Omimi laughed, "Can't wait to get on the court?"
Yeah!" Hinata nodded again, "I can't wait!
He was proud of Rishia, he could also feel himself becoming restless.
Imagine the scene of yourself standing there, imagine yourself bathed in the cheers of the crowd.
It will surely.. be a memory for a lifetime.
Watching Hinata's reaction, Coach Kurosu gave a mock sigh. "A pity, Shoyo can't become a decisive server like Heisuke."
Hinata remained just as enthusiastic: "I know! I'll keep practicing my serves!"
Coach Kurosu held up a finger: "What Shoyo needs to become is a 'clutch player'."
"Oh—that sounds amazing," Hinata said instinctively.
Seeing him like this, Kurosu knew he hadn't understood a thing.
So he explained simply, "Although they don't have a formal name like a clutch server, substituting players in for attacking or blocking depending on different conditions is still an important part of tactics."
For example, Shinsuke is a standard defensive specialist; when the opponent's offense is particularly strong, he is subbed in to receive at their primary attacking point.
"By the same logic, the work you must do as a substitute coming onto the court is the same as a server's, even more difficult." Coach Kurosu looked seriously into Hinata's eyes.
In other words.. when the opponent's defensive formation is so strong that there's no way to break through, you are the one who carries everyone's hopes and is responsible for tearing a path to survival for the entire team.
Coach Omimi smiled, his eyes curving into crescents: "Even cooler, right?"
Hinata nodded like a woodpecker, his vocabulary shrinking due to excitement to the point where Nagumo would have cried, "Yeah, yeah! So cool!"
Just the thought of it.. makes one tremble with excitement.
Coach Kurosu patted Hinata on the shoulder: "Normally, that's the Ace's job, but even Aran has moments when he's suppressed; those are your moments."
The person who shoulders the responsibility of the Ace when the Ace is unable to move..
Hinata's eyes widened: "Then isn't that—"
The Ace's Ace!
Kurosu nodded in agreement, "Right, right, it feels like a hidden Ace."
"Oh—even cooler!" Hinata's eyes lit up.
Akagi said in a low voice, "How did Coach learn that trick of flattering people like Hinata does?"
Oori Ren replied, "As long as you're happy."
On the other side, Unabara had already walked to the corridor and dialed someone's number.
In Aobajohsai, far away in Sendai, Coach Kosano put down the badminton racket in his hands.
Looking at the contact name, she waved to the person on the other side and walked to the edge of the court to sit down. "Yo, Unabara? You're a rare guest. What brings you here?"
Seeing that Coach Kosano didn't intend to continue playing, Iwaizumi Hajime also walked to the sidelines to drink water, while simultaneously pricking up his ears to secretly listen to Coach Kosano's voice over there.
By the side of the badminton court, a second-year student, who had caused a massive commotion in the Volleyball Club immediately upon returning to the team, stood there like a statue, not daring to move an inch.
"Huh? Our school's Volleyball Club?" Hearing the voice from over there, Coach Kosano froze for a moment, then looked toward Iwaizumi Hajime, who was acting as her practice partner.
“Hmm.. the level is pretty good. What? Are you interested?”
I don't know what the person opposite said, but Coach Kosano suddenly sat up straight, causing Iwaizumi Hajime's heart to jump as well.
What's going on? Why did they suddenly bring up his Volleyball Club?
Did someone get into trouble while he was away? Did Oikawa Tooru go to hog the neighboring basketball gym again?
Of all times, Coach Kosano mentioned that surname: "Oikawa?"
Iwaizumi Hajime felt his vision go dark.
ly he wouldn't just work like a beast for Coach Kosano because of Kyokutsu, only to turn around and get scolded like a beast by the Dean of Students because of Oikawa Tooru, right?
If that's really the case.. then that bastard Oikawa is dead meat.
Coach Kosano remained silent for a few seconds before finally asking in return, "Have you finally finished at the ophthalmology clinic?"
This time, it was Unabara's turn to be stunned: "What?"
Coach Kosano said seriously, "I mean, you've finally regained your sight?"
Unabara Uta felt like hanging up the phone right then and there; this man was indirectly calling him blind.
In the next second, Coach Kosano's rambling voice came through Unabara Uta's phone: "I'm telling you, he's a good kid. I ask him to come play badminton every day, but he never comes; he just loves that damn volleyball.."
Unabara's face went dark.
—Do you even realize what kind of project I'm bringing to the table?
The words got stuck in his throat, ultimately, he mercilessly pressed the button to hang up the phone.
Under the gaze of the official reporters nearby, Unabara Uta said coldly, "I'll ask someone else; this person is too ridiculous."
