Chapter 15
"All right. I think I'm ready to go. You've got everything you need, Bokuto-san?"
"Yep. Everything's all set here."
"Okay, Thank you, Bokuto-san. I really owe you."
Akaashi watched as Bokuto rolled his eyes and shook his head fondly. He folded his arms across his chest as he leaned against the nearby wall.
"How many times do I have to tell you that you don't owe me a thing?" Bokuto asked, smiling. "I like hanging out with Tobio!"
"But it's a Sunday. I'm sure you would rather be sleeping in," Akaashi said, shifting uncomfortably.
"Ah, I'm too excited to sleep, 'Kaashi! I'm way too pumped from that win last night!" Bokuto said.
Akaashi had to smile at that. With their win in the semi-finals the night before, the Fukurodani team could go to nationals. Bokuto was downright giddy, his voice traveling and cheering louder than the exhausted players and fans. Everyone was excited, even Akaashi, who stood in the stands with a proud smile on his face.
The only person who didn't seem as excited was the glum five-year-old that sat sluggishly next to him throughout the whole match.
Akaashi bit his lip and glanced down at Tobio. He stood next to Bokuto, Tobio's hand holding his. Although, his hand looked as if it was barely holding on, and his eyelids were heavy. Was he about to fall asleep standing up?
Suddenly, Tobio broke out into wet coughs, his hand coming up to rub his chest.
"Tobio," Akaashi called, kneeling down to the boy. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
Bokuto patted Tobio's back gently to help him through the coughs, and when they subsided, Tobio cleared his throat and sniffled. He shook his head and shrugged lightly.
"I'm okay," Tobio said, his voice a little hoarse.
Akaashi winced at the sound, reaching up to cup the side of his son's face. He ran his fingers through his hair soothingly, and Tobio closed his eyes at the contact.
"You don't feel warm," Akaashi said under his breath. Tobio's eyes opened as Akaashi retracted his hand, looking at him curiously. "Maybe I should take some days off, take you to the doctor or something."
Tobio suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Akaashi's hand, shaking his head furiously.
"I'm okay," he said. "It's just a cough."
Akaashi's brows furrowed. "Tobio, I don't want you feeling bad."
"I don't!" Tobio said. "It's just a cough."
Akaashi looked at him skeptically for a moment, his mouth pulling into a deeper frown. He hesitated, his fingers squeezing Tobio's, reluctant to let go. He finally eased his grip when Bokuto touched his shoulder.
"I'll buy him some cold medicine today," Bokuto said, his smile gone from his face.
Akaashi bit his lip, nodding. He gave Tobio's hands one last squeeze before ruffling the boy's hair. He stood to his feet and leaned over to grab his violin case and his bag of music, adjusting both over his shoulders.
"I'll be back this afternoon," Akaashi said. He eyed Tobio briefly. "Call me if something happens."
Bokuto smiled, giving Akaashi a thumbs-up. "No worries, Akaashi. I'll make sure Tobio gets medicine, and he'll be good as new!"
Akaashi hesitated, but he glanced down at Tobio with a timid smile, clasping a hand on his shoulder as if to ground himself.
"Have a good day, okay?" Akaashi said.
Tobio nodded, leaning into his father's touch. When he let go, he waddled over to Bokuto's couch and plopped down, sagging into the cushions.
Akaashi bit his lip, practically chewing it raw at this point. The boy seemed all right. Maybe he did just have a cold. A little one. He was only five, after all. It was normal for five-year-Olds to be sluggish when they got sick. No big deal.
Akaashi sighed.
"All right," Akaashi said, adjusting his bags. "Well, I'm off, then."
Bokuto saluted in his dorky way, making Alaashi smile and roll his eyes. Alaashi waved to Tobio, frowning when he didn't respond, and left Bokuto's apartment.
Bokuto is good at watching Tobio, Akaashi thought. Tobio will be fine. He'll get medicine and everything will be—
You're acting just like him, you know.
Akaashi stumbled on nothing, as if the sidewalk had reached up and grabbed him. He felt sweat form on the back of his neck, the cold wind catching the drops and sending chills down his spine. It made him shiver despite his insulated jacket.
The voice had been silent for the past few weeks. Why was it speaking now?
You're being a terrible father, just like your own.
"No. I'm not," Akaashi argued quietly as he turned the corner and headed towards the station. "I've left him with Bokuto-san. He's safe, and he's in good hands."
Akaashi huffed as he entered the station and glanced around for the right train to board. His words kept the voice quiet for a few short moments. But, of course, it didn't last.
Maybe so. But just like your father, you're letting someone else take care of Tobio while you do whatever you want.
Akaashi froze, causing someone to bump into his back and making him stumble forward. He quickly turned around and stepped out of the way, bowing his head.
"S-Sorry," Alaashi stuttered out, his apology weak. The person who ran into him just sent him an annoyed glare and passed by without a word.
Akaashi swallowed, his free hand reaching up to grab his shirt near his heart. He could feel it pounding against his chest painfully. He held his breath, bracing himself for more abuse from that wretched voice.
But just as quickly as it came, the voice vanished, leaving Akaashi's mind silent and empty. He sighed in relief, releasing his shirt and slumping. It was only morning, but he felt exhausted.
Akaashi boarded the next train and headed to the other side of town. Luckily, the train car was fairly empty, and he slumped down in a seat near the door, slouching just as Tobio had done on the couch earlier. He needed to refocus his mind, get back into the groove of practicing again.
Focus.
Breathe, and focus.
Akaashi breathed out, feeling his anxieties decompress as he released a few breaths. He sat up in his seat and thought through the regimen of his upcoming practice session.
Since he had impressed the owner at the interview, he allowed Akaashi to use the practice rooms at the music hall. Akaashi had been extremely grateful and thankful—overwhelmed at the gratitude. The owner had said something about Akaashi being able to "use a music hall worth of his talents."
Akaashi took the comment with a smirk, knowing it was a jab at his father's company. He often wondered if the owner was just using him to become a thorn in his father's side.
He squeezed his bag to his chest and shook his head. The owner wasn't like that. There was no way he was just a pawn on the owner's chessboard. He had reached this level through his own merits.
Right?
The train came to a stop, the announcer's voice startling him out of his reverie. He jumped to his feet and bolted out of the train and onto the platform, huffing and puffing as the doors closed behind him.
He really needed to pay closer attention to his surroundings. He almost missed his stop!
