What are the odds

24

Takeda was sitting with Ukai on the other man's couch, a game of volleyball playing on the tv, not that either of them was paying much attention. The teacher was too caught up in the constant thought of "this is all my fault," and the coach was thinking too hard about what to say to let the teacher know that it wasn't his fault.

Ukai couldn't help but let his gaze settle on the teacher who was too busy wallowing in his own self resentment to even notice. The taller man was about to reach out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder when the shrill ringing of a phone interrupted the near silence of the room.

The two of them just looked at the cellphone o the table for a moment before Takeda picked it up with a shakey "Hello?"

Ukai found himself continuing to watch the teacher, as his facial expressions changed underneath his black-rimmed glasses.

"Yes, okay thank you," Takeda says hanging up the phone. He looks at the wall opposite, eyes wide in shock.

"What was that about?" Ukai finally asks in a voice more gentle than he'd ever used. The teacher turns to face him slowly, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"They found them," He whispers, bottom lip shaking, "They found the team," he sobs out laughing at the same time.

The coaches jaw drops in shock and he suddenly finds himself clutching onto the teacher as relieved sobs wrack through both of their bodies. They pull apart just far enough to press their foreheads together, eyes closed and smiling to themselves as their breaths mingle between them.

Takeda pulls away suddenly flushing pink with embarrassment, his flustered look making Ukai chuckle.

"We should call the girls, they'll be happy to hear the good news," Takeda announces reaching for his phone once more.

After they'd called Kiyoko and Yachi who had been staying together at the older girls house, they eventually promise to come to pick the girls up and head to the hospital, even if it was currently 9:30 at night and they likely wouldn't be able to see the boys until morning. Not a single one of them could wait at home any longer.