Chapter Text
From the first day he met his upperclassman named Oikawa Tooru, Tobio was obsessed. He wanted to be like him to be liked by him. But to his dismay the older boy seemed to have a burning hatred for the black-haired boy. Volleyball and his obsession with his senpai were the only things that kept his tiny heart beating. No matter how much he hated him Tobio could never lose his love for volleyball. In truth he really couldn’t handle it. Volleyball was his only escape from the madness at home. Each morning, he had to go over spilled bottles, left garbage and worst of all he constantly had to make sure he didn’t make a sound, or he would have another wound added to his collection. He learned fast not to anger his father or he would need to steal work harder to cover up the bruises. He was already running out of concealer and bandages. On top of it he was running out of excuses about what to tell his teachers if he was late for school again. It already happened too many times and they were starting to ask questions. At first, they just observed him like a piece in a museum, then they talked in those stupidly annoying voices as if he was a child (well he was), but the tipping point was when his math teacher tried to roll up his sleeve. He didn’t like people seeing, he didn’t even want anyone’s attention. With his eyes staring at the ground, as if it had personally insulted him, Tobio slowly made his way to class. Today was his first day back from the summer break, everything was different. Oikawa-Senpai and Iwaizumi-Senpai were now gone they now play at Aoba Johsai High. Before the incident he always dreamed of going there of spending all his time with his senpais, but now it was just a distant dream. With all his thinking he hadn’t even realized he stood in front of his classroom. He really needed to get a grip.
“Oi, the King can’t even make space for his lowly peasants, can he?” normally he could handle those kinds of comments, but hearing those jabs especially hurt when they came from his former friend. Kindaichi just stood there and glared till the smaller boy stepped out of the way. Then he made his way past the young boy without even sparing him a glance. Kunimi who stood behind the spiky haired boy just muttered “Finally”, while shoving his way through. Which in turn caused Tobio to land on his ass.
He knew he deserved it for how he treated his teammates. But regardless of his faults, this treatment still hurt like hell. Those bright blue eyes he had threatened to spill as many tears as his body could manage. Red marks formed on his hands as the boy clenched his fists to hold back the sobs.
He felt stares on his back and heard cruel remarks as he went to sit down on his assigned seat in between Kunimi and Kindaichi. It was just his luck. Tobio cursed god or whatever was up there. They must hate him. It felt so awkward sitting between them. He quit the volleyball team this year, so he hoped to not see them and avoid possible conflict. But fate clearly was not on his side. He wiggled in his seat and bit his lip bloody anything to simmer the uncomfortable feeling in his chest. A kick to his shin ripped him from his internal freak out. “Stop that” Kunimi spit out in a demanding tone. But he couldn’t stop his legs from trembling. Kunimi rolled his eyes clearly annoyed, though he gripped Tobio´s thigh, nonetheless. When the blue-eyed setter squeaked like kitten a rough hand was pressed to his mouth. The strong hand was accommodated with a rude “Be quiet” from Kindaichi. After a few minutes his thighs finally stopped shaking, but the warm hand stayed. No one said anything, not even a word fell between them three.
After class ended Kageyama was out of the classroom so fast it seemed like he ran. He was so fast out of there Kunimi didn’t even notice his hand didn’t have anything to hold onto anymore. Kindaichi couldn’t help chuckling at the face Kunimi made “Looks like someone is afraid.” added the middle blocker. Kunimi quickly countered with a sharp” Shut up!”.
As soon as school was over the two of them made their way towards the volleyball gym. “Bet King´s gonna be there. Always so high and mighty.” Kindaichi rambled on and on how annoying the “King of the court” will be. It got to a point Kunimi just tuned the other out. He didn’t quite like the other but he kind of enjoyed making him nervous in class he would never confess to that though, but it was the truth.
The Gym was filled with noise, with the sound of volleyballs squeaking while hitting the ground, with laughter and fighting, but no noise of the black-haired setter continuously trying to master the jumping serve Oikawa excelled in. No blue eyes glaring at them for every little mistake they made. No little brat dying for their senpais attention. No Tobio.