"We would have more trouble if Hyakuzawa Yuudai was experienced in volleyball," (Y/N) said, leaning her chin against her hand. "Thankfully he's just a tall kid with no skills."

She watched as Noya received the ball and how when Hinata landed, he ran back.

'Well, this game-'

Kageyama jumped up, hands in the air as he set the ball to Hinata who had already jumped. The ball connected with his hand and was spiked onto the floor before anyone could move.

'-is already ours.'

"Looks like the updated freak quick is working."

"Updated freak quick?" Ukai laughed. "It's more like a Minus Tempo."

"Mhm." (Y/N) smiled, leaning back on the bench. "I can't wait to see how much everyone will improve, this year and the next."

(Y/N) was waiting outside with the others for Kiyoko and Hinata to come back, but she suddenly saw a familiar face. Walking past the Karasuno group was Terushima along with a few other members of Johzenji. The two made eye contact and he smirked, sending her a wink. Holding in a laugh, she winked back at him.

"Well then, it's about to get way harder from here," she said aloud and placed a hand on Kageyama's back. "Let's do our best, alright?"

Kageyama tilted his head, confused by her sudden words, but nodded nonetheless. "Osu."

Onto the playoffs they went.

A Saturday at the end of August...

"Hey Tsuki! How about blocking for me today again! Hey hey heeeey!" Bokuto shouted enthusiastically as his hands were spread out wide.

Tsukishima stood at the gym entrance with a deadpan as Kageyama and Hinata walked past him.

"Bokuto's taking an interest in some other school's first year."

"...Yes, if you'll have me," Tsukishima said after thinking for a moment.

His answer shocked everyone, even Bokuto himself. Hinata and Kageyama turned towards him in surprise and Bokuto was stunned into silence, jaw dropped with wide owl eyes.

"Why are you so shocked, you're the one who asked him," Akaashi blurted out, sweat dropping.

Chuckling, (Y/N) continued to carry the water bottles inside.

The different teams would spend months training together until their next playoff games, everyone improving little by little. Improving their techniques and skills, clearing their thoughts, fortifying what they needed to do.

And so, the months flew by, making it October already.

"Achoo!" Hinata sneezed, shocking Kenma and (Y/N) who were helping clean up the gym. "Nights are cold in Tokyo, too."

"If you don't put a jacket on before the sweat cools, yeah..." Kenma replied.

"You better take care of your health, Shoyo," (Y/N) scolded lightly. "It would be bad if you caught a fever before an important game."

"The big day's almost here!" he exclaimed and Kenma nodded.

Kenma looked down. "...That's true... Lately, I've been thinking..."

"About what?"

"You two are interesting," the second year admitted. "So I think I want to have a match with you and your team, for real. The sort of match where it's an instant game over if you lose."

"Let's do it." Hinata grinned. "A game where there's no second chance."

(Y/N)'s eyes widened at the change in Kenma's expression and smirked, heart beating in excitement. "A battle to remember... We'll take you up on that offer."

October 25, The Sendai City Gymnasium.

The Nationwide High School Volleyball Championship, also known as the Spring High, Miyagi Prefecture Representative Playoffs. A competition where 16 teams, comprised of the Interhigh Preliminaries' top 8 and the 8 victors from the first Spring High Preliminary, vie for the role representative spot in their prefecture.

"We're definitely gonna have our revenge," Hinata declared and his words seemed to motivate the others.

"Hoo..." Yamaguchi breathed out and suddenly, Hinata took off running.

"UOOOOOH!" This action shocked the others, but one other person was on him.

"You are not getting a head start on me, dammit!" Kageyama yelled, running after him with a scary face.

"Hinata and Kageyama really seem to act on reflex," Yamaguchi said exasperatedly.

"They're like insects," Tsukishima insulted.

"Nah, more like competitive guys who share a single brain cell," (Y/N) corrected.

Noya and Tanaka still laughed. "PFFFT!"

"Gwa!" Hinata suddenly yelled and everyone looked over to see that he let out that yell because the Johzenji High School team was in front of him, their yellow jackets standing out.

