They reached the hospital and Imogen checked in at the ER, requesting for Hitome, meanwhile still resting on her tall friend's back. The nurses in the ER shared a puzzled look before leading them to a room so Imogen could actually sit down. Imogen carefully moved off of Atsushi's back and hopped up onto the small bed, leaning back against her arms as they waited. The door to the room opened and in walked Hitome, who looked rather angry.
Imogen tensed and cowered back.
"Daichi Imogen." The tone made Imogen cringe, sparing a pleading glance towards the two boys sitting in the chairs in the corner of the room.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I wasn't intentional! We had a match with a school who liked to play dirty and I couldn't let them beat up my team so I subbed in and played and the captain managed to cause some problems, and then he found me again today and now it's hard to walk on," she explained, gesturing to her knee.
Hitome sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. "It's fine, let's just take a look at your knee. We'll do some tests," Hitome explained, rolling up the leg of Imogen's sweatpants, slipping off the knee brace as well.
Imogen hadn't even looked at her knee so she was a bit surprised by the immense amount of bruising and slight displacement of her knee cap. Hitome hummed in thought before gently poking at it, causing Imogen to whine.
"Imogen, tell me about your friends over there, would you?" Hitome requested, not breaking her gaze from the girl's knee.
Imogen squinted in confusion before nodding her head. "Ano...The tall one is Murasakibara Atsushi, remember? He used to come to my appointments with me back in middle school," she said, looking over to the two, "and the other one is Murasakibara's friend Tatsuya Himuro, he also plays basket- OW!" Imogen shouted, cupping her hands over her mouth as her eyes teared up.
Hitome had gotten her distracted, and abruptly pushed her knee cap back into place, the loud pop a perfect indication that it had worked. Even Atsushi and Himuro had winced at the sound and action. Imogen glared daggers at Hitome, puffing her cheeks out.
"That hurt, Hitome-san! I can't believe you didn't tell me you were going to do that!" Imogen grumbled, rubbing at her eyes.
Hitome simply smiled and patted her leg, careful to avoid her knee.
"You would've felt more pain if you expected it," she excused, shrugging her shoulders before beginning to carefully move and stretch out the young girl's leg.
Imogen didn't wince or whine as much, but it still hurt.
"Well, it was just a dislocation and some bruising for now, you're lucky you didn't fracture or tear anything, Imogen. The pain, with the help of some medication, should fade in a few days. Until then you're to rest your leg. No playing in basketball or putting pressure on your legs. You're to stay at home in bed, and if it's absolutely necessary that you go out, you're to use the crutches again as well as wear the knee brace. I fear that over time it'll get worse, and surgery is...inevitable if that happens," she said quietly.
Imogen pouted. "I knew it!" Imogen huffed, but reluctantly nodded her head.
"Fine, but as long as I get to play in the final match next week then I will," she muttered, glancing over at the two boys.
"Guess I won't be playing you guys at the match in a few days if Seirin advances," Imogen mumbled dejectedly.
"But we'll still win anyhow, so I'm alright," she added playfully.
Hitome handed her the knee brace back and allowed her to put it on and roll the leg of her sweatpants back down.
"Alright, wait here and I'll go fetch your crutches. I'm assuming you still have your medication at home so you should be set to go," Hitome explained, patting her back lightly.
"Sorry, Imogen, maybe next time."
Imogen shrugged and smiled. "It's alright, I'll still be able to support my team. Thank you for helping me, Hitome-san. I promise not to get hurt anymore," she vowed, half-assed.
Hitome rolled her eyes and headed towards the door.
"Don't lie, Imogen. Now wait here." With that Hitome went to sign out a pair of her crutches, leaving Imogen alone with the two boys again.
The girl groaned, scrunching her face up.
"Man, I was totally looking forward to matching up against Mura-kun," she muttered.
"That's too much effort," Atsushi countered lazily. "Ah, it's a shame really, but it's for your own good," Himuro reasoned, smiling sheepishly.
