Unabara didn't know what else to say: "If you're not sure, why don't you just ask him yourself?"
Ultimately, it was because Atsumu-senpai was so unreliable; that kind of personality—where he could call someone a ball trash upon their very first meeting and was rumored to have called his Junior High teammates useless—was something anyone would have to question.
No, no, no, if you really want to put it that way.. Shoyo, who could fall for Atsumu-senpai even like this, is also quite terrifying.
But.." Hinata pursed his lips, "If Atsumu-senpai doesn't have any feelings for me, it wouldn't be very polite of me to suddenly bring this up, would it?
What if he gets a harsh rejection and causes Atsumu-senpai to dislike him? What if Atsumu-senpai refuses to set for him after that!
Even though Akuma was still there, if the High School's Best Setter refused to cooperate with him because of something like this.. he felt like he would be losing out big time!
"Atsumu-senpai wouldn't do that." Unabara Uta waved her hand dismissively.
—After all, the fact that Atsumu-senpai likes Shoyo is already known to everyone in the Volleyball Club, except for Akuma.
"True." Hinata nodded.
—Atsumu-senpai isn't the kind of person who lets private matters affect his volleyball, so he should still be setting for him!
Um.. the customers?
The staff member bringing over the last batch of macarons spoke up, but hesitated mid-sentence.
The three people sitting in a row under the table suddenly remembered they were still in public, so they hurriedly crawled out.
The 176cm Imai tried to make an excuse: "Sorry, sorry, something fell under the table."
Help, the three of them won't be thought of as lunatics by the shopkeeper, will they!
The 1.84-meter-tall Unabara Uta also managed to scramble out successfully and sat upright on the stool again, coughing. "Ahem, cough, cough, cough. Right, just picking something up."
The 1.66-meter Hinata slammed into the table with a thud, nearly knocking over Unabara Uta's strawberry parfait.
Fortunately, Unabara Uta was quick enough to catch the falling cup, preventing a tragedy from occurring.
Completely forgetting that Hinata was clutching his head directly beneath the table, the impact caused the tears in his eyes to fall straight down.
Unabara felt like his head was about to explode.
As he stood up to go and support Hinata, he hurriedly cast a glance outside, only breathing a sigh of relief once he was certain that Atsumu-senpai really wasn't there.
He hurriedly brought the plate of freshly served macarons in front of Hinata. "Shoyo, look! Macarons! I'll give them all to you! Don't cry, don't cry—"
Unabara cried out with such heartbreak that he felt as if he were about to burst into tears himself.
Even though Atsumu-senpai isn't here right now, once Shoyo goes back in a little while, he'll definitely be found to have been crying!
What if Atsumu-senpai holds a grudge against him when the time comes! How will he be able to face the next year!
Even though there's a high probability that Atsumu-senpai didn't see him, Shoyo will definitely mention it!
Imai savored Unabara Uta's strawberry parfait, silently taking a photo of the flustered Unabara.
Great, if she gets angry later, I'll use this to threaten her!
On the other side, Unabara was still coaxing and deceiving him at the same time: "It doesn't hurt, I'll blow on it for you, don't cry. Also, please don't tell Atsumu-senpai that you came out with me, okay? I'm begging you.."
Meanwhile, in the milk tea shop on the other side, Miya Atsumu had already finished his own drink in a huff and was now drinking the one originally ordered for Hinata.
Not long after, the door to the milk tea shop was pushed open, someone walked to his side.
Atsumu-senpai, I'm back.
Hinata's voice sounded low, the slight raspiness in his voice caused Atsumu, who was just about to play the victim to act spoiled, to freeze.
Atsumu-senpai looked up and saw Hinata's reddened eyes.
His mind went blank instantly. When he turned his head to look out the window, he happened to see two people wearing sunglasses peeking into the room from behind the flowerbed opposite.
Upon meeting his gaze, the two people simultaneously recoiled, attempting to blend into the flowerbed.
Atsumu stood up abruptly. "Did Unabara bully you?! Or was it his girlfriend who bullied you?!"
Hinata, who was just about to say something, froze.
He promised Unabara Uta he wouldn't mention it! Why did Atsumu-senpai already know?!
Miya Atsumu chased straight out the door, but Unabara Uta and the other person had already taken off running the moment they were discovered; they had already reached the other side of the road, at that very moment, the traffic light had turned red.
Atsumu could only watch the two of them flee in a panic, unable to catch up.
Miya Atsumu, his fists clenched tight, shouted at the top of his lungs, "Unabara Uta! You brat, just you wait until you get back here!!"
Unabara Uta and Imai ran even faster, shouting as they ran, "Not necessarily—"
No way! Atsumu-senpai will definitely thank him!
Miya Atsumu took a deep breath, swallowing the irritation rising in his gut, but just as he turned to head back into the shop, he saw Hinata already coming out, holding his cup of milk tea.
He asked Hinata in a soft voice, "So, why are you crying?"
Hinata stared at Miya Atsumu's face for a moment, dazed, before turning his head to answer, "Something fell under the table just now, when I stood up after picking it up, I bumped into the corner of the table."
Miya Atsumu was startled. "Where did you hit? Let me see."
He hurriedly reached out to feel, immediately discovered a large bump on Hinata's head.
Atsumu-senpai directly confirmed the person's guilt: "That was a heavy collision.. It really was Unabara's fault. I'll deal with him once we get back."
