Chapter 11

Secrets

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Haikyū! related. I only own the story written here on this website and the original characters associated in the timeline.

The usual pungent scents of unidentifiable medical cleaners invaded Rei's nose the very minute the teenager step foot into the hospital. Then her sights caught the dab grey color of the the walls, that one crying kid, and those few small televisions which always remained on the same news channel. Rei couldn't help observe the sights and smells were eerily similar to the ones in the America but with the exception that everything was written in Japanese.

Otherwise the ticking analog clock hanging on a singular structural pillar, the uncomfortable chair she was impatiently waiting in, and the colorless, plain walls were all doing the same on her; never failing on throwing a bucket of ice, cold water over her already dampened spirits. It was bad enough her fast heartbeat never had a chance to rest, even after she gotten an explanation on what the hell happened:

"He fell down the stairs," her grandmother would finally share when she drove over to the hospital.

For all things Rei guessed while sitting on her house steps, it was the least menacing reason.

And the huge relief had immediately washed over her from it.

There was no thief - no physical assault on her old Pop-pop. Just a misplaced step and a tumble. Yet if it were not for the all the blood she witness, Rei would've tried for a lighthearted banter with his wife. The old woman expression was wrinkled with worrisome in the cramped chair next to the teenager. Even with the years of practice masking her emotion - despite the older Murata tried her best to keep her composure, the blonde still caught the flash of distress in the woman's eyes.

The look had Rei's Nikuman filled-stomach churn along with the hope she struggled holding onto. If her grandmother, who was usually well reserved and stoic, doubted the situation's possible outcome, what teenager wouldn't assume the worst?

Rei exasperatedly ran her hands through her bangs and hair, the tousle blonde strands out of the usual up do. However, the young girl had no time switching out of her uniform and received not so subtle stares when she first entered the building.

But that was the least of her worries.

Her grandfather was in critical condition. He was rushed in off in the emergency room shortly when both relatives arrived. The nasty gash on his head was in need of stitches, Rei learned, except that wasn't the main problem.

He stopped breathing.

Everything inside of Rei froze as they were informed about the new development by the receptionist when checking in. The workers voices had meshed together incoherently, their forms became blurry blobs, and the girls face paled when her heart plummeted in her chest.

There was no way he was going die tonight from a simple fall. He was suppose to be strong, just like he gloated earlier in the morning at breakfast! He should have gotten right back up... right?

Well, if that was the case, Rei wouldn't have been stuck in a goddamn waiting room in a goddamn hospital, the growing apprehension causing her to imagine all the terrible outcomes. How could the sixteen year old fool herself into such positivism. Life's logic always won against her hopeful emotions - never the other way around.

But maybe just once... life could go her way?

The whites of her knuckles were visibly squeezing the school bag she brought, teal eyes threatening to spill tears as Rei begged for it, begged desperately for some news about her grandfather was okay or breathing or alive-

"Murata-san."

It was not exactly directed at the blonde, but sharing the last name had old and young relatives switch their attentions onto a female doctor, breaking Rei out of her crumbling psyche.

The woman had no emotion across her slender face, just the stoic expression all doctors were well known for mastering in their profession and Rei hated that she could not find a single line that lean towards either a positive or negative update.

And in her investigation, it did not help when the woman peered back at her clipboard in hand, the overbearing silence eating at the sixteen year old inside. Rei was sure along with their expressions, or lack there of, doctors also had a terrible habit for inflicting anticipating torture on their patient's love ones by creating such suspense.

"Murata Ren-"

Pause.

"Is stable."

Cue a sudden deep breath instantly slipping from Rei's lips, one the blonde had no clue she had held onto until her lungs burned at the fresh air of oxygen her poor heart yearned for. Tears that were near falling were wiped away on the back of her sleeve and a smile, albeit weak, blessed the older Murata at her side.

"He's now resting," she informed, peeking at the watch on her wrist. "But you both have time and may see him. Would you like too?" Rei quickly nodded hard enough for them both, nearly giving herself whiplash. "Follow me then." And on her heels, the doctor spun around, the Muratas in suite when passing through the automatic doors.

As they were reaching near midnight, the hospital bustled just as much as if it was the middle of the day. People were pushed around on stretchers, nurses behind desks were typing away on their computers, and others were assisting the doctors with patients. It was way too hectic for Rei to keep up, her frazzled brain having enough trouble with the main focus at hand.

They had two flights on the elevator and a left turn around a corner before they reached the room. The doctor then pushed onward, the door swinging open and Rei running pass the woman to the occupied bed inside.

"Pop-pop..." she gave a shaky smile, her vision becoming bleary even when setting her sights on her sleeping and alive grandfather.

Over his brow was neatly dressed with gauzes and the role wrapped around his head, securing the newly patched up wound underneath it all. He had some slight discoloration near the side of his cheekbone and chin, Rei sure the bruises will look awful once settling on him. And there was more butterfly tape than the man's left self and it littered a particular area at the end of his eyebrow, the one further away from the girls view. Upon closer inspection, Rei thankfully sigh that all that tape was for the small abrasions and cuts he must have obtained from his fall.

Her glance then trailed to his busted lip and Rei visibly relaxed when seeing him breathe out of his mouth. The heart monitor that beeped from the corner of his bedside was proof enough her grandfather was still in the world of living, yet seeing the actual evidence coming from the injured man himself was what really calmed the blonde down from her previous trepidation.

He's okay. He's breathing. He is-

"Alive," Rei choked on a happy sob and brought the back of her hand to her mouth as another escaped her. "He's alive." Then watery, blue-green eyes finally broke through the dam Rei tried so hard keeping up and traces ran down her cheeks like tiny rivers, alleviating all that bottled up fear and stress the young blonde was feeling up until that very moment.

"Yes, he is alive," her grandmothers' soft voice reiterated. Rei blinked her gaze back on the old woman who stood a foot away, her arms out stretched and waiting. Regardless of the strained relationship they have between each other recently, the teenager fell into the old Murata's embrace and relished the inviting warmth which spread through her body.

The consoling hushes and gentle patting helped steady her heart and mind, the stream of tears eventually ending their solace. Rei was entirely grateful for her grandmothers support that evening. If she was stuck with only her mother in the predicament, Rei knew she be alone, lost and afraid. It had Rei appreciate the older relative, the very one who Rei remembered she was a complete brat too days ago.

The guilt ate away once again when she realized how much of an inconsiderate granddaughter she has been up to this point and quickly broke away from the hug, apologetically gazing into her grandmothers eyes.

"Obaa-chan," she mumbled, immediately looking away, afraid of the possible rejection. However, even with the fear crawling up Rei, she rambled on. "I'm s-sorry for my attitude the pass week. I knew you were just looking out for me and I still acted like a child. I should've apologize earlier and I didn't so I understand if you are angry with me or don't-"

"Rei," the Murata woman interjected, causing her to flinch down between the two of them. The named wanted to look anywhere but at her grandmother, avoiding what disapproving expression Rei could witness. Receiving any rejection would devastate the poor teenager after the episode her grandfather had with a near death experience.

However the older Murata wasn't having it and tucked a finger under Rei's chin, forcing the young granddaughter in her line of vision. But Rei snapped her eyes shut, thick round brows pinching her forehead and a deep frown placating her lips.

"Look at me, Rei."

The austere tone instinctively had her teal gaze open albeit hesitancy was there. She braced herself expectations on seeing a disappointing scowl or grim frown - anything which would've verified her presumption.

Except neither of them were found.

An overwhelming sensation of compassion glowed like fire with her grandmother's smile and Rei barely grasp she was brought into another hug until tenderness spoke right next to her ear.

"I was never angry with you," she squeezed a little more in the embrace to signify the truth in her statement. "If anything, I should be apologizing for prying."

Quickly disagreeing to it, Rei slipped outta her grandmother, shaking her head. "No! You were just doing your job as a protective grandma and I totally jumped to conclusions! You have nothing to be sorry about!"

Rei had really meant it too, waving her hands against it all. Yeah, maybe originally the teenager wanted an apology too, but thanks for her friend's advice and the passing time, her agitation cleared and Rei seen the misread intentions.

She was in the wrong - not the grandmother.

But the old woman insisted.

"Stop being stubborn, child," she then pinched her thumb and forefinger together on Rei's cheek, pulling as the old lady added, "I'm the adult yet I never confronted you. I'm just as guilty as you are."

As the blonde's arms flailed around here and there, mumbled whines escaped Rei until she was successful in prying her abused face away and rubbing the overstretched skin. Damn old people and their pinching.

"Okay, fine..." Rei grumbled in her pout, slightly embarrassed that her face was just manhandled seconds ago. Good thing they were behind closed doors.

The grandmother chuckled at it, the laugh soft and lifting the dark atmosphere the room originally cast. Rei couldn't keep back her own light laugh and the two of them settled into familiarity, as if no problems were ever there to begin with.

A half an hour ticked by and Rei was nodding off in the visitor chairs while her grandmother reminisced the times with her husband. The stories she shared were ones which talked about her grandfather in a positive light.

"He was a bit of a troublemaker," Rei could imagine that, "and would always end up with more wounds than I could have keep count. But regardless of how many times he fell, how many times he got hurt and no matter how badly-

"Ren would get back up and laugh it off," she looked at Rei whom blinked away the sleep in her eyes. The old woman smiled. "He might be taking his sweet time this round, but he hasn't changed."

