He changed his wording: "I.. forgot to bring my toiletries."
Hinata blinked, looking a bit puzzled. "Atsumu-senpai can use mine."
He glanced sideways; the bag Miya Atsumu was carrying was the one they used when they went to Tokyo for Haruko, so it should.. have everything they need, right?
Miya Atsumu's expression looked even more strange.
This bag had been sitting by the door since he brought it back a few days ago. He used the hair gel inside this morning, so he had taken out the separate toiletry bag.
Coming to Sendai was a sudden, impulsive decision, so he had just grabbed this bag containing his clothes, completely forgetting his toiletries.
In the end, Miya Atsumu still said, "Hmm.. it's just that you forgot to bring your hair styling products."
Hinata had an epiphany: "That really won't work. I don't think my house has anything like hairspray, but I did buy that hair dryer Atsumu-senpai recommended before."
Miya Atsumu breathed a sigh of relief.
Buying a hairdryer on the spot wasn't very realistic; it was wonderful that the Hinata family had one that worked.
The shopping streets around Karasuno should all be closed by this time, I wonder if Coach Ukai's shop sells them..
Hinata thought seriously, "The subway hasn't stopped running yet at this hour. Can we go to the nearest station and then head to a convenience store in the city center?"
It's not even eight in the evening yet; the last subway in this area doesn't run until nearly ten, so there's plenty of time.
Miya Atsumu's eyes lit up. "No, there should be a convenience store near the subway station. Let me check the map."
Directly navigating to the nearest convenience store chain and large supermarket, the search results quickly appeared on Miya Atsumu's phone.
Taking a look at the distance, Miya Atsumu breathed a sigh of relief.
Only two kilometers; he would arrive in no time.
However, getting back to the Hinata family later would be a problem; the roads in both directions were exactly opposite..
Hinata looked up at the navigation: "Oh, it's not that far."
A very bad premonition flashed through Miya Atsumu's mind for a moment, but it was already too late for him to interrupt Hinata's next words.
Then let's run there, Atsumu-senpai.
Hinata looked up, his eyes shining with excitement under the streetlights.
Without even waiting for Miya Atsumu's agreement, Hinata Shoyo had already rushed out. But after running a few steps, he retreated back.
He cast a confused look toward Miya Atsumu. "Atsumu-senpai, I don't know the way."
Miya Atsumu sighed.
Having memorized the route, he shoved his phone into his pocket and then took the lead, running in the opposite direction from where Hinata had just sprinted: "Fine, fine, fine, let's go."
Hinata fell silent for a second, then took a few quick steps to catch up. "Then let's race to see who's faster!"
Miya Atsumu couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Then I'll definitely win."
Hinata disagreed: "That's impossible! During the testing at Itachiyama, my sprinting and long-distance running results were both better than Atsumu-senpai's!"
Moreover, when we went for a morning run at his house before, he and Heisuke won!
Atsumu laughed, looking a bit helpless. "How could that be? You don't even know your way around; I was definitely the first one there."
Hinata fell silent.
After a long time, he looked up at Miya Atsumu, his expression looking extremely pitiful.
Miya Atsumu silently quickened his pace, the two of them practically bolted through the entire Karasuno shopping district.
Coach Ukai, who had returned to the Sakano-shita Store a step ahead, was a bit bewildered; he poked his head out only to see the backs of the two people as they disappeared at the end of the street.
He was a bit bewildered: "What's going on?"
Meanwhile, Hitoka Yachi, who was on her way home, only felt a gust of wind whistling past her ears as two dark figures rushed forward at full speed, bypassing her and charging into a convenience store not far from her house.
Thinking she had seen a ghost, she shrank her neck and hurried her pace, wanting to make it to the stairwell quickly.
But a loud shout immediately followed from behind, "Yes! I got everything I needed to buy!"
Hitoka Yachi shrank back in fear as she looked back, seeing Hinata standing outside the convenience store with his hands on his hips, Miya Atsumu following him out, carrying a shopping bag.
Miya Atsumu had a faint smile on his lips, with his head lowered, he seemed to be saying something to Hinata before handing a small bag to Hinata.
Hinata was a little surprised and delighted, then pulled a roasted chicken leg out from inside.
Noticing her gaze, Hinata, who still had sauce on the corner of his mouth from a bite of the chicken leg, turned his head to look at her.
After his brain worked at high speed, Hinata successfully retrieved her name from his memory: "Hitoka Yachi?"
She was the Karasuno manager who had acted as a referee for them before, she had even shaken hands with him before!
Hitoka Yachi shouted, "Present!"
