Looking at Hinata's face beside him, which was beaming as if he had just successfully survived a tribulation, Miya Atsumu couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
Hinata turned his head to look at him. "Then should we go straight back now?"
The temperature in Tokyo was still very low in January, so the Inarizaki members couldn't wait outside for the two of them forever.
So, after confirming that Miya Atsumu would stay behind to accompany Hinata, Coach Kurosu led the team back to the hotel ahead of them.
So at this moment, only the two of them were still crouching by the entrance.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium had already closed, the bustling atmosphere of the daytime had cooled down once again, waiting for the sun to reignite the next day.
Miya Atsumu was the first to stand up. "Shoyo, are you tired?"
Hinata shook his head: "I was exhausted right after the match, but I feel alright now."
Miya Atsumu made a decision: "Then let's walk back slowly."
Coach Kurosu had actually given him enough money to take a taxi.
However, it wasn't far from the hotel, taxis were too expensive; it would be better to save the money and let Hinata eat more yakiniku later.
Yeah, secretly.
Coach Kurosu said he would treat everyone to yakiniku and okonomiyaki once they returned, but it was estimated that it would be a long time before then.
After all, they were going to Itachiyama tomorrow and would be staying there for several days.
So.. it wouldn't be out of the question for them to sneak out to eat ramen with chashu beef rice.
Walking slowly under the streetlights, Miya Atsumu wondered what he would do during the upcoming long holiday.
If Hinata goes back to his hometown, then some of the coordination drills won't be possible, so he should use this time to further refine his serve.
Once the seniors retire, they probably won't return to the club, the jerseys will need to be reissued as well. I just don't know who Coach Kurosu plans to appoint as the next Captain.
—It couldn't be Osamu, could it?
That wouldn't do; he certainly didn't want Osamu managing him every single day.
If it were like that, he would definitely protest, unless.. unless they made him the Vice-Captain.
However, speaking of which, there was another matter that was a real headache.
Their lineup after that was neither particularly good nor particularly bad.
But after Aran and Akagi graduated, the only person left with excellent receiving skills was Miya Osamu.
Unabara Uta's performance in these last few matches has been nothing more or less than mediocre.
He was decent enough when facing opponents with only a single ace, but during regular intra-team scrimmages, it was obvious that he struggled to keep up when faced with complex situations.
Next is the Middle Blocker; Ginjima's height and blocking skills are actually quite average, so changing his rotation was a helpless choice.
Without Oori-senpai there, Suna could only cover half the court.
But in truth, neither of these two problems was difficult to solve; they simply required time.
Unabara Uta, Rishia, Hinata all lack experience, the Middle Blocker successors they are cultivating have not yet fully formed.
Miya Atsumu wanted to ask about Tokura's recent status, but just as he lowered his head, he met Hinata's eyes, which were shining brightly under the streetlights.
Hinata's gaze was very serious, as if he were observing something.
The words got stuck in his throat, Miya Atsumu called out Shoyo's name in a low voice: "Shoyo?"
Looking at him like that.. he really won't be able to help himself.
Having been caught, Hinata quickly averted his gaze and looked down at his shoes.
After organizing his thoughts, Hinata looked back at Miya Atsumu: "Atsumu-senpai, you look exceptionally cool today."
Whether it was his decisive and resolute setting during the match, his serves that ignited the entire stadium, his overflowing confidence before and after the game, or even the way he looked just now while thinking seriously..
All of it made him feel unable to look away, he found himself drawn in without even realizing it.
Miya Atsumu's footsteps faltered slightly, his gaze involuntarily drifted upward.
After struggling with himself and trying hard to suppress the corners of his mouth, he finally gave up.
He curled his lips into a smile filled with almost overflowing joy and pleasure, lowering his head to look at Hinata with extreme seriousness.
“Then, did Shoyo feel it?”
Hinata froze for a moment, unable to process what Miya Atsumu was saying at first: "What?"
Miya Atsumu closed the distance between himself and Hinata once again.
Two hundred percent of me.
Hinata felt his mind go blank for a moment.
Even though the temperature was very low right now, he didn't know if it was because of the warmth of Miya Atsumu's breath, but it made him feel like his face was burning.
He locked eyes with Miya Atsumu, seeing his complete self reflected in the other's eyes.
