"A Flicker of Sanity"
Part 56
Days passed, and Kageyama's behavior continued to improve, or so it seemed. He started to participate in team meetings, his eyes no longer fixed on the pen that had consumed him for so long. Oikawa breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that his friend was finally on the road to recovery. However, as they began to practice, Oikawa noticed something strange. During a drill, Kageyama was supposed to be setting the ball for his teammates, but instead, he was staring intently at a nearby bucket. Oikawa watched in confusion as Kageyama began to expertly set the ball, his movements fluid and precise, without even touching it. "Kageyama, what's going on?" Oikawa asked, approaching him during a water break. "You're not even touching the ball, and yet you're still setting it perfectly." Kageyama looked at him, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean? I'm just setting the ball like usual." Oikawa frowned, unsure of how to explain what he was seeing. "You're not using your hands, Kageyama. You're just... staring at the bucket, and the ball is moving on its own." Kageyama's expression changed, a look of wonder on his face. "Oh, I see what you mean. I didn't even realize I was doing it." As the practice continued, Oikawa noticed that Kageyama was doing it again - using objects without physically touching them. He was hitting a volleyball with a nearby chair, and later, he was even manipulating a teammate's hair with a nearby towel. It wasn't until Hinata, who was watching from the sidelines, pointed it out that Kageyama realized what was happening. "Kageyama, you're not even touching anything, and yet you're still controlling it like it's an extension of your body," Hinata said, his voice filled with a mix of amazement and concern. Kageyama's eyes widened as he looked around, taking in the various objects that were moving on their own. He looked down at his hands, and for a moment, Oikawa thought he saw a flicker of fear. "I... I don't know what's happening," Kageyama stammered. Oikawa placed a reassuring hand on Kageyama's shoulder. "It's okay, Kageyama. We'll figure it out. But for now, let's just focus on getting you back to normal." As the team continued to practice, Oikawa couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Kageyama's newfound ability was both fascinating and unsettling, and Oikawa wasn't sure what to make of it. One thing was certain, though - he would be keeping a close eye on his friend, and trying to help him navigate this strange new reality.