An OVA before Episode 2.1!
(It's actually more about Karasuno than Nekoma...)
"Ahh, not again!" A wing spiker groaned.
"Tanaka-san, what are you doing?"
Hinata approached his senpai with Kageyama and Asahi, food in hand. Ukai had sold them hot, fluffy pork buns, and the schoolboys were lingering outside the storefront.
It was nearing sunset, and the sky was soaked in an orange glow. The team had stopped by Sakanoshita for a bite to eat after practice that day. Ai had finished another shift of volunteering, but she stayed to work overtime since they were all gathered there.
"Huh? A game I borrowed from my sis." He pressed the reset button and tried to beat the dragon again.
"Oh, the one that's popular nowadays," Asahi awed.
The captain and vice captain stood side by side, watching him play.
"Tanaka..., don't play games so openly when school staff are around," Daichi told the boy while Sugawara laughed hopelessly beside him.
"Huh?" Ukai heaved a crate of beer bottles up and stood. "I don't care once practice is over." He left the high schoolers to their fun and called out to Ai inside the store. "Hey, wanna help me check inventory?"
"Already done, Mr. Ukai. May I help you with the accounting?"
"Err... Sure..." He was surprised by how well she preformed every job he gave her, and still had room for more. Her time at the store was proving to be very productive, a major benefit on his part.
Hinata crouched down next to Tanaka on the curb outside. "This is the one Kenma was talking about."
"No matter how many times I try, I get beat by this monster," Tanaka complained.
Hinata took a bite out of his meat bun as Nishinoya stepped up to them.
"Ryu!" He confidently pointed a thumb at himself. "I'll get your revenge!"
Unfortunately, it didn't go well, and Nishinoya blanked out at the sight of total defeat.
"He received all of the attacks perfectly...," Tanaka observed, with the third-year ace and the two first-years hovering over to look at the console screen. The genius setter had come over to see what they were up to.
"That's pretty amazing in a way...," Hinata added.
"What you'd expect from a genius libero," Asahi commented.
Kageyama placed a hand on his hip. "The point is to slash and defeat the monster before it attacks you, right?"
"Ha! Easier said than done!" Tanaka retorted.
The setter grinned at the challenge, but alas, things didn't go as planned either. He got more and more irritated at the game with each try.
"Bastard! Don't get too cocky!!!" he screamed at the fictional enemy.
"Hey! I told you I'm only borrowing that!!!" Tanaka yelled, afraid of what his sister might do to him if it broke under his watch.
Game Over, said the screen as the monster roared. The samurai avatar laid on his stomach while Nishinoya and Kageyama looked just as defeated.
"It's the same as with volleyball..." Sugawara laughed bitterly.
The sliding door opened, and Ai stepped out.
"Hello, everyone." She smiled teasingly and held out a tray of popsicles. "Ice cream after another day of hard work?"
Her intonation at the end implied that she expected them to do their best at practice, even when she wasn't there to supervise them. She passed out a handful of cold sweets that she had gotten from the store owner as thanks for her work.
Nishinoya came around from his blanked state and whipped his head toward her. "Ice cream?"
"T-thanks, Ai." Asahi took his hesitantly.
She smiled more sincerely this time. "Ignore me. I know you all do your best, regardless of my presence. Right, Hisashi?"
Kinoshita blinked when she suddenly threw the conversation to him. Ennoshita and Narita sighed beside him, relieved that they weren't the students called on suddenly by the teacher.
"Yeah," he stammered, a little flustered.
The three guys also accepted the treats while Ai joined standing next to them. "That reminds me; one of the girls from my sadō club would love to meet you sometime. I'll introduce you."
"R-really?" Kinoshita blushed.
"Of course. I did promise, after all." Her lips curved up as she tilted her head to look at his tall frame.
"So, this is Kageyama's true form," Hinata murmured. Apparently, the King had tendencies to get frustrated with tough opponents and had issues with anger management.
"Hinata, I'll punch you!" Kageyama threatened.
"Hey now, Kageyama. You know more than anyone that you lose if you let it get under your skin." Daichi grinned brightly. "Here, let me see."
Ai, Kinoshita, Narita, and Ennoshita all watched from a distance at the bit of youth from the normally serious athletes. They had a smile at their lips as the rest of the team jested.
"How's that! This iron-wall shield!" The defense specialist captain continued to hold down the button to protect his character.
