Through the Boundaries ~ Kageyama Tobio

12

It was late in the afternoon, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the school grounds. Saerin stood outside the gym, arms crossed, pretending to look at something on her phone while she waited. She wasn't sure why she was waiting—for him, or maybe for a sign that things between them weren't as confusing as they seemed.

When Kageyama finally emerged from the gym, his hair still damp from practice, he spotted her immediately. For a moment, he froze, unsure if he should approach. But something tugged at him, a need to say something—to clear the air that had been thick with tension between them for weeks.

"Saerin," Kageyama called out, his voice rougher than he intended.

She glanced up, slightly startled, but quickly composed herself. "Hey."

He walked toward her, his posture stiff, his expression guarded. "We need to talk."

Saerin nodded, sensing the weight behind his words, though she wasn't sure what to expect. They moved a few steps away from the gym entrance, standing near an old bench. The air was still, the soft sounds of the evening settling around them.

"I've been thinking about it—about you. More than I want to," Kageyama finally said, forcing the words out.

For a moment, Saerin felt her heart swell. Is this what she's been waiting for? But then, almost immediately, the weight of disappointment sank in. His words—while honest—lacked the depth she was hoping for. It felt like a concession, not a confession.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She expected more. She wanted more. But all she could do was stare at him, searching for something in his eyes, something that told her she meant as much to him as he was starting to mean to her.

*Why does it feel like he's holding back?* Saerin thought, her chest tightening.

Her voice was quiet when she finally spoke, barely above a whisper. "Why is it always so hard with you?"

Kageyama didn't answer. He looked away, his jaw tight, the vulnerability he'd shown for a split second quickly disappearing behind his usual mask. And in that moment, Saerin knew. She knew he wasn't ready to let her in, not fully. The sting of rejection—whether real or imagined—spread through her, leaving her heart aching.

She wouldn't cry in front of him. She refused.

Without waiting for a response, Saerin turned on her heel, her heart hammering in her chest. The sound of her footsteps echoed as she walked away, cutting through the air like a knife. She could feel his eyes on her back, but she kept moving, faster now, until she was out of sight.

"Saerin," Kageyama said quietly as she left, his voice catching in his throat.

*Why is she leaving? What did I do?* Kageyama asked himself internally, frustration boiling up inside him as she disappeared from view.

"Saerin—" he tried calling out again, but it was too late.

---

When Saerin finally made it home, she barely made it to her room before her emotions overwhelmed her. She let out a shaky breath, sitting on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the floor. The sting of Kageyama's coldness, his inability to give her what she wanted—what she needed—left her feeling hollow.

The internal conflict, she couldn't force him to act the way she wants him to, and so maybe it was best for the both of you to find someone more suitable.