A few days had passed since Hinata's first practice with Karasuno, meeting new faces and old. He still couldn't believe Kageyama decided to go to the same school as himself, however he was grateful for the opportunity. Kageyama's unreal setting skills would have been a pain to deal with on another team.

As Hinata got himself ready in the clubroom, a figure knocked on the door. "Hey Hinata, you nearly done? Takeda-sensei has arrived with the bus!" the figure said with an urgent tone. 'Oh crap, I gotta hurry.' He thought as he tied his shoe laces, he grabbed his bag and opened the door.

The figure, revealed to be Ennoshita, sighed as he closed the clubroom door behind Hinata and locked it. "Get going Hinata, before Daichi starts shouting." Ennoshita said as Hinata nodded, "Yes Ennoshita-san!" He exclaimed as he ran down the stairs and towards the small bus that Takeda-sensei had rented out for the trip.

Just as Hinata arrived, Daichi grabbed everyone's attention. "Ok everyone, we're going to our first practice match away from the school. Everyone is representing the school, so please be on your best behaviour-" He then paused before looking at everyone with a grim expression. "Or else." He said as everyone's sweat dropped, nodding in agreement.

With haste, Takeda rounded up everyone and shuffled them into the bus. As everyone got seated, Hinata was curious about the team they were playing against. Having moved to Japan from Rio, Hinata wasn't as well-versed in highschool volleyball teams besides Karasuno.

He noticed Narita behind him and decided to ask. "Hey, Narita-san?" He asked, causing Narita to look in his direction. "What's up Hinata?" "What's the buzz about Aoba Johsai?" Hinata asked, with Narita tilting his head before a look of understanding hit him. "Ahhh I forgot, you don't really know any highschool teams besides Karasuno right?" "Eiwa High but yeah, no, that's about it." Hinata replied. Narita smiled, "Aoba Johsai are ranked top four in the prefecture. Their team is very strong." Narita said as Sugawara rose up from behind Narita. "Their individual players are very strong, they could've been aces on other teams. However they chose to go to Aoba Johsai." Hinata nodded as he heard what Sugawara had told him.

"Wouldn't that be a very difficult team to work with? With all their immense talent, wouldn't their egos get in the way?" Hinata asked, curious as to how a team of essentially ace level players learn to work together. Daichi pitched in, swaying a little as Takeda started driving. "That's where their coach and the true monster of Aoba Johsai come into play." 'Monster?' Hinata thought, confused by that statement. "Their coach emphasises a team oriented playstyle, using a multitude of combination plays. However, the true orchestrator is their monster 3rd year setter-" "Tooru Oikawa." Kageyama finished, surprising Daichi a little. "He was my senpai at Kitagawa-Daiichi." The boys nodded. "I was actually invited to go there, however, Shiratorizawa was my first choice. Then here, then Aoba Johsai." Kageyama said non-chalantly.

"He's an amazing setter, able to draw a 100 percent out of his hitters. He makes his teammates better and keeps their offense running like a machine." He said as Hinata looked out the window. "So instead of a dictator like your middle-school self, he's like a Great-King or commander? Leading his knights into battle?" Hinata asked, causing Kageyama to freeze but nod in agreement. Hinata shook his head, "He's had 2 years more experience than you Kageyama, of course he can do things you can't." Hinata said, causing Kageyama to frown a little.

"BUT!" Hinata added, causing nearly everyone to jump. "The same goes for you. Your tosses are insanely accurate, so you could get a toss up to me perfectly 8-9 times out of 10 with little sway. Oikawa isn't that accurate, I'm sure." Hinata said as Takeda parked the bus. "So be a little more confident in your setting Kageyama." Hinata said as he got out of the bus first. The rest of the boys looked a bit surprised by Hinata's sudden praise towards Kageyama. "For someone you'd think was a dimwit, he says some smart things." Tsuklishima said as a little chuck came from a few of the boys.