For some reason, he suddenly remembered the words Miya Atsumu had said to him during the match, words he had once said to Miya Atsumu as well.
“Atsumu-senpai.” Hinata called out his name.
"Hmm?" Miya Atsumu responded immediately.
Hinata made a request: "Can I have your hand?"
Miya Atsumu happily agreed, extending his right hand toward him. "Sure."
By grasping Miya Atsumu's hand, Hinata could clearly feel the calluses on the other's fingers.
And it was these very hands that had sent him countless balls during matches that could only be described as miracles.
A sensation of being gently stroked came from his palm, the Setter's already sensitive hands only amplified this feeling.
Miya Atsumu couldn't control himself and grabbed Hinata's hand.
Hinata froze for a moment: "Atsumu-senpai?"
Atsumu didn't let go. "Sorry, it's a bit itchy."
Hinata didn't mind either, instead looking up to meet Miya Atsumu's gaze with an incredibly solemn expression.
I received them, every single one of Atsumu-senpai's tosses was absolutely perfect.
So.. are you satisfied with my performance, Atsumu-senpai?
Miya Atsumu rubbed Hinata's fingers in his hands.
“Of course, my Ace.”
For some reason, Hinata suddenly felt that Miya Atsumu's gaze stung him slightly.
That gaze was far too intense and far too serious, leaving him feeling somewhat at a loss.
Just then, something cold landed on his eyelashes.
Hinata looked up and saw snowflakes drifting down under the light of the streetlamps.
His attention was quickly drawn away: "Ah, it's snowing."
Miya Atsumu also looked up, looking slightly surprised. "It really is."
Hinata said decisively, "Then we need to walk a bit faster, or we might catch a cold if we get soaked."
Without even waiting for Miya Atsumu to answer, Hinata grabbed Miya Atsumu's hand and pulled him forward.
Miya Atsumu was being led by him, after a brief moment of daze, he felt that something was very wrong.
“Wait, wait, wait, I can't run anymore—!”
“Slow down!!”
Chapter 236: The Two Hundred and Thirty-Sixth Fox
I can't.. I really can't..
A voice as faint as a thread drifted from the street, an unidentified creature was crouching amidst the already accumulated snow.
Miya Atsumu's face was pale, his soul had practically left his body, he felt as if his life were nearing its end.
Shoyo shook his hair, skillfully brushing the snow off.
Then he crouched down right next to Miya Atsumu, cheering him on.
“Atsumu-senpai, we'll be there once we walk just a few more steps past the intersection ahead!”
Glancing at the empty street, Hinata tentatively suggested, "How about I carry Atsumu-senpai on my back?"
Miya Atsumu looked up, while Hinata had already moved in front of him and crouched down, gesturing for him to climb on.
Although his pride felt a slight sting, his stalled brain still drove Miya Atsumu to move closer.
In the next second, the startled cries of both people rang out simultaneously.
Ah!
Ouch!
Hinata, who had just played four full days of matches, had completely overestimated his current state.
He was completely unable to steady himself against the sudden onslaught of a truckload of volleyballs, the two of them tumbled one after another into a nearby flowerbed that was already covered in a thick layer of snow, making for quite a lively scene for a moment.
Hinata, who had just taken a mouthful of snow face-first, clutched his nose, while Miya Atsumu struggled to crawl up, a tree branch and several dead leaves still stuck to the top of his head.
Hinata lay flat on the ground.
After the match ended, the spirit he had been maintaining through sheer excitement vanished in an instant, endless exhaustion and drowsiness washed over him.
Looking at Miya Atsumu, who had already stood up in his field of vision, Hinata reached out to him. "Atsumu-senpai, I don't want to move anymore."
Miya Atsumu found it hilarious. "Aren't you still going to carry me?"
Hinata was a bit embarrassed and angry: "It's just that Atsumu-senpai is too heavy. I can definitely carry Xiaoxia."
Atsumu stood there with his hands on his hips, looking down at Hinata, who refused to get up: "Then shall I perform a transformation technique for you?"
Seeing Hinata turn his head away, Miya Atsumu stopped teasing him and leaned down slightly, reaching out a hand toward him. "Alright, alright, I'll just carry you back on my back, okay?"