Credit: @2_nezumi2987 (Twitter/Pivix)

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Tobio was suited up for the occasion, but it wasn't for a celebration. His sister, Miwa, followed her little brother closely, as the two siblings were being gobbled up in a crowd. They haven't had a family reunion this big, this important in a long time. Tobio couldn't remember any of their faces, heck, he didn't even care. The only person he gave a damn about now was right in front of him.

Cold, stoned, lifeless.

Laying in a coffin.

His photo in front of the alter.

Tobio didn't even get the chance say farewell to his grandfather before he rest forever.

It all happened too quickly for Tobio.

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Tobio didn't know what to feel, he didn't know how to feel. He has been excused from school for this family issue. So he sat in the living room, while his parents and relatives scurry around the house dealing with the post-funeral repercussions and stuff.

Stuff.

He knows he couldn't help with anything, so he gets up, grabs a towel and decides to take a shower to hide from the crowd. Apparently, he isn't the only person who has the same idea. He turns the knob on the bathroom door. Locked. He thought about knocking the door, but a soft sniffling could be heard from the other side. Tobio leans forward and place his ears on the door.

"Keep......it......together......."

Miwa chocks on her words softy, crying on shallow breathing. She should expect this. No, she already did. Ever since Ji-chan was admitted into the hospital, she had told herself to get ready for this day.

She's been holding back her tears since the news of her Ji-chan's passing, thinking that she has it under control, but the moment she walks in a closure, private space, she betrays her own ideals involuntarily. Miwa being the eldest Kageyama, she feels a sense of responsibility. So she refuse to let her feelings burden her family further, especially being a pillar for her little brother to depend on.

Because if there's anyone in the family who would crash the funeral to see Ji-chan one last time, she knows it's stupid little Tobio.

Miwa wrap her towel over her face and avoid looking into the mirror. She wipes her tears, embarrassingly, she imagines how lame and crappy she looks. It sucks. She's beginning to think that her hair sucks too, how it coils and tangles around her face and head, mopping on her tears.

Tobio has heard enough and decides to back off, but his clumsy knee bangs on the door. He hopes his sister didn't hear that.

Too bad for him because Miwa definitely did.

She pulls the towel off from her face and flings the bathroom wide open to see Tobio clutching onto his towel, slightly startled.

"You can shower first," Miwa slips past her little brother and marches to her room.

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Tobio has his struggles. Clearly, he has yet to adapt to it.

Every so often Tobio wakes up with little enthusiasm that he would be watching Oikawa-san serving and setting during volleyball practice, but immediately comes to realisation that he's in second year now. And every evening he thinks about watching volleyball matches with Ji-chan, but the only thing waiting for him at home is quietness, and pieces of note from his parents.

Miwa is still around, but she'll be resuming her university semester soon. Their workaholic parents has an overwhelming amount of work with unpredictable schedules. If they are lucky, they will be able to see their parents on some Friday nights. Nothing has changed much.

It's just life without Ji-chan.

Tobio settles down his keys and walks down the hallway. Miwa hears him from the kitchen while she struggles to prepare dinner. Her parents have temporarily left her in charge of dinner and she hasn't really got the hang of it. Tobio heads to the living room, bends down towards the TV bench and runs his hands around the drawer. He pulls out a couple of CDs, each labelled with different dates, volleyball teams and matches.

He's looking for his personal favourite, MSBY Black Jackals VS Schweiden Alders.

Tobio pulls out two chairs, it feels so unfamiliar for him, to not have Ji-chan commentating and recapping on the match to him anymore, even though this is like his 26th time watching the same damn match. But Ji-chan always has this admiration and love for the Alders, and he considers MBSY to be their only worthy rival. Ji-chan had said he always felt youthful spectating volleyball matches, how he always grips on to that same momentum that the match carries, the exhilarating cheer of the crowd, the hype that lives within him.

And Tobio could relate to his Ji-chan very well.

