Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 62: Puppy

The Golden Week training camp had come to an end, and Aoba Johsai's new lineup was beginning to take shape.

After losing to Taichi Kaedehara in the match against Nekoma, Kentarō Kyōtani had no choice but to accept his punishment. Begrudgingly, he attended practice every day without causing trouble—at least in terms of his attendance.

However, Kyōtani's fiery temperament hadn't simmered down. His brash attitude and abrasive tone continued to create friction between him and the rest of the team.

It was Monday, a designated rest day for the Aoba Johsai volleyball club.

After the gruelling training sessions over Golden Week, Coach Irihata, in his usual genial manner, declared a well-deserved day off for everyone.

But for Kyōtani, there wasn't much else to do besides volleyball. Even outside the club, his daily routine revolved solely around the sport. If there was one other thing that had a place in his life, it would probably be fried chicken.

The change in environment seemed to have influenced him; instead of his usual 'FamilyMart's Fried Chicken', he'd recently switched to 'Lawson's Fried Chicken'.

On his first rest day at Aoba Johsai, Kyōtani predictably chose volleyball. After buying a fresh pack of 'New! Fried Chicken Nuggets!' from Lawson, he made his way toward the town gymnasium where he used to hang out.

Walking along the road and chomping on fried chicken, Kyōtani suddenly stopped mid-bite and mid-step. A small cardboard box sat squarely in the middle of the path ahead.

The box looked pristine—no signs of being stomped on or soaked by rain. Its sharp edges and clean appearance made it clear that it hadn't been there long.

"Hah. Some kind of new scam?" Kyōtani muttered to himself. Despite his suspicion, he couldn't resist leaning in for a closer look.

Inside the box was a bundle of light brown fluff, smaller than a volleyball, nestled in an old towel.

Just as Kyōtani crouched down and reached out to touch it, two shiny, jet-black eyes opened within the bundle, startling him enough to pull his hand back reflexively.

"Tch. It's a dog."

The box held what appeared to be an abandoned puppy—small, frail, and without a collar. The movement must have woken it up, as it let out a soft, weak whimper, its tiny mouth opening just enough to reveal its pink tongue.

Stray dogs weren't exactly rare, so Kyōtani didn't find it particularly noteworthy. Besides, after a few days of training at Aoba Johsai, the constant nicknames from Oikawa ('Mad Dog-chan') and that first-year brat Kaedehara ('Mad Dog-senpai') were already wearing on his nerves.

Losing interest, Kyōtani stood up to leave. But just as he turned, the puppy's faint cries grew more insistent.

It was probably the scent of his fried chicken, Kyōtani reasoned. With an exaggerated sigh, he tossed one of his chicken nuggets into the box and stuffed the rest into his mouth in one go, chewing noisily.

"Don't push your luck. You're lucky I'm even giving you one piece," he muttered, crumpling the wrapper into a ball and shoving it into his pocket before briskly walking away.

Kyōtani wanted to say all of that to the puppy, but since they obviously didn't speak the same language, all it looked like to passersby was that he was glaring at the little dog in silence.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing playing with a dog?"

Kyōtani turned around to see Yahaba Shigeru standing a short distance away, wearing the same Aoba Johsai uniform as him. Yahaba's expression was one of clear annoyance as he stared at Kyōtani.

Since Kyōtani had joined the volleyball club, Yahaba had never gotten along with him.

It wasn't just dislike—Yahaba genuinely felt that Kyōtani's arrogance and reckless attitude were a constant source of trouble.

Being in the same grade as Kyōtani meant Yahaba had often been roped into gruelling training sessions at the insistence of their third-year seniors, who were determined to 'whip Kyōtani into shape.'

And who could forget the time Kyōtani had yelled at those same seniors during a practice match, flat-out declaring, "Your plays suck!" That wasn't just arrogance; it was downright insane.

Yet, Kyōtani's skill on the court was undeniable. Much as it grated on Yahaba, Kyōtani was by far the most talented second-year, earning his spot in practice matches despite his attitude.

While Yahaba resented Kyōtani's natural abilities, he couldn't help but hope that the hot-headed second-year might make it into the starting lineup. Their batch of second-years wasn't exactly overflowing with standout players, after all.

But this guy...

Someone with his talent, wasting it so recklessly. It was infuriating.

To be honest, Yahaba felt relieved when Kyōtani started skipping club activities. Practices had been a lot more peaceful without him around.

And now, just when things were finally settling down, Kyōtani had come back.

What's worse, his volleyball skills were just as sharp as ever, despite his absence.

It was enough to make Yahaba's blood boil.

Without a single word exchanged, the tension between them thickened, the air practically crackling with unspoken animosity.

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