"The OK strap is very cute."

Soliton Lapping glanced at the OK strap on Tetsuo Kuroo's arm and said seriously, "It's very suitable for Little Black."

Tetsuo Kuroo glanced at the OK strap on his right arm that had a cartoon cat pattern printed on it. His dark golden eyes revealed a helpless smile.

During the practice match this afternoon, he accidentally scraped his right arm when he caught the ball with a diving jump.

Although it was just a small scratch, it was enough to make his Zhaoyan-chan's heart ache. If he hadn't stopped him, his arm would have probably been wrapped in bandages by now (hands up).

Shōnen Sauce was really too cute.

The smile in Tetsuo Kuroo's eyes deepened.

Soliton Lapping silently moved his chair a little further away from Tetsuo Kuroo.

Tetsuo Kuroo raised his eyebrows and didn't say anything. He directly got up and dragged his chair towards Soliton Lapping before sitting down again.

Soliton Lapping said in disdain, "Little Black's body is full of the sour smell of love."

Tetsuo Kuroo touched the back of his head and said indifferently, "You're thinking too much. I'm stinking of sweat."

Soliton Lapping turned his head and glanced at Tetsuo Kuroo who was sitting cross-legged on the chair. As he pondered whether he should wipe the chair later, he turned his attention back to the computer game interface. His fingers flew nimbly on the keyboard.

Tetsuo Kuroo sat on the chair and watched Soliton Lapping play the game. It wasn't clear what he was thinking, but his expression was a little troubled and a little happy.

"What's with that expression?" Soliton Lapping was a little creeped out by Tetsuo Kuroo's expression.

"I'm thinking if I should get injured during the practice match tomorrow."

"I'm a little regretful that I let Shōnen Sauce be the manager of the volleyball club … She's been busy organizing practice matches recently. I feel like she's been paying less attention to me …"

"But I can't bear to see Shōnen Sauce's distressed expression … It's so troublesome." Tetsuo Kuroo pinched his neck and frowned a little.

Soliton Lapping was speechless. Little Black's brain circuits were really strange sometimes.

Just as the first game ended, his fingers moved and sent a message in the private chat channel —

[Little Black just told me something.]

Black Tailed Iron Lang could see clearly what Lone Claw was grinding.

Of course, he also knew who this message was for.

Tetsuo Kuroo was speechless.

Soliton Lapping turned his head and glanced at Tetsuo Kuroo. His light brown cat eyes flashed.

With just a glance, he stared at the computer screen again and asked leisurely, "Little Black, do you think I should tell Shōnen Sauce what you just said?"

Tetsuo Kuroo calmly reached out his hand to the computer network cable.

Soliton Lapping was still looking at the computer screen as if he didn't see Tetsuo Kuroo's actions. After Akihito Matsukaze sent a questioning emoji, he quickly typed a message and sent it.

[If I say it, Little Black will pull out my network cable.]

Then Tetsuo Kuroo's phone rang.

Tetsuo Kuroo smiled and picked up the phone in front of Soliton Lapping.

Soliton Lapping was speechless. It was all part of the plan.

Of course, it was impossible for him to get injured on purpose. In the next few practice matches, Tetsuo Kuroo paid attention and didn't get injured again.

When the two of them were alone, he stuck even closer to Akihito Matsukaze, trying to get Akihito Matsukaze's attention back to him.

It was a new day. It was lunch break and the sun was shining brightly. The canopy outside the school's canopy blocked the scorching sun and brought shade to the rest area.

"How many practice matches have we played these days?"

Satō Gakucho, a third-year student, asked Takahashi while drinking his energy drink, "Five or six?"

Sato was the vice-captain of the volleyball club. He was originally responsible for logistics and other miscellaneous work. After Akihito Matsukaze joined the club, his job became a lot easier.

"Six." Takahashi took a bite of his fried bread and said, "We didn't win a single match!

I really want to win a match! "

The two third-year students sitting next to Gao Qiao also sighed in unison, their faces gloomy.

"Speaking of which, Matsutake is really amazing. She was able to persuade so many elite schools to play practice matches with us."

After a while, the other third-year student, Kobayashi, swallowed the rice ball in his mouth and said, "She can also give us technical and tactical guidance.

If I didn't experience it myself, I wouldn't believe it. After all, this kind of thing sounds like a fantasy. "

"You are also amazing. You can even say the word 'fantasy.'" Sato rolled his eyes and took another sip of his energy drink.

