It's here! 2017! Good lord was this an exciting year. I turned 23 (oh god) reached a year of marriage and met a lot of new people. I want to thank everyone who stuck with me these last months with my story. I hope for a nother great year together.
Little update from me: This first month will be very busy for me so this might be (emphasis on might) the only update this month. Because of my hand I couldn't write 4 exams which I have to retake in two weeks. And then my internship will start. Busy busy busy! I have been really busy the last week on tumblr, having drawn an UshiTami kiss and starting the ABC-Challenge, writing a scene for every letter in the alphabet with Tamiko, Karasuno and Shiratorizawa. So please check out my blog on tumblr. kageyama-tamiko
Tamani: I actually did that of purpose! But I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
LilweenGalatrass: My dear, the wait is over! Your dream has been fulfilled. Enjoy the fluffyness!
PandaHee: I'm laughing because you're shipping! Makes me sooooo happy!
iciclefangAJ: Thank you :) I always look after myself so I can write for you guys :D
kalmaegi: Bluntness. It's beauty. It will get better.
Berrybluexd: Thank you! God, when I searched for other Ushijima fics I noticed that this one is the most popular. Almost got a heartattack! And welcome :)
Chapter 19 - An ill Wakatoshi
It had been a long time since Tamiko had walked to school. Since she had the car she had been driving to school every time but if there was a dry day after it had been raining, she preferred to walk. Yesterday she had been sitting indoors watching the drops slowly glide down the window glass. A window seat really was a great seat on rainy days. She was glad that it was finally the weekend. On Monday Izumi had bombarded her with questions regarding the 'date'. She was disappointed when Tamiko told her the details but didn't probe. She was still convinced that Tamiko was the one. The brunette wasn't deterred with having met up with Ushijima although she was a little smitten when she sensed him sit down behind her in the lessons. That feeling died down after two days and everything returned to its normality. And then she watched the rain, drowned in thought. Ushijima was still thinking of playing with her curls and only Yamagata observed this, how Ushijima was glancing at the back of her head. The libero didn't say anything though. He stayed quiet. Smiled.
The rain had been falling all week, and on that Saturday the sun was finally shining again. She loved those days. She loved the smell of rain, dodging puddles and the clear sky after it had been so dark and grey. Why was she walking to school on a Saturday? She was bored and had nothing to do. Izumi was at her boyfriend's house, Tobio was training and Semi had asked if she wanted to help since coach Washijo was ill. At first she didn't want to but it was watching the boys or watching boring TV shows. The decision was clear. When she arrived at the gym she sneaked in so she didn't disturb their training but she was spotted. Semi and Jin walked up to her with concerned faces.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "You two look very worried."
"That's because we are." Jin confirmed.
"We have a problem." Semi told her.
"What is it?" she asked, now slightly concerned herself.
"That." Jin pointed over to one of the boys.
Her eyes wandered when she saw Ushijima. He was practicing jump serves.
"Ushijima?" she asked.
"Yeah. Look at him." Jin said and looked over to the captain.
Again she observed. Something was off. Even from a distance she could tell his cheeks were flushed. His body looked heavy and he was unsteady on his feet. That was very unusual.
"He doesn't look good." she noted.
"We think he has a fever." Semi told her. "We have told him to go and rest but he wouldn't listen."
"That idiot went for a jog in the pouring rain yesterday." Jin informed her.
"Geez." she sighed.
"Could you try to get him to rest? He will most likely listen to you." Semi asked.
"I'll try my luck." she said.
The rest of the boys had all stopped whatever they were doing, afraid that Ushijima would fall over with every jump he did. When they saw Tamiko approach their captain, they got even more nervous. Her anger was already feared, even amongst the first years, but it was usually directed at Tendou. Would she shout at Ushijima? When she reached him she crossed her arms.
"Ushijima." she said with a commanding tone. "Go and rest."
He paused briefly, but then picked up another ball. A short side glance landed on her.
"I'm fine." he panted.
