Miya Atsumu said decisively, "Then we'll head out right after we finish taking photos at Senbon Torii. According to the regulations, we need to arrive early for the rehearsal this time."
Unlike the regular participating teams, because the previous year's winning team was required to march in with the Tournament Championship Flag, they had to arrive a day early so that the flag bearer could participate in the preliminary rehearsals.
After sending the photos taken at Senbon Torii to Xiaoxia, Miya Atsumu and Hinata also boarded the bus.
As dusk approached, the Inarizaki bus arrived at the Haruko official designated hotel, where they had stayed last year.
Because they arrived a day early, the only ones checking into the hotel besides them were the Shinzan Girls' High School.
Holding his room card, Hinata lay flat on the bed in the hotel.
Their training to maintain their form will be tomorrow; today was mainly for traveling. The Haruko opening ceremony is held on January 3rd every year, the first round of matches will be held on that day as well.
Of course, this tournament itself has nothing to do with Inarizaki, because the seeds will be automatically advanced to the next day's matches.
The oath-taking ceremony doesn't require any advance confirmation, so all Hinata, who was assigned this task, needs to do is memorize his lines well.
As for Miya Atsumu, he isn't here right now; he's most likely at the venue participating in the rehearsals.
Atsumu-senpai isn't giving him the position of carrying the flag, so.. he needs to adjust his personal condition even better for this Haruko.
Inarizaki wants to win the championship, he also wants to challenge for his own MVP once again.
Early morning on January 3rd.
After completing today's check-in with Coach Ukai, Hinata began his own tour of the grounds.
This time, Miya Atsumu didn't follow him, so he didn't have to worry about Miya Atsumu launching his gaze attacks at everyone who wanted to say hello to him.
Aoba Haruka raised both hands to greet Hinata: "Long time no see, Hinata! Let's both do our best this time!"
“See you in the Semifinals!”
Hinata also responded to him enthusiastically, "See you in the Semifinals, Haruka Arai!"
Rishia, who was behind Hinata, also gave a slight nod to Aoba Haruka in greeting.
Aoba Haruka, who had skipped away, was almost moved to tears. If Miya Atsumu had been there, he would have already started mocking her with comments like, "Talk to me about the Semifinals after you've beaten Itachiyama."
Seeing her brother's expression of relief after escaping a disaster, Aoba Kureha raised her hand and scratched her head. "What's wrong? Did those two from Inarizaki bully you earlier?"
Aoba Haruka closed her eyes. "Don't ask, you wouldn't understand. Also, this is all your fault."
Anyway.. it's just too good that Atsumu-senpai isn't here!
Aoba Kureha's expression became even more confused, but in the end, she turned to look at Hinata and Rishia, before jogging away with Haruka Arai.
When his gaze caught that flash of orange eyes, Inamoto's first instinct was to run, but noticing that a certain guy wasn't by Hinata's side, he boldly approached again.
Long time no see, Hinata! Thanks to you for looking after my junior during his Youth Training.
Ishikawa also gave a slight bow toward Hinata: "Hello, Hinata-senpai. Hello, Rishia-senpai."
Hinata's eyes lit up: "Inamoto-kun, Ishikawa-kun! It's been a long time!"
Inamoto and Hinata high-fived. "See you in the Semifinals! Don't lose before then; Sakusa-senpai is still looking forward to his revenge."
Hinata nodded: "Give my best to Kami-senpai and tell him I said hello."
Inamoto waved goodbye to the two of them, "See you later!"
Inamoto's retreating figure was filled with excitement; he had successfully greeted Hinata this time!
Before coming here, he had even made a bet with Ogihara-senpai about whether he would run into Miya Atsumu, now he had won!
He said that Miya Atsumu couldn't possibly be there; after all, Inarizaki was the Emotional Champion Senior, someone was heading toward the very front where the Tournament Championship Flag was.
Anyway!
It's such a relief that Atsumu-senpai isn't here!
Watching the two from Itachiyama walk away, Rishia muttered under his breath, "You're going to run into way too many people in these Semifinals."
Hinata's expression was serious: "We'll definitely meet them."
Even though it's a choice between two, no matter who the opponent in the Semifinals is, he will be very happy.
Reaching out to grab Rishia's arm, Hinata blinked at him. "Come on, let's go to the entrance to wait for people."
Rishia didn't react in time.
What? Waiting for whom?
Watching the dense crowd walking through the main entrance of the Inarizaki No. 2 Gymnasium, Rishia got his answer.
Having been crouching at the Inarizaki No. 2 Gymnasium entrance for a while, Hinata suddenly stood up, raised both hands high, shouted to the newcomers, "Coach Ukai! Kageyama! Tsukishima—Nishinoya-senpai!"
Kageyama froze for a moment, then looked up and met Hinata's eyes on the stairs above.
Nishinoya, who was walking near the front, greeted him immediately. "Long time no see, Hinata! You've grown taller again!"
Hearing that, Hinata puffed out his chest and patted his chest with vigor. "Of course! I'm still in my growing phase!"
Ukai Keishin followed up with a question, "How tall are you now?"
Hinata chuckled, "Hehe, it's a secret."
Tsukishima Kei had already expressionlessly pulled a player directory for this tournament from the shelf by the door: "170.0cm, how hardworking."
Hinata's words of boasting got stuck in his throat. He looked up to meet Tsukishima Kei's eyes, as he did, his momentum began to fade.
