While Hinata went to get more rice, Miya Atsumu went to pick up some more dishes and brought them back to Hinata. "It's a good thing you can eat so much."
Sitting down beside Hinata, he rested his chin on one hand. "But Shoyo, don't go for seconds after you finish this. Eating too much can lead to indigestion. If you're really hungry, I'll go buy you some snacks later, besides, there's still lunch to come."
Hinata nodded in response while stuffing food into his mouth: "Mmph mmmph!"
Miya Atsumu had a smile plastered across his face. "You want to eat Osamu's rice balls? Of course you can."
Hinata's expression instantly turned into one of pure terror, he shook his head frantically. "No, no, no—"
Miya Atsumu laughed loudly. "Yeah, I get it. I'll go help you grab it."
On the other side, Kumagai covered his face with his hands, trembling under Rishia's gaze as if he were trying to suppress his laughter.
Rishia was a bit dazed. "What are you laughing at?"
Kumagai whispered in Rishia's ear, "Shoyo was actually saying, 'He knows, he'll take care of himself,' and then, 'And then he says no, no, no, he can buy it himself.'"
Looking at Miya Osamu's darkened expression, Aran looked at Akagi beside him: "Actually, I think Atsumu just simply wants to bully Osamu."
Poor Shoyo, he's being completely victimized—
On the way to the hotel meeting room, Miya Atsumu tossed the rice ball loot in his hand and said to Osamu, "Since Shoyo wants to eat it, I'm sorry you have to suffer for it."
Fine, he admitted, he had swiped it from Miya Osamu's bag.
But since Osamu's name wasn't written on it, it naturally belonged to him.
Miya Osamu didn't hold back, either, simply kicked him, snatching back the rice ball he had bought to snack on. "You really are a piece of trash."
After pinning Miya Atsumu to the ground, Miya Osamu reached out and grabbed Hinata Shoyo, who was watching the commotion from behind, by the back of his collar. "Shoyo, let's go."
Osamu spoke earnestly, trying to bring the lost youth back to his senses: "He's just a jerk, you absolutely, positively must stay away from him."
“If he lays a hand on you, just call me, I'll help you beat him up.”
Although Hinata felt that Miya Atsumu probably wouldn't hit him, he still nodded in agreement: "Okay."
Seeing that everyone was ready, Coach Kurosu projected the video of Fukurodani that had been compiled yesterday onto the large screen.
The other matches have limited reference value. We'll mainly focus on the match between Fukurodani and Shirabu, as their overall tactics began to undergo large-scale changes starting from there.
The most significant point is the Ace, Bokuto Kotaro, himself.
Hinata nodded.
Indeed, although he couldn't understand exactly what tactical adjustments Fukurodani had made, he could feel that Fukurodani's momentum was even stronger than before.
Especially as the Ace, Bokuto—if you could say he was a star before, he gives off the feeling of a superstar now.
Fukurodani's back-row attacks were previously handled by Mokoba and the others, but now the Ace will also use offensive tactics from outside the front four.
The setter Akaashi is also quite skilled; his height is considered average among setters, even when playing as an attacker, he is definitely not weak.
Additionally, with the all-rounder Mokoba acting as cover, we can't rule out a rotation of setters..
While the Inarizaki members were holding their meeting, the Fukurodani members in another meeting room downstairs were also working on a tactical layout against Inarizaki.
Miya Osamu's form hasn't been great these past few matches, it also proves that not everyone in Inarizaki can run quite like Hinata.
If I had to say, Miya Osamu's tactical role is essentially the same as our Mokoba's, but Miya Osamu's offensiveness is much sharper.
Even though his condition has declined, Inarizaki chose to preserve his stamina in the last match, clearly preparing for today's Finals, so they will inevitably put him in the lineup.
If it were in the previous sets, we would have had to weaken his condition as quickly as possible to try and get him off the court early; that kind of Double Quick is very tricky to handle.
Akaashi Keiji lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before asking directly, "Coach, when it comes to defending against the Quick Attack, Washio-senpai's ability is better than Osamu's. Should we adjust the rotation so that Washio-senpai can mark Hinata or Miya Osamu?"
This kind of adjustment to the block was something Karasuno and Itachiyama had both used before; in essence, it was a forced one-on-one matchup, it all came down to which side would gain the advantage from the trade-off.
Just then, someone in the corner of the meeting room raised their hand, causing everyone to look over.
The boy sitting next to Saru Yamato spoke after receiving permission from Coach Anromi: "In comparison, wouldn't it be a more reasonable arrangement to ensure Fukurodani stays in its strongest period to the maximum extent possible?"
Even though Fukurodani has the coordination of players like Washio and Mokoba, at the end of the day, Bokuto is the only true offensive powerhouse.
Rather than adjusting the rotation and giving up the initiative, the best option would actually be to give up half the court to ensure the offensive intensity of the other half.
Akaashi glanced at the person who spoke, eventually shifting his gaze to Osa Noboru on the opposite side: "Nagi is right, but I think Osamu's ability can also be used to follow up and suppress the Quick Attack."
If the opponent doesn't choose to play with Hinata at the opposite position, we can completely have Washio-senpai mark Aran and leave Hinata to Osamu.
Saru Yamato glanced at his thoughtful younger cousin beside him. "I agree with Akaashi's idea."
Osa is a first-year starter selected by Coach Anromi from among several hundred members of Fukurodani. Even if his experience is limited, it is enough to deal with Hinata, who is also a first-year.
Saru Nagi nodded. "If possible, it would indeed be the best choice."
Having said that, he glanced at Osa Noboru, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
He actually didn't have much opportunity to watch Fukurodani's matches; his only impressions came from a few clips he watched with his cousin. After all, he also had to deal with matters back in Junior High, the position of Captain was currently being handed over.
