Disclaimer: All fandom-based and real-life entities mentioned in this piece do not belong to me, with the exception of original characters, plot, and subplots.

Palliative
by four-eyed 0-0

Guilt

A hand shot out as he was deposited on a wheelchair, clinging to one of the bags that Hasegawa had slung on her shoulders. She reeled from the force of the pull, catching herself in time before she could trip on her shoes.

"Yes?"

"My lucky item," Midorima said, holding up a hand to stop the nurse from pushing the wheelchair forward.

"Sorry?"

He pushed his eyeglasses up the bridge of his nose. "The empty pot inside my bag. My lucky item."

Hasegawa's eyebrows furrowed but she didn't inquire further and instead unzipped the orange bag to retrieve the lucky item. Midorima was set to keep it at close proximity—for he all he knew, the distance could have diminished its effect, hence his recent misfortune.

The woman handed him the small flower pot before he was wheeled to the direction of the examination room. Positive that Hasegawa was doing all she could to keep herself from bursting out laughing, his lips thinned to keep his temper at bay. He owed her, after all.

Takao had been rushed to the emergency room as soon as the ambulance pulled up. Midorima's thoughts lingered on the sight of his unconscious form, and his anger spewed anew. If only they'd been careful, if only he hadn't been so easily swayed…

"Midorima-san," said the doctor. The way he pronounced his name left Midorima wondering if he'd been spacing out since the nurse left. The doctor's eyes lingered on the orange pot he was holding before he cleared his throat to address him again. "I'm going to examine you right now, okay?"

Midorima only nodded his head, barely interested. He was safe. Takao had ensured he wouldn't hit his head… at his expense.

When he was discharged half an hour later with a bandage on his cheek and painkillers in his system, he found Hasegawa standing by the nurse's lounge, speaking to a telephone. She easily spotted him and beckoned him over, indicating the seat where she had deposited their bags. He wordlessly did as she asked, staring at the flower pot as he listened to the last words she said to the receiver.

"—update me. Thank you, Inspector." The sound of the receiver being put down and she spoke to the attending nurse. "Thank you, Kaori-nee."

"Anytime, Sayu-chan."

Hasegawa sat next to him.

"You personally know the nurse?" he asked without looking up from inspecting the empty flower pot.

"Mm-hmm," she said. "She's a senpai from my first year in college. How did the physical exam go?"

"Well, in fact."

"The doctor gave you anything?"

"Painkillers."

"I see." She drummed her fingers against her knees. "By the way, I called the police department. They said they caught your assailants."

Midorima started and turned to look at her amiable face. For the first time, he was truly at awe with her. "T-they did, in fact?"

She nodded. "They did, in fact." She gave him a stupid grin.

He looked away, adjusting his eyeglasses. Here he was, almost grateful and her teasing soured it all.

"At least now you won't go looking for them yourself."

"I don't intend to do that." He lied. Partially.

"Really?" she said, disbelieving. What was it with adults assuming the worst in the young? "In the ambulance you looked like you were ready to kill."

He glared at her. "I'm not stupid," he snapped and looked away again. "I can get suspended at the very least."

Catching his drift, she asked, "What could be worse than suspension?"

"A serious injury. Or sitting out on a game."

A weight descended on top of his head and he felt her gently mussing his hair. "Teenage boys and sports, definitely the strongest of marriages I've ever seen."

As the burning of his cheeks was made known, he gently pushed her arm away. She didn't protest.

"Hey, your friend Takao-kun will be fine. He didn't acquire any additional injuries," she said, a hint of despondence in her tone. "Kaori-nee said his neck will heal in two weeks tops. You'll still have plenty of time to practice for the Inter High."

How did she even know—Oh, right. She was a volunteer.

He didn't say anything else, feeling as though he had exhausted his daily quota for socializing. It was like shooting three-pointers—meeting and talking to strangers and people in general. He would reach his limit whether he liked it or not.

"Are you mad at me for ratting you out? It was necessary. An SOP. I'm sorry, Midorima-kun."

Midorima deduced from those mumbled sentences that she meant she was obligatorily talkative. Or something else entirely, a term more appropriate than merely being nosy—the noisy kind of nosy, in fact. Despite the calm manner by which she delivered her lines, he couldn't help feeling antsy while she was around. Like there was a good chance she would unearth a secret of his anytime she wanted.

By rummaging through his belongings or by merely guessing.

"Midorima-kun—"

"I don't think I've granted you the permission to address me so familiarly," he said, glaring her way. "Don't act like we're friends. We're not."

Her amiable expression didn't falter. She only nodded her head in response, lips pursed. "That's my cue."

She stood from her seat, looking down at him. "Your family and Takao-kun's should arrive soon. My business here is complete," she said, still unnervingly calm.

She walked away and whispered something to her senpai's ear before she turned the corner without sparing him a glance.

All he could do was follow her retreating shadow, letting his mouth fall open. It progressively diminished, getting smaller and smaller, until there was none of its last thread glancing the white hospital wall.

He stared back at his empty flower pot. What did he do? What did she just do?

Things could only get worse now, couldn't they?

o-o

Darkness greeted him when he finally regained consciousness. Eyes heavy, body barely moving, a numbness from the left side of his face slowly registered. Then just abruptly came the pain and he opened his eyes to be greeted by a white canvas he belatedly realized was the ceiling.

He didn't remember his room to have a white ceiling. Where was he?

To find an answer to this unspoken question, he tried moving his head to survey his surroundings, only to realize that he couldn't. His frustration escaped his throat in the form of a groan.

"Takao?"

A movement to his periphery caught his attention, and with a bit of straining his barely-focused view, he found the owner of the deep voice standing some yards away.

He was in a hospital, Takao realized.

"Shin-chan," he said, wincing from the pain that speaking brought to his blasted jaw. "What happened?"

Midorima, sporting a plaster on his face, slowly ambled towards the side of the bed. He adjusted his cracked lenses before answering, "You've been admitted. Neck injury, but nothing too serious."

Perhaps it was from the injury or the drugs he'd been injected with, but his friend sounded extra glum.

"I see," he whispered, releasing a heavy sigh. "You okay?"

"Yes. Only a bruise and a cut."

Takao heard the lie in his voice but he didn't push it, knowing that his friend would only mask it with another. He was a tsundere through and through.

"Thanks for taking one for me," Takao managed to say.

Midorima only grunted. Takao sniggered at the thought of Midorima feeling guilty after taking the softer blow. Granted, the impact of his socking had been probably lessened when Midorima stepped in, but Takao had to cushion his fall, letting his guard down. If he were to think it through, the hit had been delivered at a moment of vulnerability, hence the damage.

But not an ounce of resentment bubbled in his chest. Had it been the other way around, he would take one for Midorima; he was a friend after all.

He was about to tell the green-haired boy that there was no use to beating himself about what had already happened but the door to his room was thrown open.

"Nii-chan!" a ball of bouncing, dark pigtails screeched.

"See you tomorrow," said Midorima before leaving his side.

Takao managed a smile. "Yeah, see you."

Midorima bowed to his mother in greeting before closing the door behind him. A shift in the mattress alerted him to the small arms of the girl trying to climb up the bed. He chuckled.

"Nii-chan!"

"Chi-chan, keep it down, nii-chan needs his sleep."

Takao smiled as his mother deposited the pouting girl on the bed with a gentle reminder to stay put. She immediately latched onto his hand, crying silently. "I've had lots of sleep, mom."

"I bet you did," his mother said, ruffling his hair. "You got knocked out, after all."

Chieki squeezed his fingers too tight. He turned to her just as two fat beads of tears fell down her chubby cheeks. "What is it, Chi-chan? Go on, you can tell nii-chan."

The small girl sniffed. "Will nii-chan be playing ball?"

