Chapter 73-Second Chances

"Ugh! This was snack time! Why did you drag me out of the cafeteria? I'm starving!" Hinata complained as he followed most of the Karasuno volleyball club members to the gym.

"Hey, idiot! Don't forget what you said to Yamaguchi yesterday!" Kageyama pointed accusingly at Hinata.

"Fine, but did it have to be right now? This is a sacred time!" Hinata whined.

"Yes, it had to be! This is the perfect time to discuss our plan to convince Tsukishima to drop the idea of leaving the club," Daichi chimed in.

"The problem is how we're supposed to do that. Even Yamaguchi, who's his friend, has no idea!" Hinata said as he grabbed a volleyball and started tossing it up as if doing a set.

"I think some of us should have another serious talk with him to convince him," Sugawara suggested.

"Okay... but who and how many should go? If we all go, he'll just get shy and try to run away or something," Asahi said.

"Hey! He's not some scared puppy or anything, but I do think three of us should go talk to him," Daichi commented.

"I AGREE! THREE IS A GOOD NUMBER!" Nishinoya shouted energetically.

"But who are the right people to go? Yamaguchi will definitely be there, but who else?" Tanaka asked.

"Anyone volunteering?" Daichi asked, looking around.

"Silence..."

"Silence..."

An awkward silence filled the air until Tanaka finally spoke up.

"Come on, guys! Tsukishima is a precious teammate, and we'll definitely feel the impact if he leaves. We probably won't even find a replacement! We can't afford to lose him!" Sugawara said.

"AH, STOP BEING SHAMELESS, Suga-san! YOU DIDN'T VOLUNTEER EITHER!" Tanaka shot back.

"Well... that's true..." Sugawara said, slightly embarrassed.

"Alright! Since no one wants to, let's do this the fairest way... DRAW LOTS!" Nishinoya shouted.

"Great idea, Noya-san!" Tanaka said, slapping Nishinoya on the back.

"Daichi, if I remember correctly, we have some dice stored in the supply room. We can use them, and whoever rolls the lowest number goes!" Sugawara suggested.

"Good idea! Let's go get them!" Daichi said, heading to the supply room and grabbing the dice along with a tabletop RPG board.

"I OBJECT!" Ennoshita raised his hand.

"What is it?" Daichi asked.

"We bench players haven't had much contact with Tsukishima. This is a problem for the starters and the third-years!" Ennoshita argued.

"HE'S RIGHT!" Kinoshita joined in.

"Alright, alright... you guys don't have to participate..." Daichi sighed.

"Great! Then we can leave! If this is a problem for the third-years," Hinata said, glancing at Kageyama.

"No! You're starters, so you should be doing this more than me!" Sugawara said.

"Fine! I'll go first," Asahi said, shaking the dice and rolling them, followed by the rest of the members.

"11, Asahi."

"10, Daichi."

"8, Sugawara."

"8, Tanaka."

"7, Nishinoya."

"Alright, now it's your turn!" Daichi said.

"6, Hinata."

"5, Kageyama."

"DANG IT! WHY AM I SO UNLUCKY?!" Hinata said, a hint of anger in his voice.

"Well, we lost. Nothing we can do about it... let's just do it," Kageyama said, accepting the result.

"Hmph! You're right!" Hinata sighed.

"Alright! He's in the library. Good luck!" Sugawara said, pushing the three out of the gym and closing the door, watching their faces slowly disappear. Hinata, Kageyama, and Yamaguchi then headed to the library, where they found Tsukishima writing in a notebook with his headphones on.

"Tsukki... Tsukki," Yamaguchi whispered, poking Tsukishima's arm.

"What is it? I'm studying," Tsukishima said calmly.

"It'll just take a minute!" Yamaguchi pleaded.

"Fine! Just one minute," Tsukishima said, following the three to the hallway.

"Alright, I'll get straight to the point. All the members of the Karasuno volleyball club want you to come back to the team," Kageyama said seriously.

"I refuse," Tsukishima said, turning to leave.

"What's your problem? Are you giving up just because we lost one match? It's not like we were humiliated or anything!" Hinata said, grabbing Tsukishima's arm.

"I was humiliated! And you don't get it... that's not even the problem!" Tsukishima said, irritated.

"Then what is the problem?" Yamaguchi asked.

"For me, there's no point in all of this because it never ends... even if I get better and beat Ushiwaka, there'll always be someone better to surpass. And what do I gain from it? It's just a stupid club!" Tsukishima said.

"Shut up! If you have no ambition and just cry over every loss, maybe it's better if you don't come back!" Hinata snapped.

"That's exactly what I don't understand! How can you guys keep going knowing that? WHY DO YOU EVEN PLAY?" Tsukishima shouted.

"IT'S OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF PRIDE!" Yamaguchi shouted, grabbing Tsukishima by the collar.

"Tsk!... Since when did you start loving volleyball so much?" Tsukishima said with an ironic smile.

"Fine! I'll come back to the club," Tsukishima said.

"Really?" Yamaguchi said, brightening up.

"On one condition..." Tsukishima said, his smile turning more sinister, making Hinata and Kageyama shiver.

"What's the condition?" Hinata asked.

"I want you two idiots... to dress up as clowns in the cafeteria to show everyone what clowns you really are!" Tsukishima said, his wicked smile still plastered on his face.

"WHAT?" Kageyama said, surprised.

"Dang it!" Hinata thought, analyzing the situation.

"What do we do?" Kageyama asked.

"No way!" Hinata replied firmly.

"But you wanted me to come back..." Tsukishima said, pouting ironically.

"HEY, FOUR-EYES! YOU'LL COME BACK IF YOU WANT TO! YOU'RE NOT DOING US A FAVOR, GOT IT?" Hinata shouted, letting his frustration with the situation boil over.

"Calm down, Hinata!" Kageyama shouted.

"HEY! Don't shout in front of the library, or you'll get kicked out!" said the old librarian, appearing in the hallway.

"Seriously... I got scolded because of you guys!" Tsukishima complained as they walked back to the gym.

"Oh, that's your fault for starting all this drama!" Hinata complained as they entered the gym.

"OH, you're back! Did you convince him?" Daichi asked.

"Well, we convinced him, but we got scolded in the process, with Hinata shouting like a maniac," Kageyama said, shrugging.

"Really? Hinata losing his cool? That's rare! But at least you brought Tsukishima back... welcome back!" Sugawara said to Tsukishima.

"DON'T SCARE US LIKE THAT AGAIN!" Tanaka shouted, putting Tsukishima in a headlock.

"Alright... but let me go, you baldy!" Tsukishima said, trying to break free.

"I just want to say that all the credit goes to Yamaguchi. If it were up to me... I would've given up!" Hinata said, pointing at Yamaguchi.

"Good thing you went, then!" Asahi said, giving Yamaguchi a thumbs-up.

"I didn't do much..." Yamaguchi said, scratching his head.

"If this meeting's over, I'm leaving!" Hinata said, heading back to his classroom, still a bit annoyed about missing his snack.