“I—I.. Last year around this time, Hikari-kun wasn't as tall as me!”
He remembered it clearly; last year, Hoshiumi was in the 169 range!
Tsukishima Kei said, "That wasn't easy, you worked hard."
Hinata couldn't help but take a step back.
He looked Tsukishima Kei, who was about 1.9m tall, up and down, his expression gradually turned pitiful.
Yamaguchi glanced at Tsukishima Kei, then looked toward the Inarizaki Ace, who was facing him with a look of pure shock and pity, looking as if he were on the verge of tears.
Although according to Chikatani, Hinata bullied Kageyama during Youth Training, he didn't quite believe it.
If Kageyama bullied Hinata, he might have believed it, but with Hinata acting like this.. is this the kind of person who could bully Kageyama!
Hinata grabbed Rishia Heisuke's arm: "We won't lose to you guys, we Inarizaki are 1.9m tall now too!"
Tsukishima Kei didn't take the bait. "How wonderful."
Seeing that he couldn't win the argument, Hinata prepared to make a run for it.
Before leaving, he shouted a challenge to the Karasuno members: "Anyway.. you guys better not lose before you face us!"
Kageyama curled his lips, revealing a terrifying, provocative smile: "Don't worry, even if we play against you, we will be the ones who win."
Rishia felt like he couldn't bear to watch.
He hurriedly said goodbye to the Karasuno coaches and then left together with Hinata.
Watching the two of them hurry away, Nishinoya Yu suddenly raised his hand and gave Tsukishima Kei a heavy slap on his back. "Tsukishima! I underestimated you! To think you'd actually stand up for Kageyama!"
Tsukishima was knocked forward a step by the slap, his expression contorted the moment he heard those words.
He didn't, he's not! He just thought Hinata was fun!
Kageyama's mind went blank.
Stick up for him? Huh? Since when?
By the time Hinata and the others returned to where they had left their things at Inarizaki, it was already late. The Hokkaido Representative Team had already lined up in the front positions, the teams from Karasuno and Miyagi were also preparing to enter the arena for inspection after signing in.
Even though it was still a long way before their Hyogo team would enter the arena, they already had to change their clothes and get ready.
Rishia Heisuke breathed a small sigh of relief and couldn't help but remark to Hinata and Unabara Uta beside him, "This is what normal team socializing should be like. Before, Atsumu-senpai seemed to pick a fight with everyone he met.. It was terrifying."
In the next second, he noticed that Unabara Uta did not respond to him.
Rishia's body stiffened instantly, he craned his neck, turning his head bit by bit toward the direction behind him.
Miya Atsumu, wearing the Inarizaki uniform, stood with one hand on his hip, raising an eyebrow at Rishia Heisuke as if signaling him to continue.
Rishia's knees went weak, he was about to collapse to his knees right then and there.
But fortunately, Hinata had already spoken up: "Atsumu-ge, why are you back? Isn't the inspection about to start?"
The first to enter the venue were the Tournament Championship Flag and the Tournament Championship Flag, followed by the Hokkaido Representative Team. The inspection ceremony was due to begin in ten minutes; why was Miya Atsumu here?
Miya Atsumu took the white sign from Ginjima Yui's hand—the sign that would accompany them throughout the entire Haruko tournament and bore the name Hyogo Prefecture Inarizaki High School—and leaned on it with one hand as he stood on the ground.
His gaze swept past Rishia Heisuke and finally landed on Hinata: "I don't need to go; I'm leading the team."
Hinata didn't react in time: "Eh?"
Miya Atsumu smiled and clapped his hands, signaling everyone to come over. "Alright, line up. Get ready to follow us onto the court."
Coach Ukai and the others had already entered the venue ahead of time and were waiting by the sidelines, as for the Tournament Championship Flag..
[The Tournament Championship Flag enters the arena.]
The flag bearer, Inarizaki High School, Miya Osamu. Shinzan Girls' High School, Amari Yuka.
Coach Kurosu, watching from the sidelines, looked at Miya Osamu as he stepped forward, holding the flag in both hands, he lowered his eyes with a slight smile.
Actually, when Miya Atsumu first brought up this idea to him, he was a bit surprised.
Atsumu himself loves being in the spotlight even more than Osamu, many times in the past, Osamu was the one who accompanied him through his antics. So, the idea of stepping aside and letting Osamu take the position of the flag bearer.. he had never imagined that Atsumu would be the one to suggest it himself.
But it was actually understandable, he had already raised this question back then, Atsumu's answer had truly moved him.
[This is the last volleyball match of Osamu's life; I still have plenty of opportunities to stand out.]
[When I think about how pitiful Atsumu will look when he has to go become an apprentice to open a shop, I feel like I could let him off easy, especially since our team has already participated in the National Sports Festival once.]
And besides.. once he has secured a spot on the team, he'll have no excuse to slack off. I'm going to work him to death.
Recalling that person's tone at the time, Coach Kurosu gave an unprovoked smile.
Even though Atsumu-senpai said that, but..
You two have such a great bond, Twins.
Coach Kurosu sighed with emotion, watching Miya Osamu walk step by step with the Tournament Championship Flag to stand in the position reserved during the previous rehearsal.
Because Miya Atsumu himself was quite experienced, he had accompanied Miya Osamu during the previous rehearsals.
Even though Atsumu-senpai was sharp-tongued and kept mocking some of Miya Osamu's mistakes during the rehearsal, Miya Osamu rarely argued with him.