Elevator Escapade: Tsukikage

Chapter Seventeen: In the Eye of the Storm

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The train continued to tremble as thunder rumbled ominously overhead, the once lively atmosphere among Karasuno's team replaced by a palpable tension. Kageyama's breathing came in quick, uneven bursts, his grip tightening around Tsukishima's arm as fear clawed at his chest.

"Just focus on me, Kageyama," Tsukishima urged, his voice steady despite the chaos outside. He gently cupped Kageyama's face, forcing him to meet his gaze. "You're safe. We're all here."

The storm outside grew fiercer, rain pounding against the windows like an angry drum. Kageyama's eyes darted around, and he felt the world closing in around him. Memories of feeling lost and abandoned flooded his mind, each clap of thunder echoing those past fears. The brightness of the amusement park felt like a distant dream now, replaced by shadows and uncertainty.

"Breathe," Tsukishima said, keeping his gaze locked on Kageyama. "In and out. Just like we practiced."

Beside them, Hinata looked on with wide eyes, his heart aching for Kageyama. He reached out, gently squeezing Kageyama's shoulder. "We're all together, Kageyama. We won't let anything happen to you," he promised, his voice brightening with determination.

Yamaguchi, still half-awake, watched with worry etched on his face. "Is he going to be okay?" he whispered, glancing at Hinata, who nodded but didn't take his eyes off Kageyama.

As the storm raged on, Noya stirred from his sleep, groggily raising his head from Asahi's shoulder. "What's going on?" he mumbled, blinking sleepily as he registered the tense atmosphere. Asahi looked down at Noya, concerned.

"Just a storm. Kageyama's a little shaken up," Asahi replied quietly, his voice soothing. Noya frowned, his instincts kicking in as he sat up straighter.

"Hey, Kageyama!" Noya called, his tone shifting from sleepy to concerned. "You good, man? You'll be fine, you have us here with you!"

Kageyama flinched slightly at the sound of Noya's voice, another thunderclap shaking the train. Tsukishima instinctively wrapped an arm around him, pulling him closer. "You don't have to put on a brave face right now," Tsukishima said softly, his voice carrying a rare tenderness. "Let it out if you need to."

Kageyama shook his head, but tears began to brim in his eyes. "I... I can't," he choked out, his voice trembling. "It's too much."

"Breathe," Tsukishima repeated, his grip firm but gentle. "We'll get through this together. Just breathe."

Meanwhile, Daichi and Suga started to think of ideas to make Kageyama feel better, they sensed the urgency in the air. "Maybe we should get everyone together," Daichi suggested, his voice low and steady. "It'll help him feel less isolated."

Yamaguchi nodded fervently. "Yes! We're a team, and we can support him. We can all talk about what we liked at the park to distract him!"

Tsukishima raised an eyebrow but didn't argue, glancing back down at Kageyama. "What do you say, Kageyama? Want to hear some embarrassing stories?"

The corners of Kageyama's mouth twitched, though the fear still clung tightly to him. "Like what?" he asked, his voice small.

"Like the time Hinata screamed so loud and the ticket guy asked him to ask him if Daichi was his dad," Tsukishima replied, a smirk creeping onto his face.

Hinata flushed crimson. "It's not my fault I'm short Stingyshima!" he protested, but the tension in the air broke slightly as laughter erupted around them. Kageyama let out a small laugh, the warmth of his friends slowly coaxing him out of the dark corner his mind had retreated to.

"Or the time Yamaguchi tripped in front of his crush," Tsukishima continued, smirking at his friend. "I thought he was going to die."

"You have a crush?" asked Hinata

"Ummmmmm," Yamaguchi said his cheeks flushed with red, "Don't worry about it!"

"You'll learn who it is very soon," said Tsukishima

Yamaguchi's face turned an even deeper shade of red as he groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Shut up!"

Noya chimed in, "I think I know who it is!"

"Who?" asked Hinata

"No one," Nishinoya said

As they shared stories, the noise of the storm outside began to fade into the background. Kageyama found himself drawn into the banter, the warmth of their laughter wrapping around him like a protective blanket. Slowly, he started to breathe easier, each shared moment helping him feel less alone.

But just as they began to settle, a particularly loud crash of thunder echoed through the train, causing the lights to flicker and dim. Kageyama flinched again, his body instinctively tensing up, and he pressed himself against Tsukishima, who sighed softly but tightened his hold.

"It's okay, Kageyama," Tsukishima murmured, his voice low and steady. "We're right here."

The moments of laughter faded, and the fear began to creep back in as the storm intensified. Rain lashed against the windows like a barrage, and Kageyama could feel his heart racing again.

"Hey, it's just thunder. It can't hurt you," Tsukishima assured him, though his own heart was pounding slightly faster than usual.

"Can't we just start moving again?" Kageyama asked, his voice shaky, almost pleading. "I don't want to be stuck here..."

"I know," Tsukishima replied, his tone serious. "But it's better to be safe until the storm passes. We'll be moving again soon, I promise."

As Kageyama took a deep breath, the lights flickered one more time before going completely dark, plunging the train into an eerie silence. The only sounds were the relentless rain and the thunder that seemed to shake the very foundations of their world.

In that moment of darkness, Kageyama felt a familiar sensation—fear creeping back into the corners of his mind. He began to tremble again, his breathing quickening as the storm raged on outside.

"Tsukishima..." he whispered, his voice barely audible over the storm.

"I'm right here," Tsukishima said firmly, though he felt a chill run down his spine. He tightened his grip around Kageyama, bracing for the storm outside—and the tempest brewing within.

And as the darkness enveloped them, Kageyama couldn't shake the feeling that the storm was more than just outside the train. He felt trapped, both by the storm and by his own fears, as uncertainty loomed in the silence. The world felt suspended in time, leaving everyone on edge, waiting for a break—waiting for the moment the storm would finally pass.

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