"Steps Backwards"

The silence between them was comfortable, or at least, it had been until Kageyama pulled away from Oikawa's hug. He took a step back, his eyes still red from crying, but his expression had changed. It was no longer one of vulnerability, but of irritation. "Thanks, Oikawa," he said, his voice cool, detached. Oikawa's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing a change in Kageyama's demeanor. "Kageyama, it's okay to not be okay. I'm here for you," he said, his voice soft, but Kageyama cut him off. "I'm not a kid, Oikawa," Kageyama said, his voice rising. "I don't need you to hold my hand through this. I can handle it on my own." Oikawa's expression turned concerned. "Kageyama, that's not what I meant-" But Kageyama wasn't having it. "You always do this, Oikawa," he said, his voice bitter. "You always treat me like I'm some kind of fragile little thing that needs to be coddled. Newsflash, Oikawa: I'm not fragile. I'm not a kid." Oikawa's eyes flashed with defensiveness. "That's not what I meant, Kageyama. I'm just trying to help." "Help?" Kageyama's laugh was cold. "You call this help? You think a hug and a few soft words are going to fix everything? You have no idea what I'm going through, Oikawa. None at all." The air between them seemed to vibrate with tension as Oikawa's face darkened. "I may not have experienced everything you've gone through, Kageyama, but I do care about you. And I'm trying to help." Kageyama's eyes blazed with anger. "You care about me? You care about me like a little brother, or a pet. You don't really see me, Oikawa. You just see this broken, pathetic version of me that you think you can fix." Oikawa's face twisted in frustration. "That's not fair, Kageyama. I'm trying to-" But Kageyama wasn't listening. He turned and walked away, leaving Oikawa standing alone on the court. The silence between them was no longer comfortable, but oppressive, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. As Kageyama disappeared into the night, Oikawa's face fell, his eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and concern. He didn't know what to do, or how to reach Kageyama, but he knew he had to try. Because for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was losing Kageyama, like he was slipping away from him, and he didn't know how to stop it.