Random Encounters 1

Mondays used to be so hectic for Akari.

But she did not dislike that. Her daily solo training, her training with the team, attending classes, and her small interactions with her cousin have become more frequent this year...

And then leaving school to head home…

She can not do most of those things yet and one… is no longer an option.

So this Monday was a first for her presently.

Her aunt Yumi went to handle her delivery service.

Her other aunt is still sleeping deeply in Natsu's room.

Her cousins both went to school. She could have gone to school too but everyone made her remain at home for at least a day or two so she can get used to using her crutches. Even though it was a bit uncomfortable to use under the armpits, it was a better alternative than having no form of support at all.

But it's not like one needed a Ph.D. or a degree at being an expert user of this before one can do anything on their own. Most probably, they were just making up an excuse to keep her home to rest more.

And now, she is left to house-sit with the newest addition to her family, Alexandra who decided to stay over last night instead of going back to the hotel she booked previously.

Since she is now walking and maneuvering with ease around the house with crutches, she even found the time to bake which is another skill she inherited from her 'past' self.

As she finally takes out the first one she made from the oven, Akari hears a slurred question coming closer to the kitchen.

"What is that amazing smell in the air right now?" Alexandra came in while scratching her tummy while yawning.

"Banana muffin with raisins, Aunt Alex," Akari replies as she eyes this aunt of hers.

She remembers from her 'past' memories that in one episode, she tended to sleep with barely anything on or maybe even in the nude if she really felt like it. But seeing her in a shirt and shorts, Akari has an inkling that her other aunt has a hand at reeling in aberrant behaviors of Alexandra.

"Looks and smells delish~" Alexandra commented before she headed toward the bathroom. After freshening herself, Alex returns and reaches for a piece from the pile that Akari placed on the table, only to be blocked by the hot muffin pan that Akari used.

Alexandra squinted her eyes at this action of Akari. "I smell a conspiracy."

"I'll keep six pieces for Aunty Yumi and my cousin, you can have the rest," Akari said. She even sweetens the deal. "I'm also about to make eclairs so I'll add that too"

"Hoh? And in return, what do you want, my dear niece?"

"Please let me go outside." Akari finally voices her request.

Alexandra looks her up and down at her crutches then back up again before looking amused. "You do know you won't get far with that."

"Please just accompany me there, then you can leave and do what you want to do."

"Why are you so insistent on going out anyway?" Alexandra asked as she reached out for a muffin, Akari no longer stopped her.

Akari set the muffin pan on the sink before she started piping the choux onto the baking sheet set on a baking pan "To set my plans for the future."

"Whoa, that's very impressive of you, I'll give you that. I totally did not expect that kind of answer, to be honest," Alexandra comments as she finishes that piece of muffin with relish. "This is really good."

"And…" Akari stops piping before she looks at Alexandra. "I wanna go… home… just visit the place."

Alexandra wasn't able to quickly reply or retort. Any initial random words she was about to utter to deny Akari was stuck in her throat. She did not expect that banter with her niece would turn somber all of a sudden. She was caught off guard.

Looking at Akari who continued to busy herself with what she was about to make and appeared collected as if she did not say anything serious, Alexandra finally sighs in defeat.

Alexandra groans before she picks up another piece of muffin then turns around and heads toward Natsu's room. "Just call me where I should pick you up later so at least we can make up a story that we went out on a walk."

Akari finally smiles. "Thank you, Aunt Alex."

"Yeah, yeah, just leave my share here and keep the others' share somewhere else so I don't accidentally eat them."

—

It was almost midday, but a girl on crutches stood silently in front of a darkened area. It was already free from any debris, only the burnt smell and the soot were left as a testament to that horrible accident.

"Tadaima…" she whispers she wanted to hear a reply but that's not possible anymore.

Alexandra was standing a block away, she just turned around to face a different direction before sighing. She just could no longer watch her niece after hearing what she said.

Akari turned her head in Alexandra's direction when she heard her footsteps moving away.

'Didn't you say your sister was too impetuous for your liking, Mom? Look at how she's being considerate right now.'

…

'And Dad, we really owe a lot to your sister, you know. Aunty Yumi treats me even better than how she treats Yo-kun. She's really nice and kind.'

…

Akari thought of all the things she wanted to share with her parents, even having memories of her past life. She knew they would feel really bewildered at such an idea, they might even suspect she has a mental disorder yet would agree to keep everything between the three of them.

Just when Akari was about to look for a place to sit since she was already feeling a little tired just standing, someone hands her a handkerchief.

She looked up and was met with two familiar faces. Familiar because they were also from Haikyuu!

On the other hand, seeing Akari startles the two. For different reasons. The one with the handkerchief has messy black hair and thick brows and he looked embarrassed due to assuming Akari needed help he unconsciously scratched his cheek with his other hand to try to hide it. The other one looked surprised to see Akari, most likely recognizing her.

"Shishido Akari-san?" questions the other guy with pink-brown hair, sounding really excited. "You are, right?"

"Oi, Taka, you're being rude."She doesn't even know you." The handkerchief guy reprimanded his companion as he pulled the other's shoulder back before he rushed closer to Akari. "My name is Matsukawa Issei, please excuse us for being too presumptuous."

Realizing his blunder, 'Taka' looked down and lingered on Akari's crutches, he bowed slightly and apologized. "Please excuse my brashness, Shishido-san. I'm Hanamaki Takahiro, it's nice to meet you."

'Should I ask which Junior High they are both from?' Akari thought to herself just to add more information to her database of a mind. Or not, what matters is that these two will be part of Aoba Johsai in High School soon.

"Yes and don't worry, no harm done," she answered as she shook her head instead of doing what she thought. Then she turned to the one with the handkerchief and accepted it from him. "Thank you. Are you guys from around here too?"

"Yeah, on the next street actually," Hanamaki responded excitedly at first but then he realized where he was currently and his gaze turned to the block where Akari was standing in front of and realized something. "I… I'm sorry f-for your loss."

He elbows Matsukawa who only realized something after a few seconds. "Sorry for your loss."

"Thank you." Akari only smiles.

Seeing how the two were left standing awkwardly after that and not knowing what to do next, she decided to change the topic by asking to be accompanied to the closest park. The two quickly agreed and they even moved to flank her.

Akari knows this is not a move to intimidate or harass a lady but was just an unconscious move of theirs to indirectly be ready for any emergency, in this case, an emergency involving her.

After she was led to a bench, she finally sighed in relief as she rested her left leg on the ground. She did not expect that having to limp around, even with crutches, is hard.

"Thank you for taking the time to accompany me here. Weren't you both headed home? I'll be fine here for a while." Akari said to the two.

"But leaving you here alone is…" Matsukawa looked at Hanamaki who also had the same look of worry.

Then Hanamaki thought of something. "Please wait for us for a few minutes, we'll be right back!"

After saying that, he quickly pulled the dumbfounded Matsukawa away.

"Wait! You don't have to–" Akari tried to say after them but they had already left the park. Akari could only smile helplessly as she set aside her crutches and placed her bulky sling bag on her lap and waited.

Since she'll have company, it's only right to share. So all she could do right now is to wait for a bit.