The next day, Sawamura was lying on the bed his fever's gotten worse, it was over 103 degrees that he feel he can't control the tears in his eyes and kept moaning each breath. His parents couldn't stand to see him suffer but they need to be strong. They keep taking him pain reliever and fever reducer medicine to bring the fever down but it keeps coming back after a few hours. However, he's so happy that he's still alive and determined to live although there's no guarantee how long he can endure this pain but at least he tried to survive.

"...Thank you for taking care of me… thank you…." Sawamura muttered under his breath with a gentle smile.

His family still smiled and laughed even if they didn't want to, they just want to make Eijun feel better. It's really hurt for them to watch him suffering but they realized Eijun was hurting more than them. Afterward, Sawamura received a phone call from his friends after they heard the news that he's in Nagano now for the two days rest and they wanted to visit him. Sawamura was panicked but his grandfather said it's time to tell them the truth.

"O-okay…. " He agreed to it.

(Eijun's P.O.V)

When I'm lying in my bed there are too many thoughts running through my head, I watch beautiful scenery through the window to relax my subconscious mind, the sheer white curtains blowing in the wind, the birds humming in the trees and the sky is like an infinite movie that I never get tired to watch.

I heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs and coming towards my room.

"They're here," I gulped, starting to feel a little nervous.

Do I really need to tell them that I'm going to die? Do they deserve to know the truth? What if all my friends abandon me? What if... and what if… I don't get it, so many questions went through my mind but I know I must face the reality in the end.

"Hello Ei-chan!" They exclaimed.

"H-hello… " I stuttered.

They looked so shocked to see me bedridden with fever patch on top of my head and thought it's just a normal flu.

"Long time no see Eijun. What happened to you?" Wakana asked me.

"Don't stress yourself too much Ei-chan!" Nobu said with confidence.

"Ei-chan, we all really miss you!"

"Ei-chan, if you're coming back here again let's go fishing!"

"Everyone here misses your contagious smile!"

"We hope you get well really soon Ei-chan!"

"Ei-chan!"

"Ei-chan!"

They never stop smiling at me and their smiles make me happy. The greatest give that I've ever received, the strong bond of friendship. I can't imagine who and where I would be today if I have no friends, maybe it feels like I'll be lonely and crushing for life even though I didn't want everyone to know I was going to die, I realize in this moment that they deserve to know although it's kinda scary and sad, it's time to tell them...

"All of you… I need to tell this…." I swallowed and bit my lip.

Everyone nodded appreciatively, they were sitting on the wooden floor. I slowly open my mouth and tears started to fill my eyes.

"I found out that I'm infected by deadly something…. and that something was eating my brain,"

"E-eating your b-brain?!" Wakana mumbled.

"Yeah… and I'm going to die soon… " I spoke softly.

The noisy room became quiet at this moment, silence hovers between us for a moment. Their mouth slightly open and their eyes begin to fill with tears. Probably it gave them a shocked after hearing the sad news.

"I hope… this won't change our friendship because I don't… I don't want all of you treat me like I'm different now… "

I paused for a moment, I tried to remember the times we spent together in the past, it's so pure and white.

"...I'm still the same person you used to know…." I chuckled with the tears in my eyes.

"E-Ei-channnnnn…..!" They cried and wailed.

"Our dream… my dream… to the nationals, to represent all of you… I don't know If I can-"

"Ei-chan!"

"You already fulfilled our dream…,"

"...our dream is to see you playing baseball with a smile!"

I blinked at their sudden confession.

"You… " I gasped.

"WHY DID YOU NEVER TELL ME ABOUT THAT!" I yelled with a funny face.

"Haha! Sorry Ei-chan, we still love how you're always so optimistic!"

"You're our HERO, Ei-chan!"

They ran into my bed and embraced me. Everyone was crying even Wakana, she's standing right beside me. Everyone was emotional, everyone shedding their own tears, we hugged and we laughed then, our friendship will forever still remain.