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

Chaoter 48: 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.

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."