The match was over. That was all it was. Kuroo Tetsurou stood with his back pressed against the outer wall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, gazing up at the winter night sky. The January Tokyo sky was thick with clouds, and not a single star was visible. From inside the gymnasium, faint cheers drifted out. Some team had won their match. Someone was shouting in celebration. It had nothing to do with Kuroo. His jet-black short hair swayed in the night breeze. Pressing his 187.7-centimeter frame against the wall, Kuroo exhaled slowly. The inside of his black and white zip-up jacket held just a trace of warmth. Everything else was cold. The Spring High School Volleyball Tournament. The official name was the All Japan High School Volleyball Championship. Held every January here at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Representative schools from all 47 prefectures competed for a single summit. For most third-year students, this was their final official match. Lose, and it was over. Th