By the time the match in the arena ended, Hirugami Fuku was already gone.
Seeing that all the Inarizaki members coming off the court were wearing masks, Hoshiumi felt a sense of foreboding and looked up to ask Hirugami, "What if we didn't bring any masks?"
Hirugami remained silent for two seconds before quickly providing a perfect solution: "Go to Itachiyama and ask Sakusa-senpai for some."
Hoshiumi's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea! That guy definitely has plenty in stock."
Sakusa, who was just about to take the court for the match, had no idea that his supplies had been targeted; he only felt a slight chill running down his spine.
Sakusa frowned. "There are a lot of germs lately; it's time for some disinfection.."
On the other hand, Coach Kurosu had already taken Miya Osamu to the hospital immediately, while the Inarizaki members stayed behind in the gym to watch the match.
Miya Osamu's test results came out in less than two hours, everyone gathered around Coach Omimi to wait for the results.
Omimi asked Kurosu on the other end of the phone, feeling somewhat anxious: "How is Osamu doing?"
The Inarizaki members pricked up their ears, trying to wait for good news.
Looking at the report in front of him, Coach Kurosu sighed, "It is indeed the flu, but it isn't progressing quickly. He shouldn't develop a fever in the short term."
In other words—it's hard to say what will happen after that.
Kurosu continued to instruct, "You guys go back and pack your things first. Isolate Yukihito separately, have Heisuke sleep in the parent-child room with Kuniharu and Kuregawa. Rintaro and Kenma should swap rooms with Yukihito so he can have the large bed to himself; also, remember to have the hotel staff disinfect it.."
Hearing that he wasn't going to have to change his own room, Miya Atsumu felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
Noticing Miya Atsumu's expression, Aran fell silent for a moment.
How could they possibly replace Miya Atsumu? Even if there were only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, Inarizaki would ensure that Miya Atsumu is safe.
But..
After returning to Amagasaki, it is very likely that Miya Atsumu will have to move into the dormitory.
Chapter 87: The Eighty-Seventh Fox
Inarizaki's matches over the first two days had been relatively easy.
After all, the opponents themselves were not familiar enough with the starting Hinata, in terms of raw strength, Inarizaki held an absolute advantage.
Moreover, because each region only sent one team, many opponents who would have been very troublesome for Inarizaki were effectively excluded.
As the afternoon matches concluded, Inarizaki's next opponent was also determined; they were the representatives from Osaka Prefecture, whom they were not very familiar with.
However, compared to the opponents from the previous two matches, the representatives from Osaka had a playing style that leaned more towards strong offense overall.
Miya Osamu's condition this morning was quite good; at his own request, Coach Kurosu also selected him as a starter.
Inarizaki completed this match relatively safely, ultimately winning 2-0 as well.
In the stands, Suzuki Nanao, who had gone through so much trouble to convince her brother to accompany her to watch the Inarizaki match, was so aggrieved she was almost in tears: "Damn it! Hinata-senpai didn't play!"
Suzuki Garaku said softly, "Adjusting the starting lineup based on tactical needs is quite common.."
"I don't know if there will be any time to watch the afternoon matches, since you guys are completely hopeless." Nanao said mercilessly, poking at his brother's heart.
The eight teams advancing from Block C are Inarizaki and Karasuno, while Block D consists of Sannomiya Industrial and.. Itachiyama.
It is still uncertain whether Inarizaki or Karasuno will advance, but Garaku knows that, for his brother, Itachiyama is currently an unshakable opponent.
While Garaku had already faded and turned to stone, Nanao was still pondering a question: "By the way, is Karasuno's Ace-senpai the same type as Hinata-senpai, a Little Giant?"
Garaku regained his color, rubbing his chin as he recalled the few Karasuno match videos he had seen.
Ah, speaking of the Little Giant..
Of course you'd think of our Karasuno first.
Yamaguchi Tadashi rubbed his chin, looking at the tablet on the blackboard with a hint of longing.
The broadcast above was nearing its end; it was the match between Karasuno and Karasuno.
Kageyama, who didn't actually know much about the Little Giant, was focused on something else: "In the afternoon, Inarizaki will face Karasuno."
Sugawara Koushi turned his head and raised a finger: "Ah, that.. the battle of the Little Giant, right?"
Kageyama nodded. "Yeah, both Inarizaki and Karasuno have strong blocking lineups, Suna-senpai and that 'Immovable Hirugami'.. is that how it's said?"
After receiving a response like "Nishinoya-senpai is so cool," Kageyama paused.
He glanced at Tsukishima Kei out of the corner of his eye and said bluntly, "It's number 6. Their blocking is very tricky; they actively lure spikers into making mistakes."
Moreover, the speed at which both sides follow up on their blocks is actually very fast, comparable to Date Tech.
Tsukishima Kei slightly lifted his chin: "King, what's with that look in your eyes?"
Seeing that these two were about to start arguing again, Yamaguchi Tadashi, caught in the middle, hurriedly grabbed them both to pull them apart. "Talk nicely, talk nicely.."
Under Sugawara Koushi's watchful gaze, Kageyama said quite bluntly, "I was thinking about whether or not you can keep up with Hinata."
Although he has a certain advantage in height.. No, looking at Hinata's hitting point, he doesn't actually have an advantage in height either, he'll be left behind in speed as well..
Tsukishima Kei directly interrupted Kageyama's words: "King, what is on your neck?"
Kageyama reached up to rub his neck upon hearing that. "There's nothing there."
"Pfft." After struggling to hold it in for two seconds, Yamaguchi finally burst out laughing.
The veins on his forehead throbbed, Tsukishima gave up on mocking Kageyama, bringing the matter into the open: "I have my own way of playing, besides, I have a brain."
