Everything has changed

Chapter 27: Karasuno

The next two weeks seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Yachi quickly found her rhythm with the team, growing more comfortable with each passing day. Her early nervousness faded as she became more familiar with everyone, especially Kuroo. The once-awkward silences now gave way to easy conversations and shared laughter.

At work, her confidence grew alongside her skills. Ayaka, Ryota, and Natsuki helped guide her through projects, showing her the ropes of their office's unique work style. Yachi appreciated the support, but it was the gentle encouragement from Kuroo that kept her grounded. He was still her boss, and his expectations for her were clear, but there was a lightness to his demeanor that made it easy to approach him with questions or concerns.

On the surface, things were falling into place perfectly.

But underneath the comfortable routine, Yachi still found herself catching glimpses of something more-something between her and Kuroo. It wasn't always clear, but the small moments-a lingering glance, a quiet smile-were enough to stir a quiet sense of anticipation in her chest.

---

Yachi walked into the familiar restaurant where Karasuno's reunion was being held.

She had dressed simply, a modest blouse paired with dark jeans, her hair neatly tied back.

The venue was a small but cozy restaurant in the heart of the city, a place where Karasuno alumni had gathered for the past few years. It had become a tradition of sorts-an informal reunion where the volleyball team, managers, and anyone else connected to the school could reconnect and share stories of their time together.

Inside, the gathering was already in full swing. Yachi's eyes quickly scanned the room, and it didn't take long before she spotted some familiar faces.The old faces of Karasuno's team, though older and more mature, still held the same energy that she remembered from her high school days. The usual buzz of laughter filled the room, and for a moment, Yachi felt like she had stepped back into the past.

"Yachan!" Hinata's voice cut through the buzz of conversation, and Yachi turned to see him waving enthusiastically from across the room. His ever-present energy was unmistakable, even after all these years.

She made her way over to the group, exchanging hugs and handshakes with the familiar faces around the table. Daichi, Kageyama, and Tanaka and his wife, Shimizu were already seated, along with some of the other former players and managers who had been part of the team during her time as the manager.

"Hey, Yachi!" Kageyama said, giving her a small nod of acknowledgment. He was still the same as always, though there was a touch of warmth in his eyes that made Yachi feel like they had never lost touch.

"Looks like the usual crowd's here," Tanaka grinned. "You still managing anything these days?"

Yachi laughed softly. "Not really," she said, settling into a seat beside him. "But I'm keeping busy. I've started working at a graphic design company."

Hinata's eyes widened in excitement. "That's awesome! I bet you're making all sorts of cool stuff now, huh?"

"Yeah, kind of," Yachi replied with a modest shrug. "I'm still getting the hang of it, but I'm enjoying it. I get to work with some really talented people."

"Speaking of talented people..." Hinata's voice dropped slightly, as if he was trying to be subtle, though it was clear he wasn't doing a very good job. "Kenma told me you're working with Kuroo now. Is that true?"

The question hit Yachi like a wave, and for a split second, her heart skipped. She hadn't expected the conversation to go this way tonight, especially with all the people here. It wasn't that she minded, but the idea of Kuroo being discussed by the Karasuno team in such a casual, almost offhand way felt... strange.