The empty space where you used to be. (Kagehina)

Im not okay.

A week and a half had passed. Kageyama was in the same room as before, as he has done many months prior. Hinata has been sick for almost five months now. It felt too long. But they had a promise, and he knew Hinata wasn't the type to back down from a promise. He watched Hinata rest, scrolling through his phone or bouncing a volleyball onto the wall over and over.

"Shoyo." The ginger opened his eyes, squinting at the world. "When're you gonna get better?" Kageyama asked in a low voice. Hinata frowned, closing his eyes, as if to block out the other boy in the room. "I'm waiting for you. Please stop taking so long."

Hinata felt guilty. He was so unbelievably tired. Of everything. Of fighting to control his body, of fighting to control his rapid decay. He wanted to cry. And punch a wall or hug a friend but he could barely move. He lost at least 10 pounds in the past two months. He was smaller than before, and was paler.

He still had seizures, now at least once or twice a day. His brain was misfiring signals all the time. His whole body felt numb. His eyes were heavy. He was spiraling.

Kageyama didn't expect a response. Hinata stopped talking a couple days ago. He sat down and sighed. "Shoyo."

Hinata felt a pang of guilt. He wanted to look at Kageyama, at least for a second. He moved his head, slowly, to face him. His eyes followed naturally, and they finally focused on the setters eyes. Those scary maroon eyes. "Hinata?"

The ginger smiled. It was a small smile, and it meant it with all his heart. Kageyama couldnt help himself; he smiled back. "Do you wanna go on a walk?"

Hinata wanted to do anything besides lay around. "I can ask the doctor if we can." Kags got up and went quickly out.

Hinata closed his eyes. He didn't have any regrets, so far. So far he felt accomplished. He wanted more, sure, but it was out of his hands. Life took his hands and pulled hard, so hard he couldn't keep up. So this is where he is.

Kageyama came back a few minutes later, saying they got permission. He rolled in a wheelchair...ugh. Those things were awful.

It took a lot of coordination to get him situated. Soon, the two were off. The hospital hallways were more and more crowded as the days went on. Hinata looked at his knees. His legs were smaller, much less muscle than six months ago.

They walked out into a small courtyard, with a large tree in the center. "It's a Sakura blossom tree." Kageyama thought aloud. Hinata looked at the roots of the tree. They were large and firm, planted perfectly into the ground. It reminded him of Asahi, almost. He took a long, deep breath, and breathed it out.

"Shoyo?"

By some miracle, Hinata breathed in again, opened his mouth, and said something.

"I'll miss you."