"Hmm? ging the course of destiny?" Kaedehara Taichi's mind raced as he processed the situation. Could his presence have altered the world's trajectory?

  Refleg on the inal storyline, Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio's 'Freak Quick' was indeed a nearly invincible move at first. However, during a training match against Nekoma, their defensive ace, Inuoka Sō, mao partially ter Hinata's attacks.

  In the inal timelihe "Freak Quick" remained Hinata's trump card until the Inter-High quarterfinals. After their loss to Aoba Johsai, Hinata began expl ways to evolve his pystyle during the training camp.

  Now, with Asahi Azumane missing, Hinata bore the brunt of Karasuno's offen this training match. Ryunosuke Tanaka struggled to alleviate the pressure, allowing Taichi to almost perfectly ralize Hinata's performance.

  This forced Hinata to realize early on that he couldn't rely solely on the 'Freak Quick.' The 'Crows' evolution was accelerating ahead of schedule.

  inally, the pn was to help Aoba Johsai gain fidehrough a training match victory. Instead, this seemed to have catalyzed Hinata's growth, making it even harder for Aoba Johsai to defeat Karasuno iure.

  Still, seeing a stronger Hinata Shoyo earlier than expected filled Taichi with excitement. Besides, he'd snagged a Hinata Shoyo pyer card. Totally worth it!

  "Taichi, why are you grinning like a creep?"

  "Ahem, no, I'm not…" Taichi quickly adjusted his expression.

  "Taichi, thank you…" Kindaichi approached him. To others, this might have been an ordinary training match, but for Kindaichi, it held special significe.

  "Kindaichi, we won because of my serve, you know," Oikawa Tooru interjected with his trademark smug grin.

  "If you'd started the match, we wouldn't have struggled so much!" Iwaizumi Hajime unched a volleyball at Oikawa's head.

  "How could you! Iwa-, I'm still rec! Stop hitting me!"

  "Kageyama-kun," Oikawa teased, turning to the stoic first-year, "you've grown taller since we st met. But just so you know, I'm still better."

  Kageyama's eyes narrowed. Without a word, he grabbed Hinata, who had been staring bnkly nearby. "With the two of us, we won't lose."

  "Is that so? Well, you're not the only ones with strong first-years." Oikawa motiooward Taichi, who was stretg on the sidelines while mung on a snack. "Oi! Taichi! Say something intimidating!"

  Taichi rolled his eyes. How childish.

  Unbothered, Oikawa shifted his focus to Kindaichi, who eventually caved under his captain's intense gaze. Turning to Kageyama, Kindaichi decred, "ime, the victory will still be ours."

  After Karasued, Oikawa, Taichi, and Kindaichi sat in a row outside the gym.

  Iwaizumi approached, nudging Taichi. "What's wrong with this idiot?"

  Taichi gnced over. "Oikawa-san tried greeting Karasuno's pretty manager and got ignored. Plus, their bald senpai kept gring at him."

  Oikawa lifted his head dramatically. "She was just shy! I don't mind, not o. Really."

  Kunimi Akira wandered over, asking, "What about Kindaichi? Wasn't he celebrating our win earlier?"

  Taichi g Kunimi. "He's sulking about Kageyama…"

  Kindaichi finally spoke up. "Kageyama said 'we.' Hearing that… it stings a little."

  Iwaizumi and Kunimi exged exasperated looks before turning to Taichi. "And what about you? Why are you sitting here?"

  Taichi couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into ughter, clutg his stomach. "I'm here for the drama! This is golden!"

  "Unbelievable," Iwaizumi muttered, shaking his head. "We've got too many problem children on this team. Get baside; we're reviewing the match against Karasuno."

  Ihe gym, Coach Irihata stood at the whiteboard, already outlining key moments from the game and analyzing Karasuno's pyers.

  "pared to st year, this year's Karasuno team has added several promising first-years," Irihata said. "They're worth keeping an eye on. Today, although we ihem for a training match, it's clear their focus was on pyer development. Even in the first set, when their small spiker struggled, they didn't sub him out but gave him time to adapt to the pace of the game."

  "Winning the first set ure luck. Don't let it get to your heads. In the sed set, before Oikawa went in, we couldn't even trol the game's rhythm."

  "Apologies, Coach, but what I say? I'm a mag for attention!" Oikawa's cheeky grin and casual tone made Iwaizumi snap, delivering another swift kick.

  "Oikawa," Team Manager Guchida interrupted. "Karasuno wasn't pying at full strength either. Their libero from st year didn't even participate today."

  Oikawa's eyes lit up with reition. Nishinoya Yū, the libero hailed as the best in junih, and that intimidating ace spiker from Karasuno—there was still so much this team was holding back.

  "That small first-year," Coach Irihata tinued, "his fuals are still raw, yet he's already Karasuno's most dangerous on thanks to their precise setter. That st ball, which looked like a misstep, roof of their desperation to evolve."

  Looking at his team, Irihata's tourned resolute. "Every team that wants to win is doing the same thing—trainilessly for victory."

  "No matter the team's strength, no oeps onto the court intending to lose."

  "Yes!"

  Hearing the loud and united response from the pyers, Team Manager Sadayuki looked at Coach Irihata with admiration. Indeed, experience speaks volumes—just a few words from the seasoned coach were enough to curb any budding arrogance among the team members.

  With that, Aoba Johsai's Saturday training session tinued.

  -----

  Outside the Gym

  Karasuno's team walked along the road back to school. Having lost the match, a heavy silence hung over the group.

  "Kageyama, from what you said earlier, you've known Oikawa for a while?" Sugawara Koshi asked, trying to lighten the mood.

  "He was my senior in middle school. I learned my serving and blog by watg and imitating him," Kageyama replied after a pause. "If I surpass Oikawa-senpai, I'll bee the best setter in the prefecture."

  Daichi Sawamura g him. It wasn't often that Kageyama admitted someone was better than him as a setter.

  Shaking his head slightly, Daichi pushed aside his wandering thoughts. "Holy, I'm frustrated. Hinata and Kageyama's bination is incredible, but this training match exposed our two biggest weaknesses…"

  "First, when Hinata's offence is ralized, we don't have anyone else who break through ahe attack. Sed, our receive is all over the pce. Without solid receives, we 't anize proper pys. And oional stage, Oikawa won't be the only oh such powerful serves."

  Kageyama furrowed his brows. Daichi was right—those were the critical issues they were fag. But addressing them wasn't something that could be done ht.

  "However…" Daichi suddenly turo look at the teammates behind him. "There's o worry too much. Karasuno's Guardiay and Ace will be back soon."

  "The Ace!"

  "The Guardiay?!"

  _________

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