Growing Pains

~Your POV~

You walked back into Koushi's room and they seemed to be talking quietly. Of course he gets along with him now you know there's no chance. You hadn't even told Koushi about getting popped in the face yet. A part of you was still in disbelief. There was no way this was real life.

You held the hoodie up and Yuuji took it hesitantly. "I'm sorry you got dropped in the middle of this," you said unable to meet his gaze. He opened his mouth to say something when the door opened. "Food," your mother said looming in the doorway behind you. Her shadow had completely engulfed yours as you swiftly stuffed you hands in your pocket to separate yourself from Yuuji as much as possible. "Coming," Koushi said. You turned to follow her out feeling Yuuji's eyes still on you.

~~~~~

Focusing was almost impossible. Your mother was talking about work and you did your best to stay quiet and unnoticed, but you kept feeling Yuuji's eyes on you. She was going to notice. She was going to say something later.

"So the wingless crows," Yuuji's dad started. "Not so wingless these days," Yuuji muttered. "We were really fortunate to get some incredibly talented first years," Koushi shared. "That fast attack was really killer," Yuuji complimented, "And the synchronized attack. It was so cool." "You guys really gave us a run for our money," Koushi agreed. "We kinda incorporated a lot of training from other sports. Like Bobata, Futamata and I also play soccer," Yuuji shared.

"That save with your foot was really clever. Noya talked about it nonstop after," you shared, poking at your food. "Do you play as well," his mom asked. "No, I've just always gone to support onii," you shared. "And those delinquent friends of yours," your mother said.

"Then what do you do," Yuuji's mom asked. You think she meant it genuinely curious, but boy was that tone condescending. "I'm in theater," you answered open endedly.

"What do you plan to actually do," Yuuji's father asked. "I'm not fully decided yet," you answered. "Neither is our Yuuji," his mother said. "I am decided you just don't like my decision," he replied. You looked over to see him go back to clenching his jaw as he tried to bits his tongue.

"You have so much potential, there's no reason to settle for cutting hair," his mother said. "With all due respect there's more to cosmetology than just cutting hair. In current days you usually need some understanding of chemistry, biology and color theory with how much people dye their hair now. A few wrong moves and you could potentially permanently damage someone's hair," you defended.

"(Y/n), show some respect for our guests," your mother scolded. "She really is your daughter," Yuuji's dad said. The tension only thickened.

"Uh, how about you any plans for college," Yuuji asked trying to change the subject. "Oh- eto.. education. I'm leaning towards teaching language," Koushi answered a bit frazzled. You felt your mother's eyes on you and you glanced over. She seemed to be trying to figure something out.

If only they knew.

Actually... her imagine is so important to her, what could she do?

Now that she's struck you, the only way it could get worse is if she kills you or leaves a mark. Both of which only get you out of this situation.

"(Y/n), can you go put the pie in so it'll be ready," your mother asked. "Yuuji go help her," his father added.

You walked to the kitchen and heard a quiet, "Thank you." You looked over to see the piercing stick out as he bit his tongue, deep in thought again. You grabbed the pot holders and opened the oven.

You smacked you hand on the way out and pulled your hands back. The heat pulsated from the point of contact with the preheated oven. "(Y/n)," Yuuji worried. "I'm fine! I'm fine," you insisted. He closed the oven before turning the sink on. "Everything ok," Koushi asked. "Yeah, just- burned my hand a little," you called back.

You looked back at Yuuji surprised as he just took your hand without saying a word. He was laser focused, but gentle. "I'm fine," you reassured. He frowned, not responding. You looked at your hands. He probably hated you now. How could he not? After everything that transpired.

"Do you have anything to bandage this," Yuuji strained. "It's fine," you tried to reassure. He didn't respond. You looked up to see an intense look in his eyes. He wasn't giving up. "Bathroom," you caved. He motioned for you to go and you led the way. It was out of the view of the rest of the house.

~~Terushima~~

He finished wrapping her hand. "Thanks," she strained. He pulled her into his chest. He just wanted to take her and run away somewhere. Anywhere. He wanted to go sit somewhere and talk about her shitty weekend and know it was in the past and she was safe.

