However, Atsumu-senpai was still quite patient with Hinata; it shouldn't escalate to that extent.
After a brief exchange, the match began once again.
Miya Atsumu's gaze locked onto Ushijima Wakatoshi's left hand, the super Ace, who had already leapt into mid-air, was also clearly looking toward him.
His hands, held at his sides, twitched slightly as his mind raced, thinking about how he should respond.
You're being targeted again, Shoyo.
Shiratorizawa's playstyle is actually very wise.
If it were just a spike into an empty space, then whether it was a diving save or relying on everyone's faster reaction speed, there would always be a way to get the ball up.
But Ushijima was specifically targeting Hinata, which eliminated any possibility of a save.
Hinata couldn't control Ushijima's spike at all; it would almost certainly fly off the arms.
Don't even talk about adjusting through the setter; he didn't even give the setter a chance.
Perhaps he should be angry about this.
—Miya Atsumu thought to himself.
When they went out to play matches before, Inubushi Higashi had said that he was a setter who was pampered by his teammates.
He has always remained noncommittal about that claim.
After all, when it came to receiving, everyone in Inarizaki truly never needed him to step in, all the wing spikers were basically able to execute the entire tactical process with one hundred percent success.
Of course, except for Miya Osamu when he is not in good form.
Hinata's tactical role is to use the Quick Attack to support the entire team, of course, his position is also to receive serves for Miya Atsumu.
In all the matches before this, the level of the opponents could only be described as mediocre. Relying on Hinata Shoyo's amateurish receiving skills, he was still able to barely maintain stability.
Moreover, Miya Atsumu's requirements weren't that high; as long as the ball could be received, he didn't care much about the height.
But at Hinata's current rate of dropping the ball, playing would be quite frustrating.
What should be done?
Should he receive this ball, then let Osamu go for the set?
Right at that moment, Hinata's voice rang out once again: "I'll take it!"
Miya Atsumu's footsteps paused for a moment, then he decisively stepped back.
One last time, if Hinata still couldn't do something as simple as "receiving" the ball this time, he was going to be furious.
Hinata adjusted his position.
To be honest, it was impossible for him not to be afraid, given how he was playing this set.
Even if Miya Atsumu's attitude toward him was decent, one couldn't deny that Miya Atsumu was a Setter who held everyone to extremely high standards; previously, Unabara Uta had been scolded by Atsumu for failing to receive a ball properly.
Should I give up?
But he had already spoken to signal for the receive, Miya Atsumu, who had originally prepared to step up, also moved back to give him space..
No, I can't give up, there must be a way.
He carefully recalled the feel of the previous few balls; it was just the spin of a left-hander, something he could adapt to.
Hinata stared at the volleyball being smashed toward him, in that instant, time seemed to slow down.
His mind kept replaying images of various people receiving the ball.
Akagi-senpai's, Aran-senpai's, Heisuke's, Tachibana-senpai's.. finally, the image in his mind came to a halt on Yaku.
After judging where the volleyball would land, he spread his legs apart just as Akagi-senpai had said, lowered his center of gravity, crouched on one leg, then, most importantly..
Shift your center of gravity forward, pressing your entire body into a single vertical line.
Finally, by using judgment to ensure the palm of the arm—
Contact.
The entire adjustment process took less than half a second; by the time Miya Atsumu snapped back to his senses, the volleyball had already reached Hinata.
The next second, a deafening crash rang out.
BANG!!
Miya Atsumu's gaze instinctively followed the volleyball as it rose, looking toward the ceiling of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Gym.
Ah.. he received it.
Although the spin on the ball was still very strong, in terms of height and position, it was undoubtedly a good ball, even exceeding his original baseline of "just get it up."
Without a moment's hesitation, Miya Atsumu took two steps forward and leaped, preparing to set the ball.
Hinata, who had successfully stabilized his center of gravity and avoided being knocked over by the ball, stood up immediately.
Although his movements were a bit slow, preventing him from continuing the Quick Attack, he was still able to provide support and cover.
Miya Atsumu's face was filled with excitement that he simply couldn't hide.
That's right, exactly like this.
He knew that he was someone who had little patience for "current victories."
But his Spiker would always evolve toward the next level at an incredible speed, never making him wait too long.
More importantly, he has more patience to wait for a "long-term victory."
Because of this, he was willing to give Hinata more chances than anyone else.
After all.. Hinata never fails to disappoint him.
