Everchanging

Broken Heart

!!TW!! Panic attacks, self-harm, suicide attempt(flashback), bullying, mourning

He ran.

Honestly, Kaigaku doesn't think he's ever ran this much in his life. Not even close.

He had gotten the call just as he was placing dinner on the table. Grandpa had the night shift, so Kaigaku and Zenitsu were left to fend for themselves. Just as both boys had been sitting and prepared to dig in, Kaigaku's phone chimed loudly. With a bit of a sighed huff, the boy had picked up his phone and looked at the screen. Easily, the air of annoyance was chased away with fear.

Why was the hospital calling him? What has gone wrong? Was his mom gone? Kaigaku's brain zoomed itself in circles as the phone clicked and connected.

"Hello?" He kept his voice calm, watching Zenitsu lift an eyebrow before resuming his meal. The doctor was quick to answer. Kanae's voice was fast and winded, it only served to make the boy lose his appetite.

"Your mom woke up, Kaigaku. She's awake right now." He felt like he was floating. This couldn't be real. He wasn't sure if he was even awake right now. This had to be some kind of dream. "I told you it wouldn't be long. Didn't I?"

Zenitsu startled when his brother slammed his chair back, Kaigaku standing to his feet and rushing out of the kitchen. He could vaguely hear Zenitsu call out to him in confusion as he dumped everything out of his backpack to make room for clothes. His heart was racing, his muscles buzzing, and his blood felt like magma. Kaigaku wasn't sure if he could breathe but he just focused on shoving random things into his bag.

Kanae was still talking, something about his mom's condition that the boy hadn't been listening to as he jogged out of his room to fetch his shoes. He interrupted her just as Zenitsu took notice of the rushed panic surging through the other. Zenitsu looked worried, his mouth opening to speak but Kaigaku was faster.

"I'm coming. I'll be there." He hung up before Kanae could answer, tapping the screen to text his grandpa as he stumbled to the closet to get his coat. The car was gone, so Kaigaku couldn't drive himself. It was late so the buses weren't running anymore and his bike had a broken chain. He was pretty much fucked but that wasn't going to stop him from getting there.

"Kaigaku, what's going on?" Zenitsu finally asked, following the boy with fear in his eyes. "Where are you going? Why are you packed? Who called you?"

He asked too many questions and Kaigaku's adrenaline rushed brain was struggling to figure out what to do. He had packed. He had his shoes. His coat was in his hand. He texted his grandpa. What else was he missing? Was he even missing anything?

"Kaigaku?!" Zenitsu stepped in front of him, tears beading his eyes. Kaigaku felt a little guilty making his little brother so anxious but to be fair, he was too. "You're scaring me. What's wrong?"

"She woke up." It felt like euphoria to say it out loud. His mom woke up. She was awake and alive. She wasn't sleeping anymore. She wouldn't miss this birthday. Dad was wrong. He was wrong. Kaigaku was right. "My mom woke up."

Zenitsu's eyes widened, and he stumbled over his words at the tear-soaked words from Kaigaku's mouth. The younger boy grabbed his coat and slipped on his shoes, speaking quickly.

"We have to go. Come on, Kai." Zenitsu pushed Kaigaku out the door, a complicated expression on his face as he smiled at him. "We'll run."

So, they did. They ran.

They ran so fucking fast.

Because Kaigaku's mom finally woke up.

They were just down the street from the hospital, both boys wheezing in the cold air. It burned their lungs and made tears build in their eyes. Kaigaku sobbed pathetically, everything in him feeling so wrong but also so right. It was like a puzzle piece had been fixed after being missing for so long. He wasn't used to it and it felt wrong. But he never wanted to let go of this feeling.