Chapter Text
BREAKING NEWS: Hokkaido Nansei Tsunami 27, September 1998
“Tsunami hit the western coast of Hokkaido and damaged most part of the Island of Okushiri. The hardest hit was the small town of Aonae with 1,600 population, where the first tsunami wave flooded the southern tip of the Island and the entire first row of houses in the harbor…”
BREAKING NEWS: Largest Tsunami in All Japan History
“The Hokkaido-Nansei-Oki earthquake on September 27 produced one of the largest tsunamis in Japan’s history. At 01:17 UTC, the magnitude 7.8 quake rocked the west coast of Hokkaido and the small offshore island of Okushiri in the Sea of Japan, generating a major tsunami. Within 2-5 minutes, extremely large waves engulf the Okishiri coastline and the central west coast of Hokkaido…”
BREAKING NEWS: Deadly Tsunami Hits Hokkaido
“For hours of search and rescue operation, there were announced 257 deaths and 567 injured survivors and 154 reported missing. These are not the official results as the search is still ongoing. The rescuers and the volunteers are doing their best to…”
It was past three in the morning when Sakusa received a phone call from Hinata telling him to turn on the TV. The caller’s voice was frantic but the signal was so bad that he wanted to just ignore him. The rain was nonstop since when they arrived from the airport. He just got back from Hokkaido because they thought team building is best if the venue was to be held in an island. At first, he was hesitant, he even declined but Atsumu was so adamant, the only way to shut his loud mouth was to agree, and so he agreed with a heavy heart. Everything happened in just 24 hours and he’s still too tired for shit. But Hinata’s anxious voice stirred something in him so he told Hinata he’ll hang up and turn on the TV.
There was nothing shown in the TV but loud white noise, so he tried various channels. He was about to call Hinata for pranking him when the channel miraculously cleared and the news was on. Sakusa still can’t catch up caused by his sleep-deprived brain. But when he heard, Tsunami, H-Hokkaido? Okishiri Island? He grew nervous, hands clammy, the cold sweats beading on his forehead.
He reached for his phone without looking away from the TV. No no no. Just, please, no. He’s eyes began to wet, biting his lower lip in attempt to stop his tremors. He called Hinata. “Tell me, tell me this isn’t what I’m thinking, is it?” he didn’t realized he’s already shouting. He can hear Hinata crying on the background.
“Sakusa-san, please calm down.” it seems like Kageyama was the one who answered the call.
‘’What?”
“I am sorry Sakusa-san but we are still waiting for the updates.”
“Waiting for what? The entire Island was already engulfed by that fucking tsunami. We left him there! I left him there!”
“Sakusa-san it was no one’s fault please. Please calm down…”
“How can I?! I left him there. I didn’t even check after him!” he was all out crying.
“He was set to take the first trip by ferry. I even re-booked his ticket. He was supposed to be here with me. I-…” How did I let this happen? He was supposed to be here. I was about to propose to him. I was about to put a ring on his finger. I want to be with him for the rest of my life.
So why? Why God? Why him? Why them? He wants to tell Kageyama these, but he can’t. He can’t talk coherently anymore. He’s crying, he just wants to go to Atsumu. He wants to see Atsumu. He wants to embrace him and keep him warm. And tell him it’s okay. And he’s here with him.
But he is not.