Moonlight

Chapter 25

Akane woke up with a gasp as she broke out in cold sweat. She looked around her to see Kiyoko sleeping soundly and upon seeing that, she decided not to trouble her anymore. Grabbing her covers, Akane wrapped herself in a loose cape-like style and walked towards the boys quarters. 

The moon was up and lit the hallway with its lonely glow. She paused to gaze at the celestial body. Once upon a time, she had a fever and was staying at her great grandfather's place for the mean time.

"The moon is in favor of you, little one. Look at how it glows, it looks like it's healing you from your fever." The old Ukai whispered as he finished giving her a tepid sponge bath.

"It's even round, gramps. It wants me to get well so I can play volleyball with you tomorrow!" Young Akane replied weakly, wiping her runny nose.

Ikkei Ukai gave her a hearty laugh and bid her goodnight before leaving. She hugged her pillow tightly as she looked up at the moon with a loving gaze.

"Thank you for taking care of me, Moon. You're always there to make me feel safe."

Those were the days where a simple cast of moonlight is enough to assure her of her safety. Now, even the sun cannot protect her from malicious shadows lurking at every corner. With a sigh, she turned away and slowly slid open a room with her school name printed on a bondpaper. She slowly tiptoed around and looked for the familiar mess of a hair her uncle has.

"Akane?" a voice jolted her as she tried to frantically adjust her eyes against the dim moonlight. She took retreating steps until her back bumped against a wall. She heard the shuffling of covers and then, footsteps.

"Please don't come near me." She said, holding out her hands in a futile attempt to stop this person she woke up.

She felt the person kneel before her, "It's me."

She opened her eyes and they adjusted enough to see the familiar color of Tsukishima's hair.

"I'm sorry..."

Tsukishima shifted to sit on the floor. He had just gotten his first taste of dreamland since Nishinoya and Hinata decided to indulge in a 3-hour conversation about volleyball. As he was slipping away to his slumber, he felt another person's presence and saw it to be Akane.

"Have you been sleep walking? Do you want me to accompany you back to your quarters?" Tsukishima asked in a hushed voice, not wanting to wake others. Everyone was simply affected with the 3-hour volleyball talk show that happened.

Silence seeped into the room as Akane did not respond. Tsukishima didn't bother to ask a follow-up question as he knows what this silence meant. He just sat across her, listening intently to her actions. 

'I'm sleepy already... Did she want to go Coach? Or is she lost?' He thought as annoyance slightly creeped into his body. He was tired as tired can be so his patience is not absolutely in its best status.

Just as he was about to give up and try to ask her again, he heard her voice crack, "Tsukki?"

It did not take much of a genius to figure she had started crying again. He only reached out a hand to her which she accepted earnestly. She crashed into his chest, keeping her sobs contained. She shook against his arms as she unloaded the events from earlier morning. 

"I'm sorry for whatever happened..." Tsukishima said, guiding her to his futon. 

"I'm sorry you cannot cry your heart out." He glided his hand down her hair. It would be everyone's first time to see her hair down if the situation were any different.

"I'm sorry I'm not Coach Ukai... I know you need him more than any of us here." He rubbed her back, causing more tears to escape her tightly closed eyes.

"I'm sorry you have to cry this quietly," Tsukishima said and tightened his arm around her. He let her soak his tee and chase away his sleepiness.

When he felt her breathing even out, he offered her a bottle of water. He always kept a bottle of water whenever he sleeps out with Yamaguchi (mainly for the reason of waking him up more effectively). Akane declined and mumbled both her thanks and apologies.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Tsukishima asked, setting down the bottle. He felt his shirt constricted as Akane fisted against it.

"It's fine not to---"

"Maiko and Leyd... came to the store..."  Akane sobbed again at the fresh batch of tears. Tsukishima's hold tightened around her as he gritted his teeth. He made sure not to give away any obvious signs of being affected. It would scare her off and he knows deep inside his heart, that's the last thing he wants.

Little did they know, Akane's crying woke up the team. They were silently listening to her as she recalled the events, their hearts twisted in pain. They all felt like failure for being not able to protect her against those jerks.

"I-I'm angry, Tsukki. But I cannot stop crying, to hell with this oversensitivity!" 

Tsukishima was taken aback at her cursing. 

"They don't deserve to talk like that about me, my mom, and my dad."

She was now pounding against his chest. Though she was weak at it, she made her point across.

"Their dirty tongues don't have the right to even mention any of us. Ever!"

Tsukishima stopped her and pulled her to him, allowing every waves of anger and heartbreak come in a never-ending storm. He could only embrace her tighter as his own eyes pricked with tears of anger.

Everyone in the room shed at least a single tear at her breakdown. They could never see or hear her like this even if they wanted to, and somehow they're glad that she chose to unburden herself of this load. They all know that by the time tomorrow comes, she will pretend with all her might to look strong and competent enough as part of the team.

"Akane..." Tsukishima consoled her after a while. The front of his shirt already taking a big blot-y mess of tear stain. "Please drink some water."

Akane shook her head stubbornly. 

"Come on short pants, you have to. You'll be dehydrated." He gently nudged the bottle into her hand.

It took a few tries before Akane gave in and took a single, big gulp. Tsukishima was about to tell her to drink more but her firm hand stopped him. 

'Well it's better than zero...' He thought as he adjusted their position. He shifted from sitting up to lying down, careful not bump Akane's head on to the floor.

"Thank you, Tsukki. I appreciate it." She mumbled against his chest. Drowsiness starts to claw back into her body, also touching Tsukishima's. 

Before he could succumb to darkness, Tsukishima spoke, "You can take your time unfolding your stories, but I'll always be here for you."

"Like the moon?" Akane replied with her eyes close, already drifting off to sleep.

Albeit confused, Tsukishima affirmed, "Like the moon, shortcake."