The Sun with A False Eternity

Bittersweet Memories

Hinata and Kageyama walked out of the gym together after waving goodbye to the team that remained. Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, and Narita had already left, and a few people were hanging out inside the gym as well as in front of it, but that was usual. Within seconds of stepping outside to the slightly chilled air, the two teens were off once again on their race to the front of the school property. They always raced to the gym, but not always away from it. But that night Kageyama was grateful they did. It just reassured him that his friend truly was okay, if he still had energy after all that practice.

"I win!" Kageyama triumphantly shouted when they reached the large opening that served as the entrance to the school. Hinata's only response was to pout, and he turned his back on Kageyama, muttering some insults under his breath as he went to retrieve his bike.

"I'll win next time!" Hinata retorted as he pulled his bike out from the rack and glared at Kageyama. He smiled a few seconds later, however, and waved as he began his return home. Kageyama turned away and began to head back to his own house. He had his gym bag slung over his shoulder, applying a slightly uncomfortable pressure. He looked around at the darkness that surrounded the area where he lived, but he found it somewhat peaceful.

He didn't used to think that way however. Kageyama sighed at the bittersweet memories.

Tiny Kageyama sitting alone in the dark, wrapped up in his small blanket, clutching his pillow tightly. Everything around him was dark, he couldn't see anything and he felt like he was suffocating. Without meaning to, he began to cry, clutching his pillow even tighter as if it could help him ward off the looming blackness. Someone heard him, however, as Kageyama heard his door creak open, a dim light flooding in. He sniffed, desperately trying to wipe the tears off his face.

"Tobio? Is everything okay?" A husky voice called in through the gap in the door, sounding concerned.

"Kazuyo!" Tiny Kageyama cried when he realized who it was. He hastily detangled himself from his sheets and leaped out of bed, running over to his grandfather and hugging his legs tightly. He looked up at the older man, who knelt to tiny Kageyama's level.

"What's going on Tobio?" He asked, pulling Kageyama in for a hug. "Are you okay?" Tiny Kageyama didn't know how to respond. He simply gestured around the room blindly, then buried his head back into his grandfather's shoulder. "Is it too dark in here?" Kageyama nodded. "Well, I've got just the thing to fix that, follow me."

Tiny Kageyama did as instructed, and followed his grandfather out of his bedroom and into the hall. He stood there silently as the old man opened a cabinet and pulled out a box. He set it on the ground in front of the boy and sat beside it. Kageyama sat next to him, looking curiously at the box in the dim light of the hallway.

His grandfather opened it gently, his hands slow and steady. Inside was an assortment of random items, from batteries to old school worksheets. Tiny Kageyama watched as his grandfather rummaged around for a bit, searching for something. After a few moments his grandfather's eyes lit up, and he pulled out a small object with a triumphant cheer. He held it out to Kageyama inviting him to take it. Kageyama grabbed the item and held it up to look at it. It was a small sun, with a cartoon smile on the front. It was gold and see-through, and its eyes looked on pleasantly. Inside the sun was what looked like a light bulb, and when Kageyama flipped it over to look at the back he saw an electrical plug, presumably so that it would light up.

"What's this?" Tiny Kageyama asked when he finished inspecting it. He looked up at his grandfather who took it from the child's hands and stood up.

He held out his hand to Kageyama. "C'mere, I'll show you," he said, and when Kageyama grabbed his hand they headed back to the room. His grandfather entered first, pulling an uncertain child behind him. Kageyama looked around nervously, afraid of being surrounded by the darkness again. They walked over to the outlet beside Kageyama's bed, then stopped. Kageyama's grandfather bent over and securely placed the sun's plug into the wall, flipping the small switch on the side as he did so.

Tiny Kageyama let out a small "whoa," as the sun began to glow, casting a small area of warmth to combat the darkness.

"There," Kageyama's grandfather said in satisfaction. Then he turned and picked up the child, who couldn't help but let out a small giggle. He set him down in bed, and Kageyama snuggled under the covers. His grandfather sat on the edge of his bed and smiled down at him. "You see that light Tobio?" He asked Kageyama, who nodded, uncertain as to where this was going. "That light will protect you. Your little sun friend is going to keep you safe, alright? He'll always be here to watch over you."

Kageyama nodded again, yawning. "Thank you Kazuyo," he buried further under the covers until just his head stuck out. "See you in the morning."

"See you in the morning," his grandfather patted him on the head, before leaving the room quietly. Tiny Kageyama looked over at his new sun nightlight, already feeling more at ease.

"Goodnight sun," he yawned again, before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Before Kageyama had even realized it, he was standing in the doorway to his home. He slipped off his shoes and stepped inside, quickly retreating to his room and setting his bed down in its usual spot. He walked over to his nightstand and squatted down, looking for a very specific thing.

Of course it's still here, he reached out and grabbed the small object, pulling it off the wall. There in his palm sat the small sun nightlight from all those years ago. He blew on it, removing a layer of dust that had built on top of it. He wasn't much for re-arranging his room, and he had completely forgotten that the small sun was there. He flicked the switch to turn it on and plugged it back into the wall, letting it flood the space under his nightstand with its warm glow. It had the same effect that it did years ago, Kageyama felt safe.