Chapter II

A Walking Disaster

Tobio wouldn't have thought that he would regret his decision this sooner.

Before they departed from school, he had made sure that the vicinity was clear from familiar faces, especially if the familiar face had orange hair grown from the scalp. Hinata might get the wrong idea that he was only trying to escape from the clean-up routine when in reality, he just had another business to attend.

Perhaps he needed to think up proper apologies to the redhead tomorrow.

"Um, Kageyama-kun," called Akari. "Why are you walking far behind me? Did I make you feel uncomfortable, by any chance?"

"No! Not at all!" He raised his voice unconsciously, causing her to slightly jump in place.

Instead of worrying about those who weren't present, perhaps he should be worrying about himself more.

The fact that he was left alone with a girl. Not to mention, she wasn't just an ordinary girl. People would have killed to be in his place.

But then, it wasn't the main problem. As he said, he didn't care about idol groups.

All of a sudden, she froze, which caused Tobio to turned to her, "What's wrong?"

"Did I walk too fast? Sorry." She added, "I'll keep up with your pace from now on. There are a lot of things I want to talk about with you."

Tobio's steps came to a halt, his sapphire eyes widened in surprise. "What? You want to talk to me about something?"

She paused, quickly batting her eyelashes. "Yes. Many things actually, if you don't mind. Um, did I say something wrong?"

This was the problem. He'd been told how awkward he was by many. As much as he hated to admit it, they weren't wrong.

"No. I don't mind, of course." He let out a stiff laugh in the hopes of brightening up the mood. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

Her hands wringing nervously. "Um, you said you had practice after school. Is that a club activity?"

"Yeah." Answered him. "I'm on the volleyball team."

"Really? That's cool!" But then, she clapped both of her hands cheerfully, which reminded him of a baby seal. "So, how long have you been playing volleyball?"

"I started playing volleyball since I was in second grade. I guess it's been quite a while already."

"Then you must be a very skilled player!" She complimented. "What do you like the most when playing volleyball? Just wondering."

Tobio would usually find it hard to open up to new people. But, there was something about her that made him feel comfortable about speaking his mind. Perhaps the way she paid full attention when he was talking made him feel appreciated a bit. Or the way she challenged him with questions whose answers he never thought much.

"Many reasons, I suppose." He hesitated, lost in thought for a moment. "I love it when I see the ball up in the air. The feeling when my fingertips touch the ball. The moment when a teammate spikes the ball that I tossed and makes a score."

She watched him quietly, her gaze displaying sorrow. "I think I understand what you meant. For an athlete, the court is like their stage, right? Everyone gets to see you do the thing you love the most. Your every move is constantly watched by them, but if you make one single mistake, that's the only thing that lasts in their memories."

He knitted his eyebrows, unsure about what she could be implying. But he agreed with the analogy between the court and the stage so far. Similar to a stage, a court is where the players can interact with the spectators. But at the same time, the players or the athletes aren't expected to communicate directly with the audience. That wouldn't make them any different from a comedian if that's the case. The role of an athlete of competitive games is to compete against the opposing team and provide entertainment for the audience through their exciting play. Clearly, there are three parties involved in sports. Tobio wasn't sure what applied to the music industry, as in whom they were contending with.

"Kageyama-kun, I know you have nothing to do with all this." She gazed up at the starless night sky before facing him. The faint light of the moon shone on her prominent features, yet he couldn't look away from the fire in her eyes. "But I just want to let at least one person know that I really love what I'm doing right now… Because at a time like this, no matter how hard I work, it just seems impossible to please everyone."

There was grief in her tone. Yet, when Tobio looked over his shoulder, he caught sight of a smile that almost made he think that she was okay.

"I don't know what to say right now," he told the truth. "It's the first time someone's ever vented to me. But it looks like you've been through a lot."

"It's okay. I shouldn't have let it slip in the first place. Sorry."

It wasn't the first time she said she was sorry today.

Just when the two arrived at a T-junction, Tobio stopped in his tracks, his thumb pointing to the left. "My home is on this way. How about you?"

"Mine is still straight ahead. It's okay, Kageyama-kun. I'll be fine on my own."

In which he only nodded, "Safe travels."

"Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

After they had parted ways, his mind was already wandering off somewhere. As if it had been automatically programmed, he was recalling all of the events taking place today, from the quick sets he'd been practicing with Hinata until late to Akari's confession. And the big question finally arose, why did she tell him? She's famed and adored by many. Why did she bother to clue in someone she barely knew?

Suddenly, his phone in his pocket buzzed. It was a text from his sister. She asked him to buy some soy sauce on his way home. Without complaint, he did as his sister said and stopped by a nearby convenience store. As soon as he finished with his errand, about to go home, he was approached by Akari out of nowhere. She was panting in short urgent breaths, her face looking pale.

"Hirose?" He eyed her from head to toe. "What's the matter? I thought you went home already."

"Kageyama-kun… I think… I think I'm being followed!"

Without notice, a clicking sound was heard, interrupting the deafening silence of the night. But, what was it? A camera?

He pushed her behind his back, throwing his threatening gaze around. "Come out now. Come out while I'm being nice."

They waited for a second, then two. But no one came out.

He would only be lying if he said he wasn't frightened a bit. His heart was throbbing erratically and he'd been holding his breath the whole time.

"I said come out―"

"Akari-chan… How dare you… It was because of you that Yua-chan left!" A man in a hooded sweatshirt showed his face, a sophisticated camera hanging around his neck. "You're so greedy for the spotlights… Do you even know what Yua-chan and the others have gone through in order to put up with your selfish act?"

