Another Manager (Akashi Seijuro x OC)

2.22 The Fight of the Previously Spineless

Reference:

Aoba Johsai Private High School (Seijoh):
Head Coach - Irihata Nobuteru
Coach - Mizoguchi Sadayuki
#1 Oikawa Tōru (Captain) - 3 - S
#2 Matsukawa Issei - 3 - MB
#3 Hanamaki Takahiro - 3 - WS / Outside Hitter
#4 Iwaizumi Hajime (Vice Captain & Ace) - 3 - WS / Outside Hitter
#6 Yahaba Shigeru - 2 - S / Pinch Server
#7 Watari Shinji - 2 - Li
#12 Kindaichi Yūtarō - 1 - MB
#13 Kunimi Akira - 1 - WS / Opposite Hitter
#16 Kyōtani Kentarō - 2 - WS / Opposite Hitter

Karasuno High School:
Coach - Ukai Keishin
Teacher Advisor - Takeda Ittetsu
Manager - Shimizu Kiyoko - 3
Manager - Akatsuki Ai - 2
Manager - Yachi Hitoka - 1
#1 Sawamura Daichi (Captain) - 3 - WS / Opposite Hitter
#2 Sugawara Kōshi (Vice Captain) - 3 - S / Pinch Server
#3 Azumane Asahi (Ace) - 3 - WS / Opposite Hitter
#4 Nishinoya Yū - 2 - Li
#5 Tanaka Ryūnosuke - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter
#6 Ennoshita Chikara - 2 - WS / Outside Hitter
#7 Kinoshita Hisashi - 2 - WS / Pinch Server
#8 Narita Kazuhito - 2 - MB
#9 Kageyama Tobio - 1 - S
#10 Hinata Shōyō - 1 - MB
#11 Tsukishima Kei - 1 - MB
#12 Yamaguchi Tadashi - 1 - MB / Pinch Server

***

Yamaguchi was not going to waste any more chances. He silently beseeched the coach to put him in again, because how effectively he served would determine if they could win or not.

But before that, it was Kyōtani's serve. It went through, making it 23-18.

Tanaka got up the next one, annoying the Mad Dog.
Ai could see the outline of Karasuno's facial expressions as they looked her way, and the crows cut off Kyōtani's serve turn.

Yamaguchi switched in for Hinata as Ukai pushed on the courageous player's back. The guys downstairs gave him encouragements. Some seemed more nervous than the pinch server.

From above, she noticed his companionable interactions with Hinata, as well as the praises from the other members. Ai chose to stay quiet, in case too much attention would make him more stressed. However, she wished him the best in her heart with a silent smile.

As the whistle blew and started the invisible timer on eight seconds, Yamaguchi took a deep breath. He threw the serve toss and hit the ball.

It flew all the way to the endline. It dropped within bounds; a no-touch ace.

"He did it..." Yachi gasped.

"Tadashi!" Saeko screamed.

"Nice serve!" Takinoue yelled down.

Just as Tsukishima had pointed out, in these five months, he had practiced serving more than anyone else. The compliment validated his hard work and strong will, and it made his accomplishment that much more valuable.

23-20.

As the first-year prepared for another serve, Ennoshita conversed with Sugawara. The previous captain's substitute suspected Yamaguchi was the kind of person who knew that it would feel worse after running away.

Ennoshita, Yamaguchi, and Ai had all felt the pain of running away: from ditching practice last year, from avoiding a jump serve in the game before, and from closing her heart from emotions.

"I'm pretty sure Yamaguchi feels that way, too." The second-year wing spiker smiled sentimentally.

Upstairs, Ai made a little note as a reminder to herself. In modern volleyball, the serve was a powerful attack that wouldn't get caught by the wall known as the block. Perhaps learning more serving strategies would help alleviate Hinata's fixation with tall, tall walls blocking his way.