The two teams had a short meeting before the start of the final set. Coaches on both sides advised their group of players in black and orange or white and turquoise.

Seijoh had their backs to Karasuno's flag, so Ai could see the crows' positions from the front.

Asahi served first, and then came a spike from the opposing ace.

For Oikawa's serves, Nishinoya, Daichi, and Asahi's triple team were assigned the mark. The third-years managed to get it up, and they thankfully scored a point on the captain's second serve.

The captain in turquoise served, and Asahi got it up. However, Kyōtani made a direct attack as instructed by Iwaizumi.

"Oikawa's serves are definitely a problem," Takinoue conceded.

"Come on, you have to stop him," Shimada pleaded.

Ai wanted to agree and mind the setter's serves, but her eyes kept going to the No. 16. Kyōtani had seemed like he was a slow starter who got stronger as the game went on, and his engines were still warmed up from the previous set.

"Fight on, Karasuno!" Yachi supported the team.

"Oikawa, one more nice serve!" the vice-captain yelled.

The people on the stands across from them yelled their support for the serve. "Olé!"

Daichi managed to get it up, and Kageyama set it to Tanaka. The second-year got a block-out from Kyōtani. The two faced off after that, and Tsukishima watched their intimidation contest.

Shimada sighed in relief. "Whew, they somehow managed to cut off his serves."

"Well done, Ryu!" his sister cheered, and Ai nodded in agreement.

Third set, 2-1.

"Tsukishima, nice serve!" Sugawara yelled.

It went to the libero, and this time, Kyōtani got a block-out from Tanaka.

"Nice kill," Kunimi called to his senpai lethargically, and Matsukawa smiled upon seeing Kyōtani doing well.

Aoba Johsai was currently fighting Karasuno with a few weapons: an ace with power and strength, the number 16 who was an annoying decoy on top of his offensive prowess, and Oikawa, who was starting to land his fortified serves.

If they didn't do something about one of the three, Karasuno would be in serious trouble.

.

7-6.

"The final set is going really close, too," Takinoue said solemnly.

"But neither team has taken a significant lead yet," Shimada pointed out. "This is where they have to fight really hard not fall ever further behind."

On the Mad Dog's next spike, the blond first-year switched places with Tanaka and blocked the ball. It was good to see Tsukishima thinking, even within the chaotic court. He also called an accurate out-of-bounds spike by Kyōtani.

Watari put a hand on Kyōtani's shoulder and tried to encourage him. "Switch gears! Just focus-" The libero was cut off when the other second-year aggressively shrugged off his touch.

Before Iwaizumi could scold the hot-headed second-year, the bench called for a change of players. The lone-wolf "Kyōken-chan" switched out to cool down, and Kunimi went onto the court. Kyōtani stomped off to the warmup zone.

Matsukawa also went in for the rotation and took his place in the front line. Watari jogged back from the court to stand with the other libero and another player.

The game continued, but she kept an eye on the warmup zone. She watched, but didn't hear, as Yahaba forcefully cornered Kyōtani to the wall and said something that made the three other second-years straighten their backs.

On the court, Kageyama read into Kunimi's feint as Hinata and Tanaka blocked. The setter dropped to his knees, but he received nicely for Nishinoya to toss.

"Ryu!"

Tanaka spiked a straight shot.

10-12, Karasuno.

Kunimi looked annoyed at Kageyama being praised by Daichi, but there was soon a blow of the whistle to change players.

After graduating from Minami Daisan Middle School, Kyōtani had continued to have zero willingness to cooperate and no respect. He lacked the team spirit of the sport, and he was taken out of Seijoh's team at the beginning of the year, even though his actual skill was miles above anyone else in his grade. But now, he was forming a connection with the team; a wonderful team that he was blessed with.

And so, the sixteenth player was soon called back onto the court, as judged by their experienced coach. A small part of her was glad that he had more honorable sportsmanship than the Haizaki she knew.

Saeko glanced down toward the turquoise team's bench. "Huh? He's back already."

"They're putting him back in? That was quick," Shimada said.

"It's probably a gamble for Seijoh, though," Takinoue guessed.

