Haikyu — Chapter 1

Hey!

北川 第一

雪 ヶ 丘

1 HINATA AND KAGEYAMA CHAPTER 1: Endings and Beginnings CHAPTER 2: Karasuno High School Volleyball Club CHAPTER 3: Single-Celled Organisms CHAPTER 4: The Greatest Teammate CHAPTER 5: The King of the Court CHAPTER 6: Middle School Story CHAPTER 7: Words from the Have-Nots

HAIKYU... ALSO KNOWN AS VOLLEYBALL. TWO TEAMS SEPARATED BY A NET BOUNCE A BALL BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN EACH OTHER.

ONCE IT IS IN THE AIR... IT CANNOT BE CARRIED. THE BALL IS NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE FLOOR.

...A TEAM HAS NO MORE THAN THREE TOUCHES...

...AND TAKE THE BALL FROM RECEIVE...TO ATTACK.

...TO CONNECT ...

CHAPTER 1

WHAT'S THE VIEW LIKE OVER THAT WALL?

A WALL LOOMS IN FRONT OF ME.

A TALL, TALL WALL...

WHAT WILL I SEE BEYOND IT?

BUT MAYBE...

IT'S SOMETHING I COULD NEVER, EVER SEE ON MY OWN.

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP.

JUST MAYBE

IF I WASN'T ALONE...

HE'S LIKE A LITTLE GIANT!!

MISAKA ELECTRONICS

THAT...

...IS WHAT I HEARD THE ANNOUNCER SHOUT OVER THE TV.

MARKET

...QUALIFIED FOR THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SPRING VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT.

I CLEARLY REMEMBER STANDING THERE, WATCHING ...

... SHIVERING IN AWE AS THE LITTLE BLACK-CLAD ATHLETE...

ON A COURT FILLED WITH PLAYERS TOWERING OVER 6 FEET TALL...

...THERE STOOD A SINGLE ATHLETE AT A MERE 5'7" TALL.

... SCORED POINT AFTER POINT.

ROUGHLY THREE YEARS AND THREE MONTHS LATER...

NICE KILL!

MIDDLE SCHOOL INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS TOURNAMENT BOYS' VOLLEYBALL

THE GYM'S SO BIG!

LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE!

CITY GYMNASIUM

AND...

SMELL ALL THAT ICY HOT SPRAY!!

SHOYO HINATA YUKIGAOKA MIDDLE SCHOOL 3RD YEAR VOLLEYBALL CLUB CAPTAIN

NO KIDDING. I'M SHOCKED HE ACTUALLY MADE IT THIS FAR. DIDN'T HE START AS THE ONLY TEAM MEMBER?

YEAH. HE REALLY HUNG IN THERE ALL BY HIMSELF.

H-HEY! I CAN'T HELP IT! THIS IS MY FIRST REAL TOURNAMENT!

MY THIRD YEAR, AND I FINALLY... FINALLY ...!!

GEEZ, SHO-CHAN. NERVOUS MUCH? "Smell the Icy Hot spray"? Seriously?

DOES SOMEBODY HAVE STAGE FRIGHT, HMM?

HE'S RIGHT, CAPTAIN. DON'T YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO? UM, CAPTAIN? SHOULDN'T WE WARM UP?

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU GAVE US MUCH NOTICE FOR THIS! WE BARELY KNOW ANY OF THE RULES! YEAH! I...I KNOW! KOJI SEKIMUKAI 3RD YEAR (ACTUALLY IN THE SOCCER CLUB)

YUKITAKA IZUMI 3RD YEAR (ACTUALLY IN THE BASKETBALL CLUB) VOLLEYBALL CLUB 1ST YEARS MORI KAWASHIMA SUZUKI

HUH? WE'RE A COBBLED- TOGETHER TEAM OF TOTAL ROOKIES, AND YOU THINK WE'LL WIN?

WE'VE FINALLY MADE IT INTO A TOURNAMENT.

DUH! COURSE I DO!

AND NOW THAT WE'RE IN IT... WE'RE GONNA WIN IT!

WHERE DOES HE GET ALL THAT OPTIMISM?

IZUMIN. KOJI.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

QUIT IT! YOU'RE EMBAR- RASSING ME!

