After putting the things away with Coach Saito, Hinata scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, "I'm not that strong either; it's Atsumu-senpai and the others who are amazing."
Coach Saito said nothing more, instead bringing up another topic: "We have many players from the third year retiring, combined with the players' own personalities, the transition might not go very smoothly, so.."
He reached out and patted Hinata's shoulder: "I'll leave Goshiki in your hands."
Thinking back to Goshiki Tsutomu's expression, which looked like he was about to burst into tears when they first met, Hinata was momentarily stunned.
The next second, he raised his hand and patted his chest: "Leave it to me!"
Akari is the most incredible Ace I know in the first year! There's absolutely no problem!
Not far from the warehouse, someone's footsteps faltered slightly.
The boy wearing the junior high school uniform looked up and glanced at the senior beside him: "Goshiki-senpai?"
Goshiki Tsutomu lowered his head, trying to smooth out his furrowed brow under the shadow cast by his bangs, attempting to calm his momentarily turbulent emotions.
After a long time, he looked up and said as usual, "It's nothing, let's keep walking, Yura."
Meanwhile, in the faculty office of Shiratorizawa.
Coach Washijo tapped the table sternly: "Coach Mikail, that is a regular for the Inarizaki Men's Volleyball team, no need to ask further."
Rubbing his hands, Mikail, who had been holding Hinata tightly all day, said, "He said he's from Sendai. Although he is indeed a bit old, his flexibility, jumping ability, balance are all very good."
I haven't seen such a perfect kid in years. Hasn't their coach already left? This is my best opportunity!
Coach Washijo stared at this foreigner, who had once won the World Championship and a bronze medal at the Olympics, for a long time.
Under the other's expectant gaze, he suddenly grabbed the tactical board beside him and slapped it twice on the table: "Don't even think about it, just get out of here."
With his height, where would he even be suited to play volleyball..
Before Coach Mikail could even finish his sentence, he was completely kicked out by Coach Washijo.
For the next two days, Hinata went to the gymnastics hall every morning as usual to report for duty, would only return in the afternoon for volleyball training.
And the fourth day was when the Shiratorizawa training camp officially began.
The streets were exceptionally quiet in the early morning.
Tsukishima lowered his eyes, looking at Kageyama walking beside him: "I can't believe I have to come with you, it's so gross."
Still lost in thought, Kageyama looked up. "Huh?"
His temple twitched, upon realizing that someone truly hadn't heard a word he said, Tsukishima's momentum died for no reason: "Nothing."
Whether it was his illusion or not, Kageyama seemed to have somehow taught himself a shielding function, capable of automatically filtering out his voice.
"Oh." Kageyama lowered his head, continuing to ponder his messy thoughts.
Suddenly, Tsukishima stopped in his tracks, having seen something.
Kageyama, who had unknowingly fallen half a step behind Tsukishima, bumped directly into his back.
Clutching his nose, Kageyama looked up at Tsukishima: "What are you doing?"
Tsukishima raised an eyebrow. "You're the one who wasn't looking where you were going."
He turned slightly, allowing Kageyama's figure to be fully revealed.
On the other side of the Shiratorizawa gate, two people in white tracksuits stood there quietly.
The moment Kageyama's figure appeared, both of their expressions contorted simultaneously.
But it was only for a moment.
Kunimi lifted his chin the next second and looked at Kageyama with the posture of an absolute victor: "Kageyama, long time no see."
Kageyama nodded to the two of them: "Long time no see."
Absolute silence fell upon the entrance once again.
Tsukishima's temple twitched again.
Just one sentence? Can you not be so creepy?
The next second, a voice full of energy appeared: "Oh! From Aobajohsai! And Karasuno too!"
A person with a tuft of blond hair on his forehead rushed over, forcefully breaking the originally awkward and eerie atmosphere.
"Tch." Kunimi turned decisively and walked straight into Shiratorizawa with Kindaichi, completely ignoring Koganezawa.
Eh? Why are you leaving!" Koganezawa's voice continued to ring out incessantly, "Why do you all have companions, while I'm the only one who came alone!
Watching the stream of acquaintances and strangers entering the gymnasium one after another, Rishia Heisuke shrank back toward Goshiki Tsutomu.
Why is this atmosphere getting weirder and weirder..
Perhaps it was because Rishia Heisuke's red tracksuit was too eye-catching, but almost everyone who entered couldn't help but steal a glance at him.
