Miya Atsumu, who had been watching Aran's back, suddenly lowered his head, meeting Hinata's eyes, which were exceptionally bright in the dim corridor.
The eyes, which had shown no special emotion just a moment ago, now revealed an ambition that could not be hidden at all.
The fingers at his side twitched slightly, Miya Atsumu clenched his fists without leaving a trace.
Recalling the coach's words from before, Miya Atsumu repeated, "The scoring rate is higher than Aran's, but it's lower in terms of scoring during defensive transitions, the number of assists is also insufficient."
Hinata lowered his eyes: "So it really comes down to receiving.."
Not knowing what he was thinking about, Hinata looked up again, his mood seemingly improved: "Thank you, Atsumu-senpai, I understand."
The gap in experience and fundamentals isn't so easily closed, a large part of his high scoring rate is because Atsumu-senpai passes him more balls.
However, he would not give up his determination to challenge the Ace; asking this was merely to clarify his subsequent goal.
After all.. the Ace is definitely the coolest!
As he was catching up with the main group ahead, Hinata's voice interrupted Miya Atsumu's thoughts.
By the way, Atsumu-senpai, in the last set, did you change your approach distance for your serve?
Then wouldn't that be.. invincible?
After a brief daze, Miya Atsumu recalled his on-court maneuvers: "That.. it's to confuse high-level Liberos. After all, a normal serve would be received anyway, so it's better to use it as a feint."
If it's against a school whose receiving isn't that great, it's better to stick to my original playstyle.
If I had to say.. it's true that a suitable approach distance can support a stronger serve.
Hinata nodded. "I understand."
Miya Atsumu, who suddenly snapped out of it, lowered his head, somewhat at a loss for words: "You.. you wouldn't consider me a hypothetical enemy, would you?"
What is with this feeling, like I'm being probed for tactical secrets about an opponent?
Hinata felt a momentary, strange sense of guilt, but he immediately straightened up and said defiantly, "It's not like Atsumu-senpai is the only one who can use Dual Wield; I'm just being prepared."
This is what Coach Inubata said; the best example is right by his side, so he can take the initiative to study Miya Atsumu, Aran, the others.
That's right, he wants to become even stronger!
"Forget it, I'm not going to argue with you." Miya Atsumu laughed in exasperation.
Anyway, he is Hinata's setter, so he won't be standing on the other side of the net from Hinata.
Following behind Miya Atsumu, Hinata opened his own phone.
In addition to "Current Hot News 66" appearing on the screen, there was also a congratulatory message for winning the championship sent by Hoshiumi.
The smile on Hinata's face was impossible to hide.
He was thinking about sending a photo of himself with the medal, so he subconsciously selected the most recent photo.
The next second, Miya Atsumu's miserable face appeared on the phone screen.
The moment Miya Atsumu looked over, Hinata burst into his fastest speed ever, instantly turning off the phone screen.
Atsumu raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing? Why are you acting so guilty?"
Hinata quickly slipped his phone into his pocket, pretending nothing had happened. "It's nothing."
Miya Atsumu was skeptical, but in the end, he didn't probe any further.
After the Haruko Qualifiers ended, Hinata also reported to Coach Inubata as usual, Xiaoxia's volleyball lessons had also gotten back on track.
Only the sound of the Miya twins' heartbreaking arguing could be heard coming from the Miya family courtyard.
You bastard, Osamu! My pudding!!
It was going to expire anyway, so what's wrong with me eating it?
My homework! Why did you draw a pig on the last page!
I'm doing you a favor by helping you write it, yet you're still so picky..
Scumbag Atsumu!! What do you think you're doing to my glorious rice ball!!
There happened to be a youth volleyball match over the weekend, so Coach Inubata left with Xiaoxia, Hinata took the opportunity to return to Inarizaki, only to be immediately escorted to the gym by the coach.
Having worked hard to gain one and a half kilograms in a week, Hinata was about to face brutal and merciless upper body strength training.
Hinata's physical fitness was certainly good, but his arms, shoulders, back lacked sufficient muscle support, after a few sets of training, his muscles began to protest with soreness.
In his dazed consciousness, a golden head leaned over from above: "You.. why did you make such a mess of yourself?"
Looking at Hinata, who had already stopped thinking, Miya Atsumu didn't know what to say for a moment.
Hinata pitifully reached out his hand to Miya Atsumu: "I'm going to die."
Chuckling softly, Miya Atsumu took the barbell off Hinata for him, then pulled him up in one motion.
Sitting down on the equipment nearby, Miya Atsumu looked at Hinata, who was struggling to get his brain back in gear: "Take a break?"
Hinata nodded. "I'm done with my strength training for today."
Glancing at the volleyball Miya Atsumu had placed to the side, Hinata instantly regained his energy: "Then let's go play volleyball!"
