Music To My Ears || A TsukkiYama Fanfiction || ORIGINAL

|Five|

Tadashi's P.O.V

     I shakily picked up my phone and walked into the hall. I pressed the 'Answer Call' button and held the device up to my ear. "Hey, m-mom." I said.

     "Hello, Tadashi. You seem so sad, is everything alright?" She asked with a worried tone. I nodded and gulped. "I can't hear you nod over the phone, bee."

     I laughed a bit. "Yes, I'm d-doing fine. Is everything al-alright with Papa?"

     I was met with a lingering silence. My mom cleared her throat over the phone. "Tadashi, I'm so sorry. We just got a few tests back from the doctors. The... the cancer is terminal. He's been given a month to live, tops."

     It was all I could do to keep from dropping the phone I held in my freckled hand. I felt a lump form in my throat and swallowed it down. "Is...Is there any-ything else the doc-doctors can d-do?"

     Silence. I took it as a no. My mother spoke up once more. "I'll be calling you out of school for a few weeks. I'm getting you a ticket to come to America to visit your father."

     "Alright, mo-mom." I mumbled, voice cracking. She sighed. I could feel her gentle smile radiating through the phone, even though we were thousands of miles apart.

     "Honeybee, there's nothing to be worried about. Your father seems more bright eyed and bushy-tailed than ever. He's staying strong for all of us. We... need to do the same for him. Alright, love?" She said in a reassuring and almost noble voice. I did a half nod before scolding myself internally.

     "Alright, mama." I said. "I love you, I-I'll see you in a few da-days."

     "I love you too. And Tadashi?" She said.

     "Yes?"

     "Don't lose hope. With your fathers' attitude, he may whoop this cancers' ass and make a suprising recovery." I laughed a bit and sniffled, feeling a stray tear roll down my cheek. "Bye, honeybee."

     "Bye." I breathed. A quiet beep came from the phone, signaling that she hung up. I lowered the phone and stared at my mothers' contact. I knew she was probably crying at this point. She always put on a brave face, masking the doubt she held in her heart.

     I remember a few years back, when she had a miscarriage. She told me that everything would be alright, and that my unborn sister had some unfinished business up in heaven, and she had to go back for the time being. I nodded and kept those words close to heart. That evening, however, I heard muffled sobs coming from her room. It hurt knowing that the goodness of her heart wreaked havoc upon her, in each of her waking hours.

     Yet... She still stayed strong. I don't understand how, but she did.

     I snapped out of my thoughts and took a few deep breaths, wiping the salty tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand. I walked back to the kitchen where Tsukki stood, munching on Pocky and reading the latest edition of 'Volleyball Monthly'.

     He looked up and closed the magazine, setting it on the counter. "Is everything alright?" He asked. I took a deep breath and nodded.

     "The cancer is terminal. I'll be visiting America for a few weeks to spend time with him." I said, mustering up more courage than I thought. Tsukki sighed and shook his head sadly, wrapping me up into a hug.

     "I'm sorry, Tadashi. Your father's an amazing person. Almost like a second dad to me, honestly." He said quietly. I sighed and wrapped my arms around his waist and placed my head on his shoulder. We stood like that for a few moments. I looked out the window, at the beautiful cherry blossom tree we used to climb a countless number of times.