One day, he will surely stand on that supreme stage.
Coach Kurosu glanced at Hinata beside him and took the initiative to walk toward Coach Utsunomiya, who was currently circling around Coach Himegomiya and Xiaoxia.
I'm asking on Shoyo's behalf.
Utsunomiya looked up and met Kurosu's eyes, which held a hint of earnestness.
He had known Kurosu for over twenty years, this was the first time he had seen him looking at him with such an expression.
Coach Utsunomiya immediately turned serious. "Whatever it is, if it's within my capability, it's no problem."
Since he was asking on Hinata's behalf, it was likely a question regarding volleyball.
Aside from being forcibly bundled into the national team or V1, he could try anything.
Coach Kurosu said simply, "Shoyo has some interest in beach volleyball, so I wanted to ask if you have any opportunities for him to get some experience."
Coach Utsunomiya rubbed his chin. "Beach volleyball, huh.. Central Physical Education University has professional teams and coaches; I can help by making an introduction."
But this season isn't quite right; if he's going to play, he'll have to wait until spring or summer at the earliest.
At this point, Coach Utsunomiya realized an even more serious problem: "Speaking of which.. are you planning to have him switch sports?"
Although he wanted to recruit Hinata, he also recognized his potential development in other sports.
If he were to switch sports, beach volleyball would actually be a good choice.
The sand will significantly limit a player's jumping ability, so many players cannot jump high on sand; conversely, athletes with exceptional jumping ability like Hinata will have a great advantage.
Moreover, because there are only two people on the court, you won't encounter the situation in indoor volleyball where a three-person block shuts everything down. As long as you master the technique, there's absolutely no problem with executing a spike.
Coach Kurosu shook his head. "No, Shoyo just feels that beach volleyball allows you to practice offense and defense simultaneously, making it more well-rounded."
"I see." Coach Utsunomiya was even less surprised.
This was exactly the kind of decision Hinata would make.
After all, he was well aware of this child's love for volleyball, he could also understand his desire to seek out every possible way to become stronger.
He rubbed his chin and took the initiative to suggest, "In that case, I have an idea.."
On the other side, Hinata couldn't hear a single word the two coaches were saying; he could only see that Coach Kurosu, who had been calm, was suddenly struck with shock, looking as if he were saying, "You've lost your mind."
Finally, the two seemed to reach some kind of consensus and ended up sharing a hug.
After all the testing was finished, the Inarizaki members did not stay in Itachiyama for long, they took a bus back to Amagasaki that same afternoon.
After all, having just finished their matches, it wouldn't be possible for either side to schedule a practice match at this time.
And what followed was a short break for everyone to rest.
Miya Atsumu rushed to the Hinata family's front gate on the very first day of the holidays, intending to go to Kobe with Hinata to watch the boy's volleyball match.
But the Hinata family's gate was tightly closed, there was no one inside.
Standing at the gate of the Hinata family for a long time, Miya Atsumu suddenly remembered that Hinata had to return to Sendai.
Wait, he's leaving just like that?
They didn't even say goodbye to him!
The journal will be on sale the day after tomorrow, he was even planning to take Hinata to go camping for the first release once more.
Miya Atsumu fell to his knees.
On the other side, Hinata, who had long since returned to Sendai via Shinkansen, had already walked out of the station.
The moment he came into contact with the cold air of Sendai, he shuddered. "It's so cold."
Winter in Amagasaki was still quite warm; by comparison, it was a bit cruelly cold here in Sendai.
Because he would be returning to the countryside for the next few days, Hinata decisively decided to handle Coach Nekota's important request today.
Tightening his down jacket, Hinata ducked into the fruit shop with the funds for souvenirs sent by Coach Nekota.
Boss! I want the biggest fruit basket!
Coach Nekota's donation was quite generous, he specifically requested to buy his old friend the largest fruit basket in the shop, even specifying that a cat plushie should be included.
Hinata stepped out of the fruit shop carrying a fruit basket that was a third of his size, with the fruit shop owner's bright smile behind him.
“Please come again next time—”
Hinata looked at the map Kenma had meticulously drawn on his phone, trying his best to find the direction of the target hospital.
After locking onto a certain road, he rushed over aggressively, "Alright! It's this way!!"
The boy at the intersection took off his headphones, staring dumbfoundedly at the figure that had already vanished from his sight.
“Shoyo-kun?”
Oikawa Tooru blinked, then raised his hand to rub his eyes.
