Insomnia (A TsukiKage FF) ✔

48 - The butterfly effect

Ukai went to the doorway and watched as the setter turned out of the gates and headed who knew where. The coach frowned at the expression he caught a glimpse of on the setter's face. It was one of frustration, and sadness, and... something he couldn't name but didn't like the look of.

A small ping in the gym alerted everyone of a new text message and when they turned their attention away from the empty bench, they found Tsuki was leaning against the wall with his phone in his hand. 

They tried to figure out whatever had happened by the middle blocker's facial expression, but the blond managed to hold onto his neutral expression so they couldn't figure much out.

Time: 4:20PM

King 👑: Sorry about that I...

King 👑: I couldn't stay any longer.

Tsuki 🧂: No, it's okay. I get it, you don't have to explain.

The team watched as the middle blocker looked up from his phone and to the abandoned notebook on the bench. A thinking expression appeared and whilst he sent another text he headed across the court.

Time: 4:21PM

Tsuki 🧂: Do you want me to come over later?

He sat down on the bench and picked up the notebook, putting his phone down but facing up so he could see a new message. Once again, he saw the three dots signalling Kageyama was replying but the time it took was never a pleasant experience. Whilst he was waiting, he flipped through the notebook, going past the notes the setter had made the other day. Maybe the idea was a good one to try and put into practise- especially if the youngest didn't want to speak up about much- but right now it wasn't the best timing.

He reached a page in the notebook that seemed blank like all of the others before and after it. However, in the bottom corner there was a small bit of writing, in Kageyama's script.

'Sorry.' That's all it said.

Tsuki tried to think about what that could mean. Was he sorry for leaving or sorry for not being able to practise like usual? Was he sorry for ignoring everyone or was he sorry for what the team had been reduced to without him?

All these questions ran through his head as he put the notebook down and picked up his phone, seeing a new message.

Time: 4:24PM

King 👑: No it's okay. You should spend time with your family and relax.

King 👑: I need some alone time too.

Reluctant as he was to leave Tobio by himself, he also didn't want to overstep or make the younger feel even worse than he did. He probably wanted Tsukishima to spend some time by himself so as to distance them from each other.

Time: 4:25PM

Tsuki 🧂: Okay. But if you need anything please let me know.

King 👑: I will. Thanks Kei, I mean it.

King 👑 is offline

Tsuki🧂: You know you don't have to say that.

The blond got up from the bench and returned his phone to his bag. Whilst not looking at any of them he told them that they should probably continue practising after how bad they've become recently; they didn't want to make their youngest feel even worse.

These words were harsh but true, and the team wondered if that was why Kageyama left, because he could see how they'd fallen apart since he stopped showing up. Did he feel like he had abandoned them?

Whatever it was, Tsuki's words gave them new motivation to practise even harder, so when Kageyama was better he could come back to a team that he could be proud of...

Kageyama didn't look anywhere but directly in front of him until he returned home. When he shut the door behind him, he leaned against it and let out a huge sigh. He headed over to the kitchen, planning to eat something seeing as he had skipped dinner and it was nearing lunchtime anyways, but as soon as he opened the cupboards his appetite was gone.

He redirected his route and headed upstairs, collapsing on his bed and looking up at the ceiling. He needed something to distract him from how crap he was feeling, so he pulled his earphones off the bedside and put them in before getting his phone from his hoodie pocket and joining them up.

He shuffled through a few songs before settling on Lovely by Billie Eilish and Khalid. The string instrumental and harmonised voices is what he focused his attention on, and eventually he shut his eyes- but not asleep- and let himself relax.

For a while. A loud slam made him jump, snapping out of his comatose state and pulling out his earphones. There was another slam telling him the door had been flung shut and Kageyama's breathing picked up. He slowly got up off the bed and headed over to his door; it was open enough for him to hear but not to be seen.

"What do you think you're doing?" a loud and deep male voice shouted, his voice echoing throughout the house.

"I'm doing whatever I want! We keep going out and coming back all for what you want!" a woman's voice screamed back.

"Liar! You're gone half the time!"

"To find better entertainment elsewhere!"

"That's a loud of bull! Where's that son of ours!"

"Ours! I raised him not you!"

"Well I taught him a thing or two about discipline!"

"I taught him respect!"

Kageyama's knuckles turned white as his grip on the door tightened. He couldn't listen to this anymore: he thought he was going to stop breathing for how little air there seemed to be around him. And no music would drown them out. And then what if they-