The gym doors were pulled open with a clatter.
The cool evening breeze slipped through the gap, carrying away some of the stuffy smell of sweat inside. Tanaka Ryūnosuke had just begun his jump for a spike when the sudden noise threw him off. The volleyball thumped into the net and bounced back into bounds.
Everyone stopped moving. The squeak of sneakers against the floor vanished, replaced by an eerie silence.
Takeda Ittetsu stood panting in the doorway, his face flushed with the triumph of a job well done. He stepped aside and revealed the blond man behind him, hands in his pockets and looking thoroughly annoyed, as if presenting a rare treasure.
"Everyone, thanks for all your hard work!" Teacher Takeda's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "Gather around!"
Sawamura Daichi froze for a second, then clapped his hands. "Gather around!"
The entire Karasuno Volleyball Club quickly lined up in front of the net. Lu Ren ambled over from beside the water cooler, still holding half a bottle of water. His gaze swept over the blond man.
Red tracksuit, collar open to reveal a white T-shirt underneath. His dyed blond hair, faded to a rather dull yellow, was combed back. His brow was furrowed, his eyes fierce, and his whole being radiated a weary air that said, "Don't mess with me. I'm annoyed. I want to go home."
Lu Ren raised an eyebrow. Wasn't this the owner of Sakashita Store? With that look and that aura, he seemed less like a volleyball coach and more like a low-level thug collecting protection money in an alley behind an arcade.
"Let me introduce him," Takeda Ittetsu said, clearing his throat and speaking solemnly. "This is Mr. Ukai Keishin. Starting today, he'll be our coach."
The air froze for three seconds.
"WHAT?!"
Tanaka