Recalling the final six months of his third year of junior high, Rishia nodded silently.
—It really was quite happy.
Author's Note:
Atsumu: I am not being hated
Chapter 14: The Fourteenth Fox
After returning from Tokyo, Hinata's life returned to its normal routine once again.
Among this year's freshmen, Hinata and Unabara Uta are in the same class, Rishia was assigned to the classroom next door, because of his excellent entrance exam scores, Kumagai is currently in the advanced academic class.
So it wasn't until club activities that evening that Kumagai finally saw Hinata, who had returned from Tokyo.
Seeing Hinata looking clearly very happy, Kumagai took the initiative to ask, "Did something good happen today?"
“Yeah!” Hinata bumped the ball toward Kumagai and then nodded vigorously. "Before, Coach said to go find Atsumu-senpai after Second String practice to practice something.. Quick Attack?"
Kumagai froze for a moment, failing to react in time to receive the ball.
Realizing he had made a serious mistake, Kumagai hurriedly ran to pick up the ball. "Sorry, sorry, I was daydreaming."
Although he had known from the beginning that Hinata was being closely watched by the coach, making it quite reasonable for him to join the team on the trip to Tokyo to watch the practice matches, it was still far too sudden to suddenly say they were going to start practicing the Quick Attack.
This progress.. isn't it a bit too fast?
Techniques like the Quick Attack are generally introduced only after basic training is more or less complete, as they involve the coordination of the entire team's offense, especially requiring high levels of synchronization between the setter and the wing spiker.
No, considering that Inarizaki's current starting setter is Miya Atsumu, combined with Hinata's speed.. it might actually be worth a try?
Kumagai, who had experience playing in the top four of the national championships, quickly realized the true feasibility of this approach.
Just as he did during his initial club tryouts, if he let Hinata focus on running off to create space and left more tactical options to the Setter.. it could indeed produce a significant effect.
Not to mention that the one controlling the tempo later on wouldn't be an average setter like him, but Miya Atsumu.
Kumagai took a glance and found that neither coach was currently behind them, so he took the initiative to ask Hinata, "Shoyo, do you know what a Quick Attack is?"
Hinata rubbed his chin. "Hmm.. I'm not very sure."
But back when we were in Tokyo, Hoshiumi-senpai—I mean, Karasuno's ace—let me hit a few balls.
Even when he actually played against him, he couldn't feel any difference; he just felt that the ball came at him incredibly fast.
However, seeing how surprised the opposing blockers seemed at the time, it must have been something quite incredible..
Let's give it a try first.
Kumagai caught the ball Hinata sent over with one hand, then walked over to the net not far away to ask a senior something.
The Second String senior glanced sideways at the confused Hinata and gave a decisive thumbs-up. "I was actually looking to take a break, so you two go ahead and use the court."
After speaking, the two people who had been at the net on the right side sat directly down on the ground by the sidelines, making it clear they intended to watch the two of them practice.
Kumagai waved at Hinata, signaling him to come over.
What are we doing?
"I'm going to let you experience the difference between a Quick Attack and other offensive patterns," Kumagai said, looking toward Hinata.
When I call for the run, Shoyo, you start your approach. They're all balls in position two, so don't worry about anything else.
"Okay," Hinata nodded.
At Kumagai's signal, the senior helping on the sidelines tossed the ball to him. Kumagai raised his hand to pop the ball up, sending it on a high, wide arc.
At this moment, Kumagai finally shouted, "Run!"
Hinata stepped forward and spiked the ball, just like his usual practice.
"Great, next one." Kumagai signaled Hinata to go back and prepare for the second spike.
This time, as Kumagai tossed the ball to himself, he shouted, "Run!"
The overall completion speed of the second ball was clearly much faster than before. Having no idea how it worked, Hinata looked at Kumagai and asked, "Is this a quick attack?"
Kumagai shook his head. "No, it's not."
He lifted his chin, signaling Hinata to go back and prepare his approach for the spike. "Let's go again."
Hinata was a bit confused.
This time, as the senior on the other side tossed the ball over, Kumagai had already shouted, "Run!"
Although he didn't understand, Hinata didn't question Kumagai's words at all, instead stepping forward to jump and prepare for a spike, just like the previous two times.
And just at that moment, the volleyball arrived right in front of him.
Hinata widened his eyes and, without any hesitation, raised his hand and spiked the ball down.
With a loud bang, the volleyball landed behind the opponent's court, the entire process having once again reached a new level compared to before.
Hinata landed on the ground, turned his head to look at Kumagai, said, "Oh—it really was fast, the ball came over in the blink of an eye!"