Akaashi took a step towards the exit but froze as he took in his surroundings.
He had gotten off at the wrong station.
Akaashi sighed heavily, his shoulders falling as a wave of frustration washed over him. He whirled around on the platform and stared out at the tracks, suddenly feeling exhausted.
Ha. Idiot.
Akaashi huffed, anger spiking through his shoulders.
"Shut. Up."
The voice fell silent once again, but its presence left Akaashi feeling uptight and uneasy for the rest of the day.
"Say, Tobio. You wanna go practice your receives?"
"No."
"Oh. Then, uh… wanna play a game? I've got two controllers."
"No, thank you."
"…A movie?"
Tobio stared up at Bokuto, the boy still sitting on the couch from earlier. He had been there since Akaashi left, sitting listlessly with his head leaning to the side and threatening to topple over. It was pitiful, and Bokuto worried that there was something more wrong with him than just a cold, regardless if his temperature was normal.
Tobio was about to respond to Bokuto's movie question when he broke out into wet coughs, the boy's back and shoulders shuddering as he tried to expel the mucus from his lungs.
Bokuto hurried to his side and patted his back gently, reaching over to grab tissues to wipe the tears that leaked from the corners of Tobio's eyes. The cough was exponentially worse than before, and it made Bokuto nervous.
"Whoa, whoa. What's with all the ruckus?"
Bokuto glanced over his shoulder to see Kuroo waltzing into the room, his hair wild and his hand lazily scratching his belly underneath his shirt. He glanced over the couch, his eyes furrowing when he came across the cough-stricken boy.
"That sounds like a nasty cough," Kuroo said, turning around and heading back into the kitchen. He filled up a glass of water and stuck a straw inside.
"It is," Bokuto answered as Kuroo came back with the water. He handed it to Tobio, who sucked down the water with big gulps. Bokuto reached over and gently held the cup for him so he didn't drop it. "I think he's got a cold."
Kuroo suddenly looked skeptical, eyeing the boy carefully. "You sure it's just a cold?"
Bokuto snapped his head back to his friend but his hand still grasped the cup for Tobio.
"What do you mean?" Bokuto asked.
Kuroo leaned down, resting his elbows on the couch and staring at Tobio with squinted eyes. He reached down and pressed his hand to Tobio's forehead. He waited a moment, his lip twisting to one side.
"There's no fever…" Kuroo said.
Bokuto sighed, slumping as his shoulders rolled forward.
"I know," Bokuto said. "I've checked, Akaashi's checked a thousand times… All he has is this really bad cough."
He glanced down at Tobio, watching as Kuroo's hand left his forehead, allowing the boy to slump back into the cushions.
"But he looks like he's about to keel over," Kuroo said.
"I know," Bokuto said with a sigh. "But nothing else is wrong, so it has to be a cold."
Kuroo sighed and leaned up. "Did you try giving him cold medicine?"
"Not yet. I wasn't sure where we keep it," Bokuto said sheepishly. "Do we have any?"
Kuroo rubbed the back of his neck. "Not any for children."
Bokuto frowned, realizing Kuroo was right. An adult dosage isn't fit for a child Tobio's age.
"Well, the convenient store is right down the street. We can go look for some medicine for him," Kuroo said.
Bokuto glanced over at Tobio, who had begun to drift off to sleep. Bokuto sighed and stood to his feet, scooping up a startled Tobio in his arms. The boy pouted as he clung to Bokuto's shirt, leaning his head against his chest. He felt bad for disturbing his rest but he really needed to take him to get some medicine.
"Okay, Tobio. Let's get some medicine for that cold, okay?" Bokuto said.
Tobio buried his face into Bokuto's shirt, pushing his runny nose against his collarbone. Bokuto held back the look of disgust on his face and bit his lip to keep him self from gagging. Kuroo, on the other hand, wrinkled his nose and squinted his eyes.
"You must really love Akaashi if you're willing to put up with this," Kuroo said softly.
Bokuto rolled his eyes and bounced Tobio in his arms to readjust him, ignoring the sticky snot smushed against his chest.
"Let's go already," he said with a weak pout.
Kuroo surprisingly threw on a jacket and tagged along, claiming Bokuto would probably get Tobio medicine that would kill the boy. Bokuto fussed about his reasons for coming but he allowed his annoying roommate to traipse behind them towards the convenient store.
"You really think they'll have children's medicines here?" Bokuto asked, looking up at the sign skeptically.
"They will," Kuroo assured, walking inside with his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. "Before I wanted to teach I wanted to become a doctor, remember? I was always fascinated by medications and stuff."
Bokuto raised a brow at him as he followed him into the store and down towards the medication isle.
"You're such a nerd," Bokuto teased.
"Shut up or I'm leaving you to find meds for the boy," Kuroo said, shooting him a playful smile.
Bokuto clicked his mouth shut and shook his head, shrugging in response. Kuroo smiled victoriously and turned to look at the array of cold medicines on the shelf. He frowned as he read over them, his hand reaching up to touch certain boxes and read the labels.
"Does he have a wet or a dry cough?" Kuroo asked.
Bokuto paused, biting his lip. He looked down at the sleepy boy in his arms, hoping to get an answer from the source. But Tobio was too drained to say anything, his head fitting snugly against Bokuto's chest.
"I don't know," Bokuto finally answered. "He's sniffling a lot, though."
"Runny nose," Kuroo mumbled. "It all sounds like a cold, but… why does he still look like this?"
Bokuto shrugged, readjusting the boy in his arms. He didn't have an answer for Kuroo, especially since Tobio didn't feel warm enough for a fever.
"You're the expert. Not me," Bokuto said with a teasing grin.
Kuroo twisted his lips and scowled at him, turning back to the rack of medicines.
"Well, I'll just get this standard cold medicine," Kuroo said. Grabbing a pink box. "It's not too strong, but it should help out some I think."
Bokuto smiled and nodded, reaching out to grab the box from Kuroo. But just as his hand left Tobio's back, the small boy broke out into more raspy coughs. Bokuto retracted his hand and patted and rubbed Tobio's back until he calmed down, sniffling weakly into Bokuto's chest.
"It sounds worse than before," Bokuto said.
Kuroo paused, looking thoughtful and contemplative. He glanced over at the shelves again and reached out, grabbing a white box.
"He'll probably need to wear these for a few days," Kuroo said.
Bokuto stared at the box in Kuroo's hand and frowned.
