Dyslexic Kageyama
Requested by chimarcaletti
Ennoshita set down a bowl of pretzels, sighing. "Hinata, sit down."
Hinata plopped down next to Kageyama, who was turning a book around in his hands. "Do we have to study? I wanna go play volleyball."
Tanaka sat down and opened one of his books. "It's fine. You guys need it anyways."
Kageyama set his book down, quiet. Ennoshita picked it up. "You've read quite a bit."
"Mhmm."
Tanaka and Ennoshita shared a glance. Nishinoya came into the room with a few fidget toys. He plopped down and pulled out his books. "I gotta read when I can't friggin read with stupid friggin- ugh."
Tanaka rolled his eyes. "Come on man. Hinata is doing fine too."
Nishinoya rolled his eyes. He picked up a pen. Ennoshita looked at Kageyama, who genuinely seemed a little anxious. "Kageyama?"
"Yes?"
"You having issues?"
"A little bit."
"Tell me if you need something."
Kageyama nodded.
Tanaka started reading, silent. The sheet of questions for the chapters was in the center of the table. Nishinoya played with one of his toys, also reading.
Kageyama turned to Hinata, who was leaning into the table and reading. He gulped. He picked up his book and opened the book.
Parts of the sentences seemed to be missing, which was normal to his brain. He made it through a few pages until there was a chapter heading.
"Hey, Hinata?"
"Mm?"
"What does that say?"
"The River," Hinata mumbled. He grabbed a few pretzels before going back to reading.
"Mm…" Kageyama turned back to reading before his heart dropped.
It was in italics from what he could register.
"Shit."
Ennoshita looked up. "What is it?"
"Nothing. Nothing."
Tanaka looked over at Ennoshita and then Kageyama. "Yo, you can tell us. Do you need me to read to you?"
Kageyama shrugged it off and tried to keep going.
Nothing made sense. He couldn't retain anything. He knew it was bad today but yet he was reading more than he could handle.
He knew he couldn't read italics. He couldn't read bold either.
Kageyama closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm down. He needed to read this.
Hinata leaned against him. That was normal. The ginger closed his book and started to whisper to Kageyama. The ravenette realized what he was doing and tilted the book towards him.
Hinata kept reading to him, past the italics, and through the whole chapter. Kageyama relaxed eventually and they all stopped reading.
Things were packed up and they went to school where Hinata and Kageyama went to class. Kageyama, who had managed to get through his history class, wasn't feeling too bad.
Yamaguchi was in his English class and helping today. Hinata was there, of course.
"Does anyone need help with pages sixty through eighty?"
Kageyama was the only one who raised his hand. He almost slammed it back down.
Yamaguchi walked over. "You okay?"
"Fine. Sorry." Kageyama turned back to the book.
Bold. Pictures. Big words. Italics. Different fonts. He gulped. Yamaguchi noticed this. "Hey, can I get a simpler copy of this?"
The teacher shook her head and Hinata and Yamaguchi both stared at Kageyama. The younger male was trying his absolute best to write things down so that he could read everything.
"Hey, I can just read to you."
"No. No, I can do it. I can read perfectly fine."
Hinata rolled his eyes. "You're stupid, you know?"
Kageyama gulped.
He felt stupid.
Kageyama's hands became sweaty and shook a bit. He set down his pen and raised his hand. "May I use the restroom?"
"Go on."
Kageyama hurried away down the hall. He didn't get anxious when he couldn't read most of the time. Sometime after starting to cry in frustration the bathroom door opened.
Asahi stared at him for a moment before hurrying over. He bent down and hugged Kageyama, hushing him quietly. "It's okay… Everything is okay… Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh, shhhh."
Kageyama clung to him, calming down. "I'm so stupid…"
"No, you're not." Asahi wet a paper towel. "Here."
"I am stupid. I can't fucking read…"
"Kageyama, you're dyslexic. That is a LEARNING disability. You can't help it. You learn a little differently, that's all. I don't mind. No one minds at all."
Kageyama gulped. "I-I can't read or spell or write like everyone else."
"Look, I'm not good at math. At all. Suga has to help me. I have gotten better but things are a bit hard. Things aren't always meant to be easy."
Kageyama wiped away his own tears. "Okay…"
Asahi smiled. "It's alright."
Kageyama returned to class where Yamaguchi took him into the hall where he read to him and explained the questions.
During practice, Asahi talked with the other third-year students. Daichi disappeared for a bit and Tsukishima didn't fight to go block sets. Kiyoko tossed over balls that Kageyama could set and it felt nice.
Kageyama was showered in praise and Hinata's little cheek kisses. Daichi came back and handed Kageyama a few papers.
"Oh, this is…" Kageyama looked up. "Is this the dyslexic font? It's really easy to read."
Suga clapped. "It worked!'
Kageyama looked over, confused.
"I thought it might work! Some people can't read it but it worked for you and I'm gonna help you. We all are."
Kageyama nodded. He fiddled a bit with the paper. "Thank you…"
