The ball had done something to greatly offend him. That's all they could come up with for the way Kageyama was beating the ball into the ground with each and every jump serve he'd been thrashing for the last half an hour since he'd stomped in.
Not even Nishinoya was game enough to step in front of those deadly accurate, powerful serves. He'd almost done it. Until Kageyama had burst a ball on the court, even they hadn't known that was possible, they put it down to the ball being old and in need of replacement. It was too scary to think Kageyama had done that to a healthy ball.
"Oi short stuff." Tsukishima called, sidling up to Hinata's side. Hinata had been ignored for every call he'd made to Kageyama that morning for a toss, the other much too preoccupied with busting balls.
"What do you want Tsukishima?" Hinata asked with a toneless voice, Kageyama's horrendous mood having seeped into the little spiker every time he'd been shot down.
"What's with the king today. Did him and the queen have a fight?"
Hinata was sure there was something in his question that was supposed to rile him up, but he really didn't have the energy to deal with deciphering Tsukishima's possible insults.
"I don't know what's wrong with him. Why don't you ask him yourself?" Hinata shot back. Tsukishima scoffed at him.
"In a mood like that. Are you serious? You can practically see the hostile vibes seeping out of him today. I'd rather not get one of 'those' serves to my face." As if to prove Tsukishima's point Kageyama's serve missed, rebounded off the floor and slammed into the clock, the shock wave shattering the glass.
The language that flew from his mouth as he landed stopped everyone in his tracks. They stared open mouthed at Kageyama even Tsukishima was astounded by the disgusting and extensive list of swears Kageyama was spouting like a never-ending torrent of heavy rain.
"Kageyama!" Daichi yelled after a particularly bad set, this was going far enough and coach Ukai was watching Kageyama, dumbfounded as to how such a seemingly innocent kid spat such scathing words with out a second thought, or a conscious one for that matter as Kageyama cut himself off, faced Daichi with a terrifying glare, not seeming to realize what he had been saying.
"What?" He snapped. Daichi held up his hands and forced a soothing smile.
"You need to calm down Kageyama. Why don't you tell us what's wrong?"
Kageyama clicked his tongue and threw his eyes to the floor. "I am calm, nothing's wrong."
"Kageyama-kun, don't lie to us, I can see through this teams bullshit a mile away. Now spill." Ukai cut in. Kageyama sighed and clenched his fists.
"I'm moving to America. Today's my last day here."
"What!" Hinata yelled from across the gym, he stalked up to Kageyama and dragged him down to face level by the collar of his shirt. "You can't just leave! We haven't finished yet. We haven't beat Aoba Jousai, we haven't met Nekoma in a match, we haven't gone to nationals yet and I'm not going to let you go anywhere even after we've gone to nationals!"
Kageyama shoved Hinata away from and glared down, Hinata glaring right back at him.
"I don't have a choice Hinata. I just found out today. I don't get a say in whether I stay or go." He shot back.
"You always have a choice." Hinata replied. Kageyama clicked his in disdain.
"Not always Hinata. Not when your mother decides to send off to live with man you've never met and expects you to act as if he's been there my entire life and didn't abandon us before I could even remember him." They were sure Kageyama didn't notice his switch in pronouns in amongst his rant. It certainly shed some light on his erratic personality.
"You can't go!" Hinata replied, sounding as if he were about to cry. Kageyama sighed and ran a hand through his hair multiple times in frustration.
"I don't want to go. That doesn't mean I won't be forced to which my mother has already made it quite clear that no matter what I do, I will be leaving for America one way or another. I'm sorry I can't be there for our game against Seijoh, or our Nekoma game or for nationals. We're going to win though. We're strong enough to wipe the floor with every team that tries to step in our way."
"Kageyamaaaa!" Hinata launched himself into Kageyama's arms and sobbed. Kageyama may be an asshole at the best of times but he was Hinata's best friend, first setter and nobody could ever replace him. He hated goodbyes though; they always made him tear up.
Hinata was pushed away by Kageyama who stepped back and turned away from him.
"I'll come back, I promise. As soon as I can I'll come back."
And he ran.
Out of the gym, out of their lives.
The only thing left remaining was his promise.
One they believed from the bottom of their hearts.
He'd be back.
