Yamaguchi was not going to waste any more chances. He silently beseeched the coach to put him in again, because how effectively he served would determine if they could win or not.

But before that, it was Kyōtani's serve. It went through, making it 23-18.

Tanaka got up the next one, annoying the Mad Dog.

Ai could see the outline of Karasuno's facial expressions as they looked her way, and the crows cut off Kyōtani's serve turn.

Yamaguchi switched in for Hinata as Ukai pushed on the courageous player's back. The guys downstairs gave him encouragements. Some seemed more nervous than the pinch server.

From above, she noticed his companionable interactions with Hinata, as well as the praises from the other members. Ai chose to stay quiet, in case too much attention would make him more stressed. However, she wished him the best in her heart with a silent smile.

As the whistle blew and started the invisible timer on eight seconds, Yamaguchi took a deep breath. He threw the serve toss and hit the ball.

It flew all the way to the endline. It dropped within bounds; a no-touch ace.

"He did it..." Yachi gasped.

"Tadashi!" Saeko screamed.

"Nice serve!" Takinoue yelled down.

Just as Tsukishima had pointed out, in these five months, he had practiced serving more than anyone else. The compliment validated his hard work and strong will, and it made his accomplishment that much more valuable.

23-20.

As the first-year prepared for another serve, Ennoshita conversed with Sugawara. The previous captain's substitute suspected Yamaguchi was the kind of person who knew that it would feel worse after running away.

Ennoshita, Yamaguchi, and Ai had all felt the pain of running away: from ditching practice last year, from avoiding a jump serve in the game before, and from closing her heart from emotions.

"I'm pretty sure Yamaguchi feels that way, too." The second-year wing spiker smiled sentimentally.

Upstairs, Ai made a little note as a reminder to herself. In modern volleyball, the serve was a powerful attack that wouldn't get caught by the wall known as the block. Perhaps learning more serving strategies would help alleviate Hinata's fixation with tall, tall walls blocking his way.

"Kyōtani!" Watari shouted at his teammate as the Mikasa ball floated toward him.

The No. 16 second-year hesitated, and he couldn't receive it properly.

"A s-second service ace!" Tanaka cheered loudly.

However, on his third serve, Hanamaki got it with an overhand.

Oikawa tossed it to the ace, and Yamaguchi sustained a spike from Iwaizumi with his body. It was a bold receive, even if it was only luck.

Kageyama dove to cover, and Tsukishima got a block-out from Oikawa's right hand.

23-22, Karasuno's third consecutive point.

That was when Seijoh's Coach Irihata took a timeout, physically stopping the momentum.

Yamaguchi was outstanding. His jump floater serves proved to be a sharp spear and a weapon that only he could harness. The ball's trajectory fluctuated nicely, It provided the light of hope the team needed. It had been a chance for him, but it ultimately gave the team a chance as well; a chance to win.

'I want to be able to control my body like the other guys!

'I want to be able to control the ball!

'I want to fight head-on with strong opponents!' he'd once confessed to the grocery store owner.

"He's reaching his goals, isn't he, Shimada-san?" Ai asked from Yachi's left.

"Huh? Oh," Shimada grinned. "Yeah. He did it."

To be a pinch server was to fight by putting all of their pride and the flow of the game into that shot.

A fight for the formerly spineless. After Ennoshita had reclaimed his place and meaning of being on the team, it was Yamaguchi's turn to prove his strength.

The next serve caught the net, and Watari dove into the open space that Oikawa had left. A net-in.

Seijoh's third-years seemed very calm as Iwaizumi got the next one with an overhand receive.

Tsukishima read-blocked like Aone; he watched the ball instead of the spikers coming in for a jump. He observed patiently as Oikawa set the ball, getting a one-touch on Hanamaki's spike.

"One-touch!" the blond first-year said, turning back.

"Nice one-touch!" Yamaguchi supported.

Tanaka managed to get it, and Kageyama connected with an underhand set.

"Azumane-san!" their first-year setter called.

