"C-Coach… I- I'm gonna be sick-"Clenching his jaw tight to try and hold back the urge to throw up right then and there, Sugawara squeezed his eyes shut and fought to keep himself in check.

"You're gonna be sick?! Er- hang on, wait- Uh, here we go. Ennoshita, here's a trash can, come on, get him over here."

Essentially dragged by his coach and teammate, the third year let his head hang forward and finally succumbed to the vicious sandstorm raging in his mind. He was miserable inside and out, everything hurt, but nothing more than his heart.

"You know we'll be fine if you leave, right?"

Heaving violently, Sugawara was ushered before a garbage can just in time to throw up most of the water Yamaguchi had given him. Coughing and spitting into the bin below him, Suga cursed himself silently. It made sense that he'd be sick from the concussion he was positive he had but in reality… It was the echoing of Daichi's words that racked him with waves of nausea. The dizziness and disorientation should have been what caused the thin track of tears to run down his flushed cheeks, but he knew the truth. His best friend had unwittingly agreed with the boy from Kita Wasaki… Sugawara wasn't needed.

Trembling as another bout of retching had him tensing up, Suga coughed up the rest of his dignity as Ukai slipped the boy's arm from around his shoulder and gently handed him over to Ennoshita. Squeezing Sugawara's shoulder as tears ran down the bridge of his nose and into the bin below, the Coach looked to the second year before pulling away.

"I'll grab some paper towels from the bathroom, hang onto him for a minute."

Nodding, Ennoshita gripped Suga around the waist a little tighter as Ukai jogged off around the corner, and then it was just the two of them. The second-year wasn't sure what to say, he'd never seen his upperclassman look so… Distraught? He knew Sugawara was injured, but he looked more anguished than in pain.

"Uh… Suga, are you okay?"

It was a stupid question, clearly, he wasn't okay if Ennoshita was needed just to keep him upright, but he wasn't really talking about his bruised face or bleeding mouth. Watching his teammate, he waited quietly for an answer as Suga's quick short breaths filled the quiet around them. When some of his trembling managed to lessen but he was still silent, the dark-haired boy leaned his head down to get a better look, and saw he had a steady stream of tears dripping from the tip of his nose as he stared blankly into the trashcan. It was alarming really, the face of their normally chipper or stern vice-captain contorting into an almost unrecognizable state of dismay. Something was wrong, something other than his current injuries, but Ennoshita wasn't sure what.

Deciding to give it another shot, he adjusted the arm pulled over his shoulder to better accommodate Suga's weight and continued to watch his senior's face.

"Is something bothering you?... You look like you might be upset." Ennoshita offered gently.

As close as they were, the younger boy didn't catch what the setter mumbled quietly, but it sounded like 'useless.' Sure he heard him wrong, Ennoshita furrowed a brow and leaned in a bit closer to try and hear better.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

Swallowing thickly and giving the smallest shake of his head, Suga closed his tear-filled hazel eyes.

"…It's… Just my head…" He mumbled, and before Ennoshita could question him further, Ukai was coming back around the corner, wad of paper towels in hand.

"You're a mess, kid, here."

Handing his player a chunk of the tissues with a concerned frown, Ukai watched as Suga tentatively accepted it and used a wobbly hand to wipe his mouth with a wince. Pulling the bloody towel from his aching lip, he attempted to dry his face instead, but took in a shuddering breath as he put too much pressure on the bruising beneath his eye and pulled it away. He really was a mess, salty tears burning his cuts, nose running, lip bleeding, and eye swollen. He could no longer see anything through the barrage of sand in his mind, and his entire body hurt. It was too much.

Suddenly the blackness of unconsciousness gave a hefty tug and without warning, Suga felt the strength leave his legs and his head fall forward. The last thing he could remember before everything went quiet, was someone giving a yell, and then his other arm being grabbed.

…

Voices… He could hear voices… and… There was stinging. Trying to find his eyelids and then the muscles that worked them, Sugawara gave the softest of moans as his eyes very slowly fluttered open. The first thing he saw wasn't anything that made sense, but at the same time was far too familiar. Clear grey eyes behind pink rimmed glasses and an expression pinched with worry.

Still too dizzy and out of it to find the muscles that moved his legs, the fair-skinned boy tried to focus his eyes and pushed up on his elbows which was a mistake. Head pounding with so much force it threatened to pull him under again, Suga let out a weak noise and felt his shoulder being pressed back into whatever stiff object he was laying on.

"Stay still, you shouldn't be getting up," Kiyoko said firmly, dark eyes finding his and urging him to listen.

Allowing himself to sink back down, Sugawara gave a soft sigh and tried to reach a hand up to his aching face.

"Where… Where am I?" He asked with a scratchy throat, sounding wretched to even his own ears.

"Stop that," Kiyoko said gently, taking the hand that strayed to his face and guiding it down to his side once more.

"We're in the infirmary. You lost consciousness in the hallway, but Coach Ukai and Ennoshita were able to carry you here. Ennoshita was sent back to the gymnasium in case they needed him, I came in to take his place. Do you remember anything?" She asked, picking up a damp rag and beginning to dab at his lip with a light touch, the smell of antiseptic filling his nose. Cringing with discomfort at the sting, he quickly realized this was what had roused him, and then felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Averting his gaze, Suga thought about how gross he must look and how Kiyoko shouldn't have to mop up his pathetic tear-soaked face.

"You don't… You don't have to do that." Suga mumbled quietly, his mood plummeting as his memories came flooding back, his reality stealing away the peace unconsciousness offered.

