Farewell

Kaitani looked at Shun, who was tying the laces of his basketball shoes on his feet. Kaitani noticed that his silver-haired teammate was not feeling happy today.

Kaitani could tell from Shun's body language and the subdued tone of his voice when he greeted everyone in the locker room.

He knew the reason why his captain was feeling down today. He sighed and addressed Shun.

Kaitani: "Kageyama, cheer up. We have known that the seniors will be leaving for quite some while."

Shun sighed and spoke without looking at Kaitani.

Shun: "I know that, but now that they are actually leaving, I can't help but feel this way."

Today was the last day that third-year members would come to club activities.

The school year was going to end soon, and the students were going to enter the end-of-the-year examination period. Club activities would enter a period of hiatus in the exam preparation period.

The third-year members weren't going to return after the hiatus, thus making it their last day in the club.

Shun sighed and spoke.

Shun: "I have been playing with Mibuchi-san and Aone-san from the start.

Just thinking that I wouldn't see them anymore is not a good feeling."

Unlike a lot of third-year members, Aone and Mibuchi came to the gym every day, so it didn't felt like anything had changed.

But now, they were leaving for good.

Shun finished tying his shoes and stood up. He looked at his teammates and spoke.

Shun: "But, you are right. I need to cheer up.

Let's go and give them a good farewell."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

When the members entered the gym, they saw all the third-year members sitting around the coach Koetsuji laughing and chatting.

When Shun saw this, he just walked to the group and silently sat behind the group, listening to the stories that the older members and the coach shared.

Everyone who entered the gym followed the lead and sat around the group and listened with the others.

The coach shared stories of his old days, his first year at Tokiwadai, his first championship with the school.

The third-year members shared their experiences from there first and second years, how they did in their promotion tests, their first few days at the first-string, the first time they played in a game.

Everybody for the moment forgot that it was the third-year members' last day.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

The coach clapped his hands to get everybody's attention and stood up.

Coach: "Okay, that is enough talking. We used up a lot of time, and because it is the last day of the third-year members, today we will only play a couple of mini-games, and end the practice."

The coach sorted players into teams, and one three-member squad looked really unfair to all other members.

Kaitani stared at the coach and asked.

Kaitani: "That isn't fair."

He pointed at the three-person team made up of Shun, Mibuchi, and Aone.

The coach laughed and spoke.

Coach: "Don't worry, they will be playing against a full five-member squad.

And those three have been playing together for a long time. Shun played along with those two in his first year. I still remember how much time he spent with those two.

He was closer to them than he was to the third-years back then."

Coach Koetsuji smiled. Like every year, another class of his students would graduate and leave his tutelage.

Every year, he would do his best to guide young students with the best of his ability. It didn't matter if it was basketball or any other problem they had. He would help them all the same.

Coach Koetsuji loved basketball; that was the reason he became a basketball coach.

He knew he could've been a high school coach with his level of knowledge, but the reason he chose to be a middle school level coach was that he loved the energy of kids at this age.

High school students needed to make a lot of decisions about their future, but middle school students were free.

They had no pressure about their future. At this time of life, they could have fun without any worries, and that was what attracted him to join Tokiwadai as a basketball coach.

He considered himself fortunate to be in a position to guide young children. To him, this job was as fulfilling if not more than his active athlete days.

Coach Koetsuji was happy to be at Tokiwadai Middle School.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Shun, Mibuchi, and Aone huddled together to discuss how they were going to play.

Shun talked to his seniors.

Shun: "So, how do you want to play today?

Should we mix it up?

How about Aone-san talking long shots, and Mibuchi-san playing in the post?

It would be fun seeing other people's expressions."

Mibuchi chuckled at the suggestion but shook his head.

Mibuchi: "Your suggestion is interesting, and yes, it would be fun to see others' expression, but let's play as we usually do.

I am pretty sure that if we switch positions, Aone would consistently shooting airballs, and even though I am taller than average, but it would be uncomfortable for me to play as the center.

