Don't Leave (Stay)

Telling the Truth

Kageyama ran. He couldn't stop. Not now. As long as he kept on running, everything would be okay.

He ran until he no longer could. Until he had stitches and couldn't breathe. Until his lungs were on fire and he felt like he'd throw up. He only stopped because his body forced him to.

Tanaka was close behind him, barely able to catch up to the boy.

Tobio slumped against a light pole, not caring if he catches his breath or not.

He just wants it to go away, why won't it go away?

Tanaka stopped running and walked carefully towards him.

"Tobio," he says gently, once again unsure of what to do.

He sits down next to him, pulling him closer with and arm wrapped around him, sitting quietly together.

"What happened?" Tanaka asks. "Nothing." Tanakas heart sinks. "Tobio just tell me what happened?"
"Why?"
"Because I want to know."
"It's not important."
"Well it clearly is if it's upsetting you this much."

Kageyama's goes quiet for a moment, debating on whether he should actually explain or not.

"That lady-that lady was my mom." He says quietly, looking down at the ground. "That man is her boyfriend." He pauses. "She said she was sick years ago, and dropped me off at my grandfathers house. I ended up tracking her down sometime after he had died. She wasn't sick. She just lied so she wouldn't have to deal with me anymore. Her boyfriend was the one who had hit me last week." He explains, tears running down his cheeks, mixing in with sweat.

"When I knocked on the door, she just said that I was a random kid who got the wrong address, then slammed the door in my face. I got mad at her. I yelled. I threw things. I almost broke down the door. We ended up in a fight. So I ended up running off and cried. He said that if he ever sees me again, he'd make sure to kill me with his bare hands."

Tanaka doesn't know what to say or how to comfort him. "You wanna go to your house now?" Kageyama nods and wipes his face with his shirt. Tanaka gets up then helps Tobio up.

"I still want some snacks though," he says, making Tanaka chuckle. "You wanna go back to the store?" He realises what he said. "I mean, maybe they're gone now?"

"Yeah, okay." He says, and they slowly head back to the store. Tanaka peaks in. Coach is still sitting at the front desk, now looking a little worried. "They're gone if that's what you're looking for." He says.

Tanaka takes Kageyama's hand and leads him inside. He's quiet. His movements are almost robotic. It reminds Tanaka of that first night in the rain.

"Kageyama," Ukai sighs out. "Who were they?" Tanaka gently squeezes his hand, urging him to tell the truth.

"Mom and her boyfriend." he says quietly. "Is he the one who hit you?" Tobio nods.

"Several years ago she said she was sick, and left me with my grandfather. Promising to come back."
"She didn't come back, did she?" Kageyama shakes his head.

"I tracked her down. She said that I was a random kid with the wrong address. I got mad at her. I yelled. I broke things. I smashed a brick or two against the door. But that was before he had hit me. Then I ran off." He explains as Ukai sits there, wanting to hug and comfort him, feeling bad.

"Does that mean you live alone?" Kageyama nods. "What about your dad?"
"He's in prison."
"Oh, why?"
"Because busted for drugs. It doesn't matter anyway, I don't think he loves me, so it doesn't matter. He didn't want me so who cares? He wanted mom to have an abortion, she didn't. Well that's what she used to say to me. They ended up splitting up years later. None of it really matters though." He feels two sets of eyes staring at him, he shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Mom wasn't even the one who had named me either. It was a nurse. She just told her to name the child whateve she wants." He walks off over to one of the aisles before either of them says anything.

Tanaka walks after him, helping him choose some snacks.

~hope whoever's reading this is enjoying this btw