It was pretty late in the afternoon when the bus finally arrived at the venue.

"WOAHHH" Nina gasped, looking up at the grand entrance

Haruko slapped her head.

"Shut up, people are staring" she hissed.

"I feel like I say this all the time but I'M JUST EXCITED" Nina stated, glaring at the ace.

Haruko rolled her eyes as we walked into the arena, making our way to our locker rooms to get ready.

"Mito-san!! Could you answer some questions about your team?" a journalist said, a cameraman following.

The captain looked towards us.

"Don't cause any trouble, I'll be a few minutes" she advised before walking over to the journalist and cameraman.

Nina then sighed loudly.

"It must be nice being interviewed" she said dreamily.

Haruko rubbed her temples, making her way besides me.

"I feel like my braincells are deteriorating just by being next to her" she replied.

I pat her back, sympathetically.

"Miya" a voice called out.

I stopped in my tracks and turned around, seeing a familiar face.

"Hello, Kaneda" I answered stoically.

Haruko halted in her steps as the team continued to walk to the locker rooms, leaving us three in the hallways.

"You again?" she scowled.

"Haru, just go to the locker rooms first, I'll only be a few minutes" I told her, hoping she doesn't start a fight.

Haruko huffed but nodded, walking away.

Once she was out of ear shot, I turned back to Kaneda.

She walked towards me and stopped before placing her hand out in front of me.

"May the best win" she announced.

I nodded, shaking her hand.

"Let's have some fun" we both said.

I taped up my left knee and slid my knee pad over, concealing it.

This should do it...I hope it'll last long enough...

I thought, staring at it.

The background was filled with the team's chattering and encouraging words as I zoned out.

"Yer alright?" Haruko asked, sitting next to me.

"Yea...nervous?" I looked at her.

"Not a chance" she boasted, leaning back and chuckling.

I stifled a laugh and slapped her shoulder.

"Liar"

"Alright, alright...maybe a little"

"Alright girls, it's time" the coach announced.

We looked up at her before walking out to play.

Both teams stood on each sides of the court, looking at each other with flames of determination burning in their eyes.

"Let's play!!" both teams bowed.

When I looked up, I met the gaze of Kaneda as she nodded in acknowledgement.

I nodded back before walking to my position.

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 1st set

Inarizaki's serve

"Your serve, Hana" Haruko said, throwing me the ball.

The school band started to play, the sound of brass and the beating of percussion instruments were taking over the arena.

"Ni~ce ser~ve, Mi~ya!!!" the school section shouted, followed by the melody of the woodwinds and brass.

"NICE SERVE, NEE-SAN!!!!!"

I looked up to see my brothers, waving at me with a huge smiles on their faces.

They're match must've finished...

I thought, shaking my head before waving back at them.

I began to walk up to the back when the rhythm of the band started to change.

This sounds like a ritual...

I thought, stopping further away from the base line and doing my serving routine.

As if on cue, the band fell silent, the whistle blowing on their last beat.

Well wasn't that very coordinated...

I thought, placing the ball in front of me.

There was a silence as I tossed the ball up in the air, beginning to run.

I swung my arms back, jumping into the air.

The ball came down as I hit it with as much force as I could muster.

It then flew across to the other side with tremendous speed.

"Out!!" they called.

I smirked, landing on the ground

I don't think so...

The ball then suddenly curved, landing just in front of the line as the school section exploded with cheers and more music.

This is only the start...

A certain blonde was watching from the bleachers with his team, his eyes shining in admiration and awe.

"And that was a fantastic service ace from Inarizaki's number 11, Miya Hana" the commentator announced

One day...I'll serve just as good as my sister....

He vowed, watching her as she high-fived her teammates

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 2nd set

23-24 - Itachiyama

A spiker ran up and jumped, the setter positioning herself to face her.

I moved, ready to receive, however the ball was suddenly set backwards to where Kaneda was.

"A decoy?!" I breathed out, eyes widening.

The ball was spiked, flying to the other side of the court, landing in.

The whistle blew as Itachiyama gathered, high-fiving and smiling.

I turned back around, my face void of all emotion.

I felt a slap on my back as I stumbled forward, catching myself.

"Don't worry about it, we'll get them back in the second set" Haruko encouraged, smiling

I breathed out and nodded in response as we rotated.

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

0-0

Another player ran up and jumped, ready to spike.

I watched as all three of our middle blockers went to block.

The ball hasn't left the setter's hands yet...

I then saw Kaneda beginning to run up behind her.

A decoy...

I thought, suddenly changing direction to the left

*click*

The ball was tossed to Kaneda, where she spiked the ball, aiming for the corner.

I stopped in front of the ball just in time to receive, digging to Nina.

I stumbled back, both from trying to absorb force and from slight pain.

Nina then set to what seemed liked no one, until Haruko appeared and spiked it over, catching Itachiyama off guard.

"Nice kill, Haruko!!!!" the school section cheered, the band following once again.

"Woah~You're on fire today, Haru-chan~" Nina commented, slightly tilting her head at the ace.

