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Takao closed the door and sighed heavily, wheeling his way through the halls. “I’m home.” He called dropping his bag and basketball in the kitchen and then went to the living room. He now sleeps in there on an extra futon they had because he won’t be able to climb the stairs to his room.
“How was school?” His mom asked wiping her hands on a towel and looking over her shoulder at the frowning high schooler.
“Fine. Nothing interesting happened today.” Takao replied turning the TV on and lazily watched whatever was being shown. It was a documentary about caterpillars or something. Ever since the accident Takao had been getting used to moving around in a wheelchair and if in dire situations, crutches. He was hoping that he could’ve taken physical therapy and practiced trying to walk, but the doctor said it was a waste and could worsen his condition. It was odd. Not being able to walk, especially since he’s been walking basically his whole life.
There’s was a word for what he was feeling.
Helplessness.
A dark pit of helplessness and self-pity. He could barely do anything himself except for eating and moving his arms. He needs to be pushed around most of the time, needs help getting his lunch, needs help moving around the halls, hell he could barely use the bathroom or take a shower. Takao let his head hang backwards so that his gaze was on the ceiling instead of the TV screen. The person in the documentary droned on about how the weather does something to the caterpillars. He decided the TV was being annoying and useless so he turned it off with a swift click on the power button. Just him with his thoughts.
“So I’m going to die huh?” He muttered just under his breath so only he could hear.
“And to think I would die peacefully with a family and kids, maybe even grandkids. Where I could feel like I did something for the world, I guess not,” his eyebrows knit together, “how unfortunate for me then.”
He smiled the smallest of smiles at the ceiling. “I should get to work on saying goodbye to everyone.” So he left his house quickly telling his mom where he’ll be and that he was going to be home before dinner. The front door closed and a fall breeze made his dark hair blow in front of his face. Pushing it aside, Takao set out to his friend’s houses spending small amounts of time in each house. The doctors didn’t know how much time he had left, so Takao decided that he would say his farewells as soon as possible in case it’s too late.
It was 8:00 and there was one person left. Midorima Shintarou. Takao’s hand hovered over the door’s wood and after moments of still arguing he rapped his nuckles against the wood.
Midorima’s dad opened the door. “Hello Kazunari. Midorima is upstairs in his room. Feel free to stay for dinner if you would like.”
“It’s fine, but thank you anyways!” He had his crutches and learned to somehow get up flights of stairs with them. The creaking of the dark wood made Takao kind of nervous for he didn’t want to break the wood and fall down into their basement or something terrible like that. It would hurt, as if he wasn’t in enough pain already.
“Shin-chan! It’s Takao! Open up so I can sit down on your bed or something because I don’t want to fall through the floor and die because of these heavy crutches!” He heard some shuffling and the door was opened by an unamused Midorima.
“Takao, what the hell?” He opened the door wider allowing the Raven-haired boy through, who was smiling at his own antics.
“I just came to visit! Ya know, since I learned how to use crutches and stuff, thought I’d stop by and show off,” he plopped down on to the bed and laid the crutches against the wall gently, not wanting to crack the plastered wall.
“I’m not sure if that’s something to be proud of…”
“Well then you try using crutches for the first time! I bet you can’t do it even if you tried! Hah!” Takao stuck out his tongue at the green-haired basketball player and Midorima scoffed picking up the crutches and leaning on to them.
“This isn’t hard, I can do it,” he triumphed until he fell into his bookcase knocking over 4 books and 2 lucky items, “dammit.” Takao laughed and clutched his stomach until the laughing turned into violent coughs. Midorima’s eyes filled with worry and then sat next to the still coughing boy. “You alright Takao?”
Takao nodded and coughed once more to clear his throat, “I’m fine.” The smile on his face hid the fact he was going to pass on soon and his voice still had it’s cheery ring although it was dry and raspy.
“I’ll go get some water,” Midorima hopped up and left the room to get some water for Takao, who thanked his green haired friend quietly.
