Elevator Escapade: Tsukikage

Chapter Seven: Chaos At Its Finest

—-

The smell of pizza wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of laughter and the clatter of game controllers as Karasuno's volleyball team settled into the living room. Kageyama watched as Hinata animatedly described his latest play while the rest of the team munched on their slices, laughter bubbling up at every ridiculous embellishment.

"—and then I jumped so high I swear I could touch the ceiling! You should've seen their faces!" Hinata exclaimed, his hands moving as if to demonstrate his height.

"More like you nearly hit the ceiling fan!" Tsukishima quipped, barely looking up from his phone, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

Kageyama chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through him. The room felt alive with energy, something he hadn't realized he craved until now. As he joined the conversation, he let his guard down a little more, feeling the weight of loneliness lift, even if just slightly.

After the pizza was devoured, Daichi suggested a movie. "How about something scary? It'll be more fun if we all freak out together!"

"Scary? Yes!" Tanaka's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I love scary movies!"

Kageyama felt a twinge of apprehension. Horror movies weren't exactly his favorite, but he shrugged it off. "Fine, whatever."

As they settled in, pillows and blankets strewn about the living room, Kageyama found himself sandwiched between Hinata and Tsukishima, the couch barely accommodating their energy. The opening credits rolled, and with the first jump scare, Hinata yelped, clutching Yamaguchi's arm.

"Ahh!" Yamaguchi screamed, but his heart raced for a different reason. It was a strange comfort to have Hinata so close, sharing this moment of vulnerability.

As the movie progressed, laughter punctuated the tension-filled scenes. Tsukishima remained relatively stoic, though Kageyama could see the flicker of a smile on his face every so often. Yamaguchi, on the other hand, was practically glued to Tsukishima's side, peeking at the screen through the crook of his arm.

"Guys, it's just a movie!" Kageyama rolled his eyes, feeling a mix of amusement and affection for his teammates. "You're acting like you've never seen one before."

"Maybe we haven't watched one with you before," Yamaguchi replied, glancing up with wide eyes.

As the movie reached its climax, the tension was palpable. Kageyama's heart raced, not just from the film but from the thrill of being surrounded by his friends. When the villain revealed itself with a shriek, Hinata jumped again, knocking into Kageyama and causing him to spill his soda.

"Great, now I'm sticky," Kageyama muttered, trying to hide his grin.

"Sorry!" Hinata said, his voice bubbling with laughter. 

When the credits rolled, the group erupted into chatter, everyone teasing each other about their reactions. Kageyama felt a sense of camaraderie he hadn't expected.

"Maybe something less scary this time?" Asahi said, stretching his arms.

"It wasn't that scary," said Noya

"Says the one who screamed so loud that they could break all the windows," Tsukishima shot back

"I AM OLDER," Noya said as he jumped on Tsukishima, "RESPECT MEEEEEEEE!"

"Fuck you," said Tsukishima

"Both of you stop," Daichi ordered

"Okay, next movie!" Suga yelled

"Yeah, let's do something fun! How about a sports movie?" Hinata suggested, his energy undiminished.

"Fine, but no more jump scares," Kageyama replied, shaking his head but smiling.

As the next movie began, Kageyama felt a gentle nudge from Tsukishima. "Hey, you know, you did good today," he said quietly, his tone serious but without the usual edge.

Kageyama blinked, surprised by the compliment. "You too. You played well."

"Yeah, but you're still sofite," Tsukishima replied, a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Shut up," Kageyama shot back, the words lacking any real bite. The ease of their banter felt refreshing, a sign of the growing bond between them.

As the night wore on, laughter and friendly jabs filled the air, and Kageyama felt more at ease. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he belonged, a part of something bigger than himself. As he glanced around at his teammates—Hinata grinning, Tanaka and Noya bickering over movie choices, Daichi keeping everyone on track—he couldn't help but think that maybe this was the family he had been searching for.

Eventually, fatigue crept in, and one by one, the team began to doze off. Kageyama stayed awake a little longer, reveling in the comfortable chaos of the moment. With his teammates around him, the emptiness of his house felt like a distant memory.

As he leaned back against the couch, he let out a sigh of contentment. "Maybe I could get used to this," he murmured to himself, a small smile forming on his lips. The night was still young, and for once, he didn't dread what awaited him in the morning. Instead, he felt a sense of hope, a whisper of possibility that echoed in the laughter surrounding him.

—-