Ushijima was surprised to see the ex-captain nearby the volleyball gym. He observed him pacing rather impatiently until he decided to make a move.
"Fujiwara," he called out before adding, "Senpai?"
The third-year student stalled and looked up at the mention of his name. He smiled cordially when he caught sight of him.
"Ah, hello!" He placed his hands in his pockets and rested against the wall as Ushijima made his way to him. There was a slight height difference whereby the ex-captain towered over the current captain. Ushijima had to raise his head before speaking.
"How are you, senpai?" He asked stiffly.
"Don't need to be so formal," he waved it off as he gave a snort, "just call me Kenji."
Ushijima just nodded in response.
"So, how's your third year? It must be a little stressful being the captain and all." Kenji asked.
"It's okay," he replied shortly, "and you?"
"Ah, I'm more focused and not failing any classes this time around," he smiled warmly and then sighed dejectedly, "I got a little too caught up with my other hobbies last year. Definitely don't wanna repeat a year again."
"I can understand that," Ushijima affirmed with a stoic expression. "I heard that you're the top student this year, that's impressive."
Kenji just smiled as a wordless thank you.
Ushijima glanced at the gym before continuing, "so what brings you here?"
"Oh, just looking for the coach. He called for me."
"You're planning to come back?"
He shook his head, "no, no. I'm not feeling it this year."
Ushijima gestured at Kenji's uniform, "were you doing a delivery errand beforehand?"
"Ah!" Kenji looked down and laughed in embarrassment, "that's right! I was just covering for a friend."
"Oh, okay," he shifted to his side in a rigid manner. "Well, I think the coach is at his office now."
"I see, thank you Ushijima," he grinned, "I'll be on my way then."
Ushijima just gave an awkward wave to his ex-captain as he left. He began to wonder why the coach had called for Fujiwara.
Am I failing as a captain?
He shook his head at that ridiculous thought.
No, that can't be it.
Ushijima racked his brain as he purposefully walked back to the gym. However, at the sound of his teammates warming up, those thoughts quickly vanished as he joined them. The present moment was more important he decided, before taking off in a light jog.
Kenji finally found the coach, who was scowling at his computer screen. When he knocked and entered the small office, the coach's scowl never left his face when his eyes landed on him. Kenji closed the door behind him and locked it. He breathed in the familiar smell of stale coffee.
"Fujiwara," he greeted solemnly.
"Coach Washijō," he nodded in return, "you called?"
"I've been hearing things," he started off, his voice was tensed and careful, "really bad rumors. Have you been lying to me?"
"About what, in particular?" He questioned innocently before taking a seat opposite him and crossing his long legs. His stance was one of comfort and little doubt that he was the one in power. He wouldn't call it arrogance; rather, he'd label it as his own birthright. And he saw nothing wrong in that.
"About you know who," he hissed back. His eyes was flaring in anger.
"Hm?" He merely taunted, his fingers rhythmically tapped the desk, "I don't like talking in code. Why don't you be clear with me?"
"About Hinata," his tone was teetering on an outburst. Kenji nearly rolled his eyes.
He's so easy to provoke.
"Ah, I see!" He exclaimed in sudden realization, "what about him?"
"These rumors that there's some sort of disappearance, and that he still haven't been found! And it's been a few days since," he was wildly waving his hands as he tried to explain himself, it was almost comical. "Is this true?"
"How should I know?" His wandering dark gaze now held the coach's frantic eyes.
"Y- you said that you just scared him a little, gave him a little talk, as an ex-captain, before you went back home!"
Kenji hummed in agreement.
"And now what are you tryna imply, hm?" His voice was silky and dangerous. The glare he wore at the implicit accusation could cut glass.
"You must have-" the coach stopped when he heard a rustle and a few voices outside the office. He lowered his voice before continuing, "do you have something to do with that rumor?"