"True, you won't lose that way..." Sugawara said.
"Is that even fun?" Tanaka asked.
It was Asahi's turn next. He screamed and made the character run back from the monster. "Ah! Ahh!!! Don't chase me! Please, don't chase me!"
"It wouldn't be a good game if it didn't chase you," Sugawara reasoned.
"Well, I kind of knew this would happen..." Daichi admitted.
"Next! Please let me try next!" Hinata enthusiastically made a reservation.
The middle blocker moved his body as if it would help him navigate in the video game and made sound effects of movements.
"Are you an elementary school kid who got his first game?" Tanaka deadpanned.
"Ah..." Hinata froze before his body went limp. "This is hard," he whined.
Then, Nishinoya dropped a hand onto the boy's drooped shoulder. "Your blood boils because it's hard!"
"Admirable words from an admirable person, Yū." Ai grinned. "If only academic challenges fueled your burning passion as well," she joked.
"Ai!" he whined. "Don't say that!" The libero scolded her as he were an older brother to a little girl. "Come on, Shōyō! Let's do this!"
Reenergized by his words, Hinata nodded. "Yes! One more time!"
"Hey! It's my turn next!" Tanaka tried to intervene.
"You can play it at home, Ryu!" Nishinoya justified. "Let me get my revenge!"
"Nope, leave it to me!" Daichi exclaimed.
"M-me, too!" Asahi joined.
"Wait! I'll do it!" Kageyama had revived somewhere along the line and added.
"It's impossible for Kageyama-kun," Hinata laughed and teased.
"Hinata, you bastard!" True to his word, he started throwing punches. "Don't dodge it!"
"SHUT UP!" Ukai opened the door and screamed to them. "Hurry up and go home and eat dinner!!!"
———
Ai: How is your team doing?
Kenma: good. We have practice on sundays now that we lost at Interhigh too. And I have to work with Lev
Ai: A new member? You're all very hardworking; I can sympathize. Shōyō misses you, and I hope our teams can meet again soon.
Kenma: yeah. Kuro wants to do the battle of the garbage dump, but I don't really mind. Tell Shōyō I want to see him again too
Ai: I will. And, I hope Satsuki isn't causing too much trouble.
Kenma: oh your friend? No, she isn't. She only came one time when we were getting ready for a practice match with Kunihira High. I saw Yaku-san talking to her
Ai: I see, and I'm glad to hear that. Give my best to everyone on your team.
Kenma: sure
———
"This moron!" Kageyama yelled along with a series of other curses. The game in his hands ended, and he stopped moving his upper body.
"It's useless, huh? I don't think we can clear this stage," Tanaka watched.
Ai stepped up to them after being quiet for a while. "Nothing is useless. Be observant. I believe its tail lit up before it attacked just now."
"Huh? Really?" Kageyama asked.
Then, Tsukishima and Yamaguchi joined the group. They had taken their time to leave the school and had finally arrived.
"Haha," the blond laughed. "The king really isn't good at anything other than volleyball," Tsukishima sneered.
"Tsukki is good at games, too!" Yamaguchi added, proud of his multitalented friend.
"Yamaguchi, shut up."
"Sorry, Tsukki!" he laughed.
"Huh. So, you care to show us what you got?" the setter challenged, offering the red video game.
"Wait a minute!" Hinata stepped up and stopped Kageyama by putting a hand on his shoulder. "Isn't it my turn next? It's me first!"
"You just played a while ago!"
The two continued to squabble, and Tanaka tried to ensure the safety of his game on loan. Daichi took on a dark face beside Asahi, and when he noticed, the goateed ace flinched.
"Wah...! Hey, stop it. Daichi's gonna snap," he warned, already terrified of the captain.
Finally, Hinata grabbed a hold of Kageyama's wrist, and the device slipped from his fingers.
Everyone panicked, but the lifeless object fell to the concrete ground with a deafening crack.
Ai sighed, exhausted with their carelessness. The guys screamed, and Coach Ukai came out to lecture them again.
"SHUT UP!!! Hurry up and go home!!!"
Author's Note:
Sorry for the wait!!!
I'm trying to incorporate birthdays into the timeline, but I already have the episodes all planned out!
Bare with me a bit more; I promise I'll have Season 2 up and ready to go soon!
Thank you so much for reading and waiting!!!