SAYS THE GUY WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES. I'M NOT CRY- ING! GAWD, SHOYO! QUIT CRYIN'!

AH HA HA... WELL, WE DID LOSE OUR OWN TOURNAMENTS ALREADY.

AND THE MIRACLE FIRST YEARS! THREE OF YOU EVEN! THANK YOU FOR JOINING! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

UM! Y-YOU'RE WELCOME, CAPTAIN. BUT WE'RE STILL TOTAL ROOKIES...

THEM WHO? LOOK. OVER THERE. THAT'S THEM.

THERE'S YUKIGAOKA MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE POOR SCRUBS THAT HAVE TO GO UP AGAINST KITAGAWA DAIICHI RIGHT OFF THE BAT. A BUNCH OF NOBODIES GOING UP AGAINST A TITLE CONTENDER IN ROUND ONE? SO UNLUCKY! IT'S KITAGAWA DAIICHI!

HERE THEY COME. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL...

THAT'S HIM! IT'S GOTTA BE!

北川第一 中学校

TALK ABOUT INTIMIDAT- ING!

YOU KNOW...

WHOA, THEY'RE HUGE!

AH! LOOK!

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE WOUND UP WITH THE NICKNAME, BUT...

SO WHAT'S UP WITH THAT KING GUY?

"THE KING OF THE COURT," TOBIO KAGEYAMA!

...HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE REALLY GOOD.

WOW. HE'S GOT GREAT INSTINCTS FOR THE GAME AND IS A MONSTER SETTER. HE'S AN ELITE ON-COURT LEADER.

I CAN UNDERSTAND BEING NERVOUS THOUGH.

YOU BEING QUIET MAKES ME UNEASY!! SHOYO, DON'T CLAM UP!!

ISN'T IT ALMOST TIME, SHO- CHAN?

雪 ヶ 丘

UH... HUH? YEAH...

KITA ICHI !! B BA AM M!

B-B-BUT... WHAT DO I USUALLY TALK ABOUT, AGAIN?

GET IT TO- GETHER, MAN!!

WHAT THE HECK?!

KITA ICHI !! B BA AM M!

KITA ICHI !! B BA AM M!

THEY'RE SCARY !!

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KITA ICHI !!

KITA ICHI !!

AGAIN ?! BUT I GOTTA GO TO THE BATHROOM FIRST...

THEY'RE OUR OPPONENTS?! ARE THEY REALLY MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?! THE HECK ?!

THAT'S RIGHT. YOU CAN JUMP SURPRISINGLY HIGH, SHO- CHAN. YEAH!

I HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN MY JUMPING SKILLS! IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW TALL THE OTHER TEAM IS...

FOR ONCE, YOU ACTUALLY LOOK RELIABLE !

...I'LL JUMP UP AND SPIKE THE BALL RIGHT OVER 'EM!!

R-RELAX! WE'LL BE FINE!

NAH, THEY'RE ALL FIRST YEARS. HECK, HALF OF THEM LOOK LIKE ELEMENTARY KIDS!

THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A LIBERO! YEAH! DID YOU SEE HOW FEW OF THEM THERE ARE?

POK

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HEY, YOU!! DON'T COUNT US OUT YET!! CLOSE ENOUGH! HOW THE HECK DO THEY THINK THEY CAN STAND UP TO US?

HEY. WE'RE UP AGAINST WHO, NOW? YUKIGAOKA MIDDLE SCHOOL? NEVER HEARD OF 'EM.

YOU'D BETTER BE READY! ULP...! A...AS SOON AS MY GUT...ULG! FEELS BETTER... I'MMA GO OUT ON THAT COURT AND THRASH YOU-- GOO...

U R R R R G ...

OH, REALLY! WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO IT!

THEY'RE MAKING FUN OF ME!

YOU IDIOT, LOOK! HE'S GOT THE CAPTAIN PATCH! HE'S THEIR CAPTAIN! SEE! HE'S AN ELEMENTARY KID!

YO, SECOND YEARS.

