**Chapter 7: Fractured Reality**

Kageyama's feet carried him on autopilot, his mind still reeling from the encounter with Oikawa. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd narrowly escaped a confrontation that could have exposed his darkest secrets. As he walked, the cityscape around him began to blur and distort, like a painting smeared by a wet brush. The buildings seemed to loom over him, their windows like empty eyes staring back. He quickened his pace, his heart racing with every step. The streets seemed to twist and turn, leading him further and further away from his apartment. He had no destination in mind, no particular place to go. He just kept walking, trying to outrun the thoughts that haunted him. Eventually, his legs began to ache, and his lungs burned. He stumbled into a small park, collapsing onto a bench as he struggled to catch his breath. The cool shade enveloped him, and for a moment, he felt a fragile sense of peace. As he sat there, he noticed a young girl playing on the swings nearby. She laughed and spun, her ponytail flying behind her. For a moment, Kageyama felt a pang of nostalgia, remembering the carefree days of his childhood. But the memory was fleeting, chased away by the dark visions that still lingered in his mind. The girl noticed him staring and approached, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Mister, are you okay? You look sad." Kageyama forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "I'm fine, kiddo. Just lost in thought." The girl nodded, seeming to accept his explanation. She climbed onto the bench beside him, and they sat in silence for a moment, watching the clouds drift lazily by. "You know, mister," she said finally, "sometimes when I'm scared or sad, I like to imagine that I'm somewhere else. Somewhere happy." Kageyama turned to her, intrigued. "Where do you go?" The girl's eyes sparkled. "I go to a place with a big, fluffy beach and a sky that's always sunny. And there are puppies everywhere, playing and running." Kageyama smiled, feeling a pang of longing. "That sounds amazing." The girl looked at him seriously. "You should go there too, mister. You look like you could use a little happiness." Kageyama nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards this small stranger. For a moment, he closed his eyes and let himself imagine that he was on that beach, surrounded by puppies and sunshine. The vision was fragile, but it was enough to hold onto. As he opened his eyes, the girl was watching him with a concerned expression. "Mister, are you okay? You looked like you were really there for a second." Kageyama smiled, feeling a sense of wonder. "I think I was," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. The girl nodded, as if she understood. "Sometimes, I think we can get lost in our own little worlds. But that's okay. Sometimes, we need to escape." Kageyama's eyes lingered on the girl, and for a moment, he felt a sense of connection to this small, wise stranger. He realized that he wasn't alone in his struggles, that there were others out there who understood the pain of living in a fractured reality.