"Same One Point" (Japanese:
Overview[]
Hinata recovers from his face injury and is berated by Kageyama. Kageyama encourages Hinata to accept his role as a decoy and not be jealous of the ace. The match resumes.
Plot[]
With Hinata having fallen over from getting hit, the game is paused as several of the players rush to check on him. While Asahi is profusely apologizing, Tsukishima shows no sympathy as he points out Hinata allowed his mind to wander. Hinata recovers and insists that he's still able to play despite Daichi and Sugawara suggesting he should take a break.
Hinata's assurance is cut short when he notices Kageyama giving him an angry glare before scolding him for losing focus. The setter suspects that Hinata was thinking how a decoy role is not impressive and that an ace, who has height and power, is the best position there is and suspects that he's jealous of Asahi for that. Hinata admits that he is jealous but also argues that Kageyama wouldn't understand how he feels since he himself has always been tall.
Their argument is stopped when a teacher arrives and announces they will need to close the gym soon. After Takeda gives his assurance they will take care of things, the match gets back on track. After Takinoue points out how the high school teams defense is in its strongest rotation and they should be on guard for the quick strike, Kageyama loudly announces that he will be sending the set to Hinata. Takinoue playfully wonders if Kageyama is trying to provoke them but takes it in stride when Kageyama apologizes for making it seem like he was making fun of them.
Ukai wonders why Kageyama would reveal their plan as it would put Hinata in a spot where he would most certainly be beaten. Takeda and Hinata wonder the same thing as well but Kageyama tells Hinata that his current athletic condition is clumsy at best and wouldn't be enough to make him the team ace. However, he adds that Hinata stands a greater chance as long as Kageyama is there to help him and that he hasn't been blocked once with Kageyama setting for him.
The rally starts and Kageyama tells Hinata to dodge the blockers. Hinata rushes to the left side of the court and gets the blockers to follow him when he suddenly changes to run to the opposite side. The maneuvers works and Hinata earns a point when Shimada is unable to pick up the receive. This encourages Kageyama to get Hinata to embrace being the decoy since his speed and Kageyama's sets would be a winning combination and that the points scored between the decoy and the ace are of equal value. Kageyama continues pointing out how the decoy is able to score more points than the ace and he is able to free up other spikers because blockers are already marking him. Tanaka agrees by adding the decoy gives a higher chance of success to other spikers that wouldn't otherwise be possible without him.
Kageyama now asks Hinata if he still thinks the role of the decoy is lame. Hinata answers that he doesn't think the role is lame anymore. After Asahi praises Hinata's attack, Kageyama apologizes for interrupting the match and the game resumes.