𝟭. 𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝙄𝘿𝙀 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙔 || 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐤𝐲𝐮𝐮 [✔]

Chapter 1: Kageyama Aeris

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#070622
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"Why did you do that to your team?" one interviewer asked, pushing the microphone closer to Aeris.

"I didn't do that," Aeris replied firmly.

"What will be your next step after this?" another reporter chimed in.

"I...I don't know," she murmured.

"Are you ashamed of what you did?" a third reporter asked.

"Me? Ashamed?" Aeris scoffed. "They should be ashamed of themselves. They—"
She quickly stopped. She knew if she said one more word, they would twist it against her.

Without another glance, she turned her back to the crowd and walked out of the court, leaving the noise and flashes behind.

Later that evening, the news played everywhere:

"The Takenodai Girls' Volleyball Team's ace, Aeris Takenodai, has officially withdrawn from her position. It remains unclear why she left the team or what caused the sudden fallout..."

Aeris let out a long, slow sigh as she wandered through the streets of Hyogo. Her mind felt strangely empty, as though someone had switched off the lights in her brain. Ever since the day she had walked out of the gym and been expelled from school, the world had grown quieter.

Too quiet.

For months, she had avoided the bustling streets of Tokyo and retreated to her aunt's home. It was the only place where she could vanish from the eyes of others and exist without pressure, without judgment.

For four years, she had lived alone in Tokyo. Her parents were volunteer doctors, constantly traveling to distant and underprivileged regions. They rarely had time to stay home, and though she understood and didn't resent them, loneliness had become her default companion.

Before Japan, she had lived in America. The language had never been a barrier, but the cultural differences—subtle, sharp, and often suffocating—had always been challenging. Expectations were bigger. Pressure weighed heavier. Eyes watched more closely, silently judging, silently comparing. She often felt like she was performing on a stage she hadn't chosen.

As she walked, she spotted a small café tucked into a quiet corner, the kind that looked as though it had always existed exactly there, waiting for someone like her. She ducked inside, hoping the warmth and aroma of coffee and pastries would ground her. She ordered a drink and settled into a corner, pulling out a worn book—Naseria by Ishleens. The pages, familiar and comforting, helped her escape. For a few precious moments, the weight of the outside world lifted.

She glanced at the clock on the wall and realized it was almost time to pick up her four-year-old cousin from daycare. This was her way of helping around the house: caring for the children, cooking, cleaning, and keeping herself busy. Tasks like these gave her purpose and distracted her from thoughts about volleyball, Tokyo, and everything she had left behind.

Finishing her drink, Aeris closed the book and stood, smoothing out her clothes. She stepped back into the street, the crisp air brushing against her cheeks, and began walking toward the daycare. Parents were already gathered, waiting for their children. When the doors finally opened, the little ones burst out like a flood, rushing into their parents' arms. The teachers bowed politely to each adult, their expressions patient and warm.

"Ae-chan, hello!" one of the teachers greeted her with a bright, welcoming smile.

"I'll get Asahi-kun," Aeris replied, bowing politely before disappearing inside.

A moment later, a small boy came running toward her, his tiny legs pumping with excitement.

"Nana-chan!" he called, his face lighting up with pure joy.

"Thank you, sensei," Aeris said, bowing again before taking Asahi's small hand in hers. Together, they walked home, their steps light and synchronized in a quiet rhythm.

Asahi immediately began chattering, words tumbling out in an enthusiastic rush. He told her about drawing a dinosaur, spilling juice, making a new friend, and a hundred tiny details that seemed important only to him. Aeris nodded and smiled, sometimes laughing softly, sometimes asking him to repeat what he had said. She didn't always understand everything, but she listened with careful attention. This small voice, full of energy and innocence, reminded her that even in a life filled with uncertainties, there were still moments worth holding onto.

The streets seemed calmer now, the houses warmer, the air lighter. Aeris felt the tension in her shoulders ease just a little. She wasn't sure what her life would look like after everything that had happened—the sudden expulsion, the abrupt relocation, the years of solitude—but at that moment, none of that mattered.

Holding Asahi's hand, feeling the warmth and trust in that small grip, Aeris allowed herself a rare smile. For now, she could forget the pressures of the past. For now, she could walk at a steady pace, listen to his endless stories, and feel a little lighter with every step.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

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