Shiratori nodded. "Kumagai is indeed shrewd and capable, but shouldn't he be preparing for exams in the second half of the year? How are the qualities of the substitute setter? Can he keep up with Shoyo's pace?"
Hearing this, Miya Atsumu turned his head and looked at Shiratori with a strange expression. "Shiratori-senpai, Kuniharu will play in next year's Haruko."
“As for Reo Mizuta.. we have been working hard on his training, but the results have been mediocre. Coach Kurosu is already looking for the next Setter.”
Shiratori remained silent.
Alright, he understood what Miya Atsumu meant.
He glanced behind Miya Atsumu and asked tentatively, "Digging up Mingsha?"
Right at that moment, a voice drifted eerily from behind Shiratori.
You'll be killed by me, Coach Himegomiya.
Shiratori stood at attention, not even daring to breathe.
Miya Atsumu, who was being stared at by Coach Himegomiya, pursed his lips and hurriedly cleared his name: "It's nothing, we're not poaching. Coach Kurosu has been eyeing the setter over in Tottori lately."
Coach Himegomiya breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that. After all, Inarizaki's performance over the last two years had been truly terrifying, most people simply could not resist the allure of being an Emotional Champion Senior.
And at that moment, Shiratori realized something else: "Then you can't give the Captain position to Kumagai anymore, can you?"
Hinata burst out from behind Miya Atsumu, raising his hand to eagerly answer Shiratori, "So, prepare it for me!"
Shiratori, who had just thought it would be Rishia's, switched sides in a second: "As expected of Shoyo, this position is indeed very suitable for you."
Bokuto's eyes lit up as he finally found a topic he could relate to: "Oh, oh! Then we're the same!"
Miya Atsumu looked confused. "What's the same?"
As soon as he said it, he regretted it.
He shouldn't have spoken to Bokuto-senpai. As far as he knew, this person's perspective on things was always incredibly bizarre; there was an eighty percent chance that initiating a conversation would result in being led into a trap.
Bokuto pointed to himself with a finger, puffing out his chest and saying proudly, "Captain! I'm going to be a captain too!"
Hinata's eyes widened, he cried out in shock, "Bokuto-senpai, aren't you guys only in your second year?"
Bokuto nodded vigorously, clearly enjoying Hinata's shocked expression. "I don't know either! Natsume told me to do it, so I did, but I also think it's because I'm really amazing."
Miya Atsumu turned his head to look at Shiratori Natsume, who was staring at the ceiling at a forty-five-degree angle, for a moment, eight hundred different guesses flashed through his mind.
Under normal circumstances, members of university volleyball clubs are mainly concentrated among first to third-year students, because most fourth-year students are either doing internships or preparing for postgraduate entrance exams.
While many students in sports-related university clubs don't have to worry about this, many starters in their fourth year have already left the school team to join professional teams. For example, Inunari signed with the Black Jackals during his fourth year; even though he hasn't made the main roster yet, he still has to follow their training sessions.
Therefore, the position of captain in a university team is generally held by a starting player from the Third Year, or a Fourth Year player who remains with the school team.
Being a captain in one's second year is definitely an abnormal situation, especially when that person is Bokuto.
Considering that Bokuto was the MVP of this year's University League, from a performance standpoint.. it wouldn't be impossible?
No, no, no, something must have definitely happened, it's related to Shiratori-senpai?
It couldn't be that some former delinquent senior couldn't stand any of the other seniors in the University League and beat everyone into submission, directly pushing Bokuto-senpai into his position, right!
No way!
While Miya Atsumu was still lost in thought, Hinata had already skipped the process and was cheering enthusiastically beside Bokuto-senpai.
I don't know why, but Bokuto-senpai is just too amazing!
Bokuto laughed loudly toward the sky: "Hahahaha—of course!"
Coach Raphael, who had failed in his attempt to recruit Suna, returned empty-handed and could only comfort himself by watching Hinata, who had already been brought into their fold.
As soon as he returned to the hotel, Hinata collapsed completely on the bed.
Today's match was truly exhilarating, but it was also incredibly exhausting. He had said he would take a shower first, but now he didn't even want to move a single finger.
Xiaoxia and Coach Himegomiya went to see off her mother, who was leaving with the Inarizaki supporters. Xiaoxia will stay at Coach Himegomiya's house for a month, during which time she will undergo training with the coach, the coach will also arrange training matches and actual games for her. He and Miya Atsumu are planning to go out and have some fun.
Hinata was drowsy, while Miya Atsumu, having just finished a quick shower, had cleaned himself up and sat down beside Hinata, wiping his hair with a towel.
He reached out and poked Hinata's wrinkled knee. "Are you really going to sleep? Coach is going to call for the two of us in a bit."
Hinata curled his legs and rolled a quarter-turn toward Miya Atsumu, but he didn't prepare to get up: "I'll just sleep for a little bit.."
Miya Atsumu refused sternly, "No, you haven't eaten yet. You can sleep after you finish eating with Teacher Mikail in a bit; if you sleep for a little while now, you'll definitely feel even worse."
Listening to Hinata's whining as he threw a tantrum, Miya Atsumu's hand reached for the kinesiology tape on Hinata's calf.
The kinesiology tape had been worn for an extra day during this match, so after peeling back the edges, it could be seen that the stickiness had weakened significantly, it could be torn off directly.
Glancing at Hinata's profile, the ruthless Miya Atsumu grabbed the corner he had already peeled back and instantly yanked the kinesiology tape off with force.
“Augh—!”
Hinata bounced up from the bed in an instant, the sudden pain forcing a single tear from his eye.