Let's play with what we are comfortable with."

Shun nodded and spoke.

Shun: "Alright, then let's play as we usually do.

We are only three people, and coach is going to pit us against five people."

Aone and Mibuchi nodded. Mibuchi looked at his teammates and ordered them.

Mibuchi: "Aone would handle the area under the basket.

Shun, you take care of the perimeter and anyone who is shooting from the inside.

I will handle anyone who tries to shoot from the outside."

He looked at Shun and spoke.

Mibuchi: "I will leave the playmaking to you."

Shun saluted and said.

Shun: "Roger."

Aone nodded to show affirmation.

Mibuchi smiled and finished.

Mibuchi: "There is nothing else to say, let's go out there and win."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

The three-person team completely dominated all the five-person teams.

Mibuchi shot like a demon. He didn't care if he had enough space to shoot or not. If he got the ball, he would shoot.

Whenever Mibuchi missed, Aone would be there to get the rebound.

The silent center would jump for rebounds and jump for blocks.

Other teams would've to deploy two members to handle him. Only Hyakuzawa was able to contend against Aone.

Shun, too had fun in the games.

He made lob passes for alley-oops. Set up screens for Mibuchi to shoot off. He made trick passes to confuse the opponents on who was going to score.

He helped out Aone by boxing out the rebounding competition.

As Mibuchi was handling the outside, Shun shot from the mid-range. He would unexpectedly charge to the basket and would finish at the basket.

The three-person team didn't lose once and scored twenty-plus points in every quarter-length stretch they played in, and in defense, no team was able to score more than five-points against them.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

At the end of the day, Shun looked at both of his seniors and addressed them.

He turned to Mibuchi and spoke.

Shun: "Mibuchi-senpai."

Mibuchi turned to look at Shun.

Mibuchi: "Hmm? What is it, Kageyama-chan?"

Shun stood up with his back straight and started.

Shun: "Mibuchi-san, when I entered the first-string, you were the first person to talk to me and show me around.

When I first saw your shooting style, I was mesmerized. Even before you developed your third shot, your style had amazing diversity.

I based my style on your style, and I learned how to look for empty spaces to ask for passes to shoot.

Playing under your captaincy was also a pleasure. I don't think I can raise morale as well as you can. Plus, you were able to keep everyone in line quite easily.

I learned a lot under you, and for that, I am thankful."

Mibuchi smiled but didn't say anything.

Shun turned to Aone and talked to his silent senior.

Shun: "Aone-san, from day one, you never refused whenever I asked you to help me practice.

To date, you help anybody who would ask for it. You would always stay late and help by playing defense.

You were the one who taught me the importance of persistence and team play.

You always gave people the facts without adding any filters. I could always depend on you when asking for feedback.

For the team, you changed your playstyle without a single complaint.

It was because of you that none in the team hesitated to take shots, as they knew that you would be there to get the rebound.

If I ever needed to intimidate the other team, I just needed to pass you the ball, and you would do the job."

By this time, all first-year and second-year members were standing behind Shun, and the third-year members joined Mibuchi and Aone.

Shun took a deep breath, did a ninety-degree bow, and spoke.

Shun: "Thank you for always being there to help!"

Behind Shun, all members followed with the same deep bow and yelled in unison.

All: "THANK YOU!"

The seniors didn't say anything in response and led by Aone, they just stepped forward, and one by one hugged their juniors.

Behind Shun, Yuki caught Kaitani in the corner of his eyes. He turned to Kaitani and said.

Yuki: "You are crying?"

Kaitani was startled and turned away from Yuki and spoke in a hurried voice.

Kaitani: "No! Of course not. What nonsense you are talking about! You are the one who is crying."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Just like that, the third-year members of Tokiwadai Middle School Basketball Club finally withdrew from the club.

And, just like that another year, came to an end.

From that end began a new beginning and the start of Shun's third year of Middle School.

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End of Volume Two.

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