Miya Atsumu leaned over, originally just wanting to take a quick look, but in the next second, he narrowed his eyes and froze: "Wait.."
After a long time, when Hinata turned his head to look at Miya Atsumu, Atsumu asked a question that sounded very strange: "Is Shimizu-senpai planning to switch back to Indoor Volleyball again?"
Hinata froze for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Huh? No way, Natsume-senpai said before that Shimizu-senpai went to Argentina because he was playing training matches, so the schedule should be all finished by now. He must be on vacation."
Miya Atsumu raised an eyebrow. "Huh.. some people certainly have a lot of leisure time, then."
Hinata didn't understand what Miya Atsumu was talking about: "What?"
Miya Atsumu extended a finger and tapped a profile in the background of one of the photos in Shimizu's collection, where the person was teasing a bird on a pedestal beside a fountain.
He said expressionlessly, "Oikawa-senpai, he's clearly playing too. Doesn't he have training?"
Hinata's brain stalled for two seconds as he picked up his phone, zooming in to look at the person wearing a sun hat and sunglasses over and over again.
The photo focused on Shimizu in the foreground, while the person behind was blurry. This person didn't show any obvious features, their face was unclear.
Looking closely, it really was Oikawa Tooru, but.. how did Atsumu-senpai recognize him at a single glance?!
Hinata reasoned, "It seems Oikawa-senpai has only been in Argentina for a short time; he probably hasn't joined the team yet?"
Anyway, I probably won't run into Oikawa-senpai for the next two years. He said that obtaining citizenship requires two years of residency, so he shouldn't be able to come back, nor will he be able to join the National Team.
Miya Atsumu curled the corners of his mouth, extremely satisfied with the situation: "Then isn't it perfect? I'll just take the title of the world's most handsome rookie Setter first."
Although Japan's performance over the last few years has indeed been slightly worse than Argentina's, the two are essentially on par. Besides, he has great confidence in the players on this side; when the time comes, he will definitely crush Oikawa-senpai into the floor!
While messaging Shimizu, Hinata said, "Oikawa-senpai said he has already seen all the players from the Argentina National Team with the coach, there are some incredibly skilled people in the National Youth Team."
It seems Coach Blanco is going back to take over the National Team; Aran-senpai mentioned it as well.
Miya Atsumu let out a laugh. "Aran said Coach Blanco was planning to scout him, but he refused."
Hinata asked in confusion, "Why?"
He could understand why Aran-senpai didn't want to leave, but he was indeed a bit curious about what reason Aran-senpai had used to refuse.
Atsumu rolled his eyes. "Aran looks like a foreigner, but he knows nothing about foreign languages. His English grades aren't even as good as mine; I'd rather kill him than make him learn Spanish."
Hinata scratched his head. "That's true."
Miya Atsumu lost interest.
Just thinking about how Oikawa-senpai was still taking it easy while he was drifting through a hell of physical training..
Great, it looks like the next time they meet, he might even be able to win an arm-wrestling match against Oikawa-senpai!
Miya Atsumu fell fast asleep amidst his beautiful fantasies of the future.
Having received a reply from Shimizu, Hinata originally wanted to say something to Miya Atsumu, but as soon as he turned his head, he saw the sleeping Miya Atsumu.
After thinking for a brief moment, Hinata packed up his things, turned off the light, tiptoed out of his dormitory to head toward Hayami and Coach Unabara.
In the middle of the night, Miya Atsumu suddenly sat up, feeling that something was wrong while he was sleeping.
Wait, where is Hinata?!
After the Youth Training ended, Coach Unabara had already moved on to his next task, so he wasn't staying at the Volleyball Association building today. Hinata, who had been chatting with Hayami until very late, borrowed Unabara's bed and decided to head back in the morning.
And just as Hinata finished washing up and stepped out, he keenly sensed someone at the door.
Hinata tilted his head, meeting the gaze of Miya Atsumu, who was leaning against the wall by the door with a bag in hand.
He felt guilty for two seconds, then took the initiative to greet him, "Good morning, Atsumu-ge, you're up quite early today."
Atsumu reached out and grabbed Hinata's collar: "It is quite early. Some people didn't go home all night and didn't even think of me."
Hayami poked her head out while she was brushing her teeth, Hinata had already been dragged away by Miya Atsumu.
Noticing Hayami coming out, Miya Atsumu even went out of his way to turn his head and glare at him.
Hayami paused, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Miya Atsumu's back.
The two glared at each other for a moment before turning their heads away at the same time, no longer looking at one another.
—Damn Hayami, plotting against Hinata. When the match starts, he'd better pray he doesn't run into Inarizaki!
—That damn Atsumu-senpai, he was trying to help out, but he ended up getting bullied instead! I'm going to tell the coach on him!
After returning, Miya Atsumu and Hinata discussed the gains from their trip with Coach Kurosu, especially regarding the matter of having Fukami learn some underhand serves.
After a brief period of adjustment, the Haruko tournament cycle officially began.
Because the National Sports Festival was postponed, the Haruko tournament seemed to have started very quickly; in some regions where matches were scheduled densely, only a month had passed since the end of the Inarizaki Regional Qualifiers.
However, this period was also sufficient for the various teams to rest and prepare for Haruko.
