Sugawara had been waiting for this moment, for this chance, for such a long time. But now that it was here, he was almost terrified. But he still gripped the number card firmly and put on a stoic face.

Kageyama look stricken. Sugawara recalled the story of what had happened to the first year his final year of middle school, and as Kageyama passed him, Sugawara paused a moment before handing over the card.

"We're just trying to change the rhythm of the game," he reassured him. "You'll be back in before you know it."

Kageyama simply grunted. As Sugawara jogged onto the court, he heard Hinata yelling at the other first year. A huge "Sugawara Signature Grin" (as Emiko called it) broke out onto his face. It was time to do some damage control.

First Daichi, the team captain received a punch to the middle of his chest. "Hey!"

Sugawara had always wanted to rub Tanaka's buzzed head, so he did so, very aggressively. "Hey!"

Asahi looked terrified as his teammate approached him. If he thought that that would save him, he was wrong as Suga karate chopped him in the side. "Hey!"

If he had more time to think, Suga might have left Tsukishima alone, but he just went for it and karate chopped him as well on the head. "Hey!"

Nishinoya looked so excited as Suga came towards him and he jumped for a double high five. "Hey!"

"Good grief," he sighed. "You guys need to pull yourself together. I've been watching and you guys can really do this if you get out of your own heads. Daichi," Suga turned towards his friend who immediately covered his chest in anticipation of another punch. "You've been really quiet. You're the team captain! Be more vocal!"

"Ah," Daichi laughed sheepishly. "Really? I didn't notice…"

"It's my job to notice. So let's do this."

Sugawara turned to face Aoba Johsai. He made eye contact with Oikawa and let out another signature smile. From what he had seen of the cunning, charming Captain (and what he had heard of his reputation), he expected him to respond with his own signature smile. But instead Oikawa's eyes narrowed and his lips turned downwards.

Strange.

As the whistle blew and the game resumed, Sugawara finally realized that what Emiko had been telling him over and over again was really true. The observations he had made while on the sidelines did give him an advantage. First when he swapped places on the block with Tsukishima, and then with giving Hinata the tip to block some of Aoba Johsai's spikes.

He was no genius like Kageyama, but he had his own special skill set.

Aoba Johsai ultimately won the first set. But with Sugawara on the court they managed to establish firm footing for the second set.

When it came time for Suga to step off the court again, he wanted to play more. He wanted to do more. He wanted to lead the team to victory. But at the same time, he was happy. He wasn't useless to the team. He had been a very useful tool, providing stability at a time when they desperately needed it.

Emiko handed him a water bottle and a towel as he reached the bench. She was smiling brightly and her eyes seemed to say, "I told you! I told you that you had a different type of genius! We still need you on our team and your skills have now been recognized as a weapon!"

"Good job, Sugawara," Coach Ukai said. As the coach proceeded to tell him to work on certain areas, it suddenly dawned on Suga that he would be subbed in again. He wouldn't have to wait for Kageyama to get injured to play!

"Thank you, Coach!" Suga bowed, smiling happily. He jogged to the player waiting area and released a deep breath. It wouldn't be easy, but he was sure that Karasuno could win.

Emiko felt sick to the stomach. Her nerves were eating her alive and she could barely stand it. They had won the second set, and up until this point the third set had been pretty close. But now Aoba Johsai was three points ahead and the next point would get them at twenty. If Aoba Johsai got to twenty before Karasuno closed the gap, it could be disastrous. They needed something that could give them an extra edge.

So Coach Ukai had subbed Yamaguchi in as a pinch server.

Poor Yamaguchi, Emiko thought sympathetically. He had been working on his jump-float serves, but it hadn't been for long. Plus the poor first year was nervously inclined, and he looked as if he was going to puke his guts out on the gym floor. He was shaking as he stepped up to serve.

Cheers of "You can do this Tadashi!" were led by Sugawara in the player waiting area.

Emiko crossed her fingers and prayed as Yamaguchi served. Please, please, please, please….

The ball went up. Emiko watched Yamaguchi's face intensely, and she knew the moment he hit the ball that something was off. His face twisted in dissatisfaction and the ball hit the net. Aoba Johsai had reached twenty.

Everyone tried to reassure the anxious first year that it was okay, but Emiko's heart broke for him when she saw his face as he walked back to the bench. But what Coach Ukai had been aiming for had been oddly achieved. The boys on the court seemed to have gained a new vigor and they soon caught up to their opponents.

The score kept climbing, with Karasuno matching Aoba Johsai every time they scored. When Aoba Johsai reached match point, Emiko felt her hands began to shake. For some reason she remembered that stupid bet she had made with Oikawa. I really don't want to go on a date with him so please win!

If anyone had forgotten that Kageyama was a genius, he reminded them when he set the ball to Hinata with one hand, bringing the game to a deuce.

As if the game hadn't been stressful before.

Again the score climbed higher and higher. They were now in the thirties and Emiko could see the exhaustion on the players face. They were so close!

"You can do it!" Emiko yelled. She made eye contact with that weasel Oikawa and he grinned, somehow thinking that it was for him.

The game continued.

Kageyama set the ball. It was a breathtaking set and Emiko felt her breath catch as she watched little Hinata fly to spike. It was perfect.

But then the wall came up. The ball hit the wall and it felt like slow motion as it fell towards the floor. Kageyama, Nishinoya, and Asahi dove for it. But it was too late.

The ball hit the floor.

And the whistle blew.

And just like that.

It was over.

Karasuno had lost to Aoba Johsai.

Sugawara stopped and looked at her. "Thank you, by the way."

"For what?"

"I realized today that what you've been saying all this time is true. I really can be of use to the team with the observations I make on the sidelines."

He reached out and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Emiko felt her face go red, and she saw a faint blush on his face as well. She recalled her earlier resolution to confess her feelings after the tournament, and she almost did when she recalled once again that stupid bet with Oikawa. How could she confess her feelings to Sugawara when she was going out on a date with the person who had just beat them?

"Um, no problem," she ducked around him. "Oh look my house is right there I'll see you tomorrow get some rest!"

Emiko sprinted to the front gate and rushed in, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes.

If she had turned around, she would have seen Sugawara standing there, arm still stretched out, bewilderment and hurt in his hazel eyes.

A/N: Ahh the ending of this match always breaks my heart. The scene where they're at the restaurant and everyone is crying as they're eating ALWAYS makes me cry. But the next chapter will be the final one of this arc. I feel like the beginning of the next arc will be somewhat not a great time for Suga and Emiko? We shall see lol. But please leave a comment/review/suggestion/critique/etc. if you enjoyed (or didn't) this chapter! Have a great Thanksgiving :))