北川第一 中学校 バレーボール部

GET YOUR BUTTS MOVING. OFFICIAL WARM- UPS ARE STARTING. TOBIO KAGEYAMA KITAGAWA DAIICHI MIDDLE SCHOOL 3RD YEAR

SORRY. WE'LL FINISH UP RIGHT NOW.

CRAP! IT'S KAGEYAMA- SAN!

YEAH, BUT ARE WE REALLY GONNA NEED THAT MUCH? ESPECIALLY AGAINST THEM! HUH ?!

HURRY UP! WE'VE GOTTA FILL TWO MORE BOTTLES.

HA HA HA! YOU'VE GOT A POINT, MAN!

TMP 川第一 2

HEY!!

...AND YOU THINK YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO TALK SMACK ABOUT OUR OPPONENT?

NONE OF YOU EVEN MANAGED TO EARN A SPOT ON THE BENCH...

YOU THREE.

QUIT SLINGING THE SCHOOL'S REP AROUND LIKE IT'S YOUR OWN.

DARN! I CAN'T LET HIM TAKE CONTROL!

S-S-SORRY!!

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO TELL THEM OFF TOO!

W- WELL ...

THAT'S WHY YOU GET MADE FUN OF. GUYS WHO DON'T WATCH THEIR HEALTH SHOULDN'T TALK BIG EITHER!

H-HEY!!

IT'S COMMON SENSE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMPLETELY PREPARED FOR EVERYTHING BEFORE A TOURNAMENT.

SO YOU CAN HAVE SOME FUN MEMORIES OF YOUR LAST YEAR? WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?

I'M HERE TO WIN!!

DO YOU EVEN UNDER- STAND HOW CRITICAL HEIGHT IS TO THIS SPORT?

THIS IS VOLLEY- BALL.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER! I KNOW I'M NOT VERY TALL ...

HAH! YOU SAY THAT LIKE IT'S EASY.

...CAN FLY!!

AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GIVE UP--

...AREN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE UP FOR SKILL, SIZE AND TALENT. SOME GUTS AND A STUB- BORN STREAK ...

NOT GIVING UP IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A MATCH THAT'S DECIDED BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS.

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FINALLY

AND KEEP WIN- NING. MY TEAM'S GONNA WIN. THE SECOND ROUND ROUND ... THE FIRST ...

I FINALLY HAVE SIX PEOPLE TOGETHER. I CAN FINALLY PLAY A REAL GAME ON A REAL COURT!

WE'RE GONNA WIN AND WIN AND PLAY A TON OF GAMES!

YOU'LL LEARN THAT IN OUR MATCH.

ENOUGH TO MAKE UP FOR ALL THE ONES I COULDN'T PLAY BEFORE.

北川第一 中学校 バレーボール部

AND THE SECOND ROUND ...

IN THE FIRST ROUND ...

AND THE FINALS...

AND ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NATIONALS!

I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE WHO WINS AND GETS TO STAY ON THE COURT!

SHO- CHAN ! ?!

WHAT'RE YOU DOING PISSING OFF SCARY GUYS LIKE HIM?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO THE BATHROOM!

AH! IZUMIN!

WHAT ABOUT ?! YOUR QUEASY GUT? C'MON. WE'RE GOING BACK.

HUH ?! IT GOT BETTER!

HE SEEMED, I DUNNO, DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHER GUYS. STILL, THAT GUY YOU WERE TALKING TO... HOW?! JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HERE HAS TOTALLY BLOWN US OFF...

...EXCEPT HIM. HE TOOK YOU SERIOUSLY.

北川第一

OH, OKAY. SO HE'S THEIR SETTER.

NICE SPIKE !!

HE'S THE GUY WHO TOSSES THE BALL UP AND SETS IT UP FOR THE SPIKER. DUH! We learned this last night!

UH, WHAT'S A SETTER?

3 SPIKE

RECEIVE THREE TOUCHES FROM DEFENSE TO ATTACK!

I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE HE'S GONNA SEND IT NEXT! NO FAIR! HE'S ACTUALLY GOOD!

MAN, LOOK AT HIM! HE'S PUTTING THAT BALL WHEREVER HE WANTS!

EVEN THOUGH HE'S ONLY TOUCHING THE BALL FOR AN INSTANT...

YOUR TIMING IS WAY OFF!!

HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?! YOU HAVE TO MOVE FASTER FOR A QUICK SET!

ME NEITHER.

YIKES! HE'S GOOD, BUT I DON'T THINK I WANNA BE ON HIS TEAM. SORRY.

KAGE- YAMA.

THE IMPORTANT PART ISN'T YOUR PERSONAL SKILL...

DON'T JUST RELY ON SPEED.

UNDER- STOOD? ...IT'S MAKING THE BALL EASY FOR YOUR SPIKER TO HIT.

YES, COACH!

LINE UP!!

URGH! MY STOMACH

THANK YOU FOR THE GAME!!

IT'S REALLY ABOUT TO START!

ONE OF THEM'S GOT SOME ENERGY. YEAH. OOH! THEY'RE JUST GETTING STARTED, DAICHI-SAN! SUGA-SAN!

I WANT TO WATCH "THE KING OF THE COURT" PLAY.

SO WHY ARE WE BOTHERING WITH A MIDDLE SCHOOL TOURNEY AGAIN? LOOKS LIKE IT.

YEAH. KITAGAWA DAIICHI'S SETTER, KAGEYAMA. HE'S WEARING THE NO. 2 JERSEY.

ADD TO THAT SUPERIOR ATHLETICISM AND A NATURAL INSTINCT FOR THE GAME, AND HE'S A KING WHO RULES THE COURT.

NOT ONLY ARE HIS SETS PRECISE AND ON POINT, HE'S ALSO GREAT AT BLOCKING AND SERVING. BASICALLY, HE CAN SCORE A LOT OF POINTS ON HIS OWN.

北川第一

WE MAY HAVE TO FACE HIM STARTING NEXT YEAR.

LOOKS LIKE A HUNH. JERK. Don't like 'im.

GAME START

WHO KNOWS? THAT'S ALL JUST A RUMOR. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE REALLY GOT THAT NAME. STILL ...

WHO'RE THOSE POOR KIDS PLAYING AGAINST THE KING?!

YEAH, I KNOW I'M SHORT.

THAT HEIGHT DIFFERENCE MAKES IT LOOK LIKE ELEMENTARY KIDS PLAYING HIGH SCHOOLERS.

WHAT, ME?!

I'LL JUMP RIGHT OVER WHATEVER WALL THEY TRY TO PUT IN FRONT OF ME!

IZUMIN !! YOUR TURN!! YES! IT WENT UP!!

O K A Y !

BUT I'VE GOT STRONG LEGS!

NOT THAT I CAN SET IT LIKE THAT OTHER GUY CAN!

GET IT, SHO- CHAN!!

NO MATTER HOW TALL IT IS!!

HE'S LIKE A LITTLE GIANT!

...I SAW A SHORT, BLACK-CLAD ATHLETE PLAYING FOR A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER CROWS...

...IS WHAT I HEARD THE ANNOUNCER SHOUT OVER THE TV.

烏 野

...FLYING AROUND THE COURT, SCORING POINT AFTER POINT.

WHEN I EVERY WATCHED SPRING, THE TV THERE'S A BIG BROAD- HIGH SCHOOL CAST VOLLEYBALL BACK TOURNAMENT. THEN...

THE NICKNAME "THE LITTLE GIANT" REALLY STRUCK A CHORD. I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND VOLLEYBALL OR ITS RULES BACK THEN...

TO SOMEONE LIKE ME, WHO'S ALWAYS AT THE FRONT WHEN LINING UP BY HEIGHT... EVERYBODY LINE UP!

AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK--MAN, IT WOULD BE COOL IF I COULD BE LIKE THAT SOMEDAY.

...BUT I STOOD THERE ENTRANCED, WATCHING THAT SMALL ATHLETE PLAY.

SOMEBODY SHO- ELSE'LL CHAN, GET THE C'MON FIELD ! BEFORE US!

BUT WITH THE SIGHT OF THAT SMALL ATHLETE BURNED INTO MY BRAIN...

HUH ?!

I LOVED LOTS OF SPORTS, LIKE BASEBALL, BASKETBALL AND SOCCER...

BUT ... ...I DECIDED TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL WHEN I GOT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.

