Chapter 76-New manager and races

After the weekend, it was Monday again, and Hinata was on his bike heading towards Karasuno. Upon arriving, as usual, he went straight to his classroom for his first two classes, which were Biology and English.

"Very well, Hinata-kun, you were one of the three with the highest score on this test!" said his English teacher as she handed him his graded test.

"Thank you very much!" Hinata said, taking the test and quickly returning to his seat.

"That bastard, he's tall, good at volleyball, and still gets the best grades in the class!" complained one student to another.

"At least he's not so lucky with the girls. I haven't seen him talking to many, even though some cheer for him when he plays," replied the other.

"Ding dong, ding doooong!"

"Ding dong, ding doooong!"

The bell for break time could be heard throughout the school.

"Alright, you're all dismissed!" said the teacher after hearing the bell.

"Well, time for a snack," thought Hinata, ignoring the comments that had been made about him.

"Hey, Hinata... wait," said a female voice behind Hinata, who turned around to see Shimizu.

"Oh, Shimizu! Do you need something?" Hinata asked, trying to sound friendly.

"Yes, do you know which first-year students aren't in any clubs yet?" Shimizu asked, holding a piece of paper.

"That girl is so pretty... isn't she a third-year?" said one student.

"Yeah, and why is she talking to Hinata?" asked another envious student.

"She's the manager of the Karasuno volleyball club, and Hinata is our Ace, so it's completely normal for them to be talking. In fact, they'd make a great couple!" said a girl, fantasizing as she spoke.

"Tsk! Lucky bastard!" said another student.

"Actually, I'm not entirely sure, but I can ask... do you want me to try recruiting them?" Hinata asked.

"Could you do that?" she asked.

"Of course, if it's you asking, I'll do my best!" Hinata said, laughing.

"Thank you!" Shimizu said, turning to leave. Hinata could swear she blushed slightly, but he wasn't sure if it was real or just his imagination.

After classes ended, he went to the locker room to change and found almost all the members there.

"Hey, Hinata! Your interview is already in the magazine! Look here!... You're right next to Oikawa!" Tanaka shouted.

"YOU MET HIM THERE?!" Nishinoya yelled.

"Yeah, it was a joint interview. If you read the questions, both our answers are in sequence," Hinata said, shrugging.

"Wait... Curry?... And what's this phrase?! I bet you tried to sound smart for the people!" Tanaka said.

"It's really my favorite food, and it was just the first motivational phrase that came to mind. It's not that important. Besides, there was this question about the third-years staying for the next tournament... I said yes," Hinata noted.

"Of course we'll stay! It's our chance to go to nationals!" Sugawara said.

"Wait, what's this? World Youth? Ushiwaka?" Tanaka said, looking at the magazine.

"That means he's the representative for Japan U19," Tsukishima said.

"Did you meet him there?" Kageyama asked.

"No, only Oikawa was there," Hinata replied.

"Hey, guys... Shimizu needs all of us in the gym! Finish up quickly!" Daichi alerted from the locker room entrance.

Once inside the gym, Shimizu was standing with a blonde girl beside her.

"Oh, a new manager?" Sugawara said, approaching along with Tanaka and Nishinoya. The blonde girl looked extremely uncomfortable.

"She's going to be on a trial period to become a new manager if she can adapt and wants to!" Shimizu said, looking at the girl.

"My... my name is Hitoka Yachi, nice to meet you," the girl said in a shy, hesitant tone.

"Likewise!" everyone shouted in unison, making the girl even more scared, especially when Asahi approached.

"This is good. We'll have another helper for Shimizu and ensure we have one for next year. You're a first-year, right?" Asahi said.

"Yes, I'm from class 1-5, sir!" Yachi shouted.

"Hey, back off a bit!" Daichi said to Asahi.

"Anyway, she hasn't officially joined yet and just came to check things out!" Shimizu said.

"I see," Daichi said.

"Thank you! And sorry for the trouble..." Yachi said as she left the gym.

"So you were looking for another manager!" Daichi said after Yachi left.

"Yes, with Karasuno getting stronger, it's important to have a manager for the future," Shimizu said.

"Kiyoko-san, you're amazing!" Tanaka and Nishinoya shouted.

"That's strange..." Ukai said, suddenly appearing and entering the gym.

"What is it?" Daichi asked.

"Ah, it's nothing! Let's start practice. Today we'll work on spikes, and then you'll do the running drill!" Ukai said, ignoring the girl who had just left the gym. When she saw him, she ran off.

"Got it!" everyone shouted in unison.

After spike practice, the Karasuno players were preparing for the running drill and heading towards the hill they usually run on.

"I'm thinking of asking Kanoka out!" Tanaka commented.

"Really? You too, Ryu?" Nishinoya said.

"What do you mean?" Tanaka asked, confused.

"I WAS THINKING OF DOING THE SAME WITH YONEZAWA!" Nishinoya said.

"That sounds interesting! Why don't we make it a triple date?" Hinata said, joining the conversation.

"And who are you going with?" Tanaka asked, curious.

"Shimizu, of course," Hinata replied.

"WHAT?!" Tanaka and Nishinoya shouted in unison.

"You wouldn't have the guts to ask her out!" Tanaka said.

"Hey, it's not just you guys who can be interested in her!" Hinata said.

"I'm fine with it, if Hinata can convince her!" Nishinoya said.

"Then it's decided!" Hinata said, leaving the two behind and reaching the destination before everyone else. Just as Hinata was about to start running up the hill...

"What do you think you're doing?!" Kageyama said.

"I'm running!" Hinata said, shrugging.

"I won't let you beat me like this! Let's race!" Kageyama said.

"Alright!" Hinata said, preparing to run.

"Let's go!" Kageyama shouted, starting to run frantically with Hinata right behind him.

"HEY! DON'T GET LOST, YOU IDIOTS!" Daichi shouted.

"Let them go... it's better this way," Tsukishima said.

The two ran frantically without paying attention to the path, and before they knew it, they were lost.

"I think you took the wrong turn," Hinata said, smiling as he looked around.

"What do you mean, I took it?!" Kageyama said, irritated.

"Wakano 3-chome? Where is that?" Hinata asked, looking at the street sign.

"That's near Shiratorizawa," Kageyama said.

"Hmm... so Ushiwaka studies around here..." Hinata said, thoughtful.

"Are you talking about me?" said a voice.

"Ushiwaka?!" the two shouted in unison when they saw Ushiwaka standing there, looking at them.