"We're gonna beat them all!!"

Hinata and Kageyama continued their race against each other while their teammates just stared at them from the back.

"They're so hyper..." Sugawara noted.

"That just calms us down even more..." Daichi added.

"Yeah..." Ayame nodded.

"By the way, is Auntie coming?"

"Unfortunately, she can't. Though, she said she can make it to tomorrow's games" she quickly added "Kageyama-kun, Yuu-senpai, please don't sulk because my mother can't come"

"We're not!"

"You two were sulking earlier until Ayame mentioned she can come tomorrow" Ennoshita told them, and the two stiffened and looked away.

They entered the gymnasium and everyone's attention turned to them. The violet eyed girl could feel a sense of déjà vu as she recalled the Inter-High preliminaries.

"Ah, it's those guys"

"That Karasuno team. I guess it's no surprise they managed to reach the qualifiers. They nearly beat Seijoh during the Inter-High"

"Yeah. They are this year's dark horse, I hear"

"That girl with violet eyes...I still can't believe she's the assistant coach and leading strategist of their team"

"Huh...they're no longer saying bad things about us..." the violet eyed girl thought as she heard them "What a surprise. To think that we used to be badmouthed and underestimated by them..."

"The performance during the Inter-High preliminaries got their attention. You should be expecting this reaction, Ayame-chan" Daichi told her.

"Well, I already expected this but...I guess I'm not used to this"

The players went to their corner and started stretching and warming up for the match later. Hinata went to the toilet, and the members concluded that Hinata going to the restroom before a match is some sort of tradition they are used to see now.

"So that person from earlier is from Johzenji High School..." Ayame noted as she made a quick run-through in the pamphlet and to the diagram of the matches "To make it in the best four...they're probably really good..."

"What do you think?" Coach Ukai asked her after watching the pamphlet she has on hand "About Johzenji"

"Hmm...they seem to be real good, considering they made it in the semifinals in the Inter-High. Their team right now consists of second years and first years and their third years retired after the Inter-High prelims" she paused "Also, I heard rumors from the other teams. They sometimes call Johzenji as the "the party team"...and I don't know what that means..."

"Let's just find it out later after facing them off" he patted her head.

Before entering the court, Yachi wished them good luck. Ayame felt bad that the blonde manager will be all alone on the bleachers, standing to where their banner is tied.

"E-Even if I can't compare to the other team's cheer squad, I-I will do my best to support and cheer on you guy!!" she told them enthusiastically.

"Yacchan~!" Nishinoya and Tanaka sobbed as their new manager cheered for them.

"That means a lot to us. Thank you, Yachi-san" Daichi told her before dragging the sobbing duo to the court.

"Hitoka-chan, thank you!" the violet eyed girl bowed and grabbed her hand "I'm sorry that it must be lonely up there! I'm sure, you'll have the chance to be on court with us!"

The blonde raised her hand and shook her head "Ah, no, not really! It's not that lonely!"

"We're counting on your support for us, Hitoka-chan" Shimizu smiled before leaving to the court.

"We're up next!" the captain told them as they marched inside "Let's go!"

"OSU!!"

Cheers from different schools greeted Ayame's ears, and she felt nostalgic when she recalled the first time she arrived in the Sendai Gym.

"Go, go, let's go! Let's go, Date Tech!!"

"Go, go, go, go, go, go, Seijoh!!"

"Shi~ratorizawa!!"

"I haven't seen Oikawa-san or Seijoh..." she thought as she looked around "Neither Date Tech or Shiratorizawa. But..."

She glanced at Yamaguchi, who caught her gaze. He made a small smile but it seemed a bit forced and she noticed it "Tadashi-kun's kinda...being distant to me...I wonder what-"

"YAHOO!!"

Her thoughts were cut off when the players of the Johzenji jumped at the same time while cheering. It seemed that she's not the only one surprised after she saw the face their coach and teacher made.

"It's like...they are a team full of Shoyo-kun...so hyper..."

Daichi returned after the captains of both teams were called "The other team chose to receive the ball first. We'll be serving first"

"Understood" the teacher nodded and the third year left to resume their warm-ups "It's finally the qualifiers. Everyone looks more nervous than usual. Especially the third years..."

She bit her lower lip as she let the realization sink in. For the third years, this will be their last game before graduating. Reality is really harsh.

"Those are so awesome!" Hinata's eyes shone when he saw Tsukishima's glasses "Your new glasses look so cool, Tsukishima!!"

Their attention turned to three first years. Well, Ayame already knew since the megane showed it to them a few days ago and told them that his older brother gave it to him as a gift. It's like his usual glasses, but to be on the safer side of playing volleyball, he started using it so his usual glasses won't fall when jumping. Like Hinata, she thinks it's pretty cool to wear sports glasses.

"You've been saying that nearly every day, Hinata" Yamaguchi told him.

"Having you say they're cool shakes my self-confidence, so I wish you'd stop" the megane said.

"What'd you say?!" Hinata was pissed by his comment but he ignored him and left.

