Final Score:
[Aoba Johsai 25 – 20 Nekoma][Aoba Johsai 25 – 20 Nekoma]
With a 2–0 victory, Aoba Johsai defeated Nekoma and advao the round.
"Man, both sets ended with the exact same score," Kuroo Tetsurō muttered wearily, staring at the scoreboard. "Even though we gave everything we had in the sed set, we still couldn't close the gap, huh?"
"I guess that just highlights the differeween us," Kai Nobuyuki said, patting Kuroo on the shoulder.
Kuroo let out a sigh. "I'm not sure if it was lucky or unlucky that Karasuno didn't run into Aoba Johsai during their prefectural qualifiers..."
Looking at Aoba Johsai, he couldn't shake the feeling that this team was aiming straight for the national championship.
That unwavering vi in their eyes, the sheer certainty that they would keep winning—it was almost terrifying.
Yaku Morisuke still hadn't fully processed the match. "It's over? It doesn't even feel real…"
Nearby, Kozume Kenma colpsed onto the floor, pletely drained.
"…I'm probably gonna have a fever when I get home," Kenma thought to himself, resigned.
"Kenma!" Kaedehara Taichi jogged over and crouched beside him. "So, how does it feel to lose this time?"
"Do you have to ask so soon…?" Kenma groaned, his face full of reluce.
"Well, I wao hear it straight from you," Taichi grinned. "So? Frustrated?"
Kenma gnced around at his teammates—the self-reproachful Lev Haiba, the determined-looking Yaku, and Kuroo, who would never have another pete alongside them in an official match.
But in the end, none of that really affected Kenma's core belief.
He was only ied in what he found iing. That was all.
"…Yeah, I'm frustrated," Kenma admitted. "But I still have two more 'revival' ces, right?"
year's Interhigh and Spring Nationals.
"Of course." Taichi's eyes curved into a smile.
Kenma turned his gaze toward Oikawa Tōru in the distance.
"When you lose yreatest on," he murmured, "I'll e back with an upgraded version of mine."
Taichi also shifted his gaze to Lev Haiba.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
-----
Since Aoba Johsai had a bye in the first round, they hadn't pyed a mat Day 1.
Now that today's game against Nekoma had eomorrow marked the infamous "Demonic Third Day".
"Huh? That soon?" Kindaichi Yūtarō looked pletely baffled. "We just pyed och, and now it's already the third day of Nationals?"
"…Didn't we lose and go home ohird day st time?" Kindaichi added absentmindedly—until he suddenly felt a dozen murderous gres directed his way.
"…Huh? Did I say something wrong again?" Kindaichi scratched his head and looked toward Kunimi Akira.
Kunimi, who hadn't pyed in today's matd was in a good mood, absolutely refused to let Kindaichi ruin it.
Expining things would be too much of a hassle, so he simply ducked behind Yahaba Shigeru without a word.
Realizing he wouldn't get ahere, Kindaichi turo the ever-reliable Kaedehara Taichi.
Too te.
"Kindaichi, didn't we agree that if you said something stupid again, you'd be punished?" Oikawa Tōru smirked. "Tomorrow m, bring me milk bread."
"Ah—then I want ramen," Matsukawa Issei immediately chimed in.
"I'll take a croissant," Hanamaki Takahiro followed up.
"Oi, this is just bullying!" Iwaizumi Hajime spoke up, pretending to defend Kindaichi.
"Oh, no worries. The hotel we're staying at has all these things," Kindaichi replied early.
"Oh, then I'll have tamagoyaki," Iwaizumi added swiftly before rejoining the group of third-years.
Kaedehara Taichi: "..."
Would it be too much to ask him t two extra rice balls?
-----
As Aoba Johsai exited Court E, they ran straight into their oppo—Inarizaki.
And that recisely why Kindaichi's jinxed ent had earned him so much punishment. This time, Aoba Johsai had to faarizaki a full round earlier than they had in the previous tour.
"Taichi! You guys finished your match pretty fast, huh?" Miya Atsumu greeted them with an easygoing smile.
Thanks to the twins' differing hair colours, it was easy to tell Atsumu apart at a gnce.
But more importantly, after their st enter, Aoba Johsai had developed a very distinct impression of him—a familiar, aggravatiion.
"This guy…isn't he just another Oikawa Tōru?"
A powerful serve, a pinpoiing, and an absolutely insufferable personality.
Yes, the biggest differeween those two and any other setter was undoubtedly their awful personalities.
"Miya-senpai," Kaedehara Taichi stepped forward, smiling brightly. "What a stroke of luck to run into you so soon."
"Oh?" Atsumu narrowed his eyes. "I thought you'd rather face us in the finals. The semis at the very least—wouldn't that be more exg?"
"Exg? I'm sure it'll be thrilling for you, Senpai," Taichi replied. "But for me, meeting Inarizaki in the round is perfect. Any ter, and it just wouldn't feel quite as satisfying."
"…Hmm?" The Inarizaki pyers all turheir attention to Taichi.
What seemed like a casual versatioween Atsumu and Taichi had suddenly pulled both teams into the tension.
"Does Senpai remember?" Taichi tinued. "Last time, we faced off in the quarterfinals, and after losing, Aoba Johsai only mao p the nation's top eight." His tone grew oddly sharp.
"Nope. Don't remember." Atsumu shrugged. "I don't care about a loser's ranking."
"Hmm...That's fiaichi's smile didn't waver. "I'm sure Senpai will remember tomorrow—when Inarizaki finishes as one of the nation's Top 16."
Taichi met Atsumu's gaze, pletely unfazed.
For a moment, the air turned razor-sharp. The Inarizaki pyers' eyes gleamed dangerously, log onto Taichi like a pack of predatory foxes.
But before things could escate further, Oikawa Tōru and Iwaizumi Hajime casually stepped up behind Taichi, fnked by the rest of Aoba Johsai. Even Kindaichi could feel the tension in the air.
A battle was about to break out.
Atsumu chuckled. "You've got a sharp tongue. More eaining than Tobio-, at least."
"But in the end, it all es down tth. Who goes home first?"
"That's true." Taichi's smile olite as ever. "I'll make sure to etch the matto Senpai's memory forever."
"…Damn brat," Atsumu muttered, irritated.
Had he just gotten mocked using Inarizaki's own motto?
"We don't need memories"
Damn it. And the worst part? Aoba Johsai's motto—"Rule the Court"—really did sound cooler.
Atsumu frowned. Something had definitely gone wrong in that exge.
"…Aran, isn't that kid your rival?" Miya Osamu muttered. "Go say something intimidating."
These twins would choose to present a united front at times like these, but weren't they the ones responsible for this se? Aran thought to himself.
Was this really his moment to be menag?
Just as Ojiro Aran took a step forward, he heard—
"Ojiro-senpai," Taichi greeted him with a bright smile. "I've been looking forward to fag you—after all, I want to take on all of Japan's Top 5 Aces."
"...Oh." Aran hen stepped back
_________
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