A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back, but I have to tell you something important: Until July I won't be able to upload as fast as I want to. I've found a job, I'm still going to my English and Japanese classes (the exams are in May) and I'm finally working hard on my university projects. I wont stop writing this story, but Im so sorry.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who followed and favorited and is still reading this story. As I said at the end of the last chapter, this chapter will be focused on the match Karasuno vs Shiratorizawa. However, I won't explain in detail what happens because we all know.

jungkookies: Thanks for taking your time reviewing this story. Thanks as well for saying that this story influenced your own stories in the way I make Noa the star instead of shoehorning into the canon. By the way, which of your stories would you recommend me to start with? Obviously I'll read and review them ;)

Enjoy your reading!

I do not own Haikyuu or its characters


CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
Not a miracle

"What the hell are you doing!? We are going to be late!"

Noa sheeted as she put her hands on her hips. Akiteru was bent down behind a car. He was wearing sunglasses, a white mask, and a cap. But even though Noa was telling him that he was being ridiculous, Akiteru truly believed that it was the best way of going unnoticed. Noa had rolled her eyes. It didn't matter how many times she told him: he would be attracting more attention that way.

"I'll be heading first, okay?" She sighed, feeling hopeless. "A friend is already waiting for me"

When she returned home the previous day, Noa had ran into Akiteru, Tsukishima's older brother. He had found out that Karasuno had managed to get to the Preliminaries final and he wanted to go, but he confessed to Noa that his little brother didn't like him to go to see his matches, he had been forbidden. Noa found that ridiculous as she thought that if Akiteru wanted to go to support his little brother, then, he should go, so she invited him to come with her. She didn't ask Mayu about it, but she guessed the libero wouldn't mind if Akiteru joined them.

Yet, things didn't go as planned. Akiteru had picked her up to walk together, but he had showed up wearing an indescribable outfit. Apparently, he thought that dressing differently he wouldn't catch anyone's attention and, even better, that his brother wouldn't recognize him. Noa wouldn't have mind it if it wasn't because as they approached the gym, Akiretu was starting to behave in a more and more strange way, hiding behind any object. What he didn't realize is that his attitude made him look more suspicious and, no matter how many times Noa told him he looked like a stalker, the young boy didn't seem to get the hint, so Noa finally gave up.

The sport facility was crowded. Despite that, Noa could easily spot Mayu waiting for her in front of the main entrance. As soon as she saw her, her friend waved at her eagerly.

"What a nice day!" Mayu smiled. "I have a good feeling about this match. Have you talk to Sawamura-san? Is he nervous?"

"I didn't see him this morning. As soon as I arrived home, I rushed to bed. I was exhausted after the preliminaries. His mother has woken me up this morning. I think a bomb could have been dropped and I wouldn't have noticed"

Mayu laughed. She had been tired too, but, definitely, her sleep wasn't as deep as Noa's.

"Do you think Ayako-san, Ayaka-san and Chizuko-san are coming?" Mayu wondered.

"I don't know…" Noa lowered her head.

Mayu sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought out the topic", she squeezed gently Noa's arm and grinned. "Let's not think about that today and let's enjoy this!"

They entered the gym. The hallways were crowded, despite that they arrived later than expected because of Akiteru.

"That's a huge band!" Mayu exclaimed.

On the other side of the stands, all the students of Shiratorizawa wearing their school uniforms, were sitting together. Everyone was chanting. Noa was sure that they mere purpose was to frighten Karasuno.

"Ah!" Mayu pointed with her index finger. "They even have cheerleaders! That's what it means to be a powerful school!"

"Don't worry, Mayu-san!" Noa chirped happily. "Our school is ready to cheer for Karasuno too!"

Both girls glanced at the students of Karasuno being conducted by the vice-principal. However, they were poorly organized. The vice-principal was getting mad at them, waving his hands uncontrollably and messing up his wig, so one of the teachers was trying to calm him down. Mayu and Noa exchanged looks and sweat dropped.

"Oh! There they are!" Mayu elbowed Noa. A few meters away from them, their senpais had found good seats. "Hey!" Mayu waved at them.

"You've come too!" Yoshino greeted them cheerfully.