"Blocking with your face won't be as scary as before with your new glasses, right, Tsukishima-kun?" Ayame told him as he passed by her.

"Idiot. Why would I use my face when I can block with my arms?" he knocked her forehead lightly before leaving to line up "You're just like nii-chan. He also told me the same thing"

Daichi was amused "What's up with the first years putting on braver faces than us?"

"The third years can't just sit here cowering, either" Sugawara agreed.

"All right"

And their match soon began.

***

Ayame's head started spinning as soon as she started observing Johzenji.

"What the heck...their mobility is crazy!!" she thought when they unorthodoxly performed a foot set right when the receive was super off and scored a point "Not only that, # 1 hit the ball from the end line and he did it by turning around in their last touch, which is usually returned by an underhand receive...and then now, a foot set and a quick follow-up from their spiker..."

But, that's not the only reason her head started spinning.

She couldn't read what they're gonna do next, and so does the players of Karasuno thought.

"Are they doing that on purpose or not?" she bit her pen as she concentrated real hard "Their overall statistics are actually pretty good, with their offense on the highest but...their unpredictability is the crazy one here...and that's their weapon"

Johzenji's serve turned as an error but his fellow players didn't mind it and grinned while ruffling his head. She sighed when they finally got a point. Tsukishima was the one serving their #4 received and their setter performed a quick, earning another point for Johzenji.

"I guess it's no surprise they can do plays like this"

#3 served and it was a net in.

"Lucky! It got over the net" Terushima grinned.

"Why you-!" Tanaka managed to received it but it was off. Hinata ran and jumped to cover for it but right in front of him is a wall he can't avoid.

"Nice, Hinata!"

"A wall! Look out!" she suddenly stood from her seat "Watch out!"

Hinata changed his footing and used his feet to hit the wall and change direction. Imagine the crowd growing wild and calling him "Spider-Man".

Nishinoya then quickly covered it for himand earned them a point when Johzenji were unable to predict that they managed to return it.

"I forgot..." she sighed before smiling in amusement "We also have guys in our team who are skilled and unpredictable"

"Yeah!!"

"I feel relieved all of a sudden..." Mr. Takeda said as he sighed deeply.

***

"Johzenji's good. But..." she cringed when two players from Johzenji collided when receiving the ball "It's like they each have a mindset to go after the ball, without thinking they have a player that can cover for them...that's dangerous..."

"Their plays are so reckless...I kinda feel worried for some reason..." Ayame admitted after another error committed by the "party team" happened again "It's like...they are playing around"

"Yeah..." Coach Ukai sweat dropped.

"Lucky for us, Daichi-nii is there to discipline our hyperactive guys" she said "Meanwhile at Johzenji, even their current captain is acting like them. But I guess that's their strength"

Score: Karasuno–19, Johzenji–17

Asahi spiked from the back row and the libero received it. Kageyama jumped for a block as soon as he saw the opposing setter jump for dump attack and he shuts him down.

The whistle sounded, and the point goes to Karasuno.

But, everyone on the court could only stare at the first year setter.

"That...wasn't technically a block..." she was blue on the face as soon as he turned around and revealed his bleeding nose "He blocked it with his face..."

"T-Time out!"

Ayame and the other members of the volleyball team crowded around the teen as he clutched his nose, their faces etched with worry.

"K-Kageyama, don't die!" Hinata freaked out after seeing his nose bleed.

"He's not dying" Tanaka assured him.

"Hey, we're switching you out until your nose stops bleeding" Daichi told the setter.

Kageyama protested but his nose tells a different story "My nose isn't bleeding!!"

"Actually, it is bleeding, Kageyama-kun. You can't lie to us about it" Ayame said and he sulked.

"Are your eyes okay?" Shimizu asked and gave him a couple of tissues to stop the bleeding.

"They're fine"

Mr. Takeda grew worried "Did he get caught up in the excitement of the other team?"

"Probably not...I think" she answered.

"Well, it's a good chance for you to cool your head off. You can't go back out there until your nose stops bleeding, so go have it checked" Coach Ukai told him. The first year setter slumped because he can't play because of his injury.

"Just in case!" Mr. Takeda added.

"Tadashi-kun, if you must" Ayame nodded to the freckled teen who nodded back.

"Come on. Let's go" Yamaguchi said as he pushed Kageyama out.

"Let's leave everything to our senpais..." she thought as she sat down. Sugawara was subbed for their setter's position and their atmosphere didn't change, though she noticed Johzenji catching up.

"Ukai-san, on the next point, please switch Shoyo-kun to Narita-san" she told him.

He complied, since he understood the reason for the switch. Narita, compared to Hinata, has spent a lot of time practicing with Sugawara as the setter.

The game progressed until Kageyama's back and headed straight to where the bench players are. The Karasuno players performed their synchronized attack but with Sugawara as the setter, scoring and resulting a set point.

"All right!!" Ayame, Coach Ukai, and Mr. Takeda stood and cheered.

"Nice! Set point!" she clapped her hands, until she noticed Johzenji huddled together and discussed something "What are they planning...?"