When she clutched onto the hug as if using it to hold everything at bay, he was quickly reminded that, that's not how it works. Their parents pay for university. That was exactly why he was so drawn to cosmetology, it was something he enjoyed, with minimal schooling, meaning minimal control. Who knows what her track had in store? How long would she have to go through this?

He heard her take in a sharp breath before pulling free from his grasp and walking out. His eyes followed but he was frozen. How could everything have gone like this? It made sense and he had called it, but damn it... he wanted to be wrong so bad. He walked back toward the kitchen after (Y/n) as he read the concerned texts from Kazuma and Takeharu.

Bobaka: Dude
dude
bro
dude
you alive?
please don't be dead
tell me you did not walk out on another dinner
Yuuji i swear to fuck

Futamama: Hey Kazumas really worried abt you and i am too. Pls text one of us that youre alive asap

He quickly typed a message to Futamata, knowing that despite his composure that dick head was the most likely to do something rash. "I'm alive. Dinner got complicated. Will update after."

"You alright," a disembodied voice asked. Terushima looked up a bit startled, seeing Koushi. He wasn't expecting him of all people to check in on him. He nodded biting down on the piercing. "Wasn't expecting you to check in on me," he admitted. Koushi hummed not answering right away.

"This definitely wasn't how I was hoping our first conversations would go," Koushi admitted. Terushima looked at him confused. Koushi kept his voice low sharing, "We were going to call you. Thought mom was still out."

Terushima spaced out on the tile floor. He should have stayed. He should have trusted his gut.

"It's obvious you mean a lot," Koushi said vaguely. "Could have fooled me, with your reactions," Terushima quipped under his breath. He didn't bother to turn and look at Koushi, "I'm doing my best to bite my tongue because, I don't want to see her anymore upset than she's already been, than she already is."

"I-... deserved that," Koushi muttered reluctantly. "I guess it's not completely unfounded," Terushima admitted, "Still don't respect it."

He looked up, catching (Y/n)'s side profile. She was glaring at the oven. It looked so jarring and unnaturally terrifying. He expected her to be unable to be intimidating. All the softness was gone. The unbridled joy and kindness was bottled and stored away. A bitter laugh escaped her and she turned on her heel walking past them.

"(Y/n)," her brother said sounding just as confused. She held up a broken hair tie as if that were explanation.

~~Your POV~~

You quickly stuffed some vital things in your bag for school and opened your window. This was bullshit. All of this was bullshit. What was she going to do if you ran away? Out to law enforcement her own daughter ran away? The humiliation she would face alone would be enough of a deterrent.

You dropped your bag into the bushes outside. A cicada started chirping in the bush below and you jumped up a bit startled. There was a quick knock before the door opened. You looked back wide eyed at Terushima. "U-ci- there was- a cicada got in," you said shutting your window and grimaced as you hit the hand with the burn. The steady pulsating pain was replaced with a sharp throbbing.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he said. "Something I can help you with," you asked politely. He looked conflicted and worried. "I'm really sorry, about everything," he started and closed his mouth. The silver ball stuck out as he looked away to avoid your eyes.

In a sense it sounded a lot like a goodbye.

You hadn't know him long, but Terushima Yuuji had been a supportive light in your life. The constant conversations and understanding... you couldn't imagine life without him anymore. But his heart belonged to someone else. Since meeting you it's been bullshit and hassles nonstop. You did want to see him go, but if it was what he needed and would make him happy, you'd have to let him go. It wouldn't be fair to tangle him further in this mess anyways.

"I'm sorry too," you replied. You couldn't recognize the even tone to your voice. "I-," he started and his voice caught. You looked up and he was just shaking his head. "Forget it. I'm not thinking straight," he dismissed and left. You glanced around for quick scan of your room. Nothing else you would need.

~~~~~

You walked back to the dining room table with the pie. Koushi and Yuuji were already back at the table being berated by the parents. "Gymnastics really had me worried. Not exactly a man's sport," Yuuji's father said.

Your grip on the pie slipped as you whipped your head over shocked by the statement.

You quickly looked back and fumbled, saving it right in time. "You klutzy-," your mother started and stopped herself with an impatient and frustrated sigh. "Be more mindful," she scolded.

"I'd beg to differ. The most athletic member of our team is arguably our libero and he's been doing gymnastics since he could essentially walk. If not for that I doubt he'd be nearly as remarkable as he is," Koushi countered. "Koushi," your mother warned. He maintained his polite and calm demeanor.

This time you took a seat beside Yuuji. "I don't know. If you ask me, it's not natural," his father pressed. Koushi and Yuuji seemed to both be uncomfortable and trying to stuff down their true feelings. "Not natural," you tested. You felt a kick to your shin that stung but went unnoticed to the rest of the table as you sat unwavering in the festering rage.

"Yeah unnatural like- like we were worried he'd bring a boy home," his father. Terushima tensed beside you. "Being secure enough in one's one masculinity or femininity to partake in activities dominated by the other gender," you started and felt another kick but ignored it, "does not make them gay. Even if it did I don't see the issue in that."

"(Y/n), that's enough," your mother finally snapped, "To your room. How dare you embarrass me? How dare you disrespect a guest!? That one week is now a month."

You scoffed standing up. "Apologize," she said. Koushi and Yuuji were just staring on in horror as Yuuji's parents wore offended and abhorred expressions. "My deepest apologies if I offended you," you replied dryly with a half assed bow. When you stood, your mother was red in the face. "I will be speaking with you later about your atrocious behavior lately," she all but growled.

You nodded and turned back for your room. "I better not hear that door close," she warned. "Yes ma'am," you replied walking out. That was fine. If you left the door ajar you could still climb out the window unnoticed.

You left the door halfway open and silently opened the window as they began speaking through the palpably tense silence. You pulled out the post it note from you desk and a marker and jot down on it, "I'll cover tuition myself. I'm not your problem anymore." You smoothed it over on the desk and hopped up to start climbing out.

~~Terushima's POV~~

His eyes kept drifting back to her room, not processing the conversation going on between their parents. He looked back to Koushi who just stared at his lap looking shell shocked. He seemed to be typing.

