Unexpected Encounter: Nekoma Meets Inarazaki

After their hard-fought victory against Komomedai, the Nekoma players were visibly drained but in high spirits. As they left the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, the evening air felt cool and refreshing. Coach Nekomata and Yamamoto led the way, while the others followed, chatting about the match and their next opponent.

Wakasa walked a little behind the group, deep in thought, when Lev nudged him.

"Oi, Wakasa, you zoned out or something? We just crushed Komomedai, man!" Lev teased with a wide grin.

Wakasa smirked faintly. "Just thinking about tomorrow. No time to slack."

As they neared the hotel entrance, Kuroo suddenly stopped, causing the others to halt. "Well, well, look who it is."

Standing by the lobby was the Inarazaki team, freshly arrived from their own match. Atsumu Miya, as sharp-eyed and confident as ever, immediately spotted Wakasa and broke into a wide grin.

"Oi, Kiyoshi!" Atsumu called out, walking over with his trademark swagger. "Fancy running into ya here!"

Wakasa raised an eyebrow, but a small smile crept onto his face. "Miya. Guess you made it through your match, huh?"

Atsumu clapped a hand on Wakasa's shoulder, ignoring the curious stares from their respective teammates. "Made it through? We crushed 'em, man! But hearin' about your match? Seems like ya put on quite the show too."

---

The Teams Exchange Words

Inarazaki's team, led by the towering Aran Ojiro and the silent yet imposing Suna Rintarou, joined Atsumu. Meanwhile, Kuroo, Kenma, and Lev stepped forward, creating an unspoken standoff.

Kuroo folded his arms, smirking at Atsumu. "You're awfully chatty for someone who hasn't faced us yet."

Atsumu laughed. "What can I say? I'm just friendly. Right, Wakasa?"

Wakasa chuckled softly. "If that's what you call it."

Suna looked Wakasa up and down, his expression unreadable. "You're the guy everyone's been talking about. Kiyoshi Wakasa, huh? Gotta admit, you're pretty impressive for a first-year."

"Thanks," Wakasa replied simply. "You're not bad yourself."

Aran smiled warmly. "Good to see some young talent stepping up. Nationals ain't easy, but you've been handling it well."

Kenma, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "Atsumu, shouldn't you be focusing on your next match instead of bothering us?"

Atsumu shrugged. "Aw, come on, Kozume. Don't be so stiff. Besides, it's good to know your competition, right?"

---

Friendly Rivalry

Lev, always one to jump into a conversation, pointed at Atsumu. "You think you're better than our Wakasa? No way!"

Atsumu grinned mischievously. "Oh, I don't think—I know. But don't worry, Lev. I'll make sure to show ya on the court someday."

Kuroo chuckled, his competitive edge shining through. "Don't you worry about us, Suna. We'll handle whoever comes our way."

---

Parting Words

As the teams started to head their separate ways, Atsumu leaned closer to Wakasa.

"Hey, Kiyoshi," he said quietly, his playful tone replaced by sincerity. "You're somethin' special, ya know that? Keep it up, but don't get too cocky. We might be meetin' soon enough."

Wakasa met his gaze, his silver-white hair catching the dim glow of the streetlights. "Same to you, Miya. Just don't choke before then."

Atsumu burst out laughing, patting Wakasa on the back. "You've got some fire in ya! I like it!"

With that, Inarazaki moved into the hotel, leaving Nekoma standing outside.

"Friends with Atsumu, huh?" Kuroo teased as they entered.

"He's... interesting," Wakasa admitted, shaking his head.

Kenma smirked faintly. "You're attracting attention from everyone these days."

Wakasa didn't respond, but his eyes reflected determination. As the semifinals loomed closer, he knew every encounter, every conversation, was just another step toward proving himself on the biggest stage.

Last Chapter Next Chapter