Gossip Time

Bokuto and the others had originally planned to keep using yesterday's lineup for the evening practice, but they had barely started playing when a small figure appeared at the door.

"Kuroba, isn't that the little guy from your team?"

Kuroo spotted Hinata at the entrance.

"Shoyo? Shouldn't you be practicing with Kageyama?"

Since they had completed the New quick attack ahead of schedule, Hinata had long since resumed practicing one-on-one with Kageyama. The two of them had even practiced the New quick attack together yesterday until the cafeteria was nearly closed. He shouldn't have been here unless...

"Because I saw Hayato-senpai and Tsukishima getting to practice with Fukurōdani's ace and Nekoma's upperclassmen, and I wanted to join too!"

Sure enough, Hinata never wanted to fall behind in matters like this. Kuroo, on the other hand, looked completely unconcerned.

"Well, that works out perfectly. Lev is doing receive practice with Yaku, our club's setter, today, so we're short one person right now."

"Really?! Great! Please take care of me!"

Having received permission, Hinata excitedly joined the 3v3 showdown. That made three Karasuno players, so yesterday's teams could no longer be used. Hayato simply suggested putting Hinata on Fukurōdani's team, while he teamed up with Tsukishima and Kuroo.

That made the height difference even more obvious. Fukurōdani's setter, Akaashi, looked at the two teams.

"Isn't this setup too unbalanced?"

"Our Shoyo is really good too. You saw him during daytime practice, didn't you? You won't lose out, you won't lose out."

Like he was selling his own product, Hayato talked Hinata up. After hearing that, Akaashi accepted the arrangement. After all, during the day, this small middle blocker had not only been able to perform quick attacks, but also had decent tip shots.

Hearing Hayato praise him, Hinata became embarrassed instead, scratching the back of his head and grinning sheepishly.

"Then I'll be looking forward to seeing what Karasuno's little middle blocker can do."

Bokuto looked as though he was eagerly awaiting Hinata's performance, and Hinata immediately stood at attention and shouted, "Yes!"

Once the 3v3 officially began, Akaashi experienced Hinata's unusual qualities firsthand. They were even more obvious than when Hinata had been an opponent. His extraordinary speed and reflexes vastly broadened a setter's options.

As they played, Akaashi could not help wanting to poach this small middle blocker for his own team. After Hinata scored by deliberately aiming for a block-out, Bokuto placed one hand on top of his head and the other under his chin, rubbing Hinata's hair.

"Nice one, Hinata. That was a two-meter wall. You're a little warrior fighting a two-meter wall. Amazing."

This was supposed to be where Bokuto taught Hinata the Signature Move tip shot, but Hinata had already learned that technique ahead of time. He had even used it to take several points from Fukurōdani over the past two days.

So now all Bokuto could do was praise him. The match continued, and Kuroo did not hold back as he taught the two first-year newcomers whose blocking and receiving skills were still lacking. With such a good teacher around, Hayato was happy to take it easy.

"Hey, quit grinning over there. I'm being generous enough to teach your newcomers, you know. Show a little more gratitude."

Seeing Hayato's cheerful expression, Kuroo could not help teasing him.

"Thaaank yooou. Ah, really, thank you so much, Kuroo-senpai."

He first brushed him off in a drawn-out tone, then thanked him quite sincerely. Kuroo had been about to say something else, but Hayato's little routine of lowering then raising the tone left him not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

At last, they finished a game. Tsukishima, drinking water and wiping away sweat, looked somewhat puzzled.

"We're opponents on the court, at least. Why are you willing to coach us?"

"I'm simply a merciful person by nature."

Seeing this classic scene, Hinata and Tsukishima both froze awkwardly, while Hayato clutched his stomach and burst out laughing. He had not expected seeing this scene now to be so funny.

"Is that expression really necessary? And Kuroba, what do you mean by standing there enjoying my misfortune?"

Seeing the reactions of Karasuno's three players, Kuroo scratched his head. Reluctantly, he told them the truth: he also wanted the Trashcan showdown to happen again. It had always been Nekoma's coach's long-cherished wish, but even the coach did not know how much longer he could lead them.

