A Sports Enthusiast

一

"Hey, Dad."

"...Huh, you actually called me first. So Shirota. Do you need anything?"

" I did my pre-transfer check-up today."

"Good. As long as you don't start any trouble, I'll satisfy any requests you want while you're there."

"...Cause any trouble?" mumbled Shirota, having a flashback.

1 year ago (3rd year junior high)

"What's wrong with you?! Picking a fight and then beating them up to DEATH!" Shouted by his father and said, "Why don't you move to Miyagi if you think you're so tough! I will transfer you right now!"

"Fine!" Shirota shouted while walking up to his room.

(End of Flashback)

'By "don't cause any trouble"...Doesn't he just mean that I shouldn't get into a fight?' Shirota thought.

"So as long as I don't 'cause any trouble', you'll really grant me anything?" Shirota said through the phone.

"Absolutely. I can make arrangements."

"Then, let me transfer to Seirin High School next year."

"Fine."

After the call ended, Shirota jumped on his bed. While laying down he thinks whether to tell Kaede and the others about his transferring at a different school next year. A bunch of things happened in Karasuno, some good and some bad, but mostly bad. The good thing was Kaede and him are still in contact after what happened last year. Ukai Ikkei, the coach of Karasuno High's boys' volleyball club, once led the team to nationals and was well known in Miyagi Prefecture and even some other parts of Japan. Coach Ukai had decided to return in earnest and practice was hard with him around, but not long after he'd come back, he collapsed. He's older and it seems he overdid things in his younger years, so he has to stay retired now. The bad thing is the club lacked a proper coach and couldn't organize practice matches due to their lackluster performances. Everything seemed lost until Shirota and the first years decided to do extra practice under Daichi's leadership. The team made some progress and became fired up to go to nationals once again. The day of the volleyball tournament came. Shirota and other first years were particularly excited when the Miyagi Prefecture's Interhigh Qualifiers began, but they were quickly disappointed when Karasuno got knocked out early in the second round. Date Tech won and Karasuno lost. The loss felt horrible as Shirota stopped himself from shredding tears as they bowed to the audience who came to cheer for them. Kaede had come to watch him. During his loss, he felt the worst on the team. After the game, Shirota went outside to get some fresh air and didn't notice someone following him.

"Why can't you even help your team win? You're smart and a tactician, so why?" He mumbled, looking at the sky. Behind him, a voice said, "Hey, you worked hard, Shiro." and patted Shirota on the back as he tensed from the contact but realized it was only Kaede.

"Maple." He weakly smiled as tears started to fall without knowing it. 'No doubt he is blaming himself' Kaede thought. She instead pulled him into a hug. "It's not your fault. You did great out there." She softly said, causing Shirota to cry more as he hugged her back and mumbled a tearful 'thanks'. Before he knew it, he was on the bus sitting next to Nishinoya on the way back to school.

As the team was closing up the gym, Asahi asked his teammates why they weren't blaming him, angering Nishinoya. They started arguing with each other as Nishinoya pushed Asahi backwards and Asahi broke a broom by stepping on it.

The libero said, "So, I have no intention of blaming you, no matter how many of your spikes don't go through." He then made eye contact with Asahi and said, "However, just selfishly giving up is something I can't forgive." Asahi stormed off after Nishinoya said that while the rest could only watch.

"Hey, I'm not playing volleyball anymore. I'm going to transfer to Tokyo in my second year of high school." Shirota suddenly said, thinking it's right to say it now. He's back, facing his shocked teammates. "You can't!" Nishinoya shouted at him. "I can and I'm going to, Noya. What's the use of me being on the team if I can't block their attacks, huh?" Shirota calmly said. "Don't take the blame for yourself, Shiro! Also, why are you leaving? Aren't we a team?!" Nishinoya shouted, not wanting him to leave. Their teammates were watching, wondering if they should step in even though it hurts for them that Shirota is leaving. "You're our damn teammate, Shiro! You're not allowed to leave!"

"Let's see." Shirota coldly said, walking out of the gym and slamming the doors behind him. What he didn't know was that a certain libero was sad at the fact that you were going to leave. Shirota arrived at Oikawa's house and went upstairs to his room, closing the door behind him. He tossed his volleyball bag to the ground as the fight from the gym flashed through his mind. "Damn it!" Shirota yelled, slamming his fist on the floor. He kneeled down to the ground as he cried. Not aware that somebody heard him crying.

Time skip after a few months

Shirota sighed to himself as he came back to reality. That fight made him guilty. He didn't mean to be cold and leave without saying goodbye to them. He glanced outside the window with a bored expression, watching as the airplane landed. He got off the flight and took a breath of Japan's beautiful city.

"Finally, I'm back in my home country." Shirota said, happy to be back in Japan. Taking out his phone, he saw a few notifications he had. They were invitations to some schools and one message from his father. Rakuzan, Yōsen, Kaijo, Tōō, Shūtoku, Fukurodani, Nekoma, Inarizaki, Shiratorizawa, Aoba Johsai, and Karasuno. Though given the chance to attend such amazing schools, he declined all of them to join Seirin. Why? Simply, he doesn't want much attention. The message he received from his father was to see him at his office. At home. And that he has something to say. After arriving at his apartment, Shirota went straight to his room to put the luggage down and locked the door before going out. He used his black bike to go to their mansion and went upstairs towards his father's office while waiting for him inside.

Words: 1059