Inarizaki set off on New Year's Day as usual, after visiting the Inari Shrine near the school, Miya Atsumu took the initiative to request staying in Kyoto for an extra day.
He had no other purpose; he simply intended to make a trip to the Fushimi Inari Shrine, which he had visited last year.
Pulling the Omamori he had been carrying since this time last year out of his pocket, Miya Atsumu shook it toward Hinata and grinned, "I have to go fulfill the wish on this one, right, Shoyo?"
Hinata glanced at that Peach Omamori and gave Miya Atsumu a cheeky grin. "Then I want one too."
Speaking of which.. back then, he had discussed with Miya Atsumu what kind of flower was actually on that Omamori, but after a round of guessing, they hadn't managed to guess it correctly.
It wasn't until a while ago when Miya Atsumu suddenly remembered this matter and took the Omamori out again that he realized it was a peach blossom.
So.. last year, Miya Atsumu's fortune for career luck was Great Blessing; perhaps the negative aspect was actually related to him?
That's true. If it hadn't been for Oikawa-senpai's help, he might not have even realized his own feelings until now..
In short, thank you, Oikawa-senpai.
Chapter 485: The Four Hundred and Eighty-Fifth Fox
With the experience of having visited last year, the Inarizaki members smoothly completed the process of paying their respects and drawing lots.
This time Xiaoxia did not go with them, because Xiaoxia had her own children's competition to participate in, she would be traveling to Osaka with her mother tomorrow.
However, the overall schedule for the children's competition is shorter than Haruko, so if Inarizaki can keep winning all the way through, Xiaoxia and her mother will both be there for the matches on the final two days.
Receiving his own fortune, Hinata held it high: "Great Blessing!"
Miya Atsumu also showed his fortune slip to Hinata: "Great Blessing."
This time, his luck was quite normal; at the very least, it was a blessing.
Glancing at the "Middle Blessing" in her hand, Rishia expressed her envy to the two of them: "I only got a Middle Blessing."
Unabara showed Rishia his slip: "Me too."
Kumagai laughed, "I got Great Blessing."
Miya Osamu put away his Good Luck Omamori without saying anything, instead preparing to go and request a Safety Omamori.
Compared to last year, their overall fortune this year doesn't seem quite as good, but they are all generally auspicious.
Thinking back to the Itachiyama members who came here last year..
Miya Osamu silently felt a moment of sympathy for the Itachiyama members, but he immediately cast them from his mind.
Perhaps because they knew the Inari God was biased, they didn't encounter anyone from other schools here this year.
Miya Osamu successfully obtained an Omamori, he carefully attached the Omamori to his phone to use as a phone charm.
As he left, Miya Atsumu and Hinata happened to be walking toward this direction.
Osamu had no intention of disturbing the couple, so he was the first to return to the Inarizaki bus to close his eyes and rest, waiting for everyone else to return.
Walking up to the Omamori stall, Miya Atsumu recognized the Miko at the stall immediately; she was the same one from last year. "We meet again, Miss Miko."
Glancing at Miya Atsumu and Hinata's intertwined hands, the Miko smiled.
Taking the two signatures and looking at them, she took the initiative to ask, "Is the Omamori from last year still there?"
Miya Atsumu nodded. "It's still here."
The Miko looked quietly at Miya Atsumu: "If your wish has already been fulfilled, you can return it to the shrine. There is a new gift here; you need not offer anything extra."
Atsumu froze for a moment, but ultimately took the Peach Omamori out of his pocket.
Hinata leaned over curiously, watching the Miko put the Omamori away into a small cubby on the wall at the back of the room.
When she returned, she was carrying a new wooden box in her hands.
The Miko pushed the wooden box toward the two of them.
The Inari God protects you.
The Miko fell silent.
Making way for the people behind them, Miya Atsumu and Hinata walked around to the side wall.
Hinata asked with a face full of curiosity, "What is it?"
A gift from the Inari God.. it's truly exciting!
Miya Atsumu opened the box and saw two Omamori placed side by side.
Unlike last year's Peach Omamori, this Omamori used golden satin fabric with a subtle rice ear pattern, the embroidery on it consisted of beautifully arranged purple balloon flowers.
The characters on the Omamori read "Smooth Sailing"—simple, yet it was the kind of modest wish that everyone desired.
Hinata blinked. "What kind of flower is this?"
To avoid repeating last year's joke, Miya Atsumu, who had read through the catalog of common flowers for Inari Shrine Omamori before coming, replied, "It's a balloon flower, symbolizing.."
Miya Atsumu's voice faltered slightly.
Hinata reached out and poked Miya Atsumu's lower back, urging him with a hint of dissatisfaction.
A low chuckle sounded in his ear, just as Hinata looked up to see Miya Atsumu's profile, he happened to meet the eyes of the other man looking back at him.
In terms of emotions, it symbolizes eternal and unchanging love.
Hinata froze for a moment, then took the Omamori that belonged to Miya Atsumu from his hands.
He said with utmost solemnity, "I definitely will."
After carefully putting the Omamori away, Miya Atsumu turned his head and asked Hinata, "Shoyo, do you have anywhere else you need to go?"
Hinata shook his head. "No more."