Secrets & Lies (𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑒𝑑)

-Chapter 23-

[Gym three]

[Third Person]

"We need to talk." Akaashi said with a stern tone, this made Hinata's spine shiver as he slowly turned around to face the two, "W-what about?" He stuttered, "Well... there's many things, for example, your arm." Bokuto said as his hand gestured to the decoys arm, "My arm?" Hinata said with obvious confusion, "Yeah, when everyone was in the main room and after all the mucking around such as being on Bokuto-san's shoulders, your arm was bleeding." Akaashi said.

"We wanted to check if you were okay, especially since Yaku-san couldn't have possibly done anything to make you bleed." He added, "O-oh! That, uh.. yeah, he kinda reopened a scar but I already took care of it!" Hinata said sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, "Reopened a scar? What's the scar from?" Bokuto said tilting his head slightly, "That's a good question actually! Sometimes I hurt myself without even realising and I've only just noticed the scar." Hinata said letting out a chuckle.

"Is there anything else you guys wanted to talk about?" He asked, the other two were silent or a bit until- "Hinata... is everything okay?" Bokuto said as he fixed his posture, Hinata was silent for a short moment as he remembered everything.

The long nights.

Full of pained yells and screams.

The crying, the begging.

The scattered memories that lingered on his body.

Fresh cuts and dark bruises.

And that was just his torso, but the fresh cuts on his shoulders and thighs were all by him and only him, why his shoulders? Because that's the place people would never expect it, easier to hid too but he stopped cutting his shoulders and moved down to his wrists and still worked on his thighs.

He hated every time he did it but it was his punishment for all the stupid shit he's done... like existing, well, according to his father-

"Hinata!?" He heard his name being shouted and was snapped away from his thoughts immediately, "What?" He said with a simple tone, "We asked a question but you didn't answer.." Akaashi said as his face was covered with worry and is wasn't any different with Bokuto either, "Ah, sorry, I was thinking!" Hinata said sweetly, "Thinking of a way to lie to us?" Bokuto said.

Hinata stood there confused and Akaashi gave Bokuto that 'you did not just say that' face, "Look Hinata, we know there's something wrong and we want to help! We're friends after all and you can always trust us." Bokuto said as he placed his hands on Hinata's shoulders, Akaashi walked closer to the two and stood right next to Bokuto, looking Hinata in the eyes.

[Hinata's POV]

I stood there lost for words, I knew people cared for me but I never wanted anyone to worry about me... but when both Akaashi-san and Bokuto-san looked at me, they had to most gentlest eyes I've ever encountered.

I couldn't help but break down and cry.

I guess I made them even more worried or something- great going Shouyou, your a complete idiot and just made more people worry for you which means that I just dragged them down with me and they'll probably suffer with me.

Just great.

I could fell myself being pulled away from Bokuto-san's grip and was held tightly- to which Akaashi-san had pulled me into a hug. This only led me to cry more and more as I hugged the setter back, for once, I actually felt safe like I didn't have to keep my guard up 24/7

[Third Person]

As Akaashi hugged Hinata tightly, the setter and ace looked at each other with confused and worried faces but at the same time, the two felt a pit of guilt ball up in their stomachs as they probably just made the No.10 stress more. Everything soon went quiet and only small sniffles could he heard.

"I'm sorry.." The ginger mumbled, the two looked at him confused, "Sorry for what, Hinata?" Akaashi said as he loosened his grip on Hinata now holding his face while wiping the tears, "There's no need to be sorry, especially if it's for crying." Akaashi said with a soft voice.

~~~

Holy shit- my heart just melted as I made up the scene in my head 🥺

But like...

Imagine someone died in this book :)