Miwa finally finishes prepping a clumsy meal, she grips onto two donburi and turns to serve dinner, with Tobio at the living room, his eyes fixated on the TV screen.

"Seriously, Tobio-chan," Miwa takes a deep breath. "Please fucking shower."

She places the bowls on the table, Tobio hit the pause button on his remote and turns his head around. He stares at his sister as Miwa covers up her little brother's share. She crosses her arms.

"What?" she replies as she looks at her stinky little brother. "You aren't eating until you've cleaned up."

Tobio continues to stare, Miwa put down her arms. Looking closer at Tobio, she's struggling to read her little brother. What a surprise. Miwa knew Tobio has always been easy to read.

But now that she can't read it, it actually worries her.

Tobio has always been a social idiot. He sucks at expressing himself, sucks at communicating, can't seem to convey his opinions in a basic, appropriate way. Honestly, he sucks in his academics as well, it's just that he's so outstanding in volleyball that sometimes it actually fools people into thinking he's smarter than he is. He hasn't got any close friends in school, at least that's what Miwa guessed. Not once had Tobio brought any friends over to his house. He had spent most of time with Ji-chan, in fact, he probably never left Ji-chan's side since birth.

But now, Ji-chan has left his side.

She wished that Tobio would holler, mourn, shed his fucking eyeballs out, or whatever form of emotion. She wished Tobio would express himself physically in front of her.

'Throw a tantrum, bang the door, flip a table, COME ON TOBIO!!'  Miwa had thought to herself.

She rather have Tobio shriek at her than to look so.........

Stagnant.

But unlike water, his expression is rock hard, eyes dull, dark with unnoticeable eyebags. Not sure if it's was from all his volleyball practices, lack of sleep or perhaps Tobio has been crying alone in his room.

Maybe it was all of the above.

'It's okay, Tobio. I'm right here, I'M RIGHT FUCKING HERE. You can count on your onee-san. So scream, cry, WHATEVER YOU WANT.

THEN RUN FUCKING BACK TO ME, I'll provide you any comfort-'

She knows how bad it hurts for her.

'I'm here for you.'

And it would hurt worse for Tobio.

"Onee-san," Tobio finally opens his mouth.

"Y-yes?" Miwa trembles slightly from the feelings that pricks her slowly inside of her. She's still holding on to that last bit of courage, just in case this is the time Tobio needs a strong support--

"Did you cut your hair?" Tobio blurts

Miwa pauses, she reaches for her hair.

"Oh.......yes.......I did. I did them myself."

"I thought you loved your long hair."

"I just think I should change a style."

"OK."

Tobio turns his head back to the TV.

Miwa expects more than this anticlimactic response, or maybe she should've expected less from her simpleton little brother. Maybe she should've confronted him directly. Maybe she should've just give him a hug. Maybe she doesn't need to worry at all, that Tobio is a lot stronger than her. Maybe she's the one that needs comfort.......

Miwa's done with think about it, all this crap stuff in her head worning her down. She decides to drop it. Yes, she's absolutely starving. Miwa moves over to sit on the chair Tobio had pulled out.

That's when Tobio snaps

"OI"

Tobio glares at his sister as she lifts her ass away from the chair and glares back at him.

"What?"

"Go sit at another chair, that's for Ji-chan." Tobio threatens

Miwa stands up straight, her dinner in her hand. It took her a moment to realise it. Tobio has always had a habit of preparing a seat for Ji-chan whenever they agree on watching volleyball matches together, and it seems Tobio still has this habit.

Of course, Tobio knows Ji-chan is never sitting here anymore.

So he would hate to have anyone else to replace this particular, physical spot that he have specifically reserved for him.

And Miwa understands it.

"Shower. Now."

Miwa stated her final warning as she moves away from the seat. Tobio leaves the living room to take his shower, dragging his bag behind him.

She sits down on another chair, takes a big spoonful to her mouth, feeding her hunger. She shoves it down her throat, hoping it'll override the intense mix of feelings, pricking inside of her.

She might just cry again.

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