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

Chapter 16: Aftermath

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#092323
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The match was chaotic from the start. Everything seemed messy, disorganized, and overwhelming. The first set went predictably—Aoba Johsai dominated, leaving Hinata's team scrambling to keep up.

Their serves and spikes barely landed where they intended, bouncing off the court with more luck than skill. Iris watched silently from the sidelines, observing every movement, every nervous glance.

She didn't speak, didn't intervene; she simply took it all in, letting the players find their rhythm—or lack thereof—on their own.

After a few more exchanges, Hinata took the court again. He was visibly nervous, his hands shaking slightly as he positioned himself for a spike.

Aeris noticed immediately, her eyes narrowing slightly as she followed his every move. She could see the tension radiating from him, the mix of excitement and fear battling in his chest.

Kiyoko, ever the cautious one, leaned forward and asked, "Should we call a timeout?"

Awrks shook her head, smiling faintly. "Let them play. They need to figure this out for themselves."

Hinata's opportunity came sooner than expected. The ball soared towards him, and he jumped, swinging with all his might.

The spike connected—but not in the way anyone anticipated. The ball ricocheted, hitting Tobio squarely on the head. For a moment, the gym fell silent, everyone frozen in shock. Aeris' hand flew to her mouth, and she almost laughed, the sight absurd yet comical. Tobio's face twisted in anger, and without missing a beat, he shot back a scolding glare at Hinata.

"I-I'm sorry!" Hinata stammered, guilt written all over his face. "It was my mistake."

The game continued, tension thick in the air, but it was clear that Hinata's error had shaken the team's confidence. In the end, they lost the set.

Defeated but not completely disheartened, they trudged back to the van that Takeda Sensei had rented for transportation. The ride back to the gym was quiet, heavy with disappointment. Each player replayed their mistakes in their minds, their earlier confidence eroded by the loss.

Once back at the gym, Aeris clapped her hands together, breaking the somber silence. "Good job, team!" she said, her voice bright and encouraging. "I know it feels messy right now. And yes, it is messy. But do you see what happened? This is exactly why we need to start from the beginning."

Tanaka, frustration evident in his voice, muttered, "We've never had a coach before. No one ever taught us how to play properly. How are we supposed to be perfect?"

Aeris shook her head gently. "It's okay. That's exactly why we're here. We're going to clean up the mess together. I'll teach you everything my previous school taught me. It's going to be intense, yes, but it will also be a good workout. More importantly, it will show us exactly where we're starting from."

Kiyoko frowned slightly, uncertain. "So... all the exercises? Every day?"

"Yes," Aeris replied firmly but kindly. "Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays—we'll do different exercises each day. Some days will challenge you physically, others mentally, but they all serve the same purpose. Just follow the program, and you'll see progress. Don't worry if it feels overwhelming at first; that's normal."

The players nodded, a mix of relief and apprehension washing over them. They were ready, in their own way, to embrace the challenge ahead.

Aeris's attention then shifted to Karasuno, one of the most skilled and intimidating teams they had faced. "To be honest," she admitted, "I know Karasumo is a powerhouse. I'm not sure what happened today, but I do know their reputation. That's why I know Daichi and the rest. I've watched Karasuno play before. If they hadn't been at nationals, I might never have noticed you guys. But now, you've made yourselves witnesses to your own potential. We'll work together, and we'll try our best to reach that level."

The team exchanged glances, a spark of determination igniting in their eyes. For the first time since the match began, hope replaced anxiety.

They huddled together, voices rising in unison. "Hands in! Believe you'll fly again!" they shouted, a chant meant to fuel their motivation. Hansen, who had been quiet throughout, felt a surge of energy and smiled, feeling part of something bigger than himself.

"Yeah... okay!" he replied, a little breathless but smiling nonetheless.

Aeris watched them, pride welling up inside her. She knew this was just the beginning. The path ahead would be long, filled with mistakes, frustration, and setbacks, but it would also be filled with growth, laughter, and victories—both small and large. She had no doubt that, if they committed to the process, they would become a team capable of more than they had ever imagined.

« ֪ ׅ ֹ =͟͞ ♡ 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗.