Fractured Reality

As Kageyama's eyes locked onto something across the room, Oikawa followed his gaze, but there was nothing out of the ordinary in sight. The counseling office was a small, cluttered space with a desk in the center of the room, a few chairs, and some bookshelves lined with self-help books. The fluorescent lights overhead cast an eerie glow over the space, making it feel sterile and uninviting. Kageyama's eyes, however, seemed to be fixed on something that only he could see. "Kageyama, what's wrong?" Oikawa asked, trying to keep his voice calm. Kageyama didn't respond. He just kept staring, his eyes frozen on some invisible point. Oikawa's anxiety grew as he realized that Kageyama was slipping further and further away from him. Suddenly, Kageyama's expression changed. His eyes clouded over, and his face went slack. Oikawa felt a pang of fear as he realized that Kageyama was no longer present. "Kageyama, snap out of it!" Oikawa said, shaking him gently. Kageyama's eyes flickered, and for a moment, Oikawa saw a glimmer of recognition. Then, Kageyama's face contorted, and he whispered, "Akaashi..." Oikawa's heart skipped a beat. Akaashi was Kageyama's former teammate, and the mention of his name brought back memories of their time on the volleyball team. But it was what happened next that sent a chill down Oikawa's spine. Kageyama's eyes glazed over, and he started to mutter to himself. "I used to... I used to take it... when I was stressed... it made me feel better..." Oikawa's mind reeled as he realized what Kageyama was talking about. Substances. Kageyama had a history of using them to cope with stress, and it seemed that he was tempted to go back to his old ways. "Kageyama, no!" Oikawa said, grabbing his arms. "You can't go back to that. It's not healthy." Kageyama's eyes focused on Oikawa, and for a moment, they locked gazes. Oikawa saw a glimmer of desperation in Kageyama's eyes, a sense of longing for a way out of his pain. But then, Kageyama's expression hardened, and he shook his head. "I don't know if I can do this, Oikawa," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can keep going." Oikawa felt a pang of sadness as he realized that Kageyama was at a breaking point. He didn't know what to say or do, but he knew that he had to be there for Kageyama, no matter what. "We'll get through this, Kageyama," Oikawa said, his voice firm. "Together." As he spoke, the counselor, who had been watching the exchange, stepped forward. "Let's get you help, Kageyama," she said, her voice gentle. "We can work through this together." Kageyama looked at her, his eyes searching for answers. And for a moment, Oikawa thought he saw a glimmer of hope. But then, Kageyama's expression hardened, and he turned away. The threads, Oikawa thought, remembering Kageyama's earlier words. What did they have to do with Kageyama's breakdown? And how could they help him heal? As they left the office, Oikawa couldn't shake the feeling that they were just scratching the surface of a much deeper problem. And he wondered what other secrets Kageyama was hiding.