Chapter Text
Oikawa was annoyed when he learned that Kageyama had decided to join him at Aoba Josahi (apparently his mother had wanted him to go or something he didn´t really care). He was even more annoyed when his problems with Kunimi and Kindaichi followed him to his new volleyball team. Kageyama´s overwhelming natural talent was hard enough to deal with but his constant snapping and fighting with his own team mates were unbearable.
The other third years seemed to have the same opinion since they got more and more harsh in pulling their kohais apart. Their coach did his best to build up team spirit with teamwork exercises and sitting everyone down to talk but it didn´t seem to make anything better.
It didn´t really help that Kageyama was short tempered and angry at anyone trying to help him which resulted in him being cut more and more out of the team until he trained outside just as much as inside the gym during club hours.
The only one seeming to get along with him was their other first year Hinata Shouyo who was a sunshine that nobody seemed to get down and was absolutely determined to become the next little giant (who had apparently gone to Aoba Josahi) even though he barely had any experience. He was often seen training with Kageyama outside since “at least Yama uses all his time to train me, the rest of you are busy doing your own thing”.
But today Hinata was inside the entire training session and he seemed weirdly down about it. Oikawa didn´t bother to ask. Even though he quiet liked chibi-chan, he knew asking him about his mood would bring on the topic of Kageyama and Oikawa really had enough of him.
Still, he had a bit of a bad conscience at seeing the usually cheery Hinata slouch away at the end of training. Iwazumi had left early for a doctor´s appointment so Oikawa used his freedom after everyone else had gone to practice his serve a bit more but as he went to get his water bottle he found a small note written in Iwazumi´s handwriting: “Trashykawa, you will regret it if you aren´t home with me at ten!”
Oikawa sighed and started packing up.
He was half-way home when he heard his phone ring. He sighed again and took the call without looking. “Iwa-chan, I promise I´m on my way home...”
“Oikawa-san.”
Oikawa blinked in surprise. “Tobio-chan? Why the hell are you calling me at ten at night?”
“I apologize.” Kageyama answered. His voice sounded weird - like he was choking. “But I think I´m about to make a mistake and you are the only one who can stop me.”
“What?” Oikawa felt the usual mixture of impatience and anger rise up in him that he felt while speaking with Kageyama. “What are you even talking about? What are you doing?”
“I´m standing on the bridge near Shiratorizawa.” Kageyama answered. “I just took off my shoes.”
“You´re standing at a bridge and just put...” Oikawa stopped abruptly when he realized what Kageyama was saying. In Japan it was a custom to take of your shoes before a suicide. And what other reason could Kageyama possibly have to go barefoot on a bridge? “Please don´t tell me you want to...” He couldn´t end the sentence.
“I don´t think anyone would be really bothered by it.” Kageyama sound lost. “There is nobody left to care.”
Oikawa had stopped in the middle of the street and he was lucky that so late at night there was barely any traffic in Miyagi. “What are you saying?”
“My grandfather died yesterday. He was the only one that really cared but he had gotten cancer... Really it was expected. And I scared of Kindaichi and Kunimi by being such a... king. I made my entire team hate me. Really you are better off without me.” Kageyama sounded desperate to convince Oikawa of his argument.
No. They had recently had a lesson in class about suicides since their number was rising alarmingly in Japan right now – especially in the student population. Their teacher had said it was often a cry for help. That most people committing suicide wanted to be stopped. Kageyama wasn´t trying to convince Oikawa he was hoping that Oikawa would convince him.
“Tobio, shut up!”
“What?” Kageyama sounded genuinely surprised which was at least a change from his monotone voice.
“Shut up.” Oikawa repeated. “Put your fucking shoes on and get back from the ledge of the bridge.”
“But...”
“DO IT!” Suddenly Oikawa´s legs started working again and he was running.
“Yes, Oikawa-san.” Kageyama seemed to follow his orders if the noises over the speaker where any indication.
