The Third Miya: Isuma

XXXII

April 2nd, 2021

Once at the hospital, Atsumu and Osamu both declined to go visit Tamiko. "Hinosa didn't invite us," Atsumu explained. "He asked you to come. We'll just wait down here."

"Are you sure?" Isuma asked. Osamu nodded. "Yeah. Plus, we can get dinner here."

He pointed to a small restaurant next to the hospital lobby. Isuma smiled slightly. "Fine. Go. Save me something."

"You got it. Call us when you're coming down." Isuma watched them walk away before going up to the front desk. The woman there asked, "How can I help you?"

"I'm here to see Altan Tamiko." She was suddenly aware that the teenage boy next to her had said the last two words at the same time as her. They exchanged glances; Isuma recognized him instantly. "Hinosa Senpai!"

"Miya-san, you came!" He pushed back his sandy brown hair and flashed a peace sign. Before Isuma could reply, the woman said, "He's two floors up, Room 304."

"Thank you." Isuma hastily bowed before following Hinosa to the elevator. He unzipped his jacket- it was much warmer inside the hospital than it was outside- and glanced at her. "I didn't think you'd come, Miya-san."

"Why not?" She asked. Hinosa pressed the button for the elevator. "You just seem like... a shy person."

"I'm not shy, exactly..." she didn't finish her thought. "How's Tamiko-san doing?"

"Good. He was awake this morning when we all came to visit. He's being discharged tomorrow, although his leg will take a while to heal." Hinosa waited for her to walk into the elevator before stepping in himself.

"That's good. I was worried his leg would be in really bad shape." Isuma replied. Hinosa smiled slightly. "It would've been if it weren't for you. I'll let one of the nurses tell you."

"What do you mean?" She asked. "You'll see when we get there."

Isuma didn't feel at all awkward talking to Hinosa- just the opposite. She might as well have been talking to Suna or Ginjima or Akagi- being relaxed around new people was a new concept to her. Hinosa just gave off that friendly, protective vibe.

"You know, Miya-san..." Hinosa hesitated and looked at her. "You remind me of Tamiko."

"I do?"

"I saw you at our match yesterday," Hinosa said. The elevator stopped; the two of them walked down the hallway before pausing at Room 304. "Wait out here for a second, Miya-san."

Isuma nodded; Hinosa knocked on the door before walking in. Tamiko was in his bed, tossing and catching a volleyball. He hastily sat up when he saw Hinosa. "Hino-nii, what're you doing here?"

"What else?" Hinosa smiled and looked back. "You have a visitor."

His volleyball slipped out of Tamiko's hands and rolled onto the floor when Isuma entered; his dark blue eyes widened in shock. "...Miya-san?"

She quickly bowed as Tamiko looked over at Hinosa. "I asked her to come."

"...right. Um, sorry," Tamiko murmured. Hinosa motioned to Isuma, and they sat down on the chairs by his bed. Isuma's eyes landed on his leg, which was in a cast. "How's your leg doing, Altan-san?"

He looked at Hinosa, who shrugged. "I thought you or a nurse should tell her."

"Tell me what?" Isuma's eyes flicked from Hinosa to Tamiko, who hastily looked down. He knew he should thank her, but he could barely bring himself to tell her what she'd done for him. "Well..."