The first meeting with Ukai Sr. was tense enough. For Jin to boldly challenge him right away made Hinata and Kageyama freeze behind him, unsure what kind of disaster was about to unfold.
"Forget it," Ukai Jr. tried to interject quickly. "Grandpa just recovered from surgery. He's almost back to normal, but he needs to return to Tokyo for a follow-up in a couple of days. Strenuous activity-"
"Bah."
Before he could finish, Ukai Sr. cut him off with a sharp look, eyes glinting with mischief. He'd seen plenty of cocky young stars before. Even at his age, he knew exactly how to handle them.
Hinata tugged at Jin's sleeve nervously. "M-maybe we should wait… Coach Ukai just got better. Strenuous practice isn't good, right?"
"Step aside, little one."
The three words landed like a slap. Hinata shrank back instantly, sulking, but too intimidated to argue.
"Grandpa-" Ukai Jr. tried again.
"Out of the way!"
In one swift move, Ukai Sr. shoved his grandson aside, grip surprisingly strong.
"Recovery means exactly that I can still move. Don't stop me. It's just catching a ball. Let me play with this kid."
He grabbed a ball, tossed it toward Jin, then strode onto the opposite court.
The makeshift court, meant for elementary students, had a low net strung across it. Ukai shouted an order, and his grandson grumbling, adjusted it to regulation height.
"Three serves," Jin said confidently, spinning the ball in his palm. "If you catch even one, I'll obediently go pick vegetables."
Ukai Sr. snorted. "Three balls. If I miss even once, I lose." He crouched slightly, posture less explosive than a youth's, but still balanced and commanding.
Hinata and Kageyama exchanged wide-eyed glances.
What an arrogant old man.
Jin tossed the first serve high, leapt, and swung, not at full power, still worried of the old coach's health.
Ukai Sr. took a single step and absorbed it cleanly. His body was slower, yes, but his technique was sharp, buffer distance precise, wrist and arm aligned perfectly. The ball floated up into a perfect receive, placed where a setter would want it.
"…Amazing," Hinata whispered.
Even Jin's eyes narrowed slightly. That receive had erased nearly all the spin.
Ukai Sr. smirked. "If you're going to hold back, don't bother."
Jin click his tounge. The second toss soared higher. He exhaled sharply, body loose, approach powerful. His serve cracked forward with heavy spin and brilliant pace.
Ukai Sr. planted his feet, his voice cutting through the air. "Receiving is the foundation of volleyball!"
*Smack!*
The serve slammed into his arms. The pass wasn't as perfect as the first, but it rose high enough to transition into an attack.
Hinata's and Kageyama's voices overlapped. "A-amazing!"
Jin's spike serves were heavy even when aimed directly at the front. To receive two in a row without flinching, Ukai Sr. was still formidable.
Jin, however, wasn't discouraged. His smirk deepened. The next one wouldn't be straight at the body. If he targeted the sidelines, who knew what would happen?
But Ukai Sr. cracked his neck and straightened, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves. "That's enough. You lose."
"What?" Jin blinked. "There's still one left, isn't there?"
Ukai Sr.'s face hardened. "Did I say that? No. Here, I have the final say."
The words were absolute, and Jin's retort died in his throat.
"Go pick vegetables. Two baskets each. That's training for now." Arms akimbo, he wore the smug grin of someone who had just flipped the board mid-game.
"…Older gingers really are spicier," Jin muttered under his breath.
Before the training even began, he had already been played.
Reluctantly, Jin, Hinata, and Kageyama took baskets and trudged into the vegetable garden, beginning what could only be called a harvest marathon.
Meanwhile, Ukai Sr. turned to his grandson. "And you, don't you dare serve that hard in front of me again."
Ukai Jr. scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Heh… if Jin had gone all-out, even I might not have been able to receive it." His tone carried a touch of pride in his own players.
The old man scowled and clamped a hand on his grandson's shoulder, shoving him aside with surprising force. "Don't get cocky, brat!"
Ukai Jr. yelped and stumbled, clutching his back. "Ow! Damn old man!"
Clapping the dirt from his hands, Ukai Sr. shouted toward the garden. "Faster! Your coach is pathetic, so I'll teach you proper tactics later!"
Ukai Jr. staggered back to his feet, still wincing. "Grandpa, maybe I should return and bring the other players…"
"You're not going anywhere," the old coach snapped. "You'll stay here as a sparring partner."
Ukai Jr. froze, cold sweat running down his spine. He knew his grandfather's training methods better than anyone. A few days under him meant more pain than most teams endured in weeks.
"Tomorrow I'll have more students join," Ukai Sr. declared, voice booming. "Don't even think about crying. Karasuno is mine to shape again!"
His eyes burned with the fire of a coach who had never truly retired.