Clutching a hard-fought victory, Aki walked back toward her teammates with a dazed but triumphant smile stretching across her face. Every fiber of her body felt drained, like all the adrenaline that had carried her through the fight was suddenly slipping away, leaving her trembling and barely able to stand.
Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. Her legs threatened to give out beneath her at any moment. But she kept walking, step by determined step, toward the bright, beaming faces of her team.
"Aki, you did it!" one of the girls cheered, rushing over to her.
The others followed quickly, gathering around her in a warm circle of support. They offered their arms and shoulders without hesitation, letting her lean on them, holding her up so she didn't have to carry her own weight anymore.
