Sakusa was on his couch, watching a volleyball match -to change his habits- when his phone rang. He glanced at it from the corner of his eye, presuming it was a call from Miya, once again. But no, the name on his screen wasn't the one expected. He quickly grabbed the device, straightening himself on his seat and muting the TV.

"- Captain ?" he answered.

The line stayed silent fir what seemed to be like minutes. Then, Meian sighed and the sound of hair being ruffled could be heard.

"- Sakusa… I-… I don't know how I am supposed to say this…

- What ? To say what ?"

His panicked tone made him wince.

"- It's Miya. He-

- Atsumu ?"

Another silence.

"- Yeah, Atsumu. Shuugo confirmed slowly. He… He was tested positive to Covid 19.

- That dumbass ! I told him to be careful ! Why can't he listen to me ? When we'll go back to practice, he has to wear a mask. Even when playing, I don't ca-

- Kiyoomi."

His given name made him stop mid-sentence. What the fuck was happening ?

"- Mi-Atsumu, he's at the hospital. Osamu told me the doctors had put him in the palliative care service.

-… wh-what ?

- You understand what it means ?"

Oh, yeah, he understood. He recalled perfectly how his grandpa had been put in that service when his cancer was obviously winning on him. He remembered his mother was in there too, after her car accident. They both had died in less than a month.

"- Y-yes. Is he… Is he awake ? Sakusa asked, not caring for his shaky voice anymore.

- No. The doctors said it was better for his health, mental and physical. Not being able to see anyone when you know you're gonna d-

- Don't say it. He's not… He won't-

- Kyoomi…

- I'm… I'm gonna call Osamu, he will tell me exactly what is going on. Thanks Captain, bye.

-… Bye, Sakusa. Don't do anything stupid."

This latter hung up, scoffing. What could be considered stupid compared to Atsumu Miya catching the Covid ? Nothing, true.

As it could be expected when one's brother was dying, Osamu didn't answered his phone until night time. At the thirty-seventh call of Omi.

When the words fell into his ear, Kiyoomi's brain came to a halt. "couldn't breath", "his whole body was aching", "nothing to do anymore", "a week left, at best"… The Black Jackals' player was just staring into the void, mouth agape and eyes unfocused. The sobs of the onigiris' shop's owner snapped him out of his trance.

"- Osamu… I-I'm sor-

- No, Sakusa. I should be the apologizing one. I'm gonna-I'm gonna lost my better half, that's true. He's my-he's my brother, my little brother. But you're the one loosing the love of your life. He loved-loves you. He really does. He wanted-he was going to confess to you when you were going to win the Olympics but…

- But we didn't. We lost against Oikawa's team. He should have done it.

- Sakusa-

- He should have done it, fucking damn it !"

Osamu gasped, surprised by the sudden outburst. He blinked his tears away, once, twice. Sakusa Kiyoomi was crying on the other end of the phone.

"- He should have… Excuse me, but your brother is the dumbest idiot on Earth.

- But you love that idiot, right ?

-… yeah, I do. But it's a bit too late, isn't it ?

- I won't say it isn't."

They exchanged calls every day of this cursed week. Astumu's state wasn't getting better. In fact, it was degrading from hour to hour. It was a miracle that he had made it to the eighth day. The doctors warned them, that didn't meant anything. They got the proof of it a day later. Well, not exactly. It happened right at midnight on the clock. Osamu got the call he was scared of, while being on the phone with Sakusa. Kiyoomi knew instantly, the hitch in the Miya's tone had sold him away. He waited, patiently. It wasn't worth getting annoyed about. Nothing would change their fate. However, tears pooled at the corners of his eyes when Osamu came back to their call.

"- He's gone.

- I know.

- He's dead.

- I-I know, Osamu.

- We'll never see him again.

-… stop it, please.

- Okay. I'll talk to you later.

- Okay, bye.

- Bye, Omi Omi."

The nickname was the last arrow to Sakusa's heart. He burst into tears, clenching his fist around his shirt. The air was pushed out his lungs and he felt like he could die right now. Was it what Atsumu had felt all this time ?