The brackets were posted like a giant war map on the wall outside the gym entrance.
Clusters of players crowded around it, whispering, pointing, smirking.The Inter-High tournament tree stretched wide — but at the very top, certain names stood out like glowing targets.
Aoba Johsai. Shiratorizawa. Karasuno. Date Tech.
Hinata's eyes sparkled. "Look, look! If we win our first two matches… we'll face Seijoh in the quarterfinals!"
Akira grinned, glancing toward the far end of the hall where Oikawa stood with his team, scanning the same board. Their eyes met — Oikawa raised an eyebrow, silently mouthing: Bring it.
From the stands, Izumi was already in chaos mode.She'd claimed a prime front-row seat, a Karasuno flag in her left hand, a Seijoh flag in her right, and a bag of popcorn in her lap.
A girl next to her whispered, "Wait, are you supporting both teams?"
Izumi pointed dramatically at Akira, then at Oikawa. "Those two are my idiot brothers. If you hear me yelling random insults, don't be alarmed — it's just sibling tradition."
Across the court, Oikawa spotted her and made a heart with his hands.Izumi deadpanned and mouthed: Lose gracefully.
Ukai clapped his hands, pulling Karasuno into a tight pre-match huddle."First round — Yamagata West. They're quick on transitions but shaky on receives. Hit hard, hit fast, and don't give 'em breathing room."
Akira bounced on his toes, rolling his shoulders.Hinata was practically vibrating.Kageyama's stare could cut steel.
The referee's whistle cut through the air."Karasuno to serve!"
Akira stepped up first — a rare move, but Ukai wanted to send a message.The ball felt like a live current in his hands.He tossed it high.
The thwack of contact echoed like a gunshot. The serve was a slicing bullet down the sideline, making the Yamagata receiver flinch — the ball ricocheted into the stands.
From above, Izumi's voice rang out:"YES! That's my little brother! And yes, Oikawa, he's better than you!"
Oikawa, sitting with Seijoh's bench between their own warm-up, leaned toward Iwaizumi. "If she wasn't blood, I'd block her on every social app."
Karasuno rolled forward like a storm.Hinata soared on quicks, Asahi slammed from the back row, and Akira dominated the net — blocking clean, turning kills into statements.
Every time Akira landed a spike, Ushijima — watching from the opposite court — tracked him with the same calm, measuring gaze.Every time Karasuno scored, Oikawa's smirk faded just slightly, as though calculating exactly what they'd face if the bracket brought them together.
The set ended 25–13.The second, 25–15.
Karasuno advanced.
Izumi jumped to her feet, waving both flags like a maniac."That's my boys! Oikawa, you're next — don't embarrass the family name!"
Oikawa shot back, "Worry about Akira not burning out before I crush him!"
Akira, passing by, patted Oikawa's shoulder with a sweet smile. "Don't worry, I'll save enough energy to humiliate you personally."
Ushijima, overhearing, simply said, "We will see who is humiliated."The air seemed to drop in temperature.
The stage was only just warming up — and the giants were already circling each other.