"We have a training camp held by Fukurodani during the summer holidays," Kuroo announced, the second and third years barely reacted, already knowing that the camp was coming up, however the first years were more excited.
"Fukurodani?" Inuoka asked, "Didn't they get second place in the prefecture rounds?"
"Yep," Kai answered.
"Will Haiba and I get to play?" Hinata asked.
"Yep! It's about time you two started getting some more game play," Kuroo said, "Besides, we want to show Fukurodani that we're better than them at this camp,"
"Our coach also invited Karasuno," Kozume added.
"Karasuno! The crows! Our destined rivals!" Hinata jumped up and down in excitement, suddenly he stopped, "Wait Fukurodani - like Bokuto the scary ace Fukurodani?"
"Yep, there aren't two Fukurodanis silly," Kuroo answered, "And he's not scary,"
"Coach Nishimura!" Hinata returned to the extra classes, "I've got a training camp during the summer with my team!"
"That's great Hinata," coach Nishimura replied, "Now when are we going to talk about it?"
"What do you mean coach?" Hinata asked.
"I remember after your first tournament you told me that you successfully pulled off a read block. Don't you want to practise that?"
"Well I don't know, I looked into it a bit,"
"That's a good start,"
"I know. So I watched some inter high matches, there's this team Kamomedai,"
"I'm familiar with them. If I'm correct in thinking they're from Nagano, been the prefecture's representative for three years. Got top eight in inter high, good team,"
"Yeah, their no.5 and no.6, I want to beat them!" Hinata declared, "And after beating them, I want to learn all their skills so I can combine their talents and make them my own!"
"No.5, their ace,"
"He's their ace? I was thinking that, but I wasn't sure... Then there really is hope for me becoming Nekoma's future ace!"
"And their no.6,"
"He's soooooo tall, not as tall as their no.10, but still tall, and his blocking is so good,"
"The Immovable Hirugami,"
"Whoa, such a cool nickname,"
"He is one of their better know players after all, just like Hoshiumi, or as some call him the small giant,"
"Then... If Nekoma were to beat Kamomedai in nationals next time, then I could be called the small giant or little giant, and then I'd be just like the Little Giant,"
"Maybe, but I take it that you've seen enough matches to know what you'd be up against,"
"Yeah," Hinata let out a sigh, "That's why I need to work really hard to improve. There's so much I want to accomplish at nationals, but I'm not even good enough to make it to nationals,"
"Remember it's a team effort,"
"I know, but I feel like I'm constantly letting the team down. I'm always nervous and compared to everyone else, I'm really far behind,"
"And I expect your coach hasn't said this, and nor has Hisagawa told you, but Hisagawa didn't play on the team until his second year - in fact he got kicked off of it,"
"Really?"
"Yes, he was clumsy and careless on the court. He would muck up and muck around making the team work, you may feel like you're letting the team down, but I doubt that that's the case, however Hisagawa was letting his team down, hence he was kicked off it. But he put in the work, and with a second chance, he changed from letting the team down to being an ace they could rely on. So even if you are the worst player on your team, with hard work, determination and perseverance, you'll become a reliable player that the team can trust,"
"Thanks coach Nishimura,"
"Besides, I make sure to try and watch the tournaments here, and I'll be frank, you don't fit into Nekoma; they're a bunch of defensive players and you play a much more offensive style at the moment, but... I'm sure you've heard Kanda say it before, so I'll paraphrase. A weakness is a strength if you look at it in the right ways, you may be more offensive than your teammates, but they can use you as a decoy to improve their offence. You say that you're letting your team down; I beg to differ, it's more like you're helping them in a different way,"
"Really?"
"You aren't the unreliable rookie that you think you are; you're not the reliable ace that you want to be; instead you're the reliable decoy that Nekoma needs,"
"Yeah! I'm going to be the best decoy in the world!"
"And bare this in mind. Just like you saw Hoshiumi and Kamomedai play and you want to beat them; I guarantee that someone saw you play and wants to beat you,"
"You think so?"
"It's how it works. You see someone similar to you, naturally you want to beat them,"
"That makes sense,"
"Now Kamomedai, you said that Hirugami's blocking was impressive,"
"Yeah, he was really accurate. I hope that I can be a good enough decoy to trick him,"
"You won't,"
"Coach... Way to dampen the move,"
"The reason that he's called the Immovable Hirugami, is because of his read blocking,"
"Read blocking? Wait he does read blocking?"
"Yes. Add on his height and reflexes, and you can understand why he's good at it. You may get past him with your speed; but I doubt that you'll be able to get the rest of your team past him as a decoy,"
"Oh,"
"However, like I've said before. You can try and play him at his own game - start using read blocking more. I know you can do it, your speed, jumping and reflexes mean that you'll make up for your height, and once you get quick at it, well maybe you'll be the decoy who can trick read blockers, but won't be tricked themself,"
"That sounds really cool. I'm gonna beat both Hoshiumi and Hirugami if I get to play them. I'll prove that I'm a better spiker and a better blocker!"
"You've started the journey, but to complete it you need to put in work,"
"I know coach, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes,"
"Great, we'll have you reading tosses like it's second nature in no time," Before, during and after the extra classes Hinata was working on reading tosses, and where he could, trying to block them in time, this is going to take time, but it's going to help me help the team's defence, so I'll keep working at it. I knew that I wasn't going to become a read blocking master in this short a time.
Soon the camp arrived and Hinata eagerly ran around the gym until he was asked to calm down, soon Kuroo and some other members of Nekoma arrived with Karasuno and Kozume had to try and keep Hinata from running at them and attempting to join their team. Soon all the teams were there.