"Nice, Kageyama!" Tanaka grunted.

Seijoh's Numbers 1, 2, and 3 jumped for a very high block as Asahi spiked hard. Tanaka additionally followed up with a good judgment call, tucking his arm in when he dove for the ball.

23-24, Karasuno's match point.

Takeda-sensei smiled proudly at the student-athletes. "Yamaguchi-kun... is the hero of this match."

"I'll get it!" Watari screamed when Yamaguchi served once more, and the libero did an overhand receive.

"Nice, Watacchi!"

"Damn it, they're good." Nishinoya grinned with his brows furrowed.

With Iwaizumi's back attack, Aoba Johsai cut off Yamaguchi's serve. The first-year had served five times and earned a total of four points, half of which were service aces. He had given them a chance to win this set and tied the two team's scores.

Hinata switched in again by handing off the number plaque. Yamaguchi received praises from the adults on the bench and went back to the warmup zone.

Nishinoya soon ran in for the orange-haired middle blocker as well.

"You did great, Yamaguchi!" Ennoshita coddled with Sugawara and Narita. Kinoshita also grinned and celebrated with the group.

"That was awesome!" the vice-captain setter said.

Yamaguchi's jump floater serves had gotten Karasuno from 23-18 to 24-24. Ai didn't care as much for the points, but she smiled at her team from the far side of the net.

.

Oikawa used the third-year middle blocker to quickly get back at them.

25-25.

Ai noticed that Kindaichi's movements were a little stiff; he couldn't react to Tsukishima's quick attack. However, after Iwaizumi talked to him, the tall middle blocker from Kitagawa Daiichi seemed to do better.

She could always observe and analyze her team during daily practice, but tournaments were a chance to see other schools play and compete. Momoi had taught her how to analyze players on their team and opponent teams alike.

Their deuce at a set point went back and forth, but with Oikawa's serve and Iwaizumi's spike, the second set went to Aoba Johsai; 28-26.

They would have to play a full match, unfortunately. Rainbow kisses and unicorn stickers couldn't fix everything.

She watched her team celebrate Yamaguchi's success again as they switched sides on the court. As they walked toward her side, she clapped for them.

"Tadashi!" Ai waved when they walked closer to their side of the viewing balcony.

Yamaguchi looked up towards their black flag, and Yachi, Saeko, and the two volleyball alumni cheered for him.

"There's no time limit in volleyball," she called down to them.

Nishinoya and Hinata waved back at her with a timid Yamaguchi. The others who understood nodded and did a thumbs-up at her words.

"What do you mean in volleyball?" Takinoue asked beside Shimada.

"Ah, Ai here used to play basketball in middle school. At least from what I've heard!" Saeko explained.

"Basketball? Really," the middle blocker from the Neighborhood Association mused.

"Yes. There's no reason for them to rush. Be patient, and calculate..." Unfortunately, it also meant that there was no such thing as a clutch time.

If only she could strategize the game like Akashi...

———

Late August in Tokyo

(2 Months Ago) (continued)

Nekoma's last match of the day was with Fukurōdani, while Karasuno faced Ubugawa. After their practice games were over, Ai passed out water bottles and towels.

"Thank you!" the players echoed.

"Of course. You're very welcome." She smiled.

Kuroo drank to quench his thirst and wiped his face with a white towel. "So, Chii. Are you going to tell me now?"

He glanced at her while tipping his head back to drink some more water. He sighed, his parched throat was now hydrated again. "You said you'd tell me after practice."

"Yes, I did," she admitted, thinking back to her moment of epiphany. "But, it's nothing worrying. I promise."

"Hmm," he hummed. "Curiouser and curiouser." He bent over to meet her eye level.

She dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "There's nothing to tell, Kuro."

He twisted his lips as if wanting to say something.

She walked over to Yaku. "Yaku-san, could I bother you with a question?"

The libero turned to her with a smile. "Yeah, what's up?"

"Does Nekoma High have a shōgi club?"

"Shōgi? Uh, I think so. Right, Kai?"