As everyone exited the bus, Hinata was overwhelmed by sheer scale of the school campus. From what Yamaguchi had told him about the school, they have more than 2 gymnasiums! That's more than what they have in Karasuno. As Hinata was enamoured by Aoba Johsai's size, he noticed Tanaka-san and Tsukishima standing in front of some students, with Kageyama behing them. Curiousity got the best of Hinata and he walked over to them. As he reached them, he could hear mumbles of a conversation between the Karasuno and Aoba Johsai students. He looked to see who they were talking to and a thought immediately entered Hinata's mind.

"Turnip-head?" Hinata said out of the blue. The conversation went quiet as all the boys looked to Hinata. 'Turnip-head' or better known as Kindaichi went red with embarassment while the boy beside him took a quick glance at Kindaichi before snickering to his side. Tanaka and Tsukishima were kicking themselves in laughter. "Oi Hinata, you didn't have to do him like that! BAHAHAHA" Tanaka exclaimed while Tsukishima held his fist up to Hinata for a fist bump. "I thought I was good at names, nice one Tangerine-kun." Hinata's eye twitched. "What's with you and Kageyama giving me ridiculous names! IT'S HINATA!" He exclaimed as he jumped in the air.

Kindaichi got a flash of nostalgia as he watched the small, orange haired player jump into the air. 'Wait, it can't be...' "Y-you were the captain of Yukioka right?" Kindaichi asked. Hinata nodded, ending his rather miniscule assault on Tsukishima. "It's Yukigaoka actually." Hinata corrected Kindaichi, who nodded and apologized. "And you go to Karasuno?" Kindaichi asked. Hinata nodded again, causing Kindaichi to look at Kageyama then back at Hinata. "Kageyama played different." Kindaichi said plainly, surprising everyone by his change in tone.

"After meeting you, he played differently. For the last 3 years, Kageyama set these super fast sets that everyone just hated. His personality didn't help either." Kindaichi said, creating a pit in Kageyama's chest. "He was the 'King of the Court', a ruthless setter who demanded nothing less than perfection." This statement caused Kageyama to flinch, which didn't go unnoticed as Tanaka and Hinata stepped forward. Tsukishima surpressed the urge to say something quippy, as he could sense the tension in the air.

"Okay enough, get to your point." Hinata and Tanaka said in unison, slightly startling Kindaichi and his companion. Kindaichi regained himself and sighed. "But after meeting you, he communicated more, he set us balls that felt like they were almost hand crafted for us. It wasn't perfect, the finals showed that he still had that kingly side to him. But he kept his word, he showed on the court that he's trying." Kindaichi said, Tanaka tilted his head in confusion. "Trying what?" "To be better." Hinata said as he turned to Kageyama, giving him a knowing nod and smile.

Suddenly, Daichi appeared, sliding into view. "WHAT ARE YOU BOYS DOING?!" He yelled, causing all the Karasuno boys to freeze in fear. "STOP CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR OTHER SCHOOLS!" Daichi added as he grabbed the boys before bowing to Kindaichi. "Sorry for any trouble they caused." He apologized, with Kindaichi and his friend waving it off. "I-its fine." Kindaichi said as his sweat dropped. 'Karasuno's captain is scary.' The two Aoba Johsai players thought at the same time as the Karasuno players began to fade out of sight.

Daichi dragged his kouhais to the gymnasium they were using, not without chewing them out for straying away and causing hassle. Sugawara and Takeda-sensei sigh. "Atleast they don't seem nervous?" Takeda said as Sugawara nodded. "It is a practice match, the nerves shouldn't really get to them." Sugawara mentioned, however Yamaguchi could feel the seeds of doubt, nerves and unease begin to grow inside of him. The team began to gather around their bench. Takeda-sensei pulled out small notebook and book from his pocket.

