The Sun with A False Eternity

Is It Nearly The End?

 "This place totally looks like it's haunted!" Tanaka shouted, gesturing around the room.

"Tanaka I already told you, stop speaking so badly about the place!" Daichi barked, fed up with the second year already.

"Could you guys be any louder?" Ennoshita sighed, yawning slightly.

It had been a long day, and Kageyama was exhausted. They had spent most of the day on the bus, on the way to the stadium where Nationals was being held, and everyone's excitement had been skyrocketing. They had arrived at the inn about an hour ago and were now calling Hinata since things seemed mostly settled.

"I wish I could see it!" Hinata exclaimed as best he could. Everyone was finally winding down for the night, except for the few second years whose energy never seemed to dip.

"I wish you could too," Nishinoya piped in, tackling Tanaka to get to the front of the camera. "We all miss you!"

"I miss you guys too," Hinata smiled sadly. The inn room went quiet for a moment as Hinata's breath shook, trying to get oxygen. "You guys better play your best tomorrow, I'll be cheering you on!" He said once he was mostly recovered.

"I do not doubt that," Sugawara looked up from where he had previously had his head bent over a book. "And we're going to do exactly as he said, right guys?"

The phrase was met with excited cheers, which caused Hinata's lips to twitch upwards again.

"As much as I don't want to cut this short, you guys need to get to bed!" Coach Ukai called into the room, looking stern. "We have a long day ahead, I'm sure Hinata understands that. Now say goodnight and go to sleep."

"Yes sir."

"I'll see you tomorrow," Kageyama reached forward to switch off the device, seeing his face reflected in the now blank screen. He quickly packed it away and methodically went through the motions of being prepared to go to sleep.

We're going to win tomorrow. I'm going to win. I'll win for Hinata.

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No!

The thud of the ball echoed in his ears.

No... This wasn't how it was supposed to go...

The cheering. So much cheering. The sour sound pounded into Kageyama's ears, the defeat echoing over and over again.

NO!

"Kageyama, I'm so sorry..." Kageyama was vaguely aware of Narita's voice, faintly aware of the sounds of his teammates trying to comfort him.

It's my fault, it's all my fault.

Kageyama had woken up feeling out of place. Something felt off, but he couldn't quite place it. He chalked it up to being nervous, that everything was going to be fine once he stepped onto the court.

It wasn't supposed to end like this.

He set the ball. He forgot. He completely forgot. His visions of Hinata had taken over, he thought Hinata had been there, and he set off the quick set without thinking. At match point.

Of course, Narita hadn't been able to hit it.

This is all my fault.

He could hear people crying. He wasn't sure who it was, nor did he care.

We lost, and it's my fault.

Someone hugged him, and he didn't resist. He just buried his head into the person's shoulders as his mind assaulted him over and over again.