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

Chapter 38: Additional Member

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#061823
•••

The day had finally arrived—the start of the Inter-High preliminaries. The air buzzed with excitement and nervous energy as students prepared to cheer for their respective teams.

"Alright everyone, see you next week. And Tanaka-kun and Aeris-chan, good luck!" Fumiko-sensei called out, her voice full of encouragement.

Aeris felt a jolt of shock; she had forgotten to inform the boys' team about her participation in the competition. She glanced sideways at Ryu Tanaka, who simply smiled back at her, understanding and supportive.

"Godspeed, both of you!" their classmates shouted, their cheers echoing through the hallway.

Aeris and Tanaka smiled and bowed in gratitude before walking together towards the gym to meet their respective teams.

"Ryu—" Aeris began, her voice tinged with a mix of anxiety and guilt.

"Let's talk about this later," Ryu interrupted gently. "Just focus on your team for now. Good luck."

Aeris smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Likewise."

They parted ways at the gym entrance, each heading towards their designated areas. Aeris joined the Karasuno Girls' Volleyball Team, feeling a mixture of anticipation and determination.  

They fixed their things and as they were about Just to leave, the door swung open, and in walked Tanaka, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. "Hey ladies," he greeted, his voice overflowing with enthusiasm. 

The girls turned to him, surprised by his unexpected appearance. "What are you guys doing here?" Aeris asked.

"Look up," Tanaka said, his voice now filled with mystery. The girls followed his gaze and there, strung across the gymnasium, was a the banner. Tobio and Kiyoko, from the Karasuno Boys' Volleyball Club, had carefully tied it, honoring the girls' departure. It was a heartwarming sight that brought tears to the girls' eyes.

"Thank you guys," Aeris whispered, moved by the gesture. The boys smiled, their expressions reflecting encouragement and support.

"Since Aeris-chan, supported us, we wanted to give it back, Good luck, guys," Daichi, the boys' team captain, said, his voice steady and confident. 

"And of course, this is your uniform now, Nanachan," Rinko said, handing Aeris the uniform.

Aeris took it, opened it, and looked at her uniform. It had the number 10. "Nanachan, we're the same number!" Hinata exclaimed.

Aeris feigned shock. "Wow!" They all burst into laughter, enjoying the camaraderie and shared excitement.

Yui, responded with a determined look. "Good luck to us," she said, her voice filled with resolve.

With renewed spirits, the girls and boys team gathered, placing their hands together in a symbol of unity. Aeris took charge, her voice ringing out strong and clear. "Come on, guys. Hands on," she said, her tone commanding yet full of camaraderie.

 The girls and boys formed a tight circle, embracing the moment. "On three, say YEAHHH! One, two, three..."

Their voices blended harmoniously as they yelled, "Yeahh!!!" Cheers echoed through the room, a chorus that signified their shared commitment and determination. With their spirits lifted and hearts filled, the Karasuno Girls' Volleyball Club and Karasuno Boys' Volleyball Club made their way towards their respective small buses, their destination awaiting them.

𖤐 — ᡴꪫ ִ₊‧⁺˖๋࣭ ⭑ ᡴꪫ — ִ ࣪𖤐

⊂•Sendai City Gymnaisum •⊃

As soon as they arrived at the gym, Aeris felt a whirlwind of emotions: nervousness, excitement, and nostalgia all crashing over her like waves. It was a peculiar sensation, reminiscent of her days as a middle schooler, when she had participated in her first-ever volleyball tournament. The memories flooded back, almost overwhelming her.

"Shall we go?" Mao's voice pulled Aeris out of her reverie and brought her back to reality.

She nodded in response, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart. Before the Karasuno Girls' Volleyball Club and the Karasuno Boys' Volleyball Club separated, they exchanged one last round of good luck wishes and made their way inside the bustling gym.

As they stepped into the gym, Aeris couldn't help but notice a massive board prominently displayed. It showcased the day's schedule and matchups. Her eyes quickly skimmed over it, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the words "Karasuno vs. Kumagaya" written boldly for all to see. This was it – the moment she had been waiting for.

They went inside of a court was divided into two sections, cleverly designed to accommodate a larger number of teams and matches. This meant more opportunities for competitors and a more efficient progression of the tournament. 

As the Karasuno team made their way towards the court, Aeris could hear the distant echoes of cheering and applause. The familiar bustling sounds of a volleyball match surrounded her, blending with the scent of sweat and anticipation that hung in the air. It all felt so surreal – as if she had truly stepped into a different world.

Aeris took a moment to absorb everything, allowing herself to be fully present in this exhilarating moment. She closed her eyes, picturing herself gracefully gliding across the court, the sound of the ball hitting her palm, and the thunderous cheers of the crowd. She knew that this was her chance to shine once again.

"Oh, that's our side," Kuroda-sensei said, The team took a moment to stretch and do their warm-ups before the match began. As Aeris walked onto the court, whispers started to fill the room.

"Isn't that Kageyama Aeris?" one person murmured, eyes widening in surprise.

"She's playing again?" another person questioned, their voice filled with astonishment.

"Why is she with Karasuno?" someone asked, a mix of confusion and curiosity in their tone.

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