Akari clenched her trembling hands before she walked out behind Tobio's back, "Shut up! You don't know anything about me! Don't speak as if you know anything at all!"

Yet, the suspicious man only laughed maniacally, "I don't know anything about you, you said? I was your fan! I had been following you around before you even made your debut! I caught up with all of your group's activities. I even gave you those expensive gifts. I've dedicated all my time and love for you and this is what I got in return? You ungrateful bitch."

Tobio noticed the stalker had been hiding his hand in his pocket since he showed his face. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of her shoulders shaking in fear. Impulsively, he came to her front, gesturing her to back down as he glared at the older man. "What do you want?"

The mysterious man grinned suspiciously, "I want to get even with her. Since it's not possible to bring Yua-chan back to the group, at least I want to jeopardize her career."

"It's alright, Kageyama-kun. I can handle this on my own." Akari pushed down Tobio's arm before she gave the stalker a piercing look. "It's useless to explain the situation to you since you will only believe what you want to hear. Do you think Yua-san will be proud of your behavior right now?"

Without warning, he took out a folding knife from his pocket and pointed it at her eye. "You! Don't you dare bring up Yua-chan's name with that dirty mouth of yours! I dare you. I fucking dare you! Or else I cut those lips with this knife…"

Before the tip of the knife had come into contact with Akari, Tobio managed to pull her back. He stared at the man angrily, "Watch out, you bastard!"

The stalker ignored Tobio's remark and gave a snort of disgust. "Tell me, Akari-chan. Is this son of a bitch the guy you intend to manipulate next?"

"I'm her boyfriend." Tobio declared without a second thought. "From now on, anyone who is messing with her will have to deal with me."

The older man glanced back and forth between Tobio and Akari before bursting out laughing. His laughter gradually ceased as he saw the serious expression on Tobio's face. "You're what? No way. No fucking way! You two couldn't be―fuck, this is too much!"

"Now, get lost―"

"I don't take orders from you!" The stalker screamed in horror. He once again looked at Akari's direction, aiming with the knife. "You. Before you know it, your career will be over. In a blink of an eye."

The older man ran off in a hurry, leaving the two victims alone.

"Hirose, are you alright?" Tobio turned to Akari. Her face still white, eyes staring in horror. Her hand was pushing against her chest as if it was forcing her heart in. She doesn't look well. "Hirose, give me your phone. I'll contact your family."

However, she only shook her head.

"What? Did you lose it?"

But then, her phone fell off from her pocket. Its screen remained blank when Tobio tried to turn it on. It must be running out of battery…

"I'll walk you home," he wrapped her arm around his shoulders, supporting her weight. "Just show me the way. Okay?"

Fortunately, Akari's apartment wasn't located that far from the convenience store they bumped into one another. Just when they reached the neighborhood of her apartment building, another man in a tailored suit approached them.

"Akari-chan? Why are you wheezing? Is your panic attack coming back?"

One thing that Tobio had learned from today's lesson was to not trust a random man he met on the street, regardless of their appearances.

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

"My name is Takagaki Shinji. Her manager." The older man showed him his business card. "Are you a friend of hers?"

"Yes, we attend the same school." Tobio added, "A stalker appeared before us just now. He was pointing a knife at her and threatened to destroy her career."

"That's hideous…" The manager expressed before holding on to Akari's arm. "I'll take care of her. Thank you for bringing her home. And you're…?"

"Kageyama."

"Kageyama-kun." He repeated.

Once Tobio got home, he put the soy sauce his father requested on the dining table and climbed up to his room without a word. He shut the door behind him and slumped down onto the floor, his back leaning against his bed. His eyes closed and a heavy sigh escaped his mouth. Damn… what a day. Who would have thought the return trip from school would almost get him stabbed if he hadn't been careful enough? Perhaps he wouldn't have to experience all that if he were to take a different companion.

Then again, it wasn't her fault. He convinced himself. It could be the consequence of being a public figure. Suddenly, he recalled the time when one of his classmates was glamorizing the life of a celebrity. He could scoff at them now. Would they still be viewing it the same way if they had witnessed to that very incident? He started to doubt that.

Even so, he wondered if she was okay now. Her manager even mentioned about her panic attack relapsing. Does that mean she's gone through this before? Well, it was none of his business, to begin with.

But then, a voice he recognized very well rang in his ear. "I'm her boyfriend."

Her boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

His cheeks boiling hot all of a sudden. It was so embarrassing! What was on his mind when he said that?

And how would he face her tomorrow? Shoot. He wasn't ready!

The next day, a collection of photos had spread like wildfire on the internet. The photos were taken candidly and uploaded to a blog managed by an anonymous fan of Pink Panthers, featuring the renowned center of the group clinging to a young man whose face was blurred. The said young man had a tall and fairly built figure, also wearing Karasuno's uniform.

Wait. It's him. Who else would it be?

A student crashed into Tobio's shoulder when he was traveling through the corridor, heading toward the class. He looked daggers at the student, but it wasn't sharp enough to make him turn around and apologize.

The student happened to be in the same class as him. He rushed to a group of male students at the back of the class.

"Have you all seen this?" He showed his phone around. "Akari-chan is dating a guy from our school! I can't believe she lied to us! She said she went to Karasuno because of her siblings…"

When he thought she was a walking disaster he should avoid at all costs, it turned out that he himself had just added fuel to the fire.


Author's note: Here comes the second chapter! Hope y'all like it :) I will keep writing and updating as long as I have free time. I also hope I portrayed Kags right in this chapter since that boy is just so awkward (in a cute way) also, tell me what you think about Akari so far! See you in the next chapter 3