Facing Aoba Johsai 2

"Why are you rushing things idiot." Haruto said to Kageyama as he softly knocked his forehead with his knuckle.

"I don't know…" Kageyama said with furrowed eyebrows as he began to remember the various mistakes he started to make as the set continued.

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We looked at the ref as he blew the whistle and saw that our team was changing players. Sugawara was holding up Kageyama's number indicating that he was taking his place.

'Is it maybe because he's playing against Oikawa?' Haruto thought in his head as Kageyama had a grimace on his face as he walked past Haruto to get substituted out.

"This isn't like Junior High, you know. You have allies with you now and are not by yourself." Haruto said to Kageyama, making him slightly stunned at his words. He took in what Haruto said and clenched his fists tightly before meeting Sugawara.

"I'm sorry, I will take some time to cool off." Kageyama said in a calm voice and made his way to the bench and closed his eyes and lowered his head to remember all the mistakes he made.

"Ukai, I think we should let him be for a while." Ukai was about to speak out to Kageyama but Takeda stopped him and whispered to let him be.

After a few minutes Kageyama gave a small breath out and lifted his head. He held a steady gaze watching the court with strong focus.

"Haruto, look here." Sugawara who was at the front called out Haruto and pointed at his shirt making a hand gesture showing a play.

Haruto saw the sign and smiled as he nodded head. Kageyama as a setter is one who gives very fast and precise sets to his hitters. Sugawara as a setter.. follows plays by the book.

"Nice pass!" Daichi passed the ball and the hitters at the front began to move. Tsukishima started to approach towards the left side of the court and Haruto crossed him making his way to the middle.

This made the blockers a bit confused by the sudden movement they made. As they were focusing on the two people on the front, Sugawara set the ball and gave a quick set to Haruto giving him the path of hitting the ball at a cross from the middle.

The blockers were too late to completely block it since they paid too much attention to the crossing movement they did. Haruto smashed the ball at the fingers of the blockers who managed to reach the quick and made it go out.

"Who knew they had a setter like this." Oikawa said to himself as he looked towards Sugawara.

"But sorry we'll be the ones to take this set." He said quietly and Aoba Johsai got focused to receive the serve.

***

"Sorry, that last point was my fault." Haruto was apologizing as they switched sides of the court. The set continued to be very close when finally Aoba Johsai won the set with the score being [26-28].

Haruto tried to block Iwaizumi but he managed to hit Haruto's hands making him tool his block.

"Don't worry about it. We just need to put all of our focus into winning the next set right." Daichi quickly said and had everyone focused not wanting to lose.

"How are you feeling?" Haruto went to Kageyama and asked him how he was.

"I'm better now." Kageyama said as he took the small break given to reflect on what he needed to do once he gets back into the game.

"Sugawara I will put you in for the first bit of the second set so that you can continue to set a pace that is unknown from what they are used to from when Kageyama was playing." Ukai said and saw the nods of both players.

"Well let's win since we want to move on right?"

""YES! FIGHT!"" All the members huddled in and hyped themselves up for the next set.

***

"Aww even if I don't know what's happening exactly, this is making me nervous."

"Yeah, same here.."

Mahiru and Yaichi who were watching from the viewing platform felt nervous watching Karasuno play. The second set began and it was just as intense as the first one.

"But who knew that short person was also a player huh." Yachi looked at Hinata who hit a c-ball quick from Sugawara and got a point in for them. Mahiru looked at the score and saw that it was [14-14].

""GO GO KARASUNO!!""

Mahiru looked to the side of her and saw two adults yelling out loud while holding plastic bottles filled with some items so it would make sounds while they shook it in their hands. Mahiru looked around her and saw two pamphlets and rolled them up to make sticks.

She gave one to Yachi which confused her as she was suddenly handed a rolled up pamphlet.

"Go Go Karasuno!"

Mahiru who although wasn't loud, added to the cheers the two adults were making while smacking the prop in her hand against her palm. Yachi joined in and the chant had gotten stronger.

After Hinata got them the point Haruto rotated to the back row and got ready to serve. He spun the ball on his palm and placed it near his forehead to breathe out slowly. He threw the ball and smashed it near the line, getting a no touch ace.

"YESS" Haruto yelled out while pumping his fist. He went back to the line and as he walked back he heard a voice that was familiar to him.

"Another one!" He looked around and glanced up and his mouth dropped to the ground seeing Mahiru in the stands cheering while holding a rolled up pamphlet.

"Mahiru..?"

"Another one!"

Mahiru saw Haruto's shocked face and felt like her surprise was worth it seeing his jaw hanging open. Haruto who was still surprised got handed the ball to serve and regained focus.

'I guess I need to do another one huh.' Haruto thought and did his same routine and smashed it between two players this time.

"We need to cut off his serve now!" The receivers grumbled out loud and tried to pass Haruto's serve but it curved down as it passed the net and their libero had to dive for the ball passing it back over to their Karasuno's side.

"Chance ball!" Everyone yelled out and Sugawara gave a high toss to Asahi and he was able to smash it against the hands of the blocker blasting it out.

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The ref blew the whistle signaling for a timeout as Aoba Johsai coach called for the break. He gazed at the score which was [16-14] with Karasuno finally leading the set. He took a break wanting to stop Haruto's momentum in his serve.

*Clap

As everyone from Aoba Johsai were quiet, Oikawa clapped his hands, getting their attention.

"Calm down. We have time to reverse this momentum they have." Oikawa said calmly but the pressure behind those words had everyone's full attention on him.

"All we need is to have one pass in and I will take care of it."

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"Substitution"

The timeout finished and everyone went back to their places. A substitution was called and Kageyama finally came back on the court after calming his head.

"Welcome back" Haruto said to Kageyama and he nodded back to him ready to finally play again.

Haruto went to the line and went quiet as he tried to focus on the ball. He did another serve and arced it slightly to the left. The libero dove under the ball and gave a pass to Oikawa.

"TCH" Haruto clicked his tongue and got low to prepare for a reception. Oikawa got up and their middle went for a quick. Oikawa saw Hinata as the blocker and gave a quick set that was taller than usual.

The middle reached his hands to the ball and slammed it over Hinata's block as he had the height advantage to do so.

"YEAHHH"

They celebrated and finally broke off Haruto's serve. At this moment the rally continued to become intense as both teams fought to be on top to lead the set not wanting to be overtaken. When finally it was about to end.

*Bang

"Touch! Don't let the ball drop! Fight for the last point" Haruto yelled out as he touched Iwaizumi's spike. The score was them leading the set with it being [24-21].

They needed to get this last point or else their momentum will be lost and it will be a tough fight to get that one last point to win the set.

'The blocker in front.. Habit of leaning his right hand more to his left…' Haruto thought in his head as he anticipated the set to him.

"Haruto!" Kageyama gave a tempo set to Haruto as currently he was the guy that was on fire with the most points scored with Hinata and even Asahi closely behind him not wanting to lose.

As Haruto was in the air the blocker in front of him did exactly as Haruto thought he would with his right hand leaning more to his left giving an open line for him. Haruto saw the path and took it.

*Boom

He crossed his arm across his body and hit a line shot going in.

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"NICEEE HARUTO!" Everyone ran up to Haruto to crowd him and celebrate as they now had a chance to fight in the third set.

"Let's bring this momentum into the third set now." Everyone agreed and fire began to burn in their eyes wanting to be the ones still standing on the court.

***

Yaya bonus chapter. I hope you enjoyed. Peacu.