He did another jump serve, landing wobbly on his feet. She sighed and dropped her arms. The boys behind her all braced themselves for her shouting but to their surprise, she didn't clench her fists, she didn't tense up. She stayed relaxed and calm.
"Toshi-kun." she said, this time softly. "Please."
This time he didn't speak. He looked down at her, panting heavily. Their eyecontact went on for a good 5 seconds and Semi elbowed Jin, grinning from ear to ear. Jin knew what he meant. Ushijima covered his mouth when a cough escaped him.
"You're only making it worse if you keep this up." she told him and crossed her arms again. "Go and rest."
"I told you, I'm fine." he insisted.
She frowned when he walked past her, sighing in defeat. She flinched when she suddenly felt his warm hand on her shoulder. He had stumbled over his feet and was now steadying himself. Ohira walked over to him to support Tamiko in her effort.
"You should listen to her, Wakatoshi." Ohira said.
Ushijima looked up but never got to say anything when his legs suddenly gave way. Both Ohira and Tamiko caught him before he fell to the ground. Ohira had no problem holding him but the ace slipped out of his grip and nearly most of his weight was supported by little Tamiko.
"Heavy." she groaned.
"Let's use the opportunity to get him in his bed." Ohira suggested.
Tamiko nodded and Ohira swung one of Ushijima's arms over his shoulder. It was a long walk to his room. The dorms where on the other side of the complex and when they got there, even the strong Ohira was out of breath. He gently dropped Ushijima on his bed and Tamiko, who had carried Ushijima's belongings, placed them on the chair. Then she looked around. One thing she recognised. The little cactus she had given him once. It was standing on the window sill, and was much bigger than she remembered.
"Will you take care of him until our training is done?" Ohira asked and looked down at his captain.
"Sure." she said.
"Great. Thank you." Ohira smiled.
He walked to the door but paused.
"Stay with him. He needs you." he told her.
Ohira was already gone before she could ask him what he meant. She sighed and went to work.
"Toshi-kun, you have to cooperate with me for a moment." she told him.
The ace groaned and weakly blinked at her. As quickly as she could, she searched for a jumper and trackies for him to change into. Then she chased him into the shower and while she waited, she made him some tea and a hot-water bottle. When Ushijima emerged from the shower he retreated under the blanket on his bed and let out a long sigh when his body sank into the mattress. He didn't touch his tea. Sleep overwhelmed him too quickly to realise that there even was tea.
Now Tamiko was bored. Ushijima was sleeping and she was in his room. I'm in his room. And for the first time. She curiously looked around again. It was tidy, very tidy. He had his jersey on a hanger, his uniform on another. A shelf stacked with books hung over his desk but a few caught her eye. Since when does he read romance novels? Then her eyes landed on the desk. There were empty water bottles and glasses scattered in the desk. A photo of the team stood there too and on the pin wall there was a to do list, photos of his parents and the ticket. She took a good look at his parents. He had his dad's hair but his mum's serious face. The backgrounds of the photos were interesting. His mother stood in a garden of a japanese house with a few people behind her who looked like servants. His father was standing in a city with lots of billboards with english writing.
America.
That's where her mother was right now, since spring. Where her father was, she didn't know. Your father is a good for nothing incompetent bastard, her mother had told her once. She had been 4 years old back then but she still remembered those words. Tobio luckily didn't remember, at least she hoped so. She can't remember her father's face. Her mother had burned all of the photos that day. She had watched from the living room, sitting on the sofa with little Tobio sleeping in her arms while her mother had made a small fire in the garden to burn all of her father's belongings. Tamiko sighed, the only noise disturbing the silence of the room.
Next to her, Ushijima coughed and turned in his sleep. She had sat down on his bed and was now looking down at his pained and sleeping face. His cheeks were still flushed and his breath heavy. Now that he was so motionless, she used the opportunity to take a good look at his face. She had never denied that he was good looking. He had handsome masculine features, a very symmetrical face and a haircut that suited him. He hadn't changed that much since she met him. But right now he looked so pained and she had never seen him like that before.
