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

Chapter 66: Dance Competition

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
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Aeris was barely awake, her head dipping forward every few seconds as she poked at the last bites of her dinner. The kitchen was quiet except for the soft clinking of her spoon against the bowl. Tsukishima sat across from her, arms crossed, watching her in that judgmental-but-secretly-concerned way he always had.

"You should go to bed. I'll finish it," Aeris murmured, though her half-closed eyes made the offer unbelievable.

Tsukishima raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you just throw it away?"

"Kei, I don't waste food," Aeris mumbled with sleepy conviction. "My hunger always beats my tiredness. I can't sleep when I'm hungry."

He let out a long sigh. "No need for DNA testing. You and your cousin are exactly the same."

"Of course. It runs in the family," she answered, sitting up straighter. "But seriously, you can go. I won't die."

"No," he replied simply, leaning back in his chair. "I'll wait for you, so you won't fall asleep while chewing again."

Aeris blinked slowly, then grinned. "Huh. Our very own sassy Tsukishima Kei is being kind to me. I'll take it because tomorrow you'll be rude to me again."

He scoffed, pretending not to care, though his ears turned slightly pink.

But then his eyes narrowed. "What's on your arms?"

Aeris followed his gaze. A faint scatter of bruises bloomed across her forearms. She rolled up her sleeves without hesitation. "Bruises from dancing."

"Does it hurt?"

"Nah, it's not that bad. I got—"

"You should finish your food, Nanachan, before you start yapping."

Aeris froze. Slowly, dramatically, she lifted her head. "Oh my. You called me Nanachan."

Tsukishima clicked his tongue. "Why don't you shout it out the window so the entire world can hear it?"

She snorted, shaking her head before forcing the last few bites down. Once she finished, they washed the dishes together, bumping shoulders occasionally but saying nothing more. When they were done, they each headed to their rooms for the night.

Aeris woke before dawn, her eyes still heavy but her excitement stronger. Today mattered—not just to her but to the entire dance club. She hurriedly prepared breakfast for the volleyball team like she always did when she had early commitments. She left a note for Coach Ukai on the counter, explaining she'd be out before morning practice.

When she stepped outside, the air was cool, the sky still pale with the fading night. As she walked toward the school gates, a familiar group jogged past her—the Nekoma boys finishing their morning run. Kuroo spotted her immediately.

"You're out early," he called, slowing down with that casual grin of his.

"Good morning," Aeris breathed, quickly bowing. "I've got to leave early, and I'm actually late—again. But I cooked breakfast. It's in the cafeteria."

Kuroo, giving her a thumbs-up before jogging after his teammates.

Aeris waved them off before adjusting her backpack and breaking into a light jog herself.

By the time she reached the dance studio, the others were already stretching. Music pulsed softly through the room as warm-up routines began. Aeris tied her hair into a quick ponytail, dropped her bag, and joined them.