Rei could imagine it too; her grandfather opening his eyes and that playfulness spreading across his face before a hearty laugh would bark out of him, maybe even a joke or two as well. But as she stated, the blonde read between her words and rubbed her face, mumbling. "But I want to be here when he wakes up, Obaa-chan."

"I understand, however your own sleep is just as important. And so is your education," Rei grimaced, side glancing her school bag on the floor next to her chair's leg. "But, given the time and what you've went through, having one day off shouldn't hurt too much."

Rei opened her mouth just as the patient's entrance door clicked open, the words 'thank you' swallowed down when both pairs of curious eyes glanced behind each other at the third visitor.

Rei's smile fallen from her lips.

"Oh, you two are still here?" Rei's mother genuinely asked before closing the exit behind her.

Rei furrowed her brows. "Yeah," she then made it obvious with her glance up at the clock, the hands reading thirty-one minutes after midnight. And you just got here, Rei narrowed her eyes at her tardy parent.

"Ah. Work held you up, Kanna?" the grandparent warmly asked. It was a wonder to Rei how the woman wasn't disappointed at her own daughter for what time she finally arrived. For all she could have known, her father could've been dead and in one of the body bags, sitting there and waiting for Kanna to ID the body.

Rei seen her mother nod, but her practiced smile was still there. "I'm sorry, I-."

"Don't say sorry to me. Your father is one who was hurt." Rei hardly held back her smirk at the mother like tone and how it caused that stupid, fake smile to disappear into a thin line. "But that can wait seeing how he isn't receptive at the time. Have you spoken to the doctor yet?"

Kanna shook her head and stepped up beside the end of the bed. Her expression almost unreadable to Rei, just like the doctors, yet there was a small hint of something in the swirling blue eyes for just a second until the mother blinked it away. Barely enough time to read it, Rei assumed she was worried like any other daughter would be with their bandaged and unconscious father lying in a hospital bed.

"The doctor will be here in a moment. Why don't you two go home."

Rei sleepy brain took a moment to process, but once it did, she grimaced at the order - not suggestion. "I want to stay."

"Rei. You have school tomorrow-"

"Kanna. It's too late for that, don't you think? She needs rest and a day away won't be too damaging."

Her mother, who normally had the stubbornness of a bull, stepped back, nodding along. Only Rei's grandma could wrangle Kanna into submission. Rei always remembered it the other way around, her mother was the one running the show, even with Rei's father when they use to be together.

"Okay. She has no school but regardless if you want to stay, Rei-" the named scrunched her nose, "-visitor hours end at one. Say your good bye and you can come back later."

But... what if Rei wanted to stay till the last possible minute though? Unlike a certain Murata in the room, every second counted for Rei. And because of the abrupt move from one country to the next, it was normal for that mindset. She lost her father, her old friends, her home, everything - and there she was with the possibility of losing another part of herself. Unfortunate events during her absence could arise overnight and she might be coming back to her grandfather's body bag rather than the smiling face of an old man.

"But-!"

Obaa-chan diligently hushed her. "No arguments around your grandfather. He hates those." Rei huffed and folded her arms. "And unfortunately she's right. The visitor hours are ending."

"Fine."

The chair she was in scraped the floor with no mercy. Rei then openly swung the door hard enough that it rung a loud bang against the stopper. She flinched herself, but with her back to them, she was sure they didn't see it and she continued her little tantrum down the hallway until she found the elevator waiting for her. Then those blasted doors didn't close quick enough as her grandmother reached them in time before Rei could take a solo ride down to the lobby.

The music did nothing to cool the teenager down. Rei felt tense, very on edge with her emotions and ready on snapping back if her Obaa-chan tried anything in reprimanding or scolding the blonde for how she just acted. She was sure to hear it from her mother tomorrow since she'll have off and nowhere to hide.

Suddenly, the old woman placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and the magic touch somehow melted her anger away, well at least some of it. "I understand your frustration, Rei. But please just bare with your mother. Now, I'm not giving an excuse for her how she acts," she pressed when Rei opened her mouth to retaliate about her mother. "I'm just want you to try understanding."

"I totally understand how she doesn't care about this family..."

Or me.

The hand on her shoulder she forgot about squeezed Rei out of her melancholy thoughts. "Your mother cares. Just shows it in a her way and I should know. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Rei scoffed. "But an hour late doesn't really scream caring family member to me."

"She manages three companies paper works, Rei. And she doesn't do it half-ass."

The sixteen year owlishly blinked at the old woman, flabbergasted. Did she really just cursed around Rei?

"You heard me right," she confirmed, huffing back and narrowing her own slate blue eyes. "Maybe you're too young to understand everything, but surely you're smart enough to know that your mother deeply loves us all."

