Echoes of Tomorrow.

THREE

The waiting room of the campus clinic was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of papers as Tendou Satori fidgeted nervously in his seat. His eyes traced the familiar patterns of the linoleum floor, his mind racing with a million unspoken fears. Next to him, Ushijima Wakatoshi sat in stoic silence, a pillar of unwavering support despite the turmoil brewing beneath his calm exterior.

Tendou had managed to schedule an appointment with the doctor after practice, his decision buoyed more by Ushijima's insistence than his own growing unease. The dull ache in his side had intensified throughout the day, each twinge a harsh reminder of the looming uncertainty that overshadowed his thoughts.

"Satori Tendou?" The nurse's voice broke through his reverie, and Tendou looked up to see her standing by the doorway, holding a clipboard in hand. With a deep breath, he rose to his feet, Ushijima following closely behind as they were led down a sterile hallway to an examination room.

The doctor, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, greeted them as they entered. She gestured for Tendou to take a seat on the examination table while Ushijima settled into a chair nearby. Tendou shifted uncomfortably under the weight of their expectant gazes, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable.

"So, what seems to be the issue today, Tendou?" The doctor's voice was gentle, yet Tendou sensed an underlying seriousness that sent a shiver down his spine.

Tendou hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the jumble of symptoms that had plagued him recently. "I... I've been feeling really tired, and there's this pain in my side. It started after practice yesterday."

The doctor nodded thoughtfully, jotting down notes on her clipboard. "Any other symptoms? Fever, nausea?"

Tendou shook his head, his throat feeling inexplicably tight. "No, just the fatigue and the pain."

The doctor nodded again, her expression unreadable. "I'd like to do a physical examination and some tests to get a better understanding of what might be going on. It could be a number of things, but we'll start with ruling out the more common possibilities."

Tendou's heart sank at her words, the weight of the unknown pressing down on him with suffocating force. He exchanged a glance with Ushijima, who offered a reassuring nod, his hand resting on Tendou's shoulder in silent solidarity.

The physical examination was thorough yet uncomfortably impersonal, the doctor's probing fingers exacerbating the ache in Tendou's side. She ordered blood work and scheduled an ultrasound for later in the week, her professional demeanor doing little to assuage Tendou's growing apprehension.

As they left the clinic, the air between them was heavy with unspoken fears. Ushijima remained steadfast at Tendou's side, his normally impassive features betraying a rare glimpse of concern.

"I'm here for you, Satori," Ushijima murmured quietly as they walked back towards the dorms, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of Tendou's thoughts.

Tendou managed a weak smile, though the worry etched into his features spoke volumes. "Thanks, Wakatoshi. Let's just hope it's nothing serious."

But even as he said the words, Tendou couldn't shake the sinking feeling in his chest.