The first time it happened he doesn't remember much of it. He was home alone, his parents being at work, grandparents in sanatorium and his older sister on date. He didn't feel well after that day practice but he hadn't told it his friend. He were preparing himself something to eat when he heard a loud sound coming from the bathroom. He was supposed to be the only living creature in the house so he went up the stairs with a kitchen knife, just in case.
There was nobody seen in the bathroom but one of cupboards was open and his sister's shampoo was spilled across the floor. He knelt quickly to clean everything. While he was trying to save some of the liquid something stood behind him and touched his back lightly. He jumped and turned around, noticing a black cat. The cat hissed and ran to the open window. That's the way it probably found itself inside the house.
He sighed and put down the knife returning to cleaning the floor. He stood up and put inside the rest of his sister's shampoo into the cupboard.
Then it happened. He can't remember much of it except for shooting pain in his chest, spine and limbs' muscles.
He laid unconscious in his bathroom, alone, with nobody to help and call an ambulance. His body was shaking, his spine arched painfully, eyes half-closed.
Then he woke up in the hospital with his crying mother on his right side and very serious looking father on his left side. He tried to turn his head a little but the pain was too much.
"Don't move," his mother said. She touched his forehead gently and smiled, not really happily. "It's okay, your physician should be here at moment."
They waited in silence for physician to come into the white room. She came after a few minutes with a folder and a gently smile on her face. "It's good to see you conscious, Yanagi-kun," she said and took a place at his feet to speak with his parents. "Here I have the results of your examinations. It doesn't seem to be excellent, but still it is nice."
"What's wrong with our son, Kobayashi-san?" his father asked while his mother's grip on his arm grew more painful.
The physician cleared her throat before speaking again. "Well, after very detailed examinations we are sure it is some kind of epilepsy, but every attack doesn't have a direct reason. Those attacks can happen at any time, while you're doing different things. You can do something extreme and have the attack or don't have. On this point the disease is very unpredictable and incurable, but not terminal."
His parents listened to her, very focused. Tears made their way again on his mother's cheeks.
"There's no medicine to make it better, as well as there's no recipe on how to live to decrease the risk of attack. I'm sorry."
"What we are supposed to do then?" his father asked.
"I can give you prescription with standard medicine which may help you with sore spasms. I will prescribe some pills for you. Your son should be able to go home today. I recommend you to stay for one or two hours on probationary ward. That's all from me. Have a good day." She bowed lightly and left the room.
He was released from hospital right before the twilight.
Since that day he was always stressed and afraid. He preferred to stay away from people but he couldn't stay away from his family and friends.
The second time it happened (not really second but second important to him) was on the day they were supposed to play against Seigaku. They didn't though because of the bad weather condition. He and Sanada returned to the rest of the team. The vice captain noticed that Kirihara wasn't with them. He must have stayed with those Seigaku guys and teased them. "I'll go get him." Sanada murmured and simply went away, counting on him to take care of the others.
He sat himself alone while Marui and Niō started to argue about some unimportant stuff..
Sanada was back again, this time with their younger teammate. Kirihara tried to excuse himself by talking about Fuji Shūsuke who he was going to play against. Sanada decided to train a little, not caring about the rain. He still was sitting away from his friends, thinking about his upcoming match with his former friend.
In the meantime Sanada had a match against Seigaku brat, Echizen Ryōma. He won easily, crushing the kid. Echizen was very angry and quickly left without a word. Right after his departure Sanada heard his name. "Sanada!" Niō screamed while running to him.
"Control yourself, Niō!" roared Sanada. "What happened?!"
Niō panted hard. "Something is wrong... With Yanagi... He..."
But Sanada didn't listen. Instead, he began to run towards the rest, Niō following after him.
What Sanada saw reminded him of the horror he'd been through when their captain had fainted and ended in hospital.
He was laying on the ground, his chest high above the paving, back arched that much that Sanada never thought it is possible for man to do so. His body trembled violently, eyelids going insane, he was sweating too much, tears and saliva mixed on his red face. He wasn't responding to Yagyū's questions. Yagyū was leaning over him and patting his cheeks, speaking to him, trying to do something.
Sanada stood there paralyzed. He shook his head. "Call the ambulance!" he screamed, finally taking a step closer. He knelt next to his unconscious friend who was still shaking. Suddenly a sharp cry escaped his lips even though he didn't regain consciousness. "Hurry!"