“Now how am I going to tell him? He’s all worried already, it’ll only give him something to worry about…” Takao thought frowning at the intrusive thought. At some point he’s going to have to tell his team mate and it can’t be from a gravestone.
“Here’s your water,” a cup was held out in front of him and Takao slipped out of his worrying thoughts.
“Thank you Shin-chan~” he made sure to hold out the “-chan” just to tick off Midorima.
“Shut up and drink your water,” Midorima grunted sitting in a chair opposite of Takao. “So what did you come here to tell me about? Was something wrong? Or did you just come here to actually sit on my bed and brag about your ‘new ability’?”
“Both? I just wanted to say thanks for everything. And I also wanted to prove how amazing I am at using crutches,” a smug look crossed Takao’s face causing Midorima to let out a loud sigh.
“Thank you for what? I didn’t do anything particularly special.”
“Just thanks, ya know, for being born and some sappy crap like that.”
“You make it sound like you’re going to die.”
The target was hit. Silence was hanging in the air and Takao was staring at the space between Midorima’s eyebrows instead of his emerald eyes. When he finally had the courage to look the boy in the eyes, Takao noticed how vibrant they actually are. An emerald hue and then surrounding that was a tinge of yellow making his eyes seem like they glow.
“Wow… You have really nice eyes…” Takao breathed out completely subconscious of what he just said.
“I have nice what?” Midorima’s eyebrows creased and he was seriously wondering if his friend was delirious or something. He was just staring at him like he’s never seen Midorima before. “What the hell Takao, quite staring at me it’s weird, even for you.”
“Me? Staring? Aw, are you shy Shin-chan?” Takao laughed finally ripping his eyes away from those forest green eyes. At least he was able to change the subject away from death. “Can I stay over tonight? It’s kind of late and I don’t want to have to use my crutches all the way home in the cold.”
“My dad can drive you-”
“Thanks for having me!~” Takao grabbed his crutches and used them to get down the stairs (he practiced) and went to ask the parents if he could stay and they agreed. Next, he called his own family and they agreed and Midorma was left to scold Takao for interrupting his sentence.
The duo went back to Midorima’s room do play some cards, and then they just talked about school like a couple of teenage girls having a sleepover.
Well that’s what they were doing minus the teenage girl part.
“I bet you love Akashi-kun right? I mean, he’s almost like your Senpai! I thought he was a senior when I first met him! He’s scary as hell! And he’s evil! Did you see the way he says,” Takao tried to act as Akashi, “‘I am absolute’, no one says it but him! But it’s scary all the same.”
“What? I don’t love Akashi! He’s just a friend and it’s enjoyable to play a game of shogi. You’re just scared of him because you’re a scaredy cat.” Midorima chuckled at Takao’s little improvisation of Akashi.
“You’re defending him! Definitely a sign of love~” Takao laughed poking Midorima’s arm repeatedly and making kissy faces as he spoke.
“S-Shut up! I don’t like the bastard at all! He’s just a friend!” Midorima pushed Takao’s finger aside and glared at him.
“I bet if he was here right now, in this room he’d be mad you friendzoned him. It’s not very nice to lie to his majesty, the Absolute Akashi,” Takao held up a finger and shook his head disapprovingly, and smiling like a child.
They continued their conversation and it ended at them talking about basketball. Soon after, they realized it was really late and decided to go to bed.
Until Takao realized he didn’t have any where to sleep and the family didn’t have a guest bedroom.
“I… I’ll just sleep on the couch then! It’s fine!” He went to grab his crutches and made his way to the door.
“No!” Midorima stood up and grabbed Takao’s arm, leading him back to the bed and sat him down. “You’re injured I’ll go downstairs.”
Takao shook his head, “But you’ll be cold… And it’s not even my house!”
“Are you suggesting we just share a bed then?” Midorima squinted suspiciously.
“What?! Well… We’ll be warmer?” Takao scratched the back of his neck and shrugged.
