"Single-Celled Organisms" (Japanese:
Summary[]
Hinata and Kageyama aren't allowed to join the team until they accept each other. Out of desperation, they decide to challenge the third-years to a match and one of the second-years, Tanaka, agrees to be on the first-years' team and starts helping them practice in secret.
Plot[]
With the declaration that they must view each other and work together as teammates, Hinata and Kageyama are locked out of the gym. The two first-years are in shock of what just happened and Hinata begins to plead for Daichi to let them back in and play. Inside the gym, Tanaka is amused at the situation but Sugawara questions if Daichi is doing the right thing since this may not be the best way to get the two on equal ground.
As Daichi agrees, Kageyama is heard shoving Hinata aside and declaring that he can work with Hinata. Daichi opens the gym door to assess Kageyama. His intense gaze causes Kageyama to vow he will work with Hinata but also admit that he wishes to do every set, spike, and receive himself. Daichi is surprised but amused at Kageyama's confession but reminds the first-year that volleyball is a sport in which a player cannot make contact with the ball twice in a row and shuts them out once more.
As the practice continues, Kageyama questions what it is he can do to get back in as he believes it will not be possible to work together with Hinata and his talent to make the team better should be more than enough for him to be allowed back in. Hinata first laughs at Kageyama's self-confidence but listens when Kageyama suggests they propose a 2-on-2 challenge. Hinata does not think playing against their upperclassmen is a good idea and questions what will happen if they lose. He is then shocked at hearing Kageyama state that they will not be defeated as his own skills will be enough to win the match. He then questions what Hinata plans to do and listens as Hinata reveals how his first ever match was when they faced each other in middle school and how he would ask anyone he could to help him with practice. Hinata then admits how he wanted to become stronger and how he wanted to beat Kageyama one day. Hinata knows that he cannot accomplish this unless he can get into the club to practice and declares that he is willing to work with Kageyama.
The declaration of a match is heard by those inside the gym. Although the upperclassmen are amused at hearing the challenge, they continue to wonder if the two first-years would be able to work together, especially Kageyama since he appears the less willing to get along with others. Their conversation is interrupted when Hinata and Kageyama boldly call for Daichi and issue the challenge of playing against the upperclassmen. Even though Daichi admits they heard most of their planning, he is willing to indulge them and asks what would happen to the two if they lost the match.
Kageyama answers that they would be willing to take any punishment Daichi gives them. Daichi then states that the two will play in a 3-on-3 match against some other first-years that will be joining the club but surprises everyone when he states that Hinata and Kageyama will have Tanaka on their side. At Tanaka's start of a protest, Daichi is able to get him to accept when he states that Tanaka would be perfect for taking charge of the two. This right away causes Tanaka to accept Hinata and Kageyama as his new teammates. Daichi makes one final promise that if the two lose the match, Kageyama will not be the setter as long as the third-years are still part of the team. He makes it clear that it's not just a punishment but also a way to get Kageyama to see that someone like himself who is self-centered and unwilling to work with others could be the reason the team does not succeed. Kageyama becomes angered at this and refuses to play any other position besides a setter.
Daichi sets the match for Monday evening and ends the conversation. Sugawara asks Daichi is this is a good idea as he fears this will make the two appear like they don't need to cooperate with others. Daichi acknowledges what the situation before them looks like but needs to make the two first-years realize they both have weak points to work on in order to be contributing members to the team. Outside the gym, Hinata asks if Kageyama is upset because he is the only one getting punished. He tries to cheer Kageyama up by claiming he could become a spiker if they lose but Kageyama once more refuses to be anything but a setter as he feels the setter is the control tower and handles the ball the most. Startled by Kageyama's outburst, Hinata admits he doesn't see the thrill of being a setter. When he admits that he's only seen a major game being played on TV, Kageyama explains the difference between watching a game from the sides versus actually playing and experiencing what each position experiences. Although he admits spikers are cool, Kageyama is much more interested in how a setter can caused openings in their opponent's defense.
Thinking about the situation before them and how Tanaka is now on their team, Kageyama thinks the situation is a little better than before but know they are not able to use the gym until they hear Tanaka speak of team practice being held at seven the next morning. The two agree to meet at five in order to sneak into the gym to practice. They meet the next morning but find they cannot enter the gym as the door is locked. As Kageyama suggests they find a window to climb through, Tanaka arrives and presents the key to the gym with the warning that they will need to finish practice by seven in order to avoid being caught by Daichi. After being admired by the two, Tanaka recalls the conversation he and Sugawara had with Daichi the night before.
Daichi admits that he's being stricter than normal but that it's necessary in order to get Hinata and Kageyama to work together. He admits to seeing Kageyama's overwhelming talent the previous year but points out how this will not be enough as he feels certain that Kageyama will continue with his "One Person Team" method. Daichi believes they can get Kageyama to change this way of thinking now that Hinata is present. He points out how Hinata has amazing speed and jumping abilities but didn't have a setter who could give him the sets he needed. Individually, the two are not a good mix, but together they can be a powerful combo.
As he watches Hinata and Kageyama fight to be the first to enter the gym, Tanaka nervously warns the two of their time limit.
Appearances[]
Chapter notes[]
Character revelations[]
- Hinata practiced volleyball in the corridors and corners of the gym during middle school because he didn't have a place then.
- Kitagawa Daiichi lost a close game at the end of the middle school tournament. Tobio Kageyama's picture was in the newspaper; therefore, it can be inferred that it was partially his fault for the loss.
- Karasuno's volleyball team usually plays a 3-on-3 game between the first-years to help them get a feel of the club.