Rigid Crow

Interlude: Hinata

One of my nurses, Yuba-san, knocks softly on my door and walks in. "Shōyō-kun?" Her face is distraught and she looks at me with pity. "Something's happened."
I feel my heart sink with dread. "What? What is it?"
"It's... Kageyama-kun. I knew you'd want to be the first to know. He's been taken into emergency life-saving surgery."
My computer falls from my lap and crashes to the floor. "Wh-What?"
Her eyes lower to the floor. "They're doing all they can, but we won't know whether it's successful or not for a few hours."
I shake my head, nervous laughter bubbling in my throat. "N-N-No. You m-mean some-s-someone e-e-e-else. Tobi's f-f-fi-fine."
"I'm so sorry, Shōyō-kun. It's him."
I stare at her, my hands shaking, waiting for her to elaborate. That isn't possible. Tobi isn't sick. He's not hurt. There's no way he's in surgery to save his life.
"He had a stomach ulcer," she continues, "which normally wouldn't be a problem. A big reason for him getting one would be the extreme stress he's undergone these past months. That's an easy treatment when diagnosed, and most ulcers go away on their own after. But... he must've ignored it and his perforated, or ruptured, which requires immediate surgery. It tore through his stomach lining, causing him to go into septic shock, which we were afraid would happen to you. You understand what that means- sepsis will lead to organ failure should the patient not be saved first."
"No!" I keen and wail, sobs building in my chest. This can't happen. Not to him. I need him.
Yuba-san rushes to my side and hugs me. I cry, falling into her embrace, though all I want is my mom and dad here with me.
My chest squeezes and my heart pounds. What if he dies? What if he leaves me alone? I lose control of my breath and gasp, tears streaming down my cheeks. Dread blocks every corner of my mind, and all there is is darkness.
"—ōyō-kun? Please— with me. It's going to— okay."
Everything spins and falls apart in my mind. I'm only fragments of myself, and being whole is a forever away. And I'm so, so frightened.
"Shōyō. Breathe, please."
I struggle to comply, not even sure why I'm trying when nothing seems intact. There is not an ounce of happiness here; I'm lost in an oblivion. I can't breathe. I'm going to die! I inhale as slowly as I can.
"There you go. Good job, love. One more time."
We continue in this endless cycle of fear and struggle for control.
But my head eventually does clear. Grief still claws at my chest, but I no longer feel like I'm about to die.
Yuba-san bites her lip. "That was a long one. Nearly ten minutes. Are you alright?"
I shake my head. The attack is over, but the unimaginable fear and mourning lingers. I point to my phone, which she hands to me. I need to text my parents. I need them. Not only that, they need to hear about what's happening to him. He's their child, too, now. I groan. I don't want to see them cry again. They've done too much of that.
     I open a group chat and let them know what's going on.

S: You need to come to the hospital asap. Tobi's had an emergency and is in life-saving surgery right now. I'm totally serious and they can give you specifics once you get here but please I need you here or call me or something please please as soon as you can please

     Only a minute later, my dad calls. "Shōyō! What happened? What was that text? I'm coming right now!"
Yuba-san takes the phone and explains as much as she can.
She passes it back when she's done and my dad says, "I'll be there soon. Your mother, too. I love you, you hear?"
"Mm-hm," I all but squeak out. "L-L-L-Love you."
Before my parents can arrive, though, two friends of mine burst into the room. Kenma and Yamaguchi enter, their eyes alight with fear.
At the sight of them, I dissolve into tears again. They rush to my side, and Yamaguchi hugs me. They must've been there when it happened. I look to them, hoping they'll tell me anything. Was he in a lot of pain? Was it quick? Did he pass out? What happened?
     "It was awful, Hinata," Yamaguchi says, sniffling. Tears course down his cheeks. "It happened so fast. We didn't know what to do. I don't think there was anything we could've done. I've never seen him look so weak and helpless and scared before. Well, apart from when you..."
     "He'll pull through," Kenma says softly. "He wouldn't give up so easily. You know that, Shōyō."
     I nod, trying to convince myself of that, too, because I can't bear the thought of my last interaction with Tobi being the last time I ever talk to my best friend.
They don't leave me until my parents and Natsu arrive. Okaa-san is full-out sobbing, and Otou-san, too, is near tears. Natsu cries more out of fear and confusion. We huddle close to each other, hoping, wishing, needing for him to make it through this.
     Okaa-san kisses my forehead, hiccuping through her cries. "I never th-thought... Oh, Tobio..."
     The hours tick by far too slowly. I'm losing my mind. I've never felt such fear before. Not even the times I thought I was going to die. It's far worse to wonder if you're about to lose someone you love.
     Is this how they felt for so long when I was in a coma? When I had that fever? How did they possibly bear it?
     My heart hardens with anger through all the pain. If he had only listened to what I told him, he wouldn't be in this situation right now! If he had only gotten help when I said so...
     Tobi, how could you do this to me?