"Huh?" Terushima muttered looking over his shoulder before fully turning around. "Then that means..." He pushed Hinata away with one hand by the head as he used his other to wave, smiling. "Hey Glasses-chan! Be sure to tell me your number today, okay! And I see (Y/N)-chan too! Let's hang out again after this, alright!"

Kiyoko avoided eye contact, looking away towards the ground while (Y/N) merely smiled, waving back. Yachi was in shock while Tanaka and Noya stood beside her with blank expressions before a fire seemed to erupt behind them.

They charged before Daichi could stop them. "AH! HEY!""

Jumping in the air, they were about to tackle Terushima before the male was pushed by a brown haired girl. "P-Please stop that! ("Geh!") I-I'm sorry for his behavior!"

She bowed and the two stopped mid air, freezing.

"Ooh, they stopped."

"Wow, they froze in mid air."

"Awesome. Ryo would never believe me if I told him this." (Y/N) took a picture.

"Well then." Terushima turned around, putting his hands in his pockets. "See you in the first round."

Looking at the bracket, Kageyama saw Karasuno going against Johzenji. "So they were among the Interhigh Preliminaries' top 4, huh..."

"...Y'know what else, though?" Hinata suddenly said, making Kageyama look over his shoulder in confusion. "They're all here. Everyone."

They ran inside, shouting, "We'll beat them all!!!"

"They're certainly in high spirits..." Suga muttered, looking tired.

"And not jittery in the least as a result," Daichi added.

(Y/N) patted their backs. "They have grown up. I'm so proud, mom, dad."

She consequently earned a slap in the back of the head for calling Suga and Daichi, mom and dad.

Hinata frowned, looking at the door in front of him. '...I'm well aware that the toilet is where I always run into dangerous types! Careful... Careful...!'

"What're you doing?" a voice asked and he looked over to see Iwaizumi and Oikawa looking down at him.

"DAAH!" 'It's the Grand King and Seijoh's ace!'

"I heard you beat a 2 meter tall guy. Not bad," Iwaizumi complimented.

Hinata flinched, standing straight tensely. "Yes! Not at all!"

Iwaizumi raised a brow. "Which is it?" 

Oikawa looked evil as a dark aura surrounded him. "Seeing as this little guy becomes a real threat when it's game time, shall we bury him somewhere while we still have the chance?" he joked, but Hinata didn't take it as one.

"E-Excuse meeee!" he hollered, running away in fear as Oikawa smirked, laughing and Iwaizumi hit him ("Hey!"). Too bad he didn't get to run far as he ran into someone "Oof." Looking up, it was Ushijima. 'GYAAAH!!!'

"...Hinata Shoyo," Ushijima said. "...Plus Oikawa and Iwaizumi, huh."

The two Seijoh players scowled at the appearance of their  rival.

"What's with this timing?" Oikawa murmured.

"Like I'd know," Iwaizumi whispered back.

"...This is the final tournament for you two, isn't it? I wish you the best of luck," the male said.

"You reaaaaally piss me off!" Oikawa replied, an irk mark on his face.

"We'll be going to Nationals, so this won't be our last," Iwaizumi responded, just as pissed as an annoyed aura surrounded the two.

Ushijima blankly looked at them. "There's only one representative spot for the Nationals, though?"

'The way he says it without any ill intent pisses me off more than it should...!'

"What's going on?"

"Oh geez, it's Shiratorizawa and Seijoh... Is someone gonna lose it?"

"Who's that in the middle?"

"He's from Karasuno, that team who beat the 2 meter guy! Karasuno's #10!"

"That Karasuno first year is picking a fight with Seijoh and Shiratorizawa?! Wow!"

Suddenly, the girl's bathroom door opened behind Ushijima.

"Huh? Shoyo you picking a fight with Hajime-senpai, Touru-senpai, and Waka-senpai?" They all turned to see (Y/N), now standing behind Ushijima. "Oi." (Y/N) walked past the taller male and made it to Hinata's side, wrapping a hand around his shoulder to hold him close. "You guys better not be threatening my dear Shoyo."

