Love Hurts (Teruyama)

Chapter Four

 "Yamaguchi, it's been a month, and your parents still don't know?" Tsukishima hissed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

 Yamaguchi shrugged and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I just never got around to telling them," He mumbled. "Has it really been a month already?"

 "A month and two weeks," Tsukishima stated. "I was just rounding."

 Yamaguchi looked up at Tsukishima. "You've been keeping track?"

 Tsukishima gave a light shrug. "What else am I supposed to do?"

 Yamaguchi sighed, and looked down at his desk. "I'm sorry, Tsukki,"He said. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't-"

 "None of this is your fault," Tsukishima interrupted. "If this is anyone's fault, it's Terushima's."

 Yamaguchi shook his head. "No, it's not. Teru doesn't even know what's going on," He told him. "He doesn't know anything about me and the Hanahaki disease, and he doesn't know why I've been trying to ignore him," Yamaguchi stated bitterly. "Tell me, how could he possibly be the one to blame?"

 "None of that matters. He can be completely oblivious to it all, but it doesn't change the fact that you're in love with him, but since he doesn't return those feelings you have the Hanahaki disease."

 "This is no one's fault! That's like saying that all of this is your fault!"

 "Well, maybe it is my fault. Either way, it's not yours," Tsukishima snapped. "So, stop blaming yourself, okay?" He said with a softer tone.

 Yamaguchi stayed completely silent.

 Tsukishima rose from his desk and sighed. "I'm going for a walk," He announced. "I'll be right back," He assured Yamaguchi, and he stalked off.

Tsukishima crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall. He was outside, and there were multiple other students going about their daily business. He couldn't believe it. He found it hard, to think about how all those people didn't know about Yamaguchi's condition. He found it hard, to think about how if Yamaguchi dies, they'll all be perfectly capable of continuing on with their lives. He found it hard, to think about how he eventually won't have his best friend by his side.

 Tsukishima clenched his fists, and walked around for a bit, trying to distract himself from his thoughts.

 "Tsukishima!" Someone called out.

 Tsukishima turned around, and saw Ennoshita. "Uh, yeah?"

 "Is there something going on with Yamaguchi?" He asked, tilting his head. "He's been acting a little strange lately, and I was wondering if you knew anything about it?"

 "Why are you asking me, not Yamaguchi?"

 "Because, every time I even hint at asking him, he just walks away. So, what's going on?" He asked, more sternly this time.

 Tsukishima hesitated, but shook his head. "If there's anything wrong with him, he hasn't told me anything."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Yamaguchi, you need to tell your parents," Tsukishima nagged.

 Yamaguchi shook his head. "No. If I do, they'll just force me to get the surgery, and I don't want that."

 "So, you don't want to live?" Tsukishima asked him stubbornly.

 "Tsukki, is this the best conversation to be having in the middle of practice?" Yamaguchi hissed, paranoid that someone would overhear.