Oikawa waited for the noises to quiet down and then continued giving orders. “Now get off that bridge, sit down at the side walk and DON´T. MOVE!”
“Are you running?” Kageyama still sounded more monotone than usual but some curiosity was shimmering through his voice.
“Do what I tell you, now!”
“Yes, Oikawa-san.” Slow steps could be heard over Kageyama´s voice and Oikawa wished he would walk faster. “Oikawa-san you really don´t have to run here...”
“Clearly I do.” Talking became harder while running but he didn´t dare to stop either. “Are you sitting down yet?”
“Why do you even care?”
“Kageyama Tobio you are an arrogant, idiotic, infuriating snotty nose of a kohai.” Oikawa felt himself choking up. “Don´t you fucking dare dying on me, you hear me!” He was halfway to the bridge. Just a bit longer!
“But why.” Now Kageyama sounded like he was crying. “I´m not worth it.”
“Don´t you dare tell me what you are worth to me. I´m going to become the better setter and beat you in a fair competition and you will not die beforehand.”
“You can save yourself the trouble you´re already the better setter.”
“It is not a fair competition if I´m legally an adult and you´re still a child. And don´t you dare give up on your potential before you even really tried.”
“But...”
“What about Hinata?” Oikawa asked following an inspiration.
“I...” Kageyama actually sounded a bit guilty this time. “He will find someone better to play with.”
“For god´s sake he isn´t sitting with you every lunch and brining you milk from home because he wants you to train with him – he´s your friend. When you weren´t at training today he was really sad and if he finds out you died he will be heartbroken.”
“I guess... it would be a shame... if we couldn´t do the freak quick in a competition...” Kageyama mumbled.
Oikawa had no idea what he was talking about but he didn´t care because he finally saw the small figure hunched down next to the bridge. A few more long strides and he was standing over Kageyama. His kohai was looking up with slight surprise on his face as if he didn´t believe that Oikawa was really coming.
A second they just starred at each other then Oikawa bent down to take hold of his right arm and pulled. Kageyama had no other choice but to stumble to his feet if he didn´t want to get dragged behind him. Oikawa didn´t even give him time to catch himself he just wordlessly pulled him away from the bridge.
“Oikawa-san, I´m sorry...”
“Shut up!” Oikawa whispered.
“But I...”
“SHUT UP!” Oikawa shouted and whipped around to press Kageyama against the next house wall. Kageyama went willingly and just stared at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Do you have any idea... how fucking worried I was?”
“I didn´t think...”
“I FUCKING NOTICED YOU DIDN`T THINK...” Oikawa saw Kageyama become blurred in front of him as tears welled up in his eyes. “You can´t even imagine how I would have felt if you... if you...” He broke off. “I can´t deal with this right now. Come on!” He went back to pulling Kageyama down the street.
A minute nobody said anything but in the end Kageyama broke the silence. “Where are we going?”
“Home to me.” Oikawa answered curtly. “I don´t trust you to be alone tonight. Actually I don´t trust you alone at all.”
“You don´t have to...”
“Don´t. Tell. Me. What. I. Have. To. Do.” Oikawa wasn´t loud but every word was pressed out with such viciousness that Kageyama didn´t argue.
A few minutes later they reached Oikawa´s flat. He fumbled with his keys and let them fall to the ground first before finally being able to open the house door and pull Kageyama up the stairs. The same would have probably happened with his flat door if Iwazumi hadn´t pulled it open before Oikawa even got the chance.
“Trashykawa, I thought I made clear...” Iwazumi seemed to notice Kageyama who was standing behind Oikawa. “What is he doing here? Is everything ok?”
Oikawa opened his mouth to answer but choked on his own voice. Then he felt the tears starting to run down his cheeks. Damnit why now? He couldn´t break down now!
But apparently he could because Iwazumi immediately reacted and pulled both of them inside their flat. Oikawa wasn´t sure how exactly it happened but suddenly he and Kageyama were sitting next to their kitchen table while Iwazumi made them tea.