"(Y-Y/N)!" Hinata exclaimed in shock.

"Hello (Y/N)," Ushijima casually greeted. "It's been a while."

"Yeah." She nodded back at him and looked at the two Seijoh players. "Yo."

"Hey." Iwaizumi put a hand up to wave and Oikawa just stood there.

It was kind of awkward for the male to say the least, especially after he went off on her a few months ago.

"Been a while Touru-senpai, how are you doing?" (Y/N) questioned, not a hint of hostility in her voice, which shocked him.

'She isn't mad at me??? I thought she would be cursing me or something... How can she greet me so casually?' Oikawa put on a fake smile, looking at her. "Yahoo~ It's been a while (Y/N)-chan. I'm doing good, how about you? I see that you got a haircut and are taller."

"Oh yeah." She absentmindedly twirled a strand of her shorter hair. "I needed a change, y'know. Can't let the past hold me down forever. You actually helped me out with realizing that."

"Uh? You're welcome?" Oikawa was confused even more. 'Did my words really affect her that much?'

Yes they did, Oikawa. Yes they did.

Meanwhile, Hinata and the spectators who were watching this were wondering how (Y/N) could casually talk to two powerhouse school players.

"Ka-Karasuno's going to be the win-" Hinata suddenly blurted out, but shrieked when the three turned to him with dark looks. "-EEP!" He put his hands out in front of him and took a step back. "Er... Well... I mean..." the ginger had bumped into someone else and turned around to see Aone. "Yeek?!"

Ushijima was the first to turn and walk away. "We will challenge all comers."

They all stared at him before Oikawa and Iwaizumi decided to leave as well, the ace nodding at (Y/N) and Oikawa sparing her a glance.

Now, that just left Aone, Hinata, and (Y/N). Aone was oblivious at what just occurred, but bowed to Hinata and (Y/N).

"Ah." They bowed back.

"Shoyo, just go to the bathroom now," the girl said. "I'll wait outside."

"Yeah..." Hinata pushed the door open. 'Man... The bathroom is a really scary place.'

Karasuno went onto the court after Date Tech won their game.

"Let's do this!" "Osu!"

"Let's enjoy ourselves," Terushima said, proudly wearing the #1 on his jersey. "More than anyone else here."

Johzenji jumped into the air, all excited. "YAAAHOOOO!"

"?!" The three coaches looked at them.

"There they are. The jamboree team, Johzenji!"

Third Match : Karasuno High School vs. Johzenji High School.

Somewhere else, a yellow haired teenager was looking at his phone, scrolling through a website.

"Hm... From what Momoicchi told me, (N/N)'s team will probably make it up to this round... So I'll buy a train ticket the day before that match and surprise her-ssu!"

"Are you buying a train ticket to see (Y/N)?"

Ryouta grinned. "Yep! I'm going to buy it for the-" he paused, whipping around in shock. "Eh?! Midorimacchi?! What are you doing here?!"

"I'm here to buy a lucky item." Midorima clicked his tongue. "They only sell it in a certain shop in Kanagawa. To think I'd be unlucky and meet you. Oha Asa was correct as always. Cancers have the second to worst luck today, Capricorns having the worst luck today. I don't understand how Gemini got the best luck today."

"Hey! You're hurting my Gemini feelings-ssu." Fake tears streamed down Ryouta's eyes and Midorima pushed his glasses up.

"Buy me a ticket as well."

"Eh?"

"Don't make me repeat myself, Kise." Midorima looked into his eyes. "Buy me a ticket to Miyagi too."

Looks like instead of one, two Generation of Miracle members would be paying Miyagi a surprise visit.

A/N : I'm sorry for such a short chapter, I've been so busy IRL now with school and everything that I haven't had any time to write. I promise that the next chapter will be longer and contain the Johzenji game + probs some of the next match. I'm going to be on my Spring Break now, so I'll def write when I can.

Anyways..... THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR 500K! I honestly don't deserve it, especially with how many errors and cringe I have in this book (in the beginning mostly). BUT THANK YOU! I never knew that so many of y'all would read this fanfic, but I'm flattered.