Chapter Text
When Tobio Kageyama was born, the boy had deep blue eyes that shone like sapphires in the moonlight and glowed in the sunlight. Blue eyes were quite rare in Japan, only making up less than .01% of the country's population. There has been light blue and regular blue, but this was deep rich blue that was similar to the Atlantic Ocean and was rare. However at a young age, Tobio had to hide his eye color due to the fact many people who were seen with blue eyes were harassed and kidnapped.
Tobio’s parents were a bit worried for the boy so he was homeschooled up till middle school, when he was allowed to wear contacts. These contacts were made to hide his blue eyes and make them a boring gray color, which was normal and common to see. Throughout middle school, he hid his eye color away from Kunimi and Kindachi, his two best friends at the time. However, part of him really wanted to show them his eye color cause he trusted them, but his parents forbade it.
His grandfather loved his eyes and thought he was really pretty with blue eyes. His grandfather also taught him volleyball and was always there to support and be there for Tobio when times get tough. When his parents started to take longer business trips, Tobio was with his grandfather and spent time with him. After his older sister went to college in Tokyo, it was just him and his grandpa. But during his last year in middle school, he lost his grandfather, the only person to understand and care for Tobio was gone. After the funeral, Tobio became closed off and during middle school, became bitter and cold.
Tobio became closed off and quiet. He didn’t go out much and stayed inside, alone. Since he was older, his parents trusted him to take care of the house while they were gone and left him with money and an empty house. His sister visited from time to time but was busy with school and work. Tobio, also kept his eyes hidden still despite losing friends and his grandfather, his only eyes showing his true eye color in the comfort of his hollow house.
However, that all changed one day and everything was revealed.
It was a normal practice day after school and all day Kageyama kept rumbling his eyes due to the air being dry lately causing his eyes and contacts to bother him all day. 20 mins into practice the pain only got worse and caused him to lose focus.
“Bakayama! What is going on today! Your sets are awful today!”
“Boke, I just have something in my eyes, nothing much.”
Suga and Daichi looked at the first year setter with a concerned glance.
“Do you have eye drops, kageyama-san?” asked Suga
“No, I just think its my contacts and the dry air causing this, Suga-san”
“WAIT! Hold up, contacts?” yelled Hinata
Everyone paused on what they were doing and looked at the setter with confusion. Since when did kageyama wear contacts? How long has he worn contacts? Everyone was in disbelief with the news.
Kageyama mentally did not realize what he said and boy did he start to freak out. After all these years, this one time he slips ups and mentions the contacts. Just great he thought and slowly became more aware of everyone staring at him.
“Yes, I wear contacts, no big deal, it's just for my…um.. poor…eyesight..yeah” he looked down trying not to look anyone in the eyes.
“Well, would you look at that the king has poor eyesight” Tsukishima said bluntly
“Tsuski you wear glasses too, don’t be mean” said Yamaguchi
“Kageyama if you need to switch them out or get your glasses, you can do that you know, we don’t judge”
Kageyama lets out a sigh of relief and runs to the locker room.
In the locker room, Kageyama washed his hands before grabbing his spare contacts and solution, only to find out that his disposable colored contacts were empty and he was wearing his last pair.
Damn it! He thought to himself. He would have to play, showing his real eye color to his team. He thought for a moment before deciding that it should be fine and that he hopes that they don’t hate him for hiding his eye color.
His eyes held a lot of pain and sadness despite being such a beautiful rare blue color. He never liked to show his eye color to anyone let alone his sister. So this was a big step and leap of faith to trust this many people to see his eye color. However, he grew to like his team and learned a lot about being a better team player. His senpai’s were a huge help and he became better and changed his attitude.
After taking out the contacts, bright blue eyes greeted him in the mirror. Tobio never really saw himself outside of his house with blue eyes, it was strange to see them look back at him in the school's locker room. His grandfather always would say that his eyes reminded him of big bright sapphires and would shine brightly and when he would smile it was even more beautiful.