"Is it?" Ai wondered. She hadn't had a chance to speak to Yahaba, or any of the second-years from Seijoh for that matter. She'd talked to the third and first-years, but no one in the same grade in Aoba Johsai. That was something she was hoping to do sometime.

"Tanaka, nice serve!" Ennoshita encouraged when the wing spiker stood at the end line.

The libero connected it, and the setter tossed the ball.

"Mad Dog-chan!"

Kyōtani wasn't expecting Oikawa to give him the set, but he went in for it and scored a super inner spike.

"All right!" Kindaichi yelled, but Yahaba was louder and surprised Kunimi.

Ai couldn't help but feel glad for him. She shook off the negative memories of her basketball players' past that crept into her mind. They were bound to distract her, and she couldn't afford that right now.

"Hitoka-chan." She smiled when the younger girl turned to her. "Let me know when you see something out there that I don't, okay?"

Yachi nodded, a little confused at the sudden request, and wondered if she could catch something that even Ai missed. "Okay."

They gave each other a high five, mostly to help Ai ground herself to the present, and focused on doing their part for the game.

Downstairs, Sugawara wondered what he would have done if Kyōtani had joined their school team. As a setter, it was his and Kageyama's role to choose how and when to use their players.

And, the more Oikawa utilized his teammates, Ai had a feeling that he was similar to someone else she knew very well. His ability to use his pawns was just like when Akashi strategized his winning plays in both basketball and shōgi. Aoba Johsai's players were all soldiers under the commanding general, Oikawa Tōru. She couldn't shake off the resemblance of how they each tamed beasts of their own and pulled out the best of the players.

.

Hinata's spikes were weak when his course of attack was limited by blocks. Although Daichi and Asahi managed to receive Oikawa's serves, they needed to push back somehow. With Kyōtani fitting into the team after being switched in, their opponent got even more formidable. It was crucial that Hinata and Kageyama gained points for themselves, to preserve positivity and hope.

A tie of 15-15, and Oikawa's serve.

"Geh, again?" Saeko groaned.

Shimada made a face and sighed. "I feel like my lifespan gets shorter every time Oikawa goes up to serve."

Yachi agreed. "I feel like I'm going to throw up..."

"For those of us on our side, I'm sure we all do," Takinoue thought.

Ai rubbed the blonde girl's back.

The second-year manager had been concentrating on the match itself rather than the result. Meaningful matches were more valuable to her than the verdict. But, perhaps she should start caring more about victory again. Her middle school team did too much of that, but winning was understandably important to Karasuno.

Iwaizumi and Kindaichi shouted encouragements to the captain, and the first-year middle blocker hit past Tanaka's sideways jump block next. It was a very sharp broad attack. Kageyama could tell more than anyone how different his movements were from the Interhigh Prelims.

Maybe I should have said something to Tobio and Shōyō before this game, she thought. She'd mistaken her words that night in early June, but she could have said something today since their devastating defeat.

Aoba Johsai got two points in a row, making it 15-16.

The guys rotated positions, and Hinata went in for Nishinoya. "As long as I'm around, you're the strongest!" he said, borrowing Kageyama's own words.

Everyone blinked at the awesome phrase. Annoyed at his big mouth, the setter reminded Hinata of his unsuccessful spikes, and Tanaka complimented his groundless confidence.

She smiled. It seemed that her worries were unnecessary.

Although the middle blocker jumped a little too close to the net, there was no one there to block him. With a flick of his wrist, he dunked the next toss that Kageyama threw him.

———

Late August in Tokyo

(2 Months Ago) (continued)

Kuroo guided them to a room with sliding doors like every other classroom. He faced her and the three first-years from Karasuno. "Wait here. I'll get the keys."

The captain turned on his heels and ran down the hallway of his school.

"Umm, what are we doing here?" Yamaguchi questioned timorously.

She faced them. "When Seijuro plays basketball, he strategizes the entire game. Similarly, I've seen Kenma analyzing the plays during matches. I'd like you to try practicing the art of it."

Kageyama cocked his head to the side.

She smiled. "How do you three feel about shōgi?"

"Shōgi?" they repeated.

Just then, Kuroo came jogging back from the staff room. "Got it!" He unlocked the door, rolled it open, and turned the lights on.

