To all you kind people who leave me comments, thank you so very much for your kindness! Fanfiction doesn't let me respond to guest comments, but I appreciate you all and am so happy to cheer you up with my story and give you something entertaining! I'm doing well, even if a bit crazy trying to keep up with life and thank you guys for asking. I hope you all are doing well and wish you health and happiness as well! Thank you for your patience as I got around to writing this next chapter, sometimes it's hard to divide my time up between real life and all the stories I have going, but I promise I have no intentions of abandoning this story, I already have the ending figured out and am just as excited as the rest of you to see how I get there XD Thanks again for the continued support, your comments and love make me excited to write more!

On the court, the air had become tense again. With their vice-captain suddenly forced to leave, Karasuno was back to being on edge. Surveying his teammates as they got back into position, Daichi noticed how distracted their minds were, he could see the stiffness and it made the captain even more aware of how much they relied on Sugawara. The other setter often kept them in line from the side of the court, watching for mistakes the opposing teams made, as well as the stuff they were doing wrong. Coupled with raising everyone's spirits and guiding the younger players, there really was a tangible difference without the other boy behind them exuding support and fierce encouragement. Sugawara could do all those things from the sidelines, but that didn't even include the moments he stepped onto the court and completely changed things up. They were at a disadvantage because he couldn't play in his current condition, but even more challenged without him at all.

Daichi couldn't blame his teammates for being affected by Suga's absence, especially considering he himself was weary, but it was his job to keep the team together. Aside from that, he'd assured his friend he didn't have to worry as he went to the infirmary, and he couldn't make a liar of himself twice in one day.

"It wouldn't kill you to rely on your brain instead of your instincts for once, it must feel great to send the vice-captain to the infirmary."

Head jerking to the side, Daichi found Tsukishima giving Kageyama an irritated side glare, the ink haired boy gritting his teeth as he glared back and snapped at him.

"Shut up."

"Why? Because you're struggling with a guilty conscience?" The blond prodded, and just as Daichi was about to tell him this wasn't the time to pick a fight, an unexpected voice chimed in.

"Tsukki, you don't need to do that. He feels bad enough, I think."

Head turning once again as he followed the direction of the comment, the captain was thoroughly surprised to see it was Yamaguchi catching a ball from Hinata as they traded places, and then approaching the serving position. Watching the younger player as he gripped the ball between two hands and stared intently at the pattern, Daichi saw there was no fear or nerves as he spoke.

"We're all worried about Suga-San, but we don't have time to fall apart and mess up, he wouldn't want that. He believes in all of us and I know he doesn't blame Kageyama, he's not that kind of guy!" He yelled, fingers digging into the ball but then seeming to remember himself somewhat, cleared his throat and lowered it to look at his teammates.

"He told us what we need to do, it doesn't change just because he can't be here. We have to do everything we can to win, we can't let him down!"

Stunned into silence, Daichi checked to see how Tsukishima had taken the scolding and was even more shocked to see he'd lost some of the hard edge in his eyes. Shoulders relaxing, the tall boy let out a small breath and turned to face the net once more, his silence an acknowledgment of Yamaguchi's words.

How odd, had Daichi misinterpreted Tsukishima's goading Kageyama? Yamaguchi had stated the obvious when he'd said they were all worried about Suga, but was he really directing the comment to his friend? Finding the scene interesting, the captain thought about what happened earlier. The snarky middle blocker rarely involve himself in things he didn't have to, so it had been unexpected to see him offer the upperclassman his headphones, especially since it appeared Suga hadn't asked. Perhaps Tsukishima cared more than he let on.

The whistleblowing pulled Daichi from his speculating and he turned forward once more to prepare for the serve. He couldn't let himself unravel; they were going to bring home this win for sure.

"He's right!" Daichi yelled, curling his hands into fists as he squatted down and pushing failure from his mind completely. "Eyes forward, let's fight!"

A resounding "Fight!" Echoed through the gymnasium, but Daichi noticed Kageyama pausing with a weird expression on his face before turning around and getting in position as well. He wasn't sure what the cause was, but then again, the captain was often confused by the abnormal setter. Putting it out of his mind for the time being, Daichi blew out a steady breath as Yamaguchi took aim, and then followed the serve that barely glided over the net with focused eyes. Tumbling over the plastic edge of the net, the ball dropped just onto Kita Wasaki's side and forced the Captain from the other team to dive forward and clumsily retrieve it.

As the ball flew backward into the air, Kanda's friend with hair concealing his right eye sprinted to get back fast enough and only barely kept it in play. Just managing to get it over, the other captain let out a grunt as he smacked it down onto Karasuno's side, only for it to be picked up by Nishinoya.

"It's up!"

Hesitating in a very unlike Kageyama way, the ink hair setter looked about for a second and then jumped into action setting the ball. Shooting a glance to Tanaka, the shaved head boy was already leaping into the air in anticipation of a ball that was then quickly thrust in his direction. Swinging his arm with a force to rival Asahi, the second year drove the ball down between the Kanda and the edge of the court, the whistle blowing as Karasuno earned another point.

"YEAAAAH! Take that!" Tanaka bellowed, fists pumping into the air as he celebrated his successful spike and turned to slap a ferocious high five with Noya.