"Due to my, well, lack of volleyball experience and know-how, I've been given a study guide by your gracious senpais." He said as Sugawara and Shimizu waved, Tanaka cried from the wave. "And with their help, we've decided on the team." All the boys went silent, eyes fixated on the little notebook Takeda-sensei had, no doubt holding the team and rotations. "Our setter is of course, Kageyama-kun. Our opposite hitter will be Sawamura-kun, our outside hitters will be Tanaka-kun and Ennoshita-kun while the middle-blockers will be Tsukishima-kun and Hinata-kun." Takeda stated as the boys processed what had just been said.

"Hinata as a middle-blocker? Wouldn't he better suited for a wing spiker role? His recieving and spiking are top notch." Ennoshita pointed out while Hinata blushed from the compliment. Takeda-sensei nodded before signalling towards Sugawara. "Hinata would ideally be a wing-spiker, with his versatility as an emergency setter, reciever and spiker. However, we don't have a libero for this match." The first years watched as all the other boys' faces went grim for a second. "So Hinata will help bolster our defence when he's in the back line for this match. And when he's serving, he's in the opposite position, so he could do an emergency set and so on. Also his insane vertical, agility and speed will make him a nightmare for their blockers when he's in the front row." Sugawara said as Ennoshita nodded in understanding.

As everyone began to got ready for the practice match, a few of the Aoba Johsai players were giving glances at Hinata. "He's a middle blocker? Not the libero?" One of them questioned, Kindaichi shook his head. 'I've got to deal with him in the middle?' Kindaichi whined, remembering his match with Hinata. He went up to his teammates. "Hey guys, that shrimp over there. He's the guy I was talking about." He said, causing their number 1's eyes to open wide in curiosity. "Oh, he's the one who helped Kageyama?" Their number 1 asked, with Kindaichi nodding. "yes Iwaizumi-san." "Huh, this is going to be an interesting practice match." Iwaizumi said as he grabbed his phone, seemingly texting someone.

Lineups:
[Aoba Johsai]

Back row:
[2] Matsukawa (Middle Blocker) (serving)
[5] Yahaba (Setter)
[1] Iwaizumi (Outside Hitter

Front row:
[3] Hanamaki (Outside Hitter)
[4] Kunimi (Opposite Hitter)
[6] Kindaichi (Middle Blocker)

[Karasuno]

Back row:
[3] Ennoshita (Outside Hitter) (in front of their serving spot.)
[6] Tsukishima (Middle Blocker)
[4] Kageyama (Setter)

Front row:
[1] Daichi (Opposite Hitter)
[5] Hinata (Middle Blocker)
[2] Tanaka (Outside Hitter)

Hinata's felt the goosebumps form on his skin as he watched Aoba Johsai's number 2 get ready to serve. 'My first highschool practice match, and we get to play a Top 4 team!' Hinata happily thought as he took a deep breathe, stilling himself before breathing out. His expression then turned serious, as if he was locked in.

Kindaichi watched Hinata on the opposite side of the net and he felt chills run down his spine. 'He's still got that aura to him. I wonder how Oikawa-san would react to this.' He thought as the match began... or well it would have, if not for the screaming SWARM of girls suddenly entering the gym.

Takeda-sensei, confused at the sight, turned to Sugawara. "Do you know what's up with all those students?" He asked, Sugawara shook his head. "No, but I have my suspicions." Sugawara replied, with his suspicions coming to fruition as one of the girls screamed. "OIKAWA-SAN!" Both teams looked at eachother, the Aoba Johsai players apologising profusely, while the Karasuno players waved it off as fine. Except Tanaka, who looked like he was about to murder someone. "Damn pretty boys." He said, huffing his chest.

Iwaizumi did his best to calm himself, the breathing techniques his cousin taught did what they could. But after multiple 'Oikawa-san' and screams piercing his skull, he finally had enough. Iwaizumi grabbed a volleyball and scanned through the crowd of girls and his eyes spotted the target. He threw the ball like a pitcher, letting it zoom towards a tall, curly puff of hair. "AH!" A male voice exclaimed as they rubbed their head. The ball landed back perfectly in Iwaizumi's hands. As Hinata's jaw dropped on the floor, he looked at the boy who's head was hit and he could sense it. 'It has to be him...' "Oikawa-san." Hinata said to himself.

