Haikyu: Nah, I'd Adapt!

This was supposed to be posted last night, but I kinda expect I wouldn't be able to write anything today which is why I delayed the post so y'all have something to read.

I went on a hike, but the weather took a turn for the worse when I was up there, so I had to wait at the shelter until it was safe to go down. I just got back now.

I'm feeling absolutely exhausted and relieved that I was finally able to take a dump. A BIG DUMP, because hell no, I wasn't going to do that in the bushes. 😭

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

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It was a bright, sunny day, with the blue sky stretching endlessly over the small city in Miyagi Prefecture.

On one of the main streets leading to the city's largest gymnasium, people moved in clusters, their conversations filling the warm air.

Some strolled casually in everyday clothes, eager to watch the matches, while a smaller group stood out in matching jerseys, their expressions a mix of excitement and nerves.

Today was the start of the Interhigh preliminaries.

And the venue?

The Sendai City Gymnasium!

"Whoa, look at the crowd..."

"Was last year this packed?"

"I don't think so."

Among the sea of spectators and competitors, a group of students in light blue tracksuits with white accents walked toward the gymnasium, their eyes wide with amazement.

The words Tokonami High were printed in bold letters on their backs.

One of them—a boy with brown hair and freckles scattered across his cheeks—scanned the crowd. He seemed distracted, almost searching for someone.

"Ikejiri, your friend's on Karasuno, right?"

The voice came from Komaki, their captain, a boy with short dark hair and thin eyebrows.

Ikejiri stopped looking around before turning to his captain as he nodded slowly, "Yeah. I used to go to the same middle school as him back then."

"Eh? Are they still strong, Captain?"

This time, the question came from a boy with messy, dark gray hair and sharp.

"Tamagawa..."

Komaki frowned slightly at the question, "Whether they're strong or not doesn't matter. We didn't come here to lose. And neither did they."

"..."

The others nodded.

Every member of Tokonami had heard the stories of Karasuno. The powerhouse they once were. The team that had taken down Aoba Johsai, only to fade away not long after.

"I know, I know," Tamagawa muttered under his breath, shrinking back slightly under his captain's gaze.

"I was just curious, that's all..."

His eyes flicked toward Ikejiri, who had been quiet since the question was asked.

After all, if anyone here knew more about Karasuno, it would be him.

"I'm not really sure," Ikejiri said after noticing his teammates' curious stares.

He shrugged and shook his head, "It's been a while since I talked to him. I don't know what they're like now."

As they entered the athletes' lobby, the low hum of chatter suddenly grew louder, which stopped them in their tracks.

"They're..."

"...yeah, the Clipped Crows..."

"Karasuno High!"

Ikejiri and the rest of Tokonami followed the hushed voices and looked toward the entrance.

A group of players dressed in jet-black jackets strode in. Seeing the one leading this particular group of players down the hallway caught his attention as his eyes lit up in recognition, 'Daichi...'

"These idiots..."

Tanaka's growl broke through the whispers. His sharp glare scanned the room, daring anyone to say more.

"Don't cause trouble, Tanaka," Daichi said exhaustedly while glancing at him.

"Grr..."

Tanaka clicked his tongue in frustration, but he backed off. His eyes, however, stayed locked on the murmuring crowd, silencing them with a single glare.

Kageyama turned to Sugawara as they continued walking, "Suga-san, is Tsuna-san going to be late for the game again?"

"Nope, he just texted me."

Sugawara pulled out his phone, scrolling through his messages. "He's almost at the gymnasium. Looks like he'll make it in time to start today."

"That idiot really likes cutting it close, huh?"

Nishinoya said, shaking his head with a grin.

"Well, he's a busy guy," Asahi added while scratching the back of his head. The others quietly nodded in agreement.

Tanaka, however, grumbled under his breath. "Ha, maybe this time he'll be really late, so I can start instead..."

"..."

The team fell into silence for a moment before a few of them exchanged wry smiles.

'Tanaka...'

Daichi sighed, giving him a knowing look. Despite the lighthearted tone, everyone knew Tanaka wasn't entirely joking.

The group continued down the corridor toward the court, their footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.

"They look... quite intimidating," one of Tokonami's players mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

"...Yeah," another replied, swallowing nervously. "Can we even win at all?"

The unease was palpable.

What had started as quiet confidence among the Tokonami players now felt like doubt gnawing at the edges of their resolve.

Seeing their opponents—the so-called "Clipped Crows"—in person was nothing like hearing about them.

'Daichi...' 

Ikejiri's gaze lingered on the familiar figure at the front of the group. Daichi looked taller and bigger when he confidently strode down the hallway, leading Karasuno to move forward.

A few in the crowd whispered names as they passed.

"That's Nishinoya... he played for Chidoriyama Junior High, right?"

"And look—Kageyama! The King of the Court from Kitagawa Daiichi!"

The murmurs carried through the hallway, reaching the ears of Tokonami's players as it only amplified the pressure they already felt.

Ikejiri glanced at his teammates, noticing their uneasy expressions.

Unlike Karasuno, Tokonami didn't have a single player whose name carried recognition.

No prodigies.

No infamous players.

Ikejiri felt the same doubts stirring within him, but before they could take root, Komaki's voice cut through their thoughts...

"Relax, guys."

