"Wipe that smile from your face!" Akazawa barked as Yuuta ran past him.
"He's starting to scare me, da ne" Yanagisawa commented.
"He seems abnormally happy, like Mizuki when he knows something we don't know" Atsushi said.
"He's been running laps since he got to practice" Kaneda said.
"Yuuta, enough! Time for shuffle matches!" Akazawa yelled.
"Hai Buchou!" Yuuta screeched to a stop and bounded over to them like a puppy.
"So Yanagisawa, you're with me. Atsushi with Kaneda. Mizuki and Yuuta..."
Yuuta looked around and then sighed when he spotted Mizuki. They hadn't exactly spoken since their match with Seigaku. Yuuta had made no effort to even look at Mizuki except during tennis practice.
"Let's go, Yuuta" Mizuki picked up his racquet and headed to the nearest court.
Yuuta bent down in the receivers position and Mizuki bounced the ball, preparing to serve. They finished one game and then switched courts. Yuuta furrowed his eyebrows as he bounced the ball. Mizuki was being surprisingly quiet. Usually he would talk to Yuuta about different teams but now he wasn't even saying a word.
"Mizuki-san, are you angry with me?" Yuuta asked finally. The ball fell from his hand as he straightened to talk to Mizuki.
"Serve the ball" Mizuki said.
"No. I won't do anything until you tell me who stuck that stick up your bum" Yuuta blurted out.
Yanagisawa froze when he heard this and the ball Akazawa sent back at him flew past him and bounced onto the ground. Atsushi's racquet fell from his hands and the team turned to Yuuta and Mizuki's court.
"Mizuki, Yuuta. If you wish to argue, please take it elsewhere" Akazawa said.
Mizuki sighed and then placed his racquet on the bench. He gestured for Yuuta to follow him. They walked to the club room and then sat down on the ground in an awkward silence.
"Yuuta, you know you're my closest friend, right?"
"Hah? Your closest friend?"
"Yes and it is as your friend that I am advising you right now to end whatever your relationship is with Yukimura" Mizuki said.
Yuuta flushed. "How did you find out about that?".
"I have a cousin of mine who was sick last week. I took her to the hospital with my mother. I happened to see the two of you in the gardens and then you two kissed in his room. Sanada and Yanagi didn't see me because I ran off around the corner" Mizuki replied.
"Why are you telling me to leave him? He needs me now more than ever" Yuuta frowned.
"You don't know Yukimura as much as you think you do. You don't know what Sanada feels for him"
"What do you mean, what Sanada feels for him?"
"Everyone knows Yukimura and Sanada are the it couple of Rikkaidai. Do you actually think that Yukimura is serious about you? He's got Sanada on the side" Mizuki replied.
"No, I know all three of them. Sanada had never shown any feelings for Yukimura-san" Yuuta protested.
"He's the stoic brick wall and a kendo champion. He's an expert and Yukimura's fooling you to believe him"
"You're lying!"
"I'm not. Why would I lie to you, Yuuta. I always have your best interests at heart"
"Yeah right! After the whole Twist Spin Shot thing, do you think I would believe anything you say?"
"It is your choice to believe in what I say. I hope you will follow my advice" Mizuki stood up and walked out of the club room.
Yuuta buried his head in his hands. This was ridiculous. How could he even think of Yukimura that way? Yukimura wasn't a cheater. Neither was Sanada. He sighed and then silently thanked Jesus that it was Friday and he would be heading home after tennis practice.
Screw practice, I'm going to catch the next train right now.
Yuuta rushed into the dorms, grabbed his bags and rushed to the station. He caught the train and rode back to his home. He arrived home to an empty home. He abandoned his bag in the entryway and rushed to the hospital. He arrived to find Yukimura fast asleep. Yukimura looked peaceful but the bags under his eyes suggested that he had been stressing.
The operations tomorrow. I can't say anything to Yukimura-san right now. It might stress him out even more and hinder his recovery. I won't say anything right now.
Yuuta took Yukimura's hand in his and admired his slim fingers and smooth palms. He didn't even have any calluses from clutching the grip of his racquet. Yuuta kissed his hand and then placed his head on the bed. He shut his eyes and fell asleep. Yukimura moved about a minute before opening his eyes.
He realised someone was holding his hand and then noticed Yuuta's fiery red brown hair sticking out on the white hospital bed sheets. He chuckled and then squeezed Yuuta's hand. Yuuta twitched and then shifted slightly.
"Yuuta. Yuuta, wake up" Yukimura called out quietly.
Yuuta awoke and then smiled sheepishly. Yukimura pointed him to the bathroom and Yuuta went to wash his face. Yukimura chuckled and then realised what the time was. His teammates would be coming any minute now.
"My team will be coming here soon. You must be tired from your journey" Yukimura said.
"I was tired so I just fell asleep. I didn't have the heart to wake you up" Yuuta replied.
"Come closer"
Yuuta leaned in and let Yukimura kiss him. He sighed as he seated himself on the bed and then leaned in to grasp Yukimura's shoulders. Yukimura suddenly moaned, deep in his throat making Yuuta pull away in surprise.
"I should be going. My brother will be home soon" Yuuta said with a blush.
"Have a good night then. I'll see you tomorrow? At eleven?" Yukimura smiled hopefully.
"Of course" Yuuta replied with a smile.
Yukimura kissed him once more before letting him go. Yuuta walked through the hallways of the hospital before pressing the button for the elevator. He stepped inside and the elevator went down to the ground floor. Yuuta was about to step out when someone he did not expect walked into the elevator.
"Aniki?!"