Are you two here to check out the volleyball team?
I'm Kai Nobuyuki from Class 1-5. Nice to meet you.
Kuroo Tetsuro from Class 1-2.
Yaku Morisuke from Class 1-3.
Yeah, I know.
Have we met before?
In a tournament my first year of junior high, we got wrecked by your team.
Oh, I see. Yeah, I don't remember that at all.
By the way, stop looking down on me.
Have you decided to join yet?
If you have, I look forward to playing with you two the next three years.
To celebrate, why don't we all go get something to eat?
Sounds great. What should we eat?
Meat!
Fish.
Fish? What are you, a grandpa?
Could you stop making comments proving that you lack docosahexaenoic acid?
What? Speak Japanese.
Eat some more fish and learn some things.
Say, do you know that really cute girl with short hair in Class 1-5?
I'm not sure.
She's really petite.
Do you like girls with short hair, Yaku?
Yeah!
What about you, Kuroo?
I prefer long.
Mild.
Hot.
The ocean!
The mountains.
Mikasa.
Molten.
Dogs!
Cats!
Boys' Bathroom
Japanese style!
Western style!
By the way,
our goal this year as a team is to make the quarterfinals at the Tokyo tournament.
All right, first-years,
sound off on your personal goals.
Winning nationals.
What they said.
Haikyu!!
The "Path" of the Ball
Nekoma Nohebi
One touch!
Damn it...
Our "usual"
isn't what it used to be.
Yaku-san, that dig was...
Damn it...
Wait...
Did he step on someone's foot in the crowd when he landed?
I'm really sorry!
No, I'm totally fine.
I'm fine!
Shibayama!
My, my... Looks like he chased it a bit too far.
I'm sorry.
We're always causing you trouble, Yakkun,
so it wouldn't hurt for you to watch us win from the bench every now and then.
Don't worry. It's just a small break before nationals.
I haven't gotten sick or gotten hurt in this past year.
So why did this have to happen now...
Why?!
Fair and Square
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, Nohebi!
Push it, push it, push it, push it, push it, push it, push it, Nekoma!
Shibayama, I'm here, so it'll be fine.
Right.
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, Nohebi!
Is that supposed to be reassuring?
Push it, push it, push it, push it, push it, push it, push it, Nekoma!
Go, go, go, go...
I can do this. Don't let them get to you.
Number 12.
Suguru!
Move, legs...
Fair and Square
Nice kill, nice kill, Daisho!
Nice, nice, Daisho! Nice, nice, Daisho!
One more point!
Go, go, Nekoma!
I-It's okay! We've got this!
Go, go, Nekoma!
Push it, push it, Nekoma!
This is when we really need guts!
Yeah!
Yeah, you're right.
Hey, you're bringing down the mood too much.
I think we'll be fine.
Kenma's not that interested in the actual outcome of the game.
That's why his words never convey anything false.
He just analyzes what's possible and what's not.
And he said we still have a chance.
That's more encouraging than any other pep talk.
Shibayama.
Yes?
Just sub out with Lev when he's in the back.
Yeah. Don't sub me out.
When I rotate into the back, I'll stay in.
Yes, sir!
Right now, I don't have the right to always stay in the game.
I'm the only one who can prove my worth!
Yaku-paisen always loves to steal the spotlight.
Let your old leader look cool sometimes.
Yeah!
They didn't waste any time benching him.
But at the same time, it doesn't change the fact that their defense
has some holes in it now, since Yaku's out.
Go after the least skilled, the weak, and those who are easy to break!
This set is ours!
Yeah!
A jump floater!
Ow!
Nice receive.
I'm sure Yaku could've gotten that without diving for it.
Nekoma Nohebi
Free ball!
What?!
What the hell is this pressure?
Suguru!
Their #11 might be a beast near the net, but once he's in the back...
He's basically an amateur!
Keep your eyes...
on me!
He shut him out!
Hey, don't move!
I understand why you'd want to aim for the rookie, but...
You're right, Kenma-san! I think we've got this!
We're not clear yet.
Huh?
I'm gonna need Kuro to do way more.
Nekoma Nohebi
One more point!
Nice serve!
Fair and Square Nohebi Academy Volleyball Team
Libero isn't just some position created so short guys can play.
You need to prove that you're worthy of being a regular.
Make them think you're worth being on the court, even if you can't attack.
Isn't it an honor to play libero for Nekoma, who's known for their defense?
All right!
Connect
One more point!
Nekoma Nohebi
Now, they're, um... a deuce?
Yup. We'll show how persistent we are!
Kuguri!
Fair and Square
His form is incredibly good. I had no idea which way he was going to hit.
Kuguri... He really is better than I am.
That's not true, Numa-san!
You just had to sit out this time because of your injury.
The coach likes guys that are really enthusiastic,
but it's hard to read Kuguri's emotions.
Now that's coming back to bite him.
But I'm pretty sure his technique is better than mine.
Come on! Tell me that's not true!
Uh...
Nice shot!
Nekoma Nohebi
Damn it...
We're not gonna end here!
Grab our ticket to nationals, no matter what it takes!
Kuguri!
I jumped too late...
I managed to hit it!
Hell yeah!
Nekoma Nohebi
Set point!
That was just pure luck!
I'll stop as many as it takes!
Out!
Sorry about that.
Got it!
Damn it!
Nekoma Nohebi
Right back at you!
How was his hand there?!
Free ball!
Their #1 came up behind their #11!
Kuro's really good at defense, even if he's not as good as Yaku-kun, and...
I've never tried that up-tempo attack from the back row with Kuro,
but I think we can pull it off.