OR DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE GIRLS' TEAM INSTEAD? N-N- NO, THANK YOU... UM! ?!

YEP. THAT CLUB KEPT GETTING SMALLER BY THE YEAR, Y'KNOW. OH.

AND IT'S A BOYS' VOLLEYBALL APPRECIATION CLUB, NOT A FULL TEAM. Not enough people.

REALLY ?!

STAFF ROOM

I'M GONNA BECOME A LITTLE GIANT!! A WHAT, NOW?

I'LL RUN THE CLUB MYSELF! OH?

WHAT WILL YOU DO? WANT TO APPLY FOR A DIFFERENT CLUB?

I'D BE THE ONLY MEMBER?

THE CORNER OF THE GYM...

COME HEY, PRACTICE ACCHAN! PASSING ARE YOU WITH ME! DONE WITH YOUR CLUB?!

WHO'S THAT?!

EVEN THE HALLS.

I PRACTICED ANYWHERE I COULD.

QUIT AMBUSH- ING ME! WHAT, AGAIN?! !!

THE CORNER OF THE FIELD...

HEY! LOOK OUT!

AT FIRST, THAT'S ALL IT WAS. BUT LITTLE BY LITTLE, THE ONE SUCCESS ... DID YOU SEE THAT?! IT WENT STRAIGHT! IT WENT STRAIGHT!

...AND I KEPT STARTED GOING OUT ON A OF STUB- WHIM... BORNNESS.

...IN EVERY HUNDRED FAILURES GREW TO BE MORE AND MORE FUN.

MY ARMS HURT, AND THE BALL DOESN'T GO WHERE I WANT IT TO ANYMORE. HAVEN'T YOU HAD ENOUGH YET? LET'S QUIT!

DID NOT!!

HEY, HINATA!

WE HEARD YOU JOINED THE GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL TEAM!

WELL, YEAH, THERE IS... HE ADMITS IT! I'M IN THE BOYS' VOLLEY- BALL CLUB! NO!! THAT'S NOT IT!! SO WHO'RE YOU AFTER, HUH? THERE'S A HOT THIRD- YEAR GIRL, RIGHT?

I'M ON THE BOYS' TEAM!! NO, MAN. THINK ABOUT IT! ALL THOSE GIRLS--

OH, I KNOW! HOW 'BOUT YOU TWO JOIN TOO? NAH.

I DUNNO IF I WANNA PLAY ON A GIRLS' TEAM...

OKAY, GIRLS! NEXT IS RUNNING ! OKAY!

I Z U M I N !

SHO- CHAN?! HUH? SET WHAT?! YOU'RE ON BREAK, RIGHT? COME SET FOR ME!

NO WAY! I'VE NEVER DONE ANY OF THAT BEFORE!

NOW'S MY CHANCE TO USE THE COURT!

YES! THE GIRLS WENT OUT RUNNING!

GATHER ROUND! I'LL HELP YOU WITH YOUR FREE PRACTICE AGAIN. BUT UPPER- CLASSMEN ARE WATCHING ...

I CAN'T! I WANNA PRACTICE SPIKING, BUT I CAN'T DO THAT BY MYSELF.

THAT'S JUST ALL YOU TOSS HAVE TO IT! DO!

HEY, SHOYO ?

I'M SURPRISED YOU KEEP PRACTICING, EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T PLAY IN ANY GAMES OR ANYTHING.

I'LL GET PEOPLE TOGETHER AND MAKE A FULL TEAM!

One! One! Two! Two!

BUT NEXT TIME FOR SURE! EVERY- BODY'S TURNED ME DOWN SO FAR...

UH-HUH.

I'LL BE ABLE TO PLAY IN REAL GAMES! SOMEDAY!

SO, KOJI? WANNA JOIN?

HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY NO?

THEN...

IN THE SPRING ...

...OF MY THIRD YEAR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL...

HERE.

HUH?

FIRST YEARS ...?

AND THERE'S THREE OF THEM?!

THEY SAY THEY PLAYED A LITTLE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AB NOD!! ?! HINATA, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?! AAAAAH!! DANK YU, DANK YU, DANK YUUUU!! YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE BAWLING TO ME!