Narita served and the libero received it. Johzenji's spikers did their run-up for a spike.

"A synchronized attack?!" she asked in shock. It was almost flawless until...

.

.

.

.

.

.

"He didn't hit it..." Ayame sighed. Karasuno won the first set and both teams changed court.

"It seems that Johzenji's synchronized attack was monkey see, monkey do" Ukai noted.

"Yeah. That was pretty risky, considering we're at set point" Ayame sighed "Speaking of which...Johzenji's banner doesn't really fit their team. Simplicity and Fortitude... more like Wild and Free...Ukai-san said that Johzenji's team was described as simplicity and fortitude accurately up until recently"

She flexed her fingers as she glanced at the freckled teen "He's still a bit distant to me...I guess I'll talk to him after this match"

***

Score: Karasuno–17, Johzenji–11 (Second Set)

"I thought I heard that pretty lady say "spank"..." Hinata thought during one of their breaks after he overheard Johzenji talking during one of their timeouts.

"What's wrong?" Shimizu asked him.

"Shoyo-kun, is there a problem?" Ayame noticed him looking at the other team.

"Ayame-chan...Kiyoko-san..."

The two girls turned and saw Nishinoya and Tanaka, their faces serious with no hint of humor at all.

"I'm not sure why I'm asking, but would you scold us, too?" Nishinoya asked.

"In the most condescending way possible" the baldy added.

"No" the manager replied. The first year assistant coach could only sweat drop, wondering why the heck they are asking them something so weird.

The two second years faced their behinds to the two girls "Then-"

"I will not spank you, either" Shimizu said with finality before walking away, continuing her job as manager.

"Ano...I really don't get it but like what Shimizu-san said, I won't also spank you, too" Ayame bowed and walked away.

The two second years flinched and hugged their selves while swooning with a satisfied aura.

"We got Ayame-chan and Kiyoko-san say "spank"!"

Daichi then planted his fists on their heads as soon as he learned what they were up to.

"Oi!! What are you teaching my little sister?!"

***

In the end, Karasuno won a straight set from them, though Johzenji pulled up a great fight against them during the last half of the second set.

"You did it!!" Yachi ran to them happily after it was over.

"Yeah!!" Nishinoya and Tanaka did a jumping high-five out of excitement, though that only caused the blonde manager to panic. Thankfully, Ennoshita grabbed the collar of the two to halt them.

"You both doing a jumping high-five at her is a bit much" he reminded them.

"R-Right..."

"Hitoka-chan!" Ayame waved her hand and she happily high-fived with the girl.

"Ayame-chan! Congratulations for winning!"

"On second thought...even if we can't high-five Yacchan...we were still blessed of two angels high-fiving each other happily...I can now happily rest in my grave..." the two thought, their visions about the two girls is slightly exaggerated.

They still high-fived with her, though.

Date Tech's Aone approached Hinata, who was surprised to see him tower over his small frame.

"Date Tech's Aone-san!" she thought "He grew even taller after the Inter High prelims!!"

"...I'm going to stop you tomorrow" Aone said before leaving.

"And I'm going to get through!" Hinata yelled after him, who looked back and smiled at the challenge after he saw the face he's making.

*Karasuno Gymnasium*

"Congratulations for completing the first day!" Mr. Takeda told them.

"OSUS!!"

Coach Ukai cleared his throat "Unlike our other opponents, Wakutani South has third years left on the team, like ours"

"Not only them...Seijoh and Shiratorizawa, as well..." Ayame thought "Wakutani South is a well-rounded team. Their defense is high and their tenacity is something we can't just ignore. Similarly, their play style is just like Nekoma"

"Geh" the members instantly reacted, knowing full well how it felt to play against a team like them.

"Don't give me that look" she told them "We played with them a couple of times. You should be used to it"

"Don't lose your temper just because you can't get one attack in" the man reminded them "Especially the hyperactive ones and simpletons"

Karasuno's idiots instantly stiffened after he looked at them, though Kageyama only tilted his head, not knowing he's part of them.

"Yeah... they are our core players but they get too hyper once they are so into it..." she sweat dropped.

"It'll be fine. We'll follow up on them" Daichi assured them.

"Th-Thank you very much!" Hinata, Nishinoya and Tanaka bowed.

"Damn it. They are more under control than I made it sound" the coach thought.

"As expected of nii-chan, Karasuno's captain and solid foundation!" she was giving a proud aura and her eyes were sparkling as she looked at him.

"All right" the captain stood "We're going to make it through tomorrow, too!"

They all stood and formed a circle and placed their hands in the middle.

"Karasuno, fight!"

"YEAH!!!"

***

On the way home, the club members went out their separate ways. Daichi reminded them again not to stay up late and eat a proper meal. As usual, Yamaguchi walked home with the violet eyed girl.

"Say, Ayame..." he stopped and faced her "About earlier...why didn't you tell me that someone tried to hit on you before?"

The said girl flinched and she bit her lower lip "N-Nothing... I just thought that it was pointless"