"Well, we are not willing to miss this. I told Noa-san. I have a good feeling about this!"

"That's probably because Yui has given Daichi a charm~" Noriko teased.

"T-That's not it!" Yui blushed.

"Oh! It's Yachi!" Noa spotted her classmate at the bleachers. She was in first row with people she didn't know. "Yachi! Yachi!"

Noa approached Yachi without saying anything to her senpais. Mayu shared an apologetic look to the third-years and went after her friend.

"Noa-san!" Yachi greeted. "I didn't know you were coming"

"Of course, I am! I won't miss this match", Noa tapped Yachi's arm. "You have good seats"

"Do you want to join us?"

"Sure!" Noa turned around. "Do you mind?" She asked Mayu, who shook her head no. "By the way, I don't think I've introduced you properly, but, Yachi-san, this is Shiraiwa Mayu. Mayu-san, she's Yachi Hitoka"

"Nice to meet you", both girls bowed.

"I'm not anyone suspicious!"

"I saw this suspicious guy wandering around!"

Noa's eyes widened. A girl with short blond hair was dragging Akiteru towards them.

"He ran when he saw me, so I caught him!" She barked. "I thought he might be a Shiratorizawa spy!"

"I'm a relative!" He tried to explain. "I'm Tsukishima's older brother", he took off the mask and his sunglasses.

"Tsukishima's brother!?" Two guys shouted at the same time.

"Shhhh. He told me not to come to the match", he whispered.

Tsukishima, on the court, glanced over his shoulders, looking daggers at his older brother, who tried to hide behind the railings, shaking.

"Those two are nothing alike… Especially their personalities"

"What are you doing?" Noa put her hands on her hips. "I told you you were making a scene that way!"

"Shhhhh", Akiteru begged.

"Do you know each other?" The young girl scrutinized Noa. "Who are you?"

"Oh!" Yachi flinched. "She's Furihata Noa-san. She's Sawamura-san's stepsister"

"Daichi's stepsister?" The young girl crossed her arms over her chest and then chuckled. "I didn't know he had a sister! Nice to meet you!" She winked at her. "I'm Tanaka Saeko!"

"Tanaka Saeko? Are you Tanaka's older sister?"

"That's right! Isn't he great?"

"Yes!" Noa's eyes sparkled. "He is! He's awesome!"

"Finally, a girl who appreciates my little brother!" Saeko chirped happily, taking Noa's hands. "I think I like you!"

"Oh. You are in the girls' volleyball team, aren't you?" A black-haired man wearing glasses smiled at them. "I'm Shimada Makoto. I'm Ukai's friend. Congratulations for qualifying to Nationals"

"Yusuke Takinoue!" The other man with short, messy and blond hair smiled. "Congrats!"

"T-Thanks!" Mayu and Noa replied at the same time.

"You are going to Nationals!?" Saeko looked at them surprised. "You girls have some guts!" She put her arms around both girls' shoulders and pulled them closer to her, making them giggle.

"Oh", Mayu blinked several times. "What's wrong with Daichi's face. His cheek is all swollen. I didn't notice it yesterday"

"He told me he crashed into Tanaka while they were facing Wakutani", Noa explained. "He lost a tooth!"

"What!?" Mayu's eyes widened and she stared at Daichi. How could he be able to stand on the court after that?

A few minutes later, the referee blew the whistle and the final started. As expected, Karasuno didn't get a chance against Shiratorizawa during the first set. Noa had never seen a team as powerful as Shiratorizawa before. However, she noticed that in Karasuno every player was trying to get used to their rivals, especially the captain, Ushijima Wakatoshi, who was left-handed. He was a monster, even his serves were terrifying. Daichi and Nishinoya were having trouble to receive.

Suga was switched in, aiming for Ushijima. As they noticed, Shiratorizawa players never let Ushijima receive. Yet, the plan didn't work as Reon, the number 4, stepped in front of his captaind and received. Shiratorizawa scored anyway. However, a few points later, Hinata had everything to score, but Ushijima manged to receive the ball perfectly. Their setter tossed it for him and he spiked powerfully, gaining the winning point. Shiratorizawa won the first set easily.

