Heya! Still there? I am almost not here XD For those still waiting, I am very sorry because my health have deteriorated. I almost broke my mental health because of stress. All this online class thingy is very hard for my course, and I don't have any cellphone in me. Anyways, here is your next chapter. Merry Christmas everyone! Keep safe!

Reminder: I'll never abandon this story.

Chapter 7

"Hayaku hayakuuu!", Eiji motioned the others as they ran towards the hospital.

Running to the reception area and after knowing what room their former teammate is in, no thinking twice, they dashed towards the floor of the room. Not even thinking of taking an elevator and used the stairs.

"Hooohh. It's not fit to the situation, but I am really thankful I played tennis. I'm still healthy as ever.", Momoshiro commented as they ascended the stairs, trying to shake off the heavy atmosphere hanging above them.

"Senpai, are you already old?", mocked Echizen.

"Huuhh?! Oi Echizen, you do realize I am still 22 right?"

"Hai. But the way you talk is the way old people talk.", Echizen answered.

"Heh."

When they finally got to the floor, it dawned on them that Fuji really is a patient of a cancer disease. The floor they are in is where cancer patient are placed, or those who are in critical condition.

"Hey. Who remember what room number Fuji is?", asked Oishi.

"229!", the others said in unison, which surprised Oishi, and even Tezuka, a little.

When they arrived in front of the room, the door was half open. All of them was standing still, watching the scene in front of them.

3 nurses surround the bed, and a doctor was talking to Fuji's parents, which they are already familiar with.

"Oh, so you arrived."

All of their heads bobbed to their left when someone spoke.

"Yuuta-kun.", Kawamura mused.

"Great to see you here after all the attempts my aniki did.", Yuuta said blankly to them. No sarcastic or angry tone, not disrespectful, just plain blank.

After Yuuta bowed to them, he went straight inside the room. Their sister, which came after him, smile politely to them.

"It's good to see you again.", she said gently. Some of them looked away, not taking the guilt and the kindness Yumiko showed to them.

It was much better how Yuuta showed hostility since they deserved it, but the kindness that their sister showed was so genuine, it hurts.

"G-great to see you too, Yumiko-san", they greeted and bowed to her.

Yumiko just smiled at them and watched what's happening inside. She did not move where she was standing, which made them look at each other.

"Oh! If you guys wanted to go inside, please do so. I'll… stay here for a moment.", she said, still not moving her eyes from the room.

"It's okay, Yumiko-san.", Tezuka said.

Silenece filled the air around them as they watched silently.

"You're curious why I stayed here and not go inside, right?", she asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

They did not answer and simply looked at her.

"To be honest, I still can't accept what's happening to Syusuke. I mean, he is so kind and gentle you know. Why did this happen to him?", she said smilingly. But it was clearly evident that her smile was not made of happiness, sadness and sorrow was all over her smiling face.

"We're very sorry for what we did to Fuji. We didn't know. And even so, it's still not nice that we ignore him all this time. We... we're very sorry, Yumiko-chan.", Eiji said, his head hanging low as tears filled his eyes. Guilty was crawling all over his body. "I was supposed to be his best friend and understand him, yet I was the first one that got mad and ignored him. I'm not a good friend. I don't deserve to be called Fuji's best friend.", he continued and cried. Oishi, who was on the verge of crying too, consoled his partner.

Yumiko just smiled at them.

"I don't mean to cause you guilt, but if you actually showed, his health might've improved.", she replied.

"Why do you think so?", Oishi asked curiously, handing Eiji a handkerchief.

"Actually, sometime on the first week of January, 3 of your friends were here. We can really see in Syusuke's eyes that he was happy some of your friends from high school visited, even if it was only a coincidence.", she answered.

"Friends? May I ask who you are pertaining to?", Inui asked this time.

"If I am not mistaken, I think was-"

"Ore-sama."

Before Yumiko can finish her sentence, someone continued, which stunned the former members of Seigaku TC. All of them turned around and saw 3 of their friends and at the same time, rivals from long ago.

"Atobe, Sanada, Yukimura! It was you guys?", Oishi said.

"The monkey king.", Echizen mused to himself, to which only Momoshiro and Kaidoh heard and chuckled.

"Heh! Took you long enough to visit an old and sick comrade and friend.", Atobe said, smiling mockingly at them.

"Good to see you too, Atobe", Tezuka replied, ignoring his mockery. "Sanada and Yukimura too.", he bowed a little.

"It's good to see you all too", Yukimura smiled. Sanada just looked at Tezuka, acknowledging an old rival, and nodded.

"Well, there goes our plan of dragging you all back here.", Atobe said, dramatically shrugging and sighing.

"What do you mean?", Kawamura asked, finally talking, taking his mind out of the fact that he was much closer to where Fuji was since he remained in their restaurant.

"It's just hard seeing him like that you know. We actually came back thrice or four times, I don't know, after our first visit.", Yukimura answered the question. "And every time, we came back, he looks happy, but we already know what makes him even happier."

"And don't you think we didn't know about how you all ignored everything. He didn't tell us, but it was obvious, and we heard about what triggered it all. Don't you think you are being too cruel to him?", Atobe scolded, actually looking a little angry, which surprised them, but did not protest since they obviously know what mistake they did.

No one said anything, even Tezuka. Before the air got tenser, Yumiko called out to them and gestured inside.

"Why don't we get inside? The nurses and doctor already left.", she informed and smiled.

"Is it okay for us to go? We did something to Fuji-senpai and-"

Echizen was cut off when Yumiko raised her hands.

"Please. I know you have your reasons, whether it be little or big. Just forget what you did. I know my brother will.", she said and went inside.

Tezuka looked at the other 3. They only looked back.

"You guys first since you are much closer to Fuji.", Yukimura said after a second of silence.

Eiji took a deep breath

And walked inside first, which was followed by the rest.

Again, if you guys want, visit my AO3 account, in this story, I have posted some fanarts of our Perfect Pair there. Account name: Bangtaned10!