Ding.

And just how Rei ended a past conversation, her grandmother done the same when the elevator indicated they reached the designated floor. She hobbled out, but not without looking back, something Rei never done. Biting away her pride, Rei latched her arm with the shorter and walked along. Rei had no need for another fight, especially after their recent make up. Also it shouldn't been directed at the grandmother since it was Kanna's fault for riling up the teenager.

Teal eyes peeked behind her at the hospital entrance and Rei really hoped when she would return tomorrow [or really later that day] to see her Pop-pop, he will be up and chatting away like old times sake. And despite the grudges she bared with her mother, she would want Kanna there to enjoy the little family reunion. If she had a weird way of showing her love how Obaa-chan explained, then Rei could eventually understood it.

However accepting it will be another obstacle Rei will have to approach and that was only if she'll come across that bumpy path.

"You have that club tomorrow, right?" her grandmother turned her key in the cars lock. "Make sure you let them know you're not going to be there."

Rei brows flew up in her bangs. "Oh, yeah." She was so preoccupied with her family situation that she hadn't thought about her club. Rei reached for her carrier as she rounded for the passenger seat, but she grabbed just air.

"My bag, Obaa-chan! It has my books and phone. I must have left it in the room," she informed before slipping out her side door. Her grandmother mouthed something along the lines not to worry, except Rei wanted her phone right then so she could call a sick day out before she let it slip her mind again. "I'll be quick!" Rei was already halfway across the parking lot when yelling that.

Many eyes faced her reappearance and Rei ignored them for the second time that night. She then scurried off to the elevator, lucky enough someone held the doors until she got in. A thanks was passed and the cheesy music was tuned out as Rei drawled on what to text to Kiyoko once getting it.

Prelims were not a few days away and really Rei shouldn't take a day off. Maybe she could attend class after lunch and not entirely miss out on the club activities. Will Karasuno allow that? Her mother or grandmother could write the reason as to why she will be tardy. In her American school, as long as someone's guardian made one or had a doctors note, they could attend the other half of the day if wanted. Doesn't hurt to try, right? She'll be sure to mention that to her mother when retrieving her bag.

Albeit that was if Rei even utters a word to her mom. Given what her Obaa-san explained about the mother, the teenager was trying to understand how Kanna ticked. Maybe Kanna could've thought how she handled complicated matters with Rei were the correct approaches. Being a mother didn't come with an instruction manual so the only who had the right to critique otherwise was the daughter herself, the very one who kept running away from the problem and complained about it like a whiny kid.

The solution was right there - its always been right there since the beginning.

Maybe it was time to talk it out, like she had done with the old woman moments ago. Staying silent for so long had done no help with salvaging the relationship as Rei witness herself.

Level two floor had arrived too fast and Rei slowly stepped out, nervous. She had to make herself promise not to leave that room with her bag until the conflicts were resolved between mother and daughter or the blonde knew she would run away again. As a loud gulp was swallowed, Rei steeled her conviction and pushed forward, the palm of her hand weakly pressing on the somewhat cracked doorway to her Pop-pops recovery room.

However the door had not moved another inch when an upset voice echoed inside.

"What do mean all the treatments are useless now!?"

"Murata-san. The fall from tonight recently shows his impending regression. The treatments will be all for naught by this point."

Her mother's heels paced against the flooring. "I have the money. Just tell me what else I can do to help my dad."

Regression? Treatments? What were they talking about? And why did her mother sound so desperate?

"I'm sorry, Murata-san," the heels stopped. "The research for it is so little. And we still don't know what's the cause of it to this day."

Then a dreadful silence had filled inside the room and Rei felt it oozing through the small crack doorway.

Confusion spread on the girl, thoughts spiraled, and although she was picking apart the words discussed between the women, Rei had no clue what treatments or research were needed for her grandfather. He was physically fine! Just some bruising and gashes, but no broken bones. A tough Murata - like he said.

So what the hell was her mother willing to throw her money at?

Then the unnatural softness in her mother's voice cracked the heaviness in the room and Rei was taken back at how defeated she sounded. "What should I expect from now?"

"He will be approaching stage five. Expect people in this stage to have major memory deficiencies and need some assistance to complete their daily activities," her monotone voice drawled. "Also, memory loss is more prominent at this stage and may include major relevant aspects of current lives."

There was the unnatural hesitation in her mother again. "So... you are saying he'll start to forget where he is and who he's with?"

"Unfortunately, there will be a time where he'll completely forget even his love ones. That's just how Dementia works," a pause then a swift, "I'm sorry," was given.

A sudden thud to the ground in the room knocked Rei out of her stupor and although the door was blocking her sight, the teenager heard a quiet sob on the other side. It wasn't hard to figure out it was her mother, yet the rare sounds of crying mixing in with Kanna's voice scared Rei. Her mother was one who never cried, at least not in front of Rei. But another choked sob pierced her heart and the girl did what she does best.

