That's amazing!
Ah! I remember now! It's that number 17 who jumps super high and runs super fast!
Hinata struggled to suppress the corners of his mouth, causing his expression to twist slightly.
And right at that moment, the sound of knocking came from behind once again.
Old man, I've brought the players to see you.
Chapter 239: The 239th Fox
Hearing the voice, Hinata turned around and saw the delinquent-looking Karasuno coach he had seen during the training match before.
He had slicked-back blonde hair and a fierce-looking face.
That's right, this coach also shares the surname Ukai. He remembered that Coach Kurosu seemed to have said he was this Coach Ukai's grandson..
Wait, grandson?
Hinata snapped his head around, his eyes staring fixedly at the incoming Ukai Keishin.
He had only just realized that this coach from Karasuno was so young.
The youngest coaches he had an impression of were from Inarizaki and Itachiyama, but even they were at least forty years old.
Ukai Keishin had certainly noticed Hinata by the bedside, he looked a bit bewildered. "You.. what are you doing here?"
That doesn't seem right. He remembered this was Sendai, not Amagasaki. How could someone who just won the national championship a few days ago be here?
Hinata stood up straight. "Um.. Coach Nekota asked me to come over."
Ukai gave a hearty laugh, clearly in a good mood, patted the seat beside him again. "Don't be so nervous, Hinata. Come, sit."
After sitting down, Hinata continued to stare at Ukai Keishin, leaving Ukai Keishin feeling a bit bewildered: "Is there something on my face?"
What's wrong with this kid today? Did he get exhausted from the Haruko tournament?
During Golden Week last year, he didn't even dare to make eye contact with him, but this time his courage has grown significantly.
Hinata shrugged his shoulders, suddenly realizing it wasn't quite right to keep staring at someone like that. "It's just that I suddenly felt like you look very young, Coach."
Upon hearing the words "suddenly," Ukai Keishin felt a sharp ache run down his spine.
He walked up to Hinata and looked him in the eye. "Do I look like some wrinkled middle-aged man to you?"
He was only twenty, a proper young man!
Feeling an intense sense of pressure, Hinata couldn't help but shrink back slightly. "No, no, no—it's just that I hadn't seen your face before, Coach."
At that moment, the two people wearing Karasuno tracksuits also squeezed into the small hospital room.
Enoshita Chikara looked helpless, "Coach, please don't bully them."
Hinata stole a glance at the two people who had just walked in.
—Karasuno's smiling substitute Wing Spiker senior.
Carrying two large bags full of fruit and snacks for the little ones, Kageyama followed behind, bowing honestly to greet them: "Hello, Coach."
Hinata blinked.
Ah, it's Kageyama.
Seeing Hinata here, Kageyama also looked surprised.
The two looked at each other, neither of them speaking, instead waiting for the two elders to exchange words.
Looking at the things that already filled an entire table, the children were quite shocked: "So much!"
Ukai patted the child's head beside him and said, "Share the snacks and then go out to play. Don't run around and cause a ruckus in the hallway."
Okay—
Watching the grandson pull up a small stool to sit down, Ukai asked, "Why have you brought the players here?"
Ukai Keishin replied, "I'm bringing our captain for this year to show you."
Although Karasuno had already undergone its leadership transition in November, they had been busy as well, only after the schedule for these past few days of training matches ended did they have time to come and visit the Old man.
Ukai Keishin quickly peeled an orange, preparing to pop it into his mouth.
Ukai snatched the orange, gave his grandson a glare, then handed it to Hinata beside him.
We have guests here, so why are you starting to eat already?
Hinata, who had been inexplicably handed an orange, looked confused for a second before quickly looking up at Enoshita Chikara.
Enoshita Chikara had already stepped forward to greet Ukai Keishin: "Hello, Coach Ukai, I am Enoshita Chikara."
Ukai was quite satisfied with this candidate: "Once you take over, you must fulfill your responsibilities as Captain properly. The coordination issues for your next generation are still very serious, so I'll have to rely on you."
Enoshita Chikara nodded. "I'll do my best!"
Ukai Keishin turned his gaze toward Kageyama Tobio, who was secretly watching Hinata: "Is the other one your genius Setter?"
Kageyama also bowed to Ukai: "Hello, Coach Ukai, I am Kageyama."
One of the main reasons he applied to Karasuno was because he had heard back then that Coach Ukai would be making a comeback, but he hadn't expected the man to be hospitalized due to health reasons, ultimately missing the chance.
This was the first time he had ever met this coach, who had once led Karasuno to the top eight in the nationals.
Ukai added, "The main reason is that Kageyama has some questions about volleyball he wants to ask you, Old man."
