Iizuna said in a low voice, "Be careful, don't let Miya Atsumu see."
Although he was one of the main spectators for Komori and the others when they spread those memes of Miya Atsumu during that year, he wasn't the mastermind after all; when the time comes, even if Miya Atsumu wants to take revenge, he won't be able to pin it on him.
Agatsuma Soushi nodded very seriously, etching those words firmly into his heart.
The match between the Tachibana Red Falcons and the Izumo Hornets on the court was exceptionally intense. The score in every set was neck and neck, with no one able to pull ahead for a long time; they were carving out a path to victory through a grueling battle, point by point.
Before this, the Tachibana Red Falcons themselves had experienced a decline in strength due to the injury of their former core setter, even losing many matches they shouldn't have during last year's V1 League.
Their fans even believed at one point that their performance this year would inevitably slump, as everyone was waiting for Kito's recovery and return.
But the Tachibana Red Falcons' coaching staff gave them such a huge surprise at the beginning of the year.
An ace who was the core of a team that achieved two-time champions at both the Haruko and the National Sports Festival, a setter who, in just two or three short months, had already integrated with the team and could even control every player as he pleased.
Even though the Tachibana Red Falcons official club had already announced that Oikawa Tooru was a short-term player, for the Tachibana Red Falcons, who were currently in a slump without a commander, Oikawa Tooru's appearance was their only hope.
The Tachibana Red Falcons fans screamed at the top of their lungs, "Go for it—!"
Aran stepped forward quickly, while shouting loudly for the setter's toss: "Oikawa! Give me the ball!!"
After receiving the ball, Oikawa Tooru quickly made a feint toward Position 4, but then instead sent the ball at an almost vertical angle to the player in Position 2 behind him.
The Middle Blocker, who had already jumped over there, followed up decisively, a beautiful line shot allowed the Tachibana Red Falcons to take the final point.
The score jumped to Tachibana Red Falcons 25:23 Izumo Hornets at this moment, with the overall score at 3:1.
The Libero, who had just scrambled up from the floor after a counterattack, rushed toward everyone with a cheer, "Great job, Aran! Nice fake by Oikawa! Great cover by Aran!"
The Izumo Hornets' coach sighed, saying with a hint of melancholy, "I'm so jealous.."
Where is his setter? Where is his new setter!
He couldn't possibly squeeze another four years out of an old employee who was already thirty and preparing to retire to take care of his children!
The Izumo Hornets Head Coach, who had never attended university and had transitioned from being an athlete, lamented, "What's so great about going to university? It would be much better to just play volleyball directly!"
Iizuna! His Iizuna Sho! Why wouldn't he play volleyball!
University lasts for a full four years! Where else would he find a Setter who fits his team so perfectly?
The other coach beside him worked hard to come up with suggestions: "Look back at the V2 League, or ask around to see if any team has someone looking to transfer.. or maybe we should scout abroad?"
After the match between the Tachibana Red Falcons and the Izumo Hornets concluded, the first round of matches on the morning of the first day came to an end.
The official tickets sold for the tournament are divided into four rounds per day, with each round consisting of two matches, making it convenient for fans of various teams to selectively purchase tickets and arrange their remaining time.
The crowds around him were gradually leaving the arena, leaving behind mostly those who had obtained all-access passes through other channels.
Carrying a water bottle, Oikawa Tooru, having finished his match, wandered up to the second floor of the home team stands.
Aran glanced sideways at him, his face full of a mischievous grin, for a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Seeing Hoshiumi and Hirugami from a distance, Oikawa Tooru immediately quickened his pace and sat down on the steps of the aisle beside the two of them.
He looked up at Hoshiumi sitting in the chair and gave himself a big thumbs-up: "Hoshiumi, how did I do?"
Hoshiumi, who had intentionally sent a message to Oikawa Tooru, understood exactly what he was saying without needing it to be explicitly stated.
He gave Oikawa Tooru a thumbs up. "Impressive."
Aran looked down at Miya Atsumu, who had his back turned to them, then looked at the laughing Oikawa Tooru and Hoshiumi Hikari, fell completely silent.
In a great mood, Oikawa Tooru handed the borrowed camera to Hoshiumi Hikari: "Come on, come on, no time to lose, let me take a selfie."
Hoshiumi understood exactly what Oikawa Tooru wanted to do, so he specifically adjusted the zoom on the camera, ensuring that the view of Miya Atsumu's back in the background and Oikawa Tooru's large head and peace sign were equally clear.
The flash went off instantly, the sound of the shutter was quite noticeable even in this somewhat quiet Volleyball Hall.
Feeling a chill run down his spine, Miya Atsumu whipped his head around, coming face-to-face with the phone Iizuna was holding up.
He looked up in a daze, only to see Hoshiumi and the others at the edge of the second floor taking several consecutive photos of him.
A series of question marks popped up over Miya Atsumu's head, immediately after, he felt his vision go black.
——In the physical sense.
Iizuna, suddenly caught in the act of livestreaming, became flustered for a moment, attempting to shove his phone into his pocket.
As for Agatsuma, holding onto what Iizuna had just said—"Don't let Miya Atsumu see"—he decisively stood up and threw the tournament cheering towel he had purchased from his backpack, covering Miya Atsumu's head with precision.
Iizuna was startled: "What are you doing?!"
Agatsuma blinked, looking a bit dazed. "Don't let him see.."
“Hahahaha—!”
Wild laughter from Hoshiumi Hikari erupted from above, followed immediately by him delivering ten rapid-fire serves at Miya Atsumu.
Since there weren't many spectators in the arena right now and everyone nearby was an acquaintance, Hoshiumi and Oikawa Tooru laughed loudly together.
