The Guardian and The Ace

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Taking slow steps towards Karasuno, Sora feels the ache from his injury. Yet, he decides to sing softly to keep his spirits up.

With each small stride, he hums to himself, "I'm making my way to Karasuno, yes, I am! Even if I'm a bit hurt and all alone, I won't give up until I reach there!"

The tune becomes his companion, echoing through the quiet journey, helping him stay positive despite the challenges.

After 30 minutes of walking, he finally reached his destination.

'Finally, I made it!' Sora thought, feeling relieved.

But Sora knew his journey wasn't done yet. He still had to switch his shoes and head to his classroom.

"Ugh! I know Japan is all about keeping things tidy but doing it with this injury is a real hassle," he grumbled to himself.

Taking a deep breath, he sighed and pressed on, heading toward the entrance.

As he entered, he went to his locker and slowly changed from outdoor to inside shoes. With his injury, it took him 3 minutes to do it.

After switching shoes, he moved at a measured pace toward the 1-4 classroom.

Glancing around, he observed other students carrying their lunches and going about their activities. It dawned on him that he had arrived during lunchtime.

After another 5 minutes, he eventually made it to his classroom.

He gently slid the door open, peering inside to find Tsukishima and Yamaguchi quietly enjoying their lunch. The room seemed unusually empty, with only the two of them present.

Mid-bite, Yamaguchi noticed Sora. "Sora-san!"

Tsukishima turned around, his eyes slightly widening at the sight of Sora.

Waving his hand, Sora grinned. "Hey, guys!"

Gradually approaching them, Sora greeted, "How are you two doing? I hope you didn't miss me too much." He flashed a playful smile, easing into the familiar camaraderie of their friendship.

"We should be the ones asking that," Yamaguchi responded. "Shoyo-san told us that you were injured!"

Sora waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, please. This injury isn't that bad. I'll be back on my feet in just three weeks." He downplayed the severity, trying to maintain a light-hearted tone.

Sora then moved his chair near them and sat comfortably.

"When did your injury start?" Tsukishima questioned.

Sora leaned back, remembering, "It was in the first set against Aoba Johsai. I felt a twinge in my knee, and it's been bothering me since then."

"And it suddenly became that bad?" Tsukishima asked, concern evident in his voice.

Sora nodded.

BAM

Startled, all of them turned as the front door was aggressively slid open. They saw a short student with wild black hair that stuck upwards, a tiny tuft falling over his forehead, appearing bleached a dirty blond.

Sora's eyes widened in recognition-it was Nishinoya.

"Where's Sora Hinata!?" Nishinoya shouted, scanning the room.

Sora, Tsukishima, and Yamaguchi exchanged glances with Nishinoya's arrival.

"Uhh... here," Sora slowly raised his hand.

Nishinoya briskly walked towards Sora, piquing the curiosity of those around.

Coming to a halt, Nishinoya faced Sora and pointed at him. "I heard from Daichi-San that your libero skills are on par with mine!"

Sora arched a brow. "He did? I'm glad!" he responded with a smile.

Nishinoya blushed slightly at Sora's smile. 'Man, he's cute.'

Nishinoya shook his head, internally reminding himself, 'Ah, wait, I must not get distracted!'

"If what Daichi-San said is true, then I consider you my rival! I won't give up my libero position!" he declared, determination gleaming in his eyes.

Sora maintained a neutral expression. "Okay."

Nishinoya was undeterred. "And we'll have a competition later on who can receive the most balls!"

Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and Sora exchanged glances, then turned their attention back to Nishinoya.

"Sorry to ruin your moment, but I can't," Sora interjected, pointing at his left knee. "I'm injured."

A moment of silence hung among them.

"Oh..." Nishinoya uttered, realizing the impact of Sora's injury on their anticipated competition.

A mischievous smirk played on Sora's lips. He was ready to tease Nishinoya.

"You know, it's kind of rude of you to slam the door open and declare war against me," Sora said, shrugging casually with a smirk. "Kids these days lack manners."

Tsukishima couldn't contain a chuckle, and Yamaguchi wore a soft smile in response to Sora's teasing.

Nishinoya, however, sported a visible vein bulging on his forehead. "I'm not a kid! As a matter of fact, I'm your senpai!" he retorted defensively.

Sora pretended to be surprised. "Oh really?" he asked.

With deliberate slowness, Sora stood up, gracefully advancing toward Nishinoya. Leaning in, he whispered into Nishinoya's ear, "Then, I will call you Senpai~" with a hint of seduction in his voice.

Nishinoya blushed, feeling a bit flustered, and took a slight step back, caught off guard by Sora's teasing.