There was no use to feel down when he'd gone through the worst of his injury but at the sight of the tear-stained face of his baby sister, his heart began to sink. Before he could answer her, the door opened again to admit someone he'd never met. Probably enthused by the act of gate-crashing a tearful family reunion, she was grinning from ear to ear.

"Don't cry, cutie pie, your nii-chan will be playing for the Inter High."

o-o

After a series of introductions and explanations—mostly by the haggard nurse who barged in as soon as Hasegawa finished her sentence—, Takao was acquainted with the soul who brought him and Midorima to safety following the court scuffle.

His mother, instead of lecturing the woman on respect of privacy, was choking her to death with an embrace. Looking extremely inconvenienced by the strange people in the room, the nurse thought better to attend to him and check his state.

A few questions asked and some adjustments to his fluids and she was gone.

"Hasegawa-san?" Takao said as soon as his mother released the woman.

Dark eyes turned to him, a grin on her face. "Yes?"

"Thank you," he said, keeping his tone neutral. She didn't feel like someone he could fully trust. The weird she projected felt too familiar given the many types of weird he'd encountered his entire life—Midorima-weird, Hanamiya-weird, Akashi-weird… he could go on.

She shook her head, waving her hands in the air to dismiss his supposed bashfulness. "I just did what must be done. Don't mention it."

"But if you weren't there, my son would probably still be lying around unconscious," said his mother, taking her hand in hers. "What can we do to repay you?"

Hasegawa's eyes fell to the ground, thumb and forefinger massaging her chin as she mulled over the offer. So, she was that kind of soul. Guess genuine kind-heartedness was difficult to come by these days.

Takao averted his eyes to the wall, disinterested.

"How about you allow me to visit Takao-kun in the evenings to help him with his missed homework?"

Takao's eyebrows furrowed and he turned back to them. Was she serious?

"Eh? But that would be another favor to owe you, Hasegawa-san!"

Right, mom.

"Then pay double by not telling anyone else of my visits," she said, smiling. "You can keep a secret, can't you?"

What?

"I—I don't understand."

Right again, mom.

"You don't have to. I just want to help is all."

This was the epitome of weird.

His mother sighed. "Fine, if that's what you want, Hasegawa-san."

"It is! Thank you, Takao-san!" she said, bowing to the older woman. She walked up to Takao's bed and patted his sister on the head before turning her smiling face towards him. "See you tomorrow, Takao-kun."

He wasn't about to take this nonsense. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, his voice betraying his distrust.

She cocked her head to the side. "There's this friend of yours who's feeling guilty. I thought he'd feel better if you don't miss out on so much while you're recuperating."

"Shin-chan?" The words had already tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them, taken aback by what she said.

"Oh, is that his nickname? How cute," she said, ignoring his shock altogether. "Don't tell him I told you he was feeling guilty."

"I already know that," he said, narrowing his eyes at her. How was it that she knew so much? Fat chance that she was able to extract as much from Midorima even if she had spoken to him.

"Much better then. I don't think Midorima has admitted that to himself. Or maybe he has, but he won't do anything about it. He seems that kind of person anyway," she said, prattling on as though she was thinking out loud. "Why don't you tell me?"

Takao found his jaw barely moving when he muttered in confusion, "Just… who are you?"

She blinked. "I'm Hasegawa Sayuri."

"Not that. Why do you know so much?"

"What do you mean? I met you and your friend just this afternoon. I'm merely making conjectures here."

Takao could almost laugh but he didn't. Whatever this woman was thinking, he would have to find out.

o-o

When she turned up the next evening a little after Midorima and the team left behind the homework and a copy of the lectures he missed that day, Takao realized she was serious.

"Hello, Takao-kun," she said, the jovial tone clashing with how winded she looked. Hair thrown to a messy bun atop her head, eyes heavy, she plopped down on the seat opposite his bed. He jerked at the loud noise when she deposited her knapsack and two tomes on the floor.

He craned his neck far enough to read the title of the book on top: Starters' Surgery.

