Special Coaching for Hinata

Although they said they wanted to rest well, the gymnasium inspection was only a one-day affair. Training, which had been paused yesterday, resumed today. However, what differed from before was the mindset of everyone in the volleyball club.

Everyone was brimming with fighting spirit. Under the efforts of the captain, Daichi-senpai, they secured the usage rights for the first gymnasium. After the girls' volleyball club finished their practice, anyone who wanted to train individually could use their court in the first gymnasium.

Currently, the boys' volleyball club was using the second gymnasium, separate from the girls' volleyball club's activities.

"Hayato-senpai! Coach Ukai taught me so much yesterday! I didn't quite understand what you meant by offensive rhythm, but after the coach had me experience it firsthand, I finally got it!"

Before training, Hinata excitedly rushed up to Hayato and poured out everything that had happened yesterday as if he were spilling beans.

"Oh, is that so? Since you understand it now, I'll toss to you after basic training is done. Let's start our individual training."

Hayato, who had prepared himself mentally, didn't dwell on the fact that Hinata still hadn't understood the materials he'd given him. After all, he was a practical player. So, he ruffled Hinata's hair and told him that they would start training today.

As it turned out, Hinata said that Coach Ukai wanted to see Hayato today, so he had to take Hayato there.

"Is that so? Then let's go meet him. Didn't you say there was a court over there? You can train there while we're at it."

With Hayato's agreement, Hinata happily bounced away to start his warm-up. After dealing with Hinata's matter, Hayato called Kageyama over. Although these two hadn't fought, the atmosphere between them was still a bit awkward.

"Tobio, what do you think? Have you thought of a toss that would suit Shoyo?"

"Coach Ukai discussed it with me."

The honest Kageyama fully recounted what Coach Ukai had discussed with him yesterday. Hayato felt quite reassured about Kageyama; once this genius figured out how to play, the rest could be supplemented with practice.

After patting his shoulder and offering some encouragement, Hayato didn't say anything further.

Hayato wasn't planning on interfering with the others for now. As long as the Odd Couple of Fast Attacks and himself were sorted, Karasuno's front row would be the strongest. Therefore, for the upcoming period, Hinata's focus would be on how to get faster and jump higher, to break free from blockers more quickly, to reach the highest point faster, and to jump higher.

There was no need to worry about stamina. Rather than conserving energy to play five full sets, it was better to crush the opponent in the fastest time possible in the first set. Whether they were substituted out to rest or played another set wouldn't matter. In martial arts, speed is everything.

Hayato, Tanaka, Hinata, and Asahi – Karasuno was not lacking in offensive power. Thus, a rotation system was the most suitable. It would prevent anyone from constantly being benched and maintain everyone's condition.

Perhaps in the original work, Grandpa Ukai's requirement for Hinata to perfectly handle any setter might have been more suitable for Hinata, but that kind of comprehensive development took too long. Hayato believed that now was the time to maximize strengths rather than fix weaknesses. Kageyama's setting was the strongest.

Therefore, they had to cooperate with Kageyama using their strongest abilities. Their goal was the championship. After winning the championship, it would be plenty of time to catch Hinata up on everything else. The third-years only had one chance. So, to win the championship, Hayato was willing to let Hinata become a bucket with a very long single plank.

After finishing today's training, Hayato apologized to Kiyoko, explaining he couldn't go home with her today. Then, he took Hinata with him to meet Grandpa Ukai, while everyone else stayed to train a bit longer.

"Oh~ so you're the new addition to the volleyball club? You've got spirit."

The old man looked Hayato up and down and nodded with satisfaction.

"Hello, I am Kuroba Hayato. Shoyo and Coach Ukai should have mentioned me."

"Very good. How about it, have you got any interest in showing me a few moves?"

Patting Hayato's shoulder, the old man was very interested in Hayato's actual skill.

After considering it for a moment, Hayato agreed to the old man's request and displayed his superb techniques. Whether it was cross-court shots or straight shots, the emphasis was on power. His tosses and receives were also good.

