Seeing how Yaku had gotten used to his spike and was able to receive it a few times might have gotten to his interest.
'He's quite observant...'
Nekomata leaned back slightly, watching the scene unfold with quiet intrigue.
Tsuna had been studying the libero's movements, noting the way Yaku anticipated attacks and positioned himself to save at the court to be fascinating.
'He probably doesn't even realize why it's caught his attention,' Nekomata thought.
But it was clear Tsuna had started comparing the liberos from both teams, finding subtle similarities in their playstyles. By then, Tsuna was able to think about how to adapt those small details he missed before to his own.
It was a rare skill, this ability to analyze and improve so quickly. He glanced at Ukai on the other side of the gym, 'Keishin must've given him some good advice...'
"But well..."
Nekomata murmured, his attention shifting back to the court.
A movement caught his eye as Hinata leaped high toward the net. Kageyama's toss arched as the ball spun through the air to the orange-haired boy's outstretched hand accurately.
Hinata swung his arm with conviction, believing the ball would come this time as Nekomata chuckled softly, "...This set is ours."
Plop!
A loud, solid sound echoed through the gym.
"Hmm?"
Hinata, who had closed his eyes mid-air, snapped them open in shock at the sound. As he opened his eyes, he saw a hand looming in his view and cutting off the sight of the other side of the net.
The ball ricocheted sharply, rebounding with a loud thud onto Karasuno's court.
"...!"
Hinata landed and turned quickly, his eyes widening as they locked onto the ball bouncing on the floor.
It took a moment for his mind to process what had just happened. Slowly, his gaze shifted toward Nekoma's side, where Inuoka stood, his face glowing with excitement.
For once, he had no words.
"Whoa! I finally blocked it!"
Inuoka yelled, staring at his hand in disbelief before grinning and running toward his teammates.
Whistle!
The sharp sound of the referee's whistle echoed through the gym, signaling the end of the first set.
All eyes turned to the scoreboard:
Nekoma 25 - 19 Karasuno.
Karasuno's players clenched their fists as they slowly made their way toward the bench.
"Tsuna!"
Daichi's voice rang out, immediately pulling Tsuna from his thoughts.
"...?"
Tsuna blinked as though waking from a dream, his gaze darting to the scoreboard as he mumbled, "Ah... the first set is over already, huh?"
"This guy..."
Nishinoya muttered, twitching his lips in exasperation.
He watched as Tsuna walked off the court with a blank expression.
Nishinoya could tell his mind was still immersed in the game as even on the bench, Tsuna sat with a distant expression as his lips curled up into a smile.
'Still the same, huh?'
Nishinoya thought, shaking his head.
Back then, Nishinoya thought it was a one-time thing. But now, it was clear this was just how Tsuna was when something truly piqued his interest.
Nishinoya's gaze shifted toward Yaku on Nekoma's side.
"He's really good..."
Nishinoya admitted inwardly.
He understood how difficult it had been to deal with Tsuna's left-handed spikes since he was also struggling to receive them during their practice match against the Karasuno Neighborhood Association.
Most players were right-handed, which made left-handed spikers rare—and significantly more challenging.
For Nishinoya, it hadn't mattered much whether Tsuna spiked with his right or left hand. He'd never been able to receive either successfully.
At least something that was up to his 'standard.'
When Tsuna spiked with his right hand, Nishinoya could only watch as the ball slammed down the court.
With his left hand, Nishinoya managed to make contact, but the result was often sloppy.
'I'm confident if we played just a bit longer that I'd be able to receive it eventually, but it's a fact that I have yet to do that still...'
There was something about Tsuna's left-handed spikes that made them particularly difficult.
A left-hander's spike generated a clockwise spin, a contrast to the counterclockwise spin produced by most right-handed players.
This subtle difference altered the way the ball moved mid-air and how it bounced off surfaces. For a receiver used to right-handed players, even a small change like this could throw them completely off.
Even the angle of Tsuna's approach and the swing of his arm were different, resulting in spikes that curved unpredictably.
'I only managed to get used to it in the middle of the second set,' Nishinoya thought, his mind drifting back to their practice game a while ago.
He vividly remembered the moment he'd finally managed to receive on Tsuna's spike.
It had been clumsy, but he'd done it.
'I still have so much to learn!'