“I'd love to say yes, but..” Under Hinata's expectant gaze, Miya Atsumu changed the subject, "If you're resting, then rest properly. You still need to build muscle."
Miya Atsumu waved the tablet in his hand at Hinata. "So.. do you want to watch? The Miyagi Spring Qualifiers?"
"Miyagi?" Hinata froze for a moment.
After recalling who was in Miyagi, he asked excitedly, "Is it Akari's match!"
"No, Shiratorizawa finished their matches this morning." Miya Atsumu stuffed the tablet back into his bag.
In the end, he left it as a mystery: "We'll talk about that later. I'll take you out to eat."
Miya Atsumu grabbed Hinata and rushed toward the showers, unable to wait any longer: "Let's go, we've been granted permission to eat junk food today."
That's right! The two of them can eat!
As for Miya Osamu, whose body fat percentage had skyrocketed after slacking off for half a month, he could only eat the "nutritional meals" arranged by the coach during this period!
While waiting for Hinata to shower and change, Miya Atsumu handed him the packed bag the moment he came out.
Let's go!
It was M's new release period, by the time the two arrived, it was already afternoon, there were not many people in the shop.
After Asai Weka ordered a bunch of new items and sent photos to Miya Osamu, Miya Atsumu picked up the vanilla milkshake in front of him and began to taste it: "It's good."
Hinata had already begun urging Miya Atsumu to watch the match: "Atsumu-senpai, the Miyagi match."
He didn't know yet which two teams were playing, but he was truly curious about the Miyagi match; perhaps it would be some old acquaintances.
Miya Atsumu narrowed his eyes and slowly pulled out his tablet.
After finding the official livestream for the semifinals, he propped the screen up on the table.
Hinata's voice rang out almost in the next second: "The King and the Great King?!"
The live broadcast clearly displayed Aobajohsai High School versus Karasuno High School, in the middle of the court, Karasuno's number 9 was preparing to serve—it was Kageyama.
The score on the sidelines is Aobajohsai 24:23 Karasuno, Aobajohsai set point.
Miya Atsumu also narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the small numbers on both sides of the scoreboard in the blurry livestream footage: "This looks like the second set. Who won the first set?"
After staring for a long time without seeing clearly, he took out his phone and scrolled through the forums.
After a brief moment of daze, he turned his head and said to Hinata, "Karasuno won the first set, Aobajohsai 27:29 Karasuno."
Hinata also froze for a moment. "The King lost?!"
In his memory, the King was much stronger than Karasuno, so how did he lose the first set?
Miya Atsumu continued scrolling through the forum: "Someone said Aobajohsai's number 16 only arrived for the second set? Who is number 16?"
There are actually players who don't follow the team? And they're late?
If this were someone from our Inarizaki, they didn't have a valid reason.. they would definitely be kicked straight to the Second String by Coach Kurosu.
Hinata pointed at the person standing in the Seijo setter and opposite position in the live stream: "Blonde hair, with two stripes on the back of his head."
Miya Atsumu bared his teeth. "Whoa, looks like the type that doesn't take orders."
Seeing that someone on the forum said number 16 had snatched number 12's ball before, Miya Atsumu's expression twisted even further.
He certainly enjoyed the feeling of conquering spikers, but that didn't mean he liked fighting with them on the court.
He actually dares to use people like that.. Oikawa-senpai is truly ruthless.
Hinata sat up straight: "The King is about to serve."
He remembered it very clearly; Kageyama's powerful serve was incredibly formidable, in a certain sense, it was even more powerful than Atsumu-senpai's powerful serve.
However, as someone who had played against both sides, Kenma always felt that Miya Atsumu's serve was harder to handle, perhaps because Atsumu used a dual.. no, a triple-wielding style.
The whistle blew.
The cheers from Karasuno High School rose in small groups, followed immediately by Kageyama spinning the volleyball in his hands and slapping it against the floor.
Aobajohsai is currently in the lead; as long as his service turn can tie the score, or even score consecutive points, they will be infinitely close to victory.
Taking a deep breath, Kageyama raised his hand and tossed the ball into the air.
With a steady approach, Kageyama stepped forward and spiked the ball with full force just before the end line.
He didn't have much to worry about; as long as it didn't go out, he would aim for the hardest position to receive.
"I've got it!" Hanabusa stepped forward, positioning himself steadily beneath the ball.
Watari Chikaharu took two steps forward and suddenly leaped up behind the three-meter line.
Miya Atsumu's eyes lit up.
—A set from the Libero after jumping behind the three-meter line.
The moment he raised his hand to touch the ball, the volleyball flew over Watari Chikaharu's head and landed directly near the net.
Oikawa Tooru leaped up with a thud, raising his hand in a motion as if prepared to spike the ball.
Nishinoya Yu's pupils contracted.
—Is he going to spike it directly?!
In front of the screen, Hinata instantly recalled the moves used by Shiratori-senpai and Atsumu-senpai when they played against Fukuda General.