The King Fell and Needs Help Getting Up

Chapter 15

It was lunch and Tobio was on the roof. He went straight there after class, having been overwhelmed with his classmates' questions. He sat against the wall, breathing shakily, trying to calm down. His eyes are closed, tears falling from them but he doesn't notice. His hands are pressed against his chest to feel the pounding of his heartbeat. He could hear the voices of students below but it was a mess of incomprehensible sound. He was stuck in his head and didn't notice Tsukishima walk up and sit beside him. He didn't realize it until he was wrapped in familiar arms and having his tears wiped.
"Tsukishima..."
"What happened?" Kei asks flat out. He was worried something bad had happened.
"... Nothing... My classmates were just asking me so many questions... I got overwhelmed..."
"Are you okay?"
"... yeah..." Tobio catches his breath before continuing. "I'm alright... Just had to get away from it..."
"And that's perfectly fine. If it happens again, text me right away, I'll be here sooner. Here, drink. I have our lunches in my bag." Kei hands Tobio his favourite milk and begins looking in his bag before pulling out two bento boxes. Tobio begins drinking the milk right away before he was handed a box. "This one is yours, my mom made sure to not pack you any seafood."
"Your mom is really nice."
"You know, she would probably be fine with you referring to her as mom as well."
"... really?? You don't think it'd be weird??"
"Maybe, but she'd like it."
"That would make us brothers."
"Not necessarily..."
"Huh?? I can't be your sister so what else could it be?"
"... nevermind, just don't call us brothers. That's weird." Kei says looking at away as he shoves rice into his mouth.
"How long until I can practice again?"
"A week more at least. Whenever the doctor clears you for it."
".... but I'm fine now."
"No, you're not. It still hurts when you bend your knees."
"... okay fine... it does but I wanna play..." A pout finds its way on Tobio's lips and Kei has to put all his effort into not cooing over how cute it looks. He does, however, pet the setter's hair.
"You'll get to play soon, but don't think you'll be able to go full throttle when you get back. You'll have to slowly build it up." Kei explains as he plays with the black hair. Kageyama closes his eyes and rubs his head against the hand in his hair before looking at Kei.
"I know, I wanna tell the others what happened before I get back full swing. I don't want it to hang over me."
"Only if you feel comfortable, don't force yourself." Kei returns to eating as does Tobio, both quietly sitting in peace. When Tobio finishes, he leans against Kei and closes his eyes.
"We are supposed to study," Kei says looking at the other.
"Not today... I just got back... and it was stressful... Just let me relax with you a bit." He whines and pouts more. Kei just sighs and shakes his head, wearing a small smile.
"I swear, you're like a cat sometimes."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No, it's actually kinda cute."
"... can we kiss...?" Kageyama asks giving Kei puppy dog eyes subconsciously.
"Oh my god... fine, come here," Kei says and pats his lap, he found by experience that Kageyama likes sitting on his lap when they kissed. Kageyama smiles softly and climbs onto Kei's lap and shyly wraps his arms around the blond's neck. Kei softly shakes his head before leaning down and kissing him softly. They start off with soft, short kisses and before they can get deeper the bell rings.
"Well, we'll have to continue this at home," Kei says as he sees Tobio pout. "C'mon, you know we can't keep going. We need to get to class."
"But class is so overwhelming..."
"I know, but it'll get better. They'll forget you were gone soon enough and it'll be back to normal."
"... Fine... I guess you're right..." Kageyama stands up and packs up the dishes from lunch.  The two of them head to class. Tobio's classmates avoiding asking him any questions after he ran out of the class at the beginning of class. He stayed quiet but made sure to focus on class because living with Tsukishima meant he would definitely be going home to study and he would like to lessen his burden. He actually takes notes instead of relying on Tsukishima. He knows he can do it if he tries and Tsukishima has made sure he knows he needs to try. However, his mind does wonder every so often to the blond and how he wishes the blond could just homeschool him. He'll focus on getting better grades and getting healthy so he can play volleyball, and go to a good university to make himself. and Tsukishima proud.

~~~~~~~

After school Kageyama heads down to the club room and waits for the others to show up. Hinata arrives first and bounces over to him.
"Hey Yamayama-kun, how was school today? We didn't get to see each other."
"It was overwhelming... people kept asking questions and it's louder than I remember."
"Ah... well, I'm sorry about that! I hope things get back to normal soon! The practice game on Friday will be hard without you but, I'm sure we'll win! Don't worry okay!!"
"Mm... I won't. I have faith in the team." The door opens to reveal Tanaka and Nishinoya entering.
"Ah! Shoyō! Kageyama! It's a seniors only practice. You are good to go home today." Noya says
"Make sure to rest Kageyama! We miss having you play!" Tanaka says and Noya agrees. The two firsts years nod and get up off the floor.
"Alright senpais, we'll head out then! Good luck with practice!" Hinata says smiling and Tobio bows his head silently as he follows Hinata out. He texts Tsukishima to tell him about the practice changes.
(Me is Kageyama)
          ~Blond Dino🦖~
Me:  Practice is only the seniors.
Are you going to be long?
Should I wait?
Blond Dino🦖: Alright and I should be out soon. Wait by the gym and I'll meet you there.
Me: Alright.

Kageyama tells Hinata to go on without him and that he is to wait for Tsukishima.
"Alright, let me know if he's mean to you at any time! You can come live with me if he is."
"I think I'll be fine. Thank you though..."
"Ah! Kageyama saying thank you?! It's like you're a different person! Heh, anyway, I'm glad it seems to be going well there. Don't hesitate to ask me for help, I'll do anything I can! See you tomorrow!" He says before running off. Kageyama watches him leave a little shocked from the ginger's words. Had he changed? Of course, he noticed things weren't the same but was he really all that different. He waits on the steps, hearing the seniors practice, lost in his head until he feels a hand run through his hair. He looks up surprised but sees that it's Tsukishima and smiles softly.
"You were overthinking again weren't you?" The blond asks and Tobio shrugs before getting up.
"Let's head home. I actually listened in class today so I wanna go home to study while it's still fresh."
"You paid attention? Next, you'll tell me you took notes."
"I did thank you very much!"
"What? Really? I must be a good influence. C'mon, once we're further away from school I'll let you hold my hand." Kei teases and Tobio is blushing bright red as they leave the school grounds. They do hold hands, but it's Kei who takes Kageyama's hand into his, squeezing it softly. He avoids looking at the setter, knowing the soft smile on the other's face would probably kill him. They peacefully walk home using the back roads that are faster than the main streets and had fewer people. They didn't have to worry about people seeing them and judging them. They didn't have to worry about the possible beating they could get just from holding hands while both being boys. They could enjoy their walk home, the comfort of each other making their chests warm.