That's why seeing someone else—a libero, just like him—adjust so quickly to Tsuna's spikes filled Nishinoya with a deep sense of admiration.
"Hmm..."
Meanwhile, Keishin scratched his neck awkwardly. Tsuna didn't even notice that everyone else had stood up to grab their drinks.
He just sat there in silence as Shimizu quietly placed a drink on his side without him even noticing.
Keishin suppressed a groan, 'So, he's the type to play in his own world, huh?'
Tsuna was like a Pandora's box.
He knew Tsuna was talented, considering how much he had been improving during their training camp these past few days. But he was still surprised to see how he had quite literally evolved under pressure like some kind of psychopath.
Keishin wasn't sure what to make of him yet. The last thing he wanted was to break the player's focus.
'It's good that he improves the more he plays. Besides...'
Keishin glanced at the rest of the team. Nobody seemed particularly affected by Tsuna's behavior—not even the first-years.
They acted as though this was normal like they had unshakable trust in him.
"Guess I'll just have to see how this turns out..." Keishin muttered, rubbing his nose. He decided to go with the flow.
He turned to Hinata, who had been quiet since his spike was blocked. "Don't think too much about it. There's no spike that can't be stopped."
"We're gonna take the next set!"
Even Kageyama, who rarely offered encouragement, spoke up. Tanaka and Nishinoya quickly chimed in.
"Let's nail down the next one, Hinata!"
"Yeah, smash it in!"
Hinata blinked, realizing he had made everyone worry. He nodded with a determined expression. "Yessir!"
After a while, both teams went back to the court to play the second set. As the game continued, Tsuna didn't even need a second to focus as his eyes closely observed Nekoma players.
After a short break, both teams returned to the court for the second set. The gym buzzed with anticipation as the match resumed.
Tsuna didn't need a moment to reset—his sharp eyes were already locked on Nekoma's players.
'Something's off…'
It felt different compared to the match against Aoba Johsai.
Back then, his focus had been entirely on Oikawa. That strange, electric tension Oikawa exuded had made playing against him exhilarating.
It wasn't the same with the rest of Aoba Johsai's team, but Oikawa had been enough to keep him excited.
He'd thought Yaku might evoke a similar feeling. The libero's ability to adapt to his spikes so quickly had caught his attention, but it still didn't stir the same thrill he'd felt against Oikawa.
'Just like how I played against Oikawa, I'm certainly having fun right now...'
His mind churned as he scanned the court.
Why did Nekoma feel so… different?
"Just why..."
Tsuna mumbled under his breath, his gaze trailing the ball as it soared into the air after Asahi's spike was saved. He barely glanced at the ball; his attention was on Nekoma's players, who jumbled up into formation as they moved toward the net together.
"...Which one of them should we block?"
Daichi quietly asked as Tsukishima glanced at Kenma through his glasses in silence. They were tense as the pressure made them sweat, and their eyes darted between Nekoma's attackers.
'He was waiting for a sign...?'
Tsuna's eyes then landed on Kenma.
"...!"
Kenma's golden, catlike eyes flicked toward the blockers. His body adjusted slightly, just enough to suggest where the set might go.
"Go to the left!"
Tsukishima quietly whispered as he and Daichi moved in unison. They quickly repositioned themselves, bracing for an attack from Yamamoto.
But something didn't sit right.
Daichi's eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of Kenma's hands mid-movement. Something about the angle of his wrists during the contact felt... wrong.
"Hold on—" Daichi's voice faltered.
Tsukishima also widened his eyes in surprise as he mumbled, "...What?"
In the blink of an eye, Kenma's gaze snapped back to the ball.
His hands moved with quiet precision, the toss going in the exact opposite direction from where his body had indicated.
The misdirection was flawless.
From the back row, Kuroo surged forward, leaping high. With a powerful swing of his arm, he sent the ball crashing into Karasuno's court with a thunderous thud.
Tsuna's grin widened as realization dawned.
"...I see."
His amber eyes flickered with newfound understanding.
The pressure he'd felt—the weight pressing down on him without a clear source—wasn't as mysterious as he'd thought.
It wasn't coming from a single player.
Tsuna's grin only grew wider as he mumbled under his breath, "So it's you… you're the brain, huh?"
It was coming from the entire team!
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