Chapter Text
Kageyama Tobio, age 20, was just returning to the hotel he was staying after his debut olympic game in rio de janairo, When he received a group call. After hesitating for a while he answered the call.
" Hello, Tobio-kun"
" Hi, tobio"
" yo king"
It was his high school team mates from karasuno. No, his friends. Even after graduating they surprisingly kept in touch. Actually, they lost contact for almost a year right after they graduated. But , they made contact with each other once again because of a certain orange head.
" Hello , there" he replied without much vigour.
" We watched your game, Tobio kun. That service at the end was so awesome. I got goosebumps just by watching it." said yachi enthusiastically.
" Congratulations Tobio, I'm proud of you." said yamaguchi, their captain in the 3rd year.
" you sucked" tsukkishima, their resident salt bag congratulated in his own way.
" what he meant is you were amazing. I saw him crossing his fingers when you were up to serve."
"shut up yamaguchi"
" sorry tsukki"
" Thanks, i guess." Kageyama replied awkwardly. If it was any other person they would definitely feel bad and hang up. But these people are his friends. Even he didn't admit it he considered tsukkishima as a friend. They put up with him for 5 years. They know him. They know he is not good with his words. So they knew what he meant.
" When are you returning back to japan, tobio kun? " Yachi asked .
" I'm not sure. Tomorrow or the day after." That's when he remembered that he didn't ask the coach about the departing date or their plans after the match. They had won the bronze medal and before the teammates could drag him to celebrate he excused himself saying that he was tired and returned to the hotel. Even though they practiced together for more than a year, the national team didn't feel like his high school team. True, there are many skilled players in the national team, but it isn't the same. None of them can compare to his-
" oh, wow king. I'm surprised you are still alive. You can't be any dumber." tsukkishima commented on his lack of common sense.
" oh my god , what if they've already left without you? You'll have to walk all the way back to japan. Oh no! you can't , you'll have to swim. Ohmygodohmygod, what if a shark ate you, wh- what if, -" Yachi short circuited.
" Calm down, hitoka. They can't leave without him. Now, deep breaths. Inhale , exhale." Yamaguchi stopped her before she die from panic.
" oh, I 'd really like to see the national team returning without the national crush. King's fans will kill the coach and swim the whole way to brazil to get you back."
" yeah , sorry for that tobio kun." yachi apologized after calming down.
" It's fine."
After that they conversed for a bit, mostly yachi and yamaguchi , before tsukkishima thought it will be a good time to ruin the mood by saying;
" seems like the king is doing just fine without his queen."
With that both yamaguchi and yachi stopped their complaining about the college. Kageyama, who was listening to their complaints bodily stiffened.
" what the hell, tsukki?" yamaguchi yelled at tsukki infuriated.
" what ? just stating the obvious." Tsukkishima tried to defend himself.
" Tsukkishima, i know you are concerned, but you shouldn't word it that way." Yachi used his full name which means tsukkishima is dead after this call.
" I'm not concerned."
" We talked about this tsukki"
They kept arguing while kageyama was thrown in to another world by tsukkishima's comment. He kept his mind busy all the time to avoid thinking about the tangerine. He knew he can't keep avoiding him, but it was not the time. He was all alone in his hotel room, there was no one to stop him before he starts to overthink and destroy himself.
Actually he wasn't supposed to be alone at the moment, he was supposed to be with him. Their plan was to stand on the top, together. But here he is all alone in his hotel room, listening to his friends' argument and letting his mind wander all around.
He could hear the sirens of the ambulance indistinctly.
" -o"
Scattered Bottles of sleeping pills.
"- bio"
A figure lying motionlessly in a bathroom. He could see his friend, not just any friend his first and the best friend , his lo-
" TOBIOOO" the loud yelling of yachi helped him to stop his train of thoughts.
" huh? y- yeah , sorry, i'm here. Just got distracted. Sorry."
" Oh, thank god. I thought you were having another episode. You okay?" Yachi asked with a concerned voice.
" Don't worry, yachi. I'm fine. I'm over that now. I can control myself." Kageyama said trying to reasuure yachi.
" okay, good. You know you can talk to us anytime right? Even tsukkishima is willing to listen.( hey, don't drag me into this) You are not alone, we are here for you. we all are. Also, tsukkishima?"
" huh? oh, yeah, sorry king, my bad." tsukkishima made a poor attempt at apologizing.
" tch, whatever, I'm going to sleep before anyone comes in and drag me to celebrate. Good ni-"
" wait, tobio. You are coming to miyagi after you returned?" yamaguchi asked cautiously.
" Not sure. I'll try. " Kageyama said fully knowing that he have a month long break after the olympics.
" okay, then , Good night, tobio. can't wait to see you."
"Good night tobio kun. Call me any time."
"Good night king, though it's morning here. Also , you can call me if only no one answered. "
" alright, then, good night" said kageyama. Before he disconnect the call,
" and thank you" he added as an afterthought.