"… I can only say it, I can't write it."

QAQ "Xiao Lin took another bite of the rice ball, feeling wronged.

Takahashi was speechless. He ate a few more mouthfuls of his fried bread and decided to bring the topic back. "I asked Kuroo. Kuroo said that a lot of the volleyball skills he knows now were taught by Matsutake."

“?

G？！

Really?! "

"I heard from Kuroo that Matsutake has an elder in her family who is the coach of the volleyball team."

Takahashi finished his fried bread and began to drink milk. He recalled what Tetsuo Kuroo told him. "Matsutake has been learning from that elder since she was young."

The other two suddenly understood. No wonder Matsutake was so good!

Sato put down his energy drink and suddenly realized something. "So, Kuroo and Matsutake are childhood sweethearts?!"

"Tsk, Kuroo is too lucky." Kobayashi yelled as he ate his rice ball. "Did he save the universe in his previous life?!"

Takahashi: "… Please don't be so loud in public."

Kobayashi swallowed the last mouthful of his rice ball and muttered, "… I just feel a little uncomfortable."

"There seems to be a practice match today?" Sato said as he twisted the cap of his energy drink.

Takahashi nodded. "Yes, Owl Valley.

This is the last practice match before the IH qualifiers. "

"After all, the IH qualifiers are in five days. It's not appropriate to organize a practice match."

Kobayashi shrugged. He crumpled the wrapper in his hand into a ball and threw it into the trash can.

"Time flies. It's already the last IH qualifier."

Takahashi flattened the milk carton and said in a serious tone, "Everyone has changed a lot during this time. They're all working hard. We have to work harder too!"

"Yeah!" The three of them looked at each other and smiled.

They reached out and bumped their fists.

"NEKOMA (Otokumo), FIGHT!" Takahashi shouted loudly.

"Ohhh!" Otokumo's members formed a circle and raised their fists. Their voices were full of fighting spirit.

With a long whistle, the last practice match before the IH qualifiers between Otokumo High School and Ogaya Gakuen in Tokyo officially kicked off!

"I feel like everyone in Otokumo has changed a lot," Ogaya Gakuen's manager, Bai Fukuyue, said in surprise as she leaned on the scoreboard.

Owl Valley's other manager, Kaoru Aseda, happened to move two chairs over. When he heard this, he nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, yes. Compared to the Golden Week, everyone in Otokumo seems to be more energetic now. The atmosphere is also different from that time."

Akihito Matsukaze stood up and moved his folding chair to make room. After sitting down again, he replied half-jokingly, "It's probably because everyone doesn't want to disappoint their cute and gentle manager."

Bai Fukuyue and Kaoru Aseda burst out laughing.

Because of Akihito Matsukaze's half-joking reply, the sense of strangeness and distance that originally lingered between the three of them was washed away just like that.

Like Kuri Asakawa, Bai Fukuyue and Kaoru Aseda were also first-year students from Owl Valley. The two of them were also very outstanding beauties.

Bai Fukuyue's face was delicate and youthful, and there was always a bright smile on her face.

Kaoru Aseda's bright and beautiful face had a hint of laziness. His pair of black eyes always had a hint of banter when he looked at people.

Owl Valley's third-year Senpai Hoshino had been on leave for the past few days because of some family matters. The matters related to the practice match with Otokumo had also been handed over to Bai Fukuyue.

Kuri Asakawa sat on the other side of the scoreboard and helped to record Owl Valley's points.

She didn't join in the conversation between the three of them, but from time to time, she would look at Akihito Matsukaze. Her gaze was inquisitive, suspicious, and … faintly hostile.

Sensing Kuri Asakawa's gaze, Akihito Matsukaze turned his head and smiled at her.

Kuri Asakawa quickly looked away like a frightened rabbit.

Akihito Matsukaze blinked, and the smile on his lips deepened a little.

To be honest, Akihito Matsukaze felt that this Asakawa classmate was very interesting.

She looked very sweet, but her gaze wasn't sweet at all.

Akihito Matsukaze was paying attention to the situation on the competition stage, while diverting some of his attention to ponder about Kuri Asakawa.

Generally speaking, unless there was a conflict of interest between the two parties, there wouldn't be feelings of "hostility" when two parties met for the first time. However, Kuri Asakawa had an instinctive hostility and rejection towards her.

In addition, with the attitudes of Bai Fukuyue, Kaoru Aseda, and the other members of Owl Valley as a comparison, Kuri Asakawa's hostility and rejection was even more obvious, although she thought that she hid it very well.

Song Feng Zhaoyan blinked and felt that he was in a very good mood.

Asakawa classmate was the first person in this world to be hostile towards her, so he must cherish her.

As for why she was hostile towards her, Akihito Matsukaze didn't think it was important.

Otokumo scored another point. Akihito Matsukaze turned the scoresheet to the next page. The current score on the field was 4 (Otokumo) 5 (Owl Valley).

Akihito Matsukaze's eyes were smiling.

Yes, it seemed that after this period of training and breaking in, everyone's strength had increased quite a bit, and the team's relationship had also become closer.

Akihito Matsukaze's thoughts once again strayed to Kuri Asakawa.

Oh, I wonder if Asakawa classmate knows that everyone in Owl Valley's volleyball club doesn't like her very much?

I'm really curious about what Asakawa classmate has done.

Akihito Matsukaze diverted a bit of her attention to Kuri Asakawa, and she quickly discovered that Kuri Asakawa had been paying attention to Tetsuo Kuroo.

Akihito Matsukaze wrinkled her nose unhappily, and withdrew that bit of her attention.

Tsk, the reason for the hostility … seems to be obvious.

Because this was the last practice match before the IH qualifiers, Otokumo's team members were completely different for every small round, and they strived to 'utilize' their opponents thoroughly in the practice match.

Owl Valley's team didn't let the first-year members play like the previous two practice matches. This time, it was mainly the second-year and third-year members.

Akihito Matsukaze confirmed Konoha Kotaro's identity the moment she saw him.

It seemed that he was the Kotaro that Kuroo was talking about, and he had the aura of an ace.

Before the practice match, he was clearly noisy with Kuroo, but when it came to the match, he was surprisingly quiet.

First round, 2826, Otokumo won.

Second round, 3028, Masaru Ogaya.

Third round, 2624, Masaru Ogaya.

Owl Valley's team members hugged each other excitedly and cheered.

Although it was only a practice match, they were still very happy to win the match!

On the other hand, Otokumo's team members were a little dejected.

We lost again …

Takahashi stood in the middle of the court, exhausted, and let out a long sigh.

Sato and Kobayashi walked over and patted his shoulder.

Sato comforted Takahashi: "Don't.

mind.”

Takahashi turned his head and looked at Sato: "I think, you've all forgotten one thing …"

Sato: "???"

"Forget it." Takahashi waved his hand and raised his voice to shout at his team members: "Gather!"

Both sides gathered in formation and bowed to each other.

"Thank you for your advice!"

"Thank you for your advice!"

Coach Construction of the Dark Road was obviously very satisfied with today's practice match. His comments to Otokumo's team members were more detailed than the previous two times, and his expression was very gratified:

"… I'm very happy to see that you have developed a closer relationship with each other.

Through this practice match, I think I've seen a brand new Otokumo. "

Coach Construction of the Dark Road smiled gently: "As long as you maintain this state and keep practicing, you will definitely become stronger and stronger.

See you at the national competition! "

"Yes!

Thank you very much! "

"Thank you!"

After the comments, the Owl Valley team members rested and began to pack their belongings. Otokumo's team members sat or stood in the rest area, wiping their sweat and drinking water to rest.

Konoha Kotaro saw that there was no need for his help, so he ran to Otokumo's rest area to "harass" Tetsuo Kuroo.

Bai Fukuyue and Kaoru Aseda raised their hands to their foreheads in unison.

At this time, Akihito Matsukaze walked in front of Coach Construction of the Dark Road, folded her hands in front of her, and bowed deeply to thank him: "Thank you very much for taking the time to lead the team here today."

Coach Construction of the Dark Road waved his hand and smiled kindly: "It's nothing. Today's practice match has also allowed us to gain a lot of valuable experience."

Coach Construction of the Dark Road's smile became gentler: "I think, Matsutake, that they have such a change can't go unnoticed."

Akihito Matsukaze blinked and revealed a shy smile: "I just did what a manager should do. Everyone's hard work is inseparable from the fact that the department has such a change."

Coach Construction of the Dark Road pushed his glasses and looked at Akihito Matsukaze with appreciation, his smile becoming even more amiable: "I believe that Otokumo will definitely get better and better. Good luck!"

Akihito Matsukaze bowed deeply again: "Yes!