Sora couldn't help but burst into laughter at Nishinoya's response. "Hahaha! I didn't know you were this easy to tease, Senpai!" he exclaimed, thoroughly enjoying the playful banter.

Tsukishima, on the other hand, felt a twinge of jealousy. 'I thought I was the only one Sora likes to flirt with,' he thought, his competitive side emerging.

Yamaguchi noticed Tsukishima's reaction and sweatdropped, sensing the subtle tension in the air.

Nishinoya cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "That's... right! I'm your senpai!" he affirmed, emphasizing the seniority with renewed confidence.

"Yeah, you are," Sora softly smiled.

Playfully, Sora reached over and ruffled Nishinoya's hair.

Nishinoya's eyes widened, caught off guard by the gesture. "H-Hey, stop that!" he protested, his initial surprise turning into a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

"Sorry about that, Senpai. I can't help it since you're cute," Sora said with a mischievous smile, enjoying the playful banter.

Nishinoya blushed once again, a mix of embarrassment and a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Sora stopped ruffling Nishinoya's hair, and his hair was now down.

This time, it was Sora's turn to blush. 'Shit, I know he's cute when his hair is down in the anime, but seeing it in real life is even cuter,' he thought, feeling a bit flustered by the unexpected charm.

Unaware of it, Sora's nose started to bleed, a subtle sign of his flustered state.

All three of them were shocked to see Sora's nose bleeding.

"H-Hey! Your nose is bleeding!" Nishinoya pointed out.

"Oh?" Sora touched his nose and saw blood.

"S-Sora-San, let's get you checked at a clinic. Maybe this is a different type of injury!" Yamaguchi suggested, concern etched across his face.

Sora waved his hand. "Don't worry, Yams, it's just a minor inconvenience," he reassured, downplaying the situation with a nonchalant smile.

Tsukishima took out his handkerchief and handed it to Sora. "Here, take this," he offered, showing a rare gesture of concern.

Sora's eyes widened. "But, isn't that your handkerchief?"

"Don't worry about it, you can return it to me after washing it," Tsukishima replied, showing a rare willingness to share.

Sora gave a soft smile. "Thanks, Tsukki," he said, using the handkerchief to wipe the blood off his nose.

Tsukishima might have an aloof expression, but he was glad on the inside in helping Sora.

"Anyway, I forgot to introduce myself," Nishinoya said and continued. "I'm Nishinoya Yuu! 2nd year and the libero of the volleyball club!"

"Nice to meet you," the three of them replied.

"I'm Yamaguchi Tadashi," Yamaguchi introduced, gesturing towards Tsukishima. "That's Tsukishima Kei."

"And you already know about me," Sora added with a smile.

"Great!" Nishinoya exclaimed.

He then turned to Tsukki and Yams. "Daichi told me that you both are weak receivers."

"Uhh... yeah," Yamaguchi admitted, scratching the back of his head.

"Later this evening, I'm going to teach you both!" Nishinoya exclaimed, his enthusiasm evident.

"Thank you, Nishinoya-Senpai!" Yamaguchi expressed his gratitude.

Tsukishima, on the other hand, simply nodded in acknowledgment.

RING

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunchtime.

"Oh, there goes my cue," Nishinoya remarked. "Well, see you guys later, bye!" With that, he swiftly made his exit.

The trio silently observed as Nishinoya made his exit through the door.

"Senpai is small, but his presence is huge," Yamaguchi remarked, his gaze fixed on the now-vacant doorway.

"Yeah, that's what I like about him," Sora chimed in, his eyes lingering on the space Nishinoya had just occupied.

Sora's candid comment prompted Yamaguchi and Tsukishima to exchange curious glances, their eyebrows arching with interest.

"Is Nishinoya-Senpai your type, Sora-San?" Yamaguchi couldn't help but ask, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"Hehehe, yeah," Sora admitted, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he scratched his cheek. "I like people who present themselves like him, you know?" He chuckled, offering a teasing grin that hinted at a deeper appreciation for Nishinoya's bold and vibrant personality.

Tsukishima analyzed Sora's reply, 'So, he prefers someone confident?' he thought.

===============

While walking in the 2nd-year hallway, Nishinoya couldn't help but notice people staring at him.

'Why do they keep staring at me?' he wondered.

Suddenly, a teacher stopped in front of him. "Excuse me, but this is the 2nd-year hallway."

Nishinoya raised one of his brows. "But I'm a second year?" he replied, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Second year? But you can't be," the teacher persisted.

Nishinoya took a deep breath, hoping to avoid any issues. "Yes, I'm a second-year student," he affirmed, maintaining his composure.

