Haikyu: Nah, I'd Adapt!

Umm, by the way, just a friendly reminder...

I'd highly suggest you guys marinate the chapters, like I've always told you to do for each game.

You already know it's not for the impatient. But it's really up to you. I just wanted to let you know that you've been warned.

Though, I know some of you might re-read the whole game after it's over, but the dopamine hit once the entire buildup to the conflict is complete will be quite intense.

Either way, enjoy the chapter!

Feel free to hang out in the Discord if you want to say hello to me directly. I tend to reply faster there, while here, I rarely open the engagement notifications these days. I know I should, but there's just too much going on in real life.

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The sharp squeak of sneakers echoed through the gym. Feet slid, pounded, and pushed against the polished floor as the game raged on.

The crowd's cheers swelled like a constant hum in the background.

But the players heard none of it.

Their world had shrunk to the court, to the ball, to the game that refused to slow down.

"Phew..."

Among Date Tech's front lineup, Futakuchi took a deep breath.

His fingers slightly twitched as his eyes kept tracking the ball after it flew across the net toward Karasuno. Futakuchi saw the ball go to Karasuno's libero, who received it with ease.

"Nice receive, Nishinoya!"

With a sharp plop, he sent the ball bouncing toward their setter, Kageyama.

Knowing it was time to get ready, Futakuchi relaxed his upper body slightly but kept his lower body tense, ready to adjust at a moment's notice.

'It's obvious...'

As the ball floated down toward Kageyama, Futakuchi instinctively knew where it was going. His gaze shifted to the gray-haired player on Karasuno's side—the one they called the Shooting Star—as the guy slowly took a small step forward.

His eyes narrowed, '...It's going to him again!'

Tsunayoshi Matsumoto's presence was impossible to ignore. The way he carried himself was quite telling he wanted the toss so badly.

Everyone could feel it.

Much less...

"..."

Kageyama himself as he felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead. A sharp gaze locked onto him, making him bite his lip before tossing the ball toward Tsuna.

Pop!

As the ball was tossed high into the air, heading straight for Tsuna, Futakuchi's eyes gleamed sharply.

"I knew it!"

He shouted while pivoting sharply, his legs driving him forward as a loud thud echoed across the court.

Futakuchi closed the distance to Aone quickly, and together, they leaped into the air. And as their hands stretched out sharply above the net, Futakuchi felt his lips twitch into a proud smile.

Their timing was perfect!

BAM!

Tsuna swung his arm, the sound of his palm hitting the ball echoing through the gym. The ball shot forward, but Futakuchi and Aone were ready.

Their hands met the ball with a loud crack, sending it sharply bouncing back toward Karasuno's court.

It landed with a resounding thud, the impact reverberating through the gym.

"Whoaaa!"

"Date Tech did it again!"

"Dammit! Karasuno should do something about it!"

The gym erupted with cheers, the crowd's voices echoing off the walls.

As they all landed back on the ground, Futakuchi shook out his palm that was now stinging red from repeated blocks. His fingers twitched slightly as his gaze flickered toward the other side of the net.

"..."

Tsuna stood there, staring at the ball as it bounced lifelessly off the court. He hadn't moved away from his landing spot and barely even reacted at all.

'His spikes…'

Futakuchi swallowed, his brows drawing together.

They had been blocking each other back and forth, over and over. Most players would have crumbled by now, their spirits should already be crushed against Date Tech's unbreakable Iron Wall.

But this guy—

'Why is he getting stronger with each spike?'

He thought it was just his imagination at first, but feeling the stinging sensation enveloping his palm made him sure that it was truly the case, which made his fingers curl unconsciously into a fist.

Deep down, a tightness coiled in his chest. A small, shocking thought crept into his mind.

'Is he just going to keep getting stronger the more we go?'

He didn't like that thought. Not one bit.

"Ha… shouldn't you guys stop?" 

Forcing out a chuckle, Futakuchi smirked while thinking, 'Then, I should get under his mind...'

He rolled his shoulders, putting on an easygoing front as he mocked, "It's kinda boring blocking the same person every single—"

However...

"...!"

...as Tsuna turned Futakuchi's words caught in his throat as his breath hitched.

Something about that expression sent an icy chill down his spine as before he even realized it, his foot had moved back in fear.

"W-what…?"

He barely whispered, his throat suddenly dry.

'This feeling…'

Meanwhile, Tsuna didn't seem to notice. He pressed a hand to his chest, fingers digging into his jersey as if trying to contain something inside.

Seven times.

He had been blocked seven times in a row. Each block had burned clearer, sharper, stirring something deep in his chest that he didn't understand. His breath came short, uneven.