Run.

Rei blindly stumbled to the elevator and her shaking fingers repeatedly jammed the down button as if it would get to her sooner. Instead, it mocked her and slowly blinked from each floor, her breathes getting shorter and shorter as the lights passed.

She couldn't stand it, this suffocating feeling, and bolted away to the nearby staircase as if she could escape it. Except those stairwells dusty air actually made it more difficult to breathe for Rei and it didn't help that her eyes begun to stung, blurring her vision as she never slowed her run.

Rei just had to get away from the room, away from the agonizing elevator, away from everything. The longer she was there, the harder she had time breathing and the more lightheaded Rei got.

"-he'll start to forget where he is and who he's with?"

The words repeated in her psyche, skipping back to the same line like an old record disc. It increased the difficulty with controlling her beating heart, the flesh which throbbed her chest, and her mind that continued its race even as she lost herself in that internal storm.

But, but! Pop-pop was just fine before! The heart rate monitor beeped in tuned with his rising and falling chest. Her grandmother even said he was okay. He looked the same.

But he'll not be the same when he wakes up.

Rei pulled a miscalculated step at that thought.

Unlike her grandfather, she managed saving her head thanks the instincts that screamed at her to grasp a hold of the metal handrails. Although her knees and twisted ankle knocked against the concrete wall and flooring, Rei felt like nothing could compare to how much she was hurting inside. She should've let herself hit the ground, knock her chaotic mind to silence. It was better than sitting at the very bottom of the staircase, gasping for air and for answers.

"-where he'll completely forget his love ones."

Where he'll forget me.

The warm torrent of tears slipped from her shocked composure and Rei dazed at the ground where she could watch them fall, count each one that help form the small puddle next to her clenched fists.

And she knew all about it.

For how long? Since that first doctors appointment? Or way before that? How long was her own mother hiding the fact Pop-pop had dementia - hiding that Rei will be forgotten by her grandfather?

Dementia wasn't a fast acting disease. Rei didn't know too much about it, but in health class one boring day, they learned about quite a few diseases, the mental sickness being one of them. What she could recollect, this particular disease took its time on the host.

So. It possibly been there when she just arrived in Japan...

When was her mother going to share the bad news?

After a second trip down the stairs? Or when Rei was at his funeral?

She pounded the cold floor. Hissed a breath through clenched teeth. But the strength left her, even as she attempted to stand on shaky legs. Her throat held back something between a sob and a silent shout, her hand failing miserably on wiping away the traces of anguish.

And I was going to apologize to her, the sickening thought pinching her round eyebrows together. There was no way in hell Rei was following through with that plan now. Whatever little bit of string that was holding the relationship together with Rei and Kanna, it was clipped in half, unraveling the bitterness in the teenager.

Forget the school bag. Forget the forgiveness. Forget everything. She'll move on as if she never heard the truth.

If Kanna wanted her oblivious, Rei will not fail on playing the role.

So picking up the pieces, Rei shakily glued them back into place. She harden her resolve and pushed forward onto her feet. Her eyes were puffy and red, and she could feel it despite the mask she wore. There was no fooling the people she passed through the lobby and out to the parking lot. Especially not her grandmother. But she remained quiet all the way home, all the way to her room where she had not bother changing out of her uniform and crawled underneath the weight of her comforters and the secrets.

And somewhere behind all that anger and frustration, Rei had the smallest bit of hope in herself that maybe, just maybe, her mother will share the update tomorrow and explain why she held onto that secret for so long.

Nonetheless, all hope was washed away as it never came after the sleepless night.

Then shortly the hatred melded in Rei with the duration of the several days the girl became a shut-in.

With no interruptions, Rei had plenty of time to think, to connect the dots leading up her grandfathers incident - the late night cooking, the appointments, her grandmother and mothers made up story, even the day of his slip and fall, Pop-pops had his 'lack of motor skills' at breakfast - all the evidence was there, right in front of Rei the whole time.

Rei fist her bed sheets, knuckles turning white. How could've she been so blind?

Well, that answer was obvious. Both mothers had made sure Rei didn't get a whiff of suspicion and they worked together to keep her off the trail. They were both accomplices in this secret.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh, Obaa-chan?

Hands burrow into her uncombed hair and her lower lip was between her teeth, short of the right pressure to draw blood. Whether she'll break skin or not, it didn't matter with Rei. She was already hurting. Her family lied to her, keeping a terrible secret. What was worst was they continued like everything was fine and dandy, like a day was never out of place. It was daily torture.

It was maddening.

