But if you must ask that question.. actually, in terms of volleyball and big tournament experience, Hayami's seniority is deeper than most of them.
Moreover, because he was sufficiently confident in his own ability level and technical stability, he was certain he wouldn't be caught off guard by him.
Seeing the approaching reporter, Hinata hurriedly said, "Image, Atsumu-ge, watch your image."
Atsumu straightened his posture, chest out and head held high, almost instantaneously, while simultaneously raising a hand to fix his hair, returning to his professional mode.
Staff members walked up to the two of them from just outside the live broadcast camera frame and asked softly, "Hello, Miya Player and Hinata, would it be convenient for you to accept an interview right now? It won't take very long."
Miya Atsumu agreed readily: "Of course, can I have a look at the interview questions beforehand?"
The staff member handed Miya Atsumu two cards.
The questions were simple, basically things like the goals for participating, thoughts on the match, so on.
Miya Atsumu was already well-acquainted with these questions, answering them almost without hesitation.
Goal? The championship, of course.
If you don't want to win the championship, why even come here?
“This guy.. is as arrogant as ever.”
Listening to Oikawa Tooru's voice, Kito, the current number one setter in Japan sitting beside him, looked up: "Didn't you say you weren't going to watch?"
Oikawa Tooru argued, "I said I wouldn't watch Inarizaki's match, but I'd help Coach Irihatsu and the others observe how Shiratorizawa is doing. The reporters turned to interview Miya Atsumu during the live broadcast's break."
That's right, the live broadcast made the first move!
Kito chuckled, flipping through the magazine in his hands: "It's a pity you're leaving."
Otherwise, in a few years, I could take you, Miya, Kageyama to stand on the stage of the Tokyo Olympic Games together. That would be truly wonderful.. What's with that expression of yours?
Oikawa Tooru's face was written with disgust and resistance: "Akaashi-senpai, it sounds like you're telling a horror story."
Miya Atsumu and Xiao Feixiong? Wow—just thinking about it makes me feel sick.
Now it was Kito's turn to be confused: "Don't you two have a pretty good relationship?"
Oikawa Tooru said blankly, "Who told you that, senpai?"
Kito thought back for a moment. "Aran and that orange-headed little one?"
Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Oikawa Tooru and Aran had a good relationship. When he went to the youth training before, Hinata told him that Oikawa and Kageyama graduated from the same junior high school.. their relationship couldn't be that bad.
Oikawa Tooru said weakly, "Akaashi-senpai, don't believe the slander from those bastards from Inarizaki.."
And at that moment, the live broadcast cut to another scene, a face even more striking than Oikawa Tooru's appeared in his field of vision.
Without any hesitation, Oikawa Tooru grabbed the hotel TV remote and turned off the screen.
He raised his hand to cover his eyes: "Whoa, seeing Ushiwaka's big face and Miya Atsumu appearing one after another.. that's a bit too terrifying."
“When I went to the youth training camps before, Miya and Ushijima's coordination was quite good; I expect they might become a regular duo in the future..” Kito paused slightly, “But Oikawa, you.. don't you have a bit too many people you hate?”
His popularity as a junior seems not to be very good, which is a stark contrast to the orange-headed Little One from the youth training camp.
Oikawa Tooru's lips twitched, but in the end, the excuses he wanted to make failed to come out.
Kito became interested and began interviewing Oikawa Tooru: "Do you have any other arch-nemeses?"
After thinking seriously for a moment, the cheap junior replied, "Hoshiumi, but it was one-sided on his part; the two of us actually had a decent relationship before."
It's all Miya Atsumu's fault!
Oikawa Tooru felt deeply heartbroken by this.
He and Hoshiumi were originally close friends who could share all kinds of fun together! It's all Miya Atsumu's fault for crossing that line he shouldn't have touched!
Now he is also on Hoshiumi's revenge list!
Kito clicked his tongue in amazement: "You're really something."
If he stays in the domestic league, it will be difficult for him to transfer later on.
After all, once he makes his comeback, it's impossible for Oikawa Tooru to remain in a substitute position indefinitely, both the veteran V1 powerhouse Shwaiden Adler and the Black Jackals are essentially confirmed to recruit players that Oikawa Tooru does not like.
Moreover.. he felt that Shwaiden Adler would not let Ushijima Wakatoshi go, unless Ushijima planned to go abroad to develop his career immediately after graduating from university.
Kito patted Oikawa Tooru on the shoulder: "When you go to Argentina with the coach in the future, make sure you get along well with your teammates."
Turn over a new leaf and make some new friends.
Oikawa Tooru was silent.
After a long silence, he added, "Senpai, you should persuade the coach to send Miya Atsumu and Ushijima onto the court together when the time comes. I'm going to crush both of them into the ground!"
"That depends on how things are at the time." Kito spread his hands, indicating he couldn't help.
He then asked, "Oh, by the way, did Wakamura introduce my nephew to you? How did you feel about him when he came over a few days ago?"
He has been busy with various activities following his comeback lately; when Kito Zenjo came to visit Tachibana Red Falcons, Oikawa Tooru helped bring him.
Oikawa Tooru recalled someone's performance and answered seriously, "I think it would be better if he went back to continue playing basketball."
Kito fell silent.
His nephew.. shouldn't be that bad, right?
—Probably.
When they turned on the television again, the first set of the match was already halfway through, Shiratorizawa was in the lead.
After gaining the advantage, Shiratorizawa played very steadily and ultimately secured a smooth 2-0 victory.
In the end, Hayami failed to return and disturb the private world of Miya Atsumu and Hinata, being taken away by Arashiyama to watch the entire match from the stands.
Miya Atsumu and Hinata headed toward their final destination after saying goodbye to the Shiratorizawa members.
—Hinata was going to the stands to see Shiratori and Bokuto and the others.
Bokuto-senpai jumped up with both arms raised high: "Atsu-kun! Shoyo! I missed you guys so much!"
Akaashi-senpai's disapproving voice rang out immediately after: "Bokuto-senpai, put your arms down and sit down. If you stand up like that, you'll block the people behind you."
Hearing this voice, Hinata was somewhat surprised: "Akaashi-senpai?"
Meanwhile, Miya Atsumu, who had previously looked as if he were prepared for death, had eyes that lit up, looking at Akaashi Keiji with a gaze as if he had seen a savior.
At this moment, his head no longer felt dizzy, his legs no longer felt sore, his neck no longer ached, he stood up straight.
“Long time no see, Akaashi,” Miya Atsumu greeted him, ignoring Bokuto.
Akaashi gave him a slight nod, watching as the two of them sat down in the hallway.
Hinata had already struck up a conversation with Shiratori and the others: "Natsume-senpai and Shimizu-senpai, please don't be too heartbroken, Haruko still has a chance!"
Shiratori smiled and nodded, his expression very pleasant: "Yes, I will come back then."
Behind them, the Captain of the Fukuda General Second String, who had already seen through everything, revealed a deadpan expression.
Watching them was just a side note; watching Inarizaki was Shiratorizawa's true intention.
He believed that even if they didn't qualify for Haruko, Shiratorizawa would still be there.
What Inari God's fox messenger.. he felt like Inarizaki was a den of vixens!
The seniors are so clueless!
On the morning of the second day, the opponent for Inarizaki's round of sixteen match was the representative from Iwate Prefecture, whose skill level was not particularly outstanding, whose overall condition had declined significantly after two days of competition.
Coach Kurosu fully utilized the advantage of his deep bench, choosing not to send Hinata onto the court.
Even after securing the victory, Miya Atsumu was substituted out, with Kumagai playing the remaining two-thirds of the set.
After securing a spot in the top eight, the Inarizaki members returned to the stands, preparing to witness the birth of another top eight team from their group, who would also be their opponents this afternoon.
The two teams from Group C that advanced to the top eight are Rakusan and Shirabu, the winner will face them tomorrow.
Watching both sides take their positions on the court, Hinata said in a low voice, "Yura's starting frequency is higher than Shirabu-senpai's."
Miya Atsumu remained noncommittal about this: "You could see it from yesterday's match, Yura is a better fit for Goshiki Tsutomu than Shirabu is."
Unlike Ushijima Wakatoshi, Goshiki Tsutomu does not have the advantage of being left-handed, nor does he possess overwhelming strength; he cannot achieve that effect of overpowering everyone with sheer force that Ushijima possesses.
In this situation, what he needs is not the kind of playstyle used by Shiratorizawa previously, which focused entirely on the Ace, but rather something more flexible.
Yura Shota is more independent and has more ideas than Shirabu Kenjiro, allowing him to make up for the parts that Goshiki Tsutomu lacks.
The effect of the two players partnering together was visibly good.
However, Goshiki Tsutomu himself is an immature Second Year Ace, Yura has even less experience.
Since they haven't fully synchronized yet, there have been many instances of coordination breaking down.
Shirabu helped the two of them adapt very well, serving to stabilize the atmosphere.
Goshiki Tsutomu's playstyle wasn't exactly the traditional Shiratorizawa style; against Star First's defensive formation, Goshiki decisively utilized a mix of tooling the block and line attacks.
The reaction speed for saving the ball and the distance itself put enough pressure on Hayami.
Although Hayami held up well under that pressure, her lack of regained stamina proved to be the biggest downfall.
With the long whistle blowing, the score for the Third Set ended at Shiratorizawa 25:21 Star First.
"Stand in the middle," Hinata said, gripping the back of the front row's chairs.
Akari was so cool, that last line shot was incredible!
But, uuuuugh.. Hayami..
Chapter 412: The 412th Fox
Seeing Hinata cheering one second and bursting into tears the next, Miya Atsumu didn't know what to say for a moment.
If you cry now, you won't be crying when you send Shiratorizawa away yourself tomorrow.
Hinata replied very seriously, "That's different."
Miya Atsumu let out a helpless laugh. "You really are cruel, Shoyo."
Then let's set a small goal: make Shiratorizawa's new Ace cry this afternoon.
Hinata clenched his fist in response, "I'll do my best."