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“Hinata, boke!”
Pain exploded across Kageyama’s right side. He wrapped his arms around his mid-section, gritting his teeth to avoid screaming in pain.
“Shit, Kageyama-kun! Are you ok? I am so sorry!” Hinata screamed, frantically checking Kageyama for injuries.
“M fine,” Kageyam grit his teeth.
“You don’t look fine!”
“I’m fine, idiot!”
“That’s enough,” Daichi cut in before the argument could escalate further. “We will finish up practice there today. Are you ok, Kageyama?”
Daichi surveyed Kageyama who was still clutching his side. The setter tried to straighten himself up.
“Yes.”
An obvious lie considering Kageyama was still grimacing, holding his side in pain, but the rest of the team was willing to let the lie slide, knowing their setter was an extremely private person.
“Hinata, make sure Kageyama gets home alright.”
“Take care of yourself, alright? If the pain gets worse, please message us,” Sugawara chimed in.
Kageyama nodded minutely. The rest of the team went about packing up, while Hinata fussed around Kageyama, helping him pack his bags and anxiously pacing the clubroom while the other changed.
“You don’t need to walk me home, idiot,” Kageyama growled at Hinata, who was frantically circling the other boy.
“Captains orders, Kageyama! I must walk you home!”
A sharp stabbing pain flared up in Kageyama’s ribs, stopping any argument he wanted to make. Instead, he glowered but allowed Hinata to walk him home. He drew the line at the other boy carrying his backpack though.
It was a long, hot, painful walk to Kageyama’s house. Sweat dripped down his back, and sharp stabs of pain resonated with each step he took. When they finally arrived at, he couldn’t help the sigh of relief.
Kageyama knew his parents wouldn’t be home, on a work trip as usual, and despite his insistence he come in, Hinata was left at the front door by Kageyama.
“I am going to take some medication and go to bed, so go away idiot!”
“But what if you hurt yourself more! Daichi left me in charge of making sure you don’t die, so let me do my job!”
“He left you in charge of walking me home. Job complete, now piss off,” Kageyama slammed the door shut, ignoring Hinata’s protests as he removed his shoes.
He managed to stumble to the bathroom, grimacing as he removed his sweat soaked shirt. In the mirror, he spotted a dark bruise forming on his right side, still deepening in colour. Slowly, he raised his hand to poke at the side of the bruise, hissing a sharp breath at the pain exploding from the touch.
A hot shower helped slightly, the warm water massaging some of the tension out of his body. Soon, it came time to step out of the blissful stream though, which caused the pain to flare up so badly Kageyamas eyes began to sting with unshed tears. He clenched his jaw so hard, his head started to hurt. He rode the wave of pain pulsating in his side, waiting for it to ease. By the time he finally was able to move again, he was shaking from the pain.
He glanced at his bare chest in the mirror once again, noticing the yellow and blue splotches had grown even darker since he stepped into the shower. With that knowledge, he opened up the bathroom cupboard, and sought out the strong pain medication he hadn’t touched since his grandfather’s passing.
It didn’t take long to find the white bottle, which rattled as he screwed it open. Thankfully it was still half full. From the last time he had them, Kageyama knew they would make him a bit loopy, but the pain would certainly be eased which was all he cared about at this point.
He dry swallowed the pills, then hobbled out of the bathroom to his room. He dressed in a loose sweatshirt and boxers, before crawling under the covers of his bed. He laid still for a few moments, waiting for a fresh wave of pain to subside. When it finally eased to a bearable pain he reached behind his pillow and pulled the chibi crow plushie his sister had gifted him. It was round with fluffy fur, coloured black with an orange beak, and full of stuffing.
It doesn’t take him long to curl around the stuffed animal, lying on his left side to avoid aggravating his bruise further. He laid like that, waiting for the pain medication to take effect.
It was roughly 30 minute later, when Kageyama woke from his short nap to his phone pinging. With a heavy arm, Kageyama reached over to pick up his phone from his bedside table, only a slight pang of pain radiating from his chest. His eyes were slightly blurry from sleep, but he managed to open his phone to see a message from his older sister.
Miwa
Hey Tobio-chan, hope practice went well today! Looking forward to seeing you soon. Five more days xx
A small smile formed on Kageyama’s lips. He missed his sister; it had been so long since he’d seen her.
Kageyama
Hi Nee-Chan. Practice was good, but I bruised my ribs at the end.
Took some pain meds though. Feeling better now. Bit sleepy.
Miwa
Oh no! Are you ok? Send me a photo.
Is the bruising bad?