"You're a medical student?" he asked.

"Mm-hmm," she said, smiling. "So, did he leave some homework?"

Reluctant as he was, he indicated the pile of papers sitting beside her. She picked them up like an overexcited grade-schooler.

"Ah, I miss high school," she said in a murmur, flitting through the pages of the photocopied notes. Something must have caught her attention for she started giggling. "Is this Midorima's handwriting?" she asked, pointing at the page.

Takao nodded. She giggled a little more, and it occurred to him that she was awfully fond of his teammate. The reason for which currently eluded him. Midorima wasn't the type to often be the receiving end of something as warm as fondness.

"So, shall we start? I'll tutor you on the day's lectures then I'll help you do the homework."

Takao tried a last time. "Are you sure about this? I mean, thank you, Hasegawa-san, but don't you have to study as well?"

"I do, but if I don't help you, who would?"

"My teammates offered to help me."

She smiled. "But you declined because you thought you were inconveniencing them. That won't work on me, so don't even try."

Takao could not understand her line of reasoning.

o-o

The second evening, she had heavier eyes but was just as effective as the first time. Truth be told, he was amazed by her teaching, one which commanded full attention unlike some of his teachers who droned on and bored the hell out of him. Takao would give her that much.

In fact, he felt like he was learning faster. But he wasn't about to attribute this solely to her. One-on-one had always been an efficient manner of studying for him and Midorima, much like practicing their trump card plays.

"Hasegawa-san," he said, making her pause from explaining a concept in chemistry. "Why are you doing this?"

"I already told you," said she.

"Is that even possible? That you only want to help?"

Shrugging, she abandoned the notes and walked over the bed to sit on its foot. "What is it with you teenagers assuming the worst in adults?" she said, looking at the door.

Takao's throat had gone dry.

"Give me until tomorrow. If I still haven't proven you wrong, we can call the deal off and act like we never knew each other. How does that sound?"

He averted his gaze. She clapped a hand on his leg before going back to the seat to resume their study session only punctured by the nurse's check-up.

He noticed that the nurse was all amiable to Hasegawa, even calling her by her first name and joking with her.

Was she really that trusted?

o-o

"You see, chromosomes can—"

Hasegawa's explanation was cut off as the door opened and the nurse she called her senpai announced, "Sayu-chan! The carrot man is here!"

Carrot man?

"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit," said Hasegawa, panicking. "Stall him, Kaori-nee! Give me two minutes!"

Once the door was closed, he asked, "The carrot man?"

"Your friend," she said, gathering her knapsack and books. She threw the whole bundle under his bed before rearranging the pile of papers on the couch.

When she was finished, she turned to him with wide eyes. "I'm going to pretend I don't exist for as long as you pretend I don't, okay?"

"Why—"

"Operation Help Carrot Man's Friend Without Carrot Man Knowing," she whispered in a hurry before diving under his bed just as the door opened to reveal the shooting guard.

He was wearing the team jacket and pants. Takao looked at his green hair. Then back at the orange uniform.

He couldn't help it. He guffawed. How did he miss that? He'd been playing with him for over a year!

Takao could almost see Hasegawa's knowing grin in the darkness beneath his bed.

"What are you laughing about?" Midorima asked as he sat on the couch with Mr. Ribbit.

"Nothing," said Takao, wiping the tears from his eyes. His neck had started to throb from throwing his head forward as he doubled over from laughter. "What brings you? Miss me already?"

"Don't be stupid," he said, turning away.

"So what is it, Shin-chan?"

"I was wondering if you would like to eat something aside from hospital food."

The corner of his lips was drawn to a smirk. "Aww, that's so sweet, Shin-chan!"

"Shut up."

"How about a burger?" He felt a slight thud from below, as though Hasegawa had bumped onto his bed. "And some fries." Another thud.

Oh, I'm getting an idea.

"And soda."

Another thud.

