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After their devastating loss on their first year at nationals, Karasuno’s first graders, now second graders, gave it their all to manage getting back onto nationals on their second year.
And, of course, Nekoma wasn’t staying behind. They kept having special trainings and matches with every team that agreed to, specially their long lasting rivals, Karasuno.
Now, both of the teams managed to get onto nationals again, which means that now, more than ever, they are looking forward to their second dumpster battle. This is specially true for Kenma and Shoyo, who keep texting each other at the end of every single match they have during nationals.
This was Kenma’s last year in Nekoma, since he is now already a third grader, meaning that if he loses, there is not a next year in which he can try again. But that didn’t really matter to neither him nor Shoyo, because they had to focus on the present instead of the future. At least, that’s what they kept in mind during their matches.
Finally, after waiting for days, the second dumpster battle was about to begin, and the duo could not be more pumped to play against each other again. To Kenma, specifically, there is nothing funner than playing against Shoyo on an actual match.
The ongoing game was incredibly intense, some might say it is even more intense than the first one, at least, that’s what the audience thinks, and they are right. Every eye contact between Shoyo and Kenma feels like they’re absolutely absorbed in one another, even if it lasts less than a second.
Of course, Kenma observes all of the players in his enemy team, however, he gives special attention to Shoyo. That is not news to anybody, really, even the audience can notice how the setter keeps staring at every single move his spiker rival makes.
On Shoyo’s behalf, it isn’t really that different, except from when he is looking directly into the block. It’s like they are specifically trying to crack each other open, while still failing to do just that, even if they played together for at least twenty times during the past year.
The game ends. 1-2 for Karasuno, just like last year, but this time, with way more intense sets and “rivalries” inbetween players. After the greeting and thanking ended, Shoyo wanted to talk to Kenma, like he and Kageyama did last year.
— Kenma, you did amazing! — he exclaimed enthusiastically, while looking at the other with sparkles in his eyes. At least, that’s what the tinted hair boy can swear he sees in his eyes.
— You did too, you’re always so interesting to play with, Shoyo. Keep it up, okay? — he asks, it looks like a personal demand, but Kenma knows that this will surely help the spiker in the future. He trembles a little at the suggestion.
— Yeah, I’ll try my best! So that I will become worthy of being the new Tiny Giant! — the orange haired boy responds, thinking about the possibilites of things he can learn in the future. Talking about the future, there’s probably something he’s forgetting about…
— Good. Then, goodbye, Shoyo. — Kenma says.
Oh. That is not what he’s used to hear.
Kenma usually says “See you later, Shoyo.” after a match of theirs ends, but, now, things are different. He told Shoyo that he wouldn’t be playing volleyball after high school, however, this was the time that actually hit the spiker. There won’t be a later, because neither of them are sure they will even see each other after this.
This was the time that realization struck him, at Kenma’s final goodbye, not only to volleyball, but maybe even to Shoyo as well. This made him realize that he was actually hoping the ex-setter would change his mind after their official games, but, that did not happen.
Still, Shoyo feels that he is glad to have played against Kenma while he was still on the court. He even thinks about how happy he is to have met the tinged hair boy the way he did. Now, what he can do is keep his emotions and respond the other’s goodbye.
— Bye! I hope I can meet you again, Kenma! — he announced, with a close-to-tears grin on his face.
— Yeah, me too. Then, see you later, Shoyo. — Kenma replies, smiling and waving to his ex-rival.
With that, both of them get out of the court, leaving only memories of their rivalry behind, and some unexpected tears in both of their eyes.