"He's not gonna like that."
Tobio dragged himself down the hallway toward his kindergarten classroom, his hand barely hanging on to his father's. His other hand reached up to scratch his cheek, the white mask on his face making it itch.
He felt too claustrophobic. The mask needed to come off; he needed to feel free and to breathe openly.
Tobio's fingers hooked the string of mask, ready to tug it down and away from his nose and mouth—
"Hey, don't take it off."
A hand tugged his wrist away, leaving the mask to stick on his face. His mouth twisted into a frustrated pout underneath the mask. He sniffled pitifully and glanced up at his father with a pitiful glare.
Akaashi just stared back, his brows slightly creased as he shook his head.
"I know it's annoying, but you can't take it off," Akaashi said softly. "Until the cough goes away, it stays on."
Tobio coughed lightly, and Akaashi gave him a knowing look. Tobio glanced away, allowing the scowl to stay on his face. Akaashi sighed softly and led Tobio to his classroom.
Suga was standing inside, talking to one of Tobio's classmates, but once he noticed the mask on Tobio's face, his bright smile vanished. He knelt down to Tobio and gazed into his eyes thoughtfully.
"Oh, dear. Feeling a bit sick, Tobio?" Suga asked, pushing some of his hair out of his face.
Tobio opened his mouth to speak but all that same out were more wet coughs. His father knelt down beside him and patted his back.
"He's been fighting a cough all week," Akaashi explained. "And it's just gotten worse over the past few days. I thought a mask would be the safest thing to do right now."
Suga nodded, determined and reassuring. "Probably for the best. He's not running a fever?"
Tobio cleared his throat after his coughs died down and glanced up at his father just in time to see him shaking his head.
"No. Nothing, yet," Akaashi said. "I'm hoping it's just a little cold."
"I see. Well, I'll be sure he keeps the mask on today," Suga said.
"Mnn. Thank you."
Suga smiled at him and then stood back up to his feet.
"Well, Tobio, you can go ahead and get settled in," Suga said. "The other kids are playing with blocks right now. You can go join them if you want."
Tobio nodded solemnly and slowly, not looking forward to interacting with anyone at the moment. When Suga walked away, Akaashi also rose to his feet and touched Tobio's shoulder.
"Have a good day, Tobio," Akaashi said, a small smile on his face.
Akaashi patted Tobio's shoulder and turned around to leave. Tobio watched his father's back as he left, his black violin case hanging over his shoulder. He remembered hearing him talk to Bokuto about his upcoming audition at dinner the other night.
The audition was just in a few days and his father was a bundle of nerves and excitement. His father had mentioned something about possibly getting a bigger apartment if he got the job, and new appliances along with new clothes both for himself and Tobio. He seemed eager and hopeful about the audition coming up, and Tobio wanted him to get the job. He had talked a lot about violin recently and it was a really fun and pretty instrument.
But…
Tobio's shoulders fell when his father disappeared beyond the doorway of the classroom.
…he sure missed spending time with his dad.
"Tobio!"
Tobio jumped and turned around, seeing a bright face and a fluff of orange filling his sight. Ah, Shouyou was quite a ray of sunshine this morning, as usual.
"Hey! Are you gonna play—" Shouyou suddenly stopped short, his smile disappearing from his face. He cocked his head to the side and pointed at Tobio's face. "What's that on your face?"
Tobio scowled, his brows scrunching up as he twisted his lip to the side.
"It's a mask," Tobio muttered, his voice coming out in a harsh rasp.
Shouyou jumped at the sound, his eyes widening. "What the heck was that sound?"
Tobio's hands curled into fists. "It's my voice, you dummy!"
"Does it normally sound like that?"
"No, stupid! I'm—"
Tobio choked on a tickle in his throat, and he turned away to cough into his hand. Shouyou just stared at him with big eyes, his eyebrows upturned a little.
"That sounds bad," Shouyou said softly. "Are you dying or something?"
Tobio breathed in a stuttered breath and threw a glare at the redheaded boy.
"Hah? I'm not dying! I just have a cold, you—ack!"
Tobio coughed more, and he sucked in a ragged breath. His heart jolted as his chest exploded into tiny pinpricks of pain that spread up to his throat and down to his belly. He tried to breathe normally but the air was suddenly thick and harsh.
He had never had a cough like that before.
"S-S-Suga-sensei!"
Tobio glanced up to see Shouyou rushing over to their teacher's side, panic evident in his eyes. He tugged on Suga's pants and pointed towards Tobio, his little eyes shining with worried tears. Suga's eyes followed Shouyou's finger until he landed on Tobio. His eyes widened a bit and he hurried over to the boy's side.
"Hey, hey, cough it out," Suga said, his voice smooth and comforting as he patted Tobio between the shoulder blades.
Tobio inhaled a wheezing breath and coughed one last time, and he shuddered when he tasted mucus on his tongue. He swallowed thickly and shivered, the disgusting taste sliding down his throat.
"H-Here! Drink this!"
Suddenly, there was a water bottle being thrust in his face, and that same mop of orange hair was next to him, concern filled in those glassy eyes. Tobio cleared his throat and took the water bottle from Shouyou, tipping it up to his mouth. He stopped short when the top of the water bottle bumped into his mask.
"Relax, Shouyou," Suga said softly before turning back to Tobio. "Here. Let's get that off you so you can drink."
Suga lightly tugged the mask down to his chin, and he finally, finally felt the sweet relief of being able to take a deep breath. But the breath was ragged and painful, sending a burning sensation down to his chest, making his lungs ache.
The water bottle was pressed to his lips and Tobio welcomed the water graciously, gulping it down easily and getting rid of the nasty taste in his mouth. Once the tickly feeling was gone, he came up for air and panted a little, pathetically sniffling up the snot that tried to run out of his nose.
"You sure have a nasty cold, Tobio," Suga said. "Are you sure you want to stay today? I can send you home if you'd like."
Tobio bit his lip, a few stray drops of water still lingering.
Wouldn't his dad be unhappy if he came to get him? He would have to stop practicing, and then…
Long nights sitting on the couch.
His father forgetting to eat.
Constantly drinking from the bottle, being unresponsive, and…
Lifeless.
Tobio swallowed down the gross, slimy texture in his mouth and stared up at Suga with pleading eyes.
"I'm okay, Sensei," Tobio said. He cleared his throat. "Daddy says I have a bad cough, but I'm not running a fever."