The vice-captain nodded. "Yeah. They have a club room on the first floor."

"Why do you want to know?" Yaku asked her.

"Could I enter the room? Or, borrow their materials?"

The third-year libero thought about it. "I think you could go in. But, you probably shouldn't take anything outside the room."

Ai smiled. "I understand. Thank you."

She glanced around at the players, speculating if they would be alright if she left. Her gaze lingered for a second longer on Kenma, but they didn't seem to need anything in particular. She could probably leave the gym for a while.

She turned back to the third-years. "Please call me if you need anything." Ai bowed to Yaku and Kai, and after gathering her things, she made her way to Karasuno's side of the gymnasium.

Kuroo came up to her again, following her. "Where are you going, Nekoma's manager?"

"You should know, Kuro," she told him without looking back, "that my crows come first."

"Come on, don't be a stranger."

Ai grinned and shook her head at his choice of words as her longtime friend. "Kei, indulge me for a bit, will you?"

Tsukishima looked down at her with an exasperated face, while Yamaguchi looked confused from his place next to him.

"Would you like to come too, Tadashi?"

He glanced at his blond friend to see his reaction. "Where are we going?"

"Where are we going?" Kuroo repeated, smirking.

"You'll see. And Kuro, I know you overheard my talking with Yaku-san. What made you think you may toy with me?" She smirked at him and then turned to Kageyama, who was stretching his shoulders. "Tobio, are you coming?"

He met her eyes. "Huh? Uhh," he hesitated, seeing that Tsukishima was also coming.

"Come. You're our setter, aren't you? The command tower of the team?" she instigated.

He blushed and rubbed the back of his head, a little embarrassed from her flattery. "I guess."

"Wonderful," she smiled. "Kuro, would you do the honor of leading the way?" She batted her eyelashes for extra credit.

He smirked. "Certainly, princess." He bowed with a hand over his heart and his other hand extended toward the exit.

"What about me? Am I going, too?" Hinata shined his eyes at the special field trip that the rest of the first-years were going on.

Ai stepped up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. Everyone made fun of his height, but the ball of sunshine was seven centimeters even taller than her. "Don't despair, Shōyō. I'm more than sure you'll have more fun practicing with Kōtarō-san. Trust me." She winked.

When he didn't look too convinced, she sighed with a hopeless smile. Ai went behind him and pushed on his back to lead him to the Fukurōdani people chatting in the middle of the court. "I'll only be a minute," she told the guys behind her.

"Lucky Kageyama and Tsukishima. Even Yamaguchi..." Hinata grumbled.

She chuckled as they approached Bokuto. "Kōtarō-san."

"Hey, hey, Ai-chan! Hinata!" It seemed the ace was always smiling ear to ear, when he wasn't in "emo mode" that was, as his team called it.

Noticing her talking to the captain, Akaashi also joined their conversation, mostly to keep an eye on his captain.

"Would you take care of Shōyō for me tonight? I'll be borrowing Kei." She patted Hinata's head and kept her hands on his shoulders from behind.

"Yeah! Let's practice together, Hinata!" Bokuto laughed and agreed to her request with a loud voice.

"Is Kuroo-san going with you tonight as well?" Akaashi asked her.

She shifted her attention to him, turning around to make eye contact as she spoke. "That depends on Kuro. He may come back to the gym early," she predicted.

Not wanting to keep the others waiting, she gave Hinata a quick hug and let go, rubbing his back reassuringly. "Have fun, Shōyō."

She left the three of them with a thankful smile and went back to the others.

Kuroo met her with crossed arms.

Ai raised an eyebrow at him, challenging him to state his mind, but he refused.

"Shall we go now?" he said curtly.

"Please." She gestured for Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and Kageyama to come along. After gently pushing on the setter's back, she fell in line next to Tsukishima, locking arms with him.

They walked out into the night air and made the short distance to the main school building.

Question:

Did Yamaguchi and Tsukishima go to middle school together?

Did they play volleyball then?

Total Word Count: 2307