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Ukai knew Karasuno High School like the back of his hand. The young coach could remember every crevice of the school with intricate detail, the same halls that remained undefeated with chipped white paint and a few scribbles here and there; the same multitude of classrooms that seemed way bigger the time he was one amongst the students; the same chairs that had traces of hidden graffiti and bubblegum; the patio area filled with kids where he used to spend his lunch with.
Even so, Ukai refrained from wandering around, subjecting him to walk straight into the gym, and then out of the school completely, avoiding any kind of paths that made him go inside of the school. It wasn’t any trauma related problem, no, the reason behind his stubborn mindset was “leave memories where they belong” meaning: in the past.
What would be of the halls if he wandered off now, as an adult, with different ideals, a different “future” a different view, would he see the small scribbles on the lower corners of the walls as interesting as his young self saw? Would he make ugly faces as he passed the “best student athlete” as he did when he was a teenager? Would he scrap the chipping paint with his nail as mindless as he once did?
That was a plausible excuse right?
It was simple, completely comprehensible, easy to understand the nostalgia filled reason.
Oh, only if that was half of the truth.
Truth to be told, 60% of the motive he didn’t wander around the school like any other teacher was because he in fact wanted to leave the memories behind where they belonged.
The other reason…
It resided in the heart of a young Ukai Keishin, a young and madly in love Ukai that once shared self proclaimed love declarations on the art hall, hidden by the after hours of the school, the sun setting on them, a blush decorating his cheeks as both the embarrassment and the bashful feeling of his adolescent heart overcame his being.
26 years old Ukai was afraid (cowardly so, he could admit it) that by passing by the hall he would be swarmed by the memories of a young you, with the setting sun reflecting on your complexion, little spots of paint decorating your arms and sometimes even your cheek (he had no idea how you could get so much paint in you), your incandescing smile and your words that seemed to ring up until this day, words in response to his nearly incomprehensible babble that resembled a nervous ramble of a love confession.
He was afraid, afraid to not be able to revive the same feeling he felt that day, the ecstasy that you gave him by smiling brightly and hugging him tightly, whispering euphoric words on his ear.
Ukai was happy now, he was happy with the hoard of kids he was training, he was happy that Takeda insisted for days, he was happy doing what he was doing and helping those kids reach their dreams through a sport he wished to pursue once. But there was nothing, that could surpass the addicting feeling you gave him, the happiness, the pure exhilaration that a teen romance provided him.
That is why, apprehension filled him that moment, it was early, he had just arrived to the school for morning practice, the school was filled with a couple of wandering teachers that resembled ghosts by the eerier silence the lack of kids made.
Everything was going fine as he arrived and met with a very busy Takeda, a frantic expression decorating his face (it was exams week, Ukai could understand), upon his own goodwill, Ukai offered his help in solidarity to the nervous teacher, he did arrive around 40 minutes earlier this day (blame waking up early with no motive, his body was just used to the cruel farm working hours).
Takeda had thanked him countless times, and also apologized for the inconvenience as if it was his fault, then giving Ukai a bunch of files, rambling something about arts printed exam and second year, then trusting Ukai to know where the arts hall were.
That was the moment Ukai froze, watching as Takeda rushed down the hall in another frantic haze (poor teacher, he was the one responsible for printing the exams).
Drawing a deep breath, Ukai craved a cigarette that same moment, his own promise to not smoke early in the moment being the only thing keeping him from finding a hidden corner and smoking a whole pack just by nervous stupor.
Muttering words along “you are an adult Ukai” and “get a grip it’s a hall” the man made his way to the infamous hall with robotic steps, teachers that passed by him spared him a glance upon his extremely stiff posture and pained expression (if anything he looked constipated).
Finding himself in front of the stairs that would lead to the arts hall Ukai once again took a deep breath, puffing his chest as if it was going to help on something. Closing his eyes and filling absently minded with the ends of the white paper Ukai carefully went up the stairs not before whispering to himself that it was just a hall, and he was a grown man.
Upon turning into the corridor, he was in fact swarmed with memories (but it wasn’t like the fateful journey hadn’t brought him any), he saw the different pieces of art decorating the hall by generation of students that came after him, a couple trophies in another wall, and so on, nothing had changed much, which made him nostalgic, relieved even.
That same moment, he dawned into the conclusion that he would have to see the arts teacher, he wondered who might be, how old would they be, and were they as nice as his art teacher us to pair up him with you during the semester when he was young.
Although, Ukai did not expect that as soon as he reached the teachers classroom, before even opening the door he smelled tobacco, it was light, barely even there, but he could recognize it, craving it so much himself, the man almost felt starved, maybe the new teacher was nice enough to give him one.
Knocking on the door absently minded, too distracted by the smell, Ukai opened the door after a few seconds, lifting his head to finally look at the teacher, before any words could come out, he was stopped, words choking on his throat, eyes going wide.
There stood, by the window, no one other than you, a cigarette between your fingers, hand sticking out of the window, your expression calm before you turned to face him, you face displaying nothing but surprise.
“Keishin…?” You whispered almost as incredulous as him. Ukai knew he looked like a major idiot, mouth ajar and papers threatening to fall from his hands before he gripped them back, regaining his thoughts.
Oh how you had become beautiful, any sights of a pubescent adolescent were gone, you looked nothing short than mesmerizing, insubstantially beautiful, and he wondered how could you have become even more beautiful than you once wore.
“Oh my go— is that really you? Wow you— what are you doing here?” You asked, shaking your head as if to break away from your own thoughts, taking a last drag from your cigarette and dipping it ever so smoothly on the small ashtray on your table and spraying something in the air to mask the intoxicating smell, before moving towards him.
“I— uh… volleyball coach… um, what are you—“ he trialed off almost randomly, unable to properly form sentences, too enthralled by your newfound presence.
You chuckled, ever so melodic, gently taking the papers on his hands and placing it on the table, “I teach here… so you coach now?” You turned to him with a small amused smile on your lips, “yeah… yeah I coach” he nodded finally regaining his senses.
“That’s surprising” you said with a nod, “since when do you uh teach here?” He asked scratching the back of his neck, truly, out of every outcome he thought his little trip to the art hall would lead, certainly meeting with the person he loved for the longest time would not be one of them.
“Since the beginning of the year actually!” You smiled at him brightly, “ah I see” he nodded a little lost and amazed at the fact that he managed to accidentally meet almost every teacher and staff in this school, except for you.
“Well Keishin, it was very nice seeing you again, but… don’t you have kids to coach?” You asked him glancing down at your wrist watch before turning it to him so he could see the hour, “huh… oh shit” he muttered seeing he was a little late and Hinata and Kageyama surely would be already there banging on the door as if it would magically open.
You laughed and shook your head, watching as he walked towards the door in a rush, “hey—“ you called out to him, Ukai turned before leaving, hand on the doorknob, “you have night practices too, right? Come back here before you leave today, at sunset” you smiled so brightly at him that for a moment he forgot he was in a hurry, hand almost falling from the doorknob.
“… at sunset, sun—, yeah! Okay, see you at sunset” he smiled back at you, a little to happy about his next encounter that, he truly couldn’t wait.
“Bye Keishin!” You waved at him from the door, laughing and watching as he walked backwards, waving at you with renewed energy. “Bye!, see you at sunset!”