How could they continue on their lives the past three days like so? How could they leave Rei out of it, out of what was happening to the ill man? It was those same questions repeatedly asked by herself and Rei searched endlessly for the answer within, only ever getting farther away from the why than ever reaching closer each time the question passed in her forethought.

"Rei."

It was her mother's mumbled voice behind the locked door, breaking Rei's shaking psyche. Rei reluctantly released her abuse bottom lip, but said nothing in return.

"Dinner is waiting for you. Why don't you eat with us?"

So they finally acknowledged her existence. That didn't help their case at all and the temptation to ignore the invitation was ever high.

Yet her growing desire for the answer said otherwise.

Rei slid out of the sheets, her footsteps dragged against the cold wooden floor and her bangs hanged in her face as she unlocked her bedroom door. She pulled the entrance back, the hallway light blinding her shortly until teal eyes adjusted on her mother's form. Rei squared her sluggish shoulders back and opened her mouth, ready to yell and demand answers, but her mother had smiled - a real, genuine one at Rei, and the girl shut her lips and shifted her conflicted gaze to the floor.

That definitely caught her off guard.

Her legs felt heavy when Rei began following her mother to the kitchen on their own accord, her throat tightening each time she wanted to speak out. All she had to say was 'why' and she should get her answer.

But Rei was... scared to know the real reason why; how come they left her out of the grandfather's mental deterioration.

"Come sit down, Rei."

Rei hadn't realized she stopped at the kitchen entry way until her grandmother beckoned her into the room. Teal eyes followed right into the chair and the teenager sagged into it, not fixing her posture even when the old woman placed a plate of rice and veggies with some meat in front.

Both guardians began their meals and the quietness between the three diners had Rei uneasy. There was not the usual banter nor a utter of a word while Rei stared at her plate with indifference. She wasn't hungry enough to ignore the upsetting knot in her stomach around the two older women.

Were they going to say something? Rei didn't know whether or not they were about to speak first or if they were waiting for Rei or if they were even going to share the news or-

"Oh!" Rei snapped her gaze onto her grandmothers abruptness. "Your uniform should be done in the dryer," her grandmother continued breaking the silence and smiling way to hard. "I'll be right back."

Then the old woman scurried out of there quickly and Rei oddly sent a look after her, unaware the silent exchange the older women had when the sixteen year old was watching her meal.

Kanna shifted in her seat and straightened her back, a small adjustment that would've been easily ignored by Rei on a regular day, but her mother's slate blue gaze had locked onto Rei's turquoise ones.

Kanna had not spare a second before speaking away the hush air.

"I understand you, Rei."

Rei blinked. "Understand.. me?"

Her mother nodded, a hand reaching for Rei's tired one and it attempted in reassuring the blonde by stroking her palm. "I see why you shut yourself away.

"You two were close, closer than I thought you both would ever get in a short time. And I'm glad for it." Her grip tightens on the daughter slightly along with a guilty look in Kanna. "I... apologize that it took me some time to approach you. I thought you would sooner recover on your own like you've done with the divorce in the past."

Well, Dad isn't dying, was what Rei wanted to say.

Instead she grimaced and drifted her eyes back down to her plate, yet she left her hand in her mother's grasp. It was rather unlike Rei allowing such physical touches especially by her mom, but she silently listened as her mother was trying to atone for her lack of support, something Kanna rarely have done in the past. It spread warmth inside her chest and the same hope Rei failed at tossing away wormed back in. Not only it hideaway in her gut until now, it festered and grew at the fact her mom acknowledged the faults in her assumptions that Rei could get through the troubling time on her own. The growth of awareness in Kanna will hopefully lead secrets out into the open.

The anger and hurt was still there, don't get Rei wrong, but as her mother continued to talk, it chipped a little and little more away as each word left the older woman.

"Life is full obstacles and hurdles. And jumping them maybe never ending..." Kanna spoke up again, her smile felt on the daughter. "But look at your grandfather's as just another hurdle. You need to be strong and endure," Kanna then reached with her other palm and squeezed Rei with both. "And most importantly, be patient. Everything will click back into place like before."

Like before...

The frown on Rei intensified.

What a total lie.

Nothing will ever be the same with the grandfather's mind literally withering away.

It was fact.

And her mother knew it, but it had not stopped Kanna from giving one final squeeze before she began to pull away her hands and let go the possible chance of coming clean about everything. Rei struggled whether she was gonna let the opportune moment be whisked away. Three days jumped by so fast and mother gave her a simple little pep talk, nothing else. How much longer will it take for her to actually share the truth and stop with the lies?

Rei didn't want to wait anymore. It only brought more negative emotions and thoughts. So she had to act, much against her liking, and made sure too as her fingers quickly clasped onto Kanna's retreating wrist and the blonde crossed gazes with the woman, determination burning in her gaze.

