Chapter Text
Kiyoomi was dreading her therapy appointment. When Kiyoomi turned freshly seven, her parents threw her into nonstop therapy sessions. It never helped her; it only gave her more of a reason not to speak up. It pressured her and even made her anxiety worse.
But Kiyoomi was nineteen, and she came somewhat to terms with it. Even if she tried to deny it, it helped her. But that didn't mean she liked to sit in that uncomfortable, slightly nauseating room. Her therapist wasn't too bad; it was better than the rude one she had in her childhood with cakey makeup that scared her voice away enough not to ever speak to her.
Her Aunt tried very hard to get Kiyoomi a decent therapist she would tolerate. Kiyoomi is grateful, she's just still trying to get comfortable enough not to dread it when it's time to sit and talk about what was happening in her life
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When she got to the office, it was quiet and sterile, like it always was. It smelled like coffee and a faint smell of citrus from Clorox wipes. She sat and waited in a chair until her therapist came out and invited her in. She greeted her as Kiyomi sat down in the plush couch across from her.
She had her notebook to write in like always, daring Kiyoomi to speak about something, anything.
“How are you today, Sakusa?” She asks.
Kiyoomi looks around for a moment, avoiding her gaze. “I’m alright.” She murmurs, twisting the thread from her dark jeans. Her therapist nods slowly and makes a mark on her paper. “Anything new happen recently?” She asks, not looking up at her.
The one thing Kiyoomi liked about the sessions was that her therapist was aware of how much she hated eye contact. It was uncomfortable and too much for her to handle sometimes. So, when Kiyoomi is struggling with looking her in the eye, she won't pressure her with her own.
“I have a roommate. Not my cousin, but she is partially more annoying.” She murmurs.
“Do you get along?” She asks with a raised eyebrow.
“It's… fine,” she hesitates but shrugs, “she aggravates me sometimes.” Kiyoomi murmurs with furrowed eyebrows.
“And why is that?”
Kiyoomi avoids eye contact again at her persistent questions.
“She's loud and leaves messes.” She murmurs. Her therapist huffs a laugh.
“Sounds interesting. Does she know anything about you? Your… issues at all? “
Kiyoomi stares at the painting on the wall and shakes her head.
“Ah. Well, maybe let's set some boundaries with her? Just so she's aware, in case something were to happen.”
Kiyoomi nods. “Like a panic attack?” she asks.
Her therapist nods. “Like a panic attack. Tell me more about college. You're taking your medication, correct?” She asks as she writes in her notebook.
Kiyoomi gives her attention to her hands, her perfect cuticles daring Kiyoomi to bite and pick at them. Her therapist gives her a moment before she responds. Kiyoomi then nods. Her therapist smiles. “Alright, good. She drifts off before she looks back up at Kiyoom.
“How is your cousin?” She asks with a curious tilt of her mouth. Kiyoomi watches her own knee start to bounce.
“Good. I think.” She hesitates. Her therapist nods, and her eyes linger carefully. “You think?’ She asks softly. Kiyoomi shrugs. “I mean, I just worry.” She murmurs. The sound of the pen writing on the notebook fills the silent room.
“That's alright, it's good to worry a normal amount for people close to you. What has been bothering you?” She reassures. Kiyoomi thinks it over in her head before deciding to share.
“She’s just been getting into different things recently. I just hope she is being safe and making smart decisions, is all.” She breaths out, slightly straightening her back.
Her therapist nods understandably. “Of course. College is very different, isn't it? It's good that you worry, some people dont have the ability to notice things as close as you can, and that's alright.” She says. “As long as you dont overthink and spiral about your worries, it's completely alright to be a tad bit concerned.” She nods as Kiyoomi looks up at her with her words.
It relaxed Kiyoomi a little bit. But she can't promise that she won't spiral; it just happens, and all Kiyoomi can do is try to prevent it from happening in the first place.
“How have you been socially? Have you gone to any parties or hangouts at all?” She asks while she writes. Kiyoomi fiddled with her fingers. “My cousin invited me to one. It was... interesting.” She says.
Her therapist holds her hands together in her lap, setting aside her notebook. “I assume you had been very out of your comfort zone. That's good for your social skills, so I'm glad you took the opportunity.” She says.
Kiyoomi nods stiffly. “I didn't really talk to anyone, except Miya. My roommate, I ran into.” Kiyoomi adds.
She nods in response. “It's good to step outside of your comfort zone every once in a while, talk to new people. I know it's hard for you, and that's alright, just take it slow.” She reassures with a soft smile until she glances at her clock on the wall.
“That's all of our time today. Thank you for coming in, Sakusa. You've made quite some progress.” She expressed with a giddy look as she retrieved her notebook to write more notes and sat up. Kiyoomi watched and got up herself, she pumped some hand sanitiser into her hands, and she was out the door back to class.
Kiyoomi felt a little lighter, telling her therapist what was on her mind.
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It was slightly embarrassing having to walk into class during a lecture. Kyoomi is always the first one in class, her supplies already out. Kiyoomi could already feel the eyes on her through the door. She tried to swallow her nerves as he pushed open the door.
The professor was in the middle of a lecture when Kiyoomi swiftly walked in and made her way to her seat. A couple of people turned their heads at her sudden entrance, but only for a moment before focusing back on the board.
Atsumu was surprisingly in her seat next to Kiyoomi’s. Her feet were up, and she wore a slightly less comfortable outfit than the last time Kitoomi saw her. The blonde eyed her as she sat down, her teeth between a coffee cup straw. The “coffee” she was drinking looked closer to diabetes in a cup than actual caffeine.
Kiyoomi tried to pay no mind to it as she got out her notebook to try to catch up. She felt eyes on her as she wrote. She glanced over at Atsumu, but the blonde looked away.
“What?” Kiyoomi snaps. Atsumu glances back at her while taking a sip from her straw. She smacks her lips once before whispering.
“’m surprised Ms Prickly is late. Yer’ always the first one in this room.” She teases. Kiyoomi rolls her eyes. “I had something to do.” She murmurs, glancing at her. Atsumu squints her eyes at her suspiciously.
“Really? Aw, Poor Princess Omi had ta’ miss a precious morning class,“ She mocked. Leaning closer into Kiyoomi's space, Kiyoomi's skin itches with irritation, “Can you quit with the nicknames? That's not my name!” She whisper-shouts. Atsumus's smug smirk of victory made her blood boil.
“Or what? Ya’ gonna call yer’ rich daddy to revoke my admission?” Atsumu presses.
“I dont-!” She starts before a strict voice cuts through the air.
“Girls! This is a very important project; I suggest you stop talking.” The professor snaps. Kiyoomi snaps her head back towards the front of the room as Atsumu deliberately keeps her eyes down into her almost empty cup,
Kiyoomi felt eyes on her from students, embarrassment heating her cheeks at the disruptive bickering the blonde started. “I assume, according to your disruptive talking, you girls would like to work together on this project, then?” She asks, crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow.
Atsumu scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Ya’ right.” She whispers under her breath. Kiyoomi is suddenly dreading this project. When Kiyoomi replies with a silent nod, declaring her lesson learned, the professor continues explaining the project.
Kiyoomi deflates and glares at Atsumu when the professor's attention is back at the board. “This is your fault, by the way.” She whispers. Atsumu rolls her eyes, and she unfolds her legs from the chair. “Whatever, omi. ‘M a great project partner, thank ya.’” She declares.
Kiyoomi highly doubts it.