"Let's keep the momentum! Yamaguchi, nice serve!" Daichi encouraged, mourning the absence of Suga's loud, encouraging cheers but working hard to keep the mood up in his place.

Turning forward to get ready for the next serve, the brunette took advantage of his current position up front and looked over the opposing players. He wasn't surprised to find all of them donning fierce expressions but did do a double-take as he glanced at their black-haired number four, and noticed the crazed focus in his eyes. It was a surprise to see the boy capable of making an expression Daichi's own teammates wore, but it did have him realizing that Kanda desired to win just as much as they did. In no way did it make his actions acceptable, but Daichi at least knew the reason behind them.

As the whistle blew again, Yamaguchi took in a slow deep breath, and then opened his eyes with his goal in mind. He would send it right at their large but tight-lipped setter, a high ball and it would float just long enough to throw off his footing. Taking a couple of steps back, the freckled boy took a running start as he leaped into the air and hit it at precisely the sweet spot he was aiming for. Watching as he landed on the ground once more, him and the rest of his teammates were stunned as the ball was caught mid-air by a massive hand, slapped straight up where it arched perfectly to Kita Wasaki's setter, and then was sent back to Kanda who slammed it down at the first year's feet. Eyes going wide with disbelief, Yamaguchi carefully raised his gaze to find the large number four panting, but slowly beginning to give a toothy grin.

Seemingly without effort, Kanda had managed to not only cut off his serve streak but slammed it back down right where it came from. Weary glances shifting about them as tension rose, Daichi reached out to pat Yamaguchi's shoulder as he jogged back off the court, biting his trembling bottom lip.

"Don't mind, don't mind. It was a good serve Yamaguchi-"

"Oi, it's a lot quieter on Karasuno's side without that third-year cheerleader on the bench, don't you think? A streak of good luck number nine ran his ass over if you ask me."

Head snapping in the direction of the voice, Daichi felt a murderous rage fill him as Kanda shared a laugh with a couple of other players. They were mocking Sugawara when he wasn't even around to defend himself. Taking a single step toward the net, Daichi felt the strong grip of a hand grabbing his shoulder and strained against it despite his better judgment.

"He's only doing that to get a rise out of us, don't fall for it." Asahi warned although the way he gripped the captain's shoulder tight made it clear he was struggling not to react as well.

"Bastards," Noya growled, teeth creaking as Tanaka pushed his sleeve up and rolled his shoulder preparing to knock someone's lights out.

Before the tense moment could stretch on, Tsukishima turned with an unreadable expression and spoke evenly.

"Four is about to serve, we should drop back and leave it to Daichi-san and Noya-san."

Daichi caught Kanda glancing over his shoulder to see what sort of reaction he'd manage to get out of Karasuno but didn't bother to glare back as he turned his attention to the tall middle blocker and nodded his head in agreement.

"Let's do this," Daichi called out forcefully walking to his position that moved him to the back corner, and turning around as he got in a stance to receive whatever kind of ball came his way.

"Right!" His teammates called out in return, dropping into squatted positions with retribution on all their minds.

Putting the whistle to his lip, the ref blew the high-pitched sound and commenced the start of the next play. Wasting no time, Kanda bounced the ball on the ground a couple of times and then pushed a hand back over his head to brush the stray hairs back from his forehead and let out a breath before grinning. Tossing the ball up neatly, the large boy jumped into the air and brought his hand down with a resounding smack, the ball careening toward the middle of the court but not escaping a waiting Daichi.

The ball launched high into the air, but Asahi was there to throw it up to Tsukishima who attempted a cross-shot that was unfortunately picked up. Maneuvering the ball to their setter, Kita Wasaki sent it to their other side of the court and watched as the green-haired boy leaped into the air and slammed it down. Getting under the powerful hit, Nishinoya saved the ball once again and sent it a little too far out to Kageyama who was already turning and getting ready to set the ball to their ace. Before he could even touch the ball, an ear-splitting demand rang through the air.

"GIVE IT HERE!"

Changing the direction at the last second as his eyes flashed to the unexpected shout, Kageyama shifted the set back just enough that it synced perfectly with Daichi who'd leaped with complete confidence the ball would come to him. Arm slicing through the air with power and precision, the captain's palm connected with an audible 'thwack', and nailed Kita Wasaki's number four directly in the forehead.

Knocking the other boy to the ground as the force threw him backward, the other setter dove to retrieve it, but missed by just a hair as it bounced into the net before flinging to the floor.

"YEAH!"

"NICE KILL!"

"NICE, DAICHI!"

Cheering loudly, the remaining guys on the sidelines jumped and raved as Karasuno was awarded another point, the boys on the court slapping Daichi on the back boisterously as he gave a satisfied grin, and looked over his shoulder at Kanda who was getting to his feet and rubbing the large red mark on his forehead. If looks could kill, the glare the brunette received would be fatal, but as it was, Daichi just tilted his head down as he looked at the other boy from beneath his lashes.

"Sorry, guess I don't know my own strength." He said, borrowing Kanda's earlier words and throwing them back at him.

Gritting his teeth, the massive wing spiker clenched his fists tight and held back his urge to curse. It might have been a bad idea to trash talk the useless setter he'd worked so hard to get rid of. If the wild look in the eyes of the Karasuno players was any indication… They were in trouble.