Not Alone Anymore

The Red Headed Monster

It had been a year since Toru graduated from high school. He managed well so far with his studies and volleyball career, which he managed to earn and study at a great university in the end. However, it would have been great if that university focused on Volleyball instead of graphic design, a subject he had for back up.

It was not as though he could not get into and pursue his volleyball career, in fact, the coaches were keen to have him on their teams and compete in the nationals, in hopes of gaining victory in Japan's name. Everything went downhill instead to Toru's chagrin.

For years, Toru had osteoarthritis with one of his knees, which is why he wore a white kneecap in high school, and over the years of intense vigorous training and workout, he finally ended up wearing out his knee, which caused degeneration of articular cartilage. He was limping for a couple of days after that, but that did not stop him from rocking up at schools gymnasium, which the coach always sent him back home and told him not to return until he recovered. That left Toru in distraught; the thought of missing a few days of training would decrease his chances in wining against Ushijima, clung to the back of his mind like a fish hook, being yanked at while it was still pierced through his flesh.
Although the coaches advice was the same that his doctor recommended, and he regretted not listening to both of them.
Now he was helpless, Ushijima seems to win at everything.

He and his best friend, Hajime, had to depart ways. Hajime wanted to do continue in his volleyball career, but felt conflicted between choosing either his career or stay with his best friend. Toru toughened up, gave him one of his genuine smiles, and said to not worry about him and follow his dreams and that he would be supporting him no matter what. He promised to come and watch his match games. He would not miss it for the world. He truly cared for his best friend that he was willing to hide his despair and anguish, and tried not to be selfish in order to maintain his solace for his best friend. Toru felt disheartened by this realization. The thought of sundering from his childhood best friend who has been there, supporting him through thick and thin was now leaving him.

After he was accepted to his course, he rocked up early in the morning at 8:30 on the dot, giving him time to explore and memorize everything until his course started at 9. He balanced on his crotches with his one good leg as he strode along the long hallways to which class he was in.

A couple of minutes later he found his room and proceeded to head in and rest up from his walk, but immediately came to a halt. Right before his very eyes, he saw a familiar red head sitting in one of the swivel chairs, feet up on the desk as he swiped with the flick of his slender finger through his phone. The red head as if sensing someone was there, kicked his chair round to come face to face, to Toru's chagrin and the never-ending stream of bad luck, with none other than Tendou Satori.

Toru felt himself internally screaming inside of his head while Satori owlishly stared with his abnormally large eyes. They both were in complete disbelief and utter shock. Satori managed to recover from shock as his face contorted into a curiosity and amusement, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, well if it isn't the infamous Grand Kin- " Before Satori could finish, Toru began immediately retreating away as quickly as possible. He tried to take long steps in sync with his crutches, however, he was still slow compared to the red head who only took a couple of seconds catch up to him.

Since the hall was long and narrow, Toru did not have enough time to escape and Satori extended a lanky long arm and planted it against the hard wall, blocking the narrow hallway without much effort. Toru could have escaped if not for his crutches that put him at a disadvantage.

"Wow there! Where are you going in such a hurry? You aren't ditching class now are you?~" Satori said wryly.

"Get out of my way!" Toru spat, glaring intensely at the red head.