Haikyu: Nah, I'd Adapt!

"Nice toss, Kenma!"

Kuroo's hand landed heavily on Kenma's back, the force of it making the setter wince. Kenma rubbed the spot awkwardly, his face blank, as he quietly repositioned for the next play.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, a strange sensation prickled at the back of his neck.

Kenma suddenly felt as though someone was watching him. He turned his head slightly toward Karasuno's side, his golden eyes scanning the players.

They were cheering each other on, which made him confused as he thought, 'What was that? Am I tripping?'

But then, his gaze locked onto someone among them who was further away from other Karasuno players.

Tsuna.

"...!"

Kenma's pupils dilated as he froze in place. He saw Tsuna's intense glare bore into him and made his stomach twist uncomfortably.

A bead of sweat rolled down Kenma's temple.

"…What?"

Instinctively, he took a step back, flinching like a startled cat. He muttered under his breath, "Why... is he looking at me like that?"

"Huh?"

Inuoka was standing nearby and saw this.

Kenma's unusual reaction was somewhat baffling as he tilted his head in confusion. His eyes darted between Kenma to the rest of the court, "Kenma-san? What happened?"

"No, nothing…"

Kenma shook his head quickly and wiped his sweat, trying to compose himself. His shoulders tensed, and he avoided Inuoka's gaze before completely falling silent.

"...?"

Inuoka stared at him, still puzzled, but the memory of his earlier success—finally blocking Kageyama and Hinata's quick attack—brought a bright smile back to his face.

"..."

Meanwhile, Kuroo had been watching the whole exchange as he repositioned back. He followed Kenma's gaze and caught sight of Tsuna on the other side of the net.

The corners of Kuroo's lips twitched as he saw the familiar, unnerving grin stretched across Tsuna's face.

"Still grinning like a psycho, huh?"

Kuroo muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

As the game continued, Karasuno managed to score a few points but was completely unable to take the lead.

Inuoka seemed to have finally figured out Hinata's pattern and had been consistently blocking their freak quick attack often.

"..."

Kuroo stood still as he saw Tsuna walk toward the backline to serve.

He saw the ball was sent toward him as it flew across the net, and he immediately shifted and adjusted his position to receive it.

The serve wasn't particularly strong as Kuroo received it cleanly, directing it toward Kenma.

The pass was so perfectly controlled that Kenma didn't even need to adjust his position.

'To keep everything connected...'

That was the essence of Nekoma.

Kuroo's gaze briefly flicked to Tsuna on the other side of the net, then to Kenma as he prepared for the toss.

Nekoma had always moved as one. It was instinctual now—something they had built over years of playing together.

A singular, cohesive body, where every player was a vital part of the whole.

Be it years ago or today, their coach always emphasized that receiving was the foundation of their game.

Without a solid receive, there was no attack, no progress.

'We might not have anyone who stands out like a sore thumb...'

Kuroo's eyes followed the ball as it floated toward Kenma's hands. His lips curled into a small smirk.

Players like Tsuna or Kageyama—whose talent was so overwhelming it seemed to draw everyone else into their orbit—Nekoma didn't have anyone like that.

They didn't need anyone like that.

'But we all share the same mission...'

Everyone else on the team was all the plasma.

They have to keep pumping oxygen toward the brain without any hiccups. 

The blockers on Karasuno's side hesitated again, their focus split as they tried to read Kenma's body language. The indecision was subtle but enough for Kenma to take advantage. With precise timing, Kenma sent the ball soaring toward Kuroo.

Kuroo's lips curled into a confident smirk as he leaped into the air.

"...And that is—"

The ball floated in perfect alignment, the toss effortless and controlled. Kuroo swung his arm, eyes locked on the opening in Karasuno's defense.

"...to keep the mind working to its full potential!"

But just as the ball left his hand, something shifted.

"This psycho..."

Kuroo's smirk faltered as he caught sight of Tsuna.

Tsuna had already shifted into the perfect position, anticipating where Kuroo's spike would land.

The ball came hurtling toward Karasuno's court, but Tsuna had already moved to save it, his eyes fixed on it as if he could see its path.

"...He saw through our attack?"

Kuroo's mouth went dry.

He blinked in surprise and quickly glanced at Kenma. The setter's face mirrored his shock, which made him frown.

Then, with a loud crack, Tsuna's hand collided with the ball as it veered off Tsuna's hand. The force sent it skimming along the edge, bouncing forward toward the backline of Karasuno's court.