THEN FINALLY... STAAARE

TWO MORE PEOPLE...!

IF I CAN BEG JUST TWO MORE PEOPLE TO HELP OUT ...!

FINALLY...!!

SHO- CHAN, DO IT!!

WHOA!

HE FLEW ?!

SO THAT WASN'T A BLUFF! WATCH FOR THE CROSS.

...?!

北川第一~

THEY OUCH! GOT 'IM.

NAH. SORRY I BOTCHED IT! YOU GOT THE BALL UP FOR ME AND EVERYTHING. I'LL NAIL IT NEXT TIME.

UM... SHO-CHAN, IT'S OKAY. DON'T LET IT GET TO YOU.

STILL, THAT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE JUMP.

NICE COVER !

KITAICHI STEAMROLLED THEM IN THE FIRST SET TOO.

YIKES. THE MORE I WATCH, THE MORE I PITY THOSE POOR KIDS.

HINATA- SAN!! SHO- CHAN !! IT'S UP!

IT SEEMS EVEN TALLER THAN BEFORE.

THE WALL IS BACK.

I CAN'T SEE THE OTHER SIDE... ...AT ALL.

GAH!

STUFFED AGAIN!

EVEN AT THAT HEIGHT, NO. 1 COULD STILL BE WAY MORE EFFECTIVE... YEAH.

YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN, SHOYO ! STILL, THAT LITTLE NO. 1 SURE IS FLYIN' ALL OVER THE PLACE!

YEAH, SHO-CHAN! SHAKE IT OFF!

...IF YUKIGAOKA HAD A PROPER SETTER.

EVEN THOUGH HE SUCKS AT A LOT OF STUFF.

MAN, IF ONLY HE WAS TALLER!

HE'S DOING AN IMPRESSIVE JOB OF HOLDING TOGETHER THAT TEAM OF ROOKIES ALL BY HIMSELF.

ON THE FLIP SIDE...

...HE'S OUT THERE ON THE COURT PLAYING THE GAME BY HIMSELF.

EVEN THOUGH HE PERSONALLY SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF ABILITY TO DO SO. KAGEYAMA IS SURROUNDED BY DECENT TALENT, BUT HE'S NOT MAKING THE BEST USE OF THEM.

IT'S ALMOST AS IF...

MOVE FASTER !!

N G H !

THE FINALS ?! THEN HOW LONG ARE YOU TWO GOING TO WAIT TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IT?!

SHEESH. THE OTHER GUYS CAN'T BLOCK FOR CRAP, Y'KNOW.

WHAT'S THE POINT IN GETTING SO WOUND UP OVER IT?

GEEZ. THERE HE GOES, DEMANDING THE IMPOSSIBLE AGAIN.

QUIT IT! THE GAME'S STILL ON!

YES! ANOTHER ACE SERVE! NO ONE CAN SAVE THAT.

OOPS!

NOT YET!

WOW. NO WAY ANYBODY CAN CATCH THAT.

IT STILL HASN'T TOUCHED THE GROUND ...! IT STILL HASN'T TOUCHED THE GROUND...

YEAH, NOT HAPPENING.

ALMOST ...!!

IT'S KITAGAWA DAIICHI'S MATCH POINT!

SPLAT HE ALMOST ...

YUKIGAOKA IS TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF DEFEAT!

HE JUST DOESN'T GIVE UP, DOES HE... OW! THAT HAD TO HURT.

AND TO BE BLUNT, WE AREN'T GOING TO WIN THIS GAME. IT, UM, IT WOULD BE REALLY BAD IF YOU GOT HURT... SORRY! I'LL GET THE NEXT ONE.

HUH?!

UM... I-I'M SORRY. THAT WAS MY FAULT. I botched the bump.

UM! C- CAPTAIN ...?

SO WHY ARE YOU, UM... GOING SO FAR TO...?

DID HE REALLY NEED A FIRST YEAR TO TELL HIM THAT? KID'S GOT A POINT.

YEAH, WHY BOTHER? IF I WERE IN THEIR SHOES, I WOULD'VE THROWN IN THE TOWEL A LONG TIME AGO.

WE HAVEN'T LOST YET, RIGHT?