"Show me your ID," the teacher insisted.

Nishinoya sighed and reluctantly presented his ID.

The teacher analyzed the ID and was visibly surprised to find out it was indeed Nishinoya.

"Wait, you're Nishinoya, but you look... different," the teacher remarked, struggling to reconcile the student in front of him with the image on the identification card.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Nishinoya inquired, genuinely curious.

"Well, your hair looks different," the teacher explained, glancing back and forth between the picture on the ID and Nishinoya himself.

A realization dawned on Nishinoya. 'No wonder why people kept looking at me! My hair is different!' he thought, recalling Sora's earlier playful act of ruffling his hair.

"Wait, that's Nishinoya? He's cute!" one of the girls in the hallway muttered.

"Yeah, I'm glad he changed his hair!" another girl remarked.

Nishinoya overheard their comments and couldn't help but grin. 'Thank you, Sora Hinata, for changing my hair,' he thought appreciatively.

Deciding to express his gratitude, Nishinoya made a mental note to buy Sora some ice cream later as a thank-you gesture.

====================

It was now the end of class, signaling the start of club activities.

Sora neatly arranged his things and placed them in a bag. Afterward, he slowly stood up.

"Sora-San, do you want some help?" Yamaguchi offered, concern evident in his expression. Tsukishima stood beside him.

"Oh, don't worry, I can handle these. You two can go ahead," Sora reassured them, appreciating their willingness to assist.

"Haa..." They both heard Tsukishima sigh, and to their surprise, he took Sora's bag and started walking away.

"H-Hey! I told you I can handle it!" Sora protested.

Tsukishima stopped walking and turned his head around. "There's no point in masking the pain," he stated matter-of-factly, his words carrying a hint of understanding.

"Haa!" Sora sighed in defeat. "Fine."

Tsukishima smirked slightly, a victorious expression on his face. "Heh."

...

Tsukishima carried Sora's bag while Yamaguchi assisted Sora in walking.

First, they headed to the 1-3 classroom, where Shoyo and Kageyama were assigned.

Upon arrival, they discovered that both Shoyo and Kageyama had already gone to the volleyball gym.

Knowing this, they changed their course and headed to the volleyball gym instead.

As they approached the gym, they noticed someone peeking through the door.

"Hey, you!" Sora called out to the person.

"Eek!" The person exclaimed, swiftly turning around.

The individual had long hair styled in a bun, dark brown eyes matching both his hair and eyebrows and a short scruff growing on his chin. Sora recognized him immediately-it was Asahi Azumane.

Analyzing Asahi's actions, Sora assumed he was observing the members of the volleyball club.

Sora approached Asahi with careful steps, a curious glint in his eyes. "Hey, you're the ace, right?"

Asahi's confusion was evident. "How do you know?"

Sora adopted a casual demeanor, concealing the lie with ease. "Nishinoya-Senpai told me. He also mentioned that you were a great ace."

Asahi's brows furrowed, still uncertain about this unexpected revelation. Sora, however, maintained a friendly and inquisitive expression, his words weaving a web of camaraderie.

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi, who stood behind, exchanged confused glances, not recalling Nishinoya ever mentioning Asahi to them.

Asahi sighed, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Noya gives me too much credit."

He then looked at Sora. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm no ace." Asahi's admission carried a hint of humility, debunking the image that Nishinoya might have inadvertently created.

"That's crap!" Sora exclaimed suddenly, catching Asahi off guard.

"Eh?!" Asahi was visibly surprised, his eyes widening at Sora's unexpected outburst.

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi were also taken aback by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

'Man, I seriously have to convince this guy to go back to volleyball. Or else, Shoyo will have no competition for the ace spot,' Sora thought, his mind racing with the strategic implications of Asahi's absence from the team.

"Look, Mate, I know it was tough that your spikes didn't get through the 'Condom Walls of Date Tech.' But instead of feeling upset about it forever, how about you use it as a chance to improve your skills?" Sora urged, doing his best to convince Asahi to reconsider and return to the team.

"Condom what?" Asahi asked, utterly perplexed.

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi sweat-dropped at Sora's choice of words, realizing it might not be the best term to use in this context.

Sora observed the puzzled expressions on Tsukishima and Yamaguchi's faces and felt a twinge of uncertainty.

"Uhh... isn't that what Date Tech High has? An impenetrable wall?" Sora questioned, seeking confirmation.

Asahi, slightly amused, corrected him, "Yeah, but it's called the 'Iron Wall of Date Tech High.'"

"Whatever," Sora waved his hand dismissively, brushing off the minor terminology slip. "You get my point, right?" he continued, a hopeful expression in his eyes as he tried to convey the essence of his encouragement to Asahi.

