The training days slipped by, and tomorrow June 2nd, the prefectural Interhigh qualifiers would finally begin.
Early in the morning, Karasuno's gym buzzed with independent drills. Everyone was sharp, focused, and pushing themselves harder than ever.
Even during the ten days the trio Hinata, Kageyama, and Jin had been away, Karasuno hadn't slowed down. If anything, the practices had intensified. Under constant repetition, the team's growth was obvious.
Volleyball wasn't just about individual strength. The true measure came when six players stood on court as one.
---
"Long time no see, everyone!"
"We're back!"
"Morning, senpai!"
The familiar voices echoed from the entrance. All eyes turned.
Tanaka was the first to rush over. "Oi! You guys finally crawled back. How was your 'special training'?"
Nishinoya sprinted straight at Hinata, eyes wide. "Wait, did you… grow taller!?"
For nearly two weeks, only those three knew the hell they'd endured. What started as volleyball drills ended with Ukai Sr.'s brutal regimen... anti-human workouts that left scars on both body and pride. They had only been released the day before the match.
Jin strolled in with a dramatic sigh, greeting the upperclassmen before sneaking toward the managers. "Long time no see, Kiyoko-san, Hitoka-chan. I missed you both sooo much. Ten whole days of torture, I thought I'd never make it back alive."
He even rubbed his eyes like a pitiful kid.
Kiyoko raised an eyebrow. Hitoka blinked at him, startled by how much more solid he looked than before. "…He seems more reliable somehow," she murmured without thinking.
Kiyoko glanced at her. "Mm. More responsible too."
"Eh!? N-no, I didn't mean anything weird!" Hitoka waved her hands frantically.
Jin only grinned, dragging them to the bench as he told the exaggerated tales of Ukai Sr.'s "torture methods." Kiyoko barely reacted, but Hitoka's face paled at every detail.
---
Once the coaches arrived, it was back to work. Ukai Sr. wasn't done with his madness yet, he ordered the three to keep their weight vests and lead bags on, even for the official match tomorrow. "You'll see results," he claimed.
But after more than ten days, the trio had adapted. Even under heavy load, they could still play at near-normal levels.
At the end of practice, Coach Ukai gathered everyone. "Listen up. Even though we've trained separately, our goal is the same. Strong teams await us in the prefecture, and if we advance, we'll face them all one by one. But don't panic, even against national-level opponents, your attacks will land. Tomorrow, we start strong. Break through the first round!"
"YES!" the team roared together.
"Win the first game, then the second! Win them all and go to Nationals!" Hinata shouted with all his soul.
Tsukishima clicked his tongue. "Tch. Coming from the guy who looks wilted from training? Yeah, right."
"Ha!? You jerk! I worked super hard!" Hinata snapped back.
Jin folded his arms, smirking. "Didn't gain much, though."
Their eyes met, mischievous grins spreading on both Tsukki and Jin. Hinata's face reddened instantly.
Still, the mood was bright. Laughter, jabs, and confidence filled the air, the perfect mental state for battle. Coach Ukai dismissed them early. "Rest up. Tomorrow, we fight."
---
As everyone prepared to leave, Kiyoko hesitated. "Wait. We… have something for you."
She glanced at Hitoka, who nodded nervously. Together, they took out a slightly worn box from the stands.
"One, two, three!"
With a tug, a black banner unfurled from above, the word "FLY!" bold and white against the dark cloth.
"Whoa! That's awesome!" Daichi clenched his fist, eyes shining.
"I found it while cleaning," Kiyoko explained. "So I washed it… thought we could use it again."
"As expected of Kiyoko-san!" Tanaka and Nishinoya nearly cried. "You're the soul of this team!"
Jin tilted his head. "Wait, there's more, right?"
Everyone's eyes turned upward.
"G-gambare...minna" Kiyoko blushed at the stares and quickly slipped away. A hush fell, until suddenly, the upperclassmen's eyes welled with tears.
Hinata panicked. "W-what's happening? Why are you guys crying!?"
Daichi wiped his face. "You wouldn't get it… This is the first time Shimizu encouraged us."
Sugawara's voice cracked. "We waited three years for this…"
Even Tsukishima fell silent at their emotion.
Jin smirked slyly and called out. "Oi, Hitoka-chan. You're a manager too. Got any words for us?"
The veterans turned expectantly.
"E-eh!? So many people are looking at me… maybe I should just run away," Yachi muttered, panicking.
Jin patted her shoulder lightly. "Relax. Just say it."
She bit her lip, then blurted, "Um… everyone's amazing, tomorrow is the first match… and… I believe Karasuno will fly again!"
The last shout gave her words weight.
The team threw their arms high, pointing toward the stands. "YEAH!!"