"Fading Light"

Kageyama shuffled out of his apartment, still wearing the same worn-out t-shirt from the night before, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the telltale marks on his arms. The morning sunlight was already too much for him, and he squinted as he made his way to the grocery store down the street. He hadn't eaten in a while, and his stomach growled in protest as he pushed his cart through the sliding glass doors. As he wandered down the aisles, tossing random items into his cart, Kageyama's mind was still reeling from the previous night's visions. Akira's voice lingered in his ear, tempting him with promises of escape and oblivion. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, that the shadows themselves were waiting for him to make his next move. Just as he was about to grab a carton of eggs, a familiar voice cut through the hum of the refrigerators. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here. If it isn't the great Kageyama, brought low by his own demons." Kageyama's eyes narrowed as he turned to face Oikawa Tooru, a former rival and one of the few people he'd rather not see right now. Oikawa's smirk faltered for a moment as he took in Kageyama's disheveled appearance: the dark circles under his eyes, the pale and lanky figure, and the telltale dots on his arms. For a moment, Oikawa's expression softened, and he looked concerned. "Kageyama, what's going on? You look... rough. Are you okay?" But Kageyama wasn't having it. He didn't want to be bothered with Oikawa's questions or his pity. He hastily grabbed a few more items and began to rush towards the checkout lines, hoping to avoid a prolonged conversation. "Hey, wait up, Kageyama!" Oikawa called out, falling into step beside him. "What's going on? You seem... different. Is everything okay?" Kageyama quickened his pace, his eyes fixed on the checkout lines. "I'm fine, Oikawa. Just busy. Let me go." Oikawa's eyes lingered on Kageyama's arms, and for a moment, Kageyama thought he saw a glimmer of worry there. But he pushed the feeling aside, telling himself he was just being paranoid. As they reached the checkout line, Kageyama hastily unloaded his items onto the conveyor belt, his hands shaking slightly as he fumbled for his wallet. Oikawa hovered beside him, his eyes fixed on Kageyama's face. "Kageyama, seriously, if you're struggling with something, I'm here to help," Oikawa said, his voice low and genuine. But Kageyama just shook his head, grabbing his bags and muttering a hasty goodbye as he fled the store. He couldn't shake the feeling that Oikawa had seen something he didn't want him to see, that he'd glimpsed the darkness lurking beneath Kageyama's surface. As he emerged into the bright sunlight, Kageyama felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He leaned against the wall, his eyes closing as he struggled to catch his breath. The visions from the night before seemed to be seeping into his waking life, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was losing his grip on reality. For a moment, he stood there, letting the cool breeze wash over him. Then, with a newfound sense of determination, he pushed off from the wall and continued on his way, the bags of groceries forgotten in his haste to escape the prying eyes of his former rival.