CHAPTER 1
Fuji woke up and rose from the bed slowly.
"Hmm... That dream again", Fuji whispered to himself as he recall the dream he had about their last moments together completely.
*knock knock* *door opens*
"Syusuke? Did you take your medicine already?"
"Ah nee-san. I am about to take it now", Fuji replied.
Yumiko put all the things he brought and then went to Fuji to help.
"Are you feeling okay now?", she asked her younger sibling.
"Hmm. I actually felt better because I dreamed about them again", Fuji answered.
"Them? You mean Eiji-kun and the others?"
"Hmn"
"Syusuke, are you really going tonight?", Yumiko asked again. Worried.
"Hai, nee-san"
"Did they respond to your message?"
"..."
"Syusuke?"
Fuji looked at Yumiko and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, nee-san. They'll be there", Fuji answered.
"So they didn't reply? Syusuke...You just answered me a different answer", Yumiko thought. Worried about their brother.
"Well then, I just stopped by. I'll be back this evening. I'll bring Yuuta", Yumiko said.
"Hai nee-san. Arigatou"
"By the way Syusuke. Please don't forget to press the call button if something happens. The nurse at the station will be here", Yumiko informed. Afraid that Fuji might forget about it.
*nod*
"Well then, I'll be going"
*door closes*
*silence*
Fuji watched around the silent hospital room where he is currently in. He then rested his head on the bedhead and watched outside the window, revealing a park.
He looked at his phone and scrolled through the inbox. There were only messages from his parents, and no messages from them.
Fuji looked at his sent box.
*flashback*
Fuji decided to gather his former teammates, so he texted them. Although his been constantly messaging them even after that happened, asking how they are and what they are doing, only Inui, Kawamura, Kaidoh replied, and it only happened once, twice.
From: Fuji Syusuke
Message: Hi mina. How are you doing? Can we meet tomorrow? I want to see you guys and give something. Let's talk about the things we miss doing together, ne? I'll be waiting at 7pm on the spot where we went to see the sunset together way back in middle school.
To: (insert members name)
*sent*
Fuji put down his phone after he sent the message and stared at the ceiling.
"I wonder if they'll read it", Fuji mused.
*end of flashback*
*sigh*
'I hope they will be there'
...
"—suke.. Syusuke.. Syusukee.."
Fuji opened his eyes when he heard Yumiko calling his name.
"N-nee-san?", Fuji asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Moou. Why did you sleep in that position? You might hurt yourself", Yumiko asked worriedly.
"Gomen. Maybe I fell asleep watching the park outside", Fuji answered and shifted his position to a more comfortable one.
"What time is it?", Fuji asked.
"It's 5:38 pm", Yumiko answered and put down her bag.
"Syusuke, why did you decide to go now?", she asked.
"I... I just wanted to see them", Fuji replied, reaching out to the cup of water Yumiko handed.
"You can invite them once you recover from the surgery"
"I miss them so much. I did something I'll never forgive myself. I've hurt them. I hurt him. So I need to do this now", Fuji said and clenched the cup of water.
"It doesn't have to be no-"
"It must be now, nee-san", Fuji said and looked at his sister. "If I don't do this now, it might be too late".
"Syusuke..."
"You know the probability of the operation, right? And not to mention, it will happen on the last week of February. My 24th birthday", Fuji said. "It's now December, so winter is starting. I need to do this now".
"Okay... I already brought the food you wanted to make", Yumiko stood up and went to get the bag of food.
"Yuuta, you can come here you know", Fuji called, chuckling.
'Geh? He found out', Yuuta thought and immediately wiped the tears o his eyes.
"A-aniki", Yuuta said and walked towards his small aniki.
"Did you bring it?", Fuji asked.
"Aah. Here", Yuuta answered and handed him a box.
Fuji opened it and looked at the contents. He picked one and examined it. Two pictures were placed back-to-back with each other, and covered with clear resin. It is attached to a big metal circle using small chains.
"Arigatou Yuuta. I haven't had the strength lately, so I made you attach the chains", Fuji apologized.
"Ah ya. It's okay", the younger brother replied blushing.
Yumiko and Yuuta just looked at their middle sibling, who is looking at the keychains he made himself the past 2 months.
"You've really worked hard for it, Syusuke", Yumiko said. Suppressing the lump that's forming on her throat.
Fuji looked at her and smile.
"Ah. I thought I will be able to complete this in a month, but things just started to happen again", Fuji looked at the keychains solemnly.
"Saa. I think I need to go now so I'll arrive early", Fuji added and stood up.
After he changed, he put the box in the bag where the foods are and put it on.
"Syusuke, you want me to drive you there?", Yumiko asked.
"Arigatou nee-san"
"Yuuta?"
"Of course nee-san. You drive me here you know", Yuuta answered.
"Hahahaha. Tashkani. Let's go, we still need to inform the nurses"
...
The drive was silent. Thankfully, Fuji is allowed to go out of the hospital as long as he is in good condition. He also hasn't had hair loss.
Fuji fish out the box and opened it again. He picked a chain and looked at it. He looked at the first picture. It was their last picture as a whole, complete. It was that time they graduated in high school, the one he dreamed about. Fuji stared at it longingly.
Yumiko who is driving and Yuuta who is occupying the shotgun seat, glanced at Fuji through the rear view mirror from time to time.
They then saw Fuji turned the keychain around. The picture contains to people. It was him and the man who he fell in love with since second year in middle school, Tezuka.
'Tezuka..'
Fuji caressed the picture, trying very hard not to let a tear slide down. He then looked at the other keychains. Just like the one he is holding, it contains their group picture, and the other is with him and a member.
After, Yumiko stopped at a sign.
"We're here" Yumiko informed.
"Ah. Arigatou nee-san. And Yuuta mo", Fuji said and opened the car door.
"A-aniki!", Yuuta shouted.
Fuji looked at him, surprised.
"B-be careful", Yuuta said shyly.
'This man. He always acts tough but still has shyness when it comes to me', Fuji thought, proud that his little brother shows other characteristic whenever he is around.
"Ah. You guys too", Fuji answered and started walking the beautifully lit path uphill.
Yuuta watched the back of his aniki until it disappeared.
"Nee-san let's go", Yuuta informed. When no reply or action came, he looked at Yumiko.
"Nee-san?"
Suddenly, Yuuta heard a sob coming from their oldest sibling.
"N-nee-san, what's wrong?"
"I.. I-it's just hard to see Syusuke like that", she replied.
"Nee-san... Don't worry, aniki is very strong. He will overcome it. Of course we will be there for him too", Yuuta said, trying to comfort Yumiko... and himself.
"Yuuta, I read the c-cards this morning", Yumiko said and looked at their youngest. "It is not a good read", she continued and sobbed.
Yuuta felt his body ran cold. It might only be a card reading, but Yumiko's reading is so accurate, it scares them. He reached out to Yumiko and hugged her.
"D-don't worry nee-san. It's just cards. We can prove it is wrong. No, we will prove it is wrong", Yuuta said, suppressing the lump on his throat.