The wind carried a whisper of cherry blossoms as it rustled through the empty volleyball court where Shoyo Hinata stood. The echoes of past victories and laughter seemed distant now, like a dream half-forgotten. His bright eyes, once filled with boundless energy and hope, were now dull, reflecting the storm of disappointment that had crushed his spirit. The harsh critics of his professional career had dissected his every move, leaving him with nothing but a lingering sense of inadequacy. Volleyball, his one true love, had become a source of unbearable pain. Hinata wandered aimlessly through Tokyo, the city's vibrant life starkly contrasting with the void inside him. The streets bustled with people, all seemingly moving forward with purpose, while he felt trapped in a perpetual standstill. His phone buzzed with messages from old friends and teammates, but he couldn't bring himself to respond. The weight of their expectations and concern felt too heavy to bear. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of melancholy, Hinata found himself drawn to a familiar place. He stood in front of an old arcade, a relic from his high school days. The flickering neon lights cast a ghostly glow, and for a moment, he was transported back to simpler times. It was there, in the dim light of the arcade, that he saw him—Kenma Kozume. The years had changed him, but his presence was unmistakable. Kenma sat at a game console, his fingers moving with the same fluid grace as when he used to set the ball for Hinata on the volleyball court. But there was something different about him now—a shadow that clung to his features, an emptiness in his eyes that mirrored Hinata's own.
