Why does it feel like.. there are some people on the bus who shouldn't be here?
Miya Atsumu looked at the three people occupying the second to last row, his eyes filled with question marks: "No, where did you three come from?"
An enemy has infiltrated their car! An enemy!
Kita Shinsuke, who had returned a step ahead, turned his head and said, "We'll go to Tokyo together since we're on the way; the Itachiyama Coach called and asked us to do this."
Amatori blinked. "The three from Karasuno are planning to go to Kiyomizu-dera tomorrow, otherwise.."
It wasn't just the three of them.
Sitting on the edge, Agatsuma was already looking at Hinata Natsu with a curious gaze.
Hinata Shoyo greeted him: "Hello, Agatsuma-senpai."
After having fought fiercely once at the National Sports Festival, he felt that this senior was inexplicably kind.
Hello," Agatsuma Soushi nodded to him, then he looked at Hinata Natsu again. "Sister?
Hinata Shoyo introduced her proactively: "Yeah, my sister, Hinata Natsu."
Agatsuma Soushi reached out to Hinata Natsu: "Nice to meet you, little sister."
Xiaoxia took it: "It's Natsu."
Agatsuma said again, his tone carrying a hint of caution: "Nice to meet you, Natsume."
After placing Xiaoxia in the middle of the third row, Hinata sat in the seat next to the aisle.
Rishia Heisuke, who had already gone to ask Suna and the others for the good news, walked over and said, "We're going to Itachiyama after Haruko is over."
On the other side of the hallway, Kumagai's mind raced with alarm: "Wait, wait, wait, Itachiyama?!"
Recalling the painful story of his last trip to Itachiyama, Kumagai instantly felt like he was going to lose it.
Plus, Aran and the others had mentioned there are two physical examinations a year.. it couldn't be happening again, could it!
Unabara, beside Kumagai, remained silent, merely wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
—So scary, a nightmare is coming again.
Hinata, who didn't feel scared at all, blinked and remembered another important matter: "That's right, Atsumu-senpai also said he wanted to bring Xiaoxia to show Coach Himegomiya."
Hearing the familiar name, Amatori poked her head over: "Is your sister looking for our coach?"
Hinata nodded, "Yeah, Xiaoxia also wants to play volleyball, she wants to go to Itachiyama for junior high."
Glancing at the little one who was also looking at him, Amatori continued, "Let's get one thing straight, we don't allow connections at Itachiyama; you actually have to have talent."
You're being quite picky, aren't you, senpai?" Miya Atsumu's voice drifted over faintly. "Our Xiaoxia is a little genius that even former national team coaches fought over to coach!
This time, it was Amatori who was surprised: "Really?"
Kita Shinsuke gave his word: "It's true. She has incredible athletic talent, Coach Inubata, a former national team setter, thinks very highly of her."
Iizuna froze for a moment: "Is it that Coach Inubata?"
He did indeed remember that this senpai had gone into children's volleyball education; he had seen him at the commentary booth during the World Youth Championships at an event a few years ago, he hadn't expected him to be working in Amagasaki.
That master Miya Atsumu-kun mentioned before.. it should be this person.
Having received a definitive confirmation from Kita Shinsuke, Iizuna also took action: "In that case, I'll send a message to Coach Himegomiya first."
Kita Shinsuke would never lie, so he had to take this seriously.
He can't find a Setter right now, but it wouldn't be bad to give Coach Himegomiya a little apprentice.
In less than a minute, Coach Himegomiya's video call came through.
The moment he picked up, Coach Himegomiya's excited voice came through: "Where is it? Where is my good disciple?"
Let me see, quickly!
Chapter 162: The One Hundred and Sixty-Second Fox
Listening to the voice coming from Iizuna's phone, everyone from Inarizaki fell silent.
Miya Atsumu fell even deeper into severe self-doubt.
He somewhat regretted suggesting that Xiaoxia be sent to Itachiyama; it would have been better to go directly to Miyagi or Akita, as the coach at Sannomiya Industrial is much more reliable.
He really..
To entrust Xiaoxia to this person in the future..
"Let me see it, quickly!" Coach Himegomiya urged Iizuna Sho, while rubbing her hands together incessantly.
Under her repeated urging, Iizuna Sho handed the smartphone to Hinata in front of him without any expression.
Looking at Hinata appearing on the screen, Coach Himegomiya froze for a moment. "Isn't this the little one from Inarizaki? Long time no see. Do you have plans to visit our Itachiyama today?"
Coach Kurosu's face darkened even further, after snorting through his nose twice, he nearly snatched the phone away.
But he still had to endure it, after all.. this was for Xiaoxia.
“Hello, Coach Himegomiya,” Hinata greeted, then, under Coach Himegomiya's confused gaze, tilted the camera downward, “Natsume, say hello to Coach Himegomiya.”
The moment the two orange-headed boys appeared on the screen, the person on the other side clearly froze.
The lack of a response for so long almost made Hinata think the connection had frozen.
But in the very next second, Coach Himegomiya's scream rang out: "Is—is—is this your sister! Hinata!"
Iizuna only said that Inarizaki wanted to recommend a kid whom the national team players were looking forward to, that he wanted to learn volleyball from him; he never said it was a little Hinata Shoyo!
Right now, she didn't want to doubt whether the talent Iizuna mentioned was real or fake; after all, this was the sister of the golden egg he failed to recruit, in terms of genetics, they were clearly cut from the same cloth.
Even if the Hinata family's genetics aren't great when it comes to height, their jumping and running abilities are top-notch.
And.. this is just too cute!
Miya Atsumu remained silent for a few seconds before finally walking over and reaching out, "Just hang up, just hang up.."
Why is this person acting like a pervert! Is this really okay!
Realizing her loss of composure, Coach Himegomiya cleared her throat twice and regained her seriousness: "You're Natsume, right? I'm Himegomiya Satsuki. You can just call me Satsuki-nee."
Iizuna raised a hand to cover his face.
—That's a bit disrespectful!
"Call her Coach Satsuki." In the end, Coach Kurosu added.
This woman, how old is she that she lets a kid with a single-digit age call her sister?
"Hello, Coach Satsuki." Hinata Natsu's expression was also very serious.
Coach Himegomiya, having entered coaching mode, was very serious, asking about everything from age, height, weight to his usual physical fitness test results.
Xiaoxia couldn't quite remember, but Shoyo remembered it very clearly.
After recording everything, Coach Himegomiya nodded in satisfaction. "Bring Itachiyama by after Haruko ends, I'll take a look."
Hinata nodded: "Yes! Coach Himegomiya!"
It looks like Coach Himegomiya is very satisfied with Xiaoxia, so Xiaoxia can go to the national powerhouses in Junior High.
The call was hung up, the phone was placed back into Iizuna's hands, after which the entire bus fell into silence once again.
After a long silence, Amatori gasped, "Why do I feel like Hinata's younger sister might be even more of a monster?"
The key was that her agility might be similar to Hinata's, but this height.. if her nutrition can keep up from now on, she definitely won't be at the same bottom-tier level as her brother.
Hinata felt as if he had been shot in the back, but he still managed to give a big thumbs up: "Xiaoxia is the best!"
On the other side, the moment the call ended, Coach Himegomiya jumped up cheering.
After quickly changing out of her pajamas, she grabbed her coat by the door and was about to rush out of the house.
Watching Himegomiya, who was excitedly preparing to head out in the middle of the night, the person wandering around the living room with a cup of milk was a bit stunned: "Satsuki, where are you going?"
Coach Himegomiya turned his head, revealing a sinister smile: "I'm going to go show off my new little apprentice to Utsunomiya and make him die of envy."
The other party remained silent, ultimately only able to say four words: "Stay safe."
Well, as long as he doesn't get kicked out by an enraged Utsunomiya.
Glancing at Miya Atsumu's unpleasant expression, Amatori leaned in again to add, "Your sister is coming to Itachiyama, so why don't you come too?"
Our coach likes you very much, the previous promise still holds true.
He had heard it from Iizuna—the conditions Coach Utsunomiya and the others had offered Hinata—but unfortunately, the other party did not accept.
Hinata shook his head: "Sorry, senpai, I think I still prefer Inarizaki a bit more."
Coach Kurosu secretly clenched his fist, feeling as if he had won a massive victory.
Hmm, all the coaches outside are bad people!
The bus arrived at the hotel arranged by Haruko near midnight, but the Inarizaki members had arrived a day early, outside the designated time frame, so they had to cover those expenses themselves.
However, the upside was that unlike last time during the National Sports Festival when they arrived late and were left with only double beds.
Unfortunately, this time when the rooms were assigned, Miya Atsumu lost his usual opportunity to snatch up the room cards, because the one he was assigned to share a room with, along with Hinata, was.. Xiaoxia.
The already drowsy Hinata waved goodbye to the Miya Twins in the next room: "Goodnight, Atsumu-senpai and Osamu-senpai."
Xiaoxia also waved back: "Goodnight, Atsumu-senpai, Osamu-senpai."
Silence returned to the hallway.
When Miya Osamu came out after showering, he saw the twins sitting on the bed, contemplating life.
Seeing Miya Osamu come out, Miya Atsumu rubbed his chin and said, "I was thinking.. once Coach Himegomiya and the others arrive, could we let Xiaoxia live with Coach Himegomiya?"
Miya Osamu was almost laughing from anger: "And then you'll just move next door?"
Miya Atsumu blinked. "How did you know?"
Tossing a towel onto Miya Atsumu's face, Miya Osamu sat cross-legged on his bed. "So, why on earth do you insist on living with Shoyo?"
Under Miya Osamu's gaze, Miya Atsumu lowered his head and thought for a full ten minutes.
In the end, he gave a righteous answer: "Because I don't want to live with you."