Inubushi Higashi's defensive disadvantages were further amplified after the previous year's graduates departed.
By comparison, Rakusan in their prime was not even remotely as strong.
After four of the top five wing spikers graduated, only one top-tier high school spiker remains: Sakusa.
And below them, receiving widespread attention and high expectations from all sides, were the Ace of Karasuno, the Ace of Rakusan, the Ace of Shiratorizawa, and.. the Ace of Inarizaki.
Compared to Hoshiumi Hikari and the one from Rakusan who has participated in many international competitions, Goshiki and Hinata lack a significant amount of tournament experience.
Shiratorizawa is also going through a difficult period right now; their overall coordination likely won't start showing results until the end of the year.
Hinata is simply lagging behind because of his late start, but he is gradually closing that gap.
Moreover, Coach Unabara has already shown a very clear intention, which is a further recognition of Hinata.
He believed that, given enough time.. Hinata would surely surpass all of them and become the strongest.
However, the key right now is still the problems within Inarizaki themselves.
There wasn't a particularly obvious feeling when Hinata was still around, but now that Hinata is gone and Unabara has also left, the further weakened defense within the team has, so to speak, completely brought their internal contradictions to the surface.
It wasn't just Arima's problem with his successful save rate, but also that he had no targets to choose from under conditions where there weren't enough offensive options.
Miya Atsumu clicked on a clipped video, but watching it left him feeling somewhat unsettled.
He admitted that he seemed to be a little spoiled by Hinata.
But.. it was only a little bit.
It is certainly difficult not to have a Wing Spiker who can be directed as he pleases, but having Miya Osamu there makes things much easier.
The problem was that Rishia Heisuke had a bit of trouble keeping up with their pace; as soon as the speed increased, he would easily fall out of sync.
Miya Atsumu put down his tablet. "We'll just have to take it slow.."
When Hinata and Unabara returned to the Beach Volleyball venue, Coach Utsunomiya had already arrived and was saying something to Coach Sanjo.
The Tokyo Interhigh Preliminaries were completed yesterday; Itachiyama took first place, Fukurodani took second.
There were only two slots for the Tokyo Interhigh Preliminaries, so no one from third place onwards was eligible to enter this tournament.
Having finally finished his period of intense busyness, Utsunomiya also had time to come to Central Physical Education University for a look; after all, he was the one who had sent them, so it would be somewhat improper if he didn't show up himself.
Coach Utsunomiya beckoned to the two of them. "You've arrived at the perfect time. Play a few rounds for me to watch, I'll take some photos to report the current situation to Coach Kurosu."
There was no one else in the Volleyball Hall, so Hinata and the other person just played a bit of one-on-one bumping.
After taking a photo with Hinata with the sand in the background, Coach Utsunomiya tucked his phone away, feeling quite satisfied.
He reached out and patted both of their backs. "Alright, alright, come with me to the Volleyball Hall, ignore Sanjo."
Sanjo, who had just tried to demand the person directly, was rebuffed and left with an incredibly ugly expression on his face.
But he couldn't say anything about it; after all, Shimizu had originally intended to go play indoor volleyball with Shiratori, but he had intercepted her halfway, even instigating Shimizu, who was currently a female beach volleyball coach at Nippon Sport Science University.
In the end, they managed to keep him through a combination of persuasion and force; they simply had no way to keep two more people from leaving.
If Bokuto were to be poached.. Coach Utsunomiya and Raphael would surely cry themselves to death.
Then he wouldn't even need to go home at night; he could just sleep on the street.
Coach Utsunomiya was in an excellent mood after winning the championship and seeing his future little apprentice on his own turf; he had already sent out the photos before even reaching the Volleyball Hall.
At the same time, someone's phone vibrated, several messages popped up one after another.
Coach Saito leaned in for a look and saw that it was Coach Washijo's phone.
Noticing the sender's name, Coach Saito froze for a moment. "It's Coach Utsunomiya from Itachiyama?"
He picked up Coach Washijo's phone, preparing to go to the gymnasium to find someone.
After losing the IH Preliminaries, there was a significant change in the roster within the Shiratorizawa club.
Most of those leaving were third-year students from the second and third strings, who were preparing for their entrance exams.
And why did I say a large portion.. because their current starting setter, Shirabu, also has intentions to retire.
Shirabu's academic performance is excellent; even at Shiratorizawa, he is among the top group in the advanced classes, he himself has a strong intention to pursue higher education.
According to Coach Washijo, Shirabu seems to be preparing to take the entrance exam for clinical medicine at Tokyo University.
—A rather terrifying goal.
Actually, it was precisely because Shirabu was preparing to enter university that the Vice-Captain position was given to the second-year Goshiki Tsutomu.
During this IH Preliminaries, Shirabu's performance was steady, his coordination with the new Ace, Goshiki Tsutomu, was not particularly smooth either.
Coupled with the academic pressure, he clearly expressed his desire to step back into a supporting role a few days ago.
Date Tech's coordination began after the end of last year's IH Preliminaries, Shirabu also hoped that Yoshimasa Masanari could coordinate with Goshiki Tsutomu even earlier.
However, Coach Washijo did not entirely agree, because there was an eighty percent chance they would still have to compete in the National Sports Festival, Coach Washijo hoped Shirabu could retire after the National Sports Festival.
The topic was eventually dropped, the club continued its training just as before.
Coach Saito sighed, took his phone, found Coach Washijo, who was talking to Shirabu: "It's Itachiyama."
Taking back his phone, Coach Washijo opened it and saw Utsunomiya holding Hinata while making a peace sign for a selfie in front of the camera.
And the background was a beach volleyball court; it was unclear what they were doing.
Squinting his eyes for a moment, Coach Washijo tossed the phone back to Coach Saito, spitting out two indifferent words.
“Childish.”
Chapter 312: The Three Hundred and Twelfth Fox
The schedule for the Interhigh Preliminaries has been set; it's on August 5th.
Coach Kurosu scrolled through the messages on his phone and briefly explained the situation: "The first few rounds have nothing to do with us this time, but we need to attend the opening ceremony, so we'll still head out a day early."
Understood," Miya Atsumu nodded. "So, theoretically, there should be a few extra days for coordination?
There are five days of free time between the opening ceremony and the days they need to compete, so they will definitely need to find a gymnasium to stabilize their feel for the game.
Coach Kurosu nodded, giving an affirmative response: "That's more or less it. I've already spoken with Coach Kusubashi to give him a heads-up. We'll be using Shirabu's gymnasium; I've been there before during the training camp."
There isn't much special to say regarding the matches themselves. Once the group stage ends and the re-draw is completed, there will be a specific meeting to explain those details. For now, I'm mainly here to go over the daily precautions for the period.
As he spoke, Coach Kurosu looked toward the Miya Twins: "Pay attention to your own personal safety. Since there are no matches in the early stages, just focus on watching the games properly. Do not provoke players from other teams, do not go around talking nonsense."
Miya Atsumu, who had been glared at fiercely by the coach, replied without even a hint of embarrassment, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them."
Rishia Heisuke shrank his neck, a retort suppressed in his heart that he didn't dare say out loud.
—No, the one with the problem is you, Senior!
Coach Kurosu glared at Miya Atsumu again, then continued, "I've emphasized the importance of a proper routine many times, but I'll say it once more since we have new students this time."
Don't stay up late using excuses like being too excited from watching matches to sleep!
Ginjima silently averted his gaze, avoiding the Coach's eyes.
Coach Kurosu took a deep breath and locked his gaze onto Miya Atsumu once again. "And you, Atsumu, don't do anything too outrageous on the court. Just because we turn a blind eye doesn't mean everyone else can accept it."
And I certainly don't want to see your future, or Shoyo's future, being affected by things like this.
Miya Atsumu nodded: "I understand, I'll restrain myself."
He understands, so.. he won't make a mistake in a situation like that.
He should just maintain the same state he had during the Haruko, as everyone seemed to have accepted it well back then. If he were to suddenly distance himself.. it might even spark rumors about disharmony among the Inarizaki players.
Coach Washijo looked at Miya Osamu again: "Osamu, although the match is still a long way off, you are forbidden from snacking. You had better lower your body fat percentage before the match to reach your peak condition."
Miya Osamu, who had snuck quite a few snacks, clicked his tongue before finally responding, "Understood."
Miya Atsumu rested his hands on the ground and looked up at the coach standing before him. "So when are Shoyo and Unabara coming back? They're both key troublemakers, aren't they?"
Coach Kurosu replied, "They'll come to participate in training tomorrow morning, I'll pick them up from the station in the evening."
Miya Atsumu raised his hand decisively and said, "I'm going too!"
Knowing that he would likely make a scene if refused, Coach Kurosu did not try to stop him. "Fine."
He would also go pick up his wife when she returned from a long trip, let alone a young couple in the heat of their romance, besides.. Imai had already booked the evening's schedule.
During the two weeks Hinata and the others were away, Inarizaki had also been undergoing high-intensity, intensive training. Tomorrow was originally a day for rest and adjustment, so they would only conduct simple individual technical training and unified physical training.
Looking at the estimated arrival time on the train information on his phone, then looking at the clock above the station, Miya Atsumu raised his hand to tidy his bangs and straightened his clothes, ensuring that he was in his best possible state.
Imai, who was walking alongside him, looked at this senior who had previously been so intimidating that no one dared to approach him, then looked at the flowers and the convenience store rice balls in his hands, couldn't help but smile.
The second hand on the wall clock ticked once more, followed immediately by two sets of rapid footsteps.
Accompanied by Unabara's repeated cries of "Slow down!" and "My legs are breaking!", an orange shadow burst out from within.
F-I-R-S-T!!
Hinata raised his hands and cheered, then immediately locked onto that brilliant splash of red in his field of vision: "You've come to pick us up!"
Unabara, who followed behind, nearly collapsed on the ground, his footsteps incredibly unsteady.
Wait a second, I.. I really can't run anymore—
But in the next second, a flash passed before his eyes again, Hinata had already rushed out once more.
Seeing Hinata rushing toward him with a face full of excitement, Coach Kurosu opened his arms to him, just as he always did.
But just as he had quietly steadied his body, preparing to brace for the impact from his beloved student, that orange voice had already streaked past his peripheral vision.
A heavy thud rang out immediately after, followed by the crisp crinkling of the flower wrapping paper.
“I missed you so much, Atsumu-ge!”
Hinata lunged at Miya Atsumu with both hands and feet, wrapping his arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his face.
Atsumu caught the heavy Hinata steadily, using his hands to support his thighs so that he could reach even higher.
He tried his best to save that bouquet of flowers that was almost crushed, but it was intercepted and taken by Imai, who was standing nearby.
Miya Atsumu, who had finally freed both of his hands, also gave Hinata a response: "I missed you too, Shoyo."
Fine kisses fell upon Hinata's eyes and face, kissing him so intensely that it felt a little ticklish.