3 Spark

Shai can't believe what happened. The France Team had a fantastic come back and it's thanks to that guy, Earvin Ngapeth. He's so excited and giddy, he feels like exploding at the moment. Unknowingly he discover himself being closer and closer to volleyball and he reached a point where he thought "Ah I want to be like him, I want to play volleyball like him"

So he shouted his inner desires "MOM I WANT TO BE LIKE HIM, I WANT TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL"

Hearing that his Dad jolted awake "WHAT?????"

Shai was shocked about what he said but calmed down after hearing his Dad, he said again "Mom I want to play volleyball like him, hehe Dad imma play like him, he's so cool"

"What baby? Who is he? Your dad is cool, not that guy"

"You don't know Dad because you sleepy but he won the game for France"

Gerard looks at her wife and pleads to her "Honey help me please"

Akaya replied "Okay baby, that's enough your Daddy will cry if you keep this up. Honey, it's just a prank HAHAHA you're already panicking, I think it's a success no Shai?"

Gerard sighed from relief "I thought you really like volleyball, I'll be damned if you want to play just seeing who-the-fuck-that-guy-is play for once"

Shai protested after hearing his parents "NOOO MOM, IT'S NOT A PRANK ANYMORE! I want to be big and play like him, spike the ball and serve the ball. He is so cool Mom" while flashing a toothy grin.

Shai, who said this the second time had more confidence about it. He realized that he really wanted to be like that guy and imagining that happen made him run inside their house but while he was doing that his Dad was having none of this bullshit.

He stood up and grabbed his excited son and went back to the couch "Baby how about football? What are we gonna do about football?" asked his Dad feeling helpless.

He knows it's gonna be hard to convince Shai after he decides something. "Why does he have to be like his Mom in times like these?' he thought. Gerard was feeling a lot of emotions right now, sadness, pride, despair, excited. He was really in a rude awakening. Maybe if he didn't take a nap or watch the Tokoyo Classic, this wouldn't even happen but there is no turning back time now. He remembered Shai once wanted to go to a swimming pool in winter this year, the boy went out in the freezing cold with his trunks to prove a point, that's when we realize Shai may be cheerful and easy-going most of the time but he sure is hard-headed.

"Football?Eh I don't know but please Mom, teach me how to play, pleaase"

"Teach you? You're still small baby, hmmmm you come to the match tomorrow then you watch the game, let's see if tomorrow you still want to play"

Shai pouts "Tomorrow? Why not today, we still have time before we sleep"

His mother is helpless against his son but she knows his Dad needs some consoling today "Baby, Mom has a game tomorrow and Mom needs to rest so can we play tomorrow? We will play with my teammates don't you want that?"

Shai was persuaded when mentioned of other people joining them, Shai likes to have company even in their school he likes to play in a group instead of by himself, he thinks it's a lot of fun compared to being alone. "Sure, you said we will play with your teammates tomorrow ha"

"Sure baby, now let's go to sleep"

With that, they all went to sleep. Well, maybe not sleep because Shai's all excited and shit for tomorrow, and his Dad was heartbroken about the sad news but luckily his Mom was there to console and comfort him. She said maybe Shai won't like the game too much and football still has a chance, it is lucky for his Dad that his Mom was easy-going like Shai, she didn't care about introducing volleyball to Shai or anything but it was real nice for her that her son appreciates the game she loves.

The next day 6 in the morning, his Mom woke up feeling refreshed and excited for the day, while his Dad is still depressed about his son choosing volleyball rather than football. His Dad is now 40 years old and preparing for retirement this season and it's only a few games left before he hangs up his boots and his Mom is still playing in the V League, she is still relatively young only 33 years old. They are now preparing for a jog before Shai wakes up.

After an hour later, Shai woke up feeling hyper because he will play later this day with his Mom and teammates. He went downstairs and noticed that they are gone, probably jogging again. His parents are highly focused on their food and exercise, Shai knows that it is important for them because they are athletes but don't know why. Thinking of his goal, he mused to himself if he also need to do that, maybe he should ask his parents to join them next time. With nothing to do but wait for his parents, he goes out in the pond and starts humming and dancing. Shai also likes music generally and loves to move around.

30 minutes after Shai woke up, his parents came back into their house.

"Shai baby you up? It's Saturday today there is no school, why'd you wake up early?"

"Good morning Mom, Dad, I'm just excited for later"

"Aww baby it's fine, I will play with you later. Let's eat breakfast first"

His mom winks at his Dad and said "Honey cook some good breakfast for us, love ya"

"Good morning Shai, Daddy will also play with you later hehe but I'll cook first, you take a bath first honey, and bring Shai with you"

His mom nods at his Dad and carries Shai to the bathroom. While being carried away, Shai shouts at his Dad "Okay, but only volleyball Dad"

His Dad staggers while cooking after he heard his son and thought to himself "Why can't I get the upper hand against this kid even if I just said that sheesh might as well get back to cooking"

After eating breakfast, his Dad rushed for practice. Their home is a bit close to the teams of both of his parents, Vissel Kobe and JT Marvelous, that's also how they got to know each other. His Dad is giving it all he has before he retires and that left his Mom and Shai alone in their house.

