A Volleyball Coach for One Year

April 13, 2025

(The protagonist's surname has been changed.)

I should never have made that bet. Ichihara Yuichi regrets it deeply. His freewheeling life of traveling the world is over!

Ukai throws an arm around his shoulders and laughs heartily.

"You're our coach for a year! Welcome aboard!"

Back when Ichihara Yuichi led Itachiyama to defeat Karasuno, the team with the Little Giant, during his first year of high school, he met two friends from Karasuno.

Ukai and Uchinai.

Influenced by the two of them, Ichihara Yuichi decided to set off on a spontaneous adventure after graduation. Who would have thought that after only two years of freedom, he'd come back for a visit and get roped into staying by Ukai Keishin?

Uchinai's laughter booms through his phone.

"Coach! Can you teach me how to spike with my eyes open?"

"Coach, coach! Can you teach me a powerful jump serve?"

"Coach, coach, coach!"

Surrounded by little crows, Ichihara Yuichi makes a stop sign with his hand.

"I can teach you all of that!"

"Whooo! Long live the coach!"

Ichihara Yuichi's grin grows wider and wider. Being a coach seems pretty fun after all.

Wait a minute.

Not long after he'd started enjoying himself, Ichihara Yuichi stares at his phone in horror.

How does everyone know I'm back? Who gave me away?

Coach Nekomata: "I heard you finished your trip around the world and became a coach. Why didn't you come to Nekoma? (Cat grin JPG)"

Coach Washijo: "You became a coach at Karasuno?! Why didn't you go play professionally?"

The worst news has to be from Itachiyama!

As Coach Iwamoto's number-one rebellious disciple, Ichihara Yuichi trembles at the sight of a single question mark.

Coach Ukai, who had only been bragging about him to someone, smiles, keeping his role in all this a secret.

Theme: Professional coaches help everyone reach the top!