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[Start of the chapter]
"Thank you, Coach!"
After hearing what Coach Irihata had to say, Hank and the others immediately bowed to thank him for his efforts. After that, they started packing up the things they had brought with them. The match was already over, and unless something unexpected happened, they would be heading straight back into training next.
According to the current timing, there was less than a month left before the Spring High preliminaries.
During that period, the most Aoba Johsai could do was play a few more practice matches against the college team made up of its former graduates. Other than that, there was basically no chance to keep playing more matches.
So what came next would definitely be even more tightly packed training. After all, in any team sport, aside from the few rounds actually played on the court, all the rest of the time was spent in boring, repetitive practice. Only through endless repetition could a team display its usual level during an actual match.
Even though Hank had the system, that was something he naturally couldn't avoid either. At this stage, it was still better to train steadily and honestly.
"Coach from Aoba Johsai, please wait a moment!"
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Just as Oikawa, Hank, and the others had more or less finished putting away the equipment and were about to mop the court again, Ittetsu Takeda and Kiyoko from Karasuno came back. They had something they wanted to discuss with him.
"Karasuno's teacher, is there something you need?"
When Coach Irihata saw the two of them return, a professional smile immediately appeared on his face. After both sides exchanged a few polite pleasantries, Takeda finally bowed and said,
"I have a rather presumptuous request. Would it be possible to ask Hank and Toru Oikawa from your team to come spend some time training with our club?"
"Just one hour a week would be enough."
Takeda lowered his head deeply. He had already thought it through on the way over. With Karasuno's current strength, there was simply no way they could contend with the Aoba Johsai team that was being hailed as its strongest generation. If they ran into them again in the Spring High preliminaries... today's result might be repeated all over again.
So rather than spend all three years under the shadow of that team, it would be better to make the first move now and ask them to let Hank and Oikawa come train at Karasuno's club.
That way, Karasuno could use the opportunity to learn the techniques they carried with them, and through constant practice against them, eventually figure out ways to counter them. If that happened, then they might truly be able to stand on the same starting line and compete with them.
"Please."
Kiyoko, standing beside him, lowered her head as well and made the same request.
"If that's the kind of request you're making, shouldn't the ones who actually need the help come themselves?"
"Letting someone else do it for them isn't how the King of the Court should act."
After hearing Takeda and Kiyoko's request, Oikawa's expression turned displeased. He had no interest in helping raise a powerful opponent for the future... and more than that, he wanted to see his junior, Tobio Kageyama, come stand in front of him personally.
The look on his face as he asked would have made this at least a little interesting.
Hiding behind the team's coach and manager was honestly hard to respect.
"That's enough."
Coach Irihata said irritably. He understood the other side coach's intentions clearly enough, and he had already been thinking about how to reject the request tactfully. But before he even had the chance to refuse, Oikawa had already spoken first...
Now he felt slightly dazed and didn't even know what he was supposed to say next.
"Tch..."
Oikawa curled his lip and decided not to involve himself further.
"One hour every week? No problem."
"I can join Karasuno's training, but you'll need to handle the procedures for me to enter the school."
Hank had already changed out of his uniform. Standing beside the chair, he spoke calmly. Training inside Karasuno's club meant he would have many chances to play against them... and that would give him more opportunities to improve his overall abilities.
He had just been wondering how to find a way to play against other teams... and now that an opportunity had delivered itself right to his door, there was no way he was going to let it slip by.
"Are you stupid, Hank? Can't you tell Karasuno is trying to use this chance to figure out how to deal with you?"
"Once they get a clear read on your ball trajectory, they'll be able to handle you. The Spring High preliminaries are coming up next... couldn't you train some other time?"
When Oikawa heard that Hank had actually agreed, he couldn't help moving to his side and whispering into his ear. It wasn't really fair to call him narrow-minded. In the face of competitive matches, mercy toward the enemy was cruelty toward yourself.
The best option was to leave them no chances at all and charge straight into the finals.
"The choice is yours, Hank."
"Think it through before you go."
Even Coach Irihata couldn't help but remind him. He wasn't worried about Hank, and he couldn't interfere with his choice either. All he could do was see how Hank chose to handle it.
(End of Chapter)
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