USOTSUKI

Wish upon a Dandelion

"You blow it", Hajime said, positioning the flower in front of his nose, "and we'll make a wish".

Hajime watched his best friend suck in a breath, and then blow on the white dandelion puff, seeds losing the fight against Tooru's breath and flying out into the air above their heads.

Hajime quietly wished for the only thing he would ever want - "I wish that Tooru and I will be together forever."

"Iwachan, what did you wish for?", Tooru asked curiously. "The wish won't be granted if you say it out loud, stupid."

"Iwachan, do you know what I wished for? I wished that we should stay together forever.", An excited Tooru said it out loud with sparkling eyes.

"Baka, who wishes for something so stupid? You should've have wished for something useful, like getting better at volleyball or doing well in academics." , Hajime very well knew Tooru had wished for them to stay together, but he would never tell him that he had wished for the same.

"come on now, our parents are waiting for us." Hajime stretched out his hand and pulled Tooru from the ground.

"Iwachan, you're the only one I want to stay with forever. Promise me, that you'll never leave me.", Tooru held out his pinky finger as a symbol of promise.

Hajime sighed. "you're very weird Oikawa. Saying that you want to stay with me forever, its weird." , But Hajime held Tooru's pinky in his and sealed their promise.

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"Mr. Iwaizumi.", the doctor called out for the second time. Hajime woke up from his slumber. Hajime thought to himself - "why that memory, now of all times?!"

"yes, doctor. How is Oikawa?"

Tooru had suddenly lost his consciousness during one of the practice matches. Hajime never thought he would see a day where he would run so fast and feel his heart coming to a stop. He immediately took him to the nearby hospital. It had been two days since they had him admitted for a full body diagnosis. Hajime never left since the minute he had got Tooru to the hospital.

The doctor didn't know how to break the news to the boy in front of him. Iwaizumi looked haggard, sleepless and miserable. Oikawa must have been a special friend of his.

"Iwaizumi san, I would like to take this matter to my office. If you could please follow me."

Hajime nodded. Was it something serious or he just wants me tell about how to take care of Tooru? There were a million thoughts running through his mind. I'm going to kill Tooru for giving me such a scare! But he was praying that everything would be ok and they'll return back to normal.

The doctor opened the office door and held it out for Iwaizumi. "Please take a seat." Hajime nodded and took his seat. The doctor let out a small sigh and a forced smile. "Iwaizumi san, what I'm about to tell might hurt you. But you have to listen to the truth." Hajime's hands clenched as he could feel the sweat running down his spine and his palms. He just nodded.

"Oikawa has leukaemia."

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Hajime returned to Oikawa's ward and sat on the stool placed next to his bed. He held Tooru's hand, feeling the warmth he had come to love during these past years. Hajime always thought he would live a life without regrets. But he realised there was only regrets that he can never overcome. If he had spent more time with Tooru, if only they had started dating, if only he would have said a yes for staying together in an apartment, just once if he would be true to himself and said out loud that he loves Oikawa.....