“… I guess it’ll be fine for one night.”
“Alrighty Shin-chan!” Takao climbed in under the sheets and lay on his side since he doesn’t feel comfortable sleeping facing the ceiling. Midorima climbed in, after setting up a pillow barrier so they wouldn’t accidently cuddle or something stupid like that.
“Really? A pillow barrier? What are you, 7?” Takao laughed.
“Shut up Bakao, I did it for safety reasons.”
“I promise not to accidently stab you with my arm or something,” Takao teased. Midorima just scoffed in reply, laying on his back. Unlike Takao, he enjoyed staring at the ceiling. It calmed him down in a sense.
“G’night Shin-chan.”
“Good night Bakao.”
Then exactly 32 minutes later Takao whispered, “Are you still awake Midorima?”
There was silence, rustling noises, a sigh mixed with a groan, and then a low, “Yes.”
“We both can’t sleep then,” Takao whispered back. The pillow barrier was already destroyed after the constant wriggling of the older boys. So they faced each other, just staring.
Takao had a chance to gaze into those eyes again. Due to the darkness, Takao couldn’t make out a lot of intricate details, but they were beautiful none the less. Those eyes were staring into his black ones and they took a moment to just look at each other.
“Hey, this is really gay isn’t it?” Takao chuckled lightly propping his head on his hand as he sat up slightly.
“It was your idea.”
Takao rolled his eyes and Midorima turned his back, “Try to sleep.”
Takao sighed and laid his head against the pillow. After a few moments, he started to feel cold so he wiggled his way and pressed his face to Midorima’s back extracting warmth from the green-haired boy.
“What are you doing?” Midorima sighed.
“Being warm, problem?” Takao mumbled from the back of Midorima’s shirt.
“Your arm is around my waist.”
“My arm wants to be warm.”
“Your legs are somehow wrapped around mine.”
“My legs want to be warm too.”
“Takao…” Midorima warned.
Takao didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he felt a deep yearning within himself to just be with Midorima. He didn’t know why, but he just did. It filled him with an internal warmth after he basically started to cuddle into Midorima’s back.
“I think I love you.”
More silence.
“I don’t know how to explain it, I just think I do, ya know?”
Even more silence, it began to get eerie.
“I just, feel happy when I’m around you and even now I’m glad to be with you, like this. It’s kind of weird huh?”
Takao began to wonder if Midorima was asleep.
“Good night Midorima.” Takao nuzzled into Midorima’s back.
Then there was some shifting and Takao found himself staring right into Midorima’s eyes. This time they were closer and seemed to be brighter than before. The colors were all the same and yet, they weren’t.
“I-I love you too, Takao.” Midorima muttered placing a small kiss on to the other’s forehead. Both of them were smiling and their foreheads were against each other as they just appreciated each other’s presence.
“I’m happy whenever I’m around you, and I think it’s cute when you laugh because you have dimples. I thought it was because your hair made you look like a girl at first…” Takao made a face and snickered.
“… And then I realized that I had some feelings for you. I thought it was because we were friends, but what you said before? I feel the same. I can’t explain this feeling in words, but I know it’s something stronger than just friendly appreciation. Takao- Kazunari- I love you.”
Takao was speechless and those eyes were the same again. Green and yellow mixed together and now he knew what that strange feeling he got from them was. Love. Kind of sappy and cheesy right? They shone and they just oozed happiness it made Takao want to cry. He already forgot what he really came here for and decided to ignore that nagging part of his mind telling him it was the right time to tell.
“Wow, if I were a girl I would be squealing right now,” Takao laughed instead again closed his eyes wanting to just embracing this moment, wishing it would last forever.
Just them.
Like this.
Loving each other forever.
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This… Was a really long chapter andittookmeallmywillpowernottocry
But I hope y’all enjoyed this sappy, cute chapter! The next one will be shorter I think? Not sure yet, but yeah
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