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

Chapter 31: A New Chapter for Aeris?

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#112323
•••

Aeris stood in the middle of the gym, palms slightly sweaty, feeling every pair of eyes on her. She'd rehearsed this speech in her head at least a hundred times, but now that she had to say it in front of the entire Karasuno boys' team, the words felt like they wanted to run away.

"Okay," she began, forcing herself to breathe. "After thinking about it a lot... I've made a decision. I'm going to join the Karasuno Girls' Volleyball Team. Ever since I learned about them, I've been wanting to play again."

Coach Ukai raised an eyebrow. "Huh? I thought you went to sign up for the dance club."

Hinata spun toward him dramatically. "Coach—you KNEW?!"

"It was her decision," Coach Ukai replied with shrugging calmness. "I'm not the boss of her."

"Everyone," Takeda-sensei suddenly said, his tone sharp enough to slice the gym in half. "Let Aeris-chan speak."

The gym fell into instant, terrified silence. A rare angry Takeda-sensei was a universal nightmare.

"S-sorry, Takeda-sensei..." the boys muttered in perfect harmony.

He nodded approvingly. "Go on, Aeris-chan."

Right. Back to the part where she had to confess everything.

"So," she continued, trying to steady her voice. "I... might actually keep playing volleyball again."

Tanaka stared at her like she'd just told him Santa was real. "Wait—Aeris. You said you were JOKING when we talked about that!"

"I wasn't joking, Ryu," she sighed. "I just needed time to think."

Nishinoya gasped like he was in a soap opera. "SO THAT'S why you've been disappearing during our practices!"

"What?!" Hinata yelped. "You ALREADY decided without telling us!?"

"No!" Aeris waved her hands frantically. "Hinata, I didn't say I decided. I said I was thinking about it. And I, um... joined another club."

"What?!" Tobio's voice cracked so hard even Daichi blinked. "Another club? Since when?"

"...A few weeks ago."

Tobio stared at her, hurt written across his face in a way that made Aeris want to curl into a ball. "Nana-chan. We live together. And you didn't tell me something that big?"

Aeris winced. "I didn't want to stress you out. You're already training so hard. I didn't want to add... tension."

"BUT—BUT—IF YOU LEAVE," Nishinoya howled, "WHO'S GONNA COACH US?! WHO'S GONNA BE OUR MANAGER?! WHO'S GONNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T DIE?!"

"You have Coach Ukai," Aeris reminded gently. "And Kiyo."

"Yes, but we don't have comage," Tanaka said seriously, crossing his arms like he'd revealed a top-secret government term.

"...What is comage?" Aeris asked cautiously.

"Coach-manager," Hinaya explained proudly.

Aeris slowly put her face in her hands. "You guys are unbelievable..."

"Okay. Listen." She raised both hands like a referee stopping a brawl.

Everyone froze.

"I know you've gotten used to having me around," she said, softer now. "These weeks with all of you... they helped me a lot more than you know. I thought I hated volleyball. I thought I wanted to quit forever. But being here reminded me how much fun it actually is. How much I missed it."

The boys exchanged looks, unsure if they should be hopeful or panicking.

Aeris continued, "Don't worry. I'm not disappearing from your lives. If you really need me, I'll help. I might not be your manager anymore, but I'll still have your backs. Always."

Silence settled over the gym like a blanket.

Finally, Nishinoya voice broke through it. "...But you'll come if we really need you, right?"

The others nodded so fast their heads were practically vibrating.

Aeris grinned. "Of course. Like Batman—I show up when I'm needed."

Hinata snorted. Tanaka wheezed. Noya cackled loud enough to echo.

The tension cracked, shattering into relieved laughter.

"So... when do you start with the girls' team?" Narita asked once they calmed down.

Aeris shrugged. "Still deciding. I just want to take my time. And..." She smirked. "Don't you guys want front-row seats when I take revenge on my old school?"

"YES!" the team shouted instantly.

"That's what I like to hear," Coach Ukai said, giving her a thumbs-up.

"And remember," Takeda-sensei added with a warm smile, "we'll support you no matter what you choose."

Aeris felt her chest tighten—not painfully, but with something warm, something grateful. These idiots... they really made her feel like she belonged.

She bowed deeply, then stood up and hugged each of them—yes, even Tanaka, who acted like hugging was a life-or-death situation, and Tsukishima, who tried to dodge her but failed miserably.

"But what about next week?" Tobio asked suddenly.

"Oh!" Aeris perked up. "Tomorrow I'm going to Hyogoooooo—" she drew the last syllable dramatically long "—and next week, I'm going to live like a normal teenager for once."

"What?!" Coach Ukai sputtered. "If I knew you were leaving that soon, I wouldn't have let you go!"

Aeris grinned mischievously. "Because of that, I'll treat everyone to dinner!"

The entire team exploded in cheers so loud it probably shook the windows.

"Aeris, you spoil them far too much," Takeda-sensei sighed.

"Don't spend too much," Coach Ukai added. "Seriously."

"It's okay. My mom told me to treat all of you," Aeris said.

(Technically true. She just didn't mention she'd also saved more than enough money... and that Tobio's mom sent them more food money than necessary.)

"OKAY! CLEAN FIRST—I'M STARVING!" Nishinoya yelled.

Instantly, everyone started cleaning with Olympic-level speed. The gym had never been cleaned faster in its entire history.

Once everything was put away and they packed up at the entrance, Coach Ukai said, "Enjoy dinner, guys."

Aeris blinked. "Eh? Aren't you coming with us?"

"We still have work to do here," he replied. "You kids go on."

"What?! That's so sad," Noya said dramatically, wiping a fake tear. "Anyway—LET'S GO!"

Aeris turned back toward Ukai and Takeda-sensei. "I'll bring something for you two tomorrow."

"Thank you, Aeris. And please thank your mother for us," Takeda-sensei said warmly.

Aeris nodded and jogged after the boys, who were already arguing loudly about what they wanted to order. The night air felt cool against her skin as they started walking toward the family restaurant down the street.

For the first time in a long while... her chest felt lighter.

Maybe joining the girls' team wouldn't be so scary after all.

Especially when she had this chaotic, loud, ridiculous team cheering her on behind her.

« ֪ ׅ ֹ =͟͞ ♡ 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗.