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Tobio
Tobio had trouble understanding himself. He didn't know why he woke up in tears. He didn't know why he screamed at Kindaichi for accidentally rolling onto him in the middle of the night.
He also had trouble understanding other people. He shoved his volleyball jersey into his bag. He shoved Kindaichi away from him.
The chocolate melted on Kindaichi's lips as he stared, as if incapable of responding. Tobio couldn’t fathom why Kindaichi was being so ignorant all the time.
‘Stop eating that!’
‘Why?’
‘It has a lot of sugar, and you always become lazy after you eat it.’
‘It has calcium in it!’ Kindaichi rebutted.
‘Eat healthier! I won’t pass to you until you understand!’
He really didn’t pass to him, and the other boys took his hits, and even with Kindaichi as dead weight in the team they always won. Tobio was just that talented. He was fierce and yet always sturdy. Kindaichi began to think volleyball had no emotions.
-
Tobio was exhausted, he was angry. Tobio felt some other emotion bubbling, and he sat down to steady himself.
He had chapped knees and folding nails and the teacher was screaming at him to stop trying to climb the school gates.
Behind the metal rods was his volleyball on some grass, and beyond that was his old preschool. The bench that he used to sit on waiting for his grandfather was gone, a blurry memory.
-
'Kageyama?'
The moon was hidden, and he imagined he didn't hear that voice, because he didn't want to talk, he didn't want anything to do with anyone.
'Weren't you going inside?' Tobio said.
'Kindaichi told me you made him cry at school today.'
Tobio felt a cold frost plaster itself to the inside of his chest. He spun around, 'why did he cry?'
'You said you won't talk to him anymore.'
'Yeah but why did he tell you ? You don't even care about if we're friends or not.'
'Details, my sweet little Kageyama.'
Tobio immediately hated the nickname. It sounded superficial and exactly like Tsukishima didn't care. He sounded like one of those pretentious older kids at school who told you to go to the back of the line.
'Of course I was going to check up on why my brother was so upset.'
Tobio became quiet.
'You should apologise to him.'
Tobio was bewildered. Since when had Tsukishima told him what to do? He was only Kindaichi’s brother and he was their age, not any older.
'No, why should I?'
'Because you're best friends. The two of you play volleyball and have snacks together. You don't want him to get upset from you, do you?'
Oh. It dawned on Tobio that it really was his fault. He didn't realise he made Kindaichi cry. He should be kinder to him.
'Thank you.'
Tsukishima blinked hard, taken aback by the rare thanks.
Tobio walked back into the house with purpose.
Tsukishima was wary. Kindaichi was hurt multiple times by Tobio. Tsukishima didn't think Kindaichi should forgive the brat too easily.
-
Tsukishima watched Kindaichi disappear into his classroom. Tobio stood outside as the door closed on him. There was upset clear in his face.
It is stupid , Tsukishima thought to himself without any feelings of self-righteousness. He had slightly hoped Kindaichi would forever remain the perfect angel that forgave Tobio no matter what. Clearly, Kindaichi had been hurt too much.
Kindaichi
Tobio hiccuped, he hardly ever cried. Kindaichi's heart throbbed and he gave him a hug and understood him clearly. Tobio’s voice came out in trembles, 'I miss him. So much.'
'I understand. You miss your grandfather.'
Kindaichi decided not to say what he really had come to say in the first place, because it was a bad time to say it right now, and forever really. Tobio was overflowing with grief and could barely sit upright without help. His body was like burning coal.
-
The next match Tobio started passing to Kindaichi again. Kindaichi noticed that the sets were too low. He told himself it was fine, it was just a practice match and volleyball was a way to relax and have fun. If it wasn't like that for Tobio, it should be, goodness knows he needed it.
Kindaichi decided to think positively. Tobio just needed some time to himself. Today was a new day.
He noticed the sky above him darkening and he took out his jacket to wrap himself tightly. Today was…a bit cold. His half eaten chocolate bar invited his shaky hands towards it. He dug his knees into the floor beneath him as he munched urgently on his chocolate. Chocolate was the one thing he had for comfort. Even though he had just tried so hard to only think of happy thoughts, he was being flooded with thoughts of Tobio pushing him over, not passing to him, screaming at him when he fumbled with hits.
The rain poured over him and he was drenched completely but the tears from his eyes were heavier than his clothes and he was shivering so hard he could barely move.
He only realised the rain had settled down when he heard someone’s voice.
'Are you okay?' The voice was soft-spoken and he looked concerned.
The man held an umbrella above them, no wonder Kindaichi had stopped feeling the rain. Kindaichi recognised the temporary teacher from Britain, he was the one who Tobio kept being asked to see and was like a counsellor. He heard that he was an incredibly kind teacher. Tobio would return with some chocolates whenever he came back. Tobio gave them out to whoever asked, but always warned the volleyball team to not take too many or they'll get sick.
He knew Tobio wasn't really so bad, but it was all getting too much.
'The weather here's been really odd.'
Around them the rain had slowed down to sprinkling.
'It’s a bit dangerous when it rains strongly like this. That's why you should always stick around teachers if it does get like this.'
'The rain started all of a sudden,' Kindaichi said.
The teacher nodded, 'yes. The weather is strange.'
'I felt suddenly cold all over.'
'And really sad?'
Kindaichi nodded.
The teacher looked at him like he understood him, his eyes sad and distant.
'Graveyards too,' said the teacher, 'they get dark often. That's why we need to constantly ward off the…evil spirits.'
It made a little sense to Kindaichi, even without further explanation.
Evil spirits could be anywhere at any time. That’s what Kindaichi had been taught. He understood that the dead had to be protected just as much as the living. That Tobio had to be protected and comforted, that Tobio's grandfather also needed to be protected and prayed for. Kindaichi remembered little trinkets that Tobio collected to take to his grandfather on his visits. Tobio needed someone to hold his hand, just as he'd been holding his grandfather's hands and watching over him.
'If you're ever feeling upset like this again, come see me and I'll let you talk to your heart's content. And give you a chocolate. That's the least I can do.'
He winked and Kindaichi beamed at the offer of chocolate.
It was only when the teacher had left that Kindaichi realised his clothes were completely dry.
So kind, thought Kindaichi feeling warm and he wondered where Tobio was so he could ask him if they could walk home together.