Suga tilted his head at him. "And he took your temperature?"
Tobio remembered the number of times his father, Bokuto, and Kuroo touched his forehead in the last few days. Each and every time, they all claimed he felt normal.
"Yes," Tobio said, certain of his answer. "They said I just have a cold."
Suga still looked perplexed, his lip pouting a little bit as he stared down at Tobio. He nodded slowly and then moved to put the mask back over Tobio's nose and mouth, much to his dismay.
"Well, as long as your father says you're okay," Suga said. "But if you're feeling really sick, I'll have to take you the nurse's office. You have to let me know if you're feeling worse, though. Okay?"
Tobio nodded glumly, lowering his gaze to stare at Suga's indoor shoes. There was a pat on his head before Suga's presence left him alone in the middle of the colorful carpet. He sighed, his throat now sore and tired from all the coughing and talking. He wished it was nap time. Or at least snack time.
"Tobio…"
Shouyou finally approached Tobio with a sheepish expression, the corners of his eyes still wet and shiny from his earlier episode. His hands were bunched in his shirt as he got closer, his mouth wobbling.
"Are… Are you sure you're not dying?" Shouyou asked.
Tobio coughed lightly, his brows lowering comically over his eyes.
"I already told you I'm not!" Tobio shouted. He coughed again and more prickles of pain exploded in his lungs, making him wince underneath the mask.
Shouyou's shoulders relaxed a little but his face was still skewed in apprehension. He fiddled with his hands carefully and pouted his lip.
"Well… If you're not dying, then… Did you want to build something?" Shouyou said, glancing over his shoulder at the blocks. "I saved a bunch of the blue and orange blocks."
Tobio paused for a moment to clear the tickle from his throat. He rubbed his burning chest and nodded, making Shouyou beam. He grabbed Tobio's wrist and tugged him over to the blocks.
"Let's build the tallest building ever, okay?" Shouyou said.
Tobio nodded wordlessly as he stacked two blue blocks on top of each other. His chest hurt too much to say another word, but he kept it to himself.
If it hurt to talk, then he'd have to stay quiet until after his father's audition.
Just a few more days.
Akaashi found himself in a cold, pitch-black room. Alone. He glanced around, wondering what on earth was going on.
"Hello?" Akaashi called out, hearing his voice echo in the small space. "Is… Is anyone there?"
For a moment, he only heard his own voice echo back to him. It was eerie, and Akaashi started to feel his stomach swoop in fear. He started to move so he could find some sort of exit, his hands moving in front of him so he would not run into anything.
Just as he took one step, a light clicked on overhead, shining a bright ray down over him. He shielded his eyes for a moment and blinked rapidly to adjust to the room. His breath hitched when he realized where he was.
He was on a stage. But the audience was empty and the stage was still eerily dark except for the little light that surrounded him and spread to the wooden floor beneath his feet.
"What's going on here?" Akaashi called out. "Who brought me here? Show yourself!"
"Oh, so you work hard for this but not for me?"
Akaashi gasped and whirled around, watching as Mori-san walked into the circle of light. He was glowering at Akaashi with his hands shoved in his pockets, his lip curled down in a scowl.
"You never worked this hard for me when you worked for Tokyo Phil. So why are you working so hard for this?" Mori asked, gesturing towards the stage.
Akaashi furrowed his brows. "I did work hard for you. I tried my best to get all of the parts ready and—"
"Ha! As if. All you ever did was slow down our progress."
Akaashi blinked at him, his brows pinching now.
This wasn't like the normal Mori-san. He would yell and rant, but never mock.
Something wasn't right.
"He's right, Keiji."
Akaashi turned around again to see his mother now in the spotlight. She wore a beautiful dress and sat on a piano bench, a glass of wine in her hand. She crossed her legs and eyed him with scrutiny.
"You used to work hard when you were younger, but now that you've got that boy in your life, everything you do is meaningless," his mother said before taking a swig of wine.
Akaashi felt his chest constrict as anger surged through his veins. He curled his hands into fists and squared his shoulders.
"My life isn't meaningless," Akaashi defended. "And Tobio isn't the cause for any of my struggles."
His mother took the glass from her mouth and tilted her head condescendingly. Even though she was sitting, she still made Akaashi feel so small.
"Is that so?" she mocked. "Then what about those cuts on your arms? Are those not because of the boy?"
Akaashi recoiled as if he was struck, his hand coming up to cover his wrist.
"How do you know about that?" Akaashi asked in a terrified whisper.
"Don't you see it, Keiji?"
Akaashi whirled around again, seeing his father standing to the right of Mori-san, his arms folded across his chest. His father did not have the typical scowl that he usually had. Instead, it was twisted in the same fury that he showed in the practice room, when he had almost threatened Tobio.
"See what?" Akaashi snapped, taking a tentative step backward.
"Don't you see how you're ruining everything I ever gave you?" his father asked, taking a step forward. "You throw everything away and now you're trying to throw my name away, too?"
"It's my name, too," Akaashi said. "I've already told you that I don't belong to you."
"You stupid son!" his father yelled, his voice echoing in the small space. "How could you keep that boy and toss me aside? I gave you everything! Everything!"
Akaashi took another step back, suddenly feeling fearful of what his father would do next. Would he really hurt him here? On this stage?
"I never should have had you," his mother suddenly spoke from behind.
Akaashi glanced at her over his shoulder and saw that she was now standing, her arms crossed and her gaze sharp.
"You don't mean that," Akaashi whispered.
But his mother's lip tugged into a strange smile.
"I should have given you up when I had the chance."
Akaashi slapped his hands over his ears.
"Stop it!" he begged.
"You're a waste! A waste of my time and energy!" Mori yelled.
Akaashi shook his head, struggling to keep the voices at bay.
"You're an ignorant and rebellious child who deserves to be punished!" his father yelled. "You are no son of mine!"
Akaashi squatted down and squeezed his eyes shut, his hands still covering his ears as his body shook.
"Leave me alone!" he yelled. "Just leave me alone!"
"Daddy?"
Akaashi's eyes snapped open and he glanced up to see Tobio standing a few steps away, his eyes red and tears running down his cheeks.
"Tobio?" Akaashi whispered. He reached out his hand to him. "Why are you crying? What's—"
"Why don't you care about me, Daddy?"
The question made Akaashi freeze, his eyes widening. His hand started to shake.
