The Meaning of a Bandage
Kiyami: Just my take on why Eiji wears a bandage on his cheek. Disclaimer: I do not own Tennis no Oujisama.
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He was trying not to cry. Kikumaru Eiji was trying his best not to cry. He wasn't some infant crybaby, but a freshman of Seishun Gakuen and of the tennis club.
But he was injured.
It was afterschool and no one seemed to be around.
And he was injured.
It wasn't very serious or anything, but it was painful when he walked.
As Eiji was running he had tripped over a hole in the ground. It wasn't a big hole, but just enough to trap his foot in it.
There were a couple scrapes and cut, but still nothing too severe.
The thing was...
Kikumaru Eiji was hemophobic.
The sight of his blood had sent him into a panic, but after several long minutes he found himself able to calm down enough to start walking.
He wiped away the forming tears with his left arm and nearly cried out in joy at the sight of the clubroom.
But then he fell.
His body was shaking ever since seeing the blood and his knees gave way.
Eiji yelped as the weight of his body pressed hard on the scraped knees.
"Kikumaru-kun?"
The voice came from the clubroom door. At the door was a black-haired freshman that Eiji knew.
"O-Oishi?" Eiji sniffed and tried to hide the fact that he was crying.
Oishi rushed forward seeing Eiji injured.
"What happened?" He asked while helping the hemophobic boy up.
"I tripped." Eiji admitted as he held back the small tears willing to flow out of his eyes.
"Let me help you." Oishi supported Eiji and guided the injured classmate of his into the clubhouse. Both of them sat down on the bench.
"Are you alright?" Oishi was sincerely concerned.
"Y-yeah..." Eiji tried not to look at his bleeding knees or the feel of some warm liquid on his cheeks.
Oishi got up and grabbed the first aid kit. Out of it he grabbed several bandages that varied in size. After cleaning the wounds he stuck them onto Eiji's legs.
"There...is that better?" He looked up to Eiji's red and swollen eyes. "Oh? You're bleeding." He commented as he noticed the thin cut on Eiji's right cheek.
A small rectangular bandage was pulled out from the first aid kit. Oishi smiled reassuringly up at Eiji before standing up.
Oishi leaned rather closely towards Eiji. Their faces were close enough that Oishi could feel Eiji's ragged breaths. Gently Oishi placed the adhesive bandage on Eiji's cheek.
"Thank you!" Eiji took Oishi by surprise by hugging his helper. Oishi was shocked at first before melting into the warm hug. Kikumaru sighed with immense relief. He buried his face in Syuichirou's shoulder savoring the new feeling.
The new feeling they had in common that never went away since that day.
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Kiyami: Mmm just do me a favor and leave a review.
