It's Time to Cultivate a New Ace

Even though they had just won the match, Hinata found Kageyama during the break and told him he didn't want to close his eyes during the "monster quick attack" anymore. Kageyama looked at him with disdain.

"Isn't the regular quick attack something you learned because you couldn't do it?"

"Staying as we are won't work. Relying on you to get the ball into my hands, this kind of quick attack isn't enough. If this continues, I'll forever be Kuroba-senpai's decoy. I don't want that. I want to fight with my own strength."

"So, it's precisely because you can't do it..."

Kageyama, who was getting annoyed by Hinata's words, was interrupted before he could finish.

"During the Aoba Johsai match, for the last point, by the time I realized what was happening, we had already lost. The ball I hit flew behind me and landed on the court. After the game, even though it was my fault, it was Kageyama who apologized. In aerial duels, I want to fight with my own power until the very last second."

Taking a deep breath, Kageyama looked at Hinata very seriously.

"The Aoba Johsai match made me realize that the person who can bring out the ace's abilities 100% is the setter. That quick attack is your greatest weapon, and also your biggest decoy. With Kuroba-senpai joining, our offensive options have been greatly expanded. What you can do now is help Kuroba-senpai share the offensive pressure, not cause him trouble."

"That quick attack, even a slight deviation is fatal. So, that quick attack doesn't need your will."

Although the two weren't overly emotional while talking, the atmosphere between them grew increasingly tense. Sugawara, who had been listening from the beginning, quickly stepped in to mediate.

"Both of you, calm down, okay? It's all for the team, right?"

"Kageyama, when you set the ball to me, did you consider these things?"

Hayato joined the conversation at the opportune moment, hooking his arm around Kageyama's neck as he asked.

"No, Kuroba-senpai, your technique is very solid. When I set the ball to you, you consider how to attack."

"But Hinata's technique..."

Kageyama knew what Hayato meant, but he still retorted.

"So, you want Hinata to just listen to you obediently, Kageyama? You're being a bit too conservative. The one in control of the offense isn't you, it's..."

As Hayato spoke, he lifted the arm resting on Kageyama's shoulder and pointed at Hinata with his index finger. Kageyama followed Hayato's gaze, and then heard Hayato's calm voice.

"Hinata."

Upon hearing Hayato's words, both Kageyama and the surrounding team members agreed with his point. Hinata, on the other hand, was deeply moved by Hayato's support.

"Kuroba-senpai..."

"Well, but Kageyama is right, Hinata, your technique is indeed too poor."

Changing his tone, Hayato grinned and said.

"Uh, Senpai, don't say that at the end. I was quite touched before."

"Haha, sorry. So, Tobio, for the remaining time, you'll practice how to deliver the best sets to Shoyo. I'll make sure Shoyo can keep up with your pace."

"Shoyo, Senpai Hayato's one-on-one tutoring session starts today, so don't complain about being tired."

After apologizing to Hinata, Hayato affectionately called out the names of the two juniors, informing them of the general direction for improvement so they would have goals to strive for. Hearing their respected senpai call their names, both of them excitedly replied.

"Yes! Senpai Hayato!"

Hayato, having resolved the situation perfectly, glanced at Coach Ukai and knew he had heard him. He waved towards the coach.

"Coach, was my handling of the situation okay? Do you have anything to add?"

"This brat."

Coach Ukai chuckled and shook his head. Hayato's approach was much gentler than he had expected. He had pointed out the problem and provided a solution, and most importantly, he hadn't made either of them feel uncomfortable. Didn't you see these two first-years have already regained their fighting spirit?

"Let's proceed with your method. Alright, everyone, take a short break and prepare for the next game."

Clapping his hands to signal the end of the matter, Coach Ukai told everyone to continue resting. The others, especially Sugawara, breathed a huge sigh of relief. He didn't know what to do until Hayato spoke. Thinking this, he looked at Hayato with satisfaction. Once the third-years retired, the volleyball club would be in good hands.

This training camp only lasted two days, held over the weekend. Since they still had two weeks of school after the exams, teaching Hinata would have to wait until after the practice matches. Karasuno, having regained their momentum, finished the training camp early at 3:20 PM, achieving a record of 4 wins out of 7 games. After all, they still had to take the bus back to Miyagi, and they couldn't delay too late.

Standing at the entrance of the gymnasium, Coach Nekomata was chatting with Coach Ukai and Teacher Takeda, who had stayed to see them off.

"My, your newcomers are truly amazing. Let's meet again next week during the summer training camp."

"Yes, please take care of us."

Coach Nekomata looked at them with a smile.

"The real focus is next. This is the only long-term training camp before the Spring High preliminaries."

In front of the bus, the two captains, Kuroo and Daichi, were chatting.

"It might be too late to say this now, but I see your third-years have also stayed."

"Yes, and you faced last year's champions on the second day. I heard about it from Hinata during the high school league preliminaries a while ago."

"Ah, we were eliminated in the quarterfinals."

"Eight teams in Tokyo is also very impressive."

"If you can't win in the end, everything else is meaningless."

Kuroo said with a touch of melancholy, placing his right hand on his waist. In any competitive sport, after a player participates, they are all aiming for the championship. The quarterfinals were far from enough.

"That's true."

"However, this newcomer of yours is very impressive. Your chances of passing the Spring High preliminaries have increased significantly."

"Yes, sometimes I feel Kuroba-kun is even more mature than I am, a third-year. He handles things perfectly. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll be the next captain."

"You really are the captain, already starting to train your successor."

"Don't say that, like you haven't been training anyone."

On the other side, Haiba approached Hinata.

"Next time, I'll block you too."

"Just you wait, I'll definitely surprise you after training with Hayato-senpai."

The two, having established a friendship, laughed simultaneously after speaking.

And so, the short training camp ended, and the bus carrying the Karasuno team headed towards Miyagi Prefecture.

On the bus ride back, everyone was exhausted after two days of high-intensity training, dozing off against the seatbacks. As managers, Kiyoko and Hitoka were no exception. Their duties included not only preparing water bottles for everyone but also recording matches, and washing towels and used clothes.

Even though they used the school's washing machines, moving three laundry baskets, each filled with over ten items of clothing for the entire team, was still quite heavy. These past two days of training weren't just for the main players; the substitutes also trained under Coach Ukai's arrangements.

"This training camp was really good. I feel like I gained a lot."

Teacher Takeda said to Coach Ukai in the passenger seat while driving.

"We also have a lot of problems to address. We'll have to solve them one by one when we get back."

"That's right. Let's tackle them individually once we're home."

"Going home."

"Ukai-kun?"

"I'm not really looking forward to going back. A big troublemaker is coming to my house."

Resting his arm on the car window and propping up his chin, Coach Ukai uttered a cryptic remark.

As darkness fully set in, the bus finally arrived back at Karasuno High. After everyone unloaded their luggage in the parking lot, Teacher Takeda informed them that the gymnasium would be temporarily closed for a period starting tomorrow, so they could all take a good rest.

It had been previously announced that the gymnasium closure was for maintenance checks.

"Alright everyone, you've worked hard."

"Thank you, Teacher!"

After thanking the teacher, everyone paired up and prepared to leave school. With the dispute between Hinata and Kageyama resolved, they didn't linger and headed straight home. Kiyoko, Hayato, and Hitoka, as usual, went home together.

After dropping Hitoka off, Hayato stretched his legs somewhat freely in the sparsely populated train, leaning his head against the window behind him and letting out a big yawn.