Hinata stepped across the crosswalk without hesitation and rushed straight up to Hitoka Yachi. "This is.. the free gift from the convenience store just now. Yachi-san, you probably haven't eaten dinner yet, have you?"
He handed the small dessert, a free gift from reaching the minimum purchase amount at the convenience store, to Hitoka Yachi, then said goodbye to her and turned to head back to Miya Atsumu's side.
The whole process was incredibly fast, Hitoka Yachi didn't even have time to react.
The two of them arrived in a hurry and left just as quickly, giving Hitoka Yachi no chance to say goodbye.
Hitoka Yachi peeked at the two people's backs, but unexpectedly collided with a pair of eyes.
She immediately felt a chill run down her spine and hurriedly pulled back, no longer looking in that direction.
So dangerous.
That blonde-haired senpai is dangerous.
She knew the national champions couldn't be anything but trouble!
But..
On the way upstairs, she suddenly recalled some of the scenes she had seen today.
—That senpai's gaze when looking at Hinata was very gentle.
On the way back, the two slowed their pace.
Hinata had already called his parents to let them know he would be home late, hearing that Miya Atsumu was there too, the two of them felt relieved.
Miya Atsumu looked at the shopping bag in his hands. "What a shame, this brand of facial cleanser isn't the one I always use, but it'll do for now."
Hinata blinked. "But it felt like Atsumu-senpai was very decisive when he took it."
It seemed that after confirming it wasn't the one he used, he decisively took this one, without even looking at the others.
“……” Miya Atsumu remained silent.
After a long time, he finally said, "Because this should be very useful."
“Should?” Hearing that phrasing, Hinata was also stunned for a moment. “Oh, Atsumu-senpai, you've seen the reviews, haven't you?”
"Yeah, that's true." Miya Atsumu's expression became even more strange.
Actually, that's not the case.
He only uses this because Oikawa Tooru uses it, so at least the quality is guaranteed.
Of course, he carefully selected a flavor different from Oikawa Tooru's; personally, he preferred something a bit more refreshing.
However, Hinata didn't need to know any of those reasons.
After crossing two mountain peaks along the highway, the two finally arrived at the town where the Hinata family lived.
This was also the first time Miya Atsumu had visited the Hinata family's house in this area; geographically speaking, it was indeed closer to Shiratorizawa.
—At the very least, it saves you from crossing a mountain.
Pushing open the gates of the Hinata family home, the two were met by a pouting Xiaoxia.
Hinata had separated from his family in the morning and didn't return until long after dark, Xiaoxia was the most dissatisfied of them all.
She narrowed her eyes, glanced at her brother, then decisively locked onto a certain uninvited troublemaker.
Miya Atsumu waved at her, his expression friendly and gentle.
But Xiaoxia remained unmoved, looking even angrier.
Atsumu knelt down in front of Hinata Natsu and reached out to rub her head, which was fluffy after being washed and dried.
It's already very late, Xiaoxia. You should have finished your cartoons by now; it's time for bed.
Hinata Shoyo also chimed in, "I bought you something delicious; you can eat it when you wake up tomorrow."
Xiaoxia was still very angry: "Hmph!"
Hinata Natsu was coaxed back to Hinata's mother by the two of them in the living room, while the two quickly grabbed a bite to eat before heading off one after another to take showers and prepare for rest.
Although climbing and running were the most physically demanding activities of the day, the temperature outside was very low, making a hot bath upon returning quite comfortable.
When Miya Atsumu came back after drying his hair, he saw Hinata curled up under the covers, sending messages on his phone.
He sat down on the tatami mat beside Hinata and leaned over curiously. "Who are you chatting with?"
It couldn't be that obnoxious setter from Nekoma again, could it?
That guy is so heartless; he never wants to play against Nekoma again for the rest of his life.
—It felt like the torture of being cut alive.
Hinata answered quickly, "Suna-senpai."
After saying that, he turned his phone screen toward Miya Atsumu, showing him the video link Suna had sent him: "Supposedly, it's a highlight reel of us from Haruko, edited by some fans."
Miya Atsumu was somewhat pleasantly surprised. "This is good! In the last one they edited, I looked incredibly handsome."
His phone, which he had placed on the table, vibrated once; Miya Atsumu reached out to grab it and found it was also from Suna.
Opening the chat interface, Atsumu also found a link.
His phone was a touchscreen smartphone, so he could click the link directly.
Then.. his own face appeared on the smartphone screen, but with a rather hideous expression.
It seemed to be the part where he failed his block, which had been captured by the video camera.
Before Hinata could look over, he snapped his phone shut.
He acted as if nothing had happened: "It's nothing, just some match highlights."