Gazing at the Stars

Chapter 10

I wake up, and see that it is extremely bright. Like, holy shit it's bright, and the instant pounding in my head was already too much. I close my eyes tightly and throw the blanket over my head, groaning.

After a few moments of getting the pounding to stop, I glance at the clock and notice that its 12:32.

12:32!

I never sleep in this late. Ever. Last night was rough, sure, and my headache probably didn't help my waking up but damn!

I sat up, and slowly padded across my room to go downstairs. I make my way to the kitchen and grab some medicine for my head, so I can at least be somewhat productive today. I turn around and see Akiteru standing in the doorway, staring at me.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed!" He sang, and walked towards me. I glared at him and he chuckled softly. "Really, what's wrong, Kei?"

Groaning, I slam my glass of water down from taking my pills and glancing at him.

"Tadashi and I had a bad fight and now, I have to find a way to make it right. I didn't sleep well, and now my head feels like it's in a vice." I mumble, and he sighs.

"It seems like you can't catch a break. Just, talk to him? What was the fight?" Aki asks.

"Ugh, don't remind me. I don't want to go over the words again but let's just say we were both hateful and mean." I tell him, shuffling out of the kitchen and heading to get cleaned up for the day.

After getting ready, I notice that the medicine is working, and my head barely hurts anymore. I walk downstairs and notice that it's nice out, and decide to go play some volleyball. Maybe it will clear my head to be alone for a while, and I should practice after how mediocre I was this week.

"I'm headed to the park, be back later!" I announce, and take off out the door with my volleyball and my bag that has water and a towel in it.

The park has a volleyball net, and it's close to the pool that has a building for changing, showering, and such next to it that I can use a wall to practice too. It's nice.

I slide the bag off my back and onto the bench beside the volleyball net and decide to do some tosses against the wall first.

Tossing the ball towards the wall, I wait as it comes towards me to receive it. Sure, it isn't a fast ball or even hard, but it does help practice.

The ball meets my arms and flies back to the wall, bouncing off, and coming back towards me. Now I am going to try to receive and aim it to specific parts of the wall.

Volleying it back and forth, I try to not think of Tadashi.

After about 10 minutes, I get sick of this part and decide to go to the net. I just need to practice some serving. I can always practice my serves.

Standing far from the net, I just stare at it. And the ball in my hands.

Why can't I get Yamaguchi out of my head?

I spin it in my hands and stare back at the net. Alright, this is it.

I toss it into the air, and smack it just at the right time. It soars through the air...

And smacks the net.

Then smacks the ground.

"Fuck." I mumble under my breath, and drag myself forward to retrieve the ball. I make it back to serve, and toss it up into the air again, and smack it, and it flies over the net, but barely. I sigh and run a frustrated hand through my hair.

"Shit." I mumble as I walk under the net and grab the ball again, glad that no kids are around and most people are jogging on the pathway or something, ignoring me.