Versus in Asylum
Chapter 1
He was dragged into the waiting room after the evaluation. He scanned the room and took in the blank walls, the drab furniture, and the front desk protected by glass. He focused on the small cracks in the center, and wondered if someone literally attacked it in panic. His mind played tricks on him and he began to picture fighting everyone off. Everything was so unnatural. His anxiety was getting the best of him, but his depression had him in a choke hold. Everything was off.
Kageyama sat in the chair unwilling as the minutes seemed to pass him by, studying the carpet floor and pulling the sofa threads where he sat. He couldn't believe one major episode landed him in such a place.
If only I kept my mouth shut.
But it wouldn't have change the situation, when his classmates found him standing in the boy's bathroom with an X-Acto-knife to his wrists, the facet spilling water all over the tile floor and a window pulled open for the final attempt. Blood dripped and mixed in with the water as they took in his tattered clothes and bloody shirt.
As they screamed, Kageyama stared in a daze. He collapsed to the floor as he finally lodged the knife into his chest. He then woke up in the emergency room and spent days tended by doctors and nurses who nervously chatted about the situation.
Such a tragedy that such a young boy would try to take his life. All after a single set of volleyball matches, when he thought his future would be lost forever. He suddenly felt a pain that overpowered his love for volleyball and extended to his purpose…his existence, he felt that if he couldn't win anything…then he couldn't win his life. One more loss and it would all be over.
That's when he had the meltdown and stole an X-Acto-knife from the art room.
After that, everything changed.
He was just finishing his final year of middle school, and now he would spend it in the hospital before going into high-school.
The doctors, psychiatrist and therapist advised his parents to keep him here for a while until things improved. With such a dangerous suicide attempt and absolutely no remorse, they felt he couldn't be released yet. He needed severe treatment.
When he was finally led into the hospital room he sat expressionless on the room bed. He stared at the wall, taking in the lifeless room around him. He didn't seem to care for anything or anyone. He was out of it.
That's when a boy entered the room. At first he didn't see him when the boy stopped and stared at Kageyama curiously, but only when he tilted his head and went very close to his face did he suddenly realize a human being was present. Kageyama snapped out of his daze and took in the sight before him. He analyzed the boy with spiky orange hair, brown eyes, and an eerie smile.
He backed up and suddenly remembered that other 'psychos' where in the area.
"Hey! Are you my new roomie?"
Kageyama frowned. "Get lost."
The boy scoffed. "Is that how you talk to everyone? You really are miserable."
Just then Kageyama squinted. "How would you know anything about me? Get out of my face."
The boy laughed. "I'm not going anywhere. This is my room anyway. I was here first."
Kageyama clenched his teeth and growled.
"It's not like I want to be here."
The boy cocked an eyebrow.
"I don't think any one of us does. What's your name, grumpy?"
"Shut up. I don't have to tell you anything."
"Ok, I'll call you grumpy. Or I can ask the nurses to tell me. I bet your name is all evil sounding…like you."
"Shut up! I bet your name is lame!"
The boy shook his head.
"No it isn't. It's actually the best name there is…it's Hinata Shoyou."
Kageyama snickered. "Sure, the best name in all of Japan."
Hinata frowned. "It's definitely a better name then yours I bet!"
"Sure. Still not telling you my name."
Just then a nurse came in to check up on them.
"How is everything going boys?"
Hinata scoffed. "It's ok Nurse Miyano. But this new guy…he gets on my nerves. Sure we have to be roomies?"
The nurse sighed.
"Yes, you were specifically assigned to this room. I do hope you get along…it may start out rough since you boys are always so defensive, but I'm sure if you get to know each other better it will change. Who knows…maybe you'll be the best of friends!"
Both Kageyama and Hinata looked at the nurse in total disbelief and disgust.
"Well…don't say I tried," she said sighing.
"By the way, what's his name?" Hinata asked.
"Him? Oh yes…Kagyama Tobio. Please be nice to each other…"
As she continued to speak both of them did not give her their attention. Instead they glared each other down.
After she left the boys sat in silence. Then Hinata turned to Kageyama.
"We'll get along, you'll see…"
Kageyama winced at his eerie expression.
He wondered what kind of people resided in the hospital, but he somehow knew one thing intuitively.
He was probably dealing with the worst one.