——However, there is a possibility of being scouted on the spot.
Chapter 127: The One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Fox
After discussing the volleyball clinic, feeling that dinner had mostly been digested, Miya Atsumu took Hinata Shoyo's volleyball and beckoned to Hinata Natsu with a crooked finger: "Come on."
Natsu followed Miya Atsumu into the yard, her face clearly showing her eagerness to try: "Are we going to play with the volleyball?"
Hearing this, Miya Atsumu froze for a moment. "Why do you say that?"
Natsu pointed at Shoyo, who was staring at them expectantly. "My brother usually works hard to become good friends with volleyball, so he should.. already be good friends with it, right?"
Miya Atsumu also realized that what Xia was referring to was Hinata's own process of practicing setting and receiving.
Indeed, if he is alone, that is the only thing he can practice. However, if Xiaoxia plays volleyball in the future, Shoyo will be able to practice receiving with her at home.
He knelt down in front of Hinata Natsu and handed the volleyball to her: "Yeah, I'll teach you how to bump today. This is the first thing everyone who plays volleyball has to learn."
Hinata Natsu stood tall with her chest out and head held high: "Little Xia can do this!"
Miya Atsumu couldn't help but reach out and pat Natsu's head. "That's amazing, let's try it first."
Shoyo, who had eaten a bit too much for dinner, sat with his knees bent on the veranda, quietly watching Miya Atsumu teach Natsume how to bump, but his mind had drifted back to yesterday's final.
Although it didn't look like a difficult victory, it was obvious that they hadn't fulfilled their task of counterattacking when facing that kind of block.
A ball blocked by the net doesn't necessarily land right under it; some will fly quite far.
Also, when the opposing side spikes, sometimes the ball flies right at your face or chest.
His slow reaction at those moments was one thing, but his own movement of raising his hands to receive the ball made it even harder to control the ball.
If possible.. it would be easier to just use his hands to receive it.
Thinking this, Hinata looked at Miya Atsumu.
Although Miya Atsumu's receiving skills were also average, he was still very strong in terms of experience and theory, so he could still provide help to him.
While letting Xiaoxia practice the movements on her own, Miya Atsumu tilted his head slightly toward Hinata. "What's wrong?"
Hinata organized his words: "Um.. when the opponent smashes through the block, or when the ball is too fast for the block to be effective, I feel like if my positioning is even slightly too far forward, I'll get hit in the face."
He certainly knew that the correct way to handle it was to raise his hands and use his arms to block in front of his face, letting his forearms pop the ball up.
But his weight was a bit light and his base wasn't stable enough; a ball like that would knock him off balance, making such a mistake more costly than it was worth.
After thinking for a moment, Miya Atsumu asked in return, "Coach Kosano should have taught you the footwork for a shuffle step, right?"
It is used with very high frequency in badminton and tennis, in volleyball, it is mostly used by the Libero and the defensive-oriented Wing Spikers.
The advantage of this footwork is that it can transform an original step into a ready half-step at any time, allowing for very rapid adjustments in position to the left, right, front, or back.
Hinata nodded. "Yeah, I remember."
However, Coach Kosano had mentioned it a few times when communicating with him online, but he hadn't brought it up again after that.
Miya Atsumu continued to guide Hinata's memory: "Recall the match against Itachiyama before, then think about yesterday's match against Fukuda General. What state were Komori and Midorikawa in before they prepared to receive the ball?"
Hinata lowered his eyes and thought seriously, finally extracting what Miya Atsumu had mentioned from the corners of his memory: "Ah, it does seem.. the same."
Miya Atsumu demonstrated it directly: "Based on this posture, if you choose a diagonal back cross-step, you can move from the center of the court to the edge in a single step."
Similarly, you can also use this to shorten the time taken to move forward or backward. Of course, that also means..
Hinata raised his hand: "I can drop my defensive position back."
Miya Atsumu's face was written with satisfaction: "Smart."
Staying low can prevent being hit directly in the face, it can also ensure having the opportunity to step in for a dig.
For Hinata Shoyo, this style of play has more advantages than disadvantages.
After all, he was still there; Hinata only needed to ensure that he maintained his ability to attack after receiving the ball; the setter would handle the rest.
Picking up the ball that Xiaoxia had failed to receive, Miya Atsumu asked, "Want to give it a try?"
Hinata jumped down from the corridor: "Okay!"
Rishia Heisuke, who had also finished dinner and was preparing to go out for a stroll, had just stepped out the door when he heard Miya Atsumu's voice coming from the courtyard next door.
Alright, one more.
“Nice receive, Shoyo! Xiaoxia, you're up for the next one.”
He subconsciously shrugged his shoulders, when he finally looked past the wall between the two houses, he saw.. Miya Atsumu playing volleyball with two orange-headed people.
Rishia rubbed his eyes and looked again.
—It hasn't changed.
The sharp-eyed Hinata had already spotted Rishia: "Heisuke! Do you want to come play too!"
Under Miya Atsumu's dangerous gaze, Rishia Heisuke hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, no, I have to go help buy soy sauce, so not today."
Spare him! He doesn't want to play volleyball with Atsumu-senpai!
Especially with Hinata Shoyo, whose learning speed is ridiculously fast, he would definitely be belittled into the dirt!
