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

Chapter 74: Beautiful Scar

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#110523
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The bonfire crackled gently, throwing warm orange light across the clearing where players from Karasuno, Fukurodani, Ubugawa, Shinzen, and Nekoma had gathered. The flamelight made their shadows dance on the dirt, blending the different teams into one relaxed circle. Someone laughed at a joke in the distance, and the smell of roasted meat drifted across the air.

Aeris sat near the fire, absentmindedly poking at the dirt with a stick. The glow reflected in her eyes as her thoughts wandered somewhere far behind her.

"Crazy, right?" she murmured, almost to herself.

Sakurui, seated beside her, leaned forward. "Getting kicked out that fast... yeah, that's messed up." His voice held a quiet sympathy.

Aeris shrugged, pretending it didn't sting. "The world can be cruel. But whatever. I moved on." Her expression shifted, firmer now. "I just want revenge. Then maybe I can breathe again."

Yaku raised a brow, intrigued. "And after that? What happens when you finally get it?"

Aeris hesitated. The flames crackled in the silence that hung between them. "I don't know," she admitted softly. "I miss the court. The competition. Those matches against Nekoma. I miss the big court—the noise, the pressure, all of it."

Hinata, who had been listening while stuffing his mouth full of food, swallowed loudly and grinned. "I'm excited to go against Shiratorizawa!"

Kai blinked at him. "Why them?"

"Because they're fun to fight!" Hinata declared, punching the air like it was obvious.

Daiki snorted. "And there are so many more. Nohebi, Inarizaki, Itachiyama, Kamomedai... a whole world of monsters out there."

"Inarizaki!" Aeris perked up instantly. "Can't wait to see them play. We've been friends forever, but I never watched an official match. Only friendly ones."

Kei whistled softly. "You know everyone, huh?"

Aeris laughed with a shrug. "They're my neighbors. In Hyogo. So yeah, I know them."

Masaki's jaw dropped slightly. "You're from Hyogo?"

"My aunt is," Aeris corrected. "I lived there with her for a while."

Kuroo nudged her with his elbow. "Man, I want a network like yours one day, Ae-chan."

Before she could answer, Coach Ukai called out from across the bonfire.

"Ae! Come here for a sec!"

Aeris sighed dramatically but stood up. "I'll be back. Don't start gossiping without me."

When she walked closer, Coach Ukai's smirk immediately made her suspicious.

"Show them your talent," he said.

"What talent?" Aeris blinked.

"You know. What you showed me in Omawari," he said with way too much amusement.

Her face went crimson. "C-Coach... seriously?"

"Just do it," he said, handing her a handful of beer bottles.

Aeris groaned. "I don't drink! This was supposed to be a secret! My uncle taught me, okay?"

Ukai chuckled, completely ignoring her embarrassment. "She's a really good opener."

She sighed, grabbed a bottle, and popped the cap off with one swift motion of her hand. Then another. And another. It was so smooth that a few players gasped.

Coach Yamiji raised a brow. "You sure you don't drink?"

Tanaka pointed at her dramatically. "She definitely drinks, coach!"

"I do not!" Aeris protested. "They're insane, don't listen to them!"

The teams burst into laughter.

Coach Nekomata teased, "Was it Yuta who taught you that?"

Aeris nodded reluctantly.

The old coach nearly doubled over laughing. "Hahaha! I can't wait until you're legal. We're drinking again."

"Of course, coach," Aeris said, giving a playful salute that made everyone laugh harder.

Once the chaos died down and dinner was finished, they moved to a nearby sento. Steam rose in soft clouds through the wooden space, and the quiet rush of running water filled the air.

"Ahhhh, this is heaven," Yukie groaned as she eased into the warm water.

"Tell me about it," Aeris muttered, already sinking until only her eyes and nose poked above the surface.

From across the bath, Mako waved. "Kiyoko! Come over here!"

Kiyoko hesitated at the edge, clutching her towel like a shield. "Uh... sure."

"Kiyoko," Aeris said gently, "don't be shy. It's just us."

Yachi tilted her head. "Why? Something wrong?"

Kiyoko took a breath. "I have a scar. I'm not used to showing it."

Yukie hummed softly. "Kiyoko, it's just a scar. Nothing weird, nothing gross. You're not contagious." She shot her a warm smile. "Come on."

Slowly, Kiyoko nodded and stepped into the water. The others gave her reassuring smiles, no one staring too long or too hard.

Kaori, ever unable to keep a straight face for more than five minutes, gasped dramatically at Aeris. "Not gonna lie, Ae-chan... I love your boobs and butt. Can you give me some?"

Aeris snorted. "Nope. I'm keeping everything for myself. If I grow extras, I'll share."

The girls burst into laughter that echoed around the steaming room.

"So," Eri asked suddenly, "Ae-san, do you have a boyfriend?"

Yukie added, "Or a crush?"

"Nope," Aeris said, dipping her head under water for dramatic effect before resurfacing. "Zero."

"How is that even possible?" Yukie stared at her like she was a rare species.

"It's not impossible. I'm busy. School, volleyball, the boys, the chaos." Aeris flicked water at her.

Kaori smirked. "Ever heard of multitasking?"

Aeris flicked more water. "Ever heard of minding your business?"

Mako swam closer. "So no one ever confessed to you? Like... ever?"

"There were some," Aeris admitted reluctantly.

"How many?" Mako pressed, eyes sparkling with gossip.

"Not that many."

Kiyoko scoffed gently. "Ae-chan. There were a lot."

"Nice one, Kiyoko-chan," Yukie said, high-fiving her.

"So you rejected them all?" Mako asked, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.

Aeris leaned back against the edge of the bath, staring up at the rising steam curling against the ceiling.

"I guess I did," she said quietly. "Not because I wanted to be mean. I just... didn't feel anything. And I don't want to drag someone along just because they like me."

The girls grew quiet, not in awkwardness but in understanding.

"And besides," Aeris added with a small grin, "I like volleyball more than romance. For now."

The group laughed, and the sound bounced warmly around the room.

Outside, the night deepened, the bonfire long extinguished. But inside the sento, wrapped in steam and soft voices, the weight of the day faded away.

Aeris closed her eyes, letting herself breathe, surrounded by teammates, friends, and a future that—despite everything—felt a little less lonely.

« ֪ ׅ ֹ =͟͞ ♡ 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗.