Haikyuu - I Am A Different Hinata!

A month had passed since the defeat to Kitagawa Daiichi, and since then, Yukigaoka's members continued with their standard routine. However, with the next round of exams approaching, volleyball club meetings had been reduced to once a week. In Hinata's case, he went two weeks without practicing volleyball and had to go with his mother to a doctor who recommended what he already thought - physical therapy and gym training for muscle strengthening and to prevent future injuries.

After the medical consultation, he decided that before high school he would join a gym, but now that he wouldn't be competing in tournaments anymore, he would stick to just stretching and squats, besides having started to train his new way of landing on the ground. From what he remembered, LeBron James's technique had to do with always trying to land smoothly to avoid putting too much pressure on the knees and preserve the joints.

After another day of classes, Hinata went to check how the volleyball club was doing. Although third-year members like him weren't attending as frequently as before due to exams, the second and first-year members remained focused and training. Upon arriving at the gym, he saw Daisuke practicing serves while Mori, Suzuki, and Kawashima were practicing receives.

"Good afternoon, everyone," Hinata said as he approached.

"Good afternoon, captain," they all said in unison, their respect for Hinata having grown tremendously after the tournament where they were all very impressed with his skills.

"I see everyone's training. How about you practice some attacks with me setting for you in rotation?" suggested Hinata, who started setting for his teammates. Although it wasn't his position, he wasn't bad at setting, and this continued for three complete rounds until they heard someone enter the gym.

"Looks like the team is reunited again!" said Sekimukai as he entered the gym along with Izumi.

"Thought you'd be studying," said Hinata.

"We were going to, but we decided to stop by, and what's this, looks like you want to take my place on the team, haha," Izumi joked while watching Hinata set for the others.

"Not at all, we're just practicing," said Hinata, rubbing his neck.

"Come to think of it... what will happen to the club after we go to high school? We'll lose the minimum number of members," Sekimukai observed.

"They'll have to recruit new members, we'll be back to square one," said Izumi.

"I don't think that will be a problem..." said Daisuke in his standard quiet voice.

"How so?" questioned Sekimukai.

"After our performance in the Junior High Athletics Meet, many second-year students came to ask me if they could join the team or try out," he said.

"The same thing happened to us with the first-year students," said Suzuki.

"That's great! The club can stay alive!" Izumi celebrated.

"Definitely!" Sekimukai celebrated too.

"I just worry that all these people who want to join were inspired by our results, but if it wasn't for Hinata and his incredible skills, we wouldn't have gotten anywhere near where we did," Daisuke observed.

"You don't need to worry about that, we have many incredible people with potential, like the guy I'm looking at right now," said Hinata while pointing at Daisuke, who blushed.

"Then it's decided, after our retirement, Daisuke will be in charge as the new team captain. I'm sure you have the skills for it and have already shown leadership ability on the court when it comes to blocks, you just need to talk more off the court!" said Hinata. The boy hesitated a bit and after a few seconds of being stared at by Hinata, he gave in and spoke.

"Leave it to me," he said, showing a rare smile.

"As for Suzuki, we don't need any more comments, right?" said Hinata.

"No doubt, he saved us many times with his receives!" said Sekimukai.

"And as for Kawashima and Mori, you were disadvantaged because I always had to concentrate the attacks, but I'm sure you have the potential to become good players, just have more confidence!" said Hinata.

"Right!" said both of them.

After Hinata's words, the three seniors went to the corner of the court while the others continued training.

"Have you thought about which school you want to go to?" said Hinata.

"I was thinking of going to Johzenji High, it's close to my house and I heard they also have a volleyball club," said Sekimukai.

"Who would've thought you'd one day choose a school considering whether or not it has a volleyball club, haha," Izumi observed while laughing.

"Stop it, and what about you, are you really going to have to move?" asked Sekimukai.

"Yes, my father got a good job opportunity for next year in Ibaraki prefecture, so I should try to get into Chikuida High," said Izumi.

"And you, Hinata, do you have any school in mind?" asked Izumi.

"I do, I'm going to Karasuno High," he said confidently.

"Aren't they that school that hasn't gone to nationals in a few years?" Izumi

"Why? With your performance in the last tournament, I'm sure you could get a scholarship to some elite school," said Sekimukai.

"You might find it strange, but I feel like it'll be something good and fun for me to go there," said Hinata.

"Well, it's your decision..." said Izumi.

After the conversation, the three boys said goodbye to the other members and returned to their homes.