He felt as if he were hallucinating; otherwise, how could he see Hinata, who should be in Amagasaki?
—And he was all alone.
Wait, alone?!
Oikawa hurriedly pulled out his phone and called Iwaizumi Hajime.
The voice on the other end was somewhat noisy, followed immediately by Iwaizumi Hajime's impatient voice: "You bastard Oikawa, you'd better have something important to say."
Oikawa Tooru said quickly, "I saw Shoyo-kun on the road! You'd better help me ask Bei if they've come out yet."
Iwaizumi glanced at the wedding scene beside them and asked through gritted teeth in a low voice, "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
The green light flashed, Oikawa quickly ran across the intersection, searching for Hinata Shoyo's figure. "I need to go chase after Shoyo-kun, Iwaizumi, help me out here—I need to know if that arrogant Miya Atsumu is there."
"No time, find him yourself." Iwaizumi Hajime hung up the phone ruthlessly.
Oikawa Tooru wailed, "Iwa—izumi—"
Meanwhile, Hinata had already successfully found the hospital where Coach Ukai was located, guided by Kenma's map.
He walked toward the nurse while carrying a large fruit basket. "Hello, I'm here to visit a patient named Ukai. I left a message on the phone earlier; my name is Nekota."
The nurse quickly flipped through the registry in her hands and pointed the way to Hinata. "Mr. Ukai is in room 832, at the end of this hallway on the right side."
"Thank you!" Hinata replied with a smile, then quickly walked in the direction the nurse had pointed.
So nervous, so excited.
Karasuno's Coach Ukai was not the young Ukai he had seen before, but rather the older Ukai, the mentor of the Little Giant!
How should he introduce himself in a moment? Would he be able to hear some stories about Unai-senpai?
Or perhaps be taught some exclusive secret techniques?
Standing still at the hospital room door, Hinata heard the voice of a child from inside.
His mind raced as he thought about how to greet them, his hand hovering in mid-air for a long time without knocking.
Before he could speak, a low but resonant voice came from inside: "Please, come in."
The child's voice followed immediately after.
Is someone knocking?
I didn't hear anything.
Hinata lowered his head slightly to approach the door, reaching out to grasp the handle. "I'm coming in."
As he stepped into the single hospital room, the first thing that caught Hinata's eye was the volleyball sitting on the windowsill.
The elderly man sitting on the hospital bed had his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze fixed on him.
Several children gathered around the hospital bed, looking at him with curious eyes.
Is this one also a student of the coach's?
So tiny, a junior high student?
A somewhat reserved Hinata spoke up proactively, "Hello, Coach Ukai, I am Coach Nekota's.."
I know you, Hinata Shoyo.
Ukai sized Hinata up from head to toe before speaking bluntly.
His eyes held a hint of a smile, his voice was quite relaxed.
Hinata froze for a moment, looking at this renowned coach, who had once produced the Little Giant, with a look of surprise in his eyes.
—It was exactly as he had imagined.
"Just put the things to the side." As Coach Ukai spoke, a slightly older girl had already stood up to take the fruit basket.
The things in his hands disappeared, Hinata Shoyo became even more nervous. "Um.."
Coach Ukai beckoned to him. "Come, let me see you."
Hinata walked up to Coach Ukai's side.
Not knowing what the other person intended to do, he felt a sense of awkwardness and uncertainty.
Ukai looked at him carefully from head to toe, finally letting out a helpless yet somewhat joyful smile.
He said in a low voice, "That guy Nekota.. he wasn't wrong at all.."
Hinata tilted his head in confusion.
Coach Ukai simply waved his hand and patted the seat beside him, signaling Hinata to sit down.
I've seen your matches, the Little Giant of Inarizaki.
The old man's voice was powerful, his tone carrying an undisguised sense of admiration and recognition: "That receive during the Haruko Semifinals was quite beautiful."
Before he even had a chance to sit down, Hinata felt his mind go blank with a sudden boom.
Ah.. he was called the Little Giant by the Little Giant's mentor.
An immense surge of joy rushed from the soles of his feet all the way to his head; he stood there with his mouth agape, the excitement on his face impossible to hide.
The curious child rushed to Coach Ukai's side and asked, "Little Giant? Coach, is this one of your students too?"
Coach Ukai shook his head. "No, this is a player from this year's Haruko national champions. Didn't we watch the Semifinals together a while back?"
Wow! The national champions!