Chapter 174 - Farewell (1/2)

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.

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.”

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.

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: ”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 inside.”