After freshening up, Kageyama returned to practice and after he stepped through the door he had his head down, hoping no one would notice.
“Kageyama, your back! Good, get set with the team with receive drills” said coach
Kageyama was silent and walked back with his down and hand covering his eyes, he was anxious and was slightly shaking.
“Kageyama, where are your glasses? Don't you have to use them now that your contacts are out?” Asked Yamaguchi
Kageyama still stared down at the floor, not darning to look up just yet. Anxiety rushed over him like a tidal wave and sudden thoughts of having his teammates see his eyes stressed him out and he started to tap his foot and shake slightly, but slowly, Kageyama took a deep breath and spoke,
“These weren't prescription based contacts, they were colored contacts.” he mumbled out
“Why did you have colored contacts, Kageyama?” asked Tanaka-san
“Because of my eye color”
“So, gray eyes aren't your true eye color? Why hide your true color?” asked Hinata
“Because…ummm…I don’t know, I just was told to cover them since I was a kid”
“Can we see?” asked Suga “we don’t judge, no matter what!”
Everyone hmm in agreement and slowly Kageyama lifted his head up and with eyes closed at first then slowly opened them and stared at his teammates with his bright blue sapphire eyes.
Everyone let out a gasp and awe at the blue eyed boy and were in shock. Kageyama Tobio had bright deep blue eyes and when the light hit them they were brighter. No one has ever seen such beautiful blue eyes before.
“Wow, Kageyama, your eyes! They are beautiful!” said Hinata in awe
“I agree with shrimpy, you have nice eyes king”
“Hey!”
“Yeah, they are blue like the atlantic” said Noya
“I swear your eyes rival Kiyoko sans beauty all together” said Tanaka
“They look like sapphires in the light” said Kinoshita
“They are very pretty Kageyama, but why did you ever hide them?” asked Daichi
“My parents always told me to cover them up, I just kinda followed and listened to them. They were very strict about it and I never really cared to ask why or judge. So I just covered them up and got used to doing it for so long. I normally have the contacts off at home, but never showed them to anyone but my older sister. I just found it easy to blend in rather than stand out”
“Well you don't ever need to hide them with us, we love you and your eyes” said Daichi
“Yeah, they are so mesmerizing, I could stare at them for days!” said Noya
“Um, thanks?” Kageyama looked at them slightly red from all the complements
He never had so many people comment on his eyes before. They were overwhelming, but they were kind and it made Tobio smile slightly, maybe blue eyes aren’t too bad to show off.
Practice ended and the team was cleaning up until Takeda-sensei announced that they were invited to an all star teams training camp, hosted by Japan’s National Team Former coach, Philippe Blain. He invited 10 teams only to participate in this exclusive training camp and Karasuno was one of them.
Everyone was excited as hell, because not only was it a training camp against other teams, they were going to meet Philippe Blain, who was the Japan National Coach for the Olympics! This was an exciting camp that they can learn a lot from him and his coaching.
“That's amazing, I can believe we were among the top ten to be invited!” said Daichi
“It is truly an honor, we just made the cut, we were unfortunately the last one to be picked but it still a huge thing to be offered”
“Still, this is Philippe Blain, he is a legendary coach and player!” said Asahi
“Exactly and that is why i want you all on your best behavior and show him what you got” said Coach Ukai
“Who are the other teams besides us going?”
“The other teams seem to be Nekoma, Fukurōdani, Nohebi, Aoba Johsai, Date Tech, Johzenji, Shiratorizawa, Inarizaki, and Itachiyama”
“Whoah, Inarizaki and Itachiyama will be there?” asked Kageyama
“Yes, which is huge since they don’t really travel that far for training camps, why do you ask? ”
“Nothing much, just curious I guess?” said Kageyama
“Well, everyone, everyone heads home and in a week will depart for the training camp, also here are your forms for your parents to sign. This training camp will take place during the fall brake before inter high championships and all that” Takeda sensei said and handed out the papers to the group
Hai!