Seconds later the ambulance arrived and took him to hospital.
"What are we going to do now, Sanada-kun?" asked Yagyū, looking at the rest of the team. Kirihara looked terrified and Jackal tried to comfort him somehow.
"Go home." Sanada dialed a number to Yanagi's family.
When he began to understand where he was, it was near the eight in the evening. He knew already not to move so much because it caused pain. But he could move his eyes a little and spotted his friend beside his bed. 'Oh no' he thought while looking at him.
Sanada realised that he was looking at him. Their eyes met for a second before he decided to torture himself and turned around to avoid Sanada's eyes. He cried out in pain but didn't stop his movements. He didn't want to hear a word from his friend's mouth.
"Renji," Sanada said with frown. He knew something was going on and he knew about it and tried to hide it from them. "How long?" He managed to ask.
He didn't turn to him. "I was diagnosed at the beginning of this school year. I use to have epileptic seizures since then."
"Why haven't you told me?"
"I waited so long for that day. To meet him, to fight him again. To win."
Sanada could understand his friend, but not completely. He was scared that some nasty disease was going to take away his second friend. "Don't you think about your health? It's dangerous!"
"But we can't know when the seizure will take place. There are situations which it can be but doesn't have to be."
"Maybe, but still-"
"It's you who don't understand!" he shouted. "You don't know how it is like when you live and you never know when you will faint, go unconscious and feel muscles breaking pain. It can happen when you're alone at home and nobody is there to help you, to hug you, to comfort you. It can happen when you're in public and everybody is looking at you, children are pointing their fingers at you, people are too close, staring at you like you are mentally disabled. Some of them are looking with disgust, some of them are gasping, but nobody is going to help you. They are just staring and even though you can't see it you can feel it. It's embarrassing, it's scary, you feel like somebody rejected by society. People are laughing at you because they don't know."
"Renji..."
"You know what?" He turned his head a little, hissing in pain. "Being alone drives me insane, I lose my senses. And when I see you and Seiichi... It has always been the three of us, but that's what the others thought. I know better. You and Seiichi are in kind of friendship you've never been in with me. I felt left on the side, nobody can notice me anymore. I'm so devastated, it was the same with Sadaharu. Now Seiichi is in the hospital, you can't cope with everything, some of our teammates break down in front of us and everybody wants me to do everything, to be there for them. But there is nobody for me."
Sanada couldn't speak after hearing his friend's words.
He didn't take any of them back. "Don't worry, Genichirō, I can play, I'm not dying."
"Renji, I didn't know that you thought about it that way..."
"I'll be able to go home after an hour or two. You better go home, your parents probably worry about you."
Sanada didn't want to argue with his friend, but he didn't like his point of view when it came to their friendship. He was about to left the room when he spoke again.
"Just one more thing, Genichirō," he whispered, wrapping his arms around himself, his back to Sanada. "Just once be here for me and don't tell him about my illness. Just once make me more important. I bet he has more serious problems to dealing with before the surgery."
"But-"
"Please, I beg you!" His voice broke and he started sobbing.
Sanada went to the bed and put his hand on his friend's one in a calming gesture.
"I won't tell Yukimura."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
The third time it happened (as well as in the second one, it was the third time important to him) was during the practice in August. It was very hot day, two days after Yukimura had returned to school. He wasn't allowed to play seriously for some short time so he just sat himself on one of the benches and watched the rest of the regulars practicing.
He was playing a nice match against Niō, not really thinking about you-know-what that day. The Nationals were coming closer and closer every day. He was grateful that not only Sanada, but the rest of the team decided not to tell Yukimura about his illness.
Yukimura was actually focused on the match between Kirihara and Yagyū, noticing some progress in younger teenager's skills. He was curious about his devil side too, but his best friends had told him they don't want to speak much about that. It was some kind of secret.
Then Yukimura heard Niō's scream his friend's name and looked over. When he saw his friend lying on the ground and shaking violently, his heart stopped for a second. He's never seen something as that. In one moment he understood how all of his friends had felt when he had fainted.
Sanada and Yagyū ran over to him when his spine arched impossibly and he cried out while still being unconscious. Sanada tried to turn him on his side and it wasn't an easy thing to do. His whole body went still and shook at once.
Yukimura just stood near the bench he had been sitting at minutes ago. He didn't understand what was going on. Why nobody called an ambulance?
The horror lasted only few minutes but left Yukimura speechless for another half-hour.