"Um, I'm so incredibly sorry, but there's an emergency with volleyball. I'm the only one with the keys to the medical supply closet," Koushi asked sharing his phone with his mother. She sighed pinching the bridge of her nose, "You're dismissed." He stood profusely apologizing and saying thanks.

~~~~~

They hadn't stayed long after Koushi left. He walked back into the dorm hoping the guys were out like usual. He closed the door behind him leaning his back against it. An empty sinking feeling sat in his gut. How did it get so messy so fast?

He walked to the fridge and pulled out his black thermos that he used to hide alcohol in. He set it on the counter and closed the fridge looking back at his phone. "Bokuto," he muttered aloud confused.

"Have you heard from Meiko or (Y/n)?"

He opened the thermos and poured himself a shot, downing it before looking back at the text.

"Haven't heard from Meiko since earlier this afternoon, just got back to my dorms from a business dinner w/ my parents and it turned out to be at (Y/n)'s house... she's alive... grounded... ummm idk"

Terushima found himself pouring another. He was tired and he knew the mix he had left would just put him to sleep if he kept from any excitatory stimuli. "Rough dinner," Bobata asked from the shadows. He looked up spotting his friend on the couch. The only source of light were the haphazardly strung Christmas lights.

"You know that attorney they talk shit about nonstop. The one they've had a rivalry since University," he asked Bobata. "Yeah," Kazuma asked sitting up from his spot on the couch. Terushima laughed a dry bitter laugh, "If only I had payed more attention right? It's (Y/n)'s fucking mother."

"Shut the fuck up," Bobata asked shocked. "Uh huh," Terushima responded nearly raising his voice. "Her AND her brother were home. Hah, I don't even... I don't even know where the fuck to start," Terushima admitted. His phone went off as Kazuma noted, "I was going to say isn't that good because you wanted to check in on her anyways, but I'm guessing by your tone that, no it was not good?" "Pretty sure she probably hates me now," he said looking down at the text from Bokuto.

"She snuck out to Meiko's everything is fine."

"Fucking what," Terushima asked aloud. His filter already starting to drop a little. "What," Bobata asked. Terushima put his phone down and started pacing for a second. He vaguely recognized Bobata trying to speak to him but he was trying to think of how the fuck to respond to that.

Another text came in and he froze in place. His head whipped around and he walked over closing the thermos and stuffing it in the fridge before picking the phone up. "Dumb ass," Bobata snapped. He pulled up his phone seeing a long paragraph from (Y/n). "What's going on," Futamata asked as he walked out, yawning.

"I'll be back," Terushima muttered, grabbing his lanyard with his keys and his coat before walking for the door with his phone. "Where the fuck are you going," Bobata asked. "Somewhere quiet," Yuuji said quickly as he started pulling his shoes back on, "I have to make a call."

~~Your POV A few moments prior~~

You sat on the back porch watching the stars start to poke out. You had left and texted Koushi as a heads up, not wanting to leave him to face the repercussions of your actions. Originally you intended to walk to the train station on your own and go to Akaashi's apartment. Koushi however had talked you out of that in case mom reacted outside of your realm of prediction. Akaashi's situation was complicated enough as it was the last thing you needed was to drag him into this by having your mother accuse him of kidnapping you.

Instead you had gone with him to Daichi's. He had sped on his bike over almost immediately.

You thought back on arriving at Daichi's. His parents had given you a warm welcome as always, despite seeming concerned. Koushi had finally let loose with all his worries, asking what had possessed you at dinner which of course prompted your sharing of you mother striking you and the kicking under the table.

The biggest shock that you were now processing was that Koushi had been taking the brunt of her being physical all this time. There was apparently a long documented list of wounds and instances kept recorded that Daichi had forced him to keep just in case.

There had been a lot more crying, and now... now you were numb. Shell shocked might be more accurate. "Neither of you are going in tomorrow," Daichi said walking out with hot chocolate. You watched as he kissed Koushi's temple and sat on the other side of your brother who was still holding you protectively. You nodded, not having the energy to argue.

You looked at the text you had been debating on sending.

"You're over thinking it. He's not going to be upset with you. The entire time he was worrying about if you were okay," Koushi said. "He," Daichi questioned. "The boy she likes," Koushi said. "I don't think he feels the same," you shared. You could see how happy Kiyoko had been in your mind. The playful tone to her voice. A heavy sigh sounded from beside you. "I'm sorry kid," Koushi said, "It wouldn't hurt to get closure though." You nodded quietly.

You pressed send and turned off your screen, terrified to see what the reply would be. "Do you want a minute to yourself," Daichi asked. You nodded quietly. "Come on Kou," Daichi said standing. Your brother stood up reluctantly. "I'm alright Koushi," you reassured. You looked at the message again and opened your phone blocking his number while they walked inside.

This was for his own good. You weren't out of the woods yet, he shouldn't be worrying about you. He should be living his own life. You bit your lip and the sob never came. You had lost him, but you couldn't feel anything at all.

~~Terushima's POV~~

Voicemail again. "Uh- it's me again. I'm sorry sunshine. I'm so sorry. I didn't- If I just made things worse-," his voice was catching over the lump he formed in his throat, "Um... I totally get it if your pissed... or hate me. Just, please be okay, and safe. Take care of yourself, okay?" He heard and door and looked up from the wall he was leaned against.

"Yuuji, it's freezing come inside," Bobata said from the doorway back into the dorm. Terushima's eyes started watering. The cold air nipped at this nose and ears. "I think I fucked up," he choked out. Futamata rushed out passed Kazuma and pulled Terushima into a hug. "Let's go in," Futamata said walking Terushima back to the door taking the phone. "Please delete that," Terushima pleaded not fighting against them this time. Kazuma nodded taking the phone.