"What?" Akaashi whispered. "Of course I care, Tobio. I love—"
"You don't!" Tobio yelled, making Akaashi jump. "You've never cared! You've never cared and I hate you!"
Akaashi felt a tear slip down his cheek and he shook his head, falling to his knees. He outstretched both of his hands, feeling rooted to the spot.
"Please, Tobio. I don't hate you. I could never hate you," Akaashi said. "You're my son, Tobio. Please come to me."
"I guess you couldn't take care of him, either."
Akaashi inhaled sharply, practically choking on a breath. He hadn't heard that voice in years. He tilted his head to see the familiar look of disgust from those sharp, blue eyes.
Kageyama Mei.
"Mei," Akaashi called.
"No. I don't want anything to do with him," Mei said, her words echoing just as they did when she left nearly five years ago. "He's under your care now,"
"No, Mei," Akaashi said, falling forward and bracing himself. He leaned up and reached out one hand to her. "Don't go. Don't leave me."
But Mei gave him that same ice cold look as before, and she turned around.
"Goodbye, Keiji."
"Wait!" Akaashi yelled, scrambling to his feet. He started to run after her, his hand extended to her. "Don't leave, Mei! Mei!"
Before he could reach out and grab her, a hand seized the back of his collar and made him stop in his tracks, the pressure on his neck choking him. He sputtered and watched Mei disappear into the darkness. He still reached out to her, begging, pleading for her to come back.
"Mei… please," Akaashi called. "Don't leave me again."
There was a beat of silence, and then the hand on his collar released him.
"You fool. Did you really think you could convince her to stay?"
Akaashi froze, the hairs on his neck standing on their ends as goosebumps broke out on his skin.
He knew that voice.
He knew it very well.
It was that sinister voice that spoke to him day in and day out, telling him how awful he truly was and how much he deserved to die.
Akaashi turned his head around, finally ready to see the face behind the awful insults that plagued his mind for years. The figure stepped out of the shadow and into the light…
…And he was met with a creepy, menacing version of himself.
"No," Akaashi said, taking a step back. "It can't be me. You can't be me!"
"Ah, but I am you," the other Akaashi said, smiling wide. The imposter reached out his hand and touched Akaashi's chest. "After all. Who knows you better than you?"
And suddenly, the imposter's hand pushed on Akaashi's chest, sending him flying backward and into the dark abyss below.
"NO!"
Akaashi awoke with a start, his heart pounding away furiously in his chest.
The tendrils of the dream that had gripped Akaashi's mind finally loosened and fell away, but he still could not quite place where he was. He blinked rapidly and glanced around, noticing the familiar bookshelf in the corner. He glanced over and saw his bed next to his face, and that was when he realized it.
He had fallen out of bed.
Akaashi wiped the sweat from his face with a trembling hand, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the nightmarish images that plagued his mind.
"What a dream…" Akaashi whispered to his empty room.
He leaned up and looked at the clock on his nightstand, his eyes trying to adjust to the red numbers. It was nearly six in the morning.
Akaashi sighed and wiped off another stray drop of sweat. He leaned back down and stretched on the floor, his gaze staring up at the ceiling with a deadpan expression.
The stress from the audition was really starting to get to him if he was having these kinds of dreams. It was so concerning. Everything in the dream felt so extremely real, as if he could reach out and touch them.
And the sight of the voice as himself…
Akaashi shivered, shutting his eyes tight. No, he shouldn't think about those things. He had a job to do.
Today was the day of the audition.
"Right," Akaashi whispered, opening his eyes. He breathed deeply and sighed.
"Let's do this."
Akaashi studied himself in the bathroom mirror, his hand reaching up to adjust his tie. His suit had been cleaned and pressed with neat creases along the sleeves and pants. His white shirt was pristine and spotless and his black shoes were polished and shined.
He took a deep breath in and let it all out in one heap to try to relax his shoulders. But his pounding heart protested, sending strange flutters down to his stomach. There was also a strange tremor in his hands and knees. He briefly wondered if he could make it to the music hall today with his legs wobbling as badly as they were. But he knew he had to.
With another soft, trembling breath, Akaashi nodded to himself in the mirror, putting on a determined face.
Today was the day.
Today was the day he played in front of three judges who could determine his career.
And hopefully the start of a new life for both him and Tobio.
Akaashi left the bathroom and closed the door behind him softly, his hand lingering on the door for just a moment. He breathed through his nose and headed down towards the living room.
Tobio sat on the couch, practically asleep, and Bokuto was kneeling on the floor next to his duffle bag, shoving in his athletic shorts and shoes. When Akaashi approached, the two perked up, looking at him with bright eyes.
"Oh, Akaashi! You look so good!" Bokuto said, standing. He patted Akaashi's shoulder and nodded, giving him a thumbs-up. "There's no way they can't accept you now."
"I haven't even auditioned yet, Bokuto-san," Akaashi deadpanned.
Bokuto waved his hand in the air. "Details, details! You're gonna nail it today."
Akaashi smiled gratefully at him, his words making his chest warm. He nodded and hummed, feeling a bit confident in himself.
"Well, I should probably get going so I can get there early," Akaashi said.
Bokuto nodded, smiling brightly. "Okay! And don't worry about Little Man over there. He and Shouyou will have lots of fun today!"
Akaashi glanced over at the couch to smile at Tobio, but it quickly slipped from his face.
Tobio was leaning heavily against the arm of the couch, his eyes glazed over again and his chest moving slowly. He sniffled once, twice, and then coughed wetly.
Akaashi bit his lip.
"I hate you!"
His terrifying dream came back to him at full force, startling him and making the blood drain from his face.
It was just a dream, Akaashi told himself. Just a dream.
He took a deep breath and then lowered himself down next to Tobio, his hand reaching up to card his fingers through his hair.
"You feeling any better today, Tobio?" Akaashi asked, his face pinching in worry.
Tobio nodded slowly, sitting up from the arm of the couch and resting his hands in his lap. He hadn't been speaking much, either, which sparked another concern in Akaashi's mind.
"Maybe I should just stay home," Akaashi said softly as he stroked Tobio's hair.
Tobio's eyes widened a fraction as he shook his head. He latched onto Akaashi's hand and squeezed with all of his little might.
"No, Daddy," Tobio said, his voice incredibly small. "You have to get the violin job!"
"But if you're feeling sick, then I need to stay here and take care of you," Akaashi said.
