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

Chapter 13: Aoba Johsai

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#091722
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Aeris was just about to leave when she noticed Tobio standing in front of the gym door. He looked almost too casual for someone who seemed like he had been waiting there on purpose.

"Nana-chan, where are you going?" Tobio called out, his voice a mix of curiosity and mischief.

Aeris paused and felt a shiver of déjà vu. It's creepy how this little rascal's sixth sense always seems to be on, she thought to herself, shaking her head with a small smile.

Tobio began walking toward her, his pace quick and purposeful. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I was just walking around and... I stumbled upon your gym," Aeris replied, trying to sound casual, though she felt a little flustered under his expectant gaze.

"Oh, you should've come in," Tobio said, the invitation more of a statement than a suggestion.

Aeris hesitated. "Oh no, it's—"

Before she could finish, Tanaka's familiar voice cut through the air. "Ohhh, Kageyama-san! Have you finished your tour?"

Aeris turned her attention to him, nodding politely. "Yes, I did," she answered.

"You should watch our game," Tobio suggested again, persistence clear in his tone.

"Oh no, that's fine. I should probably just head home. I'm a little tired," Aeris said, hoping to politely decline.

"Nah, let's go home together," Tobio said, grinning.

"Yeah, you should," Tanaka chimed in, nudging the conversation further.

Aeris let out a quiet sigh, knowing resistance was futile. She reluctantly agreed to watch their practice, her curiosity outweighing her fatigue.

"Mina!" Ryūnosuke announced suddenly, breaking the momentary lull. "Meet Tobio's cousin, Kageyama-san."

Aeris's face flushed slightly under the attention, but she managed a polite smile and a bow.

"Please, just call me Aeris. No need for formality," she said, hoping to ease the tension.

Everyone returned the greeting with smiles and introductions, the gym filled with a mix of curious glances and nods.

"Wait," the captain said, frowning thoughtfully. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. Have we met?"

Aeris blinked, staring at him for a moment before covering her mouth in realization. "Yeah, I do remember. Didn't you guys... uh, mess up the game a few years ago?" she asked bluntly, trying to recall without overthinking.

The room fell silent for a beat. Then Daichi's reaction was a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "Ahhhh," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

"Ah, sorry about that! I didn't mean—" Aeris began, but Tobio's sudden question cut her off.

"You know each other?" he asked, curiosity laced in his voice.

"Yeah," Aeris explained, "I think I saw them play during my first year. It was... quite a drama, honestly."

"Ehhh!!! Really?!" Tanaka exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise.

"Yeah, it was kind of embarrassing," Daichi admitted, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"Wait, why didn't I remember you?" Tanaka asked, squinting as if trying to piece a puzzle together.

"What do you mean?" Aeris asked, tilting her head in mild confusion.

"I mean... if we've crossed paths before, why can't I remember seeing you on the courts?" Tanaka wondered aloud.

Aeris froze for a moment, the detail she'd nearly forgotten suddenly surfacing. She laughed softly and said casually, "Oh, right. I think you were still in middle school at that time. I repeated a year, so that's probably why you don't remember me."

The entire gym fell silent, everyone on the court pausing mid-motion to process her words. Shocked glances were exchanged as her revelation sank in.

"Oh, it's fine. Don't worry about it," Aeris said quickly, trying to brush off the surprise. She didn't want it to become a big deal.

"Are you serious?" Tanaka asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and fascination.

"Yeah," Aeris confirmed, shrugging as if repeating a year was no more significant than forgetting a backpack. "I was supposed to be a third-year student, so... yeah. Don't worry about it. I'm not really in the mood to talk about it right now."

Tanaka nodded slowly, clearly still processing, and muttered, "Sorry for bringing up that topic."

"Nah, it's fine. Aren't you guys supposed to be having practice?" Aeris said, shifting the conversation with a subtle change in tone, letting the moment slide.

Daichi glanced around the court, realization dawning on him. "Right... practice," he said, and with a nod to his teammates, they began warming up, stretching, and moving into formation.

Aeris stepped back slightly, observing the familiar chaos of the gym. She noticed the intensity in Tobio's movements, the way he communicated silently with his teammates, and the sheer energy of the players. Despite the lingering awkwardness from earlier, she found herself drawn in, fascinated by the rhythm and flow of the game.

"So, what do you think?" Tobio asked, his eyes searching hers for judgment.

Aeris paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "You played like you were the king of the court," she said.

Tobio blinked, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on his face. "What do you mean?"

"You played as if you were controlling the entire game," she explained. "Like there's some hierarchy on the court. But there isn't. Volleyball is a team sport. If you want to move, you move with the team, not above it."

His expression dropped slightly. "Is it that bad? Am I really that bad?"

"No, you're not bad," she reassured him. "It's just... why are you playing as if you're above everyone else?"

Then Tanaka spoke up, "How about me? Am I doing the same thing?"

Aeris turned to him, nodding slowly. "You're good... but you play like, 'Yeah, it's me. I'm the star. I'm the one who's good at volleyball.' That's the problem."

"Really?" he asked, clearly shocked. "I played like that?"

"Yes," she said, her voice calm but firm. "When you play, you pour your emotions into it—and that's fine. But volleyball isn't about who's the biggest or the fastest. It's about strategy. That's what comes first."

Ennoshita raised his hand hesitantly. "So... does that mean all of us have the same problem?"

"Yes," Aeris replied. "There's no real coordination here. I can't exactly explain it, but it's like everyone's doing their own thing. Strategy is weak. Teamwork is almost nonexistent. You have skill individually, yes, but you're not functioning as a team."

She was about to continue her critique when the door opened. A teacher—or rather, a young man who looked like he might still be a student himself—walked in. His messy black hair framed his face as he looked around the gym.

"Who's that?" Aeris muttered under her breath.

The boy spoke loudly, his voice energetic. "Oh! Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. Hello, everyone! How are you today?"

The team exchanged confused glances, unsure what to make of this sudden interruption.

"I heard there's some... chaos happening here," he continued, looking directly at Hinata and Tobio. "Ah, so it's you two, the problematic members."

"Osu!" both boys muttered in acknowledgment.

« ֪ ׅ ֹ =͟͞ ♡ 𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗.