Rigid Crow

Fall Together, Stand Together

It's very late by the time I finally get home. I try to unlock and open the door to my house as quietly as possible, but it seems that none of my silent efforts matter in the end.
Both of my parents are sitting at the kitchen table, and they stand up immediately when they see me. "Tobio!" Okaa-san shouts, causing me to flinch a bit, but it's not like I didn't expect this. "Do you know how many times I called you?"
"I know, Okaa-san," I mumble, not meeting her eyes.
"And when someone finally picked up the phone, it wasn't even you!" she exclaims.
"It was only my senpai, Okaa-san."
"But you didn't! Did it even cross you mind to call me to ask if you could stay somewhere?"
"Okaa-san, it was the hospital! I would have called you if it had been something else! I always do! You're right, I didn't think to let you know, and I'm sorry," I hastily apologize, even though I don't feel sorry in the slightest. "You could at least try so understand," I snap.
"Oi!" Otou-san shouts at me. I'm surprised he's even here. He's almost always away on business trips, and when he's at home, he's usually sleeping. They must be really angry with me tonight. "Don't use that tone with your mother!"
"I'll remember to call you next time, I promise! But I may have just lost my best friend today. You could at least try to understand what I'm going though." I scowl at them, though I'm genuinely hurt.
     "Hinata-kun?" My mother's voice loses some of its hostility.
     "I'm surprised you even remember his name," I respond, hateful.
     "You don't mean that, do you, Tobio?" Otou-san asks, his voice growing gentler too.
     "Are you serious?!" I scream at them. Never once have I fully lashed out at my parents, but this time, this time... "Don't try to pretend you care now, it won't work on me!"
     "Tobio, settle down..." my mother warns me, but I don't let her continue.
     "Me? Settle down?" I ask, shocked. "Have you even looked in a mirror in the past few years?"
     "Tobio, you know we do care. That's why we were so worried tonight," Otou-san says, but I don't believe him.
     "Worried? Hontōni? Or were you just angry that I wasn't home at your convenience?"
     "That's not true, Tobio!" Okaa-san raises her voice again. "You know full well to shut your mouth before you get into any more trouble, young man!"
     "I hate when you get like this! Can you just try to be normal parents for once? I know you don't even care, so just stay out of my life!" I cry out, then I realize I actually am crying. I feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. Apart from today, I can't remember any time I've cried since I was very little.
     "Tobio..." Okaa-san whispers. "I'm so sorry." She steps toward me, trying to make a move of affection toward me, her son, but I don't believe the two-faced facade she's putting on.
     "Leave me alone, Okaa-san!" I cry, but I melt into her embrace anyway. I don't know why, and I still don't trust that she won't go back to being the kind of strict mother who constantly yells at her son, but for this moment, I just need this.
     "I love you, Tobi-chan." Tobi-chan? She hasn't called me that in ages... My mother holds me tighter while I cry. "I'm sorry I don't show it. I'll try harder, my musuko."
     I don't believe that she really will, people can't change just like that, but I appreciate the gesture. I finally pull away from the hug. "Oyasumi nasai, Okaa-san, Otou-san," I say, bidding them good night.
     I walk away from them and shut the bathroom door behind me. I look at my tear-streaked face in the mirror, and my pitiful excuse for a reflection gazes back at me with puffy, red eyes. "What are we going to do?" I moan softly, turning away.
     Who would've guessed that this day would go so wrong? This thought goes through my head as I sink to the floor in despair. Everything started out normal, everything was okay. But now... now... My best friend could die! He'll never wake up, and it's all... it's all my fault!
     I need to talk to someone. I need help. I can't do this! I pull out my cell phone, searching through my contacts. Someone, anyone!
     Suga... Will he even want to talk after what happened this evening? Oh, I hope he won't mind. I need him right now.
     Ring, ring! I let the call ring out until I'm answered by a voice. "Hello?" It's Suga's. He sounds exhausted.
     "I'm sorry, Sugawara-san," I hastily apologize. "I don't want to keep you awake. I just... I only..."
     "It's alright, Kageyama. I'll listen," he answers calmly and humbly. "It's alright. Get whatever you need out of your system. I'm here, okay?"
     "Okay," I respond, relief leaking through my voice. I take a deep breath, and everything comes spilling out. "How could this have happened? Everything was okay this morning! I never would have imagined... Now my best friend is never going to wake up, he's going to die! What will I do tomorrow? Or the day after that? How can I even more forward, Suga-san? He wouldn't want to see me like this, but I don't know what's wrong with me! Why can't I rid myself of this terrible feeling?" I cry.
"Because you care about him, Kageyama," Suga responds softly.
"Me?" I hiccup. "Care about that stupid..." I trail off. Could Suga be right? "I... I guess I might. Why does it matter?"
"Because he's your best friend, isn't he?" Suga asks, though it comes out sounding more like a statement. "He would appreciate knowing that you're worried about him."
"I'm not worried, Suga-san!" I exclaim. "Not about that dumb..." I sigh. "So what if I am?"
"Have you ever had a best friend before, Kageyama?"
"No... I've never really had friends in general," I admit.
"Well I'm going to let you know that Hinata is going to be one of the best ones you'll ever get. It's okay to treat his as such," Suga explains to me.
"If I do, I don't think I'll ever get over this," I confess.
"That's not true, kouhai," he tells me gently. "We're all here for each other. That's what a team does. If one of us falls, we'll pick him back up."
I hesitate for a moment. "And if we all fall?"
"Then we all get up together."