Thank you, you have worked hard! "

Coach Construction of the Dark Road chatted with Akihito Matsukaze for a while, and then gave Owl Valley's main general a few words, and then left No. 1 Gymnasium first.

Konoha Kotaro used his shoulder to bump Tetsuo Kuroo's shoulder, who was standing and preparing to drink water, and asked nosily: "Where did you find this beautiful manager?

She wasn't even here during the Golden Week! "

His voice wasn't soft, and the Owl Valley's members not far away also heard him, and all of them pricked up their ears.

Tetsuo Kuroo slowly drank a few mouthfuls of warm water and smiled proudly: "Shōnen Sauce is my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend!?" Konoha Kotaro's eyes widened in shock: "Is what you said true?"

Tetsuo Kuroo's smile was especially bright: "Your humble servant has always been honest."

Konoha Kotaro felt a little disgusted: "Can you not speak so strangely!?"

Tetsuo Kuroo didn't hesitate to kick Konoha Kotaro, and Konoha Kotaro quickly dodged and kicked back at the same time, and the two of them started fooling around just like that.

The Owl Valley's members cast envious and jealous gazes at Tetsuo Kuroo.

Akihito Matsukaze, Bai Fukuyue, and Kaoru Aseda were standing in a corner of the lounge and chatting. Although they had only chatted for less than ten minutes, the three of them were already familiar with each other as if they had known each other for a long time, and even happily exchanged LINE accounts.

Kuri Asakawa only stood to the side, and she kept looking at Tetsuo Kuroo. Clearly, her attention wasn't on Akihito Matsukaze and the others.

Bai Fukuyue tried to pull Kuri Asakawa into the conversation a few times, but she failed.

Kaoru Aseda saw this and tugged at Bai Fukuyue's sleeve. Bai Fukuyue shrugged and smiled apologetically at Akihito Matsukaze.

It was also at this time that they heard Tetsuo Kuroo's words.

Bai Fukuyue and Kaoru Aseda's expressions suddenly became gossipy and ambiguous, and there was even a hint of good-natured teasing.

Kuri Asakawa's expression suddenly changed. She looked at Akihito Matsukaze with a more guarded gaze, and her face was full of disbelief. Akihito Matsukaze could see the words "How is this possible?!" and "This is impossible!" on her face.

Akihito Matsukaze didn't say anything. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she pursed her lips and smiled sweetly.

Bai Fukuyue covered her face exaggeratedly. "Matsutake, don't smile. It's so sweet that I'm getting goosebumps."

Kaoru Aseda rubbed his arms. "You're full of the sweetness that makes single people cry. Can't you give us a way out?"

Akihito Matsukaze said innocently, "Can't help it. It's hard to hide the sweetness in love."

Bai Fuxue Hui: "Xiufen, quickly understand."

Kaoru Aseda: "Do you know the FFF group?"

Akihito Matsukaze raised her eyebrows. "First, don't show that Kuroo and I are also very loving. Second, didn't you say that you don't burn true love?"

Bai Fukuyue and Kaoru Aseda: "…" They were suddenly forced to eat dog food. So angry!

Owl Valley's commander shouted not far away, saying that he was ready to go back.

After sending off Owl Valley's people, Takahashi was preparing to train the Haori members. At this time, Akihito Matsukaze clapped her hands.

She smiled and said, "Everyone has played seven practice matches in the past few days, and they were all beaten to a pulp."

The nine teenagers looked at each other and suddenly remembered what Akihito Matsukaze said before, "If you lose the practice match, it's natural to accept the punishment, right?"

Since Songfeng Zhaoyan didn't mention the punishment after the first few practice matches, everyone threw this matter to the back of their minds.

In the end …

They were waiting here?!

The members listened to the lecture with their heads bowed.

Akihito Matsukaze tilted her head slightly. "Everyone has been training and practicing matches these days, so 50 serves and three rounds around the court will be enough."

"Does anyone have any objections?"

"… No!"

Akihito Matsukaze clenched her fist and made a gesture of encouragement. "Then let's start!

Good luck! "

"Yes —"

Tetsuo Kuroo, Hisense, and Yasuke Yaku pushed the volleyball storage box in the corner.

Yasuke Yaku glanced at Tetsuo Kuroo. "Your boyfriend has no status at all."

Tetsuo Kuroo clicked his tongue. "Yaku, don't you know the simple principle of 'separating public and private'?"

"Don't be stubborn, you Astaxanthin."

"It's obviously 22hexamethylene acid, okay?!"