When he woke up he immediately recognize his surroundings. He was lying on a bench in the locker room. It was more comfortable to wake up in not so bright room as in the hospital. He groaned loudly and tried to move his neck and head. He was aware that Yukimura was sitting next to him and that scarred him to death. "Don't move, Renji," He heard Sanada speaking, but delicate palm on his forehead was definitely Yukimura's. "I'm sorry but I had to break my promise. Please, forgive me." He could imagine Sanada bowing deeply in apology.
Yukimura's soft hands were caressing his cheeks and temples. He finally found the strength to open his eyes and look at him. The bluenette wasn't smiling like he always did, he had a deep frown on his face instead. "How do you feel, Renji?" he asked.
"Much better than in the hospital," he managed to say before hissing in slight pain. "You must be furious that I haven't told you."
Yukimura shook his head slowly. "No, I am not. But I'm upset. Sanada has told me everything he heard from you. If I'm angry, then only at myself and Sanada a little bit."
He snorted lightly with fake smile, of course Yukimura would have been angry with himself and Sanada, it was obvious. "I've also told Yukimura about what you think of the three of us. I know I shouldn't have but I think it is right for him to know too," Sanada said when he tried to sit up with Yukimura's help. "Yukimura, tell him. I don't want to have this feeling that he still thinks like that."
He looked his younger friend in the eye, waiting for whatever was to come. Yukimura sighed deeply. "Renji, do you really think that you are left aside?" he asked.
He decided that his knees were more interesting to look at than his friend's face. He was such a coward and he knew it but couldn't help it.
"Renji, listen to me. You are not left aside okay? You are my best friend just the same as Sanada is. And Sanada thinks the same right? There will always be the three of us even if sometimes it doesn't look that way. It is because I am the captain and Sanada is vice-captain. That doesn't mean you are less important than we are. We are best friends and that's the fact. Do you understand?"
He could only nod his head before tears made their way down his cheeks.
The fourth important for him time... Well, maybe not as important as the rest of them but still pretty significant. It was the day his team fought Nagoya Seitoku at the Nationals. The air temperature was high and they all could feel the thickness in it.
They lost singles three and doubles two intentionally. He and Sanada had made a great plan and Yukimura accepted it easily. The only one who knew nothing of their plan was Kirihara who also had to be the main star in that day show. After Yagyū's loss there was the loss of Marui and Jackal. Poor Kirihara didn't know it had been all planned and was desperate to win his own match. He was sure that his loss would be the end for the team and they wouldn't reach the championship.
His kōhai won the match and learn a new but dangerous technique which frightened some of the Rikkai students. Then was the time for him and Niō to show that Nagoya guys what Rikkai means. He was not less desperate to win than Kirihara was and with Niō by his side it was going to be real fun.
Yukimura was pleased with their victory, he could see it in his friend's eyes. The bluenette gave him a warm smile and cold towel.
He was sure it would happen on one of the National matches but didn't see that coming then. It was the same as always, he could feel eyes on his hurt body while it was shaking and changing its shape like in some horrors about possession.
The schoolers from Nagoya Seitoku started whispering to each other and pointing at him. Some of them even laughed a little. Yukimura stayed calm and asked Yagyū to help him lay the still shaking body on the bench. Once it was done, the bluenette looked at laughing boys. "It's so funny, right? Especially when you know that you have lost to him." he growled and walked to the bench. He sat and laid his friend's sweated head on his lap while Yagyū lifted his legs and straighten them. They both told the referee that everything was okay and they can continue.
Sanada was angry as well. He knew how hard it was to his friend when it came to situations like that. He couldn't stand Nagoya schoolers behaviour. Well, it was his time to show his strength. It was clear that those foreigners were in biggest trouble of their lives.
When he woke up, the match was over, they had won. He groaned before opening his eyes a little. Yukimura's hand covered the sun for him, his other hand was stroking his head. He could see Niō waving a towel above his head and Kirihara's tired face. He could see Marui and Jackal's serious faces and Sanada's as well. The brunette didn't look tired at all even though he had just won the match. "You've overlooked my game." he murmured, not really being sad about it.
All of them smiled warmly and he smiled as well despite his ached limbs. Something in his heart fluttered.
The referee ruined the moment...
The fifth important time took place during the losers' training on a mountain with coach Mifūne.
The first day in U-17 camp was very stressful for him because he didn't know what would happen there and that unawareness scarred him.
