The news breaks today.
Tenya walked into the classroom with squared shoulders and the simple purpose to go through his day unaffected, but the first step into the classroom stopped him dead.
Akemi came barreling into his arms, face grim and sniffling a little, and Tenya looked away.
"I heard." She said, her voice cracking a little. "Your mum called me yesterday. I..." She shook her head and gave him a small smile, "wanna help me with my math homework? For distraction?"
Tenya sighed a little.
Akemi really knows him, huh? He nodded and Akemi headed back to her seat, and standing next to her Tenya began to lecture her about trigonometry and angles.
The class slowly trickled in, and with the pointless small talks Akemi makes, Tenya's mind, for the first time after the sports festival, finally began to ease. Perhaps just a little, but it was so much better than when he came in.
Finally, nearing the bell, Akemi went silent.
"...which hospital was he admitted to?" She asked. So quiet he barely hears her voice.
"...Ueno Private." He answers. And Akemi seemed to freeze up.
"Ueno... Private?"
"...Akemi?"
"Tenya, pack your bag." She almost ordered, before stopping abruptly and stood up, "No, actually, just go." She grabbed his hand and rushed towards the door.
"What—" He steadied himself and stopped his friend, "Wait, what's going on, Akemi? Why—"
"No time, Tenya!" She dragged him past staring classmates and slammed open the door, only to see Aizawa-sensei standing at the door, his bandages now gone and revealing a scar beneath his right eye.
"Kimura?" He rose an eyebrow, "Where are you going?"
"No time, sensei—" She attempted to push past him with no avail, "I need to get to Hibiki—"
"If you're talking about Ueno Hibiki, I just received a call from her mother and yours." Akemi froze.
"No... no, no..." as he realized what his friend was worrying about Tenya, too, froze.
"Akemi, don't tell me—"
"I called her! She was at Ueno Private doing research for her internship! Tenya, Hibiki might've KILLED herself!" She whirled around and almost screamed, "Sensei, what did Reiki-san say?!"
"She told me Ueno Hibiki is currently in hospital, and that Iida's father is on his way here to pick you two and another student up." Akemi slumped and Tenya's mouth went dry. Aizawa-sensei's expression turned stern but concerned, " would you elaborate what might've happened?"
"Sensei..." Akemi's voice came out weak and trembling, "Hibiki's quirk is Wound Transferal."
Their homeroom teacher's eyes widened with realisation, and he stepped to the side.
"Go."
Tenya doesn't need to be told twice.
The ride from Matsutafu to Hosu is short but long.
Akemi sat by the window, trembling as Tenya held her hand.
His was trembling too, but there wasn't much he could do.
What could he do? What could he do when Hibiki, cheery, loony, funny Hibiki might be laying in the hospital in place of his brother, limp and motionless?
How could he do anything, when his friend, one of his best friends, might be dying?
He doesn't know.
When the car stops in front of the large, familiar building Akemi almost ripped the car door off its hinges and dashed in for the reception. The woman recognised them and gave them a grim look.
"Twentieth floor, room 2028." She answered softly, and without another word Akemi dashed towards the elevator, Tenya barely catching up.
Akemi is restless and he couldn't blame her. Her eyes are wide but blank and her lips are trembling— heck her entire body was shaking. Tenya glanced at her, and shakily patted her on the shoulder.
No reaction.
Akemi was out the door before it was completely open, Tenya followed with his father behind. He could barely see his friend, as she dashed past corridors and rounded corners, until he saw her stop, standing still and trembling before a open door.
Tenya walked towards her slowly, fearing the worst before he walked within hearing range.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The tight grip of terror released him. As Tenya walked around the corner he looked into the room, and almost cried.
Hibiki laid on the bed, silent but breathing and heart beating and alive. By her side sat her mother, Reiki-san, Akemi's mother Suzumi-san and—
And standing next to the bed, holding Hibiki's hand—
Standing, not sitting not laying in a hospital bed—
"Tenya." Tenya stared with disbelief and shock and guilty joy, and took a step forwards.
"Nii-san?"
I'm horrible. I know. Told you I write angst.
Please RnR for Hibiki to wake up!