"Psh. Okay."
Hitome returned minutes later offering the crutches to the girl, who begrudgingly took them and used them to stand up.
"Great, thank you, Hitome-san. Mura-kun, Tatsu-kun, let's go," she mumbled, heading towards the door, the two boys standing up and following her.
"Let's go get those snacks, Atsu-kun," she muttered, exiting the room and then the hospital.
It had gotten darker so they were going to have to be quick if they wanted to make it before the convenience store closed.
They made their way to the store, Imogen glaring down those who would stare at her. Imogen pushed the doors to the convenience store open and stepped in heading over to the counters.
"Pick out what you want, but be quick. I need some sleep," she spoke sternly, her eyes narrowed down on Murasakibara.
She turned to Himuro and smiled at him before the two disappeared down the aisles. Imogen sighed quietly to herself, leaning back and forth on her crutches as she waited.
It took about ten minutes for the two to return, in which she grumpily took the tall male's sweets and brought them to the counter. She paid for everything, handing the bag to Atsushi before thanking the male at the cash register, who seemed to be intimidated by the purple beast beside her and his fellow friend.
"Don't worry, they don't bite, but one might crush you," she teased with a sly grin before waving and leaving the store.
"I've got to go home now, so I'll see you at the next match, Atsu-kun, Himuro-kun. It was good to see you again, and to meet you, but next time we meet, we'll be rivals," she said, giving them a thumbs up.
"Are you sure you want to walk home alone?" Himuro asked, Murasakibara paying no attention to us as he contently munched away on his snacks. Imogen shook her head.
"No, I'll be fine. I'll give Atsu-kun a text when I make it home," she reassured them.
"Alright. We'll see you in a couple days, I hope," Tatsuya claimed, waving to her before turning and walking in the opposite direction.
"Bye, Imo-chin," Atsushi said subtly, following after his teammate. Imogen watched them as they left before turning and walking away as well.
Imogen wandered home, unlocking and pushing the door to her apartment open. She made her way to the kitchen, throwing her key and wallet down onto the counter before throwing the refrigerator door open, searching for something to eat. She fished out the milk, going through her pantry and pulling out some cereal. It would suffice, and she wasn't in the mood to cook so it'd be easier for her. She made herself a bowl, putting everything away afterwards and carefully making her way to her room, trying to use one crutch at a time so she wouldn't drop her cereal.
That didn't work, her cereal did indeed end up on the floor, but not for the reason she would have expected.
"WHAT THE HELL? HOW ARE YOU GUYS GETTING INTO MY APARTMENT?" She yelled exasperatedly before slumping to the floor beside her spilled cereal.
"Guys...m-my food," she whined, dropping her crutches next to her.
She looked back up at the two casually sitting on her bed and in her desk chair. Kiyoshi and Hyuga. The two looked on in surprise before smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry, Imogen-chan! We didn't think you'd be that surprised," Kiyoshi explained, rubbing the back of his neck as he spun around in the desk chair.
Hyuuga stood up, helping Imogen back to her feet, while she glared furiously at him.
"I'll go make you another bowl," he offered, patting her head lightly before disappearing into the kitchen.
Imogen placed her crutches on the end of her bed, sitting down beside them. Kiyoshi stood up and sat beside her. She knew why they were here, but she didn't want to say anything. As Hitome had said, it was inevitable, just like Kiyoshi, if he were to take on more damage.
Hyuuga returned moments later, a new bowl in one hand, while he held a rag in the other to clean up the mess they had unintentionally made. She accepted the bowl with a quiet thank you, curling her uninjured knee up to her chest, while letting the other one rest flat out against the bed, despite the slight discomfort. Hyuuga cleaned up the mess, leaving the room once again, however, this time coming back much faster. He took Kiyoshi's spot in the desk chair, letting the silence settle in the room.
"Guys, just ask, I know that's why you're here," she muttered, hastily spooning some cereal in her mouth, averting her gaze.
