Rainbow Veins

Chapter 10

A few days later, Koutarou was laying spread out on his back next to Keiji's feet on the mattress, huffing in annoyance. It was the morning of his 5th day here and he still didn't have his surgery. Not that he was looking forward to it, but it was getting boring. Really boring.

"I told you already, you can read one of my books."

He groaned. "I'd rather continue staring at the ceiling then."

"You are incredible stubborn, do you know that."

"And you are an incredible nerd."

Keiji only rolled his eyes at that and continued burying his nose in one of his books. That was what he had planned to do at least.

"Hey, Akaashiii..."

A short moment of silence fell between them and when the elder boy didn't continue, Keiji sighed.

"What is it, Bokuto-san?"

"Say, do you even leave your bed anytime?"

"Yes. To use the bathroom, obviously."

"Apart from that I mean. Like, going for a walk or something. When was even the last time you went outside?"

The other one only shrugged.

"Let's have a walk together then!"

"I can't, my mother won't allow it."

"Well your mother isn't here, so."

Koutarou sat up and before the other one could stop him, he had already pressed the button to call a nurse.

"What are you doing?"

"Someone needs to unplug you from all this stuff of course" he said and gestured to the tubes coming from the crook of his arm and the back of his hand.
Keiji sighed but before he could say anything more a nurse had already entered the room and asked them what's wrong.

In the end, Koutarou spent about half an hour trying to persuade the nurse and a handful others to allow them a short walk through the building. After a doctor came to check on Keiji's condition, he was finally given admission and Koutarou didn't hesitate for another second to pull him out of bed and drag the boy with him.

"See? Told ya it's gonna be fine" he called out happily.

They moved slowly through the halls, Koutaou making sure that Keiji was able to follow him in spite of his weak state. His steps were still a bit uncertain given all the weeks he's spent in bed. Koutarou couldn't help but somehow find it adorable.

"You can take my hand if you want. Would make you feel a bit more secure" he finally proposed after watching the other boy climbing down the stairs in small, cautious steps.

"Wouldn't that be weird?"

Koutarou only shrugged and held out his hand, smiling when Keiji grabbed it despite the sight that came from the other boy. He didn't let go of it when they reached the bottom of the staircase, but it seemed Keiji didn't mind by then.