"I don't mind." She replied, finishing with his lip, and then folding the rag over to clear the salty tear tracks from his face and even wipe his nose.

Laying still as the team manager tended to him, Suga stared out the window despite it being too dark to see anything, uncomfortable but unsure of what to do. He felt like a child, except that usually, his Mother didn't baby him like this. His parents expected him to clean himself up if he got injured, they didn't have time for him to need their undivided attention, but he understood. They were busy people, and he was… Well, he was just Koshi.

"Suga-Kun?"

Disrupting his detached thoughts, Sugawara turned his eyes back to Kiyoko as she paused her ministrations and looked at him in the silent way she often did. Confused, he raised one of his thick brows slightly.

"…Yeah?"

Staring at him a moment longer, she blinked and then pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

"You're a kind person." She said, continuing to stare at him as he lay there and managing to make the setter's face flush a deeper pink.

Caught off guard by the spontaneous comment, Sugawara tried to get his rattled brain to calm down and make sense of what she was saying.

"Er- um… Thanks, I think..." He said lamely, unable to come up with anything more and letting his eyes stray anywhere but back to the girl's intense stare.

Face falling into a soft frown, Suga took in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. He was sure she meant something nice by it, but somehow, he felt even more melancholy. Kind enough he gave up his spot to Kageyama who offered them a better chance at winning. Kind because he took a black eye in the place of Hinata, ensuring the younger boy was unharmed, and coincidentally keeping him in the starting line up where he was needed. A kind guy who sacrificed his sleep to get up early and help train his teammates, then kind enough to stay up late and strategize with Daichi. Kind… It was beginning to sound like a weakness to Sugawara. The boy who was so nice he disappeared and nobody noticed… That's what it felt like.

Watching as the boy laying on the cot drifted into his thoughts again, Kiyoko rested a hand on his arm and called his attention to her once more.

"What's wrong?... You look… Sad."

Stiffening and still looking away, Suga's lips pressed into a tight line as he remained quiet for a moment. Just as she was beginning to think he wouldn't answer, the setter's warm eyes met hers beseechingly.

"Kiyoko… Is that all I am?... Kind?"

Brows pulling together, she tilted her head to the side just slightly and rested her hands in her lap.

"I'm afraid I don't understand the question. What do you mean?"

Letting his head roll back to its previous position, Sugawara let his eyes drift to the dark window and lightly shook his head.

"Never mind, it's nothing. My head feels scrambled, I don't know what I'm saying." He murmured, but the emptiness in his voice said otherwise.

She may not have understood what he was asking her, but Kiyoko wasn't dumb enough to believe the question didn't have some sort of significance to Sugawara. She was tempted to pry but didn't want to cause him stress when he looked so battered and vulnerable. He would tell her if he wanted to and if not… Well, that was his choice.

"Hm... Alright then."

Just as she said that Ukai appeared beside her and let out a relieved breath.

"Oh, Sugawara, you're awake. Thank god, you almost gave me a heart attack, you know."

The blonde man looked like he could use a cigarette but knowing better in a school, settled for brushing his hair back over his head and watched as the grey-haired boy gingerly turned to look at him. There was guilt written all over his face, but he couldn't fathom why as the setter cringed and attempted to push up on his elbows again.

"I'm sorry, Coach, I didn't mean to make trouble for you- I- I'm sorry you had to carry me here, Kiyoko told me and-"

"Hey, hey, take it easy. Lay back down, you don't need to get up for me." Ukai told him, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders and pushing him down with gentle firmness.

Looking upset he had to remain on the cot, Suga reluctantly allowed himself to be pushed back down but stared up at his coach with troubled eyes. Trying to reassure him as he straightened once more, the coach patted his player on the knee and gave a little smile.

"There's nothing to apologize for, I'm just glad you're looking a little better. Thanks for taking care of him, Shimizu."

Looking to the man, Kiyoko gave a silent bow of her head before turning back to Suga.

"They were trying to get ahold of your parents, but no one is picking up. Are they out of town again?"

"We've dialed both of them three times but no one's picking up," Ukai added.

Brow furrowing at the news he'd created enough trouble to get his parents involved, Suga reached up to rub at his forehead lightly and pursed his lips as he tried to remember.

"Um… No… They were picking my older brother up from the airport…He's home from university for a couple of weeks. Maybe they have their phones on silent."

"Ah, well that doesn't help us at all. Do you have anyone else we can call, a relative, maybe a family friend, or something? We can get you back to the school on the bus, but I don't want you to walk home. Honestly, the nurse and I think you should see a doctor as soon as possible, tonight if it can be arranged." He said, crossing his arms and closing his eyes as he stood beside the two third years.

"I know your heads got to be killing you but try and think about it. I've got to get back to the gym, so take it easy and get some rest. We'll come to get you as soon as the match is over, I don't want you getting up unless you have a damn good reason, you got that?"

Nodding his head, Suga spoke softly as he laid his hand at his side again and didn't put up any resistance. He'd already caused enough commotion, he had no intention of disobeying.

"Yes, sir."

Squinting his eyes at the boy until he trusted he was sincere, Ukai then looked to Kiyoko and uncrossed his arms as he made his way to the door.

"You'll sit with him? Make sure he stays put?"

Nodding her head, she glanced at Sugawara who'd gone back to staring out the window, a hollow expression on his face. Watching him for a moment, Kiyoko gave a little frown of concern, and then looked back to the coach again.

"Yes, I'll watch over him." She promised.