The Tokonami captain turned to his team, "We might not have anyone famous, but that doesn't mean we can't fight. They're all human, just like us."

His voice might sound firm.

But Ikejiri could tell Komaki was forcing himself to stay composed. It was the kind of determination that came with responsibility, the kind that said, 'I'm the captain—I have to be strong for them.'

"..."

The team exchanged uncertain glances, but Komaki's words seemed to ground them, at least for now.

"They're here..."

"Yikes, they're huge!"

As Tokonami's players finally managed to calm their nerves, another commotion broke out.

They couldn't help but turn their heads around and saw a group striding down the hallway with a heavier presence than what they felt with Karasuno with their taller players overall.

Dressed in dirty white tracksuits with dark green accents, they moved as one, their towering frames casting long shadows over the corridor.

They headed straight for the spot where Karasuno stood, peeking into the court.

"That's..."

Ikejiri's eyes widened as he read the bold letters stitched across their backs. His throat tightened as he swallowed hard.

Date Tech High!

Meanwhile...

Karasuno's players were just as stunned, though for a different reason.

'So they're…'

'…the ones who crushed us last year?'

Kageyama and Hinata exchanged a glance before turning their attention to the approaching group.

Hinata craned his neck, his wide eyes fixed on the player at the front.

The guy was massive—so tall that Hinata had to tilt his head all the way back to meet his face.

The player's light-colored hair framed a serious expression, his sharp features giving him an intimidating aura.

But Hinata noticed something else entirely.

'Uh…? He has no eyebrows?'

"..."

Asahi, standing slightly behind the group, felt his back dampen with cold sweat. His mind replayed the image of countless blocks, the suffocating wall that had denied him time and time again.

His fists clenched at his sides as he stared at the tallest figure among the Date Tech players.

'Takanobu Aone!'

The hallway grew deathly silent, a heavy tension settling over the crowd. Even the murmurs and whispers from nearby onlookers faded into nothingness.

Everyone seemed to feel the suffocating pressure that followed the Date Tech players like a storm cloud.

"..."

Suddenly, Aone stepped forward and without a word, he raised his hand as he pointed directly at Asahi.

"What the—?"

Tanaka was startled. Nishinoya couldn't help but annoyedly grumble, "What is your deal, dude?"

The gesture sent a ripple through Karasuno's group.

Even Hinata and Kageyama stiffened in surprise, their gazes darting between Aone and Asahi.

Date Tech's players, however, looked thoroughly amused. They seemed to be quietly enjoying the situation a bit.

"...!"

Asahi's pulse quickened.

"Yo, hold up!"

Hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway as a smaller figure in Date Tech's uniform rushed toward Aone.

His short, curly black hair and thick eyebrows were impossible to miss.

The newcomer stopped beside Aone with a panicked expression as he shouted, "Aone! Stop that!"

It was Kaname Moniwa.

'He's their captain now, right?'

Daichi thought, watching him closely. He remembered Moniwa as the vice-captain during Karasuno's crushing defeat at the hands of Date Tech.

Moniwa turned to Daichi with an awkward, apologetic expression, bowing slightly. "Uh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about this..."

"It's fine..."

Daichi gave a small, wry smile.

But the tension was far from over.

"Futakuchi! Help me out here!"

Moniwa spun around, panic creeping into his voice as he addressed another player standing behind Aone—a second-year with short brown hair, neatly styled with bangs swept to the side.

Futakuchi stepped forward with a laid-back smile on his face, "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming..."

Unlike Moniwa, Futakuchi didn't seem too concerned.

He reached out and pulled Aone's arm away, though the towering blocker still stared intensely at Asahi.

"Sorry about that, everyone," Futakuchi said with a calm tone. "This guy has a habit of singling out a team's ace..."

"..."

Despite his words, it was obvious Futakuchi wasn't genuinely apologetic. His voice carried a teasing edge, and his demeanor almost seemed to enjoy the tension.

Asahi, who had been holding his composure, shook his head slightly and spoke. "I'm not the ace."

"Huh?"

Asahi's quiet statement made Aone tilt his head in confusion. The players from Date Tech exchanged puzzled glances.

Even Moniwa and Futakuchi paused, their faces marked with surprise.

"..."

The hallway grew silent again as everyone processed his words.

However, just as the quiet seemed to stretch too long—

"...!"

The atmosphere shifted.

A calm sounding footsteps echoed through the hallway, drawing every eye to the approaching figure. 

"That..."

The crowd began to murmur uneasily, their attention snapping toward the source of the disturbance.

From the far end of the corridor, a tall figure with tousled gray hair and piercing brown eyes appeared.

He wore Karasuno's uniform as his gaze swept over the players from Date Tech before landing at Aone. 

Then, raising a hand, he pointed directly at Aone's face.

"You."

The single word made everyone stiffen.

With the same bored look, he added, "Since you're doing that, I assume you've got some real confidence. Good. Don't disappoint me."

"Tsunayoshi Matsumoto!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd like a wave.

"W-what...?"

Whispers broke out, hushed but frantic, as players and onlookers alike recognized him. The name that had carried through tournaments and rumors, a legend who was said to have dominated Aoba Johsai before disappearing.

The Shooting Star.

And now, after so long, he had made his return.

"Tsuna-san!"

Karasuno's players couldn't help but smile.

"Late, as always," Daichi muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

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