Shinzen High School, Third Gymnasium. 8:30 PM.
The Third Gym was a sanctuary for the obsessed. While most players were already in the baths or collapsed on their futons, the hum of the overhead lights was drowned out by the thunderous thwack of balls hitting the floor.
"Alright, enough standing around," Kuroo said, spinning a ball on his finger. "Since we only have one setter who hasn't passed out yet, Akaashi is the 'All-Time Setter.' He sets for whoever has the ball. Three-on-three. First to fifteen."
Team A: Ryuu, Bokuto, Hinata.
Team B: Kuroo, Tsukishima, Lev (who had been dragged in by his collar).
"Wait, why am I with the seniors?!" Lev squawked, his long limbs flailing. "I want to be on Ryuu-san's team!"
"Because you need to learn how to not get killed by a real Ace," Ryuu said, tightening his kneepads with a sharp snap. He looked at the opposing side—specifically the two tallest players.
"And I want to see if I can make Glasses over there actually jump for once."
Tsukishima adjusted his glasses, looking unimpressed. "I'll jump when it's necessary."
"Everything is necessary against me," Ryuu grinned.
...
The game started fast. Lev, eager to show off, called for a high set from Akaashi. The "whip-like" spike was Lev's signature, and he swung with everything he had, expecting the ball to soar over the net.
But Ryuu was already there.
He didn't guess. He didn't Commit Block. He stayed grounded until the very last millisecond, watching Lev's shoulder. When Lev swung, Ryuu exploded upward. His 190cm frame seemed to double in size as he reached deep over the net, penetrating Team B's space.
SLAM.
The ball didn't just hit Ryuu's hands; it was buried. It ricocheted off his palms and cratered into the floor at Lev's feet before the rookie could even land.
"One touch?" Lev blinked, looking at the floor.
"That wasn't a touch, Lev," Kuroo whistled, looking impressed. "That was a murder."
Ryuu landed lightly, not even winded. He turned his eyes toward Tsukishima. "See that, Glasses? That's a Kill Block. You don't just put your hands up and hope for the best. You go over the net and take the space away. You're playing like you're afraid to touch the tape. Stop being so polite and start being a nuisance."
Tsukishima's jaw tightened. "It's more efficient to watch the trajectory—"
"Efficiency is for people who can't jump," Ryuu teased, spinning the ball. "Try to actually shut me down. I dare you."
..
A few plays later, it was Kuroo's turn to attack. The "Scheming Captain" wasn't as easy to read as Lev. He went for a personal time-lag attack, jumping a fraction of a second late to mess with the blocker's timing.
Ryuu saw it. He didn't bite on the first feint. He hung in the air, his core strength keeping him at the apex just a moment longer. As Kuroo swung, Ryuu shifted his hands mid-air, sealing the cross-shot.
THUD.
Kuroo's spike hit Ryuu's forearms and stayed on Team B's side.
"Damn," Kuroo laughed, shaking his stinging arms. "I thought I had you on the timing."
"You did," Ryuu admitted, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. "But my arms are longer. Sorry, Captain."
Hinata was practically vibrating on the sidelines. "Gojou-san! You're like a wall! A giant, red wall!"
"It's called Read Blocking, Hinata," Ryuu said, ruffling the kid's hair as they rotated. "Stop closing your eyes and swinging at shadows. Look at the fingers. If you can see the block, the air becomes a map. If you don't start seeing the air, you're just a jumping bean."
..
9:30 PM.
The practice was winding down, but the air was still thick with the smell of floor wax and the rhythmic thump of stray balls. Akaashi was leaning against the net pole, massage-rolling his wrists, while the rest of the "Third Gym" crew gathered their gear.
Kuroo walked over to Ryuu, tossing him a fresh towel. The captain had been watching Ryuu's "tutoring session" with Tsukishima and Hinata with a skeptical, cat-like grin.
"Hey, Ryuu," Kuroo said, his voice low and teasing. "What's with the charity work? You trying to make my job harder for the Spring High qualifiers?"
Ryuu caught the towel and wiped the sweat from his neck, giving Kuroo a sideways look. "Charity work? I don't do charity, Captain. You know that."
"Could've fooled me," Kuroo chuckled, nodding toward Tsukishima, who was currently staring at his hands in a daze. "You're giving away the 'Kill Block' secrets like they're candy. If that kid actually learns to read your shoulder, you're going to be the one crying in October."
Ryuu let out a short, dry laugh. He leaned back against the equipment cart, looking completely unbothered.
"If he learns to read me, then I just have to get better at lying," Ryuu said, a cheeky glint in his eyes. "Besides, have you seen them lately? They look like they're at a funeral every time we step on the court. It's boring. I'd rather crush a Karasuno that actually fights back than one that's too scared to jump."
Kuroo hummed, crossing his arms. "So, you're just fattening the crows for the slaughter?"
"Exactly," Ryuu grinned. "A boring win is a waste of a Saturday. I want them to think they've got a chance—and then I want to take it away."
Kuroo cackled, shaking his head. "You really are a brat. Don't come crying to me when Tsukki actually stuffs you."
"He can try," Ryuu shrugged. "He's still too polite. He needs a lot more 'nuisance' in him to handle me."
...
Ryuu was the last one out, dragging his feet toward the dorms. He spotted Shimizu Kiyoko near the equipment room, organizing the last of the ball bins.
"You guys finally finished?" she asked, her voice steady in the quiet hallway. "I thought I was going to have to call the coaches to drag you out."
"Bokuto-san is the one you have to worry about," Ryuu said, walking over and leaning his shoulder against the wall. He reached into the bin, grabbed a stray ball, and spun it casually. "I'm just the guy who makes sure he has something to hit."
Shimizu adjusted her glasses, looking at him. "You were hard on them today. Tsukishima looked like he'd been through a blender."
"He's fine," Ryuu said, his tone softening just a bit. "He's just realized that being tall doesn't mean the ball is just going to fall into his hands. It's a harsh wake-up call, but he needed it."
He looked at the ball in his hand, then back at her. "You Karasuno guys... you're all so serious. You should tell them to relax. It's just a game, even if we're the ones winning it right now."
"I think they're serious because they want what you have," Shimizu noted.
Ryuu chuckled, a low, effortless sound. "Then they better start working. I'm not planning on losing."
He tossed the ball back into the bin with a perfect clink and pushed off the wall.
"You should get some sleep, Shimizu-san. You look like you've been doing more miles than the players today."
"I'm almost done," she replied, a tiny, almost invisible smile touching her lips. "Goodnight, Gojou-kun."
"Night."
Ryuu walked away, his stride long and relaxed. He wasn't thinking about titles or trophies. He was just thinking about the look on Hinata's face when he finally managed to see the air—and how much fun it was going to be to knock him back down when he did.