The rain always calms you. The gentle sounds it makes as it softly pelts against your upturned face, clouds cry harder and you rejoice in the refreshing feeling it gives you. Almost like tears. You take the cap off your head, eager to get drenched further You tilt your head back until you hear a creak and hold. Rikkai Dai students walk by, trying and failing not to outright stare. Some ask politely in a wondering tone if you'd like an umbrella. You ignore them and they fall silent. They walk onwards, moving on with their lives. Still others are more daring, you can identify Niou's sarcastic voice as he asks, "Yukimura-buchou, are you trying to drown yourself?"

"Buchou! You're gonna catch cold!" Your smile is slight and goes unnoticed as you hear Akaya worry, frantically rushing back and forth, unsure of what to do. Because he can't order you around and he knows it. It isn't until Yanagi says in that perfectly reasonable tone he has, "Seiichi, he's watching from inside," that you sigh and go inside with the other regulars that have gathered.

He rises immediately from his seat by the window, towel in hand. He pauses, hesitating. You can tell, could always tell, that he wants to talk but is restraining himself. Usually, you like to see him squirm but today you want to get this over with.

"I'm fine." Your eyes flash, daring them to contradict you. They don't.

"I know." Really, they're worried about a cold when you just stared death in the face as you lay on the table. No, don't think about that. You tremble slightly. He is by your side in an instant. You gaze at him quietly, needing him to understand that you can't do this now. Your words reach him and he inclines his head.

He clears his throat. "Since it's raining you can all go home."

No one leaves. Maybe it's the absence of the hat, but Sanada isn't as frightening as he once was. Or maybe it's the sound of his voice, the weariness that makes everything that much blander. He seems...relaxed. All of your regulars turn to look at you. "You heard Genichirou, practice is canceled."

There is movement and then silence. Akaya glances back at you, worry shining in his dark eyes. "Ah, Buchou?"

"Yes?"

"Shall I wait for you at the bus stop?"

You smile. "If you want."

Akaya's smile is full of relief and something else. "'Kay." He turns to look at Sanada. "Don't bore him for too long!" He's gone and crackling before Sanada can threaten him with laps.

"The little brat." There is tenderness in his voice that wasn't there before. It ignites a spark of jealousy and you wonder briefly what happened while you were at the hospital. But you easily extinguish it. Akaya is special to all of the three monsters.

"Yukimura, is there something you wanted to tell me?"

You sigh because he still won't use your first name. Your thoughts turn to his question.

"Yes, I suppose there is."

He waits for you like he always has, silently, until you're ready.

"I…hate hospitals. It's funny, I didn't before I had to be stuck in one." You run a hand through your damp hair. "It kept me away from tennis," you say ruefully. Your eyes catch his. "Away from you. Away from Rikkai Dai."

He looks straight back at you. "We tried to bring you Kantou."

"I know. Thank you. You lead the team for me."

"They won't, now you're back," he pauses. "I never realized now much pressure it was."

"Genichirou," you chide lightly. "I'm still…weak. You'll have to lead the team."

He shakes his head immediately and your eyebrows rise in surprise. "You're not weak," he objects.

"I'm not weak," you repeat.

He nods and then alarm shows on his face. "Seiichi! You're…you're crying…" he says, incredulous and saddened at the same time.

"Oh, am I?"

He lifts his hand to wipe the tears away.

You laugh depreciatingly. "Well, of course. For God's sake, Genichirou. I nearly died!" You sound hysterical and hate yourself for it.