The Birth of A Volleyball Legend

A moment later, they all found themselves inside a small taxi, jostling in the back row while Sekine sat in the front seat. Yuki sighed in relief when he noticed the hot weather outside, happy that he didn't have to go under the scorching sun. Based on his friends' reactions, he knew they felt the same way.

"So, old geezer, where are you taking us?" Riku asked, curious.

Sekine paused for a moment before saying, "It's not far from here. Ah, there!" He suddenly pointed at a building twice the size of Tsunemori's gymnasium, likely three times smaller than the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. A large thunder logo, colored blue and yellow, adorned the top, giving a majestic impression to anyone who saw it.

"This is the home court of Tokyo Thunder, the V-1 league team from Tokyo," Sekine explained. "They're still a pretty new team and haven't achieved many accolades yet, but they are serious about developing a strong team that could compete for the number one spot in the country."

"How do you know that?" This time, it was Yuki who asked.

"Because I know the owner and have spent all my free time here helping their young players improve their game," Sekine replied briefly.

Yuki and Riku widened their eyes in surprise for two completely different reasons. Yuki reacted with astonishment because he knew how good Sekine was as a coach, and if any players from this team received his guidance, they must be as good as, or better than, him. As for Riku, he was surprised because the old man often complained about how troublesome it was for him to train what he called "young brats," and he had always refused to do that in the past. So hearing that Sekine took the initiative to spend his free time here was astonishing.

"What does this owner do to make you willing to do this?" Riku asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Sekine sighed deeply before answering, "Let's just say I owe him something and leave it at that."

Yuki and Riku exchanged glances before shrugging. Usually, despite his grumbling, Sekine would willingly answer all their questions. This was the first time he addressed a topic so vaguely, but it was enough to hint at them that this was a private matter they shouldn't probe into.

The three followed Sekine and entered the building. As Yuki stepped inside the gymnasium, his eyes widened in awe, taking in the high-tech equipment that gleamed under the bright overhead lights. The polished wooden floor seemed to shimmer, and the sounds of powerful serves and swift spikes echoed off the walls, filling the air with electrifying energy.

However, it wasn't the sophisticated equipment that left him in awe. It was the competitive atmosphere radiating from the players on the court that pumped him up. He had never encountered something like this at Tsunemori, where even teammates displayed fierce determination, each point fought for with an intensity that suggested their lives depended on it.

"Awesome, right?" Sekine's voice broke through his reverie. Yuki could only nod, his eyes locked on the court. "This is the charm of a professional team; everyone is trying their best to be the best and make a living here. However, it's still too early for you two to join them. Come on, we're going to a more appropriate place for you."

Yuki followed Sekine from behind, also trying to gauge his friends' reactions. While he noticed that Riku was surprised, he detected no hint of awe in his blond friend's expression, perhaps because it wasn't the first time Riku had seen such a scene. As for Kato, even though she claimed not to care much about the game, she showed a slight interest in it, which relieved Yuki; he would feel bad if she couldn't enjoy this after he had dragged her here.

As they entered a new room with a smaller court and fewer people, Yuki was surprised when he saw a tall guy with tousled hair and an easy grin leaning closer to Kato. "Hey there, gorgeous! What brings you to the gym? If you don't have a favorite player to cheer for yet, just shout my name, and I'm sure I'll hear it!"

"Ah?!" Kato was taken aback and quickly stepped back, hiding behind Yuki and Riku, who were not amused by his antics. "I-I'm sorry!" she stammered.

Yuki furrowed his brow, realizing that Kato's stutter and rapid apology indicated her discomfort with the attention. He was glad to see that Riku felt the same way, acting as a barrier between the flirty boy and Kato.

However, it seemed the boy still didn't catch the hint. "Come on, come with me! I can show you far more interesting things than your two 'little' friends here." He wiggled his eyebrows playfully, emphasizing the word "little."

The second player, a slightly shorter guy with dark curls, grinned widely as he joined in the banter. "Come on, Tondo-kun is right! We can show you far more interesting and mature things than your friends!"

Yuki felt an unsettling knot form in his stomach. He noticed Kato shift her weight, a subtle sign of unease that ignited a protective fire within him. He stepped forward, a growl rising in his throat as he interrupted, "Alright, that's enough."

The first boy turned his attention to Yuki for the first time, surprise flashing in his eyes. "Hey, hey, no harm in a little fun, right?" he said with a smirk that was anything but charming.

"Fun? She looks uncomfortable," Riku retorted, anger flaring from within himself. "Why don't you back off and leave her alone? She's not interested."

"What are you both, her parents?" one of them muttered sarcastically.

"Hey, I know! They're probably just jealous because they have no chance with her!" the other added mockingly.

Yuki and Riku growled but didn't respond to the provocation, still shielding Kato behind them. They cursed Sekine, who had somehow vanished from their sight without warning. Fortunately, when the tension between the four of them peaked, the old man reappeared with a man younger than Akira behind him.

"Oh, so you all know each other already?" Sekine asked, ignoring the obvious tension. "Good! Since that is the case, Tondo, Miyahara, prepare yourselves! After fifteen minutes, we will conduct a test to see if Yuki and Riku can join the team, and you both will be their opponents. Do you understand?"

The heavy atmosphere evaporated as everyone processed the old man's words, and their jaws dropped. After the implications finally sank in, they all reacted in unison.

"EEEHHH?!"