"Rei-,"

"Is that it?" she sharply cut into Kanna whom then clenched her jaw. "We just pretend everything is fine and dandy, even though nothing will ever return to normal?"

Because it won't like always.

The earliest abruptness to Rei's normality was the divorce in her life, although it hadn't impact Rei as much as it could've.

But the second, the uproot from America - that had proven much of Rei's life had no chance of returning to how things once were. The teenager tried her best to adapt, most thanks given to her club members, her new friends, but there were moments where she dwell on if this new life was the right or not. It was a constant back and forth, the school and club distracting her from really figuring out which one was the accepted path.

Unfortunately, it was her grandfather's deteriorating mental health that tipped the scale.

"What are you talking-"

Rei immediately released Kanna as if the touch burned the blonde and then slammed her hands on the table, standing up and narrowing her icy glare, effectively shutting up the older Murata a second time that evening. "No. Don't do that. Don't even try."

And listening to her demands, Kanna didn't. But she also had the woman stop speaking any further. Kanna instead rivaled a glare right at Rei in return, unfazed and unmoved. It lasted what seem like a century, but in all reality, a minute was exchanged between the staring contest.

Rei broke it with a sneer. "Don't bother talking to me unless you're done playing pretend."

Then the teenager stomped away in a rush to her bedroom as the calls from her mother never made it to her ears. A firm slam from her door and a click for the lock, Rei hid herself into her confinement once more. She allowed the darkness to eloped her figure and it's cold fingers took no heed in wrapping the teen in the returning loneliness.

Rei felt so tired of it all and her body heavily leaned against her door, the escaped sigh expressing the fatigue. She even slid down against it until she hit the floor with a thud. The tears were sought by Rei yet they never came. She must have cried herself dry from the days that past and it only made the teen much more unstable, her shaking hands tentatively rubbing her knees.

What to do now? a question which echoed in her head the loudest. What to do...

The poor girl was utterly and hopelessly scurrying around like chicken with its head cut off. Her mother continued to play dumb and oblivious, even when Rei openly confessed she had more than just a small inkling of what was going on under their roof. How does Rei get around that?

So again; What. To. Do?

Her mind was ready to explode with the endless repeating words until a knock saved her from the melt down.

"Rei," her grandmother knuckles rapped against the very door she leaned on. "Your uniform is ready for tomorrow."

No response was given besides the teen's silence as she dug her face into her palms.

Rei may have felt the empty vibe rolling along in the quiet but the older Murata must have never realized it as her voice carried through the wood without missing a beat. "I'll leave it right here on the floor," she paused then added lastly, "I'll see you in the morning. Have a good night, Rei."

And she scuffled off in her thick socks to leave Rei alone again.

Yeah right was Rei going to see them. She wanted nothing to with the two sneaky women. They weren't opening their sealed lips anytime soon and why would one subjugate their self in such a secretive home? They should just leave or better yet, Rei should get away from them and-

Rei quickly snapped her head up from her crouched form and eyed the darkness of the room with the epiphany. Then a second passed and immediately her body went into auto pilot, flipping on a light switch and hands snagging her duffle bag from her closet before filling it with some hygienics, a few articles of clothing, and once peeking out the door, her uniform.

The fresh feeling of her volleyball club jacket and sweats she pulled on rid away the hidden doubts in herself. And any lingering fear was subdued by Rei's stubborn conviction, it overpowering any second thoughts that rang in her head. She had to get away for the night, out from under the same roof of her mother or the young Murata would fester more hatred and frustration.

Rei propped her school bag on the duffle, the strapped tied to it, and the blonde was sure to wait until the last light went out in the house before she made a move. Rei never had snuck out of her home before but if one thing was for sure, she knew better not to leave out the front door at that late hour.

The kitchen window on other hand, Rei took that alternative route with no hesitation. The damn latch was unlocked as usual (which perturbed Rei countless times but now worked in her favor) and the blonde slipped through it with some ease. She had happen to clank some dishes hanging just above the exit but if anyone heard, Rei believed they may think she was in there for a drink or snack.

Regardless what she told herself, she held her breath as she reached the sidewalk and ducked behind the gate, silent and still for the whole minute. When nothing stirred inside, Rei sighed in relief before standing up and readjusted the bags on her shoulder.

It wasn't long for Rei to slowly begin her trek under the lampposts and glance around in the quiet darkness of her neighborhood. Many lights were out, a few lingering on in the second story windows, the artificial illumination hazing along with the inky black night and it's half moon. There were some stars peeking out from the light pollution and Rei took a habit in following them for quite sometime.

The young Murata hoped they would keep her occupied while she figured where she could go for the night... or the few nights to come. She had no intentions returning anytime soon, but Rei had no one to fall onto she realized.