"That hurt Iwa-chan!" Oikawa whined as he made his way to the teams. Iwaizumi glared at Oikawa, causing the setter to tense up. Their coach sighed, "Oikawa, you're still recovering from that knee injury. So either stay out of the gym or sit quietly on the bench. We have a practice match to continue." His coach proposed. Oikawa nodded as he looked at Karasuno. Hinata knew that gaze, 'He's scanning us, judging our abilities just by appearance.' Hinata thought as he remembered Luca would do the same thing before every match.

Oikawa moved his eyes to Hinata who gladly returned the gaze. Their interlocked stares lasted for only a few seconds as Oikawa's eyes widened. He smirked, "That's the 'Chibi' captain you were talking about huh?" He said as he looked at Kindaichi and Kunimi, who nodded in reply. "Coach, sub me in." Oikawa said as their coach looked confused. "But the match has just started." "Then sub me in whenever, this match has captured my attention." Oikawa said as he noticed Kageyama. "Hey Tobio-chaaaan." Oikawa yelled, causing Kageyama to flinch and wave a little.

After discussing with the referee and Karasuno's coach and captain, Oikawa switched with Yahaba. Yahaba didn't mind, he had too much respect for his senpais. He was also curious about why the small, red-headed middle blocker of Karasuno had captured their captain's attention. He looked at Hinata with a side-eye, 'I mean, what could he do?' Yahaba questioned as his furture self cursed him for jinxing it.

The match restarted as Matsukawa served the ball, 'Standing serve, veerinhg towards this zone, Daichi-san has it covered.' Hinata watched as the ball floated towards Daichi, who recieved it cleanly for Kageyama.

(FLASHBACK)

It was the day after the 3v3 matches. Kageyama and Hinata were running the high, 1st tempo attack when Sugawara walked up to them. "Hey, Hinata and Kageyama." He said, grabbing the first years attention. "Since you both have volleyball experience, I think you should have some signs or something for your attacks." Sugawara suggested, with the two first years nodding. "I know you can run the 3rd tempo center attack. A normal quick, a slide attack and that high first tempo attack." Sugawara said as Hinata and Kageyama looked at eachother. They began doing hand signs, some of which Sugawara knew he had seen in an anime at least once.

After they finalised their attack signs, Sugawara smiled. "You're happy to change them when you wish or add to them whenever. Just make sure you're both descrete about it." He said as he put a finger on his lips, signaling them to be hidden.

(PRESENT)

As Hinata saw the ball float into the air from Daichi's recieve, he looked to Kageyama, who held up a 3 with his fingers. Hinata smirked, 'Starting off with a bang huh?' Hinata questioned in his mind as he got his run-up distance. Kageyama made his way under the ball and smiled as he set a slow, high arcing set. Kindaichi's eyes widened as he felt his body go tense, the rest of the boys looked in confusion but Oikawa had a knowing smile on his face.

As Hinata began his run-up, he felt the force he applied to the floor increase and increase as he gained speed. He could feel time begin to slow down as his senses began to flare. 'Now, lets-' Hinata pushed off the ground. 'Fly!' he though as he soared into the air. Oikawa watched in awe as the small shrimp on the other team jumped like there was no tomorrow. The blockers jumped too late, Kindaichi attempted to slow down their timing but he didn't anticipate Hinata reaching the peak so fast! Hinata spiked the ball down, over the 3 blockers and hard on to the court floor.

As Hinata landed, Takeda's eyes widened in surprise, believing he saw an image of wings appear from Hinata. "H-He flew..." Takeda said as the sound of a crow could be heard in the background. "He's like-" Takeda remembered the first day he met Hinata, the name of Hinata's idol engrained in his mind after hearing the boy's pasionate re-telling of the story.

"The Little Giant."