What are the odds

26

Tanaka was just waking up from his surgery, he could feel a dull ache in his head, throbbing in time with the beeping of the machine next to him. The world made itself clear to him slowly, first, the strong smell of disinfectant and just general cleanliness, a stark contrast to the sent of nature and body odour from twelve boys who hadn't showered in far too long that he'd gotten used to.

Then, it was the sound of beeping and general distant bustling of people. After that came feeling, the softness of the bed under him, the warmth of the covers that were drawn up to his chin. The feeling of two hands, one in each of his, he gives them both a soft squeeze feeling the difference.

One of the hands holding onto his was small and delicate, the skin soft and grip lax. He quickly comes to the conclusion that it must be a girl and she must be asleep. In his other hand, a rougher larger hand, likely larger than his own, was gripping him tightly, holding on like a lifeline.

He finally manages to pry his eyes open looking towards the person attached to the larger hand.

"Chikara," he whispers happily.

"Ryuu, you're awake," The other second year says, eyes shining with happiness as he leans forward. There was also a sense of cation and worry tugging on his beautiful features.

"Are you okay?" Tanaka asks eyeing the bandage covering his friend's cheek. Ennoshita lets out a small chuckle shaking his head.

"You lost your memories and just got out of major surgery and you're asking me if I'm okay because I have a little scratch?" Ennoshita can't help but look at his friend in wonder, letting the expression show so openly that a breath catches in Tanaka's throat.

A shuffling from his other side interrupts them from their moment and Tanaka looks over to find a pretty woman, likely a couple of years older than him with blonde hair and a top with a low neckline that he pointedly avoids looking at feeling mildly grossed out by the thought.

He turns back to Ennoshita confused and silently asking for an explanation of who the woman is.

"That's your sister," The other boy says sadly as he realises that Tanaka didn't remember. He might never remember.

Tanaka's eyes go wide, "Saeko," He interrupts looking at the woman who was gently rousing from her deep sleep.

He remembered, not from Nishinoya talking about her, but somewhere else.

He vaguely remembers getting to his knees and pleading with her to drive Kageyama and Hinata somewhere after they did their practice exams. "Exams," he whispers aloud as his head starts to hurt even more.

Ennoshita's jaw drops. "Y-you remembered?"

The bald boy looks away sadly, "Not- not a lot," He mutters, disappointment evident in his voice, "But I remember Kageyama and Hinata failed their exams and I had to ask Saeko to drive them to- to- I don't know, somewhere and I remember... I remember you, you were the only reason me and Noya passed, I- I think you're the only reason I ever pass any of my classes," He says, eyebrows furrowed as he tries to remember something, anything else.

"Oh, I don't think I help you guys with your homework that much," Ennoshita replies confused but unbelievably relieved that Tanaka was remembering more. He couldn't help but feel a little bit sad however because he knew that any time soon he would remember Kiyoko and then all the attention he was getting, the soft awed looks and easy compliments would go away.

He thinks he'll miss the gentle touches the most, Ennoshita finds himself looking down at their still joined hands, watching as Tanaka thoughtlessly rubbed comforting circles on his skin.

"No," Tanaka says interrupting his thoughts, "I think I wanted to impress you,"

Ennoshita's mind suddenly was filled with all the times Tanaka had boasted to him about his occasional good grades, how his eyes were always happy when he did so and his full attention was turned to the other second year regardless of who else was in the room.

Saeko finally found herself waking up, not unlike her brother, she became aware of the world around her slowly. The second her eyes finally settled on her baby brother she found tears springing to her eyes and launched herself at him, clutching onto his chest as she sobbed into the white hospital gown right over his beating heart.

"I'm going to go check on the others, Daichi is in this room but I think he's still sleeping and Asahi already went to check on Noya," Ennoshita says quietly hesitating for a moment before pulling their joined hands up to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to the back of Tanaka's hand. He tries to say everything he can't say aloud with that small touch. Tries to tell him that he loves him even though he knows that Tanaka couldn't love him back, not really.

With a soft smile, he leaves the room.

"Oh god what if they all hate me, it's all my fault," Takeda says running his hands through his already unruly hair. Ukai sighs and steps forward placing his hands on the teacher's shoulders.

"Takeda, no one blames you but yourself, and that's because it wasn't your fault. Do you think it was in any way my fault?" The teacher shakes his head looking up at the coach with wide eyes that somehow held such innocence and such wisdom. "Then how can you blame yourself? as their coach, I am just as responsible for their wellbeing, and I told you to let them go,"

Yachi can't help but look at the two men in shock, she'd never seen the punk-looking man acting so soft and kind. She'd definitely never seen him able to comfort anyone this well.

"He's right," Ennoshita interrupts causing all eyes to turn to him so fast he almost questions if they'd been anywhere else. "None of us blame you, either of you, and I don't know how you're feeling right now Takeda-sensei but I think Daichi might, and I think when he wakes up, he might need your support,"

Suddenly the second year's arms were occupied by a small sobbing blonde as Kiyoko, Ukai and Takeda looked on in shock. Ennoshita gently wraps his arms around the junior manager, not wanting to frighten her. They hadn't gotten a chance to bond and become comfortably friends as she had with most of the other members of the club so Ennoshita couldn't help but feel his heart swell at the obvious display of affection.

"You'll make a good captain next year," Kiyoko says, her voice soft, barely above a whisper and Ennoshita cant stop the tears from building in his eyes as the other three nod in agreement. A compliment from Kiyoko was a big deal as it is but the mention of captain. Ennoshita could hardly believe he was even in the running for that position.

"Thank you Shimizu-san," He could easily see what the other second year saw in their manager, she was truly beautiful, as well as smart and kind. She was the perfect woman, anyone would agree to that. And Tanaka, in Ennoshita's partially biassed opinion was the perfect man, kind, compassionate, gorgeous inside and out. He couldn't help the brief thought that they would make a good couple.