IT'S I JUST DUNNO. ...

BECAUSE IT HASN'T...

HE'S RIGHT, IT'S THAT SIMPLE. NO MATTER HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT LOOKS...

THERE'S ONLY ONE REASON TO KEEP CHASING THE BALL.

...TOUCHED THE GROUND YET.

EVERYBODY CONCENTRATE!

北川第一

WHY KEEP FIGHTING, EVEN WHEN I'M HOPELESSLY OUTMATCHED?

ONE REASON.

BECAUSE I HAVEN'T...

YET..!

TIPPED IT!

COVER!!

CHASE IT DOWN!!!

YEAH, THERE'S NO WAY I COULD GET THAT.

北川第一

YEESH. GOT MORE SAND IN YOUR SHORTS THAN USUAL TODAY?

THOSE SCRUBS AREN'T PULLING OFF A MIRACULOUS COMEBA-- WELL, YEAH... BUT CHECK THE SCORE.

UH... SORRY.

ARE YOU THE COACH NOW?

THAT LAST POINT WASN'T A MIRACLE! IT WAS TAKEN!!

THE GAME ISN'T OVER YET! QUIT SLACKING OFF!!

HE!!

STOLE !!

A POINT! FROM US!!

BUT THEY'RE STILL ON THE BRINK. YUKIGAOKA'S NO. 1 IS GIVING IT HIS ALL...

WELL... YEAH, THAT'S TRUE, I GUESS. Ah ha ha...

HE MEANT EVERY WORD OF THAT!!

AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GIVE UP--

Good serve! Good luck, Shorty!!

WELL, YUKIGAOKA? NOW WHAT WILL YOU DO?

LET SERVE! GET IT BEFORE IT FALLS!!

FREE BALL! IZUMI- SAN!!

YEAH!!

SHO- CHAN, HERE!

THERE ISN'T ANYONE OVER THERE!

OH CRAP!!

I JUST BRUSHED IT!

AT LEAST... THERE WASN'T.

NO FAULT FOR DRIBBLING, EVEN WITH TWO TOUCHES?

A BOTCHED SET?!

KITAGAWA DAIICHI 2 5 2

GAME OVER

SET SCORES: 2-0 [25-5] [25-8] WINNER: KITAGAWA DAIICHI MIDDLE SCHOOL

YEAH, BUT LOOK. AAAGH!! THAT LAST ONE WAS SO CLOSE!!

THEY SURE DON'T LOOK LIKE A TEAM THAT JUST CRUSHED ITS OPPONENT IN BACK-TO-BACK SETS.

CHECK OUT THE KITAGAWA KIDS.

北川第一

北川

...FROM THAT AWKWARD POSITION... THAT JUMP...

...OFF HIS BACK FOOT, NO LESS!

I COULD ONLY JUST FOLLOW HIM WITH MY EYES.

THAT ONE SPIKE WAS JUST A FLUKE.

RIGHT. THAT WAS COMPLETELY ON THE SETTER FOR SCREWING UP.

DESPITE THAT...

DOES HE HAVE THE REFLEXES...

...TO REACT TO THAT KIND OF SET?

THERE'S NO WAY THEY PLANNED A QUICK SET!

STILL

GREAT ATHLETICISM.

SHO- CHAN.

QUICK REFLEXES.

EXCELLENT CONTROL OF HIS BODY.

WE SHOULD LINE UP.

AND AN UNFLAGGING DRIVE TO WIN.

IF HE HAS ALL THAT...

北川第一

YOU! WHAT THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THE LAST THREE YEARS?!

!! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!

DON'T, MAN.

...AND ONLY OFFICIAL GAME IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WAS-MY- FIRST..

ZERO. KITAGAWA DAIICHI YUKIGAOKA 2 5 2 0 8 SETS WON...

CLUB SIGN-UP FORM VOLLEYBAL NO WAY! I'VE NEVER DONE ANY OF THAT BEFORE! TOTAL TIME SPENT ON THE COURT...

...31 MINUTES.

AFTERWARDS, I FINALLY LEARNED HIS NAME.

"THE KING OF THE COURT."

TOBIO KAGEYAMA.