"I'm okay," Tobio said, choking a bit on a cough. He cleared his throat and sniffled. "Really."
Akaashi was unsettled, staring at his son carefully. His blue eyes were not as stark as they usually were, instead of a pale blue that oozed lifelessness. He was a shell of what he used to be, and it made Akaashi's stomach twist.
"I'll watch him," Bokuto spoke up, kneeling down next to Akaashi and placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "And the other guys will be there playing volleyball, too. We'll all keep an eye out for him."
Ah, that's right, Akaashi thought.
The guys were getting together to play this morning. Apparently Shouyou would be there, too. Akaashi felt a little relief at the thought. Tobio needed his friend today.
"So everything will be fine, okay? I promise," Bokuto concluded, a smile on his face.
His words eased the heavy burden in Akaashi's chest enough for him to nod and stand to his feet. He picked up his bag of music and his violin and pulled the straps over his shoulder.
"Okay. I'll have my phone, so… call me if anything comes up," Akaashi said.
Bokuto stood up at saluted playfully, making Akaashi smile. His heart was a mess, unsure if he should feel giddy or anxious.
"We should head out, too!" Bokuto said, leaning over to pull Tobio into his arms. He grabbed the white mask from the end table and slipped it over his face, much to the boy's dismay. "There we go. Ready?"
Akaashi felt his heart skip a beat.
This was it. After today, he could have the job he'd dreamed of having since he was little.
He paused to take a deep breath and then he nodded to Bokuto, feeling his nerves tense, release, and then tense again.
Bokuto smiled.
"Let's go!"
After parting ways with Akaashi at the station, Bokuto toted Tobio down to Fukurodani High where the rest of the guys were waiting. Bokuto was practically bouncing with each step, excitement flowing through his veins.
Akaashi was going to fulfill his dreams! How could things get any better?
There was a small sniffle down by his chest and Bokuto looked down to the small bundle in his arms.
Tobio was leaning heavily against his chest as Bokuto carried him. He got too tired at the station and Bokuto offered to carry him the rest of the way. He barely had any energy to move, and Bokuto worried if going to play volleyball was the best thing for him today.
"You ready to play some today?" Bokuto asked, trying to get Tobio to speak.
But the boy said nothing, a small nod being the only sign of a response. Bokuto hugged him a little tighter to his chest, his smile slipping a bit.
"Shouyou will be there," Bokuto said. "And that's a good thing, right? You always have fun with him!"
Another small nod, and Bokuto's brows pinched in worry. He would really have to watch him today.
I'll keep my promise, Bokuto thought. I'll watch Tobio.
When they arrived at the gym of Fukurodani High, the rest of the guys were already there, busy warming up and practicing serves. Even Suga decided to show up, which was a relief. They needed another setter since Akaashi wasn't going to be there.
Shouyou was over on the sidelines practicing his receives with Kuroo. Shouyou's latest receive ended with him smacking himself in the face with the ball. Kuroo laughed but immediately helped him try again. Kuroo had the patience of a saint.
"Morning, Kuroo!" Bokuto called as they approached.
Kuroo glanced up at them and waved his hand.
"Fashionably late for once, eh, Bo?" Kuroo asked, placing his hands on his hips.
"Yeah, well, I was seeing Akaashi off!" Bokuto explained.
"Yeah, yeah, excuses," Kuroo said, waving his hand in the air. "You ready to play? We're all warmed up and ready to go."
Bokuto beamed. "Of course!" he responded, and he leaned over to set Tobio down. He helped him pull off his coat and he tossed it to the side. "Okay, Tobio. You can practice with Shouyou, okay?"
Tobio nodded, and that was when Kuroo's smile slipped from his face. The two men watched the small boy waddle off to greet Shouyou, who gasped when he saw Tobio's face, shouting something about him "dying." Tobio mumbled something back to him and he picked up a volleyball.
"He looks horrible," Kuroo whispered, his hand reaching up to rub the back of his neck.
Bokuto nodded as he quickly yanked his long kneepads over his legs. He managed to tug them on in record speed.
"Yeah. I promised Akaashi we'd keep an eye on him today," Bokuto said.
Kuroo looked unsure, lines etching into his forehead as his brows crept together.
"Did he take medicine?" Kuroo asked.
"Yep," Bokuto said, putting his shoes on.
"And?"
"Not much better."
Kuroo stretched his arms behind his head and sighed, watching as the two small boys started to bump the ball back and forth to one another. Shouyou looked a little more reserved than usual, his bumps cautious and light as he possibly could make them. And Tobio… Well, he was lucky enough to get the ball up at all with how weak he looked.
"Okay. We'll keep an eye on him. Is he okay to play around with Shouyou?" Kuroo asked.
Bokuto stood up, his shoes secured on his feet, and he began to stretch out his arms, pulling one across his chest.
"I made Tobio pinky-promise me that he would tell me if he felt worse," Bokuto said, a small smile on his face.
"Making lots of promises, I see," Kuroo said, smirking. "Did you pinky-promise with Akaashi, too?"
"Shut up," Bokuto said, pushing on his shoulder. "Let's play already."
Kuroo smiled and slapped Bokuto's back as they walked out onto the court, both of them stretching their arms now.
"All right. Bo's on my team this time," Kuroo announced.
"And I'll suppose you'll want Kenma, too?" Daichi asked. When Kuroo nodded in response, Daichi shrugged. "Sounds fine. Our team will stick kick your ass, so it's no big deal."
Kuroo smirked at Bokuto, and Bokuto smiled back, nodding in excitement.
"We'll just see about that."
"Okay, Akaashi-san. You'll be on to go in 10 minutes."
Akaashi nodded at the hall monitor and thanked her. She bowed her head politely and shut the practice room door behind her, leaving Akaashi in the silent room. His violin had been thoroughly warmed up, the instrument still warm in his hands.
Akaashi took a deep breath and rested the violin down in its case on the chair, his hands shaking as he let the instrument go.
Akaashi stretched his free hands above his head and rolled his shoulders, moving out the kinks. He huffed out a quick breath to try to calm his pounding heart but it only made his nerves quicken.
He turned around, facing away from his violin, and ended up staring into the mirror in the practice room. His suit was still pristine and clean as it had been when he left earlier that morning. His tie was a bit crooked, but that was due to his constant tugging as his anxieties spiked.
"Breathe," Akaashi told himself, watching his mouth move in the mirror. "You've done this before. It's no big deal. Just breathe."
