Chapter 42: Karasuno Neighborhood Association (Bonus Chapter!)

"Y-you're really gonna do it?!"

Takeda's face lit up with pure joy at Keishin's reluctant agreement.

Keishin twitched his lips in irritation and shot a glare toward Tsuna while grumbling, "Yeah, yeah, whatever..."

"Thank goodness!"

Takeda clasped his hands together, "The timing couldn't be better! We've got a practice game with Nekoma High in a week. With Ukai-kun as our coach, I'm sure everyone will feel more confident and prepared!"

"Huh? Nekoma High?"

Keishin's brows furrowed.

"Yes!"

Takeda nodded eagerly. But then his expression changed as if he'd just remembered something before continuing with a small smile, "Oh... I think their coach used to play for Nekoma High too. Around the same time as you, about seven years ago. His name is Manabu Nao—"

"Naoi!"

Keishin's loud exclamation cut Takeda off. His eyes widened in shock, and he dropped the broom he'd been holding with a plop.

Of course, he remembered Naoi. They had both been setters back then—benchwarmers, to be exact.

That shared experience had naturally brought them closer as Keishin angrily shouted at Takeda, "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?!" 

"Uhh, well, I tried to, but you weren't exactly listening—"

"Dammit!"

Keishin cut him off, running his hands through his hair as panic flashed across his face as he mumbled, "How could I let them see our team in this state?!"

Before either Takeda or Tsuna could respond, Keishin tore off his apron and bolted inside. He grabbed his phone, frantically dialing a number as he disappeared from view.

Tsuna glanced at Keishin, who was pacing back and forth as he frantically made calls before shrugging his shoulder, "I guess it's good that he's motivated now..." 

"...Yeah, I guess."

Suddenly, Keishin burst out of the shop, "Yosh! Tsuna, run back to school now! Takeda-sensei, get all the team members ready!"

"...?"

Both of them blinked in surprise at the abrupt command.

"It's almost five," Keishin continued, glancing at his watch. "We still have time. I've called some people over, and we're gonna have a practice game. I need to see what the team looks like today!"

Tsuna raised his eyebrows, "Practice game?" 

"Yeah."

Keishin nodded while crossing his arms. "I've got four people who can make it tonight, but I'll need a setter, a libero, and a wing spiker from the team to fill the gaps. Do we have enough?"

"Ah, yes..."

Takeda hesitated for a moment before replying, "We should have enough players."

"Wing spiker, huh?"

Tsuna muttered. There was someone that came to mind as after a brief pause, he suddenly spoke, "I'll be coming a bit late. I have someone in mind to fill that spot."

"Eh? Don't we already have enough?" Takeda asked, tilting his head. "I'm sure Ennoshita-kun or Kinnoshita-kun would do just... fine..."

Before Takeda could finish, Tsuna was already jogging away. His footsteps faded quickly, leaving Takeda standing there, blinking in confusion.

"..."

The teacher adjusted his glasses awkwardly and turned to Keishin, who simply shrugged.

"Guess he's got his own plans," Keishin said nonchalantly. "I'll wait here for someone to take over the shop, then I'll head to the gym. You go on ahead, sensei."

"R-right..."

Takeda replied before hurrying off back to the school and getting everyone ready.

After a while, Karasuno's gymnasium started to fill up with students once again. The news of a new coach spread fast, and everyone rushed over as soon as they received the call.

Daichi remarked, "Tsuna hasn't shown up yet? That's rare."

Suga agreed, "Yeah, especially these days." 

Tsuna would even arrive in time last year because he 'coincidentally' met Shimizu along the way. And recently, Tsuna had surprised everyone. He often arrived early, sometimes even unlocking the gym himself to squeeze in extra practice.

"..."

Nishinoya quietly looked around. When he didn't spot Asahi, his expression soured.

Tanaka gave him a puzzled look. "Are you alright, Noya-san?"

"..."

Nishinoya shook his head before muttering, "...I don't think I'll play today," 

"Huh?"

"Takeda-sensei's been so cool lately! He's setting up so many practice games for us!"

Hinata's excitement rang out.

His expression made Kageyama shake his head in exasperation. "Stop staring at sensei like that. You're making him uncomfortable."

"Ah, sorry for calling you all here on such short notice."

At that moment, the doors creaked open, and Keishin Ukai stepped inside. He wasn't alone—three men followed closely behind.

"Haha, it's fine, Ukai..."

"We don't have much thing to do anyway."

"Yeah," another chimed in with a grin. "We're kind of unemployed right now, so this worked out perfectly."