~~~~~

"Wow," Takeharu said sitting beside Kazuma. The cold air stung but it was preferred over the dorm room reeking and them getting kicked out. "I think we're out," Terushima said avoiding, facing his emotions. "I'll order food! That makes everything better," Take said pulling out his phone. Terushima nodded. He had been too anxious and tightly wound to eat much at the Sugawaras'. Kazuma slung an arm around his shoulder.

Terushima dropped a head on his friend's shoulder. "Forget her man. It's obvious she's going through some shit she doesn't want to drag you into. It'll be fine dude. Let's hop back to the initial plan for the year and finish getting you cut loose from your own dick head parents and enjoying our last two years of high school," Kazuma said. Terushima nodded. What other choice did he have. "Let's toss on some Dragon Ball," Kazuma added. "Thanks bro," Terushima said.

~~Your POV~~

You and Koushi were sat in the living room with Daichi's mother. "I see," she said, "You're always welcome here, and if you need anything please don't hesitate to ask us, but yes we'll sign permission for you to live there once we get your mother to sign over legal guardianship." "I can go to," Koushi offered. She shook her head no, gently. "Koushi you don't have to. You two have been through more than enough. It's time you finally got to be kids," she said gently.

You watched your brother's expression falter and your heart wrenched.

~~~~~

The day had breezed past. For the first time in a long time you felt safe, even if it might only be temporary, even if you ended up having to go back to what would only be so much worse, at least you got this time now. The door abruptly opened and you jumped ready to bolt but relaxed seeing the second years and Meiko in the doorway. "YOU'RE ALIVE," Noya exclaimed and you relaxed a bit as they all scrambled to slip off their shoes and run over to tackle you both in a hug.

Meiko stood beside the couch and yoinked Noya off of you before pulling you into the tightest hug she could. "You are my best friend! Don't you fucking dare, scare me like that again," she reprimanded. You hugged back as tightly as you could.

They had all come to see you both. You hadn't thought they'd really care.

~~~~~

The last of the second year boys had gone home about an hour ago. Meiko had stayed and was doing her best to distract you from everything by facetiming Akaashi and Bokuto. "And Theodore is doing so well!! I haven't killed him yet. Akaashi has been showing me how to take care of him," Bokuto gushed, excited by the marble pothos since he has allegedly killed every other plant he has ever owned.

The main door opened again and everyone fell silent, watching Daichi's father walk in. He held a manilla folder in his hands. "Boys I'll call you back," Mei said quickly and hung up before they could respond.

"H-how did it go," Koushi choked out. "Your mother is a real piece of work," he said. Your hands started shaking at the premise of potentially having to go back. "But she agreed," Sawamura-san said. The world came to a stand still. She agreed? You were free? It was over? Mei and Daichi were the first to react. Excited and relieved screams escaped them.

You knew you would feel lighter, but you weren't expecting to feel so... hollow.

~~A Month Later~~

"Bo, do we have any spare light bulbs, my lamp died," you called out.

A moment later the door opened and Bokuto held out the new packaging of lightbulbs. "That's fast dude," you laughed. "Well yeah we gotta head over to Dateko," Bokuto shrugged off. "I didn't know you guys were so close to their captain," You thought aloud and started to switch out the bulbs. "Yeah all the captains hang out," you paused as Terushima came to mind and Bo continued not noticing, "Although some haven't been showing up lately."

You finished and stood up. "Let's get your mind off of things," Bo chirpped happily.

~~~~~

"Heyy!! Sunshine! What's up kid," Kuroo called as soon as you walked inside. You tried to hide the grimace at the nickname. "Hey, long time no see," you said. He Kenma in front of him. He chin resting on the smaller's head with his arms wrapped around him from behind. They seemed to have sorted things.

"Hi," Kenma greeted giving you a quick look to acknowledge your presence. "Yeah it's been a minute. You guys coming down next weekend," Kuroo asked. "Bro we wouldn't miss it for the world," Bokuto confirmed. "My brother," Mei cut in. "Hanging with Futakuchi," Kuroo shared, "Actually Daichi and Your brother are here too." "Yeah I texted him about he's not staying long they're all gross and responsible," you shared.