24 Hours

12:00 A.M

Tsukishima Kei

Hands shook Tsukishima, and his head snapped up in a daze. Sometime, Tsukishima must have dozed off. He looked around; he was still in Yamaguchi's room, but outside was already pitch black. And Yamaguchi was-

Well, he looked perfectly fine. Tsukishima checked his watch which read 12:07. Then, he turned back to look at his friend who was... sitting up criss cross applesauce and smiling. In fact, he had changed out of the hospital gown into a green crewneck and jeans.

Yamaguchi's cheeks seemed to have that blissful, healthy glow to them, and the bags under his eyes have vanished. All his hair looked completely grown in, and he was stretching his arms which looked so much stronger with muscle.

"Hi Tsukki!" Yamaguchi said when Tsukishima caught his eye, and Tsukishima found himself a little loss for words.

"It worked," said Tsukishima, stunned.

"Yeah," Yamaguchi raised his hands to his face in disbelief.

"How- how do you feel?"

"I haven't felt this good since...." He faltered, and pulled the hospital. "For a while."

"Here." Tsukishima got to his feet and tugged off Yamaguchi's blanket. "Get up." Yamaguchi hesitantly got to his feet, and for a moment, he stared at the ground like he was afraid to move. Then, he took a step. And another. And another. His face lit up in a smile, and he began to walk all around the room, taking in the feeling because he hadn't walked so steadily in so long. Tsukishima found himself grinning slightly as well. Maybe there was hope- maybe Yamaguchi really wasn't going to die.

"I feel like-" he said, as he rushed to his window and opened it, breathing in the fresh, summer night air, "I feel like I could live forever!"

The brief moment of joy suddenly plummeted down to rock bottom. Tsukishima's stomach twisted in knots, and he tightened his jaw, not saying a word. In front of the window, Yamaguchi's head dipped, and he slowly turned towards Tsukishima.

"This won't stay forever, though, right?" he said quietly. Tears were welling up in his eyes.

Tsukishima found he had no reply. He just stood there, still trying to cling onto the small feeling of hope he just felt seconds ago. Suddenly, Yamaguchi launched his arms around Tsukishima's waist and began to cry right there. Tsukishima glanced down at his friend and gently embraced him. He wasn't sure what to say; he wasn't sure what to do. He wasn't even that big of a fan on hugging, but it was the only thing he could do at the moment.

He just held onto Yamaguchi while Yamaguchi whispered, "I don't want to go, Tsukki. Not yet."

Tsukishima's eyebrows furrowed, and he pulled back from his friend. He grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.

"You're not going anywhere," he said, and when Yamaguchi began to protest, he shook his head firmly. "Not yet, at least. We have 24 hours." The two of them looked at the clock which had ticked to 12:14.

"24 hours," repeated Yamaguchi. He set his lips in a hard line. "My mom," he said softly. "I want to see them. And our friends- Hinata and Kageyama and Yachi."

He didn't like go around the city that much. Tsukishima preferred staying at home with his earbuds plugged in while he flipped through graphic novels with Yamaguchi. It was strange for him to suddenly feel an unexpected wave of determination rush through his body. He felt a huge need to make sure his best friend was able to do everything he wanted. Everything had to be perfect. He took Yamaguchi's wrist and began to tug him towards the door.

"Then let's do it," he told Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi's face brightened, and with that, the two ran out of the hospital and into the night.

Yamaguchi Tadashi

Yamaguchi's heart was pounding. He felt restless- physically energized. His body felt light like a feather, and Yamaguchi felt he could run forever. He had forgotten how it felt to not be sick- to feel so energized. A voice in his head brutally reminded him he would be dead in 24 hours. Clinging to Tsukishima's hand and concentrating on the sound of their footsteps was the only way to distract him from the overwhelming thoughts of death in the back of his mind. He knew it was coming- still, he found himself unable to accept it.

"My mom-" said Yamaguchi, panting, "I haven't seen them in forever."

Tsukishima slowed to a stop, greedily taking in air. He hunched forward on his knees for a moment, catching his breath. "Sorry- I need to stop."

Yamaguchi laughed at his friend, shaking his head. "You're the one who insisted we run," he said. Tsukishima opened to his mouth to retort, but only heavy breaths came out.

Yamaguchi giggled again and leaned against the nearest thing, which happened to be a fence. He breathed in deeply, allowing his eyes to take in the view of the outside. He hadn't been outside in a while- he had missed it badly. True, he was able to see the city from his hospital bed, but the view got boring after a while. Besides, it wasn't the same. Now, he could see the city from a different persepective- the tall buildings with their gleaming lights and Japanese words. Fresh, cool air brushed his skin gently, and the sound of cars driving by was amusing to him in a way. Neon lights and screens flashed on the buildings. The city looked alive- even though it was the middle of the night.

"Listen," said Tsukishima, finally looking up. "About your mom..."

Yamaguchi furrowed his brows. "What about them, Tsukki?"

"I-um-visited her last week."

Yamaguchi raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "You... visited my mom? You never told me."

The blonde-haired boy nodded, adjusting his backback on his shoulders. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I thought it would sound creepy. I've actually visited them.. several times."

"No! It's-" Yamaguchi's cheeks reddened, and he hoped the darkness of the night covered it. "Thank you for checking up on her. Is she... okay?"

"She's fine. Just the same as before you had to..."

Yamaguchi nodded, his mind drifting off to his parents. They had been caught in an Earthquake down in Southern Japan. Buildings were torn down, roads were destroyed, many were killed and injured. Even in Sendai, the two friends felt the ground rock a little beneath their feet. Yamaguchi's father was killed trying to protect some young children, and his wife had major brain damage, which left her in a coma. He couldn't believe how harsh the past few years have been: his father's death, his mother's injury, his own sickness.

A hand rested on his shoulder, and Yamaguchi looked up into his friend's golden-brown eyes. He beamed. Tsukishima had been there for him all that time. He was the brightness to his life- even when on the outside, Tsukishima seemed like the coldest person.

"Let's go," he said softly, and Yamaguchi nodded. The two walked down the block and stopped at the bus station where they waited. Tsukishima fished in his bag for some money which Yamaguchi thought was amusing for some strange reason. He liked that his friend always seemed prepared. He sometimes forgot Tsukishima was an organized, smart nerd.

The bus pulled to a stop, and the two got in. The two were settling in the back when they heard the bus driver shout from up front.

"Hey! You getting in or not?!"

"Yes- sorry, sir."

A man in a dark hoodie with a huge, black duffle bag stepped into the bus. He paid the driver and passed by the two friends as he headed towards the back. His eyes met Yamaguchi's, and he smiled at him.

The man sat two seats behind the two friends, his eyes on Yamaguchi's head.

He had been following them from the hospital.