Miya Osamu and Suna were already in position and ready to spike, the blockers from Shiratorizawa moved quickly to follow them, leaving only Tendo Makoto still contemplating in the center.
“Shoyo!” Miya Atsumu's fingers made contact with the volleyball, perfectly setting the ball to the position of the antenna at Position 2 during that brief touch.
Hinata Shoyo took three steps forward and leaped on one foot in front of the net.
There wasn't enough time for him to complete a full approach, but a normal attack was still possible.
The Shiratorizawa side actually didn't expect Hinata to receive that ball so well, they certainly didn't expect this guy to still be thinking about attacking.
Only Tendo, with his incredibly sharp intuition, stepped forward to keep up the moment Hinata jumped.
This ball was not a Quick Attack, so by the time Ohira Shion and Ushijima Wakatoshi on the other side realized Miya Atsumu was performing a Back Set, they had already moved to follow it.
But their movements were still a little too late.
A crack appeared in the original iron wall within Hinata's field of vision.
Just like the incredible feat Hoshiumi had performed countless times on the court, Hinata raised his hand and spiked the ball toward Ushijima Wakatoshi's fingers.
With a loud bang, the volleyball soared high into the air, landing in the second-floor stands of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Gym.
When it hit the ground, even Ushijima's expression was somewhat stunned.
Not only did his spike fail to score, but Hinata even took the opportunity to score using it.
Miya Atsumu immediately opened his arms toward Hinata.
When Hinata rushed over with a face full of excitement, he pulled him into his arms.
Being hugged by Miya Atsumu, Hinata, who had originally prepared to give a high five, froze for a moment.
The hands holding him were very forceful, as if trying to crush him into his very bones, yet also as if holding onto something that could never be lost.
Nice hit, Shoyo.
In a place where Hinata couldn't see, Miya Atsumu lowered his eyes and stared at Hinata's somewhat thin back.
Get stronger, evolve.
Finally.. come to his side.
Coach Washijo, who had been watching Hinata all along, showed obvious signs of shock and disbelief on his normally calm face.
After a long silence, Washijo suddenly let out a small laugh.
Honestly, his receiving is so terrible, yet he has the audacity to claim he'll arm himself to the teeth.
His reaction was a bit slow, his awareness of correcting his form was also somewhat lacking; not to mention that his unstable lower body directly resulted in his inability to get up in time for the follow-up Quick Attack.
If he were to teach, he'd have them play as a Libero for a year first.
No, according to what Coach Kurosu said, the physical training for jumping cannot be neglected either..
On the court, Miya Atsumu released Hinata, a smile spreading across his face: "Remember the feeling you just had, but don't feel pressured to be perfectly consistent. At this stage, just focus on being able to get the ball up."
"Understood!" Hinata nodded vigorously.
He knew himself that luck had played a huge part in that last play. It was just that he happened to have a memory of Yaku receiving a ball from that same angle, which gave him something to use as a reference.
Hinata looked up into Miya Atsumu's eyes: "Also.. Atsumu-senpai, why did you suddenly want to hug me?"
That feeling was somewhat foreign to him; the moment he was embraced, it was as if he were being wrapped up by something passionate.
But.. it wasn't unpleasant.
Miya Atsumu explained, "It's just a way of celebrating, just like a high five."
"Understood," Hinata nodded seriously.
Hinata, who had rotated to the receiving position, served a net ball, but Ohira reacted extremely quickly, extending his leg to dig the ball up immediately.
"Nice save!" Shirabu stepped forward and used his hands to bump the ball up.
He isn't Miya Atsumu; it would be impossible for him to reach a ball at that height to set it.
But Ushijima-senpai was still in the front row; as long as the ball was delivered to the right position, Ushijima-senpai could spike it.
Hinata kept his hands at his sides, watching Ushijima's spiking motion with nervous tension.
But unexpectedly, this time Ushijima Wakatoshi did not spike toward his position, but instead hit the ball toward the space between him and Miya Atsumu, slightly closer to Miya Atsumu.
Shirabu's set didn't have enough initial height, so Ushijima had no way to spike a more powerful ball.
So, compared to playing Hinata directly, who had already received one of his balls.. it was a more conservative play, targeting the empty space in the middle.
After all, that last play wasn't just a simple matter of "improving receiving skills"; for Hinata Shoyo, it was a breakthrough from nothing to something.
—Receiving poorly and being unable to receive are two completely different things.