"Not junk food, idiot," said Midorima, adjusting his glasses. He stood up and peered down at him with a weathered expression. "Whatever, I'm getting something edible."

"Shin-chan, wait!" Takao called. He wasn't going to let Midorima bother himself with something so simple when it took all his energy to be this nice. For all he knew, he was only doing this to ease off the guilt, which he shouldn't even be feeling in the first place. "Mom will be bringing food over. You don't have to."

Midorima paused and turned to Mr. Ribbit. "Fine. See you tomorrow, then."

"Okay. Be careful on your way back."

He only waved before closing the door behind him. A few moments of deafening silence passed following the echo of his friend's retreating footsteps before he spoke again to indicate that the coast was clear.

Hasegawa crawled out of her hiding place and sat on the floor for a good thirty seconds before she climbed up the couch. "Wow. That was the most stressful five minutes of my life."

"You have to thank me for getting rid of him," said Takao.

"By ticking off junk food?" she said, rolling her eyes. Just now, she reminded him of Midorima's stickler ways. "That was a double-edged sword. You were trying to spite me."

Takao only smirked. "You can say that."

She fixed the messy bun on top of her head and puffed her cheeks. "Anyway, I'll sneak in some junk food tomorrow, if you like."

Takao amended. She was no Midorima.

"Sure."

She was smiling again.

o-o

It was the seventh tutorial session and they were taking a break. Well, he was.

"Hey, Hasegawa-san."

"Hmm?" she said, shifting from her reclined position on the couch as she read from one of her tomes. He wondered how she managed to keep it from falling over and smacking her on the face.

"I think I understand now."

She closed the book and placed it on her stomach, turning to him with a smile. "You do?"

"Yes."

She was trying to make Midorima see that Takao hadn't, by a single mite, changed after the incident. That he was truly all right. That way, he wouldn't be hung up on his guilt, which had been completely pointless. He took one for Takao. When he could have just stayed and watched, he took the blow. Midorima didn't owe him anything. It was Takao who owed him.

And he owed him as much as easing off that groundless guilt.

After voicing this out to her, he said, "Thank you, Hasegawa-san."

"Sure. But I told you. I only want to help. You're doing all the work yourself. You've been a great tutee all this while."

He smiled at her.

When she bade him goodnight, he realized she sounded like someone he knew, only milder and kinder.

o-o

"Nii-chan, where's your girlfriend?"

"EH? TAKAO'S GOT A GIRLFRIEND?" Miyaji shouted, rising from his seat.

At the wake of the captain's exaggerated shock, the small girl cowered and all but wriggled into the small space between Takao and the wall. Midorima internally rolled his eyes. It was a relief that Mrs. Takao had already gone out. What embarrassment.

"Chi-chan, who are you talking about? Nii-chan doesn't have a girlfriend."

"You do! The girl was here the other night!"

Takao clamped a hand over his sister's mouth and grinned sheepishly at all of them. "She's talking about the nurse."

Midorima's eyes narrowed. He wasn't buying it but he wasn't joining in on the teasing or the prodding his teammates were now set to do. Like they'd get anything from Takao.

Besides, Midorima could only marvel at how well Takao looked. He'd been recovering quickly just as Hasegawa had predicted.

To say that he was relieved was making an understatement.

A/N: Yes, I'm writing in Takao's POV as well. And Sayuri's of course. They will be the central characters of this story after all. But of course we'll get to see other people as we go through each chapter. I hope you've had fun reading this chappie. :)

Shoutout to Soaring Victory Star, my first reviewer! Thank you so much for dropping some lines. I really appreciate it. Thank you also to everyone who faved and added this story to their alerts!

Please do review! I really want to hear (read) what you think. Thank you!

See ya!

Edit: 05.26.16. 23:00 PST. Sorry for the lack of clear division in the chapter! I didn't realize FFNet no longer supports the use of asterisks as chapter dividers so I had to replace them with "o-o". Hope I didn't confuse you that much! It won't happen again, I swear!