"Nekoma have two more players?" Sugawara asked Sawamura.
"Apparently so," Sawamura replied, "I hope Kageyama can get here soon so we can work on our team attacks,"
"You still have me!" Sugawara pouted.
"I'm just pulling your leg Suga," Sawamura pushed Sugawara onto the court, "Let's see how good these newbies are,"
"We'll rotate Haiba and Hinata on and off," Kuroo said, "At least for today, give them a chance to get more match play,"
"Better watch out Inuoka, one of them might steal your starting spot," Yamamoto nudged Inuoka.
"I won't let them," Inuoka declared.
It was getting close to the end of the day and some members of the team, Kozume, were more tired that others, Hinata. Everyone was suddenly distracted by a sudden entrance, "Um, is he okay?" Hinata asked Kozume, "He looks like he wants to kill everyone in the room,"
"I think that Kageyama always looks like that," Kozume replied.
"Kageyama? Do you know him Kenma?"
"When we played Karasuno last time, he was their starting setter,"
"Oh,"
"Finally," Tanaka rolled his eyes, "Took you long enough,"
"It's not like the king to keep his loyal servants waiting," Tsukishima snickered causing an argument between him and Kageyama.
"They don't seem to get on that well," Haiba said to Hinata, pointing to Kageyama and Tsukishima.
"Yeah," Hinata agreed.
"Good you're back Kageyama, we're about to go up against Nekoma for the second time today. They have two new players, but we've only played their no.11 so far, other teams have said that their no.10 is something else, so watch out for him if we're up against him," Sawamura said to Kageyama.
"Judging from his height, he can't be much," Kageyama scoffed, "He's probably a defence gremlin," Kuroo let out another hyena laugh.
"What's the matter Kuroo?" Sawamura asked.
"Defence gremlin," Kuroo managed to say, trying to control his laughter. Soon Yaku and Haiba joined in with Kozume letting out a slight chuckle.
"Hey!" Hinata pouted, "I'm not that bad at blocking and receiving, it's my serving that sucks!"
"Yeah, but you're still not a defence gremlin," Yaku pointed out.
"Because I'm Nekoma's future ace!" Hinata declared.
"No I'm Nekoma's future ace!" Haiba replied.
"Try getting a regular starting spot then," Yaku rolled his eyes.
"Hey!" the two shouted back.
"Still I do wonder what makes your no.10 so special Kuroo," Sawamura said.
"Probably sucks," Kageyama said under his breath.
"Wait and see," Kuroo teased.
The match soon began and Hinata got to witness Kageyama's fast set, that nobody could get, "Idiot! Why'd you do that one! No-one here can get that quick!" Nishinoya shouted at him.
"I just wanted to try it out again!" Kageyama shouted back.
"Guess what, it still doesn't work," Tsukishima replied.
"Cut it out everyone!" Sawamura lectured them.
"Could anyone here, not just on the team get a quick like that?" Azumane asked. Hinata turned to look at Kozume wide eyed, Kozume nodded in reply, Nekoma knew what their next attack was going to be.
"Akaashi! Did you hear what their ace asked?" Bokuto shouted, pointing at Azumane.
"Yes," Akaashi sighed.
"But you know that it's wrong!"
"I do Bokuto, but Nekoma choose to use their no.10 as a decoy, saying that he can get a quick that fast would ruin that for them,"
"Oh yeah,"
Fukunaga went into serve the ball. Nishinoya received it passing the ball to Kageyama who did a regular quick for Tanaka which Yaku received, passing the ball to Kozume. Hinata began to run as Kozume passed the ball to him, the ball being slammed down in mere seconds.
"What was that?" all of Karasuno asked some aloud and some in their heads.
"Uuuugh!" Hinata whined, "I had my eyes closed again!"
The match continued and Hinata came in useful as a decoy, as usual, not to mention his freak quick, which he was desperately working on opening his eyes for. Nekoma won the match and Hinata approached Karasuno, "I really wanted to play on your team but I live in Tokyo! Do any of you know who the Little Giant is?"
Karasuno were taken back by Hinata's friendliness and forgot to reply, "Who?" Sugawara replied.
"He was Karasuno's former ace! He could beat any blocker! He was amazing!" Hinata gushed, "He played about five years ago,"
"Hinata, as much as I'm sure you're excited to meet Karasuno, we need to play Fukurodani next and Haiba's throwing a hissy fit, we need you on instead," Kuroo said.
"But Kuroo-senpai!" Hinata pouted before running up to coach Ukai, "Are you the coach who taught the Little Giant? Can you teach me?"
"Listen kid, you need to calm down," coach Ukai said, "Besides it was my gramps who coached him,"
"Oh," Hinata turned to run onto the court.
"You," Kageyama called out, "Move to Miyagi,"
"I really wish I could scary-yama," Hinata said, "But I live in Tokyo and my mum has a job here, it's not that simple,"
"Oh, does the king want to play with someone who can actually get his tosses," Tsukishima teased.
"Shut up!" Kageyama shouted at him.
"BUT!" Hinata shouted at the two, making his presence known, "You guys better make it to nationals, not just for the Battle at the Trash Heap. But also so I can play you in an official match, and win obviously. That's why I'm gonna work super hard so I can be a regular when we go to nationals,"
"But Nekoma didn't make it to nationals this time either," Tsukishima pointed out.
"What do you think we're doing at this camp? We're trying to improve to make that a reality," Hinata said, "Now I really have to go otherwise Yaku-senpai and Kuroo-senpai will kill me for making them wait,"