"My, with your addition, maybe Karasuno can really make it to nationals."

Looking at Hayato, who had finished showcasing his skills, the old man said with relief. Hayato didn't act humble. He called Hinata, who was sitting and watching nearby, over and conveyed his thoughts to the old man.

On the way to Coach Ukai's house, Hayato had already told Hinata his thoughts. The completely different idea from the coach's had made Hinata struggle for a long time, wondering whether to listen to the coach or his senior. In the end, he chose to trust his senior.

So, when Hayato finished talking with the old man, he bowed along with his senior and asked the old man for his consideration.

"In any case, Kuroba, why don't you and the little guy try it out first?"

The old man didn't rush to a conclusion but wanted to see the results first. Hinata was a bit reluctant.

"Um, Coach, my name is Hinata, not 'little guy.' Why do you call senior Hayato by his last name?"

"Need I say more? Those with trash-tier ball skills only deserve to be called 'little guy'."

The old man's merciless words, spoken with a mischievous grin, left Hinata speechless.

They walked to the center of the court, and Hayato and Hinata focused. When the old man tossed the ball to Hayato, in the blink of an eye—yes, just a blink—his eyes lost track of Hinata. When he saw Hinata again, he had already run to the net and jumped high. Hayato's toss had reached his hitting point.

Hinata, who had already practiced keeping a calm state while touching the ball as suggested by Hayato, didn't panic because of Hayato's slightly imperfect toss. Instead, he accurately judged the position and spiked the ball, successfully smashing it into the opponent's court.

"So, so fast."

"So this is the effect."

Seeing the two successfully score, the old man mused thoughtfully. The celebrating duo walked up to the old man, looking at him expectantly.

"Alright, your idea is correct. I won't say anything more."

Finally, the old man agreed to Hayato's plan. The two who had gained understanding cheered and high-fived.

"Then the little guy doesn't need to come train with me anymore, right?"

"Regarding that, I'd like to continue bringing him here to train. When we have the summer training camp, we'll give everyone else a surprise."

Hayato proposed this little plan with a mischievous smile. Seeing a kindred spirit, the old man immediately agreed. Hinata would continue to train here, but instead of others tossing, the old man and Hayato would take turns.

Although he was excellent in offense, Hayato was only at a normal level in tossing. His skills weren't even as good as Sugawara's. But to create a surprise for everyone, he had to practice.

The old man personally got involved. Due to his stamina, he couldn't toss too much. When he went to rest, Hayato would take over. With the large number of tosses from the two of them, Hinata's progress became faster and faster, as did his stamina. He couldn't last long before getting exhausted.

Since he still had to cycle home, Hayato didn't push Hinata too hard. Before letting him go home, they made an agreement: starting tomorrow morning, Hinata would come find him to go for a run together to improve his speed.

He even took out paper and a pen and asked Hinata if there was anything he disliked eating, then created a nutritional meal plan for him, telling him to consume the required nutrients daily according to the list.

This special skill was something he learned from the team's former nutritionist. Professional athletes would have dedicated nutritionists to plan their daily meals. Of course, Hinata's current plan wasn't that luxurious; it was simply about supplementing nutrition.

Supplementing nutrition wasn't something that could be fully achieved just by eating; other fruits were needed as a supplement.

Upon returning home, Hayato ordered five pounds, or rather, a tub of banana cream-flavored protein powder online, so that Hinata could drink it once in the morning and once in the evening after exercising. It cost him over ten thousand yen. Of course, Hayato didn't plan to tell Hinata about this, as it wasn't a small amount of money. If that kid found out, he definitely wouldn't accept it. So, Hayato devised a plan.

He would prepare two bottles and they would share them. He would tell Hinata that he was just bringing him along, so that Hinata's brain, which was full of volleyball, wouldn't overthink it. This trick would probably only work on Hinata. If it were the clever Tsukishima, Hayato suspected he would have guessed his intentions the first time he offered it.