He clutched his leg, looking at Miya Atsumu with a face full of grievance.
Miya Atsumu glanced at the kinesiology tape in his hands and proactively leaned toward Hinata. "Then should I peel it off slowly?"
Recalling that sensation from before, when the slow peeling felt like being nibbled by tiny insects, Hinata steeled his heart and thrust his leg directly onto Miya Atsumu's lap.
Come on! Just rip them off! I'm ready!
The ruthless Miya Atsumu ripped all the kinesiology tape off Hinata's body at top speed.
“Aaaargh! It hurts—!”
Atsumu—
Listening to Hinata's wails, the sinner Miya Atsumu felt guilty for two seconds.
After throwing everything he had pulled off into the trash, Miya Atsumu didn't even care about his own wet hair; he hurriedly crawled to Hinata's side, where he was already lying there like a corpse, began to massage his leg.
“It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. Let me massage it for you.”
Hinata propped himself up on the bed, looking at Miya Atsumu's profile, a sudden surge of vengefulness rushed through him.
He lunged decisively at Miya Atsumu, rubbing his sweaty hair against his face and neck.
Miya Atsumu was still massaging Hinata's calves when he was suddenly hit in the face with a sticky mess: "Shoyo! I just finished my shower!"
Hinata happily made the decision for Miya Atsumu: "Then you should take another shower."
Atsumu looked up and closed his eyes. "Let me off the hook today."
Hinata said seriously, "A reward."
Miya Atsumu remained unmoved: "We'll talk about that later."
Chapter 548: The Five Hundred and Forty-Eighth Fox
After being thoroughly taught a lesson by Teacher Mikail, the Inarizaki members enjoyed their most peaceful sleep of the year.
The interview was scheduled for the next morning, the bus driver was already waiting in the hotel parking lot after lunch.
Watching Miya Atsumu and Hinata as they saw him off at the bottom of the bus, Coach Omimi gave them earnest advice: "You two, be careful. Don't go to any deserted places. If you run into trouble, remember to call.."
Miya Atsumu patted his own chest and gave Coach Omimi his word: "Don't worry, Coach, I'm here, there definitely won't be any problems!"
Coach Omimi hesitated, wanting to say something, but then remembered that this wasn't the first time the two of them had gone out to have fun, so he put his heart at ease.
As the car drove off, the Coach's voice still drifted out from inside, "Be safe—"
Hinata placed both hands before his mouth and shouted in response, "Don't worry, Coach!!"
Watching the Inarizaki bus disappear at the end of the road, Hinata turned his head to look at Miya Atsumu: "Where are we going first?"
Atsumu glanced at the schedule on his phone. "The Black Jackals' manager contacted the clothing store. They want to take my measurements to custom-make my team warm-ups and formal wear."
Hinata was puzzled: "Formal wear?"
He could understand the team uniforms and the clothes he wore in his daily life, but their school uniforms, team uniforms, such were all custom-made. Spring and summer school uniforms, indoor and outdoor sportswear, the volleyball team's uniforms and sportswear, even shoes—if he remembered correctly, he already had nearly ten sets of clothes.
—It was also quite a significant expense.
But formal wear.. does the Volleyball Club even have that kind of requirement?
Miya Atsumu replied, "Generally, no. Although you need formal photos and ID cards when joining the team, players usually purchase those themselves."
It's mainly because the Black Jackals manager wants me to take on more commercial work during my off-season, so I need some clothes that can serve as a good image. I'll just order them all at once when I go this time.
Atsumu turned his head and invited Hinata, "Shoyo, come and help me pick out some styles."
Hinata nodded. "Okay."
Formal wear! He hasn't worn that before!
It feels like.. a symbol of becoming a mature adult.
Miya Atsumu's contract with the Black Jackals hasn't been officially signed yet; after all, since Miya Atsumu won the previous bet, the Black Jackals need to draft a new contract based on the terms agreed upon then.
However, professional players' uniforms are themselves funded by sponsors. This time, Miya Atsumu's trip to order a suit was also at the club's request, so the costs would be fully reimbursed by them. Therefore, the now "wealthy" Miya Atsumu chose..
Take a taxi to the shop.
Under Hinata's shocked gaze, Miya Atsumu took an exorbitant receipt from the taxi driver and handed it over to the Black Jackals manager.
The person on the other end replied with a string of ellipses, not long after, he transferred double the amount to him, even included the money for the return trip.
Miya Atsumu put his phone away with satisfaction. "Great, I've got today's food money too."
Who said they were going to take a taxi back? They don't need to rush on the way back; they could even take public transportation to go around and have some fun nearby!
Seeing Miya Atsumu about to turn into a profiteer, Hinata felt like he had learned a valuable lesson.
Pushing open the door to the clothing store, the tailor, who had been waiting for a long time, came over enthusiastically to welcome them: "Mr. Miya, is it? This way, please. Let's start by taking your measurements."
The clerk guided Hinata to sit in the shop's waiting area and served him tea.
Hinata sat on the soft sofa, looking around at the various ready-made clothes displayed in the shop's window.
He emboldened himself to approach the transparent display case by the wall while the shop assistant went to get some snacks, taking a close look at a brown suit inside.
The moment he looked down and saw that string of zeros on the price tag, he was so startled that he took a step back, quickly standing still and behaving properly, not daring to move.
The price of the small-sleeved shirt he had ordered for Xiaoxia previously wasn't even a fraction of the cost of this outfit; if he accidentally ruined it, he couldn't afford to pay for it even if he sold himself!
Miya Atsumu took the measurements very quickly; the Black Jackals uniforms have a specialized supplier, so he was just grabbing the data while he was at it.