She was tempted. Tempted to give him a kiss on the forehead like a loving mother would. But she didn't. I can't believe I like this guy, she thought with a tender smile. Like? She shook her head. What was she thinking? This guy was a blunt idiot who would rather play volleyball than think about his own health. But his bluntness made him easy to read. He was like a big child who didn't want to be alone. She could relate to him. She knew his story. His parents divorcing and him now living by himself with no family close by, only his friends to keep him company. Volleyball really was a good distraction from that harsh reality. Her fingers gently combed through his soft hair. This made him stir.
"Mother." he whispered, his face pained.
She flinched at those words. They stung in her heart. Mother. He missed her, he loved her. Tamiko wished she had those same feelings. But her longing for her mother had slowly morphed into hatred over the years. She doesn't love me, she doesn't see me. She hates me. She is leaving. She didn't even know what she would do if her mother would show up again. Her mother was going to come for Christmas, at least that's what she had told her. And so the hours passed. Ushijima's pained expression faded the longer she stroked his head. Like a cat, she grinned. Izumi's words were floating through her mind again. He likes you. She frowned to herself. Why would he like me? I'm nothing compared to the other girls in school. And for her, that was a sad truth.
When Ushijima woke up it felt as if his body was 10 times heavier. It was already dark outside, only the streetlights from outside lighting the room. He groaned when he stirred and slowly opened his eyes. A hand to his warm forehead and a cough confirmed to him that he was still ill. He laid there for a few minutes when his door opened and the lights were switched on. It was blinding and he squinted at the ceiling. It took him a few seconds to realise that Tendou was standing in his room along with Ohira.
"Hello, sleepyhead." Tendou grinned.
"We brought you dinner." Ohira said and placed a tablet with a bowl of soup on the table.
"Thank you." Ushijima mumbled and sat upright on his bed.
His head completed of this sudden upright manoeuvre with a stinging headache. He tested his heavy head in his hands and sighed.
"Looks like Tamiko-chan left a mark." Tendou noted. "She cleaned your desk."
Ushijima looked up and at the desk. The desk had been cleared of the glasses and bottles although one clean glass and filled bottle were left there.
"Tamiko?" Ushijima mumbled, still half asleep.
"She took care of you. You should thank her. She made sure you didn't get up to go to the gym." Ohira explained.
Ushijima rested his face in his hands. He did vaguely remember her being here but he thought he had been left by himself after he had gone to sleep.
"How long was she here for?" he asked.
"She left about 20 mins ago." Ohira informed him. "So, basically half of the day."
Ushijima sighed. He didn't deserve this. It was his own fault that he had fallen ill but she had cared for him anyway. He was glad that his cheeks were still flushed from his fever, hiding his blush from his racing heart. It was crazy. Ever since he had realised, accepted and confessed his feelings, it became increasingly difficult to keep his pulse down when she was around. He slowly began to long for her. He regretted falling asleep. He could have talked to her. Now she was gone.
"She did tell us to do something once you woke up." Tendou grinned.
Ushijima looked up to him and Tendou pulled out a piece of paper, clearing his throat.
"Ushijima is not allowed to come to lessons and training tomorrow." he read out.
Ushijima blinked and Ohira chuckled.
"He is suppose to rest until he is feeling better. I told the dinner lady and she has a supply of tea and soup for him. His hot-water-bottle should be refilled, too." Tendou continued. "And remember to let him rest."
A series of coughs escaped him. He felt too tired to argue with a piece of paper and so he laid back down, facing the wall. The two boys in his room smiled to themselves, refilled his hot-water-bottle and were basking in the bliss of victory over their stubborn captain. Then both quietly withdrew out of the small room.
"Don't forget to eat your soup, Wakatoshi." Ohira reminded him.
A low hum to acknowledge the reminder from Ushijima and Ohira quietly closed the door.
