wake up soon - k. akaashi

nine: so many more

2012, June 17th

Sweaty teenage boys rested against the chairs of Fukurodani's volleyball cafeteria. The dinner the managers were handing out tasted like heaven after the exhausting practice matches they'd had to play for the whole day.

In a different gymnasium, Bokuto let himself fall next to Akaashi, laughing as he retold the last play they'd done, earning the winning point against Karasuno. Kuroo rolled his eyes at his friend, but he smiled still.

"Bo, you've told us this a couple of times already dude. Change the station!" then, his eyes shifted to Akaashi What about you? How's Tamiko doing? I haven't seen that girl in such a long time. She hasn't texted me lately either, so I've no idea what's of her."

Just like that, the mood dropped. The smile on both owl's faces fell, and Kuroo immediately felt the shift in the air. It was so gloomy, and he didn't know what had happened, but even he felt sad.

"I'm sorry, did you guys break up? I didn't k-"

"We didn't break up," Akaashi cut in "Tamiko is..."

"Tami's in a coma," Bokuto finished with a hard swallow, knowing how hard it was for his friend to say the words.

In fact, he'd never heard him say them, it was always "she's sleeping", or "she's taking a break". For a while, he'd used those words too, wanting to avoid facing the truth of the girl's state and its possible outcome. But now, he hoped that by saying them and looking to the situation how it really was, he'd be prepared for the worst case scenario. The captain didn't like to think about it, and he prayed to whatever entity there was that that scenario never came true, because no matter how much he tried to prepare himself, he knew that not him nor the rest of his friends would be ready.

Kuroo's eyes widened, catching the way Akaashi's face flinched at the word "coma". He had tons of questions he wanted to ask, but knew it wouldn't be very appropriate right now. However, the setter got up and took his jacket.

"Come on, I was going to visit her today. You guys can come. Call Kenma if you want."

The four players arrived at the hospital, the silence that had engulfed them after Kuroo quietly explained the situation over to Kenma still intact. Akaashi led the way, like he had been doing the whole walk. The cold of the night had seemingly turned into his mood, the saddened expression he had presented at first now unreadable, and actually kind of scary. If a stranger had seen him, they would've thought he was pissed off instead of barely handling his pain.

He turned left in the next hallway.

"Uhm, Akaashi?" Bokuto called "Her room is that way," he pointed straight.

"They moved her again. To the intense treatment section," Akaashi informed.

"What?" Bokuto sounded like he had just been stabbed "W-When did that happen?"

"A few days ago."

He kept walking, the others trudging behind him. Kenma observed the figure of his fellow setter and sighed. This had sure taken a toll on him, which was natural, and it was completely different to the Akaashi he was a few hours ago. He had noticed that he wasn't as himself as usual, but he'd brushed it off and thought it was tiredness.

He wasn't very far from the truth. Akaashi was tired. He still felt like he was drowning in this horrid sleepless dream he couldn't get out of, and he was so tired of it. He just wanted to close his eyes, and open them again to the face of his girlfriend smiling cheekily at him.

They got to the room. The cats looked passed the crystal walls they weren't allowed into and gazed at Tamiko. She didn't look like they remembered.