The group glanced around, taking in the familiar gym with nostalgic smiles.

The students exchanged glances while looking at the unfamiliar guest with a curious look.

'Ukai?'

Kageyama thought, his gaze immediately locked on the man who now stood at the center of the gym. 

Hinata noticed this and grumbled, "Did you not just tell me not to do that? So weird..."

"Ahem…"

Takeda cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. He gestured toward Keishin and spoke with enthusiasm, "Everyone, let me introduce Ukai-kun. He will be our coach starting today!"

"Isn't he the one at that dagashiya?"

"He's our coach now?"

Murmurs swept through the gym as they were quite familiar with Keishin already since they often visited his dagashiya after training.

"As for the others, they're alumni of the Karasuno Volleyball Club..."

He turned toward the guests Keishin had called and introduced them, much to everyone's surprise.

The one with short, messy blonde hair was Yusuke Takinoue. Silky black hair with glasses belonged to Makoto Shimada. Curly hair with a long face was Yukinari Mori. And the broad-faced man with short black hair was Hidenori Uchizawa.

"They'll be our opponents for today's practice game," Takeda continued. "The Karasuno Neighborhood Association!"

"Haha, hello there, juniors!"

Takinoue greeted with a wide grin. 

As Shimada added, "Pleased to meet y—"

Clack!

A loud crash echoed through the gym as the door was shoved open with force, interrupting the introductions.

"...?"

Everyone froze, turning toward the sound.

Takeda blinked in surprise at the figure standing in the doorway, "Tsuna-kun?" 

"Well... seems like I made it in time..."

However...

...all eyes immediately widened in shock—and horror.

Tsuna was dragging what looked like a beaten-up student by the collar. The student's body dangled with his uniform disheveled and his face swollen with bruises.

"I got the wing spiker," Tsuna announced casually as if he had just returned from picking up groceries.

"Asahi!"

The seniors rushed toward the battered student at Tsuna's side.

"..."

Asahi's trembling legs barely supported him as he wobbled forward, his face a mosaic of scratches and swollen spots.

Tears threatened to spill from the corners of his eyes.

"..."

They all turned to look at the culprit, who didn't seem to feel guilty at all as they quietly screamed in their mind, 'This psycho!' 

'...'

Even Nishinoya, who was slightly relieved seeing Asahi was coming, although seemingly quite 'unwillingly,' was speechless as well. 

"T-Tsuna-kun! You… you shouldn't use violence at school!"

Takeda's expression morphed into panic as he hurried toward them and checked on Asahi's condition.

"Violence?"

Tsuna tilted his head, "I never used violence, sensei…"

With a shrug, he released his grip on Asahi's collar. The exhausted wing spiker swayed slightly but managed to steady himself with Suga, and Daichi immediately went up to hold him up. 

"Go on, tell them what happened."

Tsuna gestured toward him.

"..."

After a long, heavy pause, with every pair of eyes fixed on him, Asahi finally muttered, "…I fell down the stairs."

The gym fell into stunned silence.

Everyone stared at him in disbelief. The bruises and tears on his face told a completely different story.

"You heard him," Tsuna said as if that explained everything.

The team exchanged speechless glances.

'This kid... he's got a screw loose,' Keishin thought, utterly dumbfounded.

His friends from the Karasuno Neighborhood Association seemed just as taken aback.

"Ahem..."

Keishin suddenly shouted, "Alright, alright. Enough drama. I need a libero, a setter, and a wing spiker to round out my team."

Before long, the gym buzzed with activity as the players sorted themselves into two teams.

On one side stood Suga, Nishinoya, and Asahi, joining forces with the alumni from the Karasuno Neighborhood Association.

On the other side, the current starters lined up—the same team that had played against Aoba Johsai, with one addition.

Tsuna.

He stood quietly at the center of the lineup.

'Whoaa, is this guy really a student?'

The alumni couldn't help but feel an overwhelming pressure from him. They got so conscious of his presence at the court, especially after the crazy stunt he had just pulled.

'That kind of presence… it's like standing across from a star player.'

Keishin's eyes narrowed as he observed Tsuna. He folded his arms, totally surprised Karasuno had such a player this generation.

'Aniki always said his son was gifted, but…' Keishin's lips pressed into a thin line. 'It seems he wasn't exaggerating after all.'

"Alright, let's just get started!"

Keishin finally shouted, raising a whistle to his lips.

The sound of the whistle echoed through the gym, sharp and clear.

The game was on.

------------------------

Advanced chapters can be found here:

patreon(.)com/mythoast