Haruko looked at Nina, a burning fire in her eyes.

"I want to win..." she declared, sending chills down Nina's spine.

"D-don't say it like that, you're freaking me out!!!!" Nina shouted, hiding behind Nakamura.

I only watched, a half smile on my face as I turned around and grimaced, walking to my position.

C'mon...just a little longer...I want to play for just a little longer...

The school band played in the background as Atsumu observed his school's volleyball team.

Something's wrong...

He thought, watching his sister grimace while walking to her place.

"Something definitely isn't right" he said to himself, gaining Osamu's attention.

"What do yer mean?" he replied, confused.

"There's something wrong with Nee-san" Atsumu answered, observing Hana.

Osamu looked back, his eyes narrowing with worry.

They looked at each other, mirroring their equally worried expressions as they looked back at their older sister.

The twins could only watch on, unable to do anything.

The game continued, Itachiyama and Inarizaki both winning two sets each.

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

Inarizaki's serve

Haruko threw me the ball as I made my way to the back, the school band playing once again.

"Ni~ce ser~ve, Mi~ya!!!" the school section cheered.

"NICE SERVE, HANA!!!!!" my teammates yelled.

I finished my serving routine as the band fell silent at the whistle's signal.

I placed the ball in front of me once again before tossing it up and breaking into a run.

I jumped into the air, my hand coming in contact with the ball, doing a float instead of my usual powerful serve.

Itachiyama was caught off guard as they tried to receive, only for it to be unsuccessful as it bounced off their arms and off to the side.

I'm not finished...not yet...

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

0-7 - Inarizaki

"If she manages to score again, this will be Miya Hana's eighth service ace" the commentator said with disbelief.

"Yes, the only way for Itachiyama to break her streak is to receive, otherwise I don't see how they'll recover from this one" the other commentator replied.

I bounced the ball around yet again, hearing the whistle blow.

I tossed the ball up and did my float.

Itachiyama managed to receive it sloppily, flying off to the side.

Their Libero then dived for it, managing to get it up in the air.

Kaneda then spiked, making it graze Yuko's fingers as it went out.

How lucky...

I thought, watching as they rotated and were getting ready to serve.

Itachiyama vs Inarizaki: 3rd set

- Itachiyama

It was chaos on the court, Itachiyama determined to win and Inarizaki determined to stop them.

"Kaneda!!!" the setter called out, facing her.

Our blockers responded and went to block her, suddenly the ball was then dumped.

Shit!!!...

My eyes widened as I quickly pivoted my knee to save the ball...

*crack*

My knee completely shut down as I fell onto the floor on it, I grunted loudly as I rolled onto my back, hoping to recover quickly.

My eye sight begin to blur, the searing ache preventing me from moving.

The eerie ringing of the whistle declaring our loss echoed in my ears.

The team began to gather, however they quickly noticed me on the ground.

"Miya?"

"Hana-san?!"

"Hana?..Hana, are yer ok???!!!" Haruko yelled out, running towards me as the only reply I could give was with my tears.

I wanted to play for just a little longer...

I wept in pain, closing my eyes as I heard multiple footsteps nearing me.

"Can you move at all?" someone asked.

I shook my head, not being able to answer with my voice.

After a while, I felt myself being lifted and put on something soft.

I opened my eyes a bit to see that I was put on a stretcher.

I covered my eyes with my arm, trying to hide my tears of pain and despair.

We lost...

My arm was still covering my eyes as the paramedics were about to load the stretcher onto the ambulance.

"NEE-SAN!!!!!" two voices called out, multiple footsteps following.

I removed my arm, seeing the twins with tears in their eyes, the rest of the boys trailing behind them, staring with worried gazes.

"I-I want to talk to my brothers for a few minutes" I managed to stutter out.

"We're able to give five minutes" they replied.

I nodded in reply as they left us alone.

The twins stood beside the stretcher, their eyes filled with worry.

"N-Nee-san..." Atsumu called out, a tear falling from his eye.

"Why are yer crying?" I chuckled, wiping his tear away.

"Yer hurt, Nee-san...really badly" Osamu replied, grabbing my other hand.

"I'll be alright...no need to worry boys" I reassured, smiling as I held both of their hands.

"How are yer feeling?" Osamu asked.

"Other than my knee...I'm fine" I replied, smiling softly.

"Yer should've...sat out" he whispered, looking down.

"I'm sorry...I was just too stubborn to give up" I answered, seeing a tear fall out of his eye.

I chuckled and pulled their hands towards me, hugging them while rubbing their backs.

"I'll be fine" I assured, pulling away as the paramedics came back.

"We have to go now, you're going to have to see her after she's seen a doctor" they told the twins.

"B-but" Atsumu stuttered out.

"It's alright, I'll see yer at the hospital" I cut him off, letting go of their hands.

They didn't reply as they watched me get loaded onto the ambulance.

I smiled at them and waved.

I then looked into his warm but sad eyes, my orbs softening before the doors closed.

I'm sorry, Shinsuke...