During his match with Kirihara he started to think about younger player and his big progress. But he also thought about opportunity of being in this camp and how they could help his kōhai become even better. It would be selfish for him to just win like that, not giving Kirihara any chance for one point. Kirihara wanted to become pro very bad and he didn't see himself as a tennis star in the future. So what was the point in winning against younger teen?
He forfeited and told Kirihara to stay and become stronger. Then with the rest of losers he left the camp.
While being with Inui on the bus he relaxed a little bit. He hadn't feel very well playing against Kirihara and had been scared that he would have had another seizure. Now everything would be okay and he would officially exit tennis.
When the losers started to get frustrated and all of them exited the bus, they were told to climb the mountain if they are that desperate. He wasn't so sure about that but then he felt somebody's hand on his shoulder. It was Sanada, trying to calm him and encourage not to give up so easily. They gave each other small smiles and went with the others.
Climbing the mountain was the worst experience he had in that year if not counting his epileptic seizures. He was hot, he sweated, his head and limbs hurt, he felt tired. But he made it, just as the rest of them.
They met their new coach Mifūne who liked to get drunk and enjoyed being a bastard. Boys from other teams were disgusted by him, especially Hyōtei's Shishido and Seigaku's Kaidō.
The bastard humiliated all junior high schoolers a few times, giving them shitty tasks to do and commenting in nasty way. He felt only more tired and couldn't stop think that that day the next seizure would come.
In the evening Mifūne wanted all high schoolers and junior high schoolers to gather on a irregular court. The drunkard wanted them to have a match against each other to determine who would sleep in the house. The losers would sleep in a cave near the house.
It quickly turned up that only he and Inui had a chance to win the game for junior high students. They both were clever enough to predict every detail about balls. It was a good feeling to him. He hadn't had played with Inui on the same side of the net for a very long time. He could recall himself these good old days spent with his former best friend.
Unfortunately for them Mifūne stopped the match when there were only three high schoolers left which meant that he and Inui lost. The rest of junior high schoolers started to scream and argue with the guy but he only yelled louder that he is always right and they are not.
He didn't feel well at that moment. Everybody was screaming, he was exhausted and he didn't like that Mifūne guy. It was unfair. Only he and Inui remained silent.
Then Mifūne looked at the two. "Did you want to say something?" he growled. Inui shook his head, not wanting to make things worse than they already were.
That was the moment he fainted. His scream echoed through the forest drawing attention of all the people on the mountain. Inui didn't know what was happening but he tried to talk to him, to wake him up, to just do something. Sanada was quickly next to them turning his head to the side along with the rest of his body. Nobody spoke, they were just watching the scene before them. That annoyed Sanada who knew how his friend hated that stares.
Mifūne walked over to them looking as nothing happened. "Junior high schoolers are cleaning! High schoolers are preparing food!" he yelled.
When he woke up it was already dark outside the cave they all were in. He immediately started to cry because the pain was worse than ever. He could feel Sanada pressing his sore body into his own chest, one hand stroking his hair and the other on his left biceps.
The cave was silent and the air temperature was low. Junior high students were hiding from cold in their sleeping bags. Some of them were whispering to each other, some were trying to sleep. The most important thing was that nobody looked at him in the way that gave him chills. He closed his eyes, not feeling much strength to keep them open just a little bit. "Does it hurt that bad?" Sanada asked silently.
He moved his head a little, his nose bumping against Sanada's chest. He was aware of Inui's presence somehow. His former friend sat himself behind his back, next to Sanada. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, Renji." Inui put his hand on his shoulder.
"Genichirō," he managed to say. "Could you please take a look on my right leg? The pain is unbearable." He was embarrassed of showing his weaknesses in front of everybody.
Sanada shifted a little, still holding his hurt friend close. "Yeah, sure. I will need some help."
"I'll help." He heard Inui speak again. Seigaku dataman shifted him onto his lap carefully but it still hurt and he couldn't stop tears running down his sweaty face.
Inui held him by his arms lightly but it wasn't really comfortable and his spine and chest were sore as well. "He needs to lean on something." Sanada said while trying to straighten his friend's legs.
Yeah, he sat perpendicular to Inui because there wasn't much space to do it differently. Fortunately Inui asked for help somebody from his team and Kawamura was willing to help. His well-build chest was like a soft pillow and he nearly sighed in relief.