"What did your doctor say?" Kiyoshi finally asked.
Imogen shrugged, swallowing before handing the bowl over to Kiyoshi. She rolled the leg of her sweatpants up and carefully slipped the knee brace off, displaying the banged up knee with dark black and blue bruises.
"It was just some bad bruising and dislocation, she managed to pop my knee cap back into place, but she says the more I play, the worse it's
going to get and that surgery is inevitable," she explained, taking her bowl back.
They stared at her knee for a few minutes before looking up to her face, her expression unidentifiable.
"I expected it, of course, and in the end it'll probably help me play in the long run, but I'll be out of the game for a year at least," she muttered, "not to be insensitive to you, Kiyoshi-san, I know you're dealing with it too." Imogen sent him a small smile.
"Maybe we'll be going to the same place for surgery. We can be roommates," Kiyoshi said, trying to brighten the atmosphere.
Imogen laughed quietly and nodded in agreement.
"I'd like that," she hummed, finishing up the rest of her cereal.
"Does this mean you won't be playing in the upcoming matches- and if we win them, the final?" Hyuuga asked.
"Hitome asked me not to play until it's entirely better, but I reasoned with her and she said to not play in the next few matches at least, so all I'm asking is to play in the final once we make it," she requested.
"It's up to Riko, Imogen-san," Junpei reminded her.
She nodded solemnly, resting the empty bowl in her lap. "I know, but I'll find a way."
Hyuuga and Kiyoshi shared a short look before nodding their heads, standing up.
"We've got to get home and rest up for practice tomorrow. I'm assuming you're on bed-rest until the match so, rest well," Hyuuga said, smiling at her.
He ruffled her hair, much to her irritation before walking out. Kiyoshi grinned and did the same, messing her hair up even more.
"See you soon, little Imo-chan. Get better. Everyone is worried about you," he said sincerely.
Imogen smiled and thanked him.
"Thanks for the concern, but...I'll be okay."
I hope.
"Bye, Imogen!" The two called out before leaving.
Imogen heaved a sigh and crawled up to the top of her bed, setting the empty bowl down on her bedside table, retrieving her phone as well. She dialed Tetsuya's number, patiently waiting for him to pick up.
"Imogen-san? What did Hitome-san say? Everyone's concerned," Kuroko's voice cut in.
"Just put me on speaker, I'll just let everyone know at the same time," she said, waiting before he let her know that he had done as she said.
Imogen took a deep breath. "..What in the living hell are you idiots doing worrying about me? I'm fine, and you've got a match coming up so worry about yourself. I won't be playing in the next match, but once we make it, I've gotten the okay to play in the finals. Hitome-san- my doctor- says that it was just bruised and dislocated. Problem solved, now, Kuroko," she paused, waiting for him to turn off speaker phone, "Hitome-san says that if I take anymore damage to my knee then surgery is inevitable."
Kuroko's breath hitched slightly, earning curious glances from the team. "Ah, I see. Then you'll be leaving after the final match?" He asked, hearing her hum in response.
"Yeah, most likely. I know that the final match, if we make it, will be a tough one so taking on more pressure or damage is likely so it'll be a few days after. I don't want to wait for it to get to the point where I won't be able to play anymore so it's better to get surgery and rehab over so that I can jump back into practices and games afterwards," she explained.
Kuroko listened with furrowed brows, nodding his head when she spoke. The others watched him, puzzled at the seemingly quiet conversation over the phone. Imogen was leaving after the deciding match? They couldn't help, but wonder why, though some had a sneaking suspicion.
"Goodbye, Imogen-san. See you soon..." He hung up, putting the phone back in his pocket.
"She won't be attending practices since Hitome-san put her on bed-rest," he said, glancing over at Riko, who hummed and nodded.
"Alright, then let's do as she told us and focus on practices and the games."
Let's do it for her.
Hello! I hope you're enjoying this so far. And thank you so so much to those who have reviewed so far! It really fuels me to write more and more! So keep them coming! :) xx
