With a crooked smile, the hooked-nose captain of North Sendai stepped out from among his players. "Well, well. You actually came, brat. Brave of you. But… only three people?"
Jin just waved his hand dismissively and strode straight onto the court, Hinata and Kageyama right behind him. As he passed the captain, he smirked. "For a nobody team like yours, three is already overkill."
Since North Sendai's coach usually only showed up in the afternoons, morning practice was run by the third-years. That meant the seven or eight players in the gym were all looking to their captain for orders.
One of the first-years jogged over to whisper something in his ear.
The captain chuckled. "Ahh, no wonder you're bold. That's Miyagi Prefecture's so-called King of the Court. The infamous setter himself."
At the words 'King of the Court', Kageyama stiffened. His eyes narrowed, jaw tight.
Hinata leaned in, whispering, "Careful. He gets scary when people bring that up."
But Jin only grinned wider. :Perfect. Exactly what I wanted.'
Kageyama muttered, "You'd better be ready. If I'm setting for you, I'm not holding back."
Hinata brightened, nodding madly. "See? He's a good guy when he's on your side!"
Kageyama instantly smacked him on the back of the head, sending him stumbling forward.
The North Sendai captain sneered. "Doesn't matter who you are. Three against five? Fine. I'll crush you."
He gestured, calling over a few of his better players. They gathered on court, faces smug, ready to humiliate Karasuno's trio.
"Since you're so eager," the captain said, spinning the ball in his hand, "we'll serve first."
He walked to the line, tossed the ball, and slammed it down with all his power, not even giving them time to prepare.
Jin tilted his head lazily, completely unbothered. "That's it? Kageyama, get ready for a toss."
The serve rocketed toward the floor. At the last second, Jin darted back, let it drop low, and popped his leg out, receiving it cleanly with the side of his foot. The ball flew up perfectly into Kageyama's zone.
Gasps erupted.
"Did he just.. kick it?!" one of the North Sendai players blurted.
"Is he from the soccer club or something?!" another shouted.
It was legal and flashy. Even the North Sendai captain blinked in surprised.
Kageyama's eyes glowed as he stepped in, hands quick. He tossed instantly, the ball snapping off his fingers at frightening speed.
"Too fast! No one can hit that!" a blocker shouted, trying to read the trajectory.
But a blur figure shot past them. Hinata? No the figure leaping was Jin himself, gliding through the air, his gaze locked directly on the captain across the net.
For just a heartbeat, that cocky smile vanished, replaced with something sharp and overwhelming. The intensity of his stare made the captain take an unconscious step back.
*Boom!*
The spike slammed straight into the captain's side, knocking him off his feet and onto the court with a heavy thud.
The entire gym went silent for a moment.
Jin landed, shook out his wrist casually, and grinned. "Oops. You should've dodged faster. Did I miss?" His tone was mocking, like he hadn't just leveled someone with a cannonball of a spike.
The crowd erupted, half in shock, half in awe.
"That power!"
"Monster!"
"What even was that?!"
The captain sat there in dazed, clutching his side, while one of his teammates hurried to toss the ball back toward Jin.
Jin caught it, spinning it casually in his hand. "Relax. That was just my greetings. The real fun's about to start."