~Back In The Game~

~Chapter Twenty-Three~

"Again with the coach stuff."

"Yes..."

"Listen. I was never a particularly talented player back in school. I did like playing though. I still like to play. Enough that I put together Karasuno's Municipal Team even. Coaches are stuck on the sidelines. That frustrates me to no end."

"Oh..."

"And I don't wanna go back to that gym!"

"What?! Do you have bad memories of the place...?"

"No. Just the opposite! My whole teenage life was in that building."

"Then why...?"

"The gym, the clubroom...even if all those places are exactly the way they were...They're a space...an atmosphere...I just can't go back to. Those few years were special. It had an air to it that existed only during that time. Even if I go back there and it all looks exactly the same...it isn't really the place it was. It's someone else's place now." The shopkeeper looks up into the sky with a sentimental look.

"The nostalgia is too much, is it?" Takeda says looking wistful.

"S-Shut up!" The shopkeeper yells embarrassed. "Anyway! I like that place too much! That's why I'm not going back!"

"...Even if Nekoma High School is coming for a practice game?" Takeda says determined.

"?!" The shopkeeper looks at the teacher in shock.

"The last day of golden week...we'll be having a game with them for the first time in five years."

"What did you say...?"

"Nekoma is coming. Old Coach Nekomata, close friends with Coach Ukai, recently came out of retirement. When I heard that, I requested to have a practice game with them. Nekoma and KArasuno were closest during your time, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Come to think of it...they mentioned that their current assistant coach was the team's setter seven or eight years ago."

'Their setter?! Seven of eight years ago?!'

-Flashback-

"We're gonna do it." A Nekoma player says. "This will be the year we meet at Nationals."

"Yeah." The younger shopkeeper responds.

-Flashback End-

"You were a student seven or eight years ago, correct? Then I guess this person may be someone you know."

"You..." The shopkeeper begins. "Are you baiting me?!"

"WAAAH!!" Takeda responds while being held by his collar and shaken. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! YOU'RE SERIOUSLY BAITING ME! IT'S SO OBVIOUS!! IF YOU THINK I'M GONNA FALL FOR SOMETHING THAT BLATANT, YOU'D BETTER TELL ME WHEN THEIR NEXT PRACTICE STARTS!! NOW!! SPILL!!"

"I'm sorry...what?"

"If Nekoma's coming, I can't have my juniors disgracing themselves! Wait right there, I'm getting changed."

"O-Oh! Okay!" Takeda replies happily.

"Ma! Watch the store wouldja?"

"Yes...!" Takeda whispers.

"Oh. I know." The shopkeeper says while dialing his phone. "Hellos? Tatsuan?"

-Karasuno Gym-

"Hey, Noya?" Tanaka says.

"Hm?"

"You said you did special training while you were away from the team. What kind?"

"Digging drills mostly. I focused especially on blocked ball retrieval. I'm still not all that great at it...but if I can get that follow-up stuff down pat, you guys won't have to worry about much when you spike anymore, right?" Tanaka looks at Noya in shock. 'Wow. And every time I look at him, it seems he's got new bruises too...' Tanaka thinks.

"Noya, you're the coolest, bestest guy ever...!" Tanaka shouts as he bursts into tears.

"Dwah?! Wait, are you crying?!" Noya asks worriedly.

"What is going on? Why is Tanaka crying?" You ask Kiyoko as the two of you are putting water bottles and towels on the bench.

"Just ignore them." Kiyoko responds flatly.

"But-" You go to say but are interrupted by Takeda opening the door and calling out to everyone.

"Hello, everyone!"

"Gather round-huh?!" Daichi says but is shocked by what he sees.

"Everyone allow me to introduce to you... Keishin Ukai. As of today, he will be your coach!!" Takeda announces.

"A coach?! Really?!" Daichi asks.

"Only until your game with Nekoma." Ukai says.

"Oh..." Daichi says disappointed.

"Wait. The dude from Sakanoshita Market is gonna be our coach? Really?" Tanaka asks.

"Yes! He is a Karasuno alumnus and the grandson of The Great Coach Ukai!" Takeda answers.

"Whaaa?!" Tanaka and Suga exclaim.

"Isn't your name Sakanoshita? Uh, Coach?" Hinata asks.

"Nope. The store belongs to my mom's family." Ukai answers before addressing the team. "Right. We're short on time, so let's get started! I wanna see where you guys are at, so we'll be having a practice game at 6:30. Our opponents are already on their way."

"Uh, our opponents...?" Daichi asks,

"Yep! The Karasuno Municipal Team."

~To Be Continued~