Hahahaha, Miya Atsumu, is this some kind of cutting-edge fashion look of yours?
A super masked handsome guy? Hahaha—that's so funny!
Miya Atsumu clenched his fists, then suddenly ripped the towel off his face: "You guys.. don't push it too far!"
The culprit, Agatsuma Soushi, blinked, just as he was about to apologize, he was held back by Iizuna.
Iizuna tried his best to lower his presence, attempting to make himself disappear from Miya Atsumu's line of sight.
But unfortunately, the laughter of Amatori Toru coming from the phone completely exposed them.
“Hahahahaha—what on earth is all this!”
Iizuna sighed, "Help me.. I'm never getting involved in this kind of thing again.."
He only mentioned it to Amatori, then Amatori made him do a live video call, even Komori joined in.
Iizuna-senpai and Agatsuma-senpai!
Hinata's eyes widened, then he looked toward the people on the second floor with a face full of pleasant surprise: "Hikari-kun and Hirugami-senpai!"
Glancing at the pale-faced Hoshiumi Hikari, the red-faced Iizuna Sho, the dark-faced Owari Aran, Miya Atsumu felt a lump get stuck in his throat.
Finally, he turned his head and threw himself onto Shoyo, wailing loudly, "Shoyo—they're all bullying me!!"
Hinata felt a weight press down on him; because he had just stood up, the pressure from Miya Atsumu nearly made him lose his balance.
He reached out to pat Miya Atsumu's back, chiming in, "Exactly, exactly! That's so mean!"
“I'm here, so don't be afraid, Atsumu-senpai!”
In a place where Hinata couldn't see, Miya Atsumu made a peace sign and turned to the others behind him, flashing a provocative smile.
As for being photographed with unflattering pictures, he had almost become immune to it after more than two years of Suna's torment. In any case, it didn't matter if he lost these few shots; just a moment ago, his face had even been covered, so he could just pretend it was Osamu who was being photographed unflatteringly.
The key issue now is.. he's going to make those guys suffer!
Look! Shoyo is on his side!
He wins! He wins big!
Oikawa Tooru frowned, his expression turning sour. "How shameless, this person.."
Hoshiumi let out a heavy click of his tongue, decisively pulled out his phone, took a photo of the camera screen, then sent it directly to Miya Atsumu.
The phone in his pocket vibrated. Miya Atsumu froze for a second, thinking it was some important message, quickly pulled out his phone to take a look.
What appeared before his eyes was Oikawa Tooru's large face and a peace sign, with his silhouette in the background.
Wait.. what is written on his clothes?!
Miya Atsumu's expression stiffened as he hurriedly enlarged the image, struggling to make out the small line of text beneath the three large characters for Oikawa Tooru on his back.
—Oikawa-sama's serve is the coolest.
The moment he saw clearly, Miya Atsumu shouted without a second thought, "That's nonsense! My serve is the coolest!!"
Atsumu suddenly realized that those words were directed right at him, he instantly felt like his shirt was burning.
Of all times, the team for the next match had already arrived early to see the Volleyball Hall.
A gentle voice sounded in their ears: "Atsu-kun, are you collecting autographs?"
Another voice followed immediately after: "Signatures? Does Atsu-kun want signatures? Coach just designed one for me, let me sign it for you!"
Natsume-senpai and Bokuto-senpai?
Miya Atsumu clutched his clothes to his chest, taking several steps back to reject the two men's unreasonable behavior. "Go away, go away! I'm not signing! Are you two professionals? Have you no shame?"
Shiratori shrugged his shoulders: "What a shame.."
Before Hinata, whose attention had already been captured by the plushie in Bokuto's hands, could say anything, Miya Atsumu had already grabbed him by the back of his collar: "No, I'm going to change my clothes."
Hinata reached out toward Shiratori, but he was still ruthlessly dragged away.
It wasn't until their view changed from the Volleyball Hall to a corridor that Hinata raised a very serious question: "Atsumu-senpai, neither of us has any extra clothes right now, nor do we have any jackets."
Although it wasn't June yet, the temperature in Osaka had already risen to twenty-seven or twenty-eight degrees due to the airflow over the last few days, so they had only come wearing short sleeves.
Miya Atsumu also stopped in his tracks.
Great, the Black Eagle Flag T-shirt stall is on the other side of the entire Volleyball Hall, because of the partitioned ticket gates, there is no direct path through the middle; to get there, one would have to walk all the way around the outside.
Atsumu looked at the short-sleeved shirt he was wearing, which was already covered in a bunch of signatures, then looked at the loose-fitting black short-sleeved shirt on Hinata, his eyes instantly lit up.
About ten minutes later, Hinata's voice drifted out from the restroom closest to the entrance of the spectator stands.
“It's so big.. Is this really going to work?”
Hinata tugged at the shirt of Miya Atsumu he was wearing, lifting his hands in an attempt to save the garment that was sliding down due to the massive difference in their shoulder widths.
But there are so many professional players' signatures on it, wearing it feels so wonderful..
Realizing that Miya Atsumu was taking a long time to come out, Hinata froze for a moment before raising his voice to ask, "Atsumu-senpai? Are you ready?"
A voice from inside the stall belonged to Miya Atsumu: "Wait a second.."
Not long after, the stall door was pushed open, Miya Atsumu walked out from inside, saying, "That's that."
The moment Hinata saw him, he froze, having been in the middle of struggling to fix his clothes.
He opened his mouth slightly, involuntarily taking a step back.
“Atsu-kun, Atsu-kun, Atsu-kun-senpai?!” Hinata's voice cracked, but his eyes could not move away from Miya Atsumu.
The clothes he wore were already somewhat loose, but on Miya Atsumu, they became completely tight, making the contours of his muscles clearly visible against the black fabric.