"Let me ask you something," Kenji leaned forward, the coach gave a visible flinch, "you knew exactly about my... so-called 'past time activities'. So why did you come to me?"
"I thought you could put some sense into that little boy, he was pesky and naive. But I didn't mean for you to harm him!" His voice was raised. Kenji glanced at his clenched fist and raised an eyebrow.
"Ah so just scare him a little, as if that doesn't mentally do anything to a kid." He had a sickening smirk carved on his handsome face.
"I- you know that's- he was-" the coach stuttered before giving up and staying silent. His thick eyebrows were permanently stuck in a frown.
"Who am I to talk though." Kenji looked thoughtful. He then smiled, but it was devoid of emotion. "The scarring poor Hinata has now must be beyond comprehension."
"What... did you do to him?" The coach finally asked, feeling defeated. He was mentally bracing himself for the answer.
"I'm glad you asked!" He clapped his hands together in enthusiasm and started to ruffle through his bag. Each second had a heavy toll on the coach. The anticipation was absolute agony as his imagination ran wild. The small, old man could only watch Kenji as his palms formed sweat.
"Here," Kenji harshly placed two pictures onto the wooden desk that shook from the impact. His eyes had an odd glint as he waited for the coach's reaction.
With numb fingers, he picked up a picture and was met with something so repulsive that he instantly became nauseous. His breath was coming in short as he noted the bloodied and ruined Hinata who disturbingly smiled back at him. The obscene image presented to him was something beyond his imagination.
I did this to him.
"So, what do you think? Beautiful, isn't he?" Kenji queried. He was now leaning back against his chair, satisfied with his reaction. He glimpsed at his expensive watch and stifled a yawn. The exhaustion from the late nights were catching up to him. The coach was quiet for a long moment. He wasn't even sure if he would be able to speak ever again. He felt like words could not possibly formulate his messy thoughts that ranged from apologies, fears of being caught, and the horror for this individual that sat before him.
"Why are you..." His voice was frail.
"Why am I doing this?" Kenji finished for him. "Didn't you come to me?"
"But-"
Kenji sighed in frustration, "I went over to Karasuno and when I saw him, I thought I'd play with him a little longer."
"Simple as that," he shrugged and pocketed the pictures.
"What if people find out?!"
He snorted, "I'd be more worried about yourself than me. Don't you know who my father is?"
The coach just helplessly stared back at him. He felt numb. It was hard to breathe, as though the world was closing on him.
"But I didn't want this," he muttered.
"Didn't you?" Kenji goaded with a slight grin.
"Please just let him go," the coach couldn't even look him in the eye as he started to plead with the impassive ex-captain, "this is more than enough. Please, he needs to see the doctor. He needs to rest and heal."
"Are you begging the desk?" His voice was hard now, "this sort of cowardly behavior pisses me off more than your begging. Why don't you face me and beg?"
"I can't- I really didn't want Hinata to-"
"Don't you dare say you didn't want this, I've had enough of your whining." His dark gaze was intensely burning through the coach, "If you had not come to me, this wouldn't have happened in the first place."
Kenji stood up abruptly and brushed himself clean. He was tired and still needed to visit Hinata for his fifth mark. Once satisfied, he headed to the door and paused.
"You had a role to play in this, Washijō. So, you can choose to ignore the rumors or take responsibility."
He studied the coach's grim face before saying, "either way, this is all on you."
And with that, Kenji left.
The coach was dumbfounded. He sat still in his grimy office in panicked contemplation as waves of nausea hit him every few minutes. He wondered if there was a way to get out of this mess. He also wondered if Hinata would make it out alive as the images linger like acid burns on his brain.
I couldn't save you, Hinata.
This is all on me.
By nightfall, the coach realized that he was indeed trapped and that there was no way out of this. It seems that he made a deal with a sneaky devil and he fell for it. Fujiwara had utterly put him in his place and made sure he understood that.
And no matter how much he ran, he knew it was just a matter of time before the whole world learned of his sins.