Ukai glanced at the very calm Kageyama. "Oh? You have questions you want to ask?"
Although he hadn't seen this year's Karasuno matches in person, he had watched the previous match footage against Aobajohsai.
Of course, he also had a deep impression of Kageyama, who acted as the team's commander.
Kageyama nodded. "Yes, I'd like to ask you about some issues regarding back-row attack coordination and spiker cooperation."
This visit was essentially his own suggestion.
Sugawara Koushi has already gone to focus entirely on preparing for his exams, hasn't come to the club for several weeks.
After Tanaka-senpai rotated back to the left wing, Narita became the starting Middle Blocker, but many members lack sufficient experience, causing their coordination to be quite slow.
Karasuno's lineup for this year's Interhigh will depend on the situation with the freshmen, but as the setter, he cannot allow himself to stagnate because of that.
Ukai crossed his arms over his chest and said, "He's your player, isn't he? If there's a problem you can't solve, why are you bringing him to me?"
And how did he remember that this brat was a Setter himself?
Ukai Keishin protested, "It's mainly a technical issue, also because there are many new playing styles internationally.."
Kageyama didn't know the things he wanted to learn, otherwise he wouldn't have had to come to the Old man.
Hinata raised his hand immediately, shaking it vigorously in front of Coach Ukai: "Coach, Coach! I have questions too!"
Looking at Kageyama on one side and Hinata on the other, Ukai, who was in a very good mood, simply threw off the blanket. "Come on, then let's head to the court."
Ukai Keishin stood up abruptly. "Didn't the doctor say you need to rest?"
Ukai waved his hand, dismissing his grandson. "I'm not that fragile. Staying in this hospital room day after day, my body is going to get stiff."
He actually could have been discharged the day before yesterday, but his son insisted that he stay for a few more days to monitor the situation.
Let's go, we're going to a nearby indoor gym." Ukai Keishin was the first to put on his clothes and prepare to head out, then he looked at Ukai Keishin, "You come along too. Kageyama, you have to learn this as well.
These were originally the coach's responsibility; it's fine if he can't do it after only one year, but he will have to learn it sooner or later.
Hinata cheered, "Yay! We're going to play!"
Before walking out, he also returned the eight oranges to Ukai Keishin.
"Let's go, let's go." Enoshita Chikara also rubbed his hands together.
He had never played as a regular, his experience in official matches was practically zero; suddenly taking over as Captain left him feeling somewhat lost and panicked.
But.. thinking about the Kita Team from Inarizaki, he actually managed to relax.
Indeed, he couldn't be like Sawamura-senpai, someone as steady as a rock on the court.
But he could become the kind of person who supports the team and creates great conditions for all the juniors.
—I'll ask this little one from Inarizaki in a bit.
The group entered the elevator, Hinata immediately crowded close to Kageyama's side. "Kageyama, have you watched the video of our match yet?"
He tilted his head back, a look of wanting to show off on his face.
Kageyama nodded. "I've already seen them all. They're incredible."
Atsumu-senpai's tosses had reached an inhuman level several times; he had even seen such high-difficulty tosses on professional courts in Japan.
As expected of High School's Best Setter, he is someone truly worth learning from.
Hinata gave a light cough and began to act all high and mighty: "I'm a starter for the national champions now."
Kageyama tried hard to think of something, but in the end, he only said, "Yeah, it's very impressive."
After enjoying Shiratori's flowery praise, Hinata suddenly felt that Kageyama was not only clumsy with words, but also extremely lacking in vocabulary.
Hinata expressed his dissatisfaction: "You're being so perfunctory."
Kageyama's temple throbbed, he looked at Hinata with a sour expression. "Don't push your luck."
Hinata was shocked: "See! So you do know how to use words!"
So it's not that you simply don't know any words to use when praising others, is it! You can't go on like this!
Enoshita Chikara couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Pfft."
The two coaches also held the same attitude of watching the scene unfold, regarding the two of them and their mindless banter.
In fact, Kageyama, who had been criticized by Tsukishima many times before, raised his hand and pressed down on Hinata's head: "No one is going to treat you like a mute if you don't talk."
The elevator doors opened, Coach Ukai and the other coach were the first to step out, followed by Kageyama, who used his long legs to exit the elevator as well.
Hinata clung to the elevator doors, watching Kageyama's back as he began to mutter, "Why is he so grumpy? He doesn't even toss the ball to me properly and just makes a sour face. Is being tall so great.."
Atsumu-senpai might be mean, but his personality is okay, his skills are great, Atsumu-senpai is taller!
Enoshita Chikara reached out and patted Hinata's back: "It's Kageyama's fault. I'll go back and talk to him."