A Co-Captain's Doubts

Memories

Hey guys! Life is crazy and I've been working hard on my stories when I get the chance, but time is scarce so I was still a little late with this chapter update. Sorry to make you wait, but thank you so much for reading, enjoy! <3

Walking down the hall gave Daichi a creeping sense of sickness. He hadn't been in a hospital since their first year of high school when his grandmother had passed away. He'd always felt anxious in hospitals, never knowing what to do or say even though there was pressure for him to be the strong and composed firstborn son. The day his Gran passed, Daichi felt anything but strong and composed. He felt lost and heartbroken. As the eldest, he held a special connection with the wise and stubborn woman, the two of them inseparable when he was little, and every Sunday spent helping her around her house as chores grew to be too much. When she took a turn for the worst, Daichi did not take it well, but he worked hard to pretend he was fine. For the most part, he succeeded until one day he snapped at Asahi with more frustration than necessary.

"If you keep acting like a frightened child, no one will ever treat you like an ace!"

The silence that echoed in the gymnasium after Daichi yelled those words was far louder than any spike. The upperclassman looked to the first years with curiosity as Daichi huffed, and Asahi balled his hands in the fabric of his white practice shirt, his eyes large with hurt. Beside them, a young Sugawara looked between his friends with concern. As if something came over him, Daichi shook his head and slapped his face a few times, his cheeks turning bright red, and gave a full bow.

"I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, Asahi. I'm sorry."

His voice cracked on the last syllable, but he quickly clenched his jaw shut tight to cease the sob that tried to get through.

Sugawara and Asahi looked to one another as he remained bowing before Asahi stammered a soft. "It's okay."

Straightening abruptly, he swallowed and made a brisk walk past them and toward the gym doors.

"Excuse me."

Up in the club room, Daichi was scrubbing his forearm over his face and muttering as he paced back and forth. He needed to get his emotions under control, but all he wanted to do was scream and punch something. Settling for a locker, he turned and slammed his fist into the flimsy metal and flinched at the clanging echo it made. A decent-sized dent was left behind, and he stared at it feeling the urge to throw another swing.

"Daichi?..."

Head snapping up, he turned to find Sugawara peeking his head in through the door, his fair hair clinging to his forehead with sweat from practice, but his eyes filled with empathy. Daichi stood like a deer in headlights, unsure of what excuse to give for his unacceptable behavior and overcome with an irrational irritation. Couldn't they leave him alone to melt down for a little bit? What he didn't expect was the compassion in Suga's voice.

"Hey... Are you okay? You can talk to me, you know?"

It was an innocent question, and yet massive tears welled up in the young brunette's eyes, his lip wobbling and he began to shake his head. As the wetness spilled over his cheeks hot and streaming, he dropped his head.

"She's dying-" His words broke off as his shoulders quaked and he sucked in a ragged breath.

Alarmed, Suga let himself the rest of the way into the club room and shut the door behind him. In a flash, he was at Daichi's side and steering him to sit down on one of the benches.