Kageyama was the first to find his voice back. “What is Iwazumi-san doing here?”
“My parents had to move town surprisingly in my last year.” Oikawa answered automatically even though his thoughts barely worked. “They let me stay in my own flat since I´m already eighteen and want to finish high school here. Iwa-chan comes by to make sure I eat and sleep properly.”
“Something you sorely need.” Iwazumi added with a small smile but it dropped at seeing no reaction. “So what happened? Why is Kageyama here?”
Oikawa stuttered. “I... He...”
“I tried to kill myself.” Kageyama was looking down at his knees as if they were the most interesting thing he ever saw. “And Oikawa-san stopped me.”
“You... What?” Iwazumi looked alternatively at Oikawa and Kageyama as if he was hoping it was a joke. Nobody laughed.
Kageyama pulled his arms around himself but still refused to look up. Oikawa felt empty.
“What the hell WERE YOU THINKING?” Iwazumi got louder with every word. Oikawa wondered distantly if their neighbours would complain tomorrow about them being too loud.
Kageyama seemed to sink further into himself. “I didn´t think anyone would care. The team...”
Iwazumi just spoke over him. “Yeah, I fucking get it, the team had problems with you and that sucked. But that isn´t a reason to kill yourself.”
“There is nothing left in my life to live for...”
“Then you get FUCKING HELP!” Iwazumi got loud again. “You ask your class mates, your teachers, a counsellor, ask the coach I don´t care just don´t give up.” He took a deep breath and seemed to calm down a bit. “I guess you did talk to someone even if it was a bit late.” He looked at Oikawa who still sat there with a blank look on his face.
Shock, Oikawa´s brain helpfully supplied. He was in shock.
“Fine... okay...” Iwazumi started to walk up and down the kitchen. “So, do you have any family we have to tell that you´re here?”
“No.” Kageyama mumbled. “I haven´t seen my parents in three years and...” He sobbed.
“His grandfather just died.” Oikawa mumbled.
Iwazumi´s gaze became a bit warmer. “My condolences.” He first put a hand on Kageyama´s shoulder and when he didn´t react he pulled him into a hug.
A few seconds Kageyama didn´t react at all then he leaned into the hug and began crying in earnest. Oikawa stared at his hands. If he had been a better senpai – if he hadn´t just ignored everything concerning Kageyama - then he might have noticed his distress earlier. Before he tried...
The water for the tea began bubbling and Oikawa mechanically stood up and made a cup for himself, Kageyama and Iwazumi. He put them all on the kitchen table and sat back down again to stare blankly at his tea.
“Hey, Trashykawa.” Iwazumi raised an eyebrow at Oikawa when he looked up. “You´re supposed to drink that, not stare at it.” Then he turned back to Kageyama who had stopped crying at some point and was just leaning into his chest. “The same goes for you.”
Slowly they both started drinking the already lukewarm tea.
“Right.” Iwazumi nodded. “We will drink this tea and then we will all go to bed. I´ll sleep with Oikawa in the same bed and we have an air mattress that you can use, Kageyama. I prefer having you sleep in the same room as us anyway.”
“I won´t try again.” Kageyama mumbled. “I promise.”
“Still, I prefer it.” Iwazumi disagreed. “Tomorrow we will all take sick leave from school and talk about this after we have all calmed down.”
Oikawa nodded woodenly. Iwazumi always knew what to do.
It didn´t take long for them to ready themselves for bed. Iwazumi pumped the air mattress while Oikawa gave Kageyama a pair of his own pyjamas and a spare tooth brush. The clothes were far too big for him but you could tie the trousers up so they wouldn´t slip over Kageyama´s hips and the shirt had short sleeves that wouldn´t be in the way too much.
He didn´t know how he had ended up with Iwazumi in the bed next to him and Kageyama on the floor but he realised that this really wasn´t the worst way the day could have gone.