𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 𝔼𝕪𝕖𝕤 | 𝚄𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚗

ᴄᴏɴғʀᴏɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

Communicating about something with people with same views has always been convenient. No disagreement and no 'bumps'. Whereas, discussing something with someone who has a different opinion can be scary at times. However, introducing your boyfriend to your parents who may or may not be against your relationship is on a whole another level of scary. At least for Tendou and Ushijima it was.

Tendou POV

It had been around two weeks since Tendou and Ushiijima had confessed their feelings for each other. Mrs. Ushijima hadn't called since the 'fateful' day. However, the day of confrontation was drawing nearer.

Dad was home today. For real this time. This wasn't a 'come back to eat dinner, sleep and go back to work' thing. He was actually at home for a day instead of practically living in the hospital like he had been doing for the past two weeks now.

Tendou could see his father's deep red hair peeking out from behind the newspaper the doctor was reading. He knew his dad was tired but the nagging sensation that the correct time has already passed never left him. He felt as if he needed to inform him right then and there. Or maybe he just felt guilty that he hadn't told his beloved dad about such an important thing in his life. The redhead inched closer to his father until he was right next to him.

It's going to be easy... I know it... He's my dad! The most open minded and person in the world. He accepts and pushes for the best, like Wakatoshi... He'll understand... Then Mrs. Ushijima will understand too! Right?

Then why am I so afraid?

"Dad..." His eyes were greeted by the bright brown of his father's eyes. But they seemed to be lacking in the usual playful light. As if the circles of darkness around his soul's windows had sucked out all of his life. He knew these past weeks had been a huge toll on his father but this was no time to turn back.

His father tried his best to stretch his mouth into a smile. "Fire away Satori." "Dad what would you do if I had hanahaki?" Mr. Tendou froze almost instantaneously. he seemed more concerned now. "Satori... What's up?" Tendou took a deep breath. "Just tell me." "Obviously, I'd try to find the person who caused that and have you confess to her. That way you won't have to suffer."

There was something off about the way he spoke but Tendou continued. "Dad... I had hanahaki." The only discernible change in the older person's expression was that of slight disappointment. ""Who was it? Who was the one who caused it?" The doctor's son had a gut feeling that his father already knew who it was but, he spoke anyways. "Wakatoshi."

As the disappointment on his father's face grew, so did the newly opened hole in his heart. With a deep sigh, Mr. Tendou spoke again, "So Satori... Did the Hanahaki stop?"

"It did."

"That should be enough then. A confused look crossed Tendou's face. His father spoke again but with a slightly relieved expression, "What I mean is that, since the Hanahaki stopped after confession, there is no need for you to be in a relationship! You can choose a girl now!"

Tendou's eyes widened slowly with equal parts realisation and horror. "But dad.... I want to be with him." A shadow passed over Mr. Tendou's face. "No. My son will never be in a relationship with a man and that is final. This is just a phase you'll grow out of." Mr. Tendou's words were absolute. Simple, but absolute.

The horror and fear tore down Tendou's house of cards as his worst fears were coming true. It hurt. He knew he'd be torn apart from that one person whom he managed to stick with through thick and thin, some situations unbeknownst to even his father. That knowledge, that unchangeable flow of fate seemed to pierce Tendou's heart and soul over and over again. His father's lips moved soundlessly. What had I expected? Look at what happened.

Ushijima POV

He knew from the beginning. This wasn't going to go anywhere. He would loose, like always.

Cursing his own blunt words he tried to reason with his mother. He had told her everything about having hoshisusuri and how his confession to Tendou stopped his tears, literally. However, just a partial cure seemed to be enough for his mother. She seemed to just want a bandage for his physical wounds but decided never to plug the gaping hole in his heart.

For about the fifteenth time in that phone call, his mother cruelly stated, "What you are doing is wrong, give up on this toxic dream. Wakatoshi you can date any girl you like but being with a man is sinful." His throat was parched by now from saying the same thing over and over in the blunt lifeless tone he hated so much.

"Mother, it will not change the fact that I love him." It was a hopeless battle. Wakatoshi knew that of course but, simply not telling your only living parent and then getting caught later was just as bad. So, when the line beeped and the final decision rang in his ears not for the first time in his life he felt lost. He needed a helping hand. Anyone would do but, there was no one now.

If only we had succeeded.

It was only a matter of time before Mrs. Ushijima returned home and took away Wakatoshi with her. Not a day had passed when Mr. Tendou revoked all means of contact Tendou had to talk to Wakatoshi.

Not a single day went by where they could talk except the rare meetings of glances and gazes during online classes. In a rush of loneliness and distance, the year passed by. The Ushijima family moved to the other end of Japan. High School went by in a whoosh, followed by college and then university. It felt as if the other had died just to leave behind memories for the other in a cold world.

One stood under the bright lights of an international stadium while the other basked under the warm lighting of a bakery of his own.

One spiked the ball and scored while the other watched from the sidelines.

One tasted the art as flavourful as love while the other could just watch through a severed connection.

One painted his emotions on sweets while the other admired from afar.

Nearby, but not quite whole.

Doomed to be forever incomplete.

To be near yet leagues away from each other.

Their eyes met, their hands touched, they brushed shoulders but, they didn't feel a thing.

~

Haha. Cope.