Sorry if I screw it up, though.
Even if your defense isn't as good,
I think it'd be a great surprise attack.
The first set...
Nekoma Nohebi
We won!
Haikyu!!
The Ball's Path
Haikyu!!
The Ball's Path
Nekoma Nohebi
Yamamoto!
I touched it.
Wow, look at him acting like a Goody Two-Shoes.
Kuguri!
A cross shot!
Damn it!
We probably won't be able to win against their #12 just by trying to read them.
Nekoma Nohebi
I can't get a good read on him at all.
Hey, a pinch server.
Isn't that the guy who dislocated his thumb the last match?
Numa!
Go, Numai!
Th-The crowd's getting really excited.
I think he's Nohebi's ace.
Please... Cut him off after one.
Fukunaga!
I can't reach it!
Even if I could, I wouldn't be able to return it.
We have to make a choice that gives us the best chance to score...
Out!
Yeah!
Wasn't that actually inside?
They're really good at this.
The moment they realized they couldn't get the ball,
they blocked the ball from the ref's sight and the ref called it out.
Talk about conniving.
They act like Goody Two-Shoes to the refs.
Talk about cheap.
If they really want to win, why don't they actually try?
There's not a single guarantee in a game.
Everything we do is to help us take advantage of the flow.
Any provocation, compliment...
Give it your all!
Do everything you can to get that point!
Even get everyone in the crowd to be on our side!
Nekoma Nohebi
Let's get that ball up!
Right!
Damn, that hurts...
But it's just pain.
Suguru says being called "cheaters" is a compliment,
but I hate it.
That's why...
I'm going to shut them up!
Nekoma Nohebi
Nohebi took the lead!
We're not finished yet!
Yeah!
Let's cut them off!
One more!
Fukunaga!
Out!
Nicely aimed.
I'm counting on you guys!
Suguru!
We're not...
...finished yet!
Ugh, this is so frustrating!
Nekoma Nohebi
Yeah!
Nice bump!
One touch!
Sorry!
Damn it...
Shibayama!
Sub for me for a sec. That got my nail. I'm gonna stop the bleeding.
Yes, sir!
Haiba-kun!
Huh?!
I'll be right behind you!
Huh?
Uh... sure.
The other team's captain pulled out.
Let's win this set while they can't do that annoying back row attack!
Shut up...
I'm still here!
Nekoma Nohebi
Match point!
Kuguri!
I'm gonna stop them!
Nice kill! Nice kill!
Damn, he's good!
Nice, Kuguri!
One more point!
I'm so sorry!
Next time!
We'll get the next one!
That ball wasn't impossible to get. I have to watch more carefully!
Focus!
Why is Shibayama apologizing?
I mean, other than messing up on a serve,
almost nothing that happens on the court is ever only one person's fault.
What the heck? I totally get it.
I thought this teamwork thing was some mental thing that was more complicated.
But the reason that we can't easily blame each other,
is because all of our plays are literally connected.
Stop flailing your arms around!
I can't dig the damn ball!
But you'll still get the ball, no matter what!
I'll be right behind you!
That's right. You're you. Not Yaku-san.
Got it!
Hell yeah!
Nekoma Nohebi
Just one more point...
Kuguri!
Deflected!
Fukunaga-san!
Go!
Go, Kuguri!
My logic and instincts are saying
that if I hit it that way, I'll be killed.
We...
We won!
They did it!
Nekoma Nohebi
I knew it!
If he hit to my left, he'd run right into you!
The ball would definitely come to me!
We saw through it!
I expect the moment when teamwork comes together
feels way more satisfying than you think.
Well?
How did it feel to block the ball without trying to actually stop it?
Shibayama and I together are like one Yaku-san.
So I figured we needed to work together.
And then, during that rally...
I'll be right behind you!
I realized what Shibayama was talking about.
But that wasn't all.
But the fact that I was able to control the spiker from the other side of the net
without even touching him...
That felt awesome!
Thanks for the game!
Numai-san...
They totally led me into hitting that last shot.
I'm really sorry.
The fact that you were able to hit through their defense at all there was amazing.
And, Kuguri,
I'm somewhat relieved that you actually seem frustrated about this.
For at least this game, even if some of it might've been dumb luck,
I thought it'd be best to let Lev show off what he can really do.
But that jerk far surpassed my expectations.
I mean, if he sucks, just tell him he sucks.
Like, to his face.
I mean, it's not easy to say, "You messed up your block. Fix it,"
right after you missed a receive.
Exactly. It's not like the rest of us are as confident with receiving as you are, Yakkun.
Hm? Then get more confident.
You sure do say some complicated things like they're nothing.
Good job out there.
Mika-chan?!
S-Sorry I said that you were boring because you only care about your club.
Y-You looked really cool out there.
I think I finally sorta understand
why you concentrate so much on your club now.
Lucky guys must pay!
Teach me how to play volleyball sometime.
Sure.
Fukurodani Itachiyama
Itachiyama Nohebi Nekoma High Fukurodani Institute Academy School Academy
Boys' Japan National Tournament Tokyo Area Qualifiers Venue: Sumida City Gymnasium
Itachiyama Nohebi Nekoma High Fukurodani Institute Academy School Academy Representative 1st slot: Itachiyama Institute Representative 2nd slot: Fukurodani Academy Venue sponsor representative: Nekoma High School
Nii-chan, your phone's buzzing!
From: Kozume Kenma No Subject We're going to the Spring Tournament.
Nii-chan, where the heck are you going?
I'm gonna go run!
What are you talking about? Boars are out there!
Shoyo, be quiet! Hurry up and go to bed!