That's right, he certainly didn't have the certainty to block that Quick Attack, but.. if it was just to limit him, he thought it was still worth a try.
After all, he had an absolutely reliable Libero behind him.
"Oh." Kageyama nodded, lowering his eyes as he contemplated the way Miya Osamu and Miya Atsumu swapped positions during that previous match against Inarizaki.
Tsukishima's gaze swept across Hirugami Yukio's figure on the broadcast.
Thinking that way, he could also use this method to restrict Aobajohsai's quick attacks, just as that bowl-cut middle blocker from Aobajohsai did before.
No, is the person who is actually more skilled at this style of play the number 10 of Inarizaki?
He leaned across the table toward Coach Ukai, who looked lost in thought, asked, "Coach, could you give me a copy of the previous Inarizaki footage?"
Before the coach could even answer, Kageyama, who had finally snapped out of it, slammed the table and stood up: "Tsukishima, you bastard! What the hell did you mean just now!"
This guy was indirectly calling him brainless!
Watching Sawamura Daichi prepare to take action, Sugawara Koushi raised his hand to cover his face, feeling a bit of a headache.
Kageyama's reaction speed..
After lunch, Miya Osamu, who was showing signs of fatigue due to his poor condition, was the first to leave the gym, leaving the afternoon's matches to Coach Kurosu to handle.
After all, if he continued to stay here, he would only be a burden, so he might as well go back and rest first. Perhaps his condition will be even better tomorrow morning, allowing him to continue in the semifinals.
That is on the condition that.. they can win the quarterfinals this afternoon.
The first match of the afternoon is between Rakusan and Shirabu, the match between Fukuda General and Meisei is the second.
While watching the Shirabu match from the stands, Coach Kurosu suddenly said to Miya Atsumu, who was sitting beside him, "I am considering whether it would be possible to make large-scale adjustments to the lineup."
The Inarizaki members all cast confused glances simultaneously.
Coach Kurosu summarized his words, glanced at Hinata on the other side, then looked at Kita: "We are far too familiar with Karasuno; we could practically recite their playstyles, player movement habits, spiking motions with our eyes closed."
“And unlike other teams, with Hoshiumi there, if Hinata plays as a right-side wing spiker in the same position as Hoshiumi, his own offensive power will be somewhat diminished.”
Miya Atsumu nodded.
The fact was that almost all of Hinata's experience playing on the right wing came from Hoshiumi, so playing for Karasuno would surely feel natural and easy for him.
Aran reacted immediately: "Are we going to continue with yesterday's playstyle?"
To be honest, playing with an Opposite lineup is actually quite exhilarating—especially when someone helps him share the burden of the offensive duties.
No," Coach Kurosu said, shaking his head, "continue making adjustments on this basis.
Miya Atsumu had a vague inkling of what was happening and looked toward Kita on the other side as well.
Karassuno's blocking strength is very high, which also means the pressure on counterattacks will be immense.
Coach Kurosu continued, "In Osamu's absence, relying solely on Rintaro and Aran is a bit insufficient, especially since.. Hinata cannot execute the counterattack tasks very well."
Hinata scratched his head, feeling a bit guilty.
Seeing that he was a bit embarrassed, Aran reached out and patted his back, doing his best to comfort Hinata, who had been thrown into the deep end.
Actually, there was nothing to feel guilty about; his receiving during his first year of high school wasn't much better than Hinata's.
Coach Kurosu and Miya Atsumu exchanged a glance. "My idea is, on the basis of Shoyo and Aran playing the left wing, have Shinsuke play the right wing as a wing spiker, have Rintaro and Ren swap positions to adjust the rhythm of the firepower coverage."
It shifted from the situation where everyone was a well-rounded hexagon warrior when Miya Osamu was on the court, to a setup with Hinata Shoyo as a prominent offensive point and Kita Shinsuke as a defensive reinforcement point.
By contrast, it can be maintained in a relatively balanced state.
Miya Atsumu also raised his hand to stroke his chin. "Ah, we could also keep Rintaro and Hirugami apart."
It must be said that Coach Kurosu's idea has an unprecedented level of feasibility, it should be able to catch Karasuno off guard.
As for whether such a large-scale, last-minute adjustment would affect Inarizaki's own rhythm?
—Of course not.
First, the two people subbed in were Hinata, who has excellent adaptability and reaction speed, Kita, who has a solid foundation and absolutely stable form.
With Miya Atsumu controlling the tactics, the rotation of the two middle blockers wouldn't cause any major issues.
From the perspective of targeting Karasuno alone, there shouldn't be any problems.
"Let me think, let me think." Miya Atsumu raised his hand to stop everyone, bowing his head as he contemplated the playstyle he might use later.
Without disturbing Miya Atsumu, Hinata Shoyo, who was thinking about something from last night, said in a low voice to Coach Kurosu, "Coach, Hoshiumi-senpai gave me a suggestion yesterday regarding the Opposite play."
Kurosu perked up his ears: "Let's hear it."
"Actually, it wasn't Hoshiumi-senpai's suggestion; it was supposedly the idea of Hirugami Yukio's older brother.. the Great Hirugami-senpai's idea." Hinata struggled to come up with a title for Hirugami Fuku.
Kurosu naturally knew who Hirugami Yukio's older brother was; having two captains of top V1 League teams come from the same family made them legends throughout the entire volleyball world.
He became interested: "Adler's captain, I know him. What did he say?"
Although Kurosu believed his coaching experience and theoretical knowledge were quite profound, perhaps the players fighting on the front lines of professional leagues possessed a higher level of acuity regarding the latest tactics.