Snapshots (Yakulev)

6. Home sick

a/n: i dont own the fanart !

One day after school when they were getting ready to start practice, Yaku realized Lev wasn't there. He was leading warm-up stretches and had the urge to yell at Lev, who was probably doing it wrong again or goofing off with Inuoka, when he looked to the cluster of first-years and saw Lev was not there. Practice had started five minutes ago, and Lev hadn't been late since his first practice months ago.

"Oi, where's Lev?" Yaku demanded of the other first-years, still half-expecting Lev to pop up from behind one of them as if he'd been playing some kind of dumb prank. Not that that was possible because Lev was way too big to hide behind anyone.

"He wasn't in school today, he's home sick." Shibayama, the designated Yaku-communicator offered, the least likely to get yelled at by Yaku as he was his apprentice of sorts being the other libero.

"Ohh." Yaku said, not realizing how his voice sank in disappointment at the end (although several others did). He went on the rest of practice feeling like something was off. He didn't have anyone to keep yelling at, correct mercilessly. Nobody made comments about his height, nobody asked him out. It should've been a good day for him, but for some reason, it wasn't.

After practice was over, Shibayama cautiously approached Yaku, the two of them being the only ones left in the gym as Yaku had been slow getting out that day. As for Shibayama, well. Yaku hadn't noticed the group of first-years all nudging Shibayama and handing him a thing of papers.

"Uhh, Yaku-senpai!" Shibayama called. Yaku slowly raised his eyes to the first year and offered a light smile.

"What's up Shibayama? Wanna stay after and do some receives practice?" Shibayama furiously shook his head, having been afraid that would happen. Yaku on the other hand was looking for any excuse not to go home.

"N-no! Nothing like that! I was just wondering–Lev and I are in some of the same classes so I got a bunch of homework for him to do so he doesn't fall behind, but I totally forgot I have to run some errands for my mom and won't be back until later and–I live kind of far from Lev, so–I was wondering, I mean you're the only person left now, if you would be able to take it to him?"

Yaku pursed his lips. In all fairness, he didn't have much work to do that night (for once), and...he really didn't feel like going home just yet. Not after that weekend. It wasn't like he missed Lev or anything.

"I...suppose...I could take it to him." Yaku said after thinking about it, much to Shibayama's surprise.

"Really?" He asked. Yaku nodded, holding out a hand. Shibayama clumsily thrust the papers towards the other libero, who accepted them readily.

"Thank you Yaku-san!" Shibayama said, bowing one more time and then saying goodnight, running off to the other first-years who were hiding behind the gym, waiting to hear what had happened.

Yaku inhaled and exhaled deeply. All he had to do was drop some papers off at Lev's house. Hopefully he wouldn't have to deal with his parents or sister or anything, just real quick give the stuff to Lev, maybe ask how he's doing, and then leave. And take his time walking back, never mind that it was dark.

With a clearer mind, Yaku set out to Lev's house. He was diligent to look behind him, to the sides. Personally he hadn't experienced any run-ins in the neighborhood, but he knew people who had and had no desire to join them.

It took a bit of searching as Yaku realized he'd never been to Lev's house, only watched from a distance as he walked off, so he had to text the first-year and ask for his address. Lev had been puzzled as to why he wanted to know (after already sending it) and was very happy to learn the cause of his visit.

"awwww Yaku-san cares about me and is bringing me my work!!" he had texted. Yaku scoffed at that and didn't reply, having found the house. Lev said he would meet him downstairs, so he walked up the winding driveway and knocked sharply a couple times on the large door. He heard some stumbling inside right after and assumed it was Lev.

The door opened hurriedly. "Yaku–" Lev sneezed. "Yaku-san!" He said as soon as he recovered. Yaku saw that Lev didn't look so good, or sound good for that matter either.

"Geez, what happened to you?" Yaku asked, handing over the papers, which Lev once again thanked him profusely for.

"Oh, I was feeling not so great after practice on Saturday, and I've just been getting worse since. I'm hoping I'll be able to go back to school and practice sometime this week though." Lev looked genuinely upset to not be able to go. His eyes lit up just then as suddenly asked, "Yak–Yaku-san, would you–would you go out with me when..." he had to pause to sneeze again. "when I'm better?" Yaku frowned and said no. Lev sighed, toeing at the doormat on the floor. It had been worth a shot, playing the sick sympathy card.

"Well...I'm sorry to see you're not doing good, I hope you're feeling better too." Yaku said politely. He had been thinking of finding something to yell at Lev for but couldn't, not in his sorry state at least.

"Anyway, I better be on my way, I've got things to do." Yaku said, perhaps a bit too sullenly. Lev frowned sadly, not wanting Yaku to leave so soon.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want you to stick around and get sick too." He murmured dejectedly. He'd already gotten his mom sick as well and felt awful about it.

"Well, then, goodbye Lev, see you later," Yaku started to say. Lev was saying goodbye too, and just as Yaku was turning to go, a loud noise sounded in the distance, startling him and causing him to lose his footing.

"Yaku-san!" Lev called out frantically, rushing forward to catch the other boy. He just managed to grab hold of his hand, preventing Yaku from falling the rest of the way down the steps. It was only then that Lev noticed Yaku's shirt had ridden up in the fall, revealing a large, dark bruise covering his ribs.

Lev gasped as he pulled Yaku back up the steps. "Yaku-san, are you alright?" He asked, thinking that that bruise looked pretty painful, and wondering if Yaku had gone to practice with it. He must've, given how he had the homework for him.

Yaku, realizing with horror what had happened, laughed it off after composing himself. "Oh, it's nothing," he insisted, waving his hand for emphasis. "I just tripped going down the stairs yesterday, it's really not as bad as it looks." It was, and it was killing Yaku, but he would rather die than admit it.

"I mean...if you say so..." Lev mumbled, still not entirely convinced. Before he could dwell on it though, Yaku was hurriedly saying bye again and quickly walking back down the driveway and to the street.

"Bye..." Lev trailed off, hesitating before going inside (also not wanting to look at the homework Yaku had so kindly delivered).

"Ehhhhh??? Who was that Lyovochka, was that your crush???" Alisa demanded, coming into the room and realizing the front door had just been open.

"It doesn't matter, he already left." Lev muttered, going to his room. Alisa smirked, one piece closer to figuring out who her little brother was after.

Meanwhile Yaku nervously walked back to his house, each step slower than the last.