Hinata grabbed Miya Atsumu's shirt, stopping him from chasing after him. "Unabara Uta takes great care of me. Please don't be angry, Atsumu-senpai. Let's head back."
Miya Atsumu gave a light click of his tongue, but ultimately agreed: "Fine, if Shoyo says so."
The two had no other plans for the rest of the day, so they packed some simple food and returned to the hotel.
Hinata, who had been lost in thought all along, set down the change of clothes he had just picked up and suddenly looked up at the other bed opposite him.
Looking at Miya Atsumu, who had just taken off his clothes, he suddenly asked, "Atsumu-senpai, will you like me?"
Miya Atsumu, who had picked up his pajamas to put them on, froze for a moment and turned his head to look at Hinata.
Once he was sure that Hinata had asked the question, he put his pajamas back down.
"Of course, I have always liked Shoyo very much." His answer was as always, his tone gentle and calm.
Hinata opened his mouth, then lowered his head and looked down, rubbing his chin.
In any case, it was certain that Atsumu-senpai shouldn't dislike him and might even have a bit of a favorable impression of him, while he himself surely liked Atsumu-senpai very much..
After summarizing everything that had happened today in his mind, a sudden spark of inspiration flashed through Hinata's mind: "I've decided!"
Miya Atsumu, who had just been about to tease Hinata again, froze instantly. "What?"
The cold air from the air conditioner made him feel a bit chilly. He rubbed his bare upper body and silently picked up his pajamas and pulled them on.
Hinata chuckled, "It's a secret."
It's decided!
He is going to start pursuing Atsumu-senpai!
Chapter 292: The 292th Fox
Miya Atsumu keenly sensed that something seemed off, yet at the same time, it felt no different from before.
He was once again woken up in the morning by Hinata. The two of them headed out together, chatting and laughing. Along the way, whenever Hinata saw something interesting, he would be drawn to it and then turn to him to ask all sorts of questions, cheering or offering praise in response to his answers.
I have to say, something just doesn't feel right..
Miya Atsumu raised his hand to touch his nose, feeling a strange sense of excitement from the soft sensation on his arm.
—It's too close! And Shoyo was the one who initiated it!
Hinata, who was learning how to wrap his arm around the person beside him just like Unabara Uta, looked up, his expression signaling confusion at Miya Atsumu's sudden stop.
Before they parted ways yesterday, he had actually asked Unabara Uta what he should do, Unabara Uta's answers were either to have him ask Atsumu-senpai directly, or to learn how to get along with Atsumu-senpai by following his and Imai's example.
But.. Atsumu-senpai didn't look very happy?
Miya Atsumu, desperately trying to suppress his expression and make himself look more serious, cleared his throat and continued walking forward with Hinata. "Let's go. Let's go take a look at today's merchandise booths."
Hinata nodded. "Yeah!"
He clung to Miya Atsumu's arm, following him toward the stalls lined up over there.
Unabara had said to try to be proactive with physical contact, then.. he had forgotten the middle part, but also that one should naturally close the distance and suggest more intimate interactions when the other person doesn't find it off-putting?
Yeah, that's about it.
Meanwhile, in the very last row of the third floor of the away stands, Unabara, wearing a baseball cap, held a pair of binoculars up to his face, observing the situation over by Hinata's side.
Watching Hinata walk in pulling Miya Atsumu's arm, Unabara couldn't help but nod inwardly, "I knew it, it definitely worked."
Imai, also wearing a baseball cap and a mask, leaned in. "So, what did you teach Hinata yesterday?"
She was teasing a cat by the roadside at that time and didn't hear what Unabara Uta and Hinata were whispering about, but it was likely something related to romance.
Unabara Uta replied with a straight face, "I taught him how to go back and confess his feelings directly, then I taught him a few things useful for when a couple is together."
Imai gave Unabara a thumbs up. "So reliable, Unabara."
Although the two of them were caught peeking by Atsumu-senpai yesterday, Unabara Uta's actions could be considered a way of making up for his crime, so he should probably be treated leniently.. right?
Thinking of this, Imai looked up and asked, "Did you tell Kumagai and the others?"
Unabara shook his head. "Not yet. I don't want to be the one to leak it. I'll just let Atsumu-senpai and the others find out for themselves later."
—It definitely wasn't because he wanted to see the look on Kumagai's face, definitely!
Sitting down in his seat, Hinata kicked his feet in anticipation of today's match, his face full of excitement.
He reached out and tugged on Miya Atsumu's clothes, pointing toward Bokuto, who was already standing in the Players' Tunnel on the opposite side. "The first match is Central Physical Education University against EJP Gods."
None of the seniors they knew went to EJP Gods, so he could bet everything on Central Physical Education University for this match!
Miya Atsumu nodded. "Yeah, a few years ago, EJP Gods was also considered one of the four kings alongside the Black Jackals, Shwaiden Adler, Tachibana Red Falcons. But unfortunately, he and Tachibana both have their own difficulties; they haven't played very comfortably these past two years."
And Shwaiden Adler has continued to strengthen over the past few years, especially with the addition of players from Heiwajima, giving Shwaiden Adler the feeling of being a dominant force.
EJP's Libero isn't in great form, but they still haven't found a successor, not to mention the Tachibana Red Falcons.
I expect they'll be able to welcome a reinforcement next year.
He felt that there were quite a few monsters in this generation, once they all graduate, they will likely cause quite a stir.