"They are good", Mayu mumbled. "I thought Ushijima-san couldn't receive, but he's good at receives too"

"Yeah…" Noa hummed. "He is perfect". Noa smiled, focusing on him. He really is something, she thought, feeling her heart aching of excitement.

It seemed that the first set had a good effect on Karasuno. They learnt from their mistakes and started to adjust their timings. They were catching up, but every Shiratorizawa player had its own fighting skills. Their middle blocker, Tendou Satori, was a monster in blocking, managing to stop Hinata and Kageyama's quick attack.

"He's reading all their tosses", Mayu hummed.

Karasuno had to ask for a time out. They semmed to be pretty confident and despite being blocked several times by the number 5, Kageyama and Hinata did one of the craziest and fastes moves anyone had ever seen. Tendou couldn't even react and the crowd burst out with cheers.

Noa laughed. "I think Kageyama really hates losing"

On the other hand, Tsukishima was suprisingly calm. The number 5 didn't stop teasing him, but the first-year didn't react at all. Noa leaned forward, trying to watch more closely the blond middle blocker. He was definetely reading his opponents moves, analyzing them. And it worked because a few points later he stopped Tendou.

Noa furrowed her brow. Surely, Tsukishima had the gift of pissing everyone off, he seemed not to care about volleyball more then necessary, but Noa had the feeling that he was probably the one who was pushing himself the most. He was trying to fight Ushijima.

"Tsukishima going to set the timing for the three-person block"

"How do you know that?" Mayu asked.

"Tsukishima might be a moron, but he's clever and observant"

As Noa thought, Tskushima told Asahi and Kageyama when they should jump. They closed the space and Ushijima was forced to do a straight. Right behind their backs was Nishinoya, who received the spike perfectly. Karasuno attacked and Tsukishima scored.

"Alright!" Everyone yelled.

"It's a tie!"

However, Shiratorizawa got the set point first. But Karasuno didn't surrender and they got a deuce. Next, Kageyama dumped the ball and they had the set point. They exchanged some points, reaching almost 30 points.

Tsukishima…, Noa thought as she watched him play. He was acting differently. He seemed calm, but he kept pressuring their hitters… No. Noa bit her bottom lip. He was pressuring their setter.

"He sure is persistent", Noa muttered. She wasn't addressing to anyone in particular, but Mayu and Akiteru glanced at her.

Everyone got the same feeling. It was as if the scene was happening in slow motion. The setter of Shiratorizawa had made a mistake, a small mistake that couldn't be perceived by those people who weren't used to playing or watching volleyball. The toss was too low and close to the net. Ushijima, however, spiked the ball, but it crashed into Tsukishima's left hand and it landed on the floor with a thud.

The crowd remained silent for a few seconds, but, when the referee blew the whistle to end the second set, everyone went crazy. Many couldn't believe what they had just witnessed because no one in Miyagi had been able to stop not even one of Ushijima's spikes in such a crushing way.

Mayu and Noa shouted, hugging each other tightly.

"I told you! I have a good feeling about this!"

"Tsukishima! That four-eyes!" Noa squeezed Mayu's arm.

"I think that Kei might have been waiting this whole time for the timing of Shiratorizawa's tosses to skew", Akiteru explained.

"I can't believe he thought that far ahead", Saeko wondered.

"Tsukishima-kun is smart, so I believe that he's always thinking about volleyball, as well as other things", Yachi smiled.

"I'm sure he's pretty obstinate. Sorry about that", Akiteru apologized.

"Oh, no! It's just that at that moment, I think the only thing on Tsukishima-kun's kind mind was stopping that spike. Just purely. Like he was solving a difficult test question"

"Well, let's just not make a fuss over it", Noa added. Akiteru raised an eyebrow. "This game has just started", she smirked.

"You are scary too", Saeko said.

"I still don't know why my brother and you don't get well", Akiteru wondered. "I think that's something he would have said"

The third and fourth set moved along as well. Goshiki was yelled at, Ushijima's spikes were picked up and Shiratorizawa started to realise that Karasuno was a capable opponent. And they clearly showed it. Shiratorizawa still had the upper hand but Karasuno was not going to back down.