The small room had a couple of long tables and chairs that took up most of the space. Ai wandered to one of the cabinets, opening it and searching for the board game. When she found one that seemed to be for beginners, she took it out and placed it at the end of one of the tables.

Opening the wooden box with the pieces, she shook them out onto the checkered, wooden board. It had a red line on the third row of both ends. "Kei, you're up first."

They sat across from each other, lining up the pawns to begin. Each wooden piece had a single character written in black ink and red arrows to show where they could move. It was inexplicably helpful.

She took the king's pawn (王) while Tsukishima used the challenger's pawn (玉). "Go ahead."

The three others surrounded their table as Tsukishima made the first move. A few minutes into the game, Kageyama looked bored to her left, and Kuroo yawned on her right, leaning against the end of the table between her and her shōgi opponent. Yamaguchi hovered over Tsukishima's shoulder respectfully, taking interest in everything his best friend did.

"Would you like to start a game amongst the three of you while we play?"

"What happened to playing volleyball?" Kuroo complained.

"Mind games are practice, too." Her eyes didn't leave the board as she moved her knight into the enemy's territory. She flipped the pentagonal piece over, promoting it. "You can go back to the gym if you'd like, Kuro. Tobio, Tadashi, take out a set and start a new game beside us."

Yamaguchi was glued to Tsukishima's side, so Kageyama grabbed another board. The setter took a seat next to her and began with an unsatisfied expression.

"Tobio, if you want to become a good leader like Tōru-san, you have to learn to be a good general on the battlefield." She raised her head. "And Tadashi, I'm sure you'll be able to help the hotheads on the court from outside when I'm not able to."

Yamaguchi nodded his head, understanding that she meant when they played in official tournaments. Ai couldn't possibly trade places with Kiyoko and have her mentor stay up in the audience.

She returned her attention to her match with Tsukishima.

"Why shōgi?" Kuroo asked, slouching on the table with his elbows.

Ai reached out and touched his arm. "I don't want to keep you here for my sake. Go," she urged.

The third-year seemed to have an inner debate, but chose to stay. "You have a habit of deflecting my questions," he smirked.

Ai chuckled. "I don't mean for you to suffer." She shot him a playful look. "Most of the time."

Kuroo pushed his shoulder into hers. "You're a tease."

"Look who's talking," she sassed back.

"Checkmate." Tsukishima clicked the bishop he had taken from her into one of the little squares on the board.

Ai surveyed the field, searching for options to escape. She found none. "Amazing, Kei." She smiled.

The first-year smirked in return. "I thought you were good at it."

"I never said I was," she responded, studying the position of the small wooden pentagons. "I've not once won against Seijuro or Shintarō-kun."

"He's that good, huh?" Kuroo smirked. "And, he never let you win?"

"He prides himself in his victories. He would never lose." She started resetting the board. "Besides, I wouldn't let him go easy on me."

Kuroo was quiet for a moment, which she thought was very unlike him. "Play me next."

He took Tsukishima's vacant seat, and the middle blocker moved on to watch Yamaguchi and Kageyama play.

Tsukishima laughed at them. "Ha! The King is losing!"

"Shut up!" Kageyama yelled.

She was correct to invite Yamaguchi; he was in the same advanced class as his best friend after all. Kageyama wasn't dumb either and could memorize the volleyball hand signals in a day. Standard academics just weren't his specialty.

The five of them had fun playing against each other that night, but they ended a little early so that they could get some actual volleyball practice before bed.

———

When they went home to Miyagi, Ai continued to invite the three of them to play shōgi. She lent them a board, and they played in the club room because of the chilly autumn weather outside after practice. Some of the others joined in as well, and Ai made wonderful memories.

Tsukishima very rarely lost to her, but she was able to beat Nishinoya a few times because the libero was more obsessed with protecting the queen rather than his king. Tanaka discovered his favorite piece: the dragon (promoted rook). Ai also played a match with Sugawara that spanned over two days.

The unforgettable times were so precious, yet fleeting.

Happy birthday to Akaashi Keiji!!! (12/5)

Question:

Do you think Kyōtani ever crossed paths with Tsukishima's brother's community team?

Total Word Count: 2420