Kageyama frowned. He didn’t know why his sister wanted a photo of him, but he obliged, closing his messaging app to go to his phone’s camera. He snapped a photo of himself, hugging the black crow plushie to his chest, his eyes drooping with sleep, hair ruffled and messy. He debated taking another one without the plushie to save himself from any embarrassment, but he knew his sister would be happy to see him with the toy, seeing as it was her gift to him for getting into Karasuno. Plus, these days he couldn’t sleep without it, so he was happy to show her how much he appreciated her gift.
His phone pinged again with another message. Kageyama clicked on the notification, rubbing his tired eyes as he attached the picture, before pressing send.
Unbeknownst to Kageyama, while he was taking the photo for his sister, a notification had come through from the self-proclaimed Pretty Setters Squad Group chat from his rival senpai.
Oikawa
I’m just saying, I don’t know why we added bleach-boy to this chat. It’s bad enough we let Tobio-chan in.
Kageyama
[Photo attached]
Kageyama didn’t realise his mistake. Instead, he blinked as he pondered his sisters odd request for a photo before he remembered her second question. Is the bruising bad?
Realisation hit him.
Kageyama
Oh, you meant of my ribs? Sorry Nee-chan. Will send now.
Slowly, he sat up and lifted his shirt enough to show his ribs. He snapped a quick photo of the near black bruise outlined a sickening yellow and purple, and sent it off to the chat.
Kageyama
[Photo attached]
A flood of notifications sounded on his phone.
Oikawa
Ok WTF.
no, because that is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen you do
Holy shit, what is wrong with your ribs
Sugawara
!!!!!!!!!!! That is so cute, Kageyama!
OMG your ribs! You said they were fine! That looks really serious.
Atsuma
I MIGHT DIE. HOW ARE YOU THAT CUTE!
(also fuck you Oikawa)
Oh, fucking what did you do to yourself Tobio
Kenma
I’m muting this chat. Heading into a boss fight. (Kageyama, that bruise looks bad but cute picture before. Didn’t know you liked stuffed animals.)
Kageyama
I’m really sorry Nee-Chan, I’m a bit sleepy from the pain meds.
Everything is a bit blurry. Can’t read too well.
Why are you sending so many messages? I’m ok, promise. Just a bit sore.
Oikawa
Omg, he doesn’t know he is messaging the group chat
Now is our chance to embarrass him even more
Quick, think of something embarrassing to ask him
Sugawara
Oikawa, don’t be a dick.
If you take advantage of my Kohai, I will kill you. No hesitation.
Akaashi
Just caught up. Kageyama, are you ok? Do you need to go to the hospital?
Kageyama squinted at the influx of messages, trying to focus on the blur of words. As the messaged finally stopped, he managed to focus on the last line.
Kageyama
No Nee-Chan. No hospitals.
Sugawara
Kageyama, that looks really bad. I would really feel better if you went and got it checked.
What if your ribs are broken?
Atsuma
I’m with your Senpai, Tobio-chan. You should get that looked at.
want me to come over for cuddles?
Akaashi
Don’t be a creep Atsuma-kun.
Sugawara
I will kill you! Don’t touch my Kohai.
Kageyama, ignore him. I will come round and check on you. We can go to the hospital together.
Kageyama
No. Grandpa died last time we went to the hospital.
I don’t like it there.
Oikawa
Oh wow
Atsuma
that made me want to cry
Oikawa
Same
Sugawara
Shit Kageyama, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know
Still, can I come around and check on you? I really would feel better and so would Daichi.
Kageyama could feel a small pile of drool about to drip from his mouth, but he kept his jaw open, his bleary eyes focusing on his phone screen. The longer he concentrated the more confused he got. Was his sister messaging Sugawara? Or were they both messaging him at the same time? It took him a few minutes to respond, his thumbs slowly tracing above his text screen as he thought.
In the end, he managed to send one symbol.
Kageyama
?
Oikawa
omg he’s so high
he has no idea who he’s texting
Suguwara
Shit, you right
Kageyama, this is Sugawara. I am going to come over and check on you. I will be there in 15 minutes. Is that ok?
Kageyama
Suguwara-sun? I am ok. Sorry for ending practice early. I am not hurt.
I will be fine for practice tomorrow. Please do not worry.
Atsuma
omg, the baby crow just told a bold-face lie to the mama-crow.
let’s see how this goes.
Oikawa
ooooohhhhhhhhhh
Akaashi
Stop assigning heteronormative gender roles.
Atsuma
shit you right, my bad
Sugawara
Well, I know that isn’t true Kageyama. I am bringing Daichi. We will be around in 15 minutes
Kageyama
Please don’t kick me off the team
I am ok. I can still play
Sugawara
Kageyama, we would never kick you off the team.
