Inarizaki and Shirabu's match ended with a final score of 25:22, resulting in a victory for Inarizaki.
As the losing side, all members of Shirabu's team accepted the punishment of ten laps around the outer track.
Seeing Hinata looking eager to join in, Miya Atsumu lowered his head and asked, "Tomorrow's punishment is two laps of diving, that includes the practice match against Nekoma."
Hinata blinked, not understanding why, while Miya Atsumu had already looked toward Coach Kurosu. "Coach, I request that if I lose, I'll do four laps instead."
On the other side, Miya Osamu, who was drinking water, nearly sprayed it out. "Are you crazy?"
They didn't intend to send out the starters, so the outcome was truly uncertain.
This Inubushi Higashi gymnasium is so huge, wouldn't running four laps be deadly?
"I'm just trying to motivate everyone," Miya Atsumu said, shrugging his shoulders.
I have confidence that we'll win every match. Don't you all have that too?
Hinata raised his hand: "Me too!"
He can do a diving save too!
Kita Shinsuke thought about it for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "That's a good proposal. It's just the right time for everyone to practice their diving."
Suna and Miya Osamu shifted their gaze toward Miya Atsumu, both saying in unison, "Atsumu, five rounds."
Aran slapped the table. "I agree."
Ginjima, completely out of rhythm, was filled with confusion, as if something terrifying was about to happen.
The match on the other side ended, once the losers' punishment was over, the second round of matches began immediately after.
Watching the match between Shirabu and Inubushi Higashi start in the adjacent court, Hinata, unable to sit still, asked Coach Kurosu beside him, "Coach, can I go over there to take a look?"
He also wanted to see Kiryu's spikes again; that kind of ability to adapt to any environment and find a way to overcome anything was truly something he longed for.
Coach Kurosu nodded. "Fine, just don't disturb their regular match."
Inarizaki's match was quite different; the women's volleyball team from Kaifang is very strong, but the men's team is only average and doesn't have much worth referencing.
By comparison, the match on Shirabu's side was indeed more valuable for Hinata.
Hinata found a suitable spot behind the coaching bench on Shirabu's side and began observing the movements of the players from Shirabu on the court.
Just as the coach said, the blocking on Shirabu's side was even more oppressive than when they played Inarizaki; the black-haired senior had already shut down the opponent's ace with two consecutive blocks.
However, the reaction from Inubushi Higashi was also very fast. The setter, Satomi Hideji, decisively gave up on the marked ace, Katori, instead sent the ball to the middle blocker, Kai Kiyoharu.
Hinata thought to himself, "Is this the playstyle Miya Atsumu was talking about, using the ace as bait??"
Coach Kusubashi turned around and saw Hinata watching the match intently behind her.
Exchanging a glance with Coach Kurosu on the other side, she reached out and patted the seat beside her. "Sit?"
Hinata didn't react at all until his eyes met Coach Kusubashi's, only then did he realize the other man was speaking to him.
He hurriedly bowed and apologized to the stranger: "I'm sorry! I didn't hear you just now!"
“It's fine.” Coach Kusubashi waved it off, not caring at all.
She had already heard about this little guy from Coach Kurosu, to be honest, she was quite curious, as she had never been in close contact with this type of player before.
Hinata looked up. "Um.. what did Coach just say?"
Coach Kusubashi patted the seat beside him again. "Come sit."
"Yes!" Hinata replied hurriedly, then sat down somewhat awkwardly in the empty seat next to Coach Shirabu.
Coach Kusubashi didn't even speak to him, leaving him to look around nervously until he was eventually drawn to the match on the court and naturally relaxed.
“Nice play!”
On the court, Usui Mitsuru provided an excellent set, Kiryu Ya also seized the opportunity to rush forward in time.
Kai Kiyoharu and the nearby Murakami Masakuni jumped up simultaneously, pressing down as a whole in an attempt to block the ball, leaving Kiryu no opportunity to use it as leverage.
But.. it's not a big problem.
Kiryu's gaze instantly shifted away from the block.
He could handle even the mediocre balls with a spike, let alone those from this incredible Setter.
There is no such thing as a perfectly flawless block; he only needs to seize a single opening from the opponent.
His wrist rotated, he raised his hand to jam the ball into the gap between the block and the net, sending it back with a backhand.
The volleyball flew over the net and finally slammed down very close to the three-meter line at the edge of the court.
Nice shot!
Nice shot!!
Hinata's eyes widened as well: "Whoa! You can spike a ball like that too!"
It was the first time he had seen a ball like that; it seemed even Hoshiumi-senpai and Aran-senpai had never played like that.