His pulse pounded in his ears.

"Why is he stopping?"

"I don't know…"

The whispers spread through Karasuno's bench.

Asahi frowned, concern flickering in his eyes as he called, "Tsuna…?"

"...!"

Then, words caught in their throats as Tsuna turned as they finally saw him clearly.

His gaze swept over them before settling on Asahi. His voice was quiet, but with the silence they all could hear him clearly, "So this is what you felt..."

"This sickening feeling… It's so hard to breathe..."

Tsuna felt his chest tightened while his breath came in short, shallow bursts. It made his hand trembled so badly as he moved his other hand to reach up, gripping his head.

It was hot while somehow his vision got somewhat even clearer which was confusing to him. However, there was one thing he was sure of as he couldn't help but muttered, "It's suffocating!"

"No wonder..."

He had seen Asahi go through this. He had called him weak. A coward. But now—

Now Tsuna understood.

"Asahi..."

He looked at Asahi. The guy seemed to be in shock he was being so open about his feelings as he continued, "I take back what I said about you being pathetic."

"..."

Silence.

Tsuna slowly raised his hands in front of him. They wouldn't stop shaking. His fingers curled, his breath uneven.

"I finally understand..."

His voice cracked from his raw emotions as he declared, "Getting blocked over and over again—it's so damn frustrating, I feel like breaking my hand and replacing it with a new one!"

"...!"

Karasuno froze.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Their eyes locked onto Tsuna, his words sinking in as they simply couldn't quite understand what their ace was feeling at the moment because...

"Tsuna…"

Asahi swallowed hard.

His voice came out hesitant as he slowly reminded him,"But... y-you're smiling, though?"

"...!"

Tsuna stiffened. Slowly, his fingers reached up, brushing against his lips which made him mumbled out in pure shock, 'What?'

His mouth was stretched into a wide, twisted grin.

The realization hit him like a punch to the gut as the whole court fell into silence.

"That monster..."

In the stands, Iwaizumi leaned forward, eyes locked on the court. He shook his head in disbelief, mirroring the stunned expressions of his teammates, "...He doesn't even realize he's enjoying this, does he?"

"..."

Oikawa stayed silent.

That expression.

It was different from last year.

'I knew something was off, but I couldn't figure out what.'

It reminded him of their practice match—when Tsuna kept failing to receive his serves. But back then, it hadn't reached this point. Not to the point where his expression and entire body screamed with ecstasy.

And now—his face and his words completely contradicted each other which made Oikawa narrowed his eyes as a chill ran down his spine before murmuring, "...He's looking at them like they're his toys."

Maybe food would be fitting too.

"..."

Aoba Johsai fell into silence as the crowd's cheers swelled around them, but none of them spoke.

Then—

"Still," Kunimi muttered, breaking the quiet. "Why does Kageyama keep tossing to him?"

It made no sense. Futakuchi's trash talk had a point. Kageyama had other options, so why—

"Even if it were me, I'd toss to him every time."

Oikawa's words made them all turn.

Aoba Johsai's captain leaned back, arms crossed, gaze fixed on Tsuna. The game resumed, and he watched as Kageyama set the ball again.

"When a spiker shows you that kind of fervor…"

Oikawa exhaled, regaining his composure before smiling. "You can't help but toss to him."

Even now, just watching Tsuna from the stands made Oikawa's hands itchy. He couldn't shake the urge to jump in, replace Kageyama, and toss for Tsuna himself, 'I'm so jealous of you, Tobio-chan…'

"Hmm…"

Iwaizumi nodded, slowly understanding. The rest followed—reluctant, but unable to deny it.

ALthough, Oikawa just ignored them as his gaze flickered to the scoreboard—

4 - 9!

'Still… Tobio-chan must be in a dilemma right now.'

Keep following instinct and set for Tsuna? Or regain composure and choose a different option? Oikawa smirked as he tilted his head. 

"What are you gonna choose, then?"

This should be interesting.

"Hahaha!"

A hearty laugh echoed through the noisy crowd.

Ichiro was laughing so hard that tears formed in the corners of his eyes. He couldn't help it. Watching the match unfold, he felt a wave of relief and joy wash over him.

Being the father of someone unique as Tsuna wasn't easy.

Ichiro had always been worried about him for being different, and he knew that difference often left his son feel isolated. But now, seeing him looking so alive made Ichiro felt a weight lift off his shoulders.

'He's still need to keep on learning, experiencing, exploring...'

Ichiro thought, his heart swelling with pride.

He was unable to contain his excitement as he shouted once again, "Yes! More! Feel it, understand it... Enjoy it!"

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