Teyvat's Academy of Vision-Holders I (Ittorou Edition)

Chapter 9 - I Burn For You

Itto's POV 

     Nobody deserved to look like that, pale and red on a hospital bed with so many fucking tubes and needles jabbed into his skin that I could do nothing but count the stupid bumps under his skin.

     Sure, I was taking up the other bed in that room, but he hadn't woken up for a week. Vision-powered healing had only scarred the marks over and alchemists had done everything to wake him up. He was too pale. Too still. Too quiet. He wasn't smiling or pouting or crying - he was just there.

     "Itto, they'll have to give you more fluids if you cry it all away."

     "It's my fault, Kujou."

     "No it's not. Lightning strikes tall people - it's nature's fault."

     "If I hadn't been selfish, he'd have been walking, and it only would've hit me."

     "Which would've caused him more pain. You know that asshole. Now eat your food and be ready to cuddle the shit out of him," she ordered, adjusting the table to rest on my lap.

     "I'm not hungry."

     "Don't do this again. If you're going to continue feeling guilty, at least keep your muscles for him."

     "He still hasn't woken up. His Vision should've woken him up or healed him or something -"

     "I know that. Saying it doesn't change the fact it didn't happen." Sangonomiya and Kaedehara hadn't left his bedside, rotating between the leather couch and the armchair beside the bed. Kujou Sara drifted between my side and his, but if she slept over, she had to sleep on the couch beside me for the trio's sake. "Look, I know you're upset and you feel like shit, but slowing your healing process won't help his."

     "...I'm sorry. I can't eat right now or I'll just throw it up."

     "...Fine. I'll put it up for later, okay?"

     "Thank you. I'm sorry you have to babysit me."

     "You're my friend, Arataki. Just focus on healing." I drifted in and out of consciousness until dinner, when Shinobu showed up with a box of cookies. The boys had tried coming every once in a while, but work and housing fees kept them away.

     The next day, everyone panicked because Kamren showed up for a visit and Gorou's binder had been removed under the doctor's orders. He paused for a moment before walking over to me and making me promise to make him feel loved.

     "I had no idea you two were so close," Kujou Sara mumbled.

     "We're not. I just... I lost my brother because he didn't feel loved. You've met my folks, Arataki. You know they're not... Understanding."

     "...Your brother was trans." He nodded a little, glancing at Gorou's tiny shape. "...I'm sure he'd be proud of you. Jax adored your adaptability."

     "Thank you. Oh, uh, here. I made some mochi in our home ec class. Figured you two could use some sweets." His box of mochi was added to the ever present pile of "well wishes" gifts. He said goodbye and left. The rest of the day passed without progress and I slept, only woken once when a nurse removed my IVs, once more under our doctor's orders. I couldn't go back to sleep after that, so Kaedehara, Sangonomiya, and Kujou Sara helped decide on something to watch - hockey. With so little access to ice, it was fascinating.

     Until a sob sounded to my left and the TV was left forgotten. I didn't even pay attention to the pain racing through my body as I forced myself over to his side, tears of pure relief racing down my face as he squeezed me tight and soaked my shoulder. Of course, all the movement messed with his IVs, so we were forced apart for the nursing staff to fix it - those five feet had never felt so endless. He was babbling incoherently in Inazuman, color slowly filling his skin again as Sangonomiya coaxed him into accepting a carton of banana milk, fat tears continuing to stain his cheeks as he tugged his sister into a hug, face buried in her neck.