And now that Karasuno had gained some strength, Kuroo planned to add a little more fuel to the fire.

After hearing that, Hinata excitedly said that he too was looking forward to the Trashcan showdown, and sincerely thanked his upperclassman for the guidance.

Faced with such a serious expression of gratitude, Kuroo was the one who could not handle it. He waved his hand and told Hinata and the others not to worry about it.

Practice continued. Hinata remained as excited as ever, while Tsukishima's competitive spirit was stirred as well. The two went back and forth, having a great time. Of course, Tsukishima would never admit that. After blocking one of Hinata's spikes, he merely mocked Hinata, showing off his devious nature without restraint.

They played several more games. Only when Fukurōdani's manager, Shirafuku Yukie—the slightly shorter girl with the enormous appetite—reminded them that the cafeteria would close if they did not leave soon did Bokuto and the others end their individual practice. Everyone went to dinner together.

After dinner, Hayato sent Kiyoko a message, and the two chatted for a while. Just as Kiyoko was about to go shower, the managers stopped her. Mainly because of the smile she had worn just now; by the girls' intuition, something was definitely going on.

From the previous training camp through this summer camp, it was not only the boys who had formed friendships. The female managers had long since become familiar with one another as well.

"Shimizu-chan, who are you talking to?"

"Yeah, you're smiling so happily. Something's going on, isn't it?"

Surrounded by the girls, Kiyoko was caught off guard. Seeing her flustered, Hitoka stepped in front of Kiyoko, trembling like a little white rabbit.

"Um, I don't think this is good. Kiyoko-senpai and Kuroba-senpai are just childhood friends..."

Because she was too nervous, Hitoka immediately let the secret slip. Realizing she had misspoken, Hitoka turned around and dropped to her knees before Kiyoko, apologizing profusely.

Kiyoko merely waved her hand, unconcerned.

"Ah, Kuroba is that handsome, tall, black-haired Wing Spiker, right?"

"Ah, I know him. Bokuto said that guy's skill is about on par with his own."

Childhood friends, and a handsome boy and beautiful girl at that. The girls' gossip burned even hotter. Since it had already been exposed, Kiyoko explained their relationship, though naturally she did not mention the confession.

Hearing they were merely ordinary childhood friends, the girls' interest faded somewhat. Then the manager from Ikawa asked a question.

"Shimizu-chan just said they're still only childhood friends. Does that mean maybe later...?"

After she pointed that out, everyone caught the hidden meaning in Kiyoko's words.

"Ah, is that so?"

Kiyoko merely smiled faintly.

"That, you see, is a trade secret."

If Hayato had been there, he certainly would have been shocked. The two of them had unexpectedly synchronized even their mannerisms.

After dealing with the girls, Kiyoko took her toiletries and went to bathe. The rest began discussing which club members at the camp would make the best boyfriends. Since Hitoka-chan had failed to retreat from the gossip battlefield in time, after Kiyoko left, she naturally became the second subject of gossip. Everyone also wanted to know what Karasuno's little manager thought of the other Karasuno members.

Bedtime was still far away. The girls' heart-to-heart talk was nowhere near over.

Unlike the girls, the boys had basically gone straight to bed after washing up. Their intense training had drained their stamina, leaving them without the energy to do anything else.

Even after lying down, however, they could not immediately fall asleep because they were so exhausted. Everyone still chatted beneath the blankets. The third-years had not returned from bathing yet, so only the first- and second-years were there.

Whether it was the team atmosphere or simply their collectively low emotional intelligence, every single one of Karasuno's first- and second-years had no dating experience. Still, when the subject of confessions came up, the second-years collectively fought back their smiles, leaving Hinata and the others rather confused.

Hayato ground his teeth as he glared at those troublesome friends, warning them not to bring up that embarrassing incident from before. Fortunately, everyone kept their mouths shut and shifted the topic back to the first-years, asking whether they had anyone they liked.

The result was that the volleyball idiot duo had absolutely no interest in such things, Tsukishima had already fallen asleep because he was uninterested in the topic, and only the honest Yamaguchi remained. Yamaguchi's face was slightly red, and it looked like he did have someone he liked.