Haikyuu: Reborn in Karasuno

After reclaiming a point, Jozenji didn't slow down. Instead of playing steady, they doubled down on their free-spirited style. Led by their captain, Terushima, the team grew more aggressive, their attacks chaotic and unpredictable. They played with pure athleticism—never the same move twice.

For Karasuno, blocking against such opponents meant never knowing where the ball would go, or who would suddenly leap for the next spike.

Trailing in points only seemed to fuel Jozenji's fire, and though Karasuno struggled at times to keep up with the wild rhythm, they refused to back down. Their own offense remained sharp. Both sides clashed point for point until Hayato slipped in a brilliant dump shot, pushing the score to 23–18. Karasuno was just two points away from sealing the first set.

"Great dump shot!"

"Nice one, Hayato!"

After high-fiving his teammates, Hayato glanced at the scoreboard. Two more points. Time to end this set strong.

On the other side, a Jozenji wing spiker groaned.

"Sorry! I thought he'd spike it!"

His teammates clapped him on the back, reassuring him. "That feint was too good. Don't worry about it."

The next serve went to Terushima.

"Give it to me!" the captain barked, drawing all Karasuno eyes his way.

But at the last moment, the passer faked—and spiked the ball himself.

"Tch, what a pain." Hayato tensed, ready to dive, when Daichi's voice cut through.

"Leave it to me!"

The captain cleanly received.

"Chance ball! Follow up!"

Sugawara was already at the net, hands poised. At his signal, Karasuno launched into their multi-person synchronized attack. Except for Sugawara, all five players surged forward in unison, a wave of orange and black that crashed down on Jozenji's defense.

Jozenji's blockers, flustered, jumped to cover Hayato—only to watch Sugawara set perfectly to Tanaka. Wide open, Tanaka crushed the ball into the floor.

"Alright! Set point!"

"Tanaka, nice kill!"

The cheerleaders roared his name, making Tanaka puff up proudly. He struck a fist-pumping pose—only for Sugawara to smack him on the back.

"Cut it out. Focus."

"Y-yes…" Tanaka wilted, shuffling back into position. Hayato grinned at him.

"Yo Popular Tanaka-kun"

"Shut it and get ready already."

Across the net, Terushima's eyes gleamed.

"Everyone attacking together like that… that's awesome!"

He leaned close to his teammates. Jozenji's manager, Misaki Hana, watching from the bench, paled. No way… He wouldn't…

But of course, Terushima would.

The very next chance ball, their libero set high. Every Jozenji player suddenly surged forward.

"Wait—they're trying a synchronized attack too!?" Hitoka gasped from the stands.

The attempt was chaos. With no practice or coordination, the ball sailed harmlessly over Terushima's head. Three players who had already jumped flailed helplessly as the ball dropped untouched to the floor.

Even Daichi, usually calm, blinked in disbelief. Tsukishima let out a short, incredulous laugh.

The whistle blew. Point, Karasuno. Set won. 25–18.

On Jozenji's bench, their coach buried his face in his hands.

"I knew they'd pull something reckless like that…"

Terushima just laughed, rubbing the back of his head while his coach scolded.

"That move takes practice. You can't just wing it! Karasuno's tough enough already—don't hand them free points."

But Jozenji's players only grinned.

"That #10 really flies."

"And #13—when he blocks, it feels like facing a hawk swooping down."

"They really live up to that banner of theirs. 'Fly.' Perfect."

They glanced at their own banner—"Solid and Strong." It felt stiff, outdated compared to Karasuno's.

"Let's change ours already," one player muttered.

"It doesn't suit us anymore."

"'Solid and Strong' is fine," Hana protested softly, clutching a water bottle.

Terushima took a swig and shrugged.

"Coolness is subjective. But it doesn't match us. Not our generation—or probably any generation after us, either."

His teammates chuckled, nodding in agreement. Hana bit her lip. She remembered what the old captain—the last of the sturdy, disciplined Jozenji—had once asked Terushima: What will you do when the game turns against you?

Terushima had answered with that same reckless grin: Play happily, no matter what.

Now, as she watched his freewheeling squad against a strong Karasuno, Hana's heart sank. Without that solid foundation of the past, when the match inevitably grew rough, could Terushima's team really keep smiling?

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