Kageyama's gaze lingered on him for an unusually long time, as if he were recalling something, or perhaps confirming something.
Watching the people from Aobajohsai and Karasuno all greeting this person in red, Koganezawa was a bit dazed: "Do you know him? An acquaintance? Which school is he from?"
Tsukishima felt like his head was about to explode, yet there was this guy who had absolutely no self-awareness, approaching them as if he were very close to them.
It was just a practice match; was it really necessary to go that far?
In the end, it was Kageyama who spoke first: "A first-year from Inarizaki High School."
Koganezawa rubbed his chin: "Inarizaki High School? I don't think I've heard of them."
Kageyama added, "The national champions of the National Sports Festival."
As soon as those words were spoken, every gaze in the entire venue simultaneously turned toward Rishia Heisuke.
Rishia tried to make himself even smaller, attempting to hide behind Goshiki Tsutomu.
After two seconds of silence, Goshiki Tsutomu suddenly felt that all his previous vigilance and competitive spirit had been wasted.
This guy.. is unexpectedly spineless.
I know what you're thinking, but don't think about that for now," Rishia Heisuke's voice sounded weakly, "When exactly is Shoyo coming back?
Help, he just wants to find a hole to crawl into right now.
Where is Shoyo?
Where did his little buddy go?!
"Let's make it this afternoon." Goshiki Tsutomu's expression remained unchanged, though a spark of rivalry flared in his eyes as he locked eyes with Kindaichi Koganezawa.
Finally, Rishia could no longer suppress his urge to comment: "You have quite a few enemies too.."
Goshiki Tsutomu took a step to the side, exposing Rishia Heisuke completely and forcing him to endure the gaze of everyone in the venue once again.
Rishia Heisuke quickly straightened his posture, standing tall and chest out, looking like a statue.
Fortunately, Coach Saito arrived quickly, so Rishia didn't actually remain frozen like a statue.
He quickly organized everyone into lines while simultaneously calling out names to confirm everyone's attendance.
Just as he was about to give a few instructions, with a loud bang, the gymnasium doors were opened by someone again.
Still panting and clearly having just finished intense exercise, Hinata stood there beside Coach Washijo.
At Coach Washijo's signal, he bowed to everyone on the court.
Inarizaki High School, First Year! Hinata Shoyo!
Please take care of me!
Catching his breath, he stepped forward and stood beside Rishia Heisuke.
Coach Washijo also stepped forward unhurriedly: "Everyone is here, let's begin."
Rishia Heisuke asked in a very low voice, "You're back quite early today, what happened?"
Hinata also replied in a very low voice, "I woke up early and finished all of this morning's training in one go."
Coach Washijo's sharp gaze swept over them. "Ahem."
The two fell silent.
Hinata stood straight, looking ahead, while at the same time, his mind recalled a familiar figure that he seemed to have caught a glimpse of just now.
Who was it? One was pitch black and very scary, the other was white with a pointed head..
—It couldn't be the King, could it?
Hinata tossed the thought out of his head the very next second.
——How could it be such a coincidence.
Chapter 147: The One Hundred and Forty-Seventh Fox
"We are all old rivals who have faced each other more than once, so let's skip the introductions," Coach Washijo said, watching everyone line up.
Rishia Heisuke's head buzzed, a sudden wave of helplessness rushed into his heart.
No, please do not skip this one.
He was not a local, he knew less than half the people in this stadium; he urgently needed to know their surnames.
Otherwise.. it'll be really awkward if I can't call them out by name in a moment!
After a brief speech, Coach Washijo clapped his hands: "In any case, make the most of this training cycle, which is different from your usual routine. How much you can learn depends on your own ability.
Get into pairs, do some simple joint warm-ups, start practicing digs. Try to partner up with someone you aren't familiar with.
Before Rishia Heisuke could even speak, his arm was grabbed by someone.
Koganezawa's eyes lit up: "Please, please let me be on your team!"
This is the national champion! If he grabs him first, he's his! He's going to Nationals next year too!
Rishia instinctively reached out to grab Hinata, but Hinata had already bolted away and was nowhere to be seen.
But before he could even find where Hinata was, Hinata's excited voice already rang out from not far away.
“Hello! Can I play with you!”
Rishia heard the sound and looked over, seeing Inarizaki's "Little Giant" staring at an opponent's "Big Giant" with a face full of eagerness.