We just want to come over and check up on you. You are not in any trouble
Can Daichi and I please come over to make sure you are ok?
Kageyama
ok
Sugawara
We are on our way.
Akaashi
I am very worried he thought you were going to kick him off the team.
Is that done often at Kurasuno?
Sugawara
WHAT!
OF COURSE NOT
That’s something he picked up thanks to Kitagawa Daiichi!
Oikawa
…
Yeah, but like why is he still freaking out about it?
It’s not like it was that big a deal, right?
plus he kind of deserved what happened
Atsuma
dude
Akaashi
Are you really that stupid?
Kenma
Even I’m not that socially inept…
Suguwara
Oikawa, I’m not doing this with you now. I have a hurt teammate to deal with. Fuck off.
Oikawa
…
Atsuma
well, that got angsty real quick…
so Tobio…
who’s your favourite senpai?
The chat went silent. Kageyama breathed evenly, his eyes shut, his cell phone slowly slipping from his hand.
Akaashi
He probably went to sleep. He did say the medication he took was making him sleepy.
Atsuma
omg do you think he is hugging the plushie?!?!
I didn’t know he could be so cute
Kenma
Honestly same
Very unexpected
Akaashi
Yes, it was very cute.
Atsuma
Does your plushie have a name, Tobio-chan?
Tobio-chan?
TOBIO-CHAN
TOBIO-
CHAN
Kageyama
Hello
Atsuma-senpai?
Atsuma
He’s awake!
hello Tobio-chan
I have some very important questions for you
Kenma
Dude, Sugawara is going to kill you.
Akaashi
Yes, please watch what you say next, Atsuma-kun.
Oikawa
… this is going to be good
Atsuma
So, what is your plushie’s name?
Oikawa
omg please tell us. That photo was too cute
Kageyama
I don’t know what you are talking about.
Atsuma
aw don’t get shy on us Tobio-kun.
we won’t tease
Oikawa
…much.
Akaashi
Both of you stop it. Kageyama is hurt. Don’t take advantage of him.
Oikawa
Fine we will ask a question everyone wants to know.
Tobio-chan, who is your favourite Senpai?
Kageyama
Sugawara-senpai.
Oikawa
Aw, what?
Sugawara
SUCK IT, BITCHES!
Thanks Kageyama!
Atsuma
What about your favourite non Karasuno senpai?
(it’s me, right?)
Oikawa
As if! I’ve been his senpai longer than you
Kenma
Both of you shut up. If you want him to answer stop confusing him with more messages.
Atsuma
true
Tobio-chan, who is your favourite non Karasuno senpai?
Kageyama
Akaashi-senpai. He is nice to me.
Kenma
Ooh, that’s unexpected.
Oikawa
WHAT THE FUCK
RUDE
Atsuma
I’m offended.
Akaashi
Really? Thanks Kageyama-kun.
Oikawa
What makes him so good huh?!
Akaashi
I am curious too. Why am I your favourite Kageyama-kun?
Atsuma
somebody is fishing for compliments…
Akaashi
Hush.
Kageyama
Akaashi-senpai is kind to me. Even if I am annoying him.
He never gets mad when I ask him for help.
Atsuma
wow, the bar is so much lower than I thought it would be
I have a chance
Oikawa
…
Akaashi
You never annoy me Kageyama-kun. Please don’t think that
Sugawara
We are nearly at your house Kageyama
Can you come let us in?
Kageyama
I left the door open.
In case Hinata followed me in
Sugawara
That’s cute
Atsuma
soo cute
The sound of his front door opening, and slamming shut caused Kageyama to jump. The movement jostled his bruise and he let out a small whimper.
“Kageyama,” a voice called from the hallway. “We are here.”
“In here,” Kageyama struggled to project his voice. It came out much quieter than he intended, barely a muffled shout.
Thankfully it didn’t take long for his senpai’s to locate him. He heard his bedroom door open but found it difficult to lift his head from his pillow. Instead, he buried his face in his crow plushie, letting his eyes fall shut as he breathed deeply.
“Oh, you weren’t kidding. That’s adorable.”
“Right?!”
The sound of a camera clicking made Kageyama frown, but his brain felt so fuzzy, he’s body too heavy, he couldn’t bring himself to react. He felt his bed dip with another’s body weight, and a hand come to rub his arm. He pried his eyes open to see Daichi sitting beside him, and Sugawara crouching down beside his bed.
“Hey, Kageyama, you doing ok?” Daichi kept his voice soft, like he was approaching a skittish animal.
Kageyama nodded once, before closing his eyes again.
“Do you mind if we check your ribs? We want to make sure nothing is broken,” Sugawara said.
Kageyama sighed but nodded again.
He felt the blanket he was wrapped up in being pulled down. He shivered at the rush of chilled air. Then he felt cold fingers slowly lift his oversized sweatshirt. He let out a whimper.
“Sorry, sorry!” Daichi stopped moving.
“If it is this bad, we should really go to the hospital.”
Kageyama whined even louder.
“I know, I know, sorry Kageyama.”
“Let’s just check the bruise out first. If it’s bad, we can call Coach Ukai and see what our options are.”
Daichi began lifting Kageyama’s sweatshirt again with careful hands. When they finally had it high enough, it revealed a dark blue and yellow bruise the size of a fist on his right side. Both Sugawara and Daichi inhaled sharply at the sight.
“That looks like it hurts,” Sugawara reached up to pat Kageyama’s head.
He grunted in response.
“I’m going to take a photo and send it to Coach Ukai,” Daichi said to Suguwara, who nodded in agreement. “I don’t think anything is broken, but just in case.”
The sound of the camera clicking sounded again. Kageyama took the time to bury his face in his plushie and drift off to sleep once again, the quiet words of his senpais lulling him to sleep.
“-yama. Kageyama, wake up.”
Kagayama hummed, slowly opening his eyes.
“Hey sleepy-head. Coach wants us to keep an eye on you overnight. Do you mind if we sleep over?”
“That’s ok,” Kageyama mumbled.
“When will your parents be home?” Daichi asked.
Kageyama shook his head.
“Working. Not home tonight.”
“Ok. Well, then do you mind if we set ourselves up with some futons?”
“Only one.”
“You only have one?” Daichi asked.
Kageyama nodded.
Daichi and Sugawara stared at each other before the vice-captain smiled.
“That’s an easy fix. Daichi and his fat ass can have the futon and I will share with Kageyama. That ok?”
“Rude,” Daichi scoffed.
Kageyama hummed.
“Great. Think you can move over a little Kageyama? We want to make sure you don’t hurt your ribs anymore so lets make sure you have plenty of room.”
With slow, lethargic movements Kageyama shuffled himself against the wall his bed was pressed up against. He dragged his plushie with him, holding it in a vice grip against his chest. Daichi let out a concerning strangled noise, which was followed by Sugawara letting out a squeak.
“Kageyama, I had no idea you could be so adorable!” Sugawara sat himself gently on the bed, before lowering himself to rest his head on the pillow above Kageyama. He pulled the covers back up to cover the younger boys’ shoulders and half the crow. “By the way, does this guy have a name?”
“Mm,” Kageyama said. “Lucky.”
Sugawara bit his lip to keep himself from gushing at the cute name.
“I might go find the futon and get something for him to eat. Also, maybe find some more pain medication in case the effects wear off during the night,” Daichi smirking as he walked out of the room.
“Sounds good. I will keep an eye on our secretly adorable Kohai.”
Sugawara ran his hand through Kageyama’s black hair, smiling when the younger boy leaned into the touch. Then his smile turned into a smirk as he used his other hand to lift his phone, and snapped a photo of the two of them, Kageyama’s stuffie in-between them.
With one hand, he unlocked the phone and opened up the setters group chat.
Atsuma
How come the Karasuno first years are so cute?
It feels illegal
Akaashi
Right? I’ve been trying to keep Bokuto from kidnapping Hinata but I might join in and kidnap Kageyama
Kenma
Haha good luck with that
Sugawara
None of you are getting my first years. Suck it
[Photo Attached]
Atsuma
HOW THE FUCK DID HE GET CUTER
HOW COME YOU GET TO CUDDLE BUT NOT ME??
FUCK YOU
Oikawa
FUCK
I’m actually dying.
Kenma
lol
I’m showing Shoyou. He’s gonna freak
Akaashi
Cute
I’m his favourite
Oikawa
You are never going to shut up about that are you?
Akaashi
Why should I?
Sugawara
Excuse you, I’m his actual favourite
And I’m the one who found out the plushie’s name so…
Kenma
Ooh, do tell
Akaashi
Please
Oikawa
TELL ME!
Atsuma
WHAT IS IT!!!
Sugawara
Hehehehehe
Fine I’ll tell but you all owe me one, understood?
He called it Lucky
Atsuma
AHHHHHHHH
Oikawa
Im dead
Kenma
Rest in peace
Akaashi
…
I’m buying him an owl for his birthday.
Atsuma
OMG IM GETTING HIM A FOX!
Kenma
Cats really are better.
Oikawa
BOOOO!