"In my Shadow" - Miya Atsumu Angst (with happy end)

Chapter 5: Dead Of Night

For everyone who prefers hearing the story there is an audiobook version at the bottom of the chapter.

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The next morning they didn't talk about last night's incident. Atsumu had gone quiet and avoided them to the best of his abilities. He didn't want to see the moment in their eyes when they inevitably would have to realize he was going crazy.
He didn't want to see their concern and perhaps even pity.

Silently he got ready for the game. He doubted he would be of any use today but ultimately he had no choice but to go through with it. The same goes for his plan although it seemed silly now. He would be waiting for no one because there was no one.

But at the same time, the blonde knew that if he didn't confirm it he would be driving himself into madness.

"Atsumu-"

"I'm fine." he interrupted Kita. "I'm fine. I can play, don't worry."
It was probably the least convincing he ever sounded. Kita sighed.
"After the game. You promised we could talk after the game." The setter insisted.

At this point, he was desperately clinging to this last piece of hope no matter how horrific the implications might be. He needed nothing more than to be able to trust his own senses again.

Losing that had been a horror he previously did not understand. He deemed it impossible to be this terrified of his own potentially faulty perception of reality. Surely someone potentially wanting to kill him or worse would be more alarming objectively speaking, but here he was wishing it to be true in exchange for his sanity.

"Okay... Don't forget your phone. Just in case... so we can reach you." Kita said slowly.

He nodded and rushed back upstairs to quickly grab it from the guest room. He distinctly remembered putting it on the nightstand to charge and not taking it with him when he panicked the morning after.
However... when he entered the room now it was gone.

And suddenly a wave of calm washed over him, silencing and drowning out the doubt in his mind that he must have forgotten that he took it.

Maybe it was delusion. Maybe he wished for an external cause too desperately to think rationally but he was certain that it had to be here. He /knew/ he left it here. He /knew/ he had closed the window that day. This was one coincidence too many.

Someone had been here that night and left the window open. Someone had been here yesterday and somehow locked the door behind them. They had approached Atsumu in the dark and two days ago they had taken his phone.

Cold shivers haunted down his spine but they mixed with a thrilling satisfaction. He wasn't insane.
Someone was /making/ him feel this way. At once his plan took shape in his head as the last pieces clicked into place and he closed the door with determination.

"Sorry, I must have forgotten it at Samu's. But I'll stay close, I promise."
He gave Kita a small smile to hide the lie behind and shouldered his back. At the door, Sakusa was already waiting for him, the same concern coining his expression as the silver-haired's. Aran and Kita would meet them later to cheer them on during the game.

Step one: Win the match and pretend all is fine.

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All things considered, his lack of sleep and proper nutrition the last week, and the constant paranoia and stress, things went surprisingly well. The bit of rest he had gotten at Samu's must have really helped. That and finally having a clear vision again.

He knew what to do next.

During the game, he only had to be swapped out twice and otherwise played as best as he could, like someone who had nothing to lose, aggressive and fast. And it paid out, against all odds they could secure victory and his coach gave him a pet on his back approvingly, saying he was glad he was back.