Chapter 109 Volleyball 69
In the Kanto region in winter, the cities are covered with pure white frost and snow, the air is filled with the unique smell of winter, and the earth is covered in silver mixed with the red of the New Year, indicating that the new year is about to come.
In Kansai, the temperature is around ten degrees Celsius, there is no snow, and the no longer green treetops sway gently in the not-too-bitter cold wind, waiting for the arrival of spring.
Today is December 31st, the last day of the year.
At 1:30 in the morning in the city, a slender and beautiful black-haired girl was walking alone on the road, dragging her suitcase, taking one step at a time, in silence.
The system seemed to have noticed that something was wrong with her condition, and couldn't help but ask: [Sanae, what's wrong with you?]
Kurikawa Sana shook her head slightly, [I'm fine, system.]
System: [Sana, you've been working too hard. Your recent actions have been too intense. You should actually take a break.]
Because of her busy work as an artist, she spent almost the entire December in Tokyo. During this period, she had to travel back and forth between Hyogo Prefecture and Tokyo for her studies, which was quite exhausting.
During Christmas, Kurikawa Sana spent it in Tokyo with Koutarou Koutarou, Akaashi Kyoji, Shirafuku Yukie, and Suzuta Kaoru from Owl Valley.
On the snowy Christmas night, with the colorful lights, everyone’s warm company, bright smiles, and the wonderful memories left behind, every minute and every second is unforgettable.
Amid the sound of Christmas songs in the shopping mall and throughout the city center, the notification sound of the increase in the favorability between Kurosabu-kun and Akaashi-kun was so clear - the favorability between Kurosabu-kun and Akaashi-kun had reached 95.
Kurikawa Sana clearly remembers how Koutarou opened his arms excitedly and shouted "hey hey hey - look who is taller, me or the Christmas tree!" under the Christmas tree in the mall. She also remembers the helpless yet doting smiles on Kyoji Akaashi's and Kaoru Suwada's faces when they looked at Koutarou, and she also remembers the expectant expressions on Yukie Shirafuku's faces when she quietly pulled her to queue up for the Christmas limited-edition sashimi all-you-can-eat meal.
Everyone is so cute.
But because of this, the sense of gap will be even stronger when I become alone again - especially tonight is New Year's Eve, which represents the most important moment for family reunion.
December 31st is New Year's Eve in Japan, also known as "Oishi-ni." Every year, on this night, Tokyo's NHK Hall hosts the annual Red and White Songs Contest, featuring popular artists and talented singers. Kurikawa Sana, a popular artist who recently performed the OST for a TV drama, was invited to participate, staying busy until late at night.
After finishing work, when she dragged her tired body from Tokyo to Kansai Airport and landed, and then took the reserved car back to Amagasaki, the streets were already empty, with only the cold wind roaring past her ears.
Instantly, several images flashed through Kurikawa Sana's mind. She vaguely remembered seeing her parents smile and hug on New Year's Eve as a child. But she never experienced that again.
The cold wind made her head hurt a little. The driver dropped off Sana Kurikawa not far from the intersection. Her head was dizzy and she walked towards her "home" in this world almost mechanically.
It's already two in the morning. I have plans with Kita-senpai, Miya Yuu, Miyaji, Kakuna, and everyone from the volleyball club to go to New Year's prayers tomorrow. I need to go home and rest now, otherwise I won't be able to get up tomorrow morning...
Her mind was so filled with chaotic thoughts that when her body's muscle memory stopped moving, Kurikawa Sana belatedly realized that she had already "arrived home".
But wait…
Why is there a light at her door so late?
Kurikawa Sana looked up in a daze. When she saw the familiar figures of the boys and the warm lights at her doorstep, her mind buzzed.
For a moment, she stood there in a daze, not even noticing when the suitcase in her hand fell to the ground with a "click".
“Surprise!!”
"Happy New Year Sana--"
"Wow, Sana-chan looks stunned..."
"It's all your fault, stupid Yuu. You made her cry again!"
"No, I think Kurikawa-san is probably too moved..."
"Um, the manager sang really well at the Red and White Song Concert just now!"
Kurikawa Sana stood there in a daze for a long time, unable to come back to her senses.
The girl's deep blue eyes reflected the warm yellow light at the door and the boys' bright smiles.
After a long while, she murmured, "Everyone..."
The scene that came into view was that of everyone on the Inarizaki volleyball club smiling at her.
At two o'clock in the morning, when it was cold and dark, a group of surprisingly tall and strong teenagers crowded together at her doorstep, each one smiling more innocently than the other, as if they didn't feel the cold at all.
Kita Shinsuke, Miya Yu, Miyaji, Kakuna Rintaro, Oshiro Aran, Akagi Michinari, Ginjima Yui, Ootagi Ren, Riishi Heisuke...all the members of the Inarizaki volleyball club were there, and for a moment she felt as if she had returned to the day when she first came into this world and entered the Inarizaki volleyball club gymnasium.
