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There’s a pretty old saying, “If you turn out blond, you’ll just sit and stare!” Now, it doesn’t get said too much, but the people around you love to show you they still believe it. Especially in Japan. Here sits a six-year-old boy with the name Ukai Keishin, in the principal’s office. He is the only kindergartener without a matching yellow hat, he misplaced it while walking to the school. His shoes lay untied on his feet, dangling close below. His feet can almost touch the ground from his bear-like build, thumbnail in his mouth as he waits for his mother. When she does arrive, the outcome comes as expected for the kid. The other kid gets told off for picking on him and he gets sent off with a reassuring smile, as if he didn’t make the kid bleed. He walks home that day confused about why he wasn’t punished.Dean’s office sits a thirteen-year-old boy, name Ukai Keishin sitting gleefully above his head like a medal, officially three weeks into his third year of middle school. He is wearing a backward hat even if they don’t allow anything fun like that. His shoes still gracefully untied around his ankles. His feet fully touch the ground, legs spread far apart. A button missing on his school blazer, the kid next to him looks worse than him though. His father comes in this time, worry riddance written over his pale face. The same talk goes over, and Ukai doesn’t get into any trouble. He gets a creepy smile for putting up with the kid. Ukai walks home with an earbud tucked away, listening to music written just for him.Ukai gets called a dumb blond in real time, out on the street. He doesn’t feel hurt, the glances and looks he would get were enough to tell him something wasn’t right about him. He just continues walking home and kicking his shoelaces out of the way and bag over his shoulder. He can easily kick off his shoes and cry into his pillow. Sob heavy sighs. The next morning Ukai doesn’t go to school with hair.Principal’s office, sitting in the horribly uncomfortable and scratchy chairs is Keishin Ukai, holding onto his last name like the last shooting star. He has been in this office over thirty times in just four months. Backward hat rest overtop of his shagged mohawk, not giving a damn if he gets in trouble for it. His blue shoelaces are scattered on the sickening tile floor, left for the gods to tie for him. He fits uncomfortably in the chairs, too big for such a size, he chews on the skin around his fingernails. Blood dripping down his face, but the other guy has it pouring. His grandfather is here this time to give him disappointment. Same talk and the same walk home. He kicks the ground as he walks shamefully next to his grandfather, why won’t anyone notice him?Convenience store his mother owns, Keishin Ukai sits behind the counter awaiting customers. His name doesn’t seem too important to him anymore, reputation behind him is destroyed when he got caught behind betting rings. He fights like a dog and would prefer going out like one too, panting and having no choice. A hat turned sideways rests easy on his choppy cut. His shoes are still untied against the cool tile floor, not caring if anyone ties them for him or not. This chair doesn’t feel too bad but still doesn’t fit him. Scars litter his face and arms that are visible, years of fighting catching up to his glistening age. A random man runs into his store, not so random at least. Takeda Ittetsu, a teacher at Karasuno High has been coming to his store for a week now asking him to coach. He has declined so far, but maybe it won’t be so bad to step foot in that school, that gym, again.Keishin agrees on one condition, “You call me Keishin, Specs.” Takeda agrees thoroughly, nodding happily and telling him what time to be there. Ukai smiles and waves the teacher goodbye before standing up to close the shop. He locks the doors, staring at his untied shoes. He can’t help but feel guilty. He shakes his thoughts and walks up to his house, waiting for tomorrow.Keishin Ukai, also known as Coach Ukai, a title he never knew he liked or deserved until now, sits on a bench next to three men. Takeda Ittetsu, Shimada Makoto, and Takinoue Yuusuke. Three men who know what they’re doing with their lives. Three men who don’t get second glances when they’re doing normal human tasks. They soon wrap up practice, the true reason Shimada and Takinoue are there for the drinks afterward. They lock the gym and attempt to walk toward the bar before Takinoue stops Ukai with a grab of the wrist. He looks at his older friend confused before said friend dips to the ground and grabs his shoes. Takinoue ties his shoes for him, wrapping the shoelace around his ankle since Converse laces are ‘too long!’Ukai is now sitting at a bar booth, feet touching the ground and knees touching the bottom of the table. A headband wrapped carefully around his beautiful blond locs, keeping strays away. His shoelaces are tied neatly in two bunny ears, wrapping comfortably around his ankles. The booth sinks underneath him, creating a weird gap between him and Shimada. They drink the night away before walking Ukai home. He opens the door and stands while looking at his shoes. Such a small way of kindness goes a long way for someone like him.For the next three months, the three tie his shoes whenever they’re with him. Knotting them up into cute and neat, or strangling them into uncoordinated and messy looks of gratifications. He watches the way they tie their own shoes and his, getting so confused along the way. Who knew you are meant to teach a child to tie their shoes? They must have thought he would learn at some point.He finally tells them why his shoes are always untied and laying on the dirty ground. The headband he got so comfortable wearing is nowhere to be seen. The coach shifts under him slightly, his feet haven’t not touched the ground in too many years to count. He feels a deep pressure around his waist. Takeda hugged him tightly while rubbing circles over his jacket. He sighs knowing he’s okay here. Knowing there will forever be people to tie his shoes.