"I will need some light," Sanada looked at lying junior high schoolers, searching for help. There was Zaizen with all his gadgets and stuff who looked rather curious. Sanada asked him not so gently for lending them something to illuminate the cave. The junior walked to them and used his phone with strong light. "This should be enough." Sanada returned his attention towards hurt legs of his friend's.
At that point Ōishi from Seigaku decided to join and help. "I know a lot about muscles spasms and similar conditions. Please let me also check on his leg." he said.
Sanada quickly agreed.
He laid there with closed eyes, still crying silently while Inui was stroking his arm muscles. Sanada and Ōishi were touching both his legs. His right calf was burning in pain so much he almost screamed at every touch made there. He had never felt that bad after the attack.
"This doesn't look very well," Ōishi whispered to Sanada, not wanting for him to hear it. "The muscles look like they can't loosen. I can try some massage on them but I'm not a professional masseur."
Sanada frowned before looking at his friend's face. "Renji, we have to loosen your muscles and it's going to hurt. Are you-"
"If it's necessary then do it but hurry!" he shouted.
"Inui," Ōishi turned to his former friend. "You and Taka-san will try to distract Yanagi from the pain, okay?"
He didn't hear them answering so he imagined them nodding their heads. He tried to open his eyes and looked at Inui. The other dataman's face showed deep worry. "I must have terrify you to death." he said quietly.
Inui only smiled and laid his hand on his shoulder. "Yes, I definitely didn't see that coming. You managed to surprise me. Congratulations."he laughed shortly and patted him on the shoulder.
He couldn't stop from smiling lightly. "I should be celebrating this small victory right?" He still felt that extreme pain in his calves but being near his friends encouraged him.
He ended still crying in their arms, not because of the pain. He cried because hadn't seen before how lucky he really was to have them.
The sixth important time he wouldn't like to forget because it was about another person who had had a big influence on his life.
After intensive training on the mountain with coach Mifūne he and the rest of "losers" returned to the camp. It turned out that some changes were going to take place the following day and coaches selected some of the students for matches against somebody strong.
The next day he took part in those matches despite not being chosen. He wanted to follow Yukimura who was in the selected group. It would be a great opportunity to test his skills and see if he had made any progress.
He went with Inui to meet their opponent. They entered the court where somebody was already waiting for a good tennis player to play against. He and Inui stood near the net and his heart stopped for a moment.
"It's been a long time, Akuto-niisan."
The blond wearing glasses smiled lightly. "Renji," he said. "I haven't expected you here."
Inui looked confused. "Renji, you know that guy?" He frowned, murmuring something.
"I had met him before I met you, Sadaharu. Stay away, I will play him."
Mitsuya Akuto was the one who had taught him data tennis. It was going to be a hard game but that was the only way to help Inui gather some data and win. He would do it.
Mitsuya was brutal, he didn't even restrain from some nasty comments towards him. He knew he had no chances at all and that made him lose hope. He could only stand there and listen, trying to get data. "You can't win against me." Mitsuya said.
He couldn't understand why Mitsuya was still attacking even though he gave up already. Then he heard Inui speaking to him. His voice asked to throw away all the data and try again. He thought it would be irrational to do so but he didn't have any other options. He defended himself and started attacking.
Playing without his data was exhausting. He was running all around the court, desperate to reach the ball and win. But Mitsuya was too good.
In the end he wasn't strong enough to stand without Inui's help. His muscles were still sore after the seizure which had happened some days before that day. He thought about crying but refused to do so in front of Mitsuya. He wouldn't have liked the blond to join the group of people who knew about his illness.
But the fate wasn't compassionate for him when his spine arched painfully, his limbs' muscles started to shake and they stiffened. His chest and stomach were torn by pain and his cry reached ears of people in the area.
Inui laid him on the court quickly and tried not to forget what Sanada and Ōishi had told him. Yes, in such situations even great Inui was able to forget. The brunette rolled the shaking body onto its' side and waited patiently.
Meanwhile Mitsuya stood on the other side of the court, trying to understand what had happened a while ago. His childhood friend, his former student, had an epileptic seizure. He recognized the disease immediately, he was the data master after all.
Inui looked over his shoulder at Mitsuya, keeping his left hand on his friend's temple and the other on his arm. Mitsuya realized that he might be helpful and ran to them. The blond was terrified to see his face. It was red, sweat and tears mixed up on his cheeks, his eyes weren't completely closed and he had his lips parted. The pain in his neck muscles must have been huge. Mitsuya frowned, feeling sorry for him.