He imitated Kiryu's movements. "Like this??"
Coach Kusubashi spoke up, interrupting Hinata's completely incorrect summary: "That's how it's done."
When Hinata looked over, she demonstrated the entire process of Kiryu's spike just now for him.
This is an inside serve, also known as a short diagonal. The landing spot is too far forward, making it difficult to receive, but it's equally difficult to execute," Coach Kusubashi explained. "Hachi is also just learning, but the results are quite good.
Hinata watched Coach Kusubashi's movements, having been stunned by the way Kiryu had just redirected the spike.
Not just "not bad," it was simply..
On the court, Kiryu was providing encouragement and affirmation to his junior setter.
However, just as Coach Kusubashi said to Hinata, his small diagonal was also a last-minute adjustment, compared to players who were truly skilled at it, it was completely insignificant.
Kiryu breathed a small sigh of relief.
Fortunately, it didn't go out of bounds; making a mistake here would have completely wasted the Setter's toss.
It was decent enough..
Just then, a voice rang out from the sidelines: "That was incredible! To be able to catch even such a tiny opening!"
The setter, Usui Mitsuru, blinked. "That little brat from Inarizaki, why did he run all the way over here?"
Bōwàng said, "It feels like he's a new fan of Hachi."
That's impossible.." Kiryu denied. "I just heard him talking to Coach Kurosu about blocking; my performance in the last set was just average..
Maybe he likes Bōwàng or Yunnan?
Bōwàng said very honestly, "You played very cool in the last set."
Voices from the sidelines rose again: "In the last set, when Kita-senpai was blocking, Kiryu-senpai's mid-air hand-switching spike was so cool too! Is he left-handed?"
Coach Kusubashi also replied happily, "No, it's just that I practice with both sides normally. If you're interested, you can go back and try eating with your left hand."
Kiryu's serious expression could no longer hide his face, which was gradually turning red from embarrassment and shame.
He clapped his hands to signal everyone to take their positions: "Alright, alright, get ready to serve."
Ah..
So his performance in the last set was actually quite good..
Inarizaki's record for the first day was four wins and zero losses, but both Inubushi Higashi and Seito faced issues with the newcomers' coordination, their overall performance was unsatisfactory.
Under Coach Kurosu's guidance, Hinata focused on observing Shirabu's blocking and Kiryu's coordination issues, essentially spending the entire afternoon watching alongside Coach Kusubashi.
Although he hadn't spoken to any of Shirabu's players, he had already become quite familiar with Coach Kusubashi.
The evening hours were dedicated to autonomous training for each school.
Because they needed to prepare for tomorrow's practice match against Nekoma, Inarizaki had borrowed No. 2 Gymnasium separately to make adjustments.
And the training on the following morning consisted of only the remaining four schools competing in a round-robin tournament.
Kiryu scanned the court and realized someone important was missing. "Is Inarizaki not coming today?"
Usui Mitsuru replied, "I heard they have another practice match scheduled for this morning, so they should be at the entrance to pick up the guests right about now."
Meanwhile, at the entrance of Inubushi Higashi, the members of Inarizaki and the long-distance travelers from Nekoma lined up face-to-face for battle.
Finally having the chance to stand by his second-year senior's side, Hinata looked at Kenma diagonally across from him with excitement.
Finally!
Finally, an opportunity to play a match!
Both sides bowed to each other.
Please look forward to playing with us!!
Author's Note:
Illuminating All Things——Xiangmen——
Chapter 19: The Nineteenth Fox
Walking at the very back of the line, Kenma looked at Hinata, who was half a step behind him, with some confusion.
Given the circumstances of their first meeting, Hinata should be the type to take the initiative to start a conversation, right?
Hinata glanced at Kenma out of the corner of his eye, then looked at Miya Atsumu's back in front of him, his mind filled with what Miya Atsumu had just said.
Finally, when Kenma cast a third questioning glance his way, Hinata hesitated before speaking, "Um, Kenma.. senpai?"
Help, he still didn't know what Kenma's actual surname was, or what that pronunciation was again—
Kenma directly rejected Hinata's form of address: "No need for 'senpai,' I don't like those complicated senior-junior relationships."
So that was what Hinata was struggling with..
His gaze shifted toward Miya Atsumu, whom Hinata had just glanced at a few times, wondering if perhaps a senior from Inarizaki had said something to Hinata.
Hearing this, Hinata was also quite surprised: "That's great! Kenma—Atsumu-senpai even told me you would be angry, but I said you don't look angry at all."
So Atsumu-senpai was completely lying to him!