The scoreboard flashed:Karasuno 1 – Johzenji 0(Set One: 25–17)
The whistle blew. Players trudged to their benches, dripping with sweat.
Johzenji's side was still laughing. Their captain slapped his teammates' backs like they'd just won."WE LOST WITH STYLE, BABY!" one of them shouted, pumping his fist.The libero was drinking water through a straw hat. No one knew why.
On Karasuno's bench, Ukai crossed his arms. His voice was steady, but his grin had a wicked edge.
"Alright, listen up. You saw how they play — unpredictable, reckless, wild. And yeah, we figured them out… barely. But here's the thing — you can't kill chaos by playing safe. You have to out-chaos them. Beat them at their own game."
Tanaka's eyes went wide. "Coach… are you saying… we can go nuts?"Ukai smirked. "I'm saying stop thinking like a volleyball textbook. If you feel like spiking from the back row while facing the wrong way — do it. If you wanna set with your foot — I mean, maybe don't — but you get the point."Kageyama muttered, "We… already do weird stuff…""Then make it weirder," Ukai barked.
Daichi raised a hand. "Coach, what about structure?"Ukai: "The structure is chaos."
Meanwhile, in the stands
Izumi had her phone out, recording Akira wiping sweat with a towel.Oikawa noticed. "Oi, Izumi. You're supposed to be supporting me. I'm the older, cooler brother."She didn't even look up. "You're the older brother, yes. 'Cooler'? Debatable."Oikawa clutched his chest. "Traitor…"She pointed at the court where Akira was laughing with Hinata. "Look at him — MVP energy. Meanwhile, you're up here drinking vending machine coffee like a tired uncle.""IT'S ESPRESSO!" Oikawa barked.
The people in front turned around to shush them. Izumi leaned forward and whispered, "Also… Akira's spikes? Ten out of ten. Yours? Eh, depends on the day."Oikawa's face turned scarlet. "I'm literally the Grand King, Izumi—""Of pouting," she said sweetly.
Back on the bench
Kiyoko handed water bottles around while Yachi fumbled with towels.Hinata was practically vibrating. "We're gonna go crazy mode next set, right? Like, actually crazy?"Akira leaned forward, grinning. "We're gonna be so chaotic, even Johzenji will think we've lost our minds. Imagine their faces when we start fake-failing on purpose just to bait them."Nishinoya slapped his knee. "Yes! Psychological warfare!"
Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "Great. Now instead of normal stupidity, we'll have tactical stupidity."Akira smirked. "Exactly. Welcome aboard, four-eyes."
Across the court
Johzenji's coach — a calm, bespectacled man who looked nothing like his team — adjusted his clipboard."Alright," he said flatly, "their blocks are tight, their quicks are sharp. We'll need… more chaos."His players gasped like he'd just announced free cake.One raised his hand: "Coach, can I serve from under the net?""No. That's illegal."Another: "What if we all yell 'PANCAKE' mid-play?"The coach actually considered it. "…Do it."
Back in the stands
Oikawa leaned toward Izumi. "Fine. I'll admit — Akira's good. But you know I could block him if I wanted."Izumi snorted. "Sure, if he was asleep.""I—HEY!""I'd still put my money on Akira. He's the Holy Wall. You're… The Slightly Irritated Gate."Oikawa actually stood up in protest. "I'll show you a gate—!"Aoba Johsai's libero Iwaizumi grabbed him by the collar and sat him back down. "Sit. People are staring."
Ukai stood as the referee signaled two minutes to start.
"Alright," he said to the team, voice low and dangerous. "We go into Set Two owning the chaos. Don't be afraid to laugh mid-play, mess with their heads, and make the crowd think we're crazy. We'll control the game by making it look like no one's in control."
Akira smirked. "Sounds like home."Hinata's eyes blazed. "Let's do this!"Tanaka cracked his knuckles. "Time to become art."
The buzzer rang. Both teams stood. The crowd leaned in.
Izumi grinned from the stands"Oh, this is gonna be good. Go Nii-chan! …Number two."Oikawa groaned. "I hate you."
The referee's whistle pierced the air.Set Two was about to begin — and the court was about to descend into beautiful madness.