The Karasuno team couldn’t exactly call it a rut—they were improving, but the weight of their school’s infamous history hund over their head like impending doom. However, they were faced with a problem: no professional boys' volleyball team would be eager to groom their potential rivals. So, as if by a stroke of genius—or desperation—they turned to the girls’ volleyball team instead.

It wasn’t the most conventional solution, but it was practical. They weren't familiar enough to make a statement on their skill, more importantly, they were willing to volunteer their free time and coach them some. Upon arriving at the gym where the girls practiced, the boys were split into pairs and assigned to one of the girls. The plan was straightforward: each girl would coach her assigned pair, forming teams of three to compete against the other mixed groups. Improvement would come through matches and collaboration, and perhaps a bit of prideful competition among themselves.

Yamaguchi and Tsukishima, naturally paired together, stood off to the side as the assignments were read out. When their names were called, a girl with a bright smile and an easy confidence stepped forward. She waved at them cheerfully, her expression open and inviting.