𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 & 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 [𝐈𝐰𝐚𝐎𝐢; 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐀𝐔]

|11|

[ O i k a w a ]

"Akaashi, can I speak to you for a minute?" I ask, walking over to the table outside where everyone is sitting. He nods cautiously, following me over to a tree that's out of earshot of the others. "Bokuto told me what happened between you two. He's literally beating himself up over what he said. He didn't mean it, not in the slightest." At this, the ravenette scowls and crosses his arms.

"He should have thought before speaking, who even does that-"

"People who are under stress do. His parents are separating, you have no idea how scary that is. I can't say I understand how he feels because my parents don't plan on splitting, but I've known people whose parents have separated and they've told me how stressful it is for them. He's scared, scared that one of them is going to take him away from here. Away from you." I say sternly.

He looks down at the grass, kicking at it gently. Tears well in his eyes as he looks back up, his chin quivering. "I was getting something ready for him this morning... I wanted to get it done before I left. I woke up at 2 in the morning to prepare everything for our one-year anniversary today. He messaged me at 5 telling me that he was stressed out, and I had the audacity to say that I was busy..."

"Everyone makes mistakes, but you should probably make up with him because he was pretty upset with himself earlier, and most likely still is. He was quiet, reticent until I asked what was wrong."

He then looks over at the table where Bokuto keeps glancing at us. "Go on, drag him somewhere secluded and get on good terms," I say, urging him forward. He nods, sheepishly holding his arm as he walks with me close behind him.

"B-Bo... Could you come with me for a sec?" The ravenette asks, Bokuto hesitantly standing up and following Akaashi someplace else.

Sitting down, everyone looks at me. "Damn, you work some magic," Suna says, chuckling. "Why don't you have any food?" He asks.

"Ah... Haven't been eating much lately." I mumble as Iwaizumi walks over with Sakusa, Mattsun, and Ushijima. "Don't know why to be completely honest. I'm just drained of energy, even if I am hungry, I don't want to eat." I add, Iwaizumi sitting beside me.

"That's bad..." Tendou says quietly.

"Whatever, it's nothing."

—

"So whose house are we going to?" I ask, walking out to the parking lot with Iwaizumi. God dammit, I want to call him Iwa so bad because of my dream, but I have to refrain from it or else he'll hate me more than he already does.

"Yours." He responds, changing direction to his car as I head for mine. Sliding in, I turn on the car and reverse out of the parking space. Driving forward, I exit the parking lot with Iwaizumi following close behind.

Once we get to my house, I punch in the numbers and wait for the gate to roll open before heading forward and parking around the driveway.

Stepping out, I grab my backpack and swing it over my shoulder. My dad and mom decided to park their cars in the garage so they were out of the way. Walking inside, my dad immediately walks over and scowls upon spotting the man behind me. "Dad, it's for the project... It's safer for me if we work here instead of his place." I say quietly.

"Fine. But I won't hesitate to sock him in the face if he lays one unwanted hand on you." He spits out, staring at Iwaizumi coldly. The spiky brown-haired male doesn't seem so affected by this.

"Also..." I mumble, pulling out my phone and showing him the messages between me and Sato. "He texted again. My friend snatched my phone and called him, threatening him... I know that just sealed my fate but I didn't tell him that."

"Okay, I'll call the police department. I want that bastard dead instead of in prison." The man states venomously, walking away after handing me back my phone. Gesturing for Iwaizumi to follow me upstairs, he does so until we reach my room. Closing the door upon entering, I sigh and drop my bag on the floor as Iwaizumi sits down on my desk chair. Shit, my leg hurts bad.

"Give me a second," I say, walking into my bathroom and opening a bottle of ibuprofen before dropping four onto the palm of my hand. Walking back into my room, I wince and grab my bottle of water, downing the pills. "Damn leg," I mumble.

"Okay, who's doing what?" He asks bluntly.

"I'll do the research, you get the PowerPoint ready if you haven't yet," I say, grabbing my laptop from my bedside table and handing it over to Iwaizumi as he sets it down on my desk.

"What are you gonna use?"

"My phone."

"Alright... Hey, who exactly is bothering you?"

"My ex-boyfriend. He's the literal definition of obsessive love disorder and psychopath." I say coldly. "He keeps messaging me, violating the restraining order. He went to court but he's out on bail, which is stupid since he... raped me." I say the last bit ever so quietly so he doesn't hear me. "It's whatever... My fate is sealed, there's no way I'm getting away from him since he knows where I live, now." I mumble, tears welling in my eyes.

He frowns, staring at me. "He hurt you?" He asks bluntly, earning a nod from me. "How did he hurt you?" So he didn't hear me say it, but why is he seeming persistent? It's not like he cares about me, that would just be stupid. Says the person who dreamt about him kissing you and wishing it was real. Oh shut the hell up mind.

"He beat me, verbally abused me, and... used my body for his own selfish desires. Forcing me into it without my consent." I say after a few moments of silence. Iwaizumi stays quiet, but I can feel the anger radiating off of his body. It's kinda nauseating. For someone as big, tall, and muscular as him, yeah, it's fucking terrifying when they're the quiet type of mad. But honestly? I'd feel safe in his arms...

He stays silent before turning in the chair and pulling up the PowerPoint. Why do I feel disappointed that he didn't respond to me?

Eh... I shouldn't care, he's mean to me.

After an hour, he decides to go on and head home. I walk down the stairs with him so my dad doesn't try anything dumb. Opening the door, I watch him leave for a moment before closing and locking the door. Backing up against it, I slide down and pull my knees up close to my chest.

"Are you alright, sweetie?" My mom asks, sitting down in front of me on the cool wood flooring.

"Yeah, I'm just scared... Atsumu sealed my fate with Sato, he snatched my phone away from me and threatened the guy to stay away from me. I know he has good intentions, but he doesn't know how much trouble he put me in. Why... W-Why does he want me?!" I cry, looking up as heavy tears slide down my cheeks.

The woman's eyes gloss over before pulling me into a hug, my dad rushing over.

"I'm going to die! And he's going to be the one who kills me!" I cry out, sobbing harshly. "I'm already suicidal, I'd rather die by my own hand than his! If he told me to go die, I'd fucking do it!" At this, my mom holds back a cry, holding me tightly. "He fucking knows where I live, there's no avoiding the inevitable!"

"Tooru... There are going to be officers taking shifts outside of the house for a few nights. I spoke with the chief again, he said that he'll send over some officers to keep a lookout." The man says quietly, kneeling down and holding both me and mom.

That doesn't stop my sobbing, fear consuming my entire being.

That won't stop him, he will find a way around it. I'm going to fucking die, and he's... He's going to laugh. First, he wanted me as his own, not wanting to share me with anyone, not even with my friends. Now he's out to kill me after doing the unthinkable to me.

I fucking hate life.

I just want to feel safe and loved for once. That's all I ask for.