The sun was setting when he opened his eyes. His groan drew attention of the people around him. The group included all members of his team, Inui, Mitsuya, some other junior high and high schoolers and coaches. He was lying on a soft pillows near the open window. "How long have I been unconscious?" he asked weakly.
Yukimura gave him his standard soft smile. "Only a few minutes. When you woke up you decided to get some sleep, don't you remember?"
"No." He shook his head slowly.
Yukimura chuckled. "It was a good decision. While you've been sleeping, the masseurs have taken care of your muscles. How does it feel right now?"
Well, what was he supposed to say? He felt good. "I'm fine. I can still feel this uncomfortable tingle in my limbs." He faked a smile and laid his eyes on Mitsuya. "I apologize, you must have been scared a little bit."
"Aa, it's nothing."
There wasn't 'nothing' as Mitsuya said. There was something and he could see it in the blond eyes and hear it in that voice. "Seiichi?"
"Yes?"
"Can I have a request to you? I mean all of you?"
Yukimura looked at one of the coaches who nodded his head. "Sure you can, Renji." he said and patted his arm lightly.
"Can you leave us alone for a moment please?" he asked while still looking at Mitsuya.
Yukimura wanted to say something, agree probably but the coach interrupted him. "We'll give you some time for a conversation but after that you'll have one with us. Your captain included."
He agreed quickly and waited for everybody except for Mitsuya to leave the room. Once they're gone, Mitsuya sat himself on the chair next to him and adjusted his glasses. "So," he started. "What would you like to tell me that I probably don't know yet?"
He avoided looking at the blond. The fate again put him in so uncomfortable situation when another person he knew found out about his condition. "I've only wanted to know whether you would like to talk to me sometimes or spend an hour or two with me. Of course it is up to you."
Mitsuya blinked a few times, it was so unlike Renji he had known before to be so sentimental. But when he looked closer at him he realised there was the same boy he once had met. The brunette looked scared and lost and his features were similar to somebody's who received a hard kick from the life. It definitely didn't suit a teen like him. "I'd like to talk to you and spend even more than two hours with you, Renji. I've always wondered how have you been and what have you been doing." He smiled and patted younger teen's head. "You're like a younger brother to me. And of course," he murmured while his glasses shone dangerously, "I'd like to gather more data about you and from you."
"As I thought." he groaned loudly but deep inside he was very happy that they were reunited once again.
The seventh important time so far took place just a dozen minutes ago.
Australia, hot day, U-17 World Cup. Japan met France on courts in an official meeting of Quarter-Finals.
He didn't like it that he had been paired with his former senpai Mōri because of his personal feelings. He had always considered his former senpai to be a horrible lazyass who hadn't seen the grace and mercy he had received from God or whoever. While he had had a chance to training and become the best tennis player he had preferred to do nothing. It had always pissed him off that Yukimura hadn't had that chance but would have liked to have and Mōri had had the chance but had ignored it completely. He wasn't going to forgive his former senpai even after he would die.
The doubles two failed, Shiraishi and Kimijima lost. Japan team was stressed after this match but didn't lose temperament. The time for him came and he wasn't ready for that. With his hated partner he came on the court to meet their opponents.
Two french tennis players stood and looked, well, interesting. One of them was even shorter than Echizen and looked like a scared mouse. The other was extremely tall and resembled Elvis Presley but with light hair.
The beginning of their match was going great, everything was as he wanted it to be. He felt as he had a perfect control of what was going on there. His former senpai praised him but he ignored it, still being angry.
On small break he and Mōri walked to their bench and he took a bottle of drink. Noticing the type of the drink he realised something. It was the same type of energetic drink Yukimura had been receiving while lying in the hospital. They hadn't known who had been leaving the bottles. Now he knew...
Mōri only gave him a warm smile which encouraged him to play.
The match started to get more complicated. The small kid from french team was data collector just like him and his knowledge was quite impressive. The copy of Elvis in turn loved to paint everything and he treated the smaller player's face as his canvas. Each time he changed the paint on small dataman face, that little boy would change his temperament and style of playing. It was hard to fight them because they were too unpredictable at first.
His former senpai tried to use one of his movements which looked like he went to sleep or take a nap. But it worked somehow and gave him small account of time to think of new strategy.
They were in trouble, big big trouble and it didn't look like there was any way to overcome it. They fought the best they could when he thought about the small player. His data wasn't that huge so that wasn't the problem. Then he realised that different paintings on that boy's face could change his play style but did not give him new abilities. It was still the same person who didn't have new skills and that was the key to win.