"I-"

"Aniki!" Shoyo suddenly popped out the door, surprising everyone in the vicinity.

"EEK!" Asahi let out an involuntary exclamation, taken aback by Shoyo's sudden appearance.

Shoyo swiftly made his way toward Sora, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Aniki, why did you come to school?" he inquired.

"Ah! Shoyo! You're right on time!" Sora exclaimed.

He then pointed to Asahi. "See that homeless man over there? He's the ace," Sora said with a mischievous grin, playfully teasing Asahi.

"H-Homeless man," Asahi muttered, feeling like the ground beneath him had just given way. The unexpected description left him bewildered and slightly disoriented.

"Asahi-Senpai! You came!" Shoyo greeted with enthusiasm.

"Wait, hold on, you two know each other?" Sora asked, surprised by the revelation.

"Yeah," Shoyo nodded, "Me and Kageyama tried convincing him, but it was... not pretty." Shoyo's expression hinted at the challenges they faced in attempting to persuade Asahi.

"Uhm, I'm right here, you know?" Asahi interjected.

"Anyways, are you going back, Asahi-Senpai?" Shoyo persisted, his eyes shining with anticipation.

"Well-"

"Asahi?!" Daichi's voice said as he caught sight of Asahi through the door.

"EEK!" Asahi exclaimed once again, turning around abruptly to face Daichi. His surprise was evident, and the unexpected encounter with Daichi added an extra layer of astonishment to the unfolding scene.

"Asahi, you're back!" Daichi's voice rang out as he approached, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "Are you going back to volleyball?"

"W-Well, not exactly," Asahi replied, his gaze slightly downcast as he scratched the back of his head, an air of uncertainty surrounding him.

"Haa!" Sora sighed audibly, the weight of disappointment evident in the sound, realizing that his attempt to persuade Asahi had fallen short.

"Well, I'll be going in first. Bye, y'all!" Sora announced with a resigned tone, taking slow steps toward the gymnasium.

Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and Shoyo fell into step behind him, creating a retreating line of first-years.

Daichi and Asahi stood there, watching the first years make their way inside the gymnasium.

"The first years are quite... energetic," Asahi remarked, a mixture of amusement and nostalgia in his voice as he observed the spirited newcomers.

"Yeah," Daichi acknowledged, a sense of anticipation coloring his words. "By the way, we've got a practice match scheduled on the last day of Golden Week."

"With whom?" Asahi's eyes widened with curiosity.

"With Nekoma."

"Nekoma?!" Asahi's surprise was evident in his exclamation.

Daichi nodded. "Yeah. We've all heard about Nekoma like they're some kind of legend. Our current team has no particular connection with them."

"But the Cats versus the Crows is a 'Trash Can Battle,'" Daichi continued, a nostalgic glint in his eyes. "It's our first confrontation in years with them, and it's sure to be a big event."

Asahi looked down, his tone heavy with a mix of regret and self-doubt. "Yeah, but I can't face Suga or Nishinoya."

Daichi's eyes slightly widened, but he offered a reassuring smile. "Despite your appearance, you're still a softy, aren't you?" He patted Asahi's shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie.

"Anyway, never mind Sugawara or Nishinoya. They've got thicker skin than you."

"Aren't you supposed to be a 'Soft-Hearted Captain'?" Asahi teased.

"Not to you. You're too soft," Daichi remarked with a light-hearted chuckle as he began walking back to the gymnasium.

"Mhmmm," Asahi sighed, contemplating the weight of his decisions.

"You skipped some training, and you might find it difficult to come back. But that doesn't matter," Daichi paused, turning back to face Asahi. "If you still love the game, that's enough reason for you to come back."

Asahi absorbed Daichi's words, the encouragement resonating with him in the quiet hallway.

"Oh, by the way, we have a budding ace now," Daichi mentioned, referencing Shoyo.

Asahi looked at his hand, his mind drifting back to the familiar sensation of spiking, a flood of memories and emotions washing over him.

While Asahi was looking at his hand, Daichi noticed four men wearing different colored athletic attire coming toward the gymnasium.

One guy has straight, silky black hair that was parted evenly into two sides. His eyes are gray and he wears brown-rimmed glasses. He appears to be quite thin.

One guy has a broad face with short black hair and large dark-colored eyes. He has thick eyebrows and a large build. Although slightly taller than average, he is still on the shorter side.

Another one appears to have curly light brown hair and a long face. He has a medium build and is the ideal height for a volleyball player standing just over 6 feet.