Well, except the club [more so, Shimizu].

Rei could be passing by the thirds years house if she took the next left followed that route, yet the blonde made sure to continue straight on. There was no need to involve the beauty in her drama. The prelims were literally a day away.

Tomorrow was the last practice and she had no need distracting Kiyoko or anyone else in her family matters.

A heavier sigh escaped the drifting teenager.

Rei had disappeared during the most vital training days. She really hoped it wouldn't screw her chances as a manager and get the title revoked. After everything with her grandfather, Rei had only the club and if she doesn't make it there, she'll have nothing.

Smack.

It would've not been the first time Rei had knocked herself out of such thoughts with a slap on both side of her cheeks. The stinging clung on her face as two red marks and Rei forcibly narrowed a determined gaze out at the inky sky nonetheless.

There was one day left which meant she still had time for redemption. It was better late than never, something her father had quoted many times around the teenager when younger, and hopefully, something the volleyball club had no problem with. They were really lenient at the start with Rei and a few... sick days out should be understandable, right?

Rei reset her sights on the path ahead of her and gnawed on her bottom lip once more.

Because if not, Rei would truly feel abandoned in her life.

A/N: So I wanna first mega apologize for the half year of a wait for this one chapter. Second apology is for how repetitive and crappy it is - this chapter was a super challenge to my writing skills and I know it shows. Also, to be honest, it was a rather boring oneeeeee. Blah! So plus that and my crazy, busy life with senior year at college and summer work, and the sudden passing of my fur child, Cody, I had ignored finish writing the chapter.

BUT NOA EVERYTHING IS GOOD. The follows, reviews, and favorite alerts had constantly reminded me people are still reading this. So I snapped myself outta the funk and pushed myself to get it out. Thanks for it all, guys and gals and theys! I think I would've completely forgot about it until it was too late to do anything! Thank you thank you thank you!

REVIEW RESPONSES:

Reincarnation15: Omg. I'm really happy you love this story! Thank you for taking the time to tell me that! -insert heart here-

the prince of fanfiction: Yay new laptops! Best feeling ever when you turn it on and is runs perfectly without a hitch! Ahhhhh! -reminiscences- But but I really really appreciative how you see my writing developing! I was worried it wouldn't. I dont want to be a stagnant writer. I do want to screenwrite movies and shows, but that is more visual storytelling than novel, inner thoughts storytelling (similar but hence why they are called two different mediums). Its all about the story and the characters in the end! Then you add the meat to the bones! -has learned a lot in film school- Anywayssss I hope I did not disappoint to much, my good friend, with the quality and wait for the update! Just dont be too harsh but give it to me good on how I need to develop as a writer! Thank you!

Rizuki Dhan: Ahh! I fixed it! Omg another embarrassing typo! You're my other life savior! Please point out more problems if you see them! And I super glad you like the story! Tehee!

Jayla Fire Girl: I f*ckin hate cliffhangers bruh but the satisfaction of doing one yourself, omg now no wonder people write them! And, and you making me blush! I'm always worried about my writing - its this too much detail or not enough?, would that character say that or say this?, is this staying realistic and relate in some way or am I going off too deep? All those repeat in my head every time I write and proofread. You can say i'm giddy you have no qualms over it. Of course, I won't be perfect and someone is bound to tell me it doesn't work. But can't please them all right? And almost had updated in April, but the mention above in my notes explains why I was set back to do so. Sorry! Forgive me! -falls on knees and begs for mercy-

LovelyPolkaDots: Shuuushhhhhh! -tries to cover your mouth- I know I was obvious in some parts but don't ruin it for others lol jk Nah I was waiting for someone to say something. I had really subtle clues since like the second or third chapter? I don't remember when exactly. -shrugs- regardless, I knew they weren't hidden that well! Hahah. Tsundere Rei - that made me giggle. And there will be more interactions with Hinata and Kiyoko (and I'm trying to add more members gradually over time, but its hard when Rei has no need to speak to them and them vice versa - she doesn't exactly jump into conversations as quickly and it would be unlike her if I make her all 'hey sup bruhs you know I heard about this thing'. Nope. Maybe with Kiyoko and her American friends, but not yet with anyone else).

OMG I SO RAMBLED IN THOSE RESPONSES! AHAH I'm sorry not sorry! I just super giddy I'm posting this chapter out and there are actual people would enjoy the story and are SUPER patient.

Maybe I'll reward you guys with a quicker update!

BUHAHA - who am I kidding. Like that would ever happen... -gives shifty eyes and slinks back into the darkness of the fanfiction void-

- motorsandcandies

Next Chapter: Doubts - It's literally just one day away from Prelims and Rei can barely keep herself together. Will she fall through as a manager or will Rei be able to push aside home issues for the club?

Stay Tuned!~