Haikyuu - I Am A Different Hinata!

The second set had just ended with Yukigaoka's victory, and confusion seemed to break out on Kitagawa Daiichi's bench as an argument erupted.

"I'm telling you if we can't get past their block, we're going to lose to them," Kageyama said irritably.

"And you think I need to do what you want to succeed? I'll overcome their defense my way," Kindaichi said, not wanting to admit he couldn't keep up with Kageyama's sets.

"He's right, Kageyama, there's no way you guys can do this on such short notice. Let's stick with what we already have," Hashikami said.

"Looks like they're arguing about that quick attack they've been trying and failing to do," Sekimukai observed.

"There's no chance they'll master that move while playing against us, right?" Izumi pondered.

"Pretty much impossible. This isn't something you master overnight due to the level of coordination needed between the setter and the attacker," said Hinata, who knew that in the original anime it took a lot of practice to perfect this quick attack.

The third set began with Hinata serving again. His first serve came out perfect, hitting the back line with plenty of speed and power. However, during the second serve, when he jumped, he felt pain in his knee and couldn't put as much power into it, making it easier for Kitagawa Daiichi's defense to receive.

1-0 Yukigaoka

"Damn, this knee is already getting in my way too much," Hinata thought.

After the receive, Kageyama set a ball to the back of the court for Kunimi, who managed to beat Sekimukai and Daisuke's block, returning the point to Kitagawa Daiichi.

1-1 Tied. Hashikami served and was easily received by Suzuki, followed by Izumi setting to Sekimukai in position four, who faced another triple block and tried to hit the fingertips of the block. However, Kageyama managed to direct the ball back down to Yukigaoka's court, scoring a great block.

2-1 Kitagawa Daiichi

"Damn it!" Sekimukai said after being blocked.

"It's okay, let's keep going," Hinata said, asking everyone to focus and forget that play.

Kageyama serves, sending the ball to the back of the court toward Sekimukai, who manages to receive it with his forearms but falls backward afterward.

"Great receive," Izumi said while positioning himself under the ball to set. Observing the play, he could see Hinata running and jumping in position four, but two of the opposing team's defenders had already followed the play, so he decided to make a quick set at the net to Daisuke, who managed to score over Hashikami's block.

2-2 Tied

Now with Daisuke and Hinata at the net, Yukigaoka's team was able to score three times in a row, twice through blocks against the opponent's attack and once through Izumi's set to Hinata, who just hit the ball off the side of Kindaichi's hands and out.

5-2 Yukigaoka

But the streak didn't last long when after a receive from the opposing libero following Kawashima's serve, Kageyama managed to score with a dink shot that caught Yukigaoka's team by surprise as they believed the ball would go to one of the attackers.

5-3 Yukigaoka

After this point, Kitagawa Daiichi's team had a great moment in the game with Yukigaoka's weakened block, managing to score three points in a row.

6-5 Kitagawa Daiichi

After a poor serve from Kindaichi that didn't have much power, making it easy for Suzuki to receive, the ball went to Izumi, who knew that scoring this point was essential to break the opponent's streak. He decided to use the weapon he had been saving since the beginning of the tournament, so he jumped pretending he was going to make a long set but instead just tapped the ball, executing a dink shot that successfully fell to the ground.

6-6 Tied

"Nice point," Hinata said to Izumi.

"I can't believe you kept that hidden all this time!" Sekimukai commented.

"That's how you use secret weapons! Although I think I could have waited a bit longer..." he said thoughtfully.

After Izumi's point, Yukigaoka's team rotated, and it was time for Hinata to serve again.

"Alright, here we go!" he said, throwing the ball up and hitting it in the air, making it fly towards the opposing libero who saw the ball explode off his arms and go out of bounds. On the second serve, he ended up hitting the net, but luckily it fell on the opponent's side before they could prevent it. However, on the third serve, he felt the same knee pain interfering and ended up putting more power than he should, hitting the ball outside the court.

8-6 Yukigaoka

"Damn..." he thought while looking at his knees.

The game continued, and both teams kept exchanging points with Yukigaoka's team continuing to force balls to Hinata, who kept jumping and exhausting himself even more. When the score was 16-16, Izumi decided to do his classic set to Hinata from the back of the court when he observed the orange-haired boy prepare to jump, but when he actually tried to jump, he just sat down on the floor holding his knee.

"OW! DAMN IT!" he shouted.

"What's happening? Are you okay?" said Suzuki, who observed the whole scene beside him.

"Looks like he's injured, we'll have to substitute," Izumi commented, downcast.

"NO, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT!" Hinata said, trying to stand up but failing.

"You don't need to push yourself anymore, you can't get more injured! We need you for the next phase!" Sekimukai said, clenching his fists.

Then Yukigaoka's players carried Hinata on their shoulders to the bench, and Mori had to permanently take his place, and so the game would continue.

"Damn it!" Kageyama huffed on Kitagawa Daiichi's side, wanting to win but not with the other team's best player out.

"Now they're finished," Kunimi commented.

"It's a shame but we can't do anything," Kindaichi said.

"Actually, all we can do is play with everything we've got out of respect for him," Hashikami said.

The game continued, but without Hinata, Yukigaoka's team couldn't compete at the same level anymore, besides the impact of losing their captain and best player, and they ended up losing the third set 25-18.

The mood on Yukigaoka's bench was melancholic, the players were devastated until Hinata stood up, supported by Izumi, and said:

"I'm proud of this team! I doubt anyone who saw how we were less than three months ago would say we'd make it this far! We have to hold our heads high because we did great!" Hinata said, smiling.

"Thank you for everything, all of you..." Sekimukai said, letting some tears fall.

After the final speech, Yukigaoka's players gathered to head towards the bus.

"This game was incredible until that orange-haired kid had to leave because of the injury, he's undoubtedly an amazing player."

"And that setter they call King... he's very talented too."

"It would be incredible to have one of them at our school, wouldn't it?"

"For sure, but neither of them would want to come here," said one of the boys wearing a black jacket.

The trip back to school was very discouraged and quiet, none of Yukigaoka's players were in the mood.

"I can't believe I lost because of my physical condition... but I was stupid to believe I could keep doing these jumps with this body that wasn't used to it without paying a price," Hinata thought.

"But if I remember well from my past life, I remember reading something about basketball player LeBron James who had developed a correct way to land after a dunk, maybe I should try something like that, besides starting physical therapy for muscle strengthening and gym," he continued.

The players were discouraged when they started getting off the bus upon arriving at school, but what they didn't expect was that a large part of the school was waiting for them in front of the school and started applauding.

"I didn't even know we had a volleyball club and they made it to the quarter-finals of a tournament, that's incredible!" said a boy.

"Good job, everyone!" some students shouted.

"Wow, this is quite a reception," said Izumi.

"Everyone, I'm the best player on the team!" Sekimukai shouted confidently while pointing to himself.

Although they were defeated, Yukigaoka Junior High's players felt a bit better now that their efforts were being recognized by the whole school.

After arriving, each of them went to their respective homes to rest and talk with their families.

Hinata- 12 Points

Daisuke- 5 Points

Izumi- 1 Point