See you on Mars

13

It was April 10th, 1943. Oikawa had been in the sanitarium for 220 days and it was finally over. The day he got to leave the hospital which he had grown to know so well was finally here.
"You're leaving here so soon, I'm jealous" Watari whined. Oikawa made a fast recovery and was ready to leave faster than most other patients. Oikawa slowly packed his bag full of all his belongings and looked around the room one last time. Watari, Kunimi, and Osamu were the only familiar faces left in the sanitarium when Oikawa left.
Oikawa finished packing his bag and kept Iwaizumi's letter in his hand. He still couldn't let go of what happened no matter how hard he tried to distract himself. Oikawa waved goodbye to the sanitarium and walked down the long, white hallway. He passed Iwaizumi's E.R room and peaked in the window. There was someone else in the room on the hospital bed. What looked to be the person's mother was holding their hand and crying. Oikawa felt bad for the women but kept walking since there was nothing he could do to help.
He passed the staircase that led to the roof of the building and remembered how he and Iwaizumi would get caught in the rain. He remembered how that was the first place Iwaizumi really opened up and figured out how to express his feelings. Oikawa softly smiled to himself as he continued down the long hallway.
Oikawa passed the bathroom where they snuck out of the hospital. Even though that day was a disaster, he didn't regret it. He was happy that he got that time with his ace. He missed Iwaizumi but he was content knowing that he was finally free of everything the cruel world had put him through and even if just for a few months, he gave Iwaizumi a reason to live.
Oikawa opened the doors to the lobby and walked through the doors and was finally outside. He was immediately swarmed by his mother who pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'm so happy you're ok" She cried "I'm so sorry for leaving you here for so long, please forgive me"
"It's ok mom, I forgive you"
"Come on get in the car.... let's go home" She said. Oikawa opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat. She started the car and began pulling out of the parking spot. "By the way" She started "What's that paper in your hand?"
Oikawa stared at the paper and said "It's a letter"
"From who?"
"A friend mom jeez quit being so nosy"
"Is it from a girlfriend?" She teased poking at his side.
"mm" Oikawa hummed.
"Tell me about her, was she nice? Will I get to meet her?"
"They were amazing....., they were always there for me...... They helped me hold my head up during the time I was there...... They were bad at talking about their emotions but... I think that's what made me want to help them......... They went blind so I learned braille and I guess that came in handy so I could read their letter....... They gave me confidence in myself and helped me realize my worth......... So if I'm being honest mom....., I'm not sad that I went to the sanitarium......, if it weren't for the sanitarium I wouldn't have met them and I would never have realized my worth....... I mean it hurts that they're gone but I'm just happy that I got the time I did....... If I could go back in time I wouldn't change a thing,..... and one day I'll see them again,.... I'm positive of it."
Oikawa peered out the window as they passed the hill where they snuck out to. He looked at the cherry blossoms blooming on the hill and wished Iwaizumi could see it.
They made it home and Oikawa walked into his old room. All of his belongings and furniture were covered in a thick dust. Oikawa walked downstairs and found his mom in the kitchen washing dishes.
"Mom?" He asked
"Yeah, what's up Tooru?"
"I'm gonna go on a walk, I'll be back in a bit" He said walking out the door not giving her time to input her opinion. He was wearing jeans and a white button down shirt with a tan sweater on top, perfect for the spring weather. It was still chilly outside and it was getting dark. Oikawa walked a few blocks to the coffee shop on 12th street. He knew it was a long shot that Hanamaki would still be waiting there but he decided to check anyway.
He opened the door to the small coffee shop and a bell rang. He scanned the room but didn't see Hanamaki in any of the seats. Oikawa was about to leave when he heard someone call his name.
"Oikawa?" Hanamaki called out. Oikawa turned around and saw that Hanamaki was the barista.
"Hey Hanamaki, it's been a while." Oikawa waved
"I'm going to go on break for a minute," Hanamaki told his boss, taking off his apron and leaving it on the counter. "Wanna grab us a table?"
"Yeah," Oikawa said sitting in a booth near the back away from most of the other customers. Hanamaki sat across from Oikawa and started talking.
"So, you made it out huh?"
"Yeah, who would've guessed you would still be here"
"Well, I made a promise..... Anyways, do you know how the others are doing?"
"Mattsun moved up to the adults room last I know about. I haven't heard about his death so as far as I know he's still alive. As for the others, I know that Atsumu, Yahaba, and Iwaizumi didn't make it..."
"Iwaizumi died?" Hanamaki asked, shocked.
"Yeah, he died Christmas morning" Oikawa bit his lip and stared at his intertwined thumbs,
"Are you alright? I know he meant a lot to you"
"I'm doing OK I guess, I'm happy that he's finally free.... But I wish he were still here by my side... You should've seen him during his final days..... He lost his eyesight and was visibly suffering.... So if I'm being honest I'm just glad that he's happier.... I just wish I could've spent longer with him..."
"I bet, but you know I think you still meant a lot to him. I think that even if he were to stay alive he wouldn't be happy. I overheard him saying that he wanted to do something with sports, which he wouldn't be able to do if he were blind."
"I mean you're right I guess, there's not much you can do with your life if you can't see what you're doing. He's pretty amazing though so I bet he would've figured out a way."
"I bet you're right. I bet Iwaizumi would be happy to see you doing well."
"He better be, I didn't do all that work to try and move on for nothing"
"Did Yahaba and Atsumu die too?"
"Yeah, I think that-"
"Takahiro get your ass back to work! We have a huge line of customers!" A worker yelled from behind the counter
"That's my boss, I gotta go. Come in again and we can finish talking" Hanamaki said, running behind the counter and quickly tying his apron. Oikawa nodded and left the small coffee shop on 12th street. He still had a few more places he wanted to stop at before he went home though.
Oikawa walked down 12th street which had a bunch of small little shops. He stopped in a flower shop and began looking at all their flowers. He wasn't looking for anything particular, he thought that when he saw the right one he'd know, and he did. He stopped when he saw a beautiful bouquet of blue roses. He smelled the sweet smell of the flower and knew that it was perfect so he bought them, despite the hefty price.
Oikawa left the shop and began walking to his final stop. He walked for a few miles before finally stopping at the hill near the hospital. He walked to the top of the hill and sat in the same place Iwaizumi fell.
He laid in the grass with his hands behind his head, placing the flowers next to him. It was pitch black besides the light coming from the moon.
"You know, you can see mars tonight..... I wonder if you're up there looking down at me..... What's it like up there...? Are you finally happy.....? Is there any pain......? Do you miss me like I miss you.....? One day maybe I'll work for NASA and I can see you during this life...... Honestly I think deep down I was scared that I'll forget you before I make it to mars....., but.... I don't think that will happen........ I don't think I'll ever be able to forget you..... and maybe that's a good thing...... I'm not sure....... Do you still have your locket......? That locket is timeless because I don't think I'll ever stop loving you no matter how much I try to move on.... I really wish you could answer but... I know that's crazy... Everyone here probably thinks I'm crazy but.... somehow I know you can hear me...." Oikawa stood up and placed the flowers under a cherry blossom tree closest to where he was laying. He placed the flowers on the ground and looked back up at the sky.
"Thank you for waiting for me..... I'll see you on mars...."