Rebirth by Fire

2009, June 12th

There was once an ancient riddle; which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Even if science has proven it to be the egg, it took Shishido Akari a lifetime, a second start at life, and a fire to fully understand why somehow, this quite applies to her.

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Wee-woo!! Wee-woo!!

The firetruck's continuous siren blares as all the firemen deployed did their duties, neighbors shout as they gave their best to assist the firemen to stoke the raging fire, and bystanders murmur filled the place. But even with all the noise, she just lay limply upon the auxiliary stretcher placed beside the ambulance.

Akari wordlessly stared at the smoke rising upwards, her gaze was vacant. Two medics tried their best to administer first aid to minimize the burns and cuts upon her after she was rescued. They feared that her lack of reaction to pain was due to having damaged nerves so they just made sure they did not miss any procedure so she could heal well later.

"Poor girl, she rushed in right after arriving from school that's why no one was able to stop her. The fire was too strong and it was too late." One of the aunties nearby can't help but feel pain for all the injuries that Akari got. She even involuntarily winced when the two medics cut the bloodied sock from the injured leg. "I hope she'll be okay."

"T-then, the parents... d-did they..." Someone gasps in shock as she could not even believe that the two healthy and bubbly neighbors of theirs who were so happy to share the news this morning that they finally had the long-awaited week off they needed and then this catastrophe happened.

Then, where are they?

"T-They were not able to..?" Some of them choke back sobs as the realization hits them.

They then all simultaneously thought the same thing: What will happen to Akari?

They were not aware that Akari could hear their whispers but she remained silent and just stared at the orange-tinged part of the sky that she could see. She knows that further down, at the center of that burning furnace is the place she once called home.

It was a few months but still... that was Home.

She watched in utter helplessness as her home burned down, not even minding the fact that she has badly injured her left leg when she dashed in trying to find anyone she could only to be hindered by a burning beam that fell upon her. She was quickly pulled to safety by a fireman but those few seconds were enough to gravely injure her.

So much has happened in a few months.

Akari was just average with her academics so her academic ranking averaged between 50-75 out of 100+ students within her year so she could not go to schools like Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High School or Shiratorizawa Academy Junior High unless she got the scholarship for athletes. But she only played in different sports as a temporary member during her elementary years. She may be active and a bit experienced in most sports but due to her not focusing on any of those sports, she was not qualified to receive the scholarship because in the end, it's the accomplished ranking that matters and she has none.

So she entered Yukigaoka Junior High School instead and thought it would be another mundane school year in this mundane world of hers.

It was then that she was recruited by two persistent members that wanted her to join the volleyball team and be a permanent member this time. With her joining the female volleyball team of Yukigaoka Junior High, her growth in the sport was very noticeable now that she was only focusing on just this one. The goal of becoming the champion was within reach but the dream was cut short at the quarter-finals of her first athletic meet.

The failure even made Akari doubt herself for a while in thinking that playing permanently did not suit her but her orange-haired cousins helped her come out of the rut.

Last month, as a second year and the new Ace of the team, the hope for becoming the champion this year was pinned upon her shoulders. And this year, they finally did it!

Now, fresh from the adrenaline of winning, looking to face the final examination for the first semester next month, and just turning 13 years old a few months ago, she has been looking forward to the weekend with her parents and also the upcoming summer break. She and her team have plans to go to the beach and maybe even try their hands at playing the beach version of the sports she has grown to love.

But this disaster struck like a truck out of nowhere wanting to send someone someplace else.

Akari finally could not control her emotions and tears started to fall. She raises both arms to cover her eyes as she bit her lip to stop herself from sobbing aloud. At least, it was that unconscious desire to leave herself with a little dignity that made her do so... to appear strong even if just a bit. She could not be sure which matter she is crying about. At that moment, she was just overwhelmed and crying was all she was left with.

Her silent crying made even the experienced medics beside her tear up and they silently promised to help her recover quickly at least with the best first aid they could do for this poor child. All the aunties and bystanders also heard her repressed weeping and this made them feel more pain and sadness for her. If they were in her place, they are sure they could not act strongly and break down at the first onslaught of such a despairing accident.

What should I do now?

What could I do?

I don't know.

Mom... Dad...

I don't know anymore.

It was then that she started feeling dizzy and she slightly moved her arms down and stared at the smoke-filled sky thinking that maybe she was affected by it but instead of feeling better her vision started to blur and spin and before she could think about what is happening to her, a spitting headache assaulted her and Akari faints alarming everyone around her.

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A/N:

This was supposed to be just a trial of a 'what if' using just Haikyuu while I test the waters for a bigger fanfic where I am considering it all... as in ALL possible sports anime/manga.

But then, as my OC is being made, I just keep on adding other anime and poof... somehow this became major in its own right.

If you like how this turned out, then welcome to the team!!!