The balls Hoshiumi-senpai used to set for me before were just like that!
Kumagai's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled, feeling very satisfied with the toss he had just made: "Quick, right?"
But..
I think it can be even faster.
Miya Atsumu looked at Aran beside him, his eyes full of confidence.
“Faster?” Aran was stunned for a moment. “At the end of the day, aren't there only a few rhythms for a Quick Attack?”
Watching the First String substitutes' setter toss the ball to others for spike practice, Miya Atsumu narrowed his eyes.
If I let a fast wing spiker start their approach a step earlier, then I deliver a flat set just as they reach their peak height..
Aran's pupils contracted as he instantly realized what Miya Atsumu was trying to say: "You mean spiking directly through the hitter's contact point?"
He subconsciously felt it was a bit absurd. "That's practically magic.."
Miya Atsumu tilted his head and looked at Aran. "Do you think I can't do it?"
The words got stuck in his throat, Aran's smile faded.
He knew very well that Miya Atsumu was not someone who spoke without purpose. Especially when it came to the matter of being a Setter, Miya Atsumu was more serious than anyone else.
So..
"No, I think you can." Aran's voice also turned serious.
But then he pointed out another issue: "Whether the Wing Spiker dares to spike is another matter entirely."
Osamu would definitely dare," Miya Atsumu said with certainty, before curling his lip in disdain, "but that guy can't run that fast.
"Is Osamu still not fast enough.." Aran had just started speaking when he realized what Miya Atsumu was about to say.
Indeed, compared to that little brat, no one he knows was faster than him.
It's a perfect chance to test it out," Miya Atsumu said, stretching his limbs. "It would be a real waste not to make good use of that speed.
Seeing him in this state, Aran couldn't help but offer a moment of silence for Hinata. "Go easy on him; he still has training to do in the Second String."
"I know, I know, don't worry." Miya Atsumu waved his hand and walked toward the coach with excitement, prepared to share his new idea.
On the other side in Gym 3, the simple training session was also drawing to a close.
Kumagai caught the ball thrown back by the others and turned his head to ask Hinata, "So, Shoyo, what do you think the difference is?"
Hinata thought seriously for a moment. "The difference is.. the timing of Akuma's toss?"
The first time, it was before he heard the command and began his approach; the second time, the setting was almost simultaneous with his approach; and the third time, it was after he had already started his run.
Wrong.
Kumagai extended a finger and pointed at Hinata: "It's your timing for the approach."
"My.. timing for the run?" Hinata's expression was clearly a bit dazed.
Kumagai lightly closed one eye, his hand forming the shape of a gun, as if aiming at Hinata.
His voice was clear and decisive: "A Quick Attack is a playstyle where the Wing Spiker uses it to pull the blockers away, catching them off guard and launching an offensive at an even faster tempo."
“While disrupting the flow of battle is certainly the Setter's job, for a Quick Attack, everything from the choice of offensive position and height to what kind of spike is used.. is all decided by the Wing Spiker.”
Hinata tilted his head, not understanding.
Seeing him like this, Kumagai was completely defeated.
He had tried so hard to act cool, but he had failed completely.
His hands hung limp at his sides as he said weakly, "For Shoyo, he just needs to move toward whichever point you think is best to break through."
If you need to perform a Quick Attack, the Setter will coordinate with you.
Hinata nodded as if he partially understood, connecting it to what Hoshiumi Hikari had told him before, asked proactively, "Hoshiumi-senpai told me before that seeing this gesture means I need to run."
“Generally, this hand signal means there's a gap in positioning behind the Setter.” Kumagai understood it at a glance.
However, the positional difference requires a little cooperation from another teammate, so for now, we will only focus on the Quick Attack itself.
He beckoned with his hand, making Hinata stand in his original position. "Shoyo, stand here. Yes, with your back to position two."
This is the position the Setter stands in most often. Now, turn around and watch me demonstrate it for you.
Hinata obediently turned around.
"When the Middle Blocker sees this hand signal in the center, they need to move from their original position toward the edge of the net along with the Wing Spiker on the flank." Kumagai gestured toward the point.
Regardless of how the wing spiker on the other side moves, you only need to remember this spot, which is the closest point behind the setter.
Hinata nodded.
"Let's try it now." Kumagai signaled Hinata to swap positions with him.
He knew very well that Hinata might not remember the principles behind every single step, but his execution was top-notch.
Kumagai gave instructions to Hinata, Hinata followed Kumagai's words, quickly taking two steps from the center toward the edge of the net the moment he saw the signal.
At the exact spot Kumagai had indicated, Hinata leaped with a thud.