The King Fell and Needs Help Getting Up

Chapter 20

After about half an hour, around 4 o'clock, they arrive at Kageyama Miwa's apartment. Kageyama buzzes her apartment and she tells them to come up after unlocking the door for them. The two of them walk up to her apartment, where she is at the door. She is watching them walk down the hall.
"Who's the lamp post?" She asks and Tsukishima irks as he feels Kageyama squeeze his hand, the ones clasped together behind them.
"He's the one who's been helping me. It's better for all of us if he's here with me." Kageyama says and Miwa just shrugs and lets them into her apartment.
"Have a seat, I'll get refreshments, tea? Coffee?" She asks Tsukishima who replies with "just water is fine, thank you." And Tobio goes to say his order to which his sister waves him off.
"Milk, I know." She says and gets them all a drink before joining them in the living room, sitting on the chair across from them. "So, what's going on?"
"Well, I just want to state this before I get into everything that, I don't want you to lecture me. I just need you to listen and take a moment to think about what I say before saying anything in return." Kageyama says and takes a deep breath. Tsukishima rubs his back to show him some support and Tobio nods before looking at his sister.
"First of all, our parents... they've been abusing me for years... Physically, emotionally... Sexually... I have been injured so much and the last time was really bad... If it wasn't for Tsukishima, I would probably be dead... You weren't around enough to notice anything, and I'm not blaming you for not noticing, I didn't even notice that that was what was happening until Tsukishima found out. I... I also harmed myself because I was so messed up that I thought I needed to be punished and that I needed some control... It's stopped, I haven't done it since Tsukishima found out. But yeah... I left home and they're angry, looking for me. I have reported it to the police but there's not much they can do currently with our parent's position... I can't go back, which is why I told you not to tell them anything, it's why you can't tell them anything. They'll kill me if I go back. I'm supposed to meet with a child protection worker after training camp to officially put me in Tsukishima's home. Once that happens, then they can't touch me without breaking the law more and I'll be safer." Tobio explains and Miwa is stunned, silent and frustrated she had not clue what her own parents were doing to her younger brother.
"Who touched you? Sexually, who touched you?" She asks quietly, a dark, serious tone to her voice.
"Dad did, many times for many years." Tobio responds, just as quiet but with a shakiness to his words.
"If you want to get out, you can live with me, I'll make sure they don't know and that they won't find you." She says, gripping the arms of the chairs.
"It's okay Nee-san, I'm living with Tsukishima and his family. They have been a huge help to me. Besides, I have a team in Miyagi and a goal to beat Oikawa-san. I can't abandon those. But thank you, you willing to do that is enough for me. If I ever can't stay in Miyagi, I'm glad I can come here as a safe place." Miwa looks at her brother and although neither are huge fans of physical touch, except Tobio's Tsukishima exception, she gets up and hugs him tight.
"You should have told me, I'm not lecturing you before you try to say something, but you should have said something, to me, to grandpa when he was alive. You would have been safe sooner..." She says and Tobio just leans into her as he hugs her back just as tightly.
"I didn't know it was bad, I thought it was normal, what I deserved." He says and beings tearing up.
"No one deserves that..." She says and pulls away to wipe his tears.
"They won't know you were here, or that I know but if you need me, for anything, call."
"I will, thank you Miwa-nee-san." He says and smiles at her, for the first time in years, Miwa sees her brother smile and she starts crying because of it. She hugs him again and makes him promise that she'll be the first person to be contacted when things get pushed in motion for their parents' prosecution.
"You guys wanna stay the night?" She asks after calming down and clearing up.
"No, we should head back, but thank you." Tsukishima says and bows his head.
"Alright. Uh, Tobio is it okay if I borrow Tsukishima-kun for a moment?" She asks and although usually Tobio would be hesitant he nods right away. She smiles and asks Kei to follow her into another room.
"I just want to ask, because I don't think he'd tell me the truth, are you sure he's safe with you? You're not going to hurt him right? This is the first time I've seen him smile in a few years, so even with his trauma, is he happy with you?" She asks with a tone to show she's asking as a concerned older sister.
"Well, I know I will protect him as much as I possibly can. I don't plan to hurt him, ever, and as far as I know, he's happy with me, I offered to take him to Hinata, but he chose me. We're happy together." He replies and looks at her with a sincere expression. "I plan to save him, so they can't hurt him again, but they need to not know anything about him to do that. Please, as he asked before, don't tell them anything. If anything, tell them he's not responding and you have no idea where he is. There is a case being built but it requires time and if they get him... it might be the end." He says and Miwa is aware of the seriousness of the situation. She is ready to do whatever she can to help.
"Of course, they won't hear a word about him from me. If there is anything I can do to help, let me know. If you ever need to leave miyagi for any reason, you guys are free to come here, ask him to give you my number and please give me updates on him, he's not great at replying." She says and Tsukishima snickers softly, knowing that after seeing that he had a bunch of unread messages from many people.
"Sure, I'm glad to know you're on our side, On his side."
"Of course, he's my brother. He might have been annoying but he's still my family." She says and pulls Kei into a side hug of sorts. "And it seems you might be as well so again, if you need anything, let me know." She says and Kei blushes, looking away shyly as he clears his throat.
"Of course Miwa-san."
"Call me Miwa-nee-chan." She says with a smile that is genuine and wide. Something that seems so easy for her. He thinks about how smiling for Tobio is hard, or was until recently even if he doesn't do it often still. He however notices that when he does smile, it looks like hers. He hopes Tobio will smile more freely like his sister soon.
Miwa sees them off and Kageyama says he'll try to visit again if they come back to Tokyo. She hugs him one last time before the boys leave. They stop by a small ramen shop near the station to eat before getting back on the train to head back to the training camp. On the ride back, Kageyama had fallen asleep against Tsukishima who only smiles as he pays attention so they could get off and transfer at the right stop.
About 10 minutes later he piggyback Kageyama off the train and on to the second train, letting him sleep peacefully as he knew the younger man needed it. He carries him back to the school and only wakes him once they're at the gate.
"Oi, king, it's time to wake up, we're back to the camp." He says and Kageyama grumbles before his eyes open a bit, blinking as he yawns. He nuzzles into the blond's neck and whines.
"Do I have to get up....? You're comfortable." He says and Tsukishima chuckles.
"C'mon, I carried you for so long. My back hurts from it. They'll tease us if we go in like this." He teases Tobio who pouts and grumbles unhappily as he slides off the taller's back and looks up at Tsukishima. "What? Something I can do for you, your highness?" He asks with a smirk.
"Mornin' kiss..." he frowns and Kei smirks before leaning down and kissing the setter chastely before pulling him along to the dining hall where he figures the others are eating.
"You're still hungry right? Let's go eat and let them know we're back." He says and Kageyama nods, a small smile on his face as his cheeks turn red.
"Tsukishima, thanks for today and everyday." Tsukishima slows to a stop and looks back at him.
"You don't need to thank me. However, you should kiss me for carrying you. I think I deserve it." Kei says and smirks until he is kissed immediately after, surprising him as Tobio was usually shy about initiating things. When they pull apart, Tsukishima is stunned for a few more seconds as Kageyama blushes more, taking the lead and pulling Kei into the dining hall. He lets go of Tsukishima's hand before they enter and are greeted by the smiles of the many people inside.