WE HAD BAD LUCK, THAT'S ALL. I MEAN... THE TEAM WE PLAYED IS A FAVORITE TO MAKE NATIONALS. AH WELL. WE DID WHAT WE COULD.

...WE STILL HAVE ONLY TWO OPTIONS--TO WIN OR TO LOSE.

THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

...OR REALLY BAD... EVEN IF THE OTHER TEAM IS REALLY GOOD...

AND IF WE LOSE ... ...WE CAN'T STAY OUT THERE ON THE COURT ANYMORE.

SHO- ?! CHAN ?!

?! YOU!!

IF YOU REALLY ARE THE KING WHO RULES THE COURT...

EXPERI- ENCE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO--THE GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL TEAM...

TRAIN- ING.

...THE LOCAL HOUSE- WIVES' INTRA- MURAL TEAM...

COACH.

SOME- ONE TO PRACTICE WITH.

IF THEY'LL LET ME IN, I'LL JOIN THEM.

I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.

I CAN'T WIN BY MYSELF.

REFECTURAL MIDDLE CHOLASTIC SPORTS TOURNA BOYS' VOLLEYBALL FINALS KOUSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMY ADVANCES TO NATIONALS

Eww! Gross, man! My notes! I NEED TO GET INTO THE RIGHT HIGH SCHOOL SO I CAN WIN! AND I HAVE TO STUDY FOR EN- TRANCE EXAMS TOO!

AND I HAVE TO STUDY FOR EN- TRANCE EXAMS TOO!

ALONE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

THE HIGH SCHOOL I MOST WANT TO GET INTO... Dude. Cry and get it out of your system. No, I am not going to cry! Ooh, gonna cry?

I DECIDED THAT LONG AGO!

HE'S LIKE A LITTLE GIANT!!

...IT'S A HALF- HOUR RIDE OVER THE MOUNTAIN.

BY BIKE...

MIYAGI PREFECTURE'S KARASUNO PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL!!

3-1

IT'S THE SPRING ...

SAWA- MURA. ...OF MY FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.

ONLY THIS MANY? THERE USED TO BE LOTS MORE IN THE PAST.

DON'T WORRY, DAICHI! I'M SURE WE'LL GET MORE.

KIYOKO-SAN, YOU LOOK GORGEOUS AS ALWAYS TODAY!

HERE.

RYUNOSUKE TANAKA KARASUNO HIGH SCHOOL 2ND YEAR VOLLEYBALL CLUB MEMBER DAICHI SAWAMURA KARASUNO HIGH SCHOOL 3RD YEAR VOLLEYBALL CLUB CAPTAIN KOUSHI SUGAWARA KARASUNO HIGH SCHOOL 3RD YEAR VOLLEYBALL CLUB VICE CAPTAIN ... I LOVE IT WHEN YOU TOTALLY IGNORE ME TOO!

THESE ARE THE NEW SIGN-UPS WE'VE RECEIVED.

CLUB SIGN-UP KIYOKO SHIMIZU KARASUNO HIGH SCHOOL 3RD YEAR VOLLEYBALL CLUB MANAGER

HMM ... HN?

WHAT THE HECK ?

IS THIS WHO I THINK IT IS?!

CLUB SIGN-UP FORM TO THE VOLLEYBALL CLUB ADVISOR

YOU THERE! THE ENERGETIC ONE IN THE TRACKSUIT!

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE BASEBALL CLUB'S NEW MANAGER? WANT TO JOIN THE SOCCER CLUB?

HAVE YOU PICKED A CLUB TO...

JOINING THE MARCHING BAND WILL REALLY IMPROVE YOUR ABS!

... JOIN ?!

YEP! VOLLEY- BALL!

HE DODGED ME?!

I'M AT KARASUNO HIGH SCHOOL! I'M FINALLY HERE! I'M HERE!

HERE, I CAN GET ALL THE AND PRACTICE I THEN... WANT!

I'M HERE!

GYMNASIUM 2

...I CAN GO AND GET MY REVENGE ON HIM--THE KING!

AT LEAST...

I BET HE GOT TO GO TO ONE OF THE BEST VOLLEYBALL SCHOOLS IN THE PREFECTURE.

... THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

BUT...