𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧 ⸺ 𝖲𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗆𝗎𝗋𝖺 𝖣𝖺𝗂𝖼𝗁𝗂

⁽ ²³ ⁾ "ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴏ"

A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Enjoy!

edited on august 6th, 2021 @ 7:30pm

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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - TEMPO

SEIYA HAD THE MONDAY AFTERNOON off from practice since the gym was being inspected, but it should be finished in time for tomorrow. Seiya was walking home from school with his gym bag over his shoulder, thinking about what he should do once he reached his apartment. He thought about calling his younger brother, but he would be too busy with basketball, even though the season is over for them.

As he was walking, a sign caught his interest as he stopped to inspect it. "Lil'Tykes Volleyball Classroom?" Seiya thinks to himself, humming in thought. He was about to walk away when he heard a voice.

"Hey, you." An elder man called out. Seiya stopped and looked at him. He had short gray-white hair and a tiny beard at the bottom of his chin. Despite his age, he appeared to be well-built and athletic.

"You're from the Karasuno Volleyball Club?" He asked, gesturing to the red head's gym bag, to which he nodded.

"Yeah." Seiya replied as the elder man smirked.

"Mind helping me train a few of these brats?" He asked.

"Uh, okay." Seiya responded, shrugging. He had nothing else to do for the day anyhow.

"Great, just put your bag on the ground there." He said as Seiya did so. He walked over to see some kids looking at him in confusion.

"They all have to be in junior high would be my guess." Seiya thought, looking over to the elder man. "Hey, I never got your name. I'm Akashi Seiya."

He grinned. "Ukai Ikkei, but you can call me Ukai Sr or whatever." He introduced himself. Seiya slowly nodded but then stopped.

"Hmm? Did he say Ukai? Why does that name sound familiar?" Seiya wondered as his eyes widened in realization. "I remember you now! You're Karasuno's old coach!"

Ikkei laughed. "Ah, you must be a third-year at Karasuno." He stated as Seiya nodded, but then blinked when he realized something.

"I thought you were in the hosptial." Seiya mumbled as Ikkei scoffed.

"I got discharged. I'm fine now." He reassured him, waving him off.

"Anyway, Akashi, was it?"

"Yeah, but just call me Seiya. I prefer it."

"What's your position?"

"I'm an all-round player." Seiya informed as Ikkei seemed to be taken aback before smirking.

"Great, so you can play all positions?" He asked as Seiya nodded. "Good, help these kids with their spikes. I'll switch in after three rounds of spiking."

Seiya walked up to a volleyball on the ground and gave it to the first kid. "Wow, so you're apart of a real team?" He questioned, looking at the red head in amazement. Seiya chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah, and we'll be going to the spring nationals, too." Seiya claimed as the kids got in line.

"Whenever you're ready." Seiya called out as the small boy nodded and threw up the ball as he ran forward. Seiya decided not to use all of his power. These were just junior high kids after all. So he sent him a more gentler toss as he watched the kid spike it down.

"That was perfect!" He exclaimed as Ikkei nodded, his arms crossed.

"He's right. That set was perfect, even though you were holding back." He agreed as Seiya blinked with shock.