He closed his eyes and did as his reflection told him to, taking in a long, deep breath through his nose and out through his mouth. The quiet of the room started to calm his heart and he could breathe a little easier.
There, Akaashi told himself. You've got this, you've got this…
Do you really have this?
Akaashi jumped, snapping his eyes open and looking around the tiny space.
What in the?
The voice sounded so close…
What was—
You're such a fool! Did you really think you can do this? After five years?
Akaashi glanced back in the mirror, and for a split second, he saw the imposter in his dream smiling right back at him.
You will never get this part! NEVER!
Akaashi closed his eyes and turned around, putting his hands to his chest as his heart raced.
Go away, go away, go away!
Akaashi's mind repeated the words like a chant and after a minute, the voice faded into the background, leaving him in complete silence. His hands shook a little as he tried to concentrate on happier thoughts. Volleyball, violin, anything—
"You can't call yourself a failure when you've got the greatest proof of success right before your eyes."
"Go get that violin job, Daddy!"
"You're gonna be fine, Akaashi!"
Akaashi's breath hitched in his chest at the sound of that voice. He thought back, repeating Bokuto's words in his mind over and over.
"I knew you could do it, Akaashi!"
"I… I know what you were trying to do at that bridge a few weeks ago,"
"So, if… if that's what you were trying to do then… well, Akaashi, I just want you to know…"
"…I'm here for you, okay?"
Akaashi smiled, remembering Bokuto's words echoing in his mind. He kept thinking about them over and over until the tremors alleviated, making his body go still and calm. He finally smiled, and it was as if a weight had been lifted.
"You're gonna nail it today."
Akaashi huffed out a laugh. "I really hope so, Bokuto-san."
"Akaashi-san?"
Akaashi turned when he heard the door open, the monitor poking her head inside. She had her clipboard tucked to her chest and a small smile on her face.
"You're going to be next," she said, nodding towards the hallway.
Akaashi gave her a jerky nod and quickly turned around to grab his music and his violin. He took a deep breath and turned back around, preparing himself.
"Okay. I'm ready," Akaashi said to her.
"Right this way, please."
He followed her out of the room and down the hall, passing by some noisy practice rooms. He was led down a familiar hallway to the same auditorium that he had auditioned in a month prior. He heard someone playing in the auditorium, the sound amazingly accurate and crystal clear as the bow hit the strings just right.
It was intimidating.
"They're on the last page of the excerpt," the monitor explained. "Just sit tight, okay?"
Akaashi nodded, subconsciously leaning towards the door of the auditorium. He listened carefully to the other audition, his fingers moving along the strings as the other person played.
It was incredibly intimidating.
"Here! Toss to me!"
Tobio glanced over at the court, watching as Bokuto called out for Kenma to toss, the ball reaching up towards the sky. The boisterous coach smacked the ball on the ground on the other side of the net and landed on his feet, pumping his fists and hollering in victory.
"Hey, hey, hey! Good toss, Kenma!" Bokuto yelled.
Kenma sighed and nodded, turning back to get ready for a serve.
Tobio frowned. Normally Kenma's moves made him light up. But today, everything seemed… hazy.
"Tobio?"
Not to mention his chest was hurting a lot.
"Tobio-san!"
Was that normal for it to hurt this badly?
And why did his stomach hurt?
And his… head was so… fuzzy…
"Tobio-chan!"
Tobio jumped, spinning around to see Shouyou staring at him with a quirked brow. He was holding the volleyball in both of his hands, his head tilted slightly.
"What do you say? Can we try it?" Shouyou asked, gesturing towards the ball.
Tobio furrowed his brow, too exhausted to snap back at him. He nodded, taking a few steps back.
Shouyou lit up like a firework. "Yes! Okay, here it comes!"
The ball floated in the air in an uneven arc.
Tobio squinted as he lifted his hands in the air, his eyes struggling to focus on the ball.
The ball… It's… fuzzy.
He managed to walk under the falling ball, and he felt the cool material touch his fingertips. With all of the strength he had left, Tobio pushed the ball up into the air to form a perfect arc.
Shouyou leapt high into the air, his tongue poking out of the side of his mouth. With his hand flattened, he smacked the ball down with precision. His palm stung from how hard he hit the ball, but it felt good.
"That was a great toss, Tobio!" Shouyou called. He turned around to face his friend, ready to go again. "Can we do it a—"
Shouyou froze, the smile slipping from his face.
Tobio was on the ground.
The violinist finally left the side of the auditorium door, a small smile on his face as he passed Akaashi. Akaashi smiled lightly at him as he passed, giving him a humble bow of the head in greeting.
I'm next, Akaashi thought. Don't be nervous. You won't fail. You won't mess up. It will all be okay.
The monitor poked her head inside the auditorium door. Akaashi was able to get a glimpse of the stage. The three judges had set up a table on the stage this time, making the audition a lot more intimate than before.
So. Intimidating.
But he could do it.
Akaashi could do it.
Besides, he had people back home who were counting on him.
The monitor exchanged a few soft words with whoever was inside before closing the door behind her. She smiled at Akaashi politely and dipped her head a bit.
"They're still writing some things from the last audition, so please wait just a few more minutes," she said.
Akaashi inhaled slowly and nodded. He closed his eyes and started to echo Bokuto's words in his mind again.
"Why don't you start playing violin again?"
"You enjoy playing violin, right?"
"Good. Then do what you enjoy, Akaashi. Don't let others get in your way. Okay?"
"I won't, Bokuto-san," Akaashi whispered, a smile on his face. "I won't let anything get in my way."
Bokuto leaped up into the air and slammed the ball down, the ball, once again, hitting the floor with a satisfying smack. It bounced a few times before rolling against the wall.
"Yes!" Bokuto said.
Daichi panted and wiped his face. "Clearly the teams are uneven."
"Oh, a little tired, are we, Sawamura?" Kuroo teased.
"No way! We're not tired at all! Are we, Daichi-san?" Noya chirped, standing tall and looking completely rested.
"How do you have so much energy? You've been running around the most!" Asahi said, the poor man hunched over on his knees.
"Guys, c'mon! Get the ball!" Suga said, hands on his hips. "We've got a lot of points to make up if we're going to crush these guys!"
Bokuto smirked, his arm flailing out to point in Suga's direction.
"You just watch yourself, Suga!" Bokuto said, his confidence growing. "Because the only people getting crushed are—"
"TOBIO!"