The last one has dark brown eyes and a tall, slightly muscular build. His hair is short, messy, and blonde, but he has dark brown sideburns and eyebrows, which hints that he dyes his hair.

"Uhm, excuse me, but can we help you?" Daichi asked.

"Oh, hello. Ukai-San called us here."

=============

"Oh, Brat, I thought you were injured or something?" Coach Ukai asked Sora, a hint of concern in his voice.

"I am injured, but I'm not playing. I'll only be watching," Sora replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Besides, staying home and watching TV isn't exactly riveting."

Keishin raised an eyebrow at Sora's response. "Watching TV? You do know there are more productive things you could be doing, right?"

Sora shrugged casually. "Productivity is overrated, Ukai-San. I'd rather be here with the team."

Shoyo then leaned in, whispering in Sora's ear, "Aniki, he meant that you have to study Japanese literature in your free time."

Sora blushed with embarrassment. "M-My Japanese is fine!"

Despite being reincarnated in Japan for 16 years, Sora still found Japanese literature challenging. While he could speak and write fluently, other aspects, like history, remained areas for improvement.

However, Keishin overheard Shoyo's whisper. "There's also the fact that you're way more fluent in English than in Japanese," he remarked, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Grr! Shut up, Old Man!" Sora retorted.

"Who are you calling an Old Man, huh?!" Coach Ukai shot back, a playful glint in his eye.

While the twins and Ukai engaged in banter, Nishinoya took the opportunity to give a demonstration to Tsukishima and Yamaguchi on receiving techniques.

"You go like this, then this, and pow!" Nishinoya exclaimed, showcasing the movements with enthusiasm. Kageyama softly served the ball towards him, and Nishinoya expertly bumped it. Turning to Tsukishima and Yamaguchi, he stated, "It's simple."

The two first-years tilted their heads, not fully grasping Nishinoya's explanation. Tanaka, who was observing nearby, chimed in, "You operate on instinct. I don't get what you were saying."

Kageyama, feeling a bit defensive, retorted, "Really? I followed what he was doing."

Tanaka, unfazed, teased, "You're the same as him. Whenever you talk, you always go like this and that. No one gets you."

"What?" Kageyama responded, a hint of confusion in his tone.

"Everyone, we have special guests," Daichi announced, drawing the attention of the team.

Turning around, they laid eyes on four unfamiliar men.

"Hey there!"

"Woah, this takes me back."

"Oh, you guys made it!" Keishin greeted them as he approached. "Thanks for coming with so little notice."

Curiosity evident, Yamaguchi inquired, "Uhm, Coach Ukai, who are they?"

"We're the Town's team!" the one with glasses proudly declared.

"Yeah, like they said. I'm also the one who founded the team," Keishin added.

"I was expecting middle-aged guys," Tsukishima muttered quietly.

"Me, too," Yamaguchi agreed.

Upon seeing the neighborhood team, Shoyo hid behind Sora's back. He still felt guilty for accidentally poisoning Yukinari Mori.

Sora's eyes widened as he spotted Asahi standing behind Daichi. "Asahi-Senpai!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm evident.

All eyes turned to Asahi, who found himself a bit nervous amid the unexpected attention.

"Hey, you there! What's your position?" Keishin called out with a coach's authority.

"Erm, wing spiker!" Asahi replied, trying to steady himself.

"We need someone. Come in and warm up! Get a move on!" Keishin's tone was both encouraging and directive, urging Asahi to join the practice.

Nishinoya observed Asahi silently, his gaze thoughtful and perhaps curious.

Keishin then had a thoughtful expression. "We need another setter. I want to do it, but I need to watch.

He then turned to Sugawara and Kageyama.

On the other hand, Yukinari Mori approached the Hinata twins with a friendly smile. His curly light brown hair framed his face, and his long features gave him a distinctive appearance. His voice carried a warmth that immediately put the twins at ease.

"Hey, you two, it's been a while, hasn't it?" Mori greeted.

"Oh, uhm, yeah," Shoyo responded, a bit timidly.

Observing Shoyo's hesitance, both Mori and Sora exchanged knowing glances and sighed.

"Shoyo-Kun, I told you it was fine. It was an accident, after all," Mori reassured.

"But...you almost died," Shoyo admitted with a hint of worry in his voice.

Mori placed a comforting hand on Shoyo's shoulder. "But I survived, and that's what matters. Don't dwell on it too much, alright?"

"Uhh yeah," Shoyo slowly transformed into a smile.

Mori returned the smile, appreciating Shoyo's attempt to lighten the mood. "Exactly. Now, let's focus on volleyball. It's good to see you both here."

"Okay! Let's start!" Keishin said.