As if they guessed that she would definitely not have time to decorate the house for the New Year because of her busy schedule, everyone held kadomatsu, kagami-mochi, soba noodles and rice cakes in their hands, which represented the new year and new atmosphere, and suddenly made Kurikawa Sana's home, which originally had no New Year atmosphere, have a New Year atmosphere.
Kita Shinsuke was holding a warm yellow lantern in his hand. The warm light was enough to illuminate the originally dark street, and also illuminated the gentle smile on his fair and handsome face, as if guiding her home in confusion.
The young man with silver-black hair held a lamp and spoke to her with a smile like a god in the night.
"Happy New Year, Sana."
[Kitanosuke, Favorability +2.]
[Gong You, Favorability +2.]
[Miyaji, Favorability +2.]
[Kadona Rintaro, Favorability +3. ]
Along with the sour heat welling up in her eyes, Kurikawa Sana heard a sigh-like sound coming from deep in her heart.
Seriously…
Are they stupid?
Obviously, they are the ones who give and wait selflessly in the middle of the night, but in the end, it is them whose favorability keeps rising.
"Sana-chan, are you crying?" Miya You put down the kadomatsu in his hand in a panic and circled around the black-haired girl anxiously.
"Because, I'm so moved..." Kurikawa Sana sobbed.
Gong You: "I told you, Sana-chan must have been moved to tears!"
Miyaji felt a little distressed and quickly reached out to wipe the heat from the corners of the girl's eyes. He probably understood why she was crying.
For a long time, everyone in the volleyball club knew that Sana lived here alone. Her parents had been working abroad, but unexpectedly, they never came back to celebrate the New Year with Sana.
Sana's parents had never even called to say hello. He, You, and Kakuna were completely unable to understand how Sana's parents could have the heart to do that.
After learning that Sana was going to the Red and White Song Festival tonight, Kita-senpai deduced that Sana would most likely spend the night alone, so he suggested that everyone go to Sana's house together after spending time with their families to send her New Year's greetings, so that she wouldn't have to return to a cold and deserted home alone after work on New Year's Eve.
Fortunately, we have Senior Bei, who is indeed far-sighted.
Miyaji couldn't imagine how sad Sana would be when she returned home alone tonight if they weren't waiting for her here.
On a night when thousands of families were celebrating with laughter and reunion, she had no choice but to finish her work and fly back to Kansai from Tokyo, dragging her suitcase and returning to her empty home alone in the cold wind.
And now, she has them.
…
"Have you all been waiting for me for a long time?..." Kurikawa Sana raised her head with tears in her eyes, "What if I don't come back?"
"Then wait." Kakuna Rintaro lowered his eyes and gently touched her head.
"Yeah, then let's just wait. Hahaha." Oshiro Alan smiled with his big white teeth in the dark. "Kurikawa-san works so hard for us. It's okay for us to wait a little longer."
Akagi Michinari nodded in agreement. "That's right. Kurikawa-san has to balance his studies with his acting career, and he's also been the volleyball club manager. His time is split into four or five parts. I feel like he's about to collapse just by looking at him..."
Ginjima Yuya couldn't help but sigh, "Many times we've worried that Kurikawa-san would quit the club because he's too busy, but not only that, he's managed everything from the club and the manager's work perfectly... We should be thanking Kurikawa-san!"
Big Ear Lian also nodded. "Besides, the manager promised to go to the New Year's prayer with everyone tomorrow. Judging from common sense, he should be back tonight. We can always wait."
Rishi Heisuke: "Besides, if it really doesn't work, we can just go to Yuhezhi's house next door to play games."
Gong You: "Pfft...Pfft hahahaha!"
"Everyone..." Kurikawa Sana sobbed and felt like she was about to cry again.
"Don't cry, Kurikawa-san!" Oshiro Alan suddenly changed his tone, "We all agreed that in order to repay Kurikawa-san's efforts for me, I will win the Spring High School championship as a New Year's gift to you!"
Miya Yu also stopped laughing and turned serious. "That's right, the Spring High School competition will start on January 5th. The first game won't be difficult, but the second game... there's a good chance we'll be facing Karasuno."
Kurikawa Sana was stunned for a moment.
Karasuno...
And time has already come to January in a blink of an eye...
"Thank you everyone..." Kurikawa Sana stepped forward and opened the door. "Don't stay outside in the cold wind. Come in and have a cup of hot tea, everyone~"
"Thank you Sana-chan!"
"Thank you, Manager—"
Miyaji stepped forward and asked, "Can I use the kitchen? I want to make you a bowl of soba noodles and New Year dishes."
"Of course! Thank you, Zhijun..."
…
Fifteen minutes later.
Kurikawa Sana lowered her head and ate soba noodles, which represented good luck for the new year. They were made by Miyaji himself, and he also served her a bowl of hot vegetable soup and rice cakes.
Everyone on the Inarizaki volleyball club was drinking hot tea and watching late-night TV in her living room, as if they were back to the last time they gathered at her house.
The only difference was that the theme of that party was to celebrate the reconciliation between Gong Gemini and her, but this time everyone was celebrating the New Year for her alone.
Gong You looked at the soba for a long time, then suddenly frowned and said, "That's not right, Zhi. New Year's soba can only be eaten on the night of the 31st, New Year's Eve. If you eat it after midnight, you will lose your good luck for the new year!"
Miyaji's arm, which was washing dishes, froze instantly. "Is that true?"
Kakuna Rintaro also thought about it and said, "I think there is such a saying."
"Damn it, You, why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
"I just remembered it too!"
Kurikawa Sana couldn't help but burst out laughing, "It's okay, I don't believe in these things, I only believe in everyone's kindness to me."
"The soba noodles made by Zhijun are delicious. Thank you Zhijun~"
Miyaji was stunned for a moment, and then the ears hidden behind his silver-gray hair turned red silently. "...Well, as long as you like it."
Kita Shinsuke looked at them. The atmosphere between the two of them at that moment seemed as if no one else could enter and disturb them.
After a moment, Kita Shinsuke raised the hot tea in his hand and said, "This is the first year we met, Sana."
Upon hearing this, Kurikawa Sana was so shocked that she bit off the soba noodles in her mouth.
"What I mean is, this year is the year you came to the Inarizaki Volleyball Club and met all of us, Sana." Kita Shinsuke said softly: "If possible, I hope that even after graduation, we can still get together often."
The 108 bells at midnight on New Year’s Day have rung, and the new year has arrived.
The third-year seniors will graduate this year. In the world of athletic teenagers during adolescence, graduation is the saddest thing.
When the topic came to this, the younger students were all stunned and stopped watching TV and playing games.
Gong You immediately responded, "Don't worry, Senior Bei, we can definitely get together often. Senior Bei will always be our proud captain!"
Miyaji: "I hope Senior Kita-sama doesn't find us annoying when the time comes."
Even Kakuna Rintaro nodded, "That's right."
"Senior Bei has such good grades, he will definitely go to a very good university when he gets there."
"After becoming a college student, Senior Bei should come back to watch our games more often!"
"I will, everyone."
The boys were noisy with their passionate discussions. Kita Shinsuke was well respected in the volleyball club, and everyone responded enthusiastically, except for one person.
Kurikawa Sana just silently looked down at the soba noodles in her bowl. She was the only one who was particularly quiet because she would not make promises that she could not fulfill, just like she did in last week's Basketball World.
"Ji, didn't you say you wanted to open a restaurant in the future? From now on, your restaurant will be the designated gathering place for our Inarizaki volleyball club." Miya You patted his brother's shoulder and said.
Miyaji nodded, "That's fine with me. Kita-senpai and the others can eat for free. You'll have to pay, Yuu."
"What? Zhi! Then I won't sign your team jersey anymore!"
"Huh? Who wants your autograph, stupid Yuu?"
“Hahahahahahaha!”
"Twins, who can make me laugh without you?"
In response to Miya Yu and Miya Osamu, everyone laughed in amazement. The boys enthusiastically discussed and looked forward to the future. Everyone was playing and joking. No one noticed Kurikawa Sana's silence, except for one person.
Kita Shinsuke looked at Kurikawa Sana gently. The latter lowered her head, her long eyelashes covering her face. Not much emotion could be seen on her face, which was still covered with the exquisite and beautiful makeup from the Red and White Song Festival stage.
The boy's gentle gaze gradually turned into worry.
Sana did not immediately promise everyone that they would "get together more often in the future", perhaps because her acting career was flourishing, and even she could not guarantee that she would have time to "get together more often" in the future.
Shortly after her debut, she was already a popular artist, famous enough to perform at the New Year's Eve Red and White Song Festival. Everyone on the volleyball club understood that she might be drifting away, but Kita Shinsuke had an inexplicable feeling that her current low mood was due to something else.
Is it an illusion?
I always feel that Sana has a sense of fragmentation that is gradually drifting away recently.
…
*
As the day dawned, everyone came to the temple to pray for the New Year.
After passing through the red torii gate, washing hands and cleansing hearts at the water guardian deity, ringing the hanging bell, everyone made their inner wishes one by one.
"Ji, what wish did you make?" Gong You poked Gong Zhi's arm again.
"Stupid Yu, it won't work if you say it out loud." Miyaji said helplessly, but when he heard the wish, his eyes couldn't help but subconsciously look in the direction of the black-haired girl. Kurikawa Sana was closing her eyes and clasping her hands together, making a wish with great piety.
"I don't mind. Ultimately, wishes are something you have to fulfill yourself, so it's okay to say it out loud." Gong You said with a grin, "I hope I'm not only the top setter in Japanese high schools, but I also hope to remove the prefix 'high school' in the future."
Miyaji raised an eyebrow. "Is your wish just to be the best setter in Japan? I thought your wish would be something bigger, like the best in the world."
Gong You: "This is just my wish for this year! Let's take it one step at a time. In a few years, my wish will be upgraded! Kakuname, what's your wish?"
"I... don't have any particular wishes. If I have to say, I just want to be relaxed and happy every day and not be too tired." Seeing that the topic had inexplicably turned to him, Kakuna Rintaro asked the person next to him, "Where's Kita-senpai? What wish did you make this year?"
As Kita Shinsuke collected the lucky number he had just drawn, he said, "I hope grandma is in good health."
Kurikawa Sana also made a wish in front of the bell, and looked down at the fortune on the white paper in her hand in deep thought.
Gong You leaned in closer to take a look and was stunned for a moment, "How could it be a great evil..."
Kakuna Rintaro quickly pulled her to the rope beside him and said, "Hang her up quickly. If you hang her up, the evil will be left behind."
"Yeah, just hang it up! Zhi and I often draw this too."
"Then draw again. If you draw again, it will definitely be a good luck."
Kurikawa Sana nodded, hung up the "Da Xiong" and drew it again, and it was still the eye-catching "Da Xiong".
Gong You: "Hang up again?"
Kurikawa Sana nodded, hung it up, and drew again, and the third lot she drew was "very unlucky".
Everyone: “…”
On the first day of the new year, I asked for fortune three times in a row and all the results were "very bad". No one would be in a good mood.
Looking at the girl who was also a little stunned, Kita Shinsuke sighed, helped her hang up the third Daichi, and comforted her: "It's okay, let's write Ema."
Kakuna Rintaro: "That's right, all the bad luck is used up here in the lottery, and everything will be good from now on."
Gong You also quickly changed the subject and said with a smile: "What wish did Sana-chan just make? I really want to know——"
Kurikawa Sana narrowed her eyes and chuckled, "My wish is..."
"My wish is that all of your wishes will come true."
I hope Yu can successfully become a professional and become Japan's top setter. I hope Zhi can open a restaurant that he likes and cook his favorite dishes.
I hope Jiaoming can be relaxed and happy every day and not too tired. I hope Bei's grandmother will always be in good health.
I hope everyone’s wishes can come true.
The faint light of morning light fell on the girl, giving her long, silky black hair a holy and beautiful halo, and also illuminated her delicate and beautiful angelic face, and the gentle and bright smile on her face.
The boys couldn't help but hold their breath.
All the fatigue and unexpectedness from working intensively all night and drawing three bad numbers in a row seemed to have nothing to do with her. The girl in front of her was always as gentle and beautiful as a goddess.
Even when she made wishes, she only made wishes related to them.
The sound of the heart beating was so intense that it seemed as if it was about to burst out.
The background scene in front of him gradually became blurred, and he could only see the figure of the black-haired girl smiling at him.
…
With a "ding" sound.
Kurikawa Sana heard the sound of their favorability increasing at the same time.
At the same time, she heard a system prompt tone she had never heard before—
[Detected that the favorability of a captureable target has reached the maximum value, please be informed. 】
【Kitaka Shinsuke: 100.】
【Gong You: 100.】
[Miyaji: 100.]
[Kakuname Rintaro: 100. 】
Kurikawa Sana was completely stunned.
Surprisingly, it’s worth it.
At this moment, their favorability levels all reached the maximum.
For the first time in history, she heard the notification sound of the maximum favorability value before she left this round. It was also the first time she saw the value "100" while she was still awake in this world.
Kurikawa Sana stood there blankly, her thoughts drifting away.
Indeed, they are special.
Just as she chose Inarizaki school without hesitation when she first came to the volleyball world, everyone in Inarizaki also gave her unreserved preference.
Not only would he wait at her doorstep late at night just to celebrate the New Year with her, but he would also raise his favorability to 100 before she could leave in that way.
——Running in both directions.
This word appeared in her mind immediately.
Kurikawa Sana remembered that what she hadn't told them just now was... actually, she had made two wishes just now.
The first wish is that all their dreams can come true, such as the dream of becoming a professional volleyball player competing in the world arena, and the dream of opening a restaurant. As long as it is their dream, I hope God will make it come true.
The second wish was that, if possible, she would be able to meet them again after she left - even if it was only in her dreams.
Others make one wish during the New Year, but she made two wishes.
Kurikawa Sana didn't know if God would think she was greedy. If so, she prayed that God would only fulfill her first wish.
But if God is merciful...
Kurikawa Sana whispered in her heart.
Then she hoped that the second wish would also come true.
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