Karasuno only needed one more point to win the set. Kageyama didn't toss far enough but through some miracle, Hinata tabbed the ball over the net with his left hand, while his body was going to the right. Shiratorizawa was not prepared for it and nobody was there in time to stop the ball from hitting the ground. The double whistle announced the end of the fourth set. Now it was a tie and the fifth and final set was going to be the toughest one yet.

Mayu noticed that, unlike everyone else, Noa was too quiet. Knowing how the first-year usually behaved, it was normal that she was nervous about the match, but, when Mayu turned to glance at her, she found out that she was surprisingly calm. Noa had her eyes on something, her fingers were pressed against the railing, her knuckles turning white from time to time. Mayu followed Noa's gaze to find out what or who was catching her attention.

Ushijima Wakatoshi.

Mayu furrowed her brow. Was Noa staring only at him? Seriously? The libero looked at her again and, as soon as she analyzed her friend's expression, Mayu's eyes widened. Noa's round eyes sparkled brightly, something Mayu understood as pure admiration. She wanted to ask and, however, she remained silent because she had the feeling that Noa was focused and talking to her would have ruined whatever was going on her mind.

Noa was awestruck by Ushijima. She had never seen anything like that. His presence on court, the confidence with which he spiked each and every one of the tosses… Confidence. Noa clicked her tongue unconsciously. She was like that or, at least, she thought she was similar to him. When she played beach volleyball, the other teams respected and admired her even though she was a rival. She was always determined, she didn't have any doubts and, despite her height, she trusted in her own ability, so she never gave up. That was the key to her success. But that was when she was in The United States. Since she had arrived to Japan, Noa felt that she had become a different person, that she had become someone her American self would have despised.

What had happened to her in Japan? What effect did her move and new family have on her? She wasn't blaming anyone. If there was someone guilty it was her. Noa understood, then, that she had already changed as soon as she set foot on Japan. She had stopped being herself, right now she was only containing. She got the impression that all that had happened because she was afraid of not pleasing anyone, of not adapting to her new surroundings. She had made her father understood why she loved volleyball and, despite that, she was still behaving cautiously, as if she was afraid of something.

Noa suddenly chortled. Mayu and Yachi looked at her astonished, but Noa didn't care. As odd as it might seem, she felt that she had taken a weight off her mind. She was starting to understand herself better. She thought she was already an adult, but she was still a child. She ran a hand through her long black hair and raised her gaze, fixing her eyes on the ceiling. Why did she let the most insignificiant things to get to her? Why was she so afraid, afraid of shinning, afraid of becoming someone different? She should start to open up to everyone, but she should be more honest to herself as well. And, of course, she should start beliving in her possibilities. Because she was good, she was very good, and she still had a gift for sports. It couldn't have disappeared overnight.

"He is awesome", she finally said, getting back her attention to what was going on on the court. Mayu and Yachi exchanged looks as they noticed Noa's grin "Ushijima Wakatoshi is truly amazing"

The plays continued with mistakes and good teamwork. The points grew but the gap didn't. Shiratorizawa was the first to reach the 15 point mark and tensión grew, especially with Karasuno.

"Don't you dare look down!" Someone shouted.

This silenced everyone. Noa looked over to the bench to see coach Ukai stand with a big grin on his face.

"Volleyball is a sport were you're always looking up!"

This sparked a fire once again and the team got ready to continue the game. Noa smiled to herself when commotion arose. Tsukishima was jogging back to the court with a big bandage around his hand after getting injured while trying to stop one of Ujishima's powerful spikes. After a break the set continued while Tsukishima stayed on the bench. He was already holding the replacing sign in his hand. The play went well. Karasuno gained their 15h point and Tsukishima was switched in.

Both sides made mistakes and exhaustion was very present to both teams. But both didn't falter and kept attacking. And when the 20th point was reached, it was the final straw. Everyone moved, Hinata jumped, the ball hit past the block, Ushijima caught it. Then their setter tossed it. Ushijima spiked it. The ball hit Hinata, but the ball was still in the air. It was intense. And the fire inside their hearts burned even brighter than before. And a short moment later, the ball bounced off the floor and the referee blew the whistle.

They won.

