Angels Fly | (Shohei Ohtani x Reader)

Chapter 5: Through The Dark

With each passing day, Shohei's actions began to exhibit signs of improvement. We delved into the depths of his emotions, discussing the intricacies of his journey with raw honesty.

In those intimate exchanges, he found solace and a sense of understanding. 

I listened attentively, supporting his move. The yearning for a life free from the torment of his past grew stronger.

But as the night cast its inky veil over the world, old demons would return to haunt Shohei's dreams. Nightmares, like familiar ghosts, would snatch him from slumber and thrust him back into the realm of fear and despair. He would wake up in the dead of the night, drenched in a cold sweat, his heart pounding against his chest. The tendrils of his disease would coil around him, reminding him that the battle was far from over.

One morning, as I visited Shohei in his apartment, I couldn't help but notice the dark circles under his eyes and the signs of sleep deprivation etched on his face. Sleep, once a cherished respite for him, had become elusive, as his nightmares persisted. Concerned, I gently inquired about his sleeping patterns, and he confessed that the tormenting dreams showed no signs of relenting. He also admitted to me that he could not seem to keep them away for long periods of time, sometimes only a few hours, at other times several days in a row.

After much thought, I suggested to him that he might need a change of scenery, and maybe some good therapy, if in need. 

 "I think a change of scenery would do me good. Let's go explore a new place."

A sense of relief washed over me, knowing that Shohei was open to the idea. We made plans to embark on our day trip the following weekend, giving us both something to look forward to.

But also that night, in the midst of darkness, he reached out to me, his voice laden with sorrow and despair. 

"I'm sorry, the trip, I can't do it," he whispered, his words a painful admission. "The nightmares... they're just too terrible."

I could hear the tremor in Shohei's voice, the weight of his nightmares pressing down on him even through the phone. Concern flooded my being as I listened to his words, understanding the torment he was enduring.

"Sho, it's okay," I said softly, my heart aching for him. "The nightmares would come and go."

There was a moment of silence as Shohei took in my words. I could sense his struggle, the internal battle between wanting to overcome his fears and the fear itself. Finally, he spoke, his voice filled with a mixture of vulnerability and frustration.

"I want to be free from these nightmares," he admitted, his voice quivering. "But they're just too terrifying. I feel trapped, helpless."

"You'll go through it" I assured him, my voice filled with reassurance.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.  

I sensed he needed for something comfort and calmness. If I didn't speak anything, I feared that he might drown in his thoughts again.

So I distracted him by some random topics, intending to create a soothing atmosphere to help him drift off to sleep.

"Hey, Sho, do you remember that time when I accidentally drank banana milk?" I asked, trying to evoke a pleasant memory.

There was a brief pause before Shohei responded, his voice still carrying traces of the anxiety that plagued him. "Yeah, I remember. You thought it was regular milk but turn out to be the taste you hate the most. After your first sip, you spit out immediately and spit all over on my face"

"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry, Sho," I apologized, my voice filled with sincerity. "I didn't mean to bring up that particular incident. It seems I made quite a mess of things that day, didn't I?"

There was a gentle chuckle in Shohei's response, indicating a slight easing of tension. "Yeah, I was shocked a little bit because of your reaction to banana milk. But your blank expression always make me laugh"

"And remember when we tried to bake that cake together? It turned out to be a disaster, but we had so much fun in the process," I continued, hoping to bring back lighthearted memories.

Shohei chuckled softly, the tension in his voice slowly subsiding. "Oh, that cake! It was a complete mess, but it was a hilarious disaster. I can still see the flour on your face."

I laughed along with him. "Yes, we may not have been the best bakers, but at least it was a well-baked one."

We continued talking about trivial things for a while until I was able to coax Shohei into relaxing enough for sleep.

And as we bid each other goodnight, I whispered, "Rest well, Shohei. See you tomorrow"

Shohei's voice, though tired, held a glimmer of gratitude as he responded, "Thank you, Y/N. Knowing you'll be there tomorrow gives me comfort."

My stomach churned as I felt another rush of emotion surge through me. I didn't know why, exactly, but hearing him say those words brought me such immense happiness and peace. With a final exchange of heartfelt goodnights, we both drifted off into the realm of sleep, hoping that the night would bring respite and a peaceful reprieve from the horrors that haunted Shohei's dreams.