Bored, Akio watched on the sidelines. Watching volleyball did not have the same pleasure and exhilaration as playing it. Instead, she had to watch all the boys having fun.
"You okay?" Daiichi asked.
"Ah-yes- Sawamura-san," she said smiling.
"So have you ever played volleyball?"
Akio smiled and repeated her reply that she said to Sugawara.
"A bit," she said.
"Do you still play?" Daichi asked. Akio shook her head. She could not bring herself to.
"Is it alright if I ask you why?" He asked.
"It's not an issue," Akio said hurriedly, "The workload from school just got too big,"
Mentally sighing, Akio gloated at her quickly thought lie. Daichi nodded and mentioned the importance of prioritising mental health whilst Akio listened thoughtfully. Her break from volleyball had made her feel slightly better. Maybe, it was the time to return to the sport she loved.

With every thud, Akio envisioned herself spiking and her desire to play volleyball grew. The Karasuno boy's volleyball team were so close. She too wanted to see some of her old teammates that she had shared the same relationship with.

As soon as the practise session was over, Akio quickly helped tidy up.
"You have as much energy as Hinata today, Minako-san!" Nishinoya remarked.

Akio laughed. This time on her walk back with Sugawara, she did not stop talking.

"What drew you to volleyball?" Akio asked.
"I don't know. I've been doing it as a skid and have enjoyed it since,"
"Ah ha, and why setter?"

Akio danced into her room and got her old sportswear out and her volleyball. She dug her volleyball shoes out hoping that they and her kit still fit. She could not wait for tomorrow. She was too excited to sleep. Rummaging under her bed, she pulled out a box of all her volleyball magazines and started reading them as everything came to her mind.

"Akio," a voice called. Also stiffened. It was her mother. The door open end.

"Akio, are you reading those magazines?" Her mother asked.

"Yeah," she said.

"Are you thinking about volleyball again?" Her mother asked.

"Just for fun," Akio murmured.

Her mother nodded. "Good night then,"

Akio watched the door shut. She was not sure if her mother was concerned or elevens but she was certain that from tomorrow, she was going to back to volleyball.