Similarly, under Iwaizumi's gaze, Coach Kosano, who had tried to call back but found the line was currently in use, shrank his neck.
—Oh no, I've messed up.
Iwaizumi Hajime was a bit nervous: "Did something happen to Oikawa?"
Coach Kosano waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, nothing's wrong. Let's continue."
If Iwaizumi found out that she had a big mouth and drove away the members of the national volleyball team.. I expect her favorite training partner would vanish on the spot.
Yeah, nothing happened.
Hmm.
Chapter 70: The Seventieth Fox
With an early advantage, Inarizaki ultimately took the first set from Shiratorizawa by seven points.
However, Shiratorizawa, having gradually adapted to Inarizaki's pace, fought back fiercely in the second set. Goshiki Tsutomu, who was also finding his rhythm, frequently provided support and scored, successfully snatching the set.
In the third set, Coach Kurosu decisively chose to substitute Kita Shinsuke into the game to strengthen the defense, while letting Aran take a short rest.
Aran, having recovered his condition, returned to the court and scored three consecutive points. This, combined with Coach Kurosu immediately subbing in Rishia Heisuke to serve, completely disrupted Shiratorizawa's overall rhythm.
As Miya Osamu scored the match point with a spike, Inarizaki defeated Shiratorizawa 2-1, securing the third spot in the top four.
The court fell silent for a moment, followed by applause from the Shiratorizawa supporters, while at the same time, cheers erupted from the Inarizaki side.
We won!!
Hinata clapped vigorously, his face flushing red: "Nice hit!!"
The reporter from Ueno, wearing a press badge, pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his entire body leaning forward uncontrollably, feeling a hint of dryness in his mouth brought on by excitement amidst the roar of cheers from the entire crowd.
The staggering score differences in the first and third sets on the scoreboard were startling, even giving off an air of indisputable victory.
The strongest challenger?
I feel like.. I've witnessed the birth of a new king.
It's not time yet, but she can already see the day this team reaches the top.
Without a doubt, they are strong enough and have enough potential.
Compared to schools like Shiratorizawa, which are already at their peak, Inarizaki is still far from reaching its zenith.
Next year, they will definitely rise to their full potential.
At the same time, a long whistle echoed from the match on the other side of the court; Shirabu defeated Karasuno 2-1, advancing to the final four.
Wiping the sweat from his face, Hoshiumi Hikari looked across the center court toward the Inarizaki side.
On the other side of the net, Kiryu Ya leaned on his knees, taking a long time to slowly straighten his back.
Even now, his right hand still felt numb; giving his all for those consecutive spikes had left him exhausted.
But.. at least they won.
Behind them, the members of Shirabu had already crowded around, surrounding their Ace.
“Aba, great spike! That was beautiful!”
Nice kill, Kiryu-senpai!
Kiryu slowly lowered his hands and put on a hearty smile, walking toward everyone just as he usually did: "It was everyone's great teamwork; that save just now was very timely."
Hoshiumi's gaze swept past Kiryu Ya, he narrowed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
Hirugami walked over from not far away and reached out to pat the back of his neck: "Line up, Hikari."
After a brief pause, he added, ".. That last save was good."
Hoshiumi Hikari raised an eyebrow slightly, gave him a dangerous look, then locked his gaze on Hakuma Mebuki: "Of course. Then again, there are some guys between 1.9m and 2m who can't even touch a spike."
Hakuma shrugged his shoulders, rarely failing to push back against Hoshiumi.
Just as Hoshiumi said, the responsibility for this loss indeed lay mostly with him and Hirugami.
Hirugami withdrew his hand from Hoshiumi's shoulder, lowering his eyes as he contemplated the match that had just taken place.
As the core of the block, he was completely unable to restrain Kiryu Ya.
No, should I say he truly is the player with the strongest adaptability and the most stable performance in all of high school?
Even when the Setter is completely unable to follow up in time for the combination, he can still deliver successive spikes with diverse trajectories, can even frequently exploit gaps in the block to force a breakthrough.
For Kiryu, this was not just a test of physical stamina, but an extreme drain on his entire spirit and mental energy.
That was no longer just playing a normal game.
It was.. turning the mortal into legend and creating miracles on the court.
As the third day of the Interhigh concluded, of the nearly one hundred and twenty participating teams, only eight remained.
The hotel corridor was quiet, a complete contrast to the hustle and bustle when they first arrived on the first day.
The Fukurodani members had not returned yet. When Hoshiumi, Hirugami, the others stepped out of the elevator, they ran straight into Miya Atsumu and Hinata Shoyo, who were opening a door in the hallway.
Hinata froze for a moment, intending to call out Hoshiumi's name loudly, but he fell silent when he noticed the exhaustion on the other's face.