It was true that both Osa Noboru and Inarizaki's Hinata Shoyo were first years, but Hinata Shoyo's attacks were not something he played all by himself.
Behind him was Miya Atsumu, who had already surpassed a host of Third Year seniors by his Second Year and was on the path to becoming the ultimate Setter.
But it really didn't matter, as long as he could keep up. The other seniors from Fukurodani were responsible for coordinating the blocks, so there wouldn't be any major problems.
Watching Saru Nagi and Akaashi Keiji discuss things together, Coach Anromi felt very gratified.
After Bokuto graduates, Saru Nagi will be the one to take over his position as the Ace, being able to have a mental clash with the future setter is simply wonderful.
Moreover, Saru Nagi has very strong independent thinking skills and is a different type of player compared to Bokuto; Fukurodani's strategy will likely undergo large-scale adjustments.
But.. originally, their starters will only have two people left next year, the rest will all need to be replaced, so this kind of adjustment seems somewhat insignificant.
The pre-match meetings for both sides concluded one after another. After the Women's Volleyball third-place match ended in the morning, both teams arrived at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium by bus to check in.
[Up next is the Haruko High School Volleyball Tournament Men's Finals, a match between Tokyo's second representative, Fukurodani, Hyogo Prefecture's first representative, Inarizaki High School.]
[The match is about to begin.]
Hurry up, hurry up! We're going to be late!
In the corridor leading to the spectator stands, Amatori and Agatsuma were performing a high-speed sprint while pushing the wheelchair.
Meanwhile, Iizuna-senpai, sitting in the wheelchair, felt as if his soul was about to leave his body; he even felt half of his body flying out whenever they took a turn.
"Slow down, slow down! The match hasn't even started yet! There's still the drawing lots for the entrance ceremony!" Iizuna-senpai wailed, but it was of no use.
Ever since Agatsuma got lost in the gymnasium with his crutches yesterday, Amatori has been thinking about getting him a wheelchair.
Before he could even agree, Amatori showed up at his dormitory door this morning with a wheelchair to corner him.
Amatori refused completely: "No, every single step is important; we can't miss it."
In previous finals, they had played in them themselves, but this time they finally had the chance to sit in the stands and watch.
Yeah, this is a rare opportunity! I can't miss a single moment!
After parking the wheelchair outside, Agatsuma and Amatori each carried Iizuna-senpai on their shoulders to their seats.
The others from Itachiyama had already arrived, even the people from Aoba and Ichibayashi nearby were all watching them together.
The rather disheveled Iizuna-senpai was set down and immediately reached out toward Sakusa.
Sakusa understood immediately, pulling a disposable mask from his pocket and handing it to him.
Iizuna-senpai put on the mask, then snatched Inamura's baseball cap and pulled it over his own head.
Help, he really has no face to show anyone..
On the court, Bokuto Kotaro and Kita Shinsuke had already stepped forward to complete the coin toss, it was once again the familiar Inarizaki starting first.
Amatori's expression was contorted: "Help, can Inarizaki just give me a back-row attack to look at.."
This luck is simply terrifying!
In comparison, Aobajohsai, who had been playing catch-up throughout the entire Haruko period, looked absolutely grim!
Oikawa Tooru, who was two rows away from them, tried his best to smile, but he felt a surge of irritation at the thought of Inarizaki's victory.
Sakusa's voice rang out at that moment: "During the National Sports Festival, Iizuna-senpai was a starter."
—It was in Inarizaki's hands.
Then, after a fierce battle lasting three sets, they suffered a glorious defeat.
Watching both coaches submit their rotation sheets for the first set to the Head Referee, Iizuna-senpai felt as if a knife had been plunged into his heart.
Let's not mention this matter again..
He felt like he had used up his entire luck for his third year of high school on that draw, only to end up not only losing, but also suffering an undeserved sprained ankle during Haruko.
Komori pressed down on Sakusa, who was trying to say something else, spoke up proactively: "It's okay, we'll win it back next year."
Amatori grabbed Komori's hand: "Please, go beat those Inarizaki bastards!"
After saying that, he shouted toward the court, "Fukurodani will win!! Tokyo will win!!"
If it were any other school playing against Inarizaki, he might have rationally sided with Inarizaki winning, but as for Fukurodani..
He didn't care; the Tokyo representatives were the strongest, they had to crush those Inarizaki guys into the ground!
[Next, we will introduce the starting players and coaches for both sides.]
[Tokyo's second representative, Fukurodani.]
[Captain, Number 4, Bokuto Kotaro.]
Bokuto jogged past the coach and managers, giving them a vigorous high-five before walking toward the Fukurodani side of the court under the gaze of the entire crowd, while the cheering section behind him erupted into a frenzy.
[Vice-Captain, Number 5, Akaashi Keiji.]
Compared to the cheering Bokuto, Akaashi was much calmer; he simply followed the routine of high-fiving and then jogged over to Bokuto's side.
Amatori remarked with emotion, "That's amazing. Akaashi is a Second Year, right?"
The Second Year Vice-Captain, impressive. However, he felt that Sakusa should also be more reliable than him; if Coach Utsunomiya had given the Vice-Captain position to Sakusa back then, he certainly wouldn't have had any objections.
【Number 2, Washio.】
【Number 3, Saru Yamato.】
As the two entered the court one after another, the cheers from Fukurodani's supporters reached a fever pitch.
Washio looked up and thought for a moment. "Wait, I remember last year's MVP at the Interhigh Junior High.. wasn't his surname also this? Saru?"
Shimizu, beside him, also recalled, "Yeah, I think he was from Fukurodani."