Haikyuu! Reaching New heights

Score: 7-9

We were closing the gap.

Our team had finally adjusted to the girls' speed and precision. We were starting to match their rhythm, pushing back with smarter plays.

But Mayu?

She wasn't done yet.

She stepped forward, rolling her shoulders as she prepared to serve.

Her expression was different now. No more cocky smirks.

Just focus. Determination.

And that's when I knew—

She was finally taking me seriously.

Mayu tossed the ball up.

Her approach was smooth, controlled.

Then—BAM!

The ball exploded off her hand, flying toward the far corner.

It looked like it was going out, but at the last second—

It dropped.

Izumi dove for it—too slow.

Ace.

Point: Them.

Score: 7-10.

Izumi groaned. "That ball floated in the air! How do you even hit something like that?!"

Kenji cursed under his breath. "Tch… She wasn't even using her full strength before."

I clenched my fists.

'No. She was waiting for the right moment.'

Mayu served again—another jump float.

This time, I received it.

The ball popped up, slightly off-target, but still playable.

Kenji set it. A high toss—perfect for me.

I sprinted, jumped as high as I could—

And swung.

Mayu's blockers jumped with me.

But instead of slamming the ball, I soft-tipped it over.

It barely cleared their hands. A perfect feint.

Or at least, I thought it was.

Because in the next second—

BAM!

Mayu somehow dived from the backcourt and saved it.

The ball shot back up—her setter reacted instantly, sending it right to her.

And before I could even recover—

BOOM.

She spiked straight past our block.

Point: Them.

Score: 7-11.

My breath hitched.

'She… countered me perfectly.'

Kenji whistled. "Holy crap. That was clean."

Izumi groaned. "She's insane…"

I exhaled.

'So this is what it means to play against a real captain.'

Mayu looked at me across the net.

"Hinata."

I blinked. "Huh?"

She smirked. "You're strong. But you're playing too much by yourself."

I stiffened.

She wasn't wrong.

I had been taking most of the attacks.

I had been trying to carry too much on my own.

And because of that—our team was predictable.

Mayu's team? They trusted each other completely.

I clenched my fists.

'She's right. A captain isn't just the strongest player. A captain brings out the best in their team.'

I turned to Kenji. "From now on, spread the sets out more."

Kenji frowned. "Are you sure? You're our best option for points."

I grinned. "Nah. We're stronger together."

Kenji's serve was clean, controlled.

The girls' team received it perfectly, sending the ball up for a fast attack.

Mayu sprinted in for a quick spike.

But this time—

Izumi and Kōji jumped together.

BAM!

Their combined block slowed the ball down.

I dived, barely getting the dig up—but I did.

Kenji rushed in, setting it to Kōji instead of me.

Kōji panicked but swung anyway.

The ball deflected off the net—but it went over.

Seinan's libero lunged—just barely missing.

Point: Us.

Score: 8-11.

Kenji smirked. "Guess spreading the ball around isn't so bad after all."

Izumi grinned. "Damn, I actually blocked her…"

I wiped sweat from my forehead.

'This is it. This is what real teamwork feels like.'

Mayu cracked her knuckles.

"Alright, Hinata. Now it's a real game."

I grinned.

"Yeah. Let's go."

....

Score: 8-11

The gym was silent except for the rhythmic sound of breathing and sneakers squeaking against the polished floor.

Both teams stood across the net, eyes locked.

This wasn't just a practice match anymore.

This was a fight.

A test of who could adapt faster, push harder, and refuse to lose.

And right now?

I wasn't backing down.

Kenji stepped up to serve.

He tossed the ball high and snapped his wrist, sending a fast floater toward the back row.

The girls' libero reacted instantly, receiving it cleanly.

Yuka, their setter, flicked the ball up—perfect height for Mayu.

I gritted my teeth. 'Here it comes.'

Mayu sprinted forward, her approach smooth and controlled.

She jumped. Swung.

BAM!

Izumi and Kōji jumped together, barely getting their hands up in time.

The ball ricocheted off their block and spun toward the sideline.

I sprinted, dived—

DUG IT UP.

The ball floated upward.

Kenji rushed under it.

"Hinata!" he called.

I reacted immediately.

One step. Two steps. Jump.

I saw Mayu's blockers rise to meet me.

But instead of slamming it, I angled my wrist—sending the ball cross-court instead.

BAM!

The ball landed inches inside the line.

Point: Us.

Score: 9-11.

Kenji wiped sweat from his forehead. "Damn… we're still behind."

Izumi groaned. "Feels like this rally will never end."

I grinned. "Good. That means we're making them work for it."

Across the net, Mayu cracked her knuckles.

"Not bad, Hinata," she said, smirking. "But let's see how long you can keep up."

My heart pounded.

'Yeah… This is the kind of match I wanted.'

We had figured out their defense.

We had closed the gap.

Now?

We needed a decisive play.

I turned to Kenji. "For this point, I want you to fake set to me—then go for Kōji instead."

Kōji turned pale. "Wait, what? Why me?!"

Kenji smirked. "I like it."

Izumi grinned. "Time to trust the team, Kōji."

Kōji groaned. "This is the worst day of my life."

I patted his back. "Nah. It's your moment to shine."

The girls' team served.

Izumi received it—a perfect pass.

Kenji moved in. I sprinted forward, acting like I was going to spike.

Mayu and her blockers jumped with me.

And at the last second—

Kenji set the ball behind him instead.

Kōji panicked but swung anyway.

The ball barely cleared the net—bouncing off a defender's fingertips.

It rolled…

And hit the floor.

Point: Us.

Score: 10-11.

Mayu looked at me.

I looked at her.

This was it.

One last play.

One last chance.

"Let's end this," she said.

I grinned. "Yeah."

The ref blew the whistle.

Game on.