The loud shriek from the sidelines made everyone startle.
Bokuto whirled around in alarm, his eyes flitting over to the two boys on the side.
And panic overtook him as soon as he saw a tiny body lying on the floor.
"Tobio!" Bokuto called, taking off in their direction.
He slid down next to Tobio on his knees, his face puling into a grimace when he heard the sharp wheezing noises coming from his mouth. Tobio's face was also beet red, and his tiny hands were clutching his chest, seeming to struggle with breathing.
"Tobio, can you hear me?" Bokuto asked, carefully cradling the boy in his lap.
The boy's only responses were the muffled wheezes from behind the white mask. It sounded painful.
"What's going on?" Kuroo asked, suddenly on his knees beside them.
"I don't know," Bokuto said, gently reaching down to tug the mask off of Tobio's face.
The wheezing still continued even with the barrier from his face gone, and it only made Bokuto panic more.
"Here, let me see," Suga said gently, getting on his knees next to him. He gently touched Tobio's face around the sides of his neck and his forehead, his face contorting into a harsh frown. "He's burning up."
"A fever?" Bokuto asked. "But he hasn't had a fever all week!"
"Sometimes fevers are harder to detect in children," Kuroo said softly, his face pulling into a guilty wince.
"Well, what should we do? He's not responding to us!" Bokuto said.
Kuroo shook his head. "We've got to get him to the hospital."
"Hospital?!"
"We have to, Bokuto," Suga said, placing a sturdy hand on his shoulder. "I'll call for an ambulance."
Suga stood and sprinted over to his bag to retrieve his phone.
Bokuto was caught in a daze, watching Suga dial the numbers and put the phone up to his ear. His words were too far away for him to hear, but he could pick out the words "sick" and "fever."
Bokuto's breath hitched.
This was his fault.
He wasn't watching Tobio.
He broke his promise.
"Bokuto."
Bokuto jumped, turning his stricken gaze back to Kuroo. His friend grabbed his shoulder and squeezed.
"You've got to call Akaashi," Kuroo said.
Bokuto's heart leaped in his chest.
"But… his audition…" Bokuto whispered.
"I think Akaashi would need to know about this, Bo," Kuroo said. "We've got to. We don't have a choice. This is an emergency."
Bokuto felt tears prick at his eyes and he nodded, holding Tobio a little closer to his chest.
"Okay," Bokuto said, sniffling. "Can you get my phone?"
"They're just finishing up, so be ready to go on."
Akaashi nodded as the monitor shut the side door again. He took more deep breaths to calm his pounding heart. He felt ready to take on this audition. He felt ready to play his parts. He felt confident.
And the best part was that the voice was silent. His method of repeating Bokuto's words in his head seemed to work. It was the most comfortable Akaashi had been in his own skin in years.
For the first time in years, Akaashi felt free.
Suddenly, he felt a buzzing on the inside pocket of his jacket. He startled a bit, his heart flipping. He had completely forgotten to turn his phone off.
He reached inside to silence his phone, but the name on the screen made him pause.
1 incoming call:
Bokuto-san
Akaashi turned towards the monitor and bowed a little. "Sorry, but I have to take this."
She nodded, a little hesitantly, and Akaashi stepped away from the door. He hit the green button and put the phone up to his ear.
"Hello? Bokuto-san?" Akaashi answered.
There was a moment of silence, and Akaashi briefly wondered if Bokuto had butt-dialed him.
But then there was a sharp intake of breath, following by a clearing of a throat.
"A-Akaashi," Bokuto said over the line. "Um… Sorry to interrupt."
Akaashi quirked a brow. "You didn't. I'm just about to audition. What's up?"
Bokuto took a deep breath, hesitating again. It was abnormal for him to take so many pauses, and it sent off alarm bells in Akaashi's head.
"Listen, Akaashi, It's… It's Tobio," Bokuto said. "He passed out at practice and he's going to the hospital."
Akaashi inhaled sharply.
Tobio?
Passed out?
Hospital?
"W-What?" Akaashi asked, frozen in place.
"Ah, but you don't need to worry, Akaashi! I'm going to watch over him," Bokuto said. "So… So you can continue with your audition and just come to the hospital after. Yeah, yeah. You can still audition."
Tobio was going to the hospital.
Tobio was going to the hospital.
Tobio… hospital…
"Okay? I promise I'll watch him," Bokuto said.
"B-But… shouldn't I come?" Akaashi asked, his voice trembling fiercely.
"No, no, we've got it. Just… focus on your audition, okay?" Bokuto said, his voice soft.
Akaashi lowered his gaze, his eyes blowing wide.
What had he done?
He was… He was…
"I want Mom and Dad!"
"Goodbye, Keiji."
Abandonment.
He was abandoning his child.
"Call me when you're done!" Bokuto said. "Good luck, Akaashi!"
The line went dead, and Akaashi's hand fell limp by his side, the phone almost slipping from his grasp.
What… What was going to happen?
What was wrong with Tobio?
Should he… really stay here?
Should he stay here while his son is…
…Alone?
"Akaashi-san."
Akaashi jumped, turning around with a frantic expression as the monitor beckoned him.
"They're ready for you," she said, opening the door for him.
Akaashi swallowed, looking down at his phone.
Bokuto… He said to go through with the audition, but…
"Goodbye… Keiji…"
"I don't… want to be…
…ALONE!"
"Akaashi-san!"
Akaashi jumped again, the monitor looking at him with imploring eyes.
"Come along," she said softly. "The stage is this way."
Akaashi inhaled and swallowed, trying to put back together his shattered nerves. He stuffed his phone in his pocket and grabbed his things.
Things? It was his violin and his music. But they felt so foreign in his hands…
He shook the thought away, carrying his body to the door. He stopped just outside the doorway. Waiting. Hesitating.
Should he really go in there right now?
Should he really go through with this?
Should he really walk into the auditorium to fulfill his dream while his son is lying in some hospital bed—
What did I tell you, stupid? You couldn't do this. You're so selfish.
The voice spoke again, and it was so close that it was as if the source was right behind him, whispering into his ear.
Do you know why?
You do, don't you?
Don't you see it Keiji?
The auditorium door opened for him, and he stood frozen for a moment, his eyes staring at the stage. His legs jolted forward robotically, his shoulders and movements stiff. He walked up onto the stage and stared at the judges with wide, foggy eyes.
You're just like your father.