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

Chaoter 47: Like Old Times

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#101923
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Aeris took a deep breath as she dropped to the floor, her hand crashing onto the cold surface. The gym was filled with a mixture of sadness and happiness, with Shiratorizawa celebrating their hard-earned victory. Karasuno huddled around their fallen teammate, tears streaming down their faces.

But among the cries of despair, Manami whispered, "I'm sorry, it's my fault."

"No, no, it's my fault," Yui choked out, her voice filled with guilt.

Aeris mustered a weak smile and whispered, her voice barely audible, "It's no one's fault. We fought till the end."

The announcer's voice boomed through the gym, declaring, "The winner is Shiratorizawa!"

As the teams lined up, facing each other, ready to shake hands and bow, they exchanged thanks and acknowledged the game well-played. It was a bittersweet moment, filled with respect and camaraderie.

Aeris found herself face-to-face with Takahashi Michi, the captain of Shiratorizawa. A flicker of a smile danced upon her lips.

"I hope using my left would be okay," Aeris said jokingly, referring to her injured hand.

Takahashi chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "Never thought I would see you in court."

Aeris smirked, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Never say never. I wanted to say, 'see you next year,' but you're not there anymore. At least you won against me."

Takahashi's expression turned thoughtful. "Unfortunately, yes. Thank you for playing against us again. I miss seeing you on the court, Aechan. I hope we'll hang out like we used to."

Aeris was taken aback, her emotions welling up. She fought back tears but managed to compose herself, offering a heartfelt smile. "Of course, Mai," Aeris replied, her creativity shining through. "See you when I see you." The exchange carried a mixture of nostalgia and the unspoken promise of rekindling a friendship that time and circumstance had momentarily set aside.

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The Tokyo National Youth Intensive Training Camp reverberated with the rhythmic sounds of volleyballs colliding and sneakers squeaking against the polished gym floor.

The first day of camp was defined by awkward glances and hesitant greetings. The room seemed to contract in the silence until Aeris, determined to break the ice, said, "Hey, you're from Shiratorizawa, right? I'm Kageyama Aeris from Takenodai. It's my first time here; how about you?"

Mai, taken aback by the unexpected friendliness, offered a small smile. "Yeah, it's my first time."

Aeris, sensing a shared experience, continued, "I'm nervous. Are you a first year as well?" Mai nodded in acknowledgment.

"Then let's be friends," Aeris suggested with a warm smile. Mai, encouraged by Aeris's openness, decided to go for it. From that moment on, they became close and friendly rivals, their shared journey at the camp marking the beginning of a bond that extended beyond the volleyball court.
____________________________________

The Karasuno Girls' Volleyball Team made their way to the audience seats, their hearts filled with gratitude for the immense support they had received. With genuine smiles and a sense of accomplishment, they faced their fans.

Yui, the reliable captain, couldn't help but express her appreciation. "Thank you for supporting us!"

The Karasuno Boys responded with cheers, and Asahi chimed in, "You guys did great out there."

Tanaka, the spirited and protective teammate, turned to Michimiya and Aeris. "Michimiya-san, Nanachan, are you guys okay?"

Aeris, still buzzing with excitement from the game, assured them, "We're okay, don't worry!"

Asahi added, "You can still defeat them! We believe in you!"

Chizuru, who always brought a positive vibe to the team, expressed her gratitude. "Thank you guys! Your support means the world to us."

Aeris, feeling a surge of gratitude for the overwhelming encouragement, decided to extend her appreciation to the Nekoma team, who had been in the audience. She approached Nekomata and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for watching our game, Nekomata-san."

Nekomata, impressed by Aeris's skills and her passion for the game, couldn't help but inquire about her well-being. "How's your hand, Aeris?"

Aeris, with a reassuring smile, replied, "It's okay, Nekomata-san. Just a minor sprain, nothing to worry about."

Nekomata chuckled and shared his excitement for their future match. "I can't wait for you to go against Nekoma. Show us what you've got!"

Playfully, Aeris responded, "I'll make sure to defeat them, Nekomata-san." She bowed once again. "Thank you for your support."

"Ha! Good hear, your parents and uncles will be so proud of you" Nekomata said

"Kageyama-san, you look hot" Yamamato enthusiastically complimented him, to which Tanaka, protective of his friends, issued a playful protest.

Aeris found their banter amusing but was about to scold them when Suga and Yaku-kun stepped in, scolding Yamamato instead. Aeris couldn't help but laugh at the friendly rivalry between the teams.

Kenma, the quiet and analytical player from Nekoma, approached Aeris and congratulated her on her exceptional performance. "Aeris-san, that was a good game, if only you guys didn't make a mistake, you'll surely win."

"Thank you, Kenma," Aeris replied with a grateful smile.

Kenma couldn't help but commend her. "No wonder why you're known as Kageyama Aeris. Your play is insanely good."

Aeris smile awkwardly and, replied, "Thanks, Kenma. Your kind words mean a lot."

As the game came to an end and the teams bid their farewells, Aeris bowed once again, and the Nekoma team reciprocated the gesture, recognizing her talent and dedication.

Yui, Aeris, Coach Ukai, and Kuroda-sensei found themselves in the emergency room, nursing their injuries from the intense match they had just played. The doctor informed them that their sprains would take three weeks to heal, but they would need to change the bandage every week and keep their sprains dry for a week.

"Okay, thank you, doctor," Coach Ukai replied, gratitude evident in his voice. As they left the emergency room, Yui struggled to walk with the help of crutches, while Aeris sported a freshly casted arm.

"Are you sure you guys still want to come to Owamari?" Coach Ukai asked, concern etched on his face.

"Yeah! We don't want to miss the celebration," Aeris chimed in, determination evident in her voice. Yui nodded in agreement, sharing the same excitement.

With Yui on crutches and Aeris with her arm in a cast, the four made their way to Owamari, a famous food store known for its variety of mouthwatering dishes. As they entered, Aeris greeted their teammates with a grin.

"Heya, guys!" she called out, trying to mask the discomfort caused by her injury.

"Yo! The great players are here," Tanaka exclaimed, a mixture of admiration and concern in his voice.

"Aeris-chan, Yui-chan!" Rinko's face lit up as she saw her injured friends.

"You guys played so seriously that you injured yourselves. What happened to just enjoying the game?" Mao teased, her playful tone displaying her high level of creativity.

The group shared a laugh, grateful for the light-hearted moment amidst their injuries. They found solace in the support and camaraderie of their teammates.

"Oh! I have one," Hinata said

"Go, Interviewer Hinata," Aeris jokingly replied, curious to hear what Hinata had in mind.

"What really happened to you and Takenodai?" Hinata asked

« ֪ ׅ ֹ =͟͞ ♡ 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗.