Chapter 214: The Two Hundred and Fourteenth Fox
Looking at the drowsy crowd, Coach Kurosu sighed helplessly.
Coach Omimi went around waking them up one by one: "Rintaro, don't sleep! Aran, you stay awake too!"
Kumagai, who was responsible for stretching Suna, didn't even react, because Suna's flexibility was so incredible that he was now lying motionless on the floor.
If it were Rishia, he would have started wailing long ago at this level of intensity.
Watching Hinata was about to crash into a pillar, Coach Omimi was quick enough to grab him and pull him back: "Shoyo, be careful."
Coach Kurosu clapped his hands. "Everyone, hang in there just a little longer. I've called a bus to pick you up directly at the gym entrance. The food has already been sent to your rooms. Go back, take a good shower, then get some sleep."
"Yes.." everyone replied weakly.
Glancing at all the footage of Fukurodani's matches in the Haruko tournament that had already been sent to his email, Coach Kurosu also felt a headache coming on.
Actually, Fukurodani's overall skill level had always been quite similar to Shiratorizawa's until that point.
But starting from yesterday's match against Shirabu, Fukurodani's overall strategy underwent a mysterious qualitative change.
Judging by the situation in this morning's match, I'm afraid it will be just as thorny as the match against Ichibayashi.
Moreover, Fukurodani's sudden tactical adjustments mean that much of the previous video footage has been reduced to having only technical reference value, many things must be re-studied and re-examined.
Especially the way Fukurodani heavily utilized back-row attacks during their match against Inubushi Higashi this morning.
In addition, Bokuto's tooling the block and his variations between short diagonals and lines are among the best among high school players; combining these different methods is enough to give any blocker a headache.
He and Coach Omimi wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight; just the match footage from today and yesterday would be enough to keep them busy for a long time.
Only after watching everyone finish their stretching did Coach Kurosu feel at ease letting Kita Shinsuke lead everyone back.
He also wanted to go find someone from Itachiyama and, while he was at it, catch a glimpse of the Women's Volleyball match.
Shinzan Girls' tactical play is at the forefront throughout all of Asia, compared to Men's Volleyball, Women's Volleyball leans more towards technical clashes, meaning there is much useful information to be learned.
As for Itachiyama.. that is mainly something that happens after Haruko ends.
Hinata returned to his room alone and eventually lay down on the bed near the door.
Xiaoxia hasn't returned yet; she is watching a Women's Volleyball match with Coach Himegomiya.
The food was right there on the table, but he didn't have much appetite to eat it right now.
To be honest, this is the first time he has played in a match like this.
Even though it was only two sets, even though the opponent's defense wasn't exactly impenetrable, they simply couldn't break through. It had been a frustrating match from start to finish, with every set reaching over thirty points.
The light streaming through the window gradually turned orange as the sun hid behind the high-rise buildings out of his sight, about to sink below the horizon.
Hinata struggled to get up and sat down by the table.
Not replenishing his sugar levels in time would inevitably affect tomorrow's match, he would also feel unwell.
Even though he had no appetite, he still had to finish everything.
—Eating well is also an important task.
Just as Hinata was about to eat with his hands pressed together, there was a sudden knock at the door.
Before Hinata could even get to open it, the sound of a keycard unlocking the door rang out.
A yellow head poked in first, carrying an identical bento dinner to Hinata's.
Seeing Hinata's untouched dinner, Miya Atsumu laughed. "Great, you haven't eaten yet."
“That bastard Osamu, I only took a short nap and he already finished his meal..”
As he spoke, Miya Atsumu placed his food on the table, naturally pulled out another chair, sat down beside Hinata. "Eating is definitely better with someone else, after all."
Hinata froze for a moment, his slightly slow brain only just beginning to process what Miya Atsumu had said.
He nodded. "Yeah, I think so too."
Back at school, he would go to eat with Rishia, while Kumagai usually ate with Tokura and the others.
As for Unabara Uta..
Hinata's chopsticks, which were used for boiling eggs in water, paused for a moment as he used his not-so-bright brain to earnestly recall Unabara Uta's usual activities.
He really doesn't spend much time with them; he must have other close friends..
Miya Atsumu waved his chopsticks in front of Hinata's face: "What are you thinking about?"
Hinata snapped out of his thoughts and continued chewing the food in his mouth. "I was thinking about Unabara; he always seems to be wandering around alone."
During the previous Interhigh, Unabara Uta didn't tour the venues with them; it was said he was going to find his Junior High teammates.
Unabara?" Miya Atsumu's chopsticks paused slightly, he gave a helpless smile. "He went to find his girlfriend.
Someone in the same year as you, from Kuniharu's class, in the brass band.
This time, it was Hinata's turn to be stunned: "Eh? A girlfriend?"
Unabara Uta actually has a girlfriend!!
Seeing Hinata so energized, Miya Atsumu found it even more hilarious: "You actually didn't know? Even Kuniharu told me and me about it before."
He thought that all the first-years would be aware of it, but as it turned out, Hinata was still completely oblivious.
"No, no, no, I was actually worried about him going by himself." Hinata breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Having a girlfriend by his side.. that would be truly wonderful.
He hoped that everyone would have someone lively by their side, because after all, being alone is terrifying.
Hearing this, Miya Atsumu lowered his eyes and smiled.
Staring at Hinata, who was eating seriously, he asked softly, "Is Shoyo envious then?"
Hinata didn't react in time: "What?"
"Girlfriend." Miya Atsumu propped his chin in his hand, carefully observing Hinata's expression.
This time, Hinata's answer was very decisive: "I'm not envious."
He counted on his fingers very carefully: "Usually, I have Heisuke with me, there's also Akuma Unabara, Atsumu-senpai is often with me too, Aran-senpai also often plays volleyball with me.."
Hinata looked up at Miya Atsumu: "Anyway, every single day is fulfilling and happy for me."
He still didn't understand what love was; he only knew that every day of his life now was full of happiness and satisfaction.
To be able to play volleyball happily, with an excellent setter by his side and powerful teammates—this was a life he once could never have dared to dream of.
Miya Atsumu lowered his eyes, appearing to be lost in thought.
A few seconds later, he looked up again. "Then that is enough."
After carefully eating the last grain of rice, Hinata leaned back against the chair. "It's so great that Atsumu-senpai could come."
Xiaoxia probably won't be back until very late; no one has spoken to me at all just now.
Having been used to lively, bustling days, the sudden silence indeed left one feeling quite lost.
—It's also very lonely.
Miya Atsumu smiled very gently. "It's fine, you can call me anytime you want someone to talk to."
Hinata raised his hand, indicating that he knew the answer: "Atsumu-senpai will talk to me on the phone!"
Miya Atsumu, however, gave him a wrong number: "No, I'll come find you."
Setting aside the fact that he was coming out to play a match, although his house was a bit of a distance from the Hinata family, it was still less than a twenty-minute walk, so he could go whenever he wanted.
Hinata's eyes lit up: "Play volleyball together!"
Doesn't that mean he can find Atsumu-senpai to practice with whenever he wants?
Miya Atsumu nodded. "Of course. I'll set as many balls as you want."
Hinata indicated that he knew the answer to this question as well, raising his hand to answer directly: "Because I'm not a ball-clunker anymore, right!"
Hearing this, the smile on Miya Atsumu's face became strained.
After locking eyes with the blinking Hinata for a few seconds, Miya Atsumu reached out and pressed his hand onto Hinata's head, rubbing it vigorously.
Amidst Hinata's pleas for mercy, Miya Atsumu doubled his efforts and started tickling him.
You brat, you really hold a grudge!
Didn't we agree not to bring this up again! I only said one wrong thing, are you really going to hold a grudge for the rest of your life!
Hinata said he could.
The first impression was so profound that it had already formed an indelible memory in his mind.
Perhaps even when he's old and toothless, he will still continue to nag about this matter.
That's right! He's just incredibly spiteful!
—Hinata was absolutely justified.
The two of them made a ruckus from beside the table all the way to the bed, suddenly, there was another knocking at the door.
Atsumu, the Coach said he'd send you—
Seeing that Miya Osamu was the only one in the room, Akagi froze for a moment. "Where's Atsumu?"
Miya Osamu sat back on the bed, replying while snacking on some food he had grabbed from the hotel kitchen, "He went to Shoyo's place."
Akagi looked confused. "What is he doing at Shoyo's place? Discussing tactics?"
Does Miya Atsumu still have the energy to watch the video? Or is he with Hinata?
Coach moved the tactical discussion to tomorrow morning; after all, the morning would be the Women's Volleyball Third-place match, which they didn't need to watch at all, so the free time could be used entirely to focus on preparing for the Finals.
And besides.. can Hinata really understand those advanced tactics?
Miya Osamu shrugged. "No, it's just going to grab a meal with him."
Akagi looked even more confused: "Huh?"
He knew that Hinata's tactics and coordination were essentially based on improvisation and on-the-spot adaptation; pre-match preparation could do very little to help Hinata.
But Hinata isn't a child anymore; does he really need someone to accompany him even while eating?
Osamu's expression remained unchanged: "Xiaoxia hasn't come back yet, right? He's a bit afraid that Shoyo will feel lonely all by himself."