Shai with nothing to do asks his Mom to teach him now so later she won't have to teach him again and his Mom laughed at the innocence of his son, it's not that easy to play volleyball even if you might see it as something just simple but still, she complied to her son's request. She went to their gym and fetch a volleyball and they went outside.

"Okay but before we start, can Mommy know what do you know about volleyball?"

"The first to get 25 points to win a set, deuce, the positions Mommy I know those: Blocker, Spiker, Setter, Libero- the one that only does defense, right Mommy?"

"Ohhh you know something but that's not volleyball baby. Volleyball is a team sport where you need to keep the ball from touching the ground so before you get to know all of these technicalities and be in a team, you must first need how to receive the ball or keep it off the ground"

Shai pouts because he only wants to hit the ball like Ngapeth "When will I spike? I don't want to receive Mommy, it hurts. I saw your teammates before when she got hit, it looks painful"

"HAHAHA I know how you feel because before that's only I want to do but baby trust me, learning how to receive will help you in any position you play in volleyball"

"Ehhh, I don't get it and you didn't answer my question but sure I will trust you Mommy hehehe I love you"

His mom looks at Shai endearingly, she thought "Maybe teaching him volleyball is not that bad of a thing, he's so cute begging me HAHAHA"

Her mom then started to show how to build a platform for receiving and the stance needed for receiving. While they are practicing that, they heard a doorbell.

"Shai, just wait right here. it must be the Zaizens. I'll be right back"

At the doorstep

"Good morning Izuna you going to work?"

"Yeah, Izuki will be under your care again, thank you again"

"No worries, you know you're our only friend here since we've moved and Shai likes Izuki very much"

"But still thanks a lot, you know it's hard after Maki went to Europe and you're helping me a lot"

"Pheesh don't worry about it. By the way, I'll have a game later, can I bring Izuki with me, do you also want to go?"

"A game? Sure you can bring him but not today for me, I'll just finish all my work to relax tomorrow"

"Next time, Shai's been bugging me to teach him volleyball, I'll have Izuki joins us"

"Sure at least they'll have each other to play with. Okay Izuki, Ma will go to work you stay with Mrs. Akaya and Shai again. Sorry Mommy always doesn't have time to be with you"

The little boy is used to this "Don't worry about me Ma, I love you. You go to work and have a good day. I'll be playing with Shai all day so don't worry"

"Okay honey, thank you for understanding. I love you. Have fun today"

The Zaizens, Izuna is a nurse and Izuki is her son which have the same age as Shai only a month apart. The Tigros moved in this neighborhood after they got married, the Zaizens were already here a long time ago. Izu's father, Maki, is also an athlete but a basketball player. Maki was Akaya's close friend, they've known each other because they were called to the national team at a young age and meet often because of that, many thought they were dating but little did they know that they hate each other's guts mainly because they have the same temperament. They are very aggressive, rough, fiery, and other hooligan like behavior.

When Izuki was 2 years old, Maki went to Europe to play basketball. Maki wants to play in the NBA but it was too late due to his old age so he opt for Europe instead and want his family to come with him but Izuna didn't want to move. It's a good thing the Tigros moved there and offered help. So those 2 years Shai and Izuki are like brothers and inseparable.

Shai and Izuki see each other and high-fived. "Hey Izuki, I will play volleyball do you want to play volleyball?"

Izuki is confused why his friend suddenly wants to play volleyball even though before he didn't give attention to it. "Why volleyball? I thought you didn't like it?"

"I watch a match last night and I saw someone, he is my idol from now on"

Shai calls his mom to get a video from the match last night

"Look, the number 9, he is so cool"

Izuki and Shai proceeds to watch the game last night and Izuki approved that 9 number 9 on the France Team was great and understood why his friend now wants to play volleyball.

Both of the kids watched the game and got hooked so they went from game after game and forgot about the time when they were called by Shai's mom to eat lunch. After eating lunch, his Mom called them outside to teach them about receiving.

After teaching Izuki how to make a platform, his Mom proceeds on explaining how to receive properly. She showed them how the whole body must be relaxed and not just use the arms to receive, use your legs and whole body. The kids didn't get it at first but after a couple of tries, they can understand a little bit of the logic she said.

For the whole afternoon, they are just practicing receiving. Both Shai and Izuki got tired after an hour of playing so they took a bath and tried to watch TV but slept for the afternoon. His Mom didn't force them to play because she knows that earlier they were getting bored but that's all they can do, after all, they are both still small. When they woke up, it's almost time to go to the venue so they rushed to get dressed and prepare their things and off they go for the match.