🔹🏐The Courts Calling🏐🔹- A Haikyuu Fanfiction

Training Camp (Part 8)- Talk Of the Cat and Dog

A gentle breeze brushed my skin as I stared up at the midnight sky, the only sound able to break the tense silence being the crinkling of my new chocolate bar wrapper. I just fiddled with the paper as I laid sprawled out in the steps of the dorms, my back against the cold cement ground.

After leading the team back to our room, it took a lot of comfort to steady their panicked minds. Miyu was the worst, even if she had stopped crying, it still took three of us to pry her from Mika's side. Usually Jiro made it a point to never go near Miyu, considering how protective we all were of the Pup, but tonight he seems like he didn't care about what would have happened. It just proves that he's getting worse.

I couldn't take their panic stricken looks anymore, even after they fell asleep. When I was sure everybody had passed out for the night, I snuck out of our room and to the outside, where there were no walls confining me. I needed fresh air, otherwise my mind would have tore itself apart.

I break off another piece of chocolate as more pain rose within my chest. The dragon's wrath was becoming too much to bear, and if the administration found out about what he was doing... that could mean the end of our team. Sure, we were the victims, but they would care. I don't even know what I would do if after all this time, all the work we've done, the school decides that volleyball isn't worth so much trouble. The school has many talented players, loosing us would barely even create a dent in their system.

There was a faint sound of footsteps that snapped me from my daze, and my body instantly jumps back onto its feet out of fear that Jiro decided to take another midnight walk. Before my eyes had adjusted to the light, I was greeted with the soothing voice of someone I've come to find comfort in. "Relax, wolf, it's just me."

When he comes closer, I was able to make out the bright red pants of Kuroo as he reaches the base of the steps, being considerate and giving me space as I tried to settle my racing heart. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He says, holding up his hands in hopes of relieving some pressure. "Something just told me you'd be out here again."

As I lowered myself back down onto the steps, I just heave a long sign while clutching my chocolate bar in my hand. "I just needed to get out of there for a little bit. I'm not very happy with myself right now."

"Stop beating yourself up, Akiraa, that's what he wants you to do." Those words send an unsettling shill down my spine. "Your Pup was just trying to help, there was no reason he should have gotten as mad as he did."

After he spoke, he gestured to the spot by my side, and I scoot over to give him room to sit, and he did so while making sure to leave a few inches between our bodies. I was grateful that he made the attempt to not come too close, seeing that I as still on edge from earlier. His presence by my side is all I need to feel at the moment.

When a few minute went by of listening to nothing but the sounds of nightlife around us, I see his head turn to me as his mouth opened to speak, as if the words were difficult to force from his lips. "Why didn't you guys tell us he was abusive?"

The question was harder to answer than when Akaashi made the attempt before, and I debated on wether or not to answer. Hiding it would be pointless though, so there isn't even a need to try. "I told you guys most of it when it was just me and Miyu, but I held back that part because I knew you would want to do something about it. My team is on thin ice as it is with the school, so we can't be the cause of anymore burdens. An abusive coach would mean bad publicity, and the blame would be shoved to us. We'd be done for."

I heave a long sigh. "Even if it didn't get that bad, he would still be pretty pissed that we were talking behind his back. Us third years, we can take the pain, but its when he gets really angry does he start going after the first years."