ALMOST - Kageyama haikyuu
♪ PLAYING ` let down - radiohead
You waited for him outside the gym, the winter air biting at your fingers even through your sleeves. Practice had run late again you could hear the squeak of shoes and the sharp echo of volleyballs through the doors. You told yourself you didn’t mind. You always told yourself that.
When the doors finally swung open, the team spilled out in a wave of laughter and steam. Kageyama was in the middle of them, head down, hair damp, muttering something about a set he wanted to redo tomorrow.
He didn’t see you at first.
He never saw you at first.
“Ah—Kageyama,” you called, lifting a hand.
He blinked, startled, like you’d appeared out of nowhere. “Oh. You’re still here.”
Still.
The word hit harder than it should have.
You forced a smile. “You said we could walk home together today.”
His expression flickered recognition, then guilt, then something like frustration at himself. “Right. I… forgot. Practice went long.”
“It’s okay,” you said automatically, even though it wasn’t. Even though you’d been replaying that promise all day like it meant something.
He shifted his bag on his shoulder. “I can walk you now.”
But the team was already calling him “Kageyama! We’re grabbing food!” and he hesitated. Just for a second. Just long enough.
You stepped back before he could decide. “It’s fine. Really. You should go with them.”
He frowned. “But I said—”
“It’s not a big deal,” you cut in, softer than you meant to. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
You didn't wait for his answer. You turned letting the cold swallow the heat in your face. Behind you, you heard him take a step like he might follow… then stop.
He didn’t call your name.
He didn’t run after you.
He just let you go.
And somehow, that hurt more than if he’d said nothing at all.
