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

Chapter 4: Unexpected Bonds

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#111522
•••

"Ae-chan," Harumi-san shockingly called. "What happened? Are you alright?" Worry was painted all over her face.

"I'm fine, aunt. Got a little fractured ankle," Aeris nervously laughed.

Aeris' aunt was a protective and overthinking person. She would get worried and overthink even the smallest things that happened to her niece or children. That's why Aeris did her best not to do anything stupid while staying at her aunt's house.

"Little WHAT,!!!" Harumi-san exclaimed. "What happened to you? Can you walk? Your mother's gonna kill me, are you crazy?"

"Shh, Aunt Harumi, calm down," Aeris said, attempting to explain the whole situation and soothe her aunt's nerves.

Harumi-san let out a big sigh. "Thank goodness that those boys were there to help you. Arigatou, minna."

"No problem, Harumi-san," Michinari said.

"Why don't you come in and have a snack while I treat my crazy niece?" Harumi-san suggested.

"Oh no, it's fine, Harumi-san, we will be on our way," Michinari declined.

"Nonsense, come in," Harumi-san insisted.

The three boys had no choice but to accept the invitation and followed her inside.

𖤐 - ᡴꪫ ִ₊‧⁺˖๋࣭ ⭑ ᡴꪫ - ִ ࣪𖤐

"Thank you again for saving my nieces," Harumi-san said, expressing her gratitude.

"Of course, Harumi-san, you're welcome. But will Aeris-chan be alright?" Aran asked.

"She will, for the next few weeks," Harumi-san assured them.

They nodded, exchanged pleasantries, and said their goodbyes.

"Thanks, guys! You can always come here if you want," Aeris called out and waved as they left.

"Welcome," Aran replied with a smile before they headed on their way.

𖤐 - ᡴꪫ ִ₊‧⁺˖๋࣭ ⭑ ᡴꪫ - ִ ࣪𖤐

"You're lucky those young men were there to help you! If something bad happens to you, your mom will kill me," Harumi-san scolded Aeris while she carefully adjusted her cast.

Aeris, feeling a bit defiant, muttered under her breath, "How can she kill me when she's so far away?"

"What did you say-" Harumi started, but accidentally pressed a bit too hard on Aeris's knee.

"AHHHHH, OBAAA!" Aeris screamed in pain.

"Oh! Sorry!" Harumi-san apologized, unaware of what Aeris had mumbled.

𖤐 - ᡴꪫ ִ₊‧⁺˖๋࣭ ⭑ ᡴꪫ - ִ ࣪𖤐

A few days later, Harumi didn't allow Aeris to go outside due to her injury. So Aeris and Asahi spent their time chilling in the backyard. Though not very large, it featured a Japanese Maple tree, various plants, Teak Sling Chairs, and a large bean bag.

While Aeris and Asahi were enjoying their peaceful time, a stray ball suddenly hit Aeris on the head.

"E: ..The Fuck.." Aeris exclaimed as she stood up and quickly climbed the ladder to see who had thrown the ball.

To her surprise, it was the Inarizaki volleyball team.

"Did you guys throw that ball?" Asahi asked.

"It was an accident, gomen," Osamu apologized. "Can we have the ball back, onegaishimasu?" Atsumu added, playfully pouting.

Aeris rolled her eyes and sighed. "Matte," she said, climbed back down, and retrieved the ball.

Afterward, she threw it back to them. "Arigato!" Atsumu called out in thanks.

As Aeris was about to go back inside, Aran asked, "Matte, Aeris, are you going to play with us?"

"I can't. My ankle hasn't healed yet," Aeris replied.

"Did you really fracture your knee?" Aran inquired.

Aeris shook her head. "It's only sprained."

"Okhee! Well, get well soon, and let's play when you're healed," Michinari said.

Aeris gave them a thumbs up, and they continued on their way into the forest.

𖤐 - ᡴꪫ ִ₊‧⁺˖๋࣭ ⭑ ᡴꪫ - ִ ࣪𖤐

A week later, as the weeks passed, Aeris had become friends with the Inarizaki team. Michinari, Aran, and Osamu introduced Aeris to their team, and her skills impressed them. Her techniques and moves were incredibly good.

They had also become close to Harumi-san's family since they often passed by their house to play volleyball in the forest.

As their friendship grew, Aeris revealed that she had been kicked out of her previous team and had to go back a year. To their astonishment, they thought she was joking, and they genuinely believed she was a freshman.

"You should go to Inarizaki," Atsumu suggested.

They had been trying to convince Aeris to join their school for days, sneaking in the suggestion whenever they could. No matter what they were doing or where they were, they found a way to say, "You should go to Inarizaki."

"I told you I'll think about it. I have a few months; please don't stress me out," Aeris pleaded.

"Stop bothering her!" Osamu scolded Atsumu.

"I was just suggesting," Atsumu defended himself.

"You're stressing her out," Osamu said firmly.

"No, I didn't!" Atsumu retorted.

Aeris sighed. She had grown accustomed to this situation as Atsumu and Osamu continued their ongoing debate.

« ֪ ׅ ֹ =͟͞ ♡

𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 ♡

— sidenote
• Also posted this on AO3
• Due to my stupidity, I lost my file and needed to figure out where to begin my story. All of my ideas are gone. But anyways.....
• E: (means Aeris is speaking english)