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

Chapter 48: Flashbacks

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#101323
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Aeris looked at Hinata, her expression a mix of surprise and contemplation. She had shared a lot of her experiences with her new Karasuno friends but had seldom touched on her past with Takenodai, her former school and volleyball team. Her relationship with Takenodai held a complicated mix of emotions, and she hadn't expected to delve into it today.

As the silence stretched, it was Tobio, who broke it. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, don't listen to stupid Hinata, Nanachan"

Aeris nodded in gratitude. "Yeah, thanks, Tobio. It's not that I don't want to share. It's just a lot to explain, and it's not all good memories." She sighed and continued, "Where do I begin, hmmm... It started when I first moved to Japan from the US. I always wanted to come to Japan because my family is here. My parents enrolled me at Takenodai Academy during middle school. That's how I met my first-ever friend, Sugimaya Rutsuki."

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"Hey there, you look new around here," Aeris remarked.

Rutsuki nodded, her eyes briefly leaving the intense game on the court to meet Aeris's friendly gaze. "Yeah, I just transferred here. My name's Sugimaya Rutsuki."

"Me too, I'm Kageyama Aeris," she introduced herself with a nod. "So, are you into volleyball too? What position do you play?"

Rutsuki hesitated for a moment, her excitement tinged with a hint of self-doubt. "I'm an outside hitter."

Aeris's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "No way, that's awesome! I'm an outside hitter too. We're going to make a great team."

Their handshake marked the beginning of a beautiful friendship, characterized by their shared love for volleyball and the promise of many memorable games together.

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"She was an outside hitter, like me, but my team put her as a Libero, and I was the outside hitter," Aeris continued.

"Is she still a Libero?" Nishinoya asked.

"She was an outside hitter, like me, but my team put her as a Libero, because she was smaller than me and I was the outside hitter" Aeris said.

"Okay, go on," Tobio said.

Aeris scoffed. "Okay, at first, it was okay. We really liked our positions. We taught each other; I taught her how to properly spike, and she taught me how to properly receive the ball. Just in case it came in handy, and it did. We went from tournament to tournament. We were like a good pair – like a setter and spiker. But for us, she was a libero, and I was the spiker. Every time she saved the ball, I made sure that we got a point."

"Why did you want to be an outside hitter?" Chizuru asked.

"Well, my father, during his time at Nekoma, he was an outside hitter. I wanted to be like him," Aeris said. "So when we reached middle school – the same school, Takenodai Academy...But yeah, I attended this school for around 5 years. So I still became the outside hitter, and she became the setter. Like middle school, we taught each other about our positions' specialties, and we improved greatly. Our time had a duo – a perfect match." Aeris said "But the real setter, Takashima Maki, came back after being gone for months. She was the original setter, but she had been injured, which is why she was absent for so long. As soon as she returned, she was back in the lineup, and Rutsuki found herself on the bench, barely getting any playing time. I got new opportunities, I improved, everything seemed perfect. However, one day, she started to completely ignore me. She stopped hanging out with me, and no matter how much I tried to talk to her, she never responded unless we were on the court," Aeris explained, her voice tinged with sadness.

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Aeris sought out Rutsuki to confront her about their fight and her subsequent behavior of not talking to her.

"Why don't you want to talk to me?" Aeris asked, concern evident in her voice.

Rutsuki turned away, her gaze fixed on the ground. After a long pause, she finally spoke, "You stole away from me my position and my dreams."

Aeris was taken aback. "What do you mean I stole it away? I didn't take anything from you. Everything I have is a result of my hard work."

Rutsuki's voice trembled with bitterness as she replied, "That's the problem, Aeris. You work hard, and it paid off. But when you work hard, opportunities come your way. You should've given me that position when they offered it to you."

Aeris was growing frustrated. "Don't be selfish and immature, Rutsuki. We both helped each other, and we did our best. It's not my fault if they chose me. If I were offered to be a libero, I would've taken it. If they offered to make me a setter, I would've taken that opportunity too. It's not the reason why these opportunities come to me. Aren't you proud that our hard work has paid off?"

Rutsuki, her eyes filled with resentment, replied, "No, it's all about you, Aeris. You used me, and I hate you." She then turned and walked away, leaving Aeris alone, grappling with the rift that had formed between them.
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"Then, the bribery and cheating came in. I was called by my teacher, manager, coach, and my captain. I was happy going to the office because every time I went there, there was always good news." Aeris said

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Aeris walked into the office to find her teacher, manager, coach, and captain waiting for her, all with serious expressions on their faces. She smiled and greeted them, asking what was going on. The coach spoke up, saying, "Don't lie to us, Aeris. We know what happened, and we're here to help you."

Confused, Aeris asked, "What are you talking about, coach?" The captain then placed a picture in front of her. It showed Aeris with a cigarette in hand, appearing to give money to a referee. Aeris couldn't help but laugh. "I didn't bring anything with me," she explained. "The cigarette belonged to Rutsuki, and she told me that the coach had dropped some money."

The teacher chimed in, asking, "But how does Rutsuki know that the cigarette belonged to the referee?" Aeris scoffed, knowing that her teacher had always harbored a dislike for her. "I'm not sure, maybe you should ask her," she retorted. "You two always hang out together. She told me to give the cigarette to the referee because she had borrowed it since she smokes."

The coach sighed and pleaded with Aeris, saying, "Aeris, please stop with the excuses." Aeris took a deep breath and looked at her coach, determination in her eyes. "Coach, I may have a hot-headed personality, but I would never stoop to something like this," she said firmly. "Yes, I've been seen with a cigarette once before, but it was really just an accident. I am a fair player, and any achievements I have made are a result of my hard work and the teachings of my senpai."

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"So, I was investigated by the volleyball associations for, I think, a month. Then, when they found evidence, it was supposed to be a three-month ban. But, due to the fact that I beat up my teammate, it became a year-long ban," Aeris said.

"You beat up a teammate?" Kuroda-sensei asked.

"Yeah... It's not something to be proud of. It wasn't like a fistfight; I just slapped her two or three times, I think. But I was just pissed off at Rutsuki, and my team turned their back on me," Aeris explained. "After I was banned by the volleyball association, I didn't come to school for a month so I could have evidence to show the people and my team that I didn't commit any offense."

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Aeris ran to her uncle's house, one of the former members of Nekoma, who is now currently a doctor, named Kobayashi Shinji.

Aeris cried at his house, and for days she didn't eat. She was determined to find evidence. Luckily, her uncle and her father helped her prove her innocence. They were supposed to cause a scene at their school, she stop them because she'll be causing the scene
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