OVA
Description
Neri Ooishi emerged as a talented volleyball captain in elementary school, leading her team to a national second-place finish. This early triumph was eclipsed by the car accident that claimed her sister Mari's life. Mari's death profoundly impacted Neri, linking volleyball irrevocably with loss and unresolved grief. She preserved Mari's memory by wearing her necklace, reacting violently when a teammate tried to take it and fracturing the teammate's hand.
Seeking distance from this trauma, Neri enrolled at Hakuunzan Private Academy Middle School, renowned for its elite volleyball program. Despite her abilities, she deliberately suppressed her talent, choosing the obscurity of a bench player handling menial tasks like ball retrieval and laundry. She concealed her past achievements and avoided friendships, fearing her intense play would alienate others as it had before. Guilt over Mari's death fueled periods of withdrawal where she secluded herself, watching recordings of her sister's matches.
A pivotal practice match forced Neri into the starting lineup. Her performance revealed her suppressed skill but caused a collision that injured the team's star player, Koyuki Kyogoku. This incident, combined with a misunderstanding involving a supposed scandal, resulted in her expulsion from the Hakuunzan team. Unable to join their high school division, she transferred to Kokuyoudani High, known for accepting misfits.
At Kokuyoudani, Neri found a volleyball team whose members acknowledged her flaws and recognized her strengths. Key figures included Inugami Kyouko, the asthmatic captain and strategic setter whose impactful play was shaped by limited stamina, and Odagiri Manabu, a former classmate who admired Neri's resilience. Manabu joined as a novice and developed into a skilled setter, partly inspired by Neri. Within this environment, Neri gradually confronted her past and learned to trust her teammates. Their acceptance allowed her to channel her intensity into volleyball without fear of rejection, ending her self-restraint.
Her journey involved reconciling her love for volleyball with the grief that had long defined it. This process meant acknowledging her sister's influence and moving beyond the guilt that had constrained her personally and athletically. Her experiences at Kokuyoudani facilitated this evolution, enabling her to engage openly with teammates and embrace her competitive drive.
Seeking distance from this trauma, Neri enrolled at Hakuunzan Private Academy Middle School, renowned for its elite volleyball program. Despite her abilities, she deliberately suppressed her talent, choosing the obscurity of a bench player handling menial tasks like ball retrieval and laundry. She concealed her past achievements and avoided friendships, fearing her intense play would alienate others as it had before. Guilt over Mari's death fueled periods of withdrawal where she secluded herself, watching recordings of her sister's matches.
A pivotal practice match forced Neri into the starting lineup. Her performance revealed her suppressed skill but caused a collision that injured the team's star player, Koyuki Kyogoku. This incident, combined with a misunderstanding involving a supposed scandal, resulted in her expulsion from the Hakuunzan team. Unable to join their high school division, she transferred to Kokuyoudani High, known for accepting misfits.
At Kokuyoudani, Neri found a volleyball team whose members acknowledged her flaws and recognized her strengths. Key figures included Inugami Kyouko, the asthmatic captain and strategic setter whose impactful play was shaped by limited stamina, and Odagiri Manabu, a former classmate who admired Neri's resilience. Manabu joined as a novice and developed into a skilled setter, partly inspired by Neri. Within this environment, Neri gradually confronted her past and learned to trust her teammates. Their acceptance allowed her to channel her intensity into volleyball without fear of rejection, ending her self-restraint.
Her journey involved reconciling her love for volleyball with the grief that had long defined it. This process meant acknowledging her sister's influence and moving beyond the guilt that had constrained her personally and athletically. Her experiences at Kokuyoudani facilitated this evolution, enabling her to engage openly with teammates and embrace her competitive drive.