——That's terrifying.
Rishia Heisuke fled from Hinata's sight at high speed, even choosing to sneak in through the back door when he returned, terrified of being dragged away to play volleyball as well.
Seeing how observant Rishia was, Miya Atsumu was very satisfied and continued to teach Hinata Natsu how to play with a pleasant expression.
Hinata Natsu's learning speed was also incredibly fast; after only two simple demonstrations, she was already able to perform very standard underhand passes on her own.
This learning ability.. she truly is Shoyo's sister.
Moreover, although Hinata Natsu's height isn't considered top-tier among her peers, it is still above average.
It goes without saying that as long as her nutrition and training keep up, her height will likely reach an average level in women's volleyball in the future; at the very least, she will have no major problems playing as an Opposite.
Watching Shoyo intently analyze the landing point of the set he had just sent out, Atsumu couldn't help but wonder again: if only he had met Shoyo when he was a child..
Would Shoyo also have started learning volleyball earlier and shown his talent sooner, just like he is doing now?
He will become even more outstanding, shining even more brilliantly.
But.. it's not too late.. it's only high school, there is still plenty of time.
Talent is the stepping stone to higher positions, while achievements are the crowbar that forcibly pries that door open.
If one championship isn't enough, then take two or three, become the nation's best player. Make all those biased bastards submit, forcing them to admit that Hinata is the best choice.
Opportunities are never just given; you have to go out and seize them.
He must reach a level where even if Hinata wants to go elsewhere for further training in the future, people will be rushing to offer him resources.
With Miya Osamu at the Haruko next January, Hinata should also take advantage of this period without much pressure to thoroughly practice his first receive..
Noticing that Hinata Shoyo was sweating a bit too much, Miya Atsumu called a timely halt. "Let's stop here for today. You just had a fever after yesterday's match, so intense exercise isn't suitable for you today."
Seeing that Hinata still wanted to struggle, Miya Atsumu added, "Take a shower and get some good rest. You have tomorrow off anyway, I'll play with you."
Hinata instantly brightened up and skipped off to take a shower.
While Hinata was showering, Miya Atsumu told Hinata's parents that they would be taking Xiaoxia to a volleyball clinic for a trial this weekend.
As parents, the two of them naturally agreed readily.
When Hinata came out, Miya Atsumu had already started telling the two of them about how he and Miya Osamu had met Aran back in volleyball training camps.
A drop of water fell onto his face. Miya Atsumu tilted his head up and met Hinata's eyes.
Hinata said with a serious face, "I want to hear it too."
A childhood spent in a volleyball club, having a former national player as a teacher, meeting the country's top aces.. it sounds so enviable.
Miya Atsumu reached out and pressed his hand against Hinata's face to create some distance between them. "Dry your hair. Water is dripping all over me."
Although he would have to wash in a little while.. but he had just changed into these clothes, it wouldn't be good if they got wet.
Hinata quickly grabbed a towel and rubbed it over his head a few times.
Miya Atsumu glanced sideways at Xiaoxia, who was preparing to climb down from the sofa to take a shower, noticed her slightly curly hair ends.
Only at this moment did he suddenly realize.. Hinata's hair seemed to be curly?
Hinata's hair wasn't particularly long, it was a bit frizzy like a ball of fluff, so he really hadn't noticed.
Thinking about it now, it probably would have started curling once it grew just a little bit longer.
While he was dazed, Hinata had already sat down in Xiaoxia's seat: "So what happened next? What was Aran-senpai like when he was little?"
The veins on his forehead throbbed. Miya Atsumu grabbed a towel and began rubbing it vigorously against Hinata's head. "Dry yourself off properly!"
Does he really want to catch a cold!
If Miya Osamu is sick and Hinata catches a cold, then he, who is so close to these two, probably won't escape it either.
Although Hyogo Prefecture has two slots, Municipal Kobe isn't the only school watching hungrily. Is he going to create some myth where he wins the championship only to be crushed within the prefecture immediately after?
I don't want that to happen—
As Miya Atsumu helped Hinata dry his hair, a bottle of milk was handed to Hinata by his mother: "Here, height-growing milk."
Another bottle was placed on the table: "This one is for Atsumu-kun. Remember to drink it after your shower."
Hinata was very enthusiastic: "Long-height milk, hurrah!"
He still remembered Coach Utsunomiya and the others saying he could grow to 1.75 meters, so he would have to work hard.
Miya Atsumu patted Hinata Shoyo on the back: "Alright, go drink your milk and get some sleep. Plenty of sleep is also a key factor in growing taller."
Right, it's precisely because Miya Osamu can eat and sleep more than him that he's a little bit taller than him.
Hinata looked pitiful: "Wh-what about the story?"
Atsumu was merciless: "We'll talk about it tomorrow."
After Xiaoxia finished her shower, she wanted to watch an episode of anime. By the time Atsumu finished his shower and came out, Hinata's father was the only one left in the living room, still reading a magazine.
Speaking of the magazine.. the journal they interviewed for should be on the market tomorrow.
Watching Miya Atsumu drink the height-growing milk, Hinata's father closed the magazine in his hands: "Atsumu-kun, good night."