After three years in France as a professional swimmer, Hina decides to return to Japan and represent her native country at the world tournament.
Her childhood friend, Bokuto Kotaro, also joined a great volleyball team : the MSBY black Jackals.
And...
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~^*^~
The taxi paced the crowded streets of Tokyo. A small traffic jam was starting to form, slowing our journey. Bokuto stretched out and yawned.
"We had a lot of training today. I'm exhausted."
"Who are you telling! Jet lag is killing me."
My friend put an arm around my shoulders and forced me to rest my head on his chest.
"Tonight you sleep at home, you will go see your parents tomorrow."
I didn't even try to contradict him. My parents still lived far away and I was way too tired. Fortunately my parents came to see me in France a few weeks ago.
"Do you still live far away?" I asked Kotaro ignoring his new address.
"We have another ten minutes. I live near the big gymnasium." He said stroking my hair. "I've moved in the room so you can stay as long as you want."
I silently thanked him, stroking the back of his hand.
"I'll try not to stay too long. Dad has already spotted a good apartment by the pool where I'm going to swim."
"By the way, when are you going to meet your new team?" Kotaro asked me.
"I don't know yet. My coach in France told me that the season starts at the end of the month so I think I will meet them very soon."
My coach advised me to return to Japan to represent the country at the next international tournament. She then recommended me to a large women's team training in the 1,200-meter freestyle. I had always enjoyed working in a team unlike others who preferred to swim alone.
"And when do I meet your team?" I asked Kotaro.
"You can come by tomorrow after practice! I had planned on all of us going for a drink." My friend thought about it before speaking again. "Akaashi and Tenma have told me they'll be coming too! It's going to be cool!"
"Tenma?"
"Udai Tenma, you saw him quickly during the national school tournament. He came to support Karasuno. He and Akaashi quickly became great friends so I was taken to hang out with him a lot too. You'll see he's awesome ! "
After a little reflection, I remembered this boy with the long hair. He had been known for his giant leaps back then. Bokuto had told me about it.
"Udai is older, isn't he?"
"He's 26 this year. But sometimes I really feel like I'm talking to a 15-year-old guy." Bokuto laughed.
"Are you the one talking?" We laughed together and I spoke again. "And what is kuro'o now?"
"He works in the sports promotion division at the Japan Volleyball Association."
"Is he coming tomorrow? I'd like to see him again, it's been a long time, too."
"I suggested to him but right now he doesn't know because maybe he has to go see the Adlers team."
"The Adlers team?" I repeated.
"Do you remember Karasuno's passer? The volleyball genius?" I nodded to confirm that I remembered it. "Well this is his team and not one of them is not volleyball freaks. But hey we are much stronger." He sneered having enormous confidence in his team. "We're really strong. Between Shōyō, Atsumu, Kyoomi and of course myself, we make sure we win before we even play."
What I had always loved about my friend was that he not only had monstrous confidence in his strength but also in his teammates. As he always told me, a point scored is a point for the whole team, the game is not solo but six. When we were in high school it took me a while to figure this out, in swimming you are alone, you swim alone, you win alone. But my French team had changed me a lot, I was introduced to team water sports and I finally understood what Bokuto had wanted to tell me years ago.
"How's the pudding head ?" I asked speaking of Kenma.
"Oh you know, kenma remains kenma. He is the CEO of his own company, he is also YouTuber, professional gamer and trader. Not long ago he even sponsored Hinata when he was in Brazil."
I had always enjoyed Kenma very much for the way he looked and the way he spoke, he and I were a bit the same back then so I was looking forward to everything he had accomplished so far.
"But you know him, he won't come tomorrow night." Bokuto confirmed to me.
"I suspected it a bit but that's okay I'll go see him in the week."
The taxi finally stops in front of a beautiful building and tells us that we have arrived. We all got out of the car and and Bokuto and the driver helped me get out my huge suitcases. Bokuto put his arms around my shoulders and pressed me against him and I gazed at the building.
