Run Away With Me | Haiji x Kakeru

part nine

Kakeru's thoughts the remainder of the night after he spent an evening out with Haiji were cluttered yet all focused on the same thing; Haiji. He tried to write it off as coming down from his first night having fun in what seemed to be an eternity. However, as days passed and turned into weeks he still found that his thoughts were controlled by flashes of that night. He had seen Haiji since then for his treatments and checkups, but he couldn't help but wonder when Haiji would ask him to spend time together again. Not time that would be considered as an obligation, but instead as friends. 

Kakeru sat in what was now his usual seat in the treatment room while Haiji sat a few feet away, a needle running liquids into him. They sat in silence for the majority of the time, Haiji's head leaned back as to focus on not feeling nauseous. The treatments didn't get easier for him, only harder. Each time, Haiji seemed to get weaker and weaker. He seemed as though he was only a shell of the person Kakeru had fist met.

The only thing that kept Kakeru's mind at ease despite seeing Haiji in so much pain was Haiji's last scanning. His cancer hasn't spread for over two months which was amazing news. This meant that Haiji's cycles would be lessened to twice a week. Instead of the focus being on slowing the spread, they could now focus on hopefully treating the cancer that Haiji currently had. 

However, this would cut the time that Kakeru was obligated to spend with Haiji. Though for a very great reason, he could not help but once again wish that his time with Haiji was more than just an obligation. This thought has pestered at the back of his mind so much that it has nearly driven him insane. He could not wrap his head around why exactly he longed to have another night like that one with Haiji when not even a few weeks ago he was searching for every excuse he could to avoid being closer with him than he needed to be. 

Kakeru had waited and waited, then waited even longer for Haiji to simply ask to do something. Anything besides go with him to his appointments. He even tried his hand at testing if he had any possible mind powers by staring at Haiji in complete focus as Haiji laid back with his eyes closed while he got his treatment, repeating over and over again in his head for Haiji to ask him to hang out again. He's tried hinting as they walked past restaurants during their trip back from appointments that he wanted to try them. He was only met with groans from Haiji saying that food was the last thing he wanted to talk about. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to hint at food to a nauseous person after they had just finished their chemo treatment, but it was the only time Kakeru ever got to see Haiji. He also offered to stay after Haiji's appointments to watch a movie or help him, but again was turned down with Haiji saying that he just wanted to sleep.

It was obvious that Haiji was terrible at picking up hints, either that or Kakeru was terrible at giving them. If Kakeru was going to get Haiji to spend time with him, he needed to plan ahead. Without thinking twice Kakeru cleared his throat as to break the silence that filled the hospital room, "Haiji, do you have any plans this weekend?" The words left his lips before Kakeru even gave them a second thought. He winced to himself, slouching his shoulders and lowering his head, wishing that he could shrink down into himself.

He was met with Haiji speaking, his voice flat but not seeming to be of any nature for Kakeru to be concerned over, "I never have plans." 

Kakeru mentally slapped himself. That was such a stupid way to start off. He straightened himself up once again in hopes that it would give him enough confidence to carry out the rest of the converstaion, "I was thinking, since your sessions got cut down that maybe we should celebrate."

Haiji still didn't look up or open his eyes, but Kakeru took notice in the slight tug at the corner of Haiji's lips that immediately put his mind at ease, "Are you asking me on a second date, runner boy?"