agreed, "and we'll have Tora and Ennoshita spiking from the front."

"We're gonna win this, regardless of them being our upperclassmen," Tora cheered.

Ennoshita frowned, "With Bokuto, Asahi and Kuroo on offence and Daichi and Yaku on defence, I highly doubt it. But points for participation, right?"

Emiko had been listening on the conversation. She shrieked from her spot as the referee and leaned over the net. She took the whistle out of her mouth and pointed at Ennoshita. "What was that Captain? Stop being such a downer. You're jinxing yourselves."

"We're not going to win," he deadpanned. "You haven't seen them play before. They're amazing."

"With me as the ref, you will win."

"She's going to cheat," Mirae frowned. "Emiko get down from there you can't be a referee if you won't be impartial."

"I am impartial," she snapped, then added in a low mutter, "impartial and in favour of Team Ennoshita."

Mirae pinched her nose because she heard every word. "Get down from the ladder before you fall over again. You're not even the referee, Kageyama is."

"Whatever, I'm keeping the whistle."

She ignored his hands and nearly broke her ankle trying to get down.

The set would be played up to 25 points. It was a friendly game between friends, a way for them to hangout and forget the troubles of exams.

After multiple services aces, exceptional receives, targeted blocks, and powerful spikes the scoreboard read 25:20. The alumni had won.

Everyone helped clean the gym for the final time. They reorganized the storage rooms and cleaned the equipment. The sun was beginning to set when the new found friends said their goodbyes and piled into their buses.

Karasuno's team stood before their alumni and bowed in thanks.

"You've got a great team," Daichi smiled. "The third years are dependable, the second years are confident, the first years have a strong drive." He glanced at the three girls who were listening with tearful looks, "and dedicated managers. You guys can make it to nationals again, I know it."