Chapter Text
KUROO:
In a blur of haze, my hands which once used to slam volleyballs down on the court, cradle a camera. My fingers slowly move and play with buttons, adjusting to the light. I look through the small glass square, an unfocused person in the lens. I try to focus on it, but it’s inevitable in the light of the hazy koi pond. Blonde hair, and a red uniform. As the light brightens I give up on focusing my lens.
A sliver of light slices across my corneas. I slap my hands to my eyes, groaning in annoyance as I roll over in my college dorm sheets. I reach up blindly and yank down on a string that slaps my blinds shut. I sigh and bury my face back into the comfort of my soft pillow. “Dammit.” I groan. My voice is muffled by the lavender scented pillowcase. I look over at the volleyball in the corner of my room. I bury my face in the pillow again. A giant wave of annoyance and impatience washed over me.
I check the time and jolt up. I’m late for practice again. I scramble out of bed, squeezing on my toothpaste as I fight to change as fast as I can. Brushing my teeth as I put on practice clothes and putting a little sticky gel into my hair that Kenma bought me. Special for volleyball or aerodynamics and stuff. The things he’s much better at me than. I swish and spit out disgusting tasting listerine. I yank my feet into my shoes and throw up my covers so my room looks less of a landfill. Even though it still does. I check to see if Kenma is here, but he’s gone. Off to physical therapy I guess. I run out the door, sprinting to volleyball practice. I make it just before drills start. As do the rest of the guys. I check my texts for something from Kenma but he hasn’t said much. Kenma is more quiet than usual. I think he feels a little unmotivated after his injury. I sigh and fill up my water bottle, ready for a few hours of grueling training I would need. Today turned out to be a completely recieve focused day. We all dived and ducked and leapt to get the ball back into the air. I can feel a little floor burn on my elbows as practice goes on. At this point, everyone on the team is used to a little floor pain. Nothing a little ice or biofreeze couldn’t fix later on today. I head out of practice next to Bokuto who excitedly slaps me on the back in encouragement. Atsumu and Sakusa join us. The rest of the team heading out for breakfast in the college cafeteria. Loading up our plates with the aromas of steamed rice, Miso soup, grilled fish, and tamagoyaki. I serve myself an extra bowl of tamago-kake-gohan and we sit down. I inhale my food past the point of stomach pain. Something Kenma was usually here to help with. Not really help but just scold him for eating too fast and telling him he’ll throw up. To which I would tell him whatever, but I would slow down and listen.
“When’s our star setter coming back Kuroo?” Sakusa asks. Snapping me out of swallowing a bite of tamagoyaki.
“Hm. Well I guess if he’s been putting the work in. Maybe in one of two months, since it’s been 4 since the accident. But I’ve got no doubt he’ll be back in tip top shape.” I say confidently and continue eating like there’s no tomorrow. Scooping the mixture of rice and rice into my mouth with my chopsticks. Savoring the rich flavor and umami finish. I check the time and realize I've got a class in ten minutes. I scoop the rest of it into my mouth and get up. Rushing off to my first lecture of the day on photography. I liked taking pictures of pretty things. Something that really required no talent whatsoever. Every week we get a prompt and a week to submit 5 pictures. I burst into class before the bell rings and sit down, getting out my sleek dark camera.
