"Yo-kun, you ready?" Akari called out, her playful smile lighting up the dim morning.
Hinata stumbled out of the house, yawning widely. "I don't have a choice. You might get mad at me, Rii-chan."
The sun had yet to rise, casting a soft glow over the neighborhood, but the two were already preparing to head out. Hinata rubbed his eyes, still feeling the weight of sleep, but he felt a surge of determination. He had agreed to this, and that was just the push he needed to keep going.
Akari chuckled, amused by her cousin's sleepy reluctance. She finished tying her shoelaces securely, knowing she'd be in the dual-purpose shoes she had bought for a while. Clad in protective gear—knee pads, elbow pads, and a lightweight helmet—she looked ready for action. "You can still back out, you know. This won't be fun if you're just forced to do it."
Hinata blinked at her, his resolve wavering for a moment as he took in her enthusiastic appearance. "But I really want to do this! I don't want to let you down."
Akari grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Of course I do! It'll be fun once you get into it. Plus, I need a partner to practice with, and who better than my favorite cousin?"
"It's my fault. I failed to do things properly while you were away. I'm just a bit sleepy after the party last night," Hinata replied sheepishly.
To shake off the drowsiness, he slapped his cheeks, leaving bright red palm prints. "Now I'm ready! Let's do this!"
Akari couldn't help but laugh at the sight, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Nice wake-up call, Yo-kun! Just don't bruise yourself before we even start!"
Hinata grinned, rubbing his cheeks and shaking off the lingering sleepiness. "I'm good! Let's hit the road!"
He wandered over to his bike, noticing a box secured on top of the rear carrier. "What's in this?" he asked, intrigued, trying to peek inside. But the box was sealed shut with tape, and he couldn't really remove the rope without making a mess. "You can't ride with me with this thing on."
Akari chuckled as she stood up and stretched for a moment. "Who said I'll be riding with you?"
Hinata, who had been pedaling his bike in circles while waiting for her, abruptly braked, his face a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Wait, what do you mean?"
With a mischievous grin, Akari lifted each foot to reveal her shoes. As she stood back up, Hinata's eyes widened in surprise—her shoes had wheels!
"Whoa, that's cool, Rii-chan!" Hinata exclaimed, his sleepy demeanor instantly replaced by excitement.
"Ready to roll?" Akari winked, gliding smoothly forward, the wheels spinning effortlessly.
"Whoa, that's cool, Rii-chan!" Hinata exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration as he watched her.
"I'll use this on the flats and downhill, but for the climbs, I'll just jog. Or maybe you can pull me up during those tough spots," Akari said, grabbing her backpack and slinging it over her shoulder.
"Won't you be too tired to train when we reach school?" Hinata asked, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.
"Tired?" Akari shot back, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. Without another word, she dashed out of the compound and onto the road. "This is already my training!"
"W-wait up! Riiiii-chan!!" Hinata shouted, eyes wide in surprise as she zipped past him. He quickly began pedaling harder, determined to keep up with her.
"C'mon, Yo-kun! You can do better than that!" Akari called over her shoulder, her laughter ringing out as she glided smoothly on her wheeled shoes.
Hinata pushed himself, the thrill of the chase igniting his competitive spirit. "I'm coming for you!" he shouted, heart racing as he pedaled faster.
As they sped down the quiet road, the excitement in the air was palpable. Akari's laughter echoed, and Hinata felt a rush of exhilaration as they raced towards their school, the world around them blurring into a backdrop of vibrant colors.
—
They both arrived at Yukigaoka Junior High after 30 minutes. It was supposed to take longer on the bike alone, but Hinata had quickened his pace to keep up with his cousin. He didn't expect to tire out a bit, especially during the climbs.
"Man, I didn't realize there were three slopes on the way," Hinata said, panting slightly.
Akari laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Well, at least that's phase one of training done for the two of us."
Hinata looked at her brightly, his admiration clear.
"W-what?" Akari felt a little weirded out by his intense gaze.
"Rii-chan, how come you don't look tired at all after that long run?"
Akari grinned slyly. "Maybe I'm just born for the marathon."
Hinata's eyes widened in horror. "No way! Stick with volleyball, Rii-chan!"
She chuckled and began her usual stretches to shake off the fatigue, focusing especially on her legs as they walked toward the bike shed. "I didn't say I'd quit volleyball, silly."
"Whoa, I'm first!" Hinata exclaimed, noticing that no other bikes were in the shed yet.
"Well, it's barely past 6:30 in the morning after all. I'm sure others will be here soon, especially the other athletes wanting to get their morning exercise in," Akari replied, moving closer to Hinata's bike.
She picked up the box from the rear carrier and began walking. "Let's go to the gym."
"Whoohoo!" Hinata exclaimed, his excitement palpable. It hit him that if he arrived before the girls' team, he could have the gym all to himself. 'Why didn't I think of that?' he wondered, pausing in his tracks to mull over the idea.
Akari, sensing his thoughts even without looking back, teased, "Bet you think you can claim the gym if you get here first."
"Urk!" he stammered, caught off guard.
She laughed, holding up a key adorned with a miniature volleyball keychain. "You'll need this spare first."
"How did you get one?" Hinata asked, quickly catching up to her and taking the box from her hands, surprised by its weight.
"I've had it since the first year. They never took it back when I took a break, so I kept it," Akari explained with a grin.
"They trust you that much? That's cool!" Hinata replied, impressed.
"Or they just wanted me to come back," Akari chuckled.
"I don't get it, why won't you be coming back?" Hinata said, tilting his head in confusion.
"You'll understand soon enough," Akari just smiled.
Hinata, a bit curious but no longer fixated on it, asked, "So, what's in the box?"
"Just something for later," Akari replied, her grin widening.
"Now I'm really curious!" he said, excitement bubbling over as they made their way to the gym.
Akari playfully nudged him with her shoulder as they walked. "Patience, little cousin! All good things come to those who wait."
Hinata pouted but couldn't help grinning. "Fine!"
Akari laughed, enjoying the playful banter as they approached the gym. "That's the spirit! Just a little longer, and I promise it'll be worth the wait."
With that, they entered the gym, the anticipation of the day ahead buzzing in the air.
—
"Akari!!! How dare you?!"
The sudden scream startled Hinata, who had been focused on perfecting his spiking footwork. Instead of just jumping, he launched himself straight into the net.
"Hai, another orange starfish caught. Do it again, but properly like a human being this time," Akari said with a casual smile while observing him.
Hinata sighed, wishing he could practice with the ball to feel the thrill of the impact. But he knew that meant constantly retrieving it, which would be a hassle. Plus, he didn't want to make Akari fetch the balls for him; he still wanted to enjoy volleyball for a long time. So, he complied with her commands, even if it meant going through the motions without the ball for now.
Akari's indifferent reaction as she stood by the net, observing Hinata's training, irritated the newcomer. The girl with bright red hair and a pixie cut tried to launch herself at Akari in a tackle hug, but Akari effortlessly sidestepped her.
"Damn it, you're back to being so stingy again!" the redhead complained, pouting as she slumped onto the gym floor. "I miss the old days."
"Yeah, well, that's not my problem now. I couldn't exactly escape when I had one unusable leg, could I, Saori?" Akari shot back.
Saori quickly stood up, indignantly pointing a finger at Akari. "That's Tadano-senpai for you, kohai-chan! Come on, call me senpai!" Her lopsided grin widened as she stepped closer to Akari.
Suddenly, a hand grasped Saori's face, freezing her in place. "Ah, Pepper-chan, you're still the same as always~"
"S-spicy and hot?" Saori stammered, starting to sweat as the vice grip on her face remained.
"Upsetting for my stomach."
"Gyaaaa!!!"
A shriek of utter pain and horror reverberated throughout the gym. Students walking outside were so spooked they ran away, convinced there was a ghost inside.
Meanwhile, Saori could only massage her throbbing face, looking utterly miserable. "You're as brutal as always—no, you're worse this time! You've changed, Akari!"
Akari let out a sigh, gesturing to Hinata to take his time for now as she made her way over to the sulking girl. "Hai hai, I missed you too."
"Shut your face!" Saori harrumphed. "I missed you too, you assh*le."
Akari chuckled at her setter, who had a reputation for being brutally honest and always knew how to push people's buttons. Saori had a knack for riling up anyone she talked to, often leaving a trail of flustered expressions and exasperated sighs in her wake. The way Saori spoke her mind—without a hint of hesitation—was something Akari had always admired, even if it occasionally landed her in hot water.
Akari, genuinely curious about what had been happening in the club during her absence asked, "So, how's everyone?"
"They graduated!" Saori shot a glare at Akari as she sat beside her.
"Uh, congratulations to them, I guess?"
"That's not the point, aho! Baka!!! You only know three members of the club now because you took your sweet time coming back," Saori said, her frustration bubbling to the surface.
Akari chuckled, amused by her friend's over-the-top reaction. It reminded her just how much she missed this dynamic. As she thought about the two she still remembered well—the diligent manager she had scouted from her first-year class, who kept everything organized and running smoothly, and the opposite hitter, a quirky and energetic player who always matched Akari's offbeat mindset—her smile widened. "I'm sure you all managed just fine," she replied, a teasing glint in her eye. "You did satisfactorily all this time. You'll manage well."
Saori scrunched her eyebrows, clearly unimpressed. "That sounds sus. I don't like the sound of that cr*p of yours after missing so much training. So, when are you coming back to play?"
"I'm not."
Saori's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?"
Akari met her gaze, unwavering. "I'll keep my coaching position," she said, her voice steady as she stood up and began warming up. "But I won't be coming back as a player."
"Are you serious?" Saori exclaimed, shock etched on her face. "You can't just drop this bomb on me and expect me to accept it!"
Akari shrugged, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "I have my reasons. Besides, someone has to keep an eye on you all and make sure you don't drive the new kids crazy."
"That's not a valid reason!" Saori shot back, crossing her arms defiantly. "You belong on the court, not just on the sidelines!"
Once she finished her stretches, Akari chuckled, relishing the playful banter. "Not just on the court, but I believe I can be more beneficial guiding everyone. Plus, it'll be fun watching you all grow. Who knows, maybe this time we'll see not just an explosive pepper, but also a headstrong coconut making an appearance~"
---
"Come back here!!!"
Students turned their heads at the commotion, spotting their Goddess being pursued by the notorious Red Ogre, the current captain of the girls' volleyball team.
"Oh no! The Red Ogre is after our Goddess!" several students shrieked in alarm.
"Quick, do something!" a girl urged, shoving the nearest guy toward the unfolding drama.
"You do it then! You haven't faced the wrath of that ogre yet!" another student who had experienced Saori's infamous 'care' cowered away, fear etched on his face.
"Red Ogre-san, please stop!"
"Leave our goddess alone!"
Akari, however, only laughed as she deftly kept her distance from Saori, knowing exactly what would happen next. The chase had spilled out of the gym and onto the school grounds, and she was relishing every moment.
"Pepper, they asked you to stop."
Saori growled, sending a shiver down the spines of the students nearby. Her focus remained solely on Akari, but despite her fierce determination, she found herself unable to catch up. Akari danced just out of reach, a teasing smile on her face as the game of cat and mouse continued.
'Don't tell me this d*mn sports genius has evolved even further?!' Saori thought, frustration bubbling inside her. 'And with all this talent and potential, she has the nerve to quit?!'
"Over my dead body!" Saori shouted, her voice a mix of determination and exasperation.
"Kya!! Murder! Call the police!" a nearby student exclaimed, clutching her phone as if it were a lifeline.
"The Red Ogre is going to kill our Goddess!" another student shouted, eyes wide with panic as they watched the spectacle unfold.
Some students stood frozen, torn between laughter and fear. One brave soul whispered, "Should we intervene? What if she really catches her?"
A third student shrugged, eyes glued to the chase. "Nah, this is way too entertaining. Besides, Akari-san can handle herself. Just look at her go."
"Guys, I think this might end in a disaster!" another piped up, biting their lip.
"Look at Akari go!" someone cheered, pointing as Akari effortlessly dodged Saori's tackle, who nearly lost her balance in the process.
"Is this a volleyball practice or a chase scene from a movie?" another student remarked, trying to stifle laughter.
With how easily Akari maintained just the right distance from Saori, the realization hit her hard: she was being toyed with. Akari's laughter echoed through the courtyard, light and playful, while Saori's frustration mounted. "I'll stop after I pummel you to the ground first!"
Akari grinned, clearly enjoying the chase. "Alright. Bet."
And without missing a beat, she actually sped up, her laughter ringing out as she taunted her pursuer. "Catch me if you can, Red Ogre!"
Saori's eyes narrowed in determination. "You won't get away this time!"
"Look out! She's gaining on her!" a student shouted, a mix of excitement and fear in their voice.
"Go, Akari! Show that Ogre who's boss!" another cheered, not seeing the murderous glare from the mad ogre.
Many joined in, waving their arms as if they were cheering for a sports match.
As the chase continued, students exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of amusement and disbelief. Some even took out their phones to record the scene, knowing it would make for an epic video later.
Akari turned back to glance at Saori, her smile mischievous. "You'll have to be faster than that if you want to catch me!"
"Stop running!!!" Saori huffed, her breath coming in uneven bursts as she can't pause for a moment to catch her breath.
The atmosphere buzzed with energy, the whole school drawn into the chase, each moment more hilarious than the last.