Kuroo watched the play unfold, 'Kenma had seen the opportunity clearly...'

He took a quick look at Karasuno's players.

"Don't mind!"

They all said the same thing, trying to reassure the demon despite his seemingly unbothered expression.

Meanwhile, Tsuna's eyes never left Kenma. Still locked onto the setter like he was reading every move he made.

'This guy...' Kuroo thought, furrowing his brow.

Tsuna hadn't just reacted to the attack—he had analyzed it. His eyes were locked on their brains, trying to decode their intentions before they even made them.

"He's dangerous..."

Back on Karasuno's side, Hinata was looking at Tsuna with his eyes sparkling in admiration. He couldn't help but mumble, "Tsuna-senpai... is so cool..."

He had seen it many times.

When they were up against Aoba Johsai, Tsuna had quite literally shown them his worth the whole time he was on the court. Even after mistakes, he would rise again, unfazed, as if failure didn't matter.

There wasn't a shred of frustration in his expression.

All Hinata could see was...

"He's having fun..."

Hinata stared at those eyes flickering with excitement as a smile lingering on his face as the game continued.

Hinata could feel it in the air. Without anyone telling him, he knew the momentum had shifted completely out of Karasuno's favor.

'I can't even do much myself...'

Hinata thought as he once again did what he could, leaping to where the blockers were nowhere in sight.

But then—

A familiar feeling crept up his arm. He opened his eyes just in time to see Inuoka's hand looming above him, cutting off his spike.

Plop.

The ball ricocheted off the block, landing with a resounding thud back on Karasuno's side. It rolled lazily across the floor as if mocking his effort.

"Hmm..."

On Nekoma's bench, Coach Nekomata watched the game with a small smile tugging at his lips.

He could tell Tsuna was slowly catching up to the center of Nekoma High, but it was not exactly something he was worried about.

"He's just refining his receive," Nekomata murmured.

He noticed how Tsuna, unlike before in the early first set, wasn't making bold moves to attack. Instead, he seemed preoccupied, analyzing every spike Nekoma threw his way.

"Seems like he's understood something..."

Nekomata's gaze shifted toward Hinata, who had just been blocked again.

"But because of that..." The coach shook his head lightly and sighed, "Someone had to have a hard time."

"Uwaah, don't mind, Hinata!"

Nishinoya patted him on the back as Hinata unconsciously nodded in response.

He had already anticipated this. Deep down, he knew. Their freak quick attack, as fast and unpredictable as it was, wouldn't stay unstoppable forever.

'Tsuna-senpai already did it the first time we met...'

It was easier when they played 3v3. But Hinata knew better now. If Tsuna could block it back then, there were bound to be others who'd eventually figure it out, too.

Still, something felt different this time.

Hinata kept running, his legs moving as if on autopilot. His body didn't seem to tire, even though sweat poured from his small frame, soaking through his jersey.

Blocked.

Again.

And again.

'I don't even know how many times it's been...'

Yet, even as the towering shadow of the blockers loomed over him, blotting out his vision, he didn't feel afraid.

The nervousness, the panic that usually clutched at his chest in these moments—it wasn't there.

Instead, a strange sensation settled over him.

'Maybe it's because I've been watching Tsuna-senpai so much...'

The thought echoed in Hinata's mind as the ball soared across the net toward Karasuno's side. And without hesitation, his figure shot toward the net.

"...?"

Kageyama felt an inexplicable jolt as his gaze met Hinata's fiery one.

In that fleeting second, no words were needed.

The moment Hinata launched himself into the air, Kageyama sent the ball toward him in a perfect arc.

This time, Hinata's eyes were wide open as his gaze was locked onto the ball as he swung his arm. The contact made a satisfying crack and sent it burst forward.

But before the ball could safely fly across the net, Inuoka's hands shot up.

Plop!

The ball ricocheted off Inuoka's block, landing with a thud on Karasuno's side of the court.

"Urgh..."

Everyone in Karasuno winced at another failed attempt as they were about to come and reassure Hinata that it was all fine.

However...

"...!"

Everyone stood rooted in their steps, their eyes widening as they saw Hinata's lips curling upward into a smile.

"Not enough..."

Hinata didn't even seem aware he'd spoken to them as he chuckled, "...I need more of this!"

The court went silent, save for Hinata's excitement as his grin stretched wider, "I want to have more fun!"

"...!"

The others could only stare in shock.

It was exactly what Tsuna would have said.