The hall erupted in a thunderous cheer. The final point went to Karasuno and with it they had won 3 of 5 sets. An imposible feat occurred before everyone's eyes. The fallen powehouse had regained its wings. The aire became static as tears began to fall out of joy and other out of sadness as the thrill of the game just didn't want to fade.

"Thank you very much!" The boys shouted and bowed. All the students clapped for their hard effort.

Noa had never felt happier in her life. She knew how much Daichi had worked, how much he had suffered to make Karasuno a powerhouse again. How much he wanted the crows to fly to Tokyo again. To see him crying while hugging Asahi and Suga made Noa emotional. They didn't realice by then, but they had made history. The boys's and the girls' teams would be in the Spring High Preliminaries.

Noa took off her pocket her mobile phone to take some pictures while they received their medals and she sent them to Daichi's mum, who texted her right away.

"Congratulations!" She yelled as soon as they crossed the gym door after putting everything away and getting changed. Noa ran towards Daichi and hugged him. "I'm so proud of you"

"Noa-san! Noa-san!" Nishinoya bounced around them. "We have won! We have won! Do you know what that means?"

"Uh?" Noa tilted her head.

"The kiss~!" Tanaka and Nishinoya beamed happily.

"Oi!" Daichi frowned.

"Oh yeah! I forgot!" Noa giggled. She put her hands on their shoulders and she kissed them on the cheek.

Maybe everyone was expecting the second-years to make a fuss after that, so everyone was surprised when none of them said a word. Their faces had gone completely blank.

"You've left them speechless, Noa-san", Kiyoko chuckled.

"T-Then I want mine too!" Hinata suddenly beamed flushing immediately.

"I told you I was going to give to each one of you a kiss", Noa smiled.

The other second-years, Ennoshita, Kinoshita and Narita, received their kiss next. Then, it was Yamaguchi's turn, who flushed. After him, it was Hinata, who bounced out of joy. Then it was Suga's turn and, next, Asahi. Suga's smirk made them blush, but that only made the situation more enjoyable for the third-year setter. Even Kiyoko and Yachi were kissed by Noa.

Noa took Kageyama's sleeve and pulled him down, so he had to bend down. When Noa kissed him briefly on the cheek, he snorted, trying to hide his blushing cheeks.

"Are you really thinking about doing it?" Tsukishima grimaced. He was the only one left.

"What do you take me for?" Noa smirked.

Noa punched him slightly in the ribs, but hardly enough to make him double up. That's when Noa approached and kissed him on the cheek. Tsukishima looked daggers at her and she smiled victoriously. Tsukishima grimaced and tried to clean his cheek using the palm of his hand.

"Hey!" Noa frowned.

"I don't want you to infect me with your stupidity"

"You, moron", she hissed.

"There, there", Daichi stepped between them. "We should go now"

They walked together towards the exit. However, Noa stopped when she caught sight of a certain someone. No one seemed to have noticed his presence, but Noa did. She turned her head and her eyes met Ushijima's. His gaze was as intimidating as she remembered when she bumped into him that time, when she was searching for Mori Hatsue. Ushijima started back at her and, as odd as it might have seemed, Noa felt that they were connected by something, but she still didn't know what it was. She then wondered if he still remembered her. Noa pressed her lips in a thin line. Her eyes slowly widened, almost sure thet Ushijima had nodded as if he was answering her question.

"Noa, aren't you coming?"

Noa jumped a little bit. A few meters away Daichi was waiting for her. Noa glanced briefly again, but Ushijima wasn't there anymore.

"Yes!" She finally answered. She ran towards him and caught up with his pace.

"Did something happen?"

"Oh, no. I just thought I had seen someone", she answered simply. "By the way, Daichi. Do you have by any chance videos of matches of Shiratorizawa"

"Yes. Coach Ukai played some of them, so we could study the team. Why?"

"Do you think he would mind lending me those videos?"

"For what?"

"During the match I've seen pretty interesting things to rewatch. I think they could be useful for us"

"Okay. I'll tell him. I don't think he would mind"

Noa smiled. She was dying to keep watching how Ushijima Wakatoshi played.


Yes, this chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but let's say this finishes the Spring High Preliminaries arc and in the next chapter the Training for Nationals Arc (?) starts. It's like a transition chapter.

Next chapter: The power of a smile

~ See you next time!