In the end they won that match for Japan and could finally take a deep breath. He helped Mōri to get out of the court and sat him on the bench. Yukimura smiled at them and gave them bottles and towels. After some deep breaths he felt better but still waited for his former senpai to calm down. That match was very exciting and he once again showed that he was the master at both singles and doubles.
Suddenly he had a feeling that something is wrong. He had had it once before and it ended bad so he excused himself and walked quickly out of the public. Mōri and Yukimura frowned. "I need to stay here," Yukimura said, crossing his arms on his chest. "Please go and make sure he's okay, senpai."
"Yes, sir!" Mōri laughed a little but went after the brunette as Yukimura asked. The dataman went out of the arena and into a long and empty corridor. It was dark and cool there. Mōri had to focus to see something. He saw a shaking body, lying on the ground with its chest high above the surface. "Oi, Yanagi!" he called out, not sure what was going on. Was it him lying there and making cries of pain? Mōri walked closer and knelt next to him. "Yanagi!" He recognized him finally and put his hands on the younger teen's shoulders. "Yanagi, wake up!"
Then Mōri heard footsteps meaning that there was somebody who could possibly help. The footsteps were getting louder and louder, not very fast. Some second later Mōri was aware that somebody is standing next to them, watching him for a moment before leaning over them both and putting their hand on Mōri's shoulder. "You should turn him on the side." He heard a calm voice. "Did you hear me, Mōri?"
He nodded his head slowly and turned his head a little to meet the face of that person. It was Mitsuya, calm as ever, even in situation like that one. "Mitsuya-san?"
"Don't worry," the blond chuckled. "I've also been scared when I've seen this for the first time." He turned the brunette when his body stopped shaking. "See? He's okay. We should take him somewhere else."
Mōri straighten his back. "Mitsuya-san, is Yanagi sick?" he asked, scratching his head.
Mitsuya only smiled. "Maybe. For me he's perfectly fine. He's going to be sore after he wakes up. There's no need to call the ambulance. Epileptic seizures don't need to be taken care of in the hospital."
Mōri looked at unconscious body in front of them.
He opened his eyes while being cared somewhere upstairs. It was silent and cool there and he could see both Mōri and Mitsuya. Inui was also there with curious Niō and Kirihara at his feet. They laid him on something soft, it had a nice smell. "Are we still on the arena?" he asked in broken voice. His head hurt more than ever. He felt hands on his body trying to help him with tense muscles which again didn't want to relax and caused more pain.
Mitsuya smiled lightly. "Yes, we still are on the arena. This is the room next to the locker-room. It is quite comfortable, isn't it?" The blond looked around like he was there for the first time.
"Do you need something, Yanagi-senpai?" Kirihara asked. The junior wanted to feel needed. He liked his senpai and was worrying about him as much as everybody.
He shook his head with small hiss, the muscle there was also in pain. "No, Akaya, just stay here and don't hang around when there's no need to." he murmured while feeling his muscles finally relaxing a little.
Soon hands left his body and he sighed loudly. His friends laughed at that in a very positive way and helped him sit up. Tears were still running down his face but he felt better, much much better. Because ha always felt better when he had his friends with him. "I want to see the others' matches." he stated.
Inui blinked a few times. "Renji, are you sure you can at least stand without help?" he asked.
He shook his head. "No but-"
"No buts, Renji. You can't go there." Mitsuya adjusted his glasses. The brunette hung his head. "I-I mean not alone." The blond put his hand on his shoulder. "You have us, Renji. You always have."
Suddenly he felt warm both inside and outside. He had his friends and they cared about him and loved him and they would always be there for him. He wasn't alone as he thought, there would always be somebody to help him, to hug him, to comfort him. Something he had thought he never had was always at his fingertips. That feeling made him cry louder.
They made their way back to the court where Echizen was still playing. So he hadn't missed Sanada's match, good. Mōri's hands were solid on his arms and he had Mitsuya and Inui at his sides. Kirihara and Niō went faster to tell Yukimura he was alright.
Yukimura, he looked like a caring mother who embraced him immediately when the bluenette spotted them. He accepted the embrace and looked at the court. They were still playing.
They were going on to the top. They were going for their championship. And he was the part of this. He didn't need to be afraid anymore now. Because he wasn't going to be alone. Never.
