Hello everyone! Unyah, for the sake of yuuta (and for confession AFTER confession) I've decided to give you guys a break from the tension haha :) so yes, sorry to those who were expecting a confession! It's the NEXT chapter! Ya sorry about that! Gomen! Also, there's a bit of time skip again (sorry I keep moving around!) I hope you enjoy this chapter! Also, it seems that the alert system is down T.T I hope it's back again soon...
Remember! (blah) is flashback
("Ah… Sorry Fuji…the members will be announced tomorrow so we don't really want to miss it… and it seems Eiji's still mad about it… how about I call you when we can all come? I'm really sorry."
"Maa… that's fine. I was bothering you anyways. Thanks."
"Sorry."
"No it's fine. I'm sorry actually. I'll see you later than.")
"Go go Fuji-chan! If you can't do it no one can! YAY!"
Yuki-chan gave her hips a few more cheerleader shakes before clapping with unstoppable joy. Fuji laughed quietly while replacing the ball into its bin.
"That's… very nice of you… Yuki-chan… ha-ha…"
In response, the nurse gave a 'V' for her apparent 'victory' in therapy. Not that there was a competition in the first place.
"No problem Fujiko! It's part of my job to cheer you on! I hope you aren't too tired from the stretches today. Which reminds me… have you been doing your stretches at home?"
"Hai. Two a day right? I'm almost done all the different stretches."
"That's good! Ah, also, you ordered this last week. I'm supposed to teach you how to use it."
Yuki retrieved her bulky brown bag from the bench at the side. After searching it for a while she pulled out a small white device with a sigh of relief. She presented it to Fuji proudly. Her bunny clip seemed to wink at him.
"This is the portable glucose meter your parents ordered for you. See? It's battery operated." To show this, Yuki turned the plastic meter around. Indeed, there was a space to put batteries in. She turned it again so that the blank screen faced Fuji.
"Now, don't worry Fuji-chan. I'm trained in diabetes as well as rehabilitation. I'll explain the basics to you. So pay attention!" Yuki took on a teacher's tone with a hint of her normally sugary voice.
"Okay Fuji-chan. I'll explain the basics. What the glucose meter does is it allows you to monitor your own blood glucose; so that means it's a self-monitoring system. Every meter is different. Yours comes with your own set of instructions." Yuki pulled out a paper pamphlet with a drawing of the glucose meter on the front. "So you can read it more thoroughly at home. I'll just explain the stuff that's the same with all the meters."
"So! Well, these meters need a sample of your blood. You should probably take it from your fingertips. But, make sure you wash your hands and dry them before trying it! If water isn't available, at least sanitize it with some kind of alcohol. After you wash your hands, you don't just prick it with anything! You'll use a blood lancelet."
A flat tubular mechanism was taken out of Yuki's pocket. She pointed to the sharp end to indicate that that was where he was to prick his finger.
"These are all disposable. Your parents should have ordered a box I think. There are about 200 of them in a box. So anyways, you just prick it like this. I'm not actually going to do it Fuji-chan! Don't look so fascinated! … I'm serious! Pay attention! You prick it like this until blood comes out. Don't stab your finger okay? Once blood comes out, catch it on these test strips that come with your glucose meter. All you have to do is feed the strip into the meter. This screen will then tell you your blood glucose! Simple! You just need to comprehend the results. I'll give you a booklet too for that. Make sure you read the instructions on your meter. Clean it every once in a while."
She paused and looked up at the ceiling in thought. "What did I forget…" she mumbled. Fuji waited good-naturedly until she slapped her forehead with the force of five men; he winced, wondering why her head wasn't on the floor yet.
"I ALMOST forgot! You should check your blood glucose three or more times a day. Wanazuki-sensei and I recommend that you check before meals, about 2 hours after meals, and at bedtime. If you wake up in the middle of the night, that's a good time to check too. Ah, and if you find the day especially stressing or tiring, check more often."
The nurse smiled sweetly before handing over the glucose meter and test strips to Fuji. She then held out an empty cardboard box for him to take to. The tennis player looked at it curiously.
"Ano… well I opened your glucose meter when it got here. But don't take it the wrong way! I was really really really curious! And and I needed it for this demo! I didn't do anything with it! I swear! I just wanted to see what brand it was!"
A slight chuckle escaped his lips. Yuki's acts looked exactly like Eiji's acts sometimes. He took the box from her hands gingerly.
"Thank you Yuki-chan. That was nice of you," For good measure, he smiled at the overreacting nurse. "Thank you for your concern. I'll see you next time than?"
In response, the nurse gave a two finger salute to the teenager. "Of course! I'll be waiting!"
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…How do I leave without being rude?
Yuuta sighed. It was bad enough he was given the job of picking up his brother by Yumiko, he also had an errand to run for Mizuki. Something about 'the ultimate secret of each school'. Sitting in a café with a girl he'd never seen before didn't help his situation.
("Is this yours?"
The girl previously on her hands and knees straightened up to look at the object held carefully between the boy's fingers.
"Yes! T-thank you so much! Thank you!"
"No problem."
He had started to walk away to do whatever he needed to do on the day when he was stopped by the girl's outburst.
"Please! Let me treat you to something!"
"…Pardon me?")
"Ano… thank you so much for treating me but I should really get going."
"B-but… the crepes aren't even here yet…"
Brown eyes opened wider, instantly making him feel guilty. Yuuta gulped. He was never good with girls. His brother was though. Hell, his brother was good at everything.
"Ah… right… but I have to get going soon. I have to pick up-"
"Your crepes are here! Enjoy!"
The rather shapely waitress put down two identical plates in front of the two teens before walking away. Yuuta stared at his crepe. It lay innocently in all its crepe glory. Oh well… it looks pretty good… Taking a giant bite out of his crepe, he unconsciously observed the girl sitting across from him.
She had a plain style which was offset by her cute features. She did nothing with her long hair; it was let loose so that harsh winds could freely play with it. She ate her crepe slowly, taking miniscule bites. When she realized she was being observed, she blushed.
"A-ano… thank you so much for helping me with my contacts. I don't think I would have ever found it without your help."
"It's no problem. You didn't need to treat me though…"
"But you were so helpful! My mother said I should always thank those who help me."
Yuuta remained silent, not quite sure how to reply to that statement. He merely answered with a feeble 'I see'.
There was another silence as Yuuta concentrated on finishing his crepe fast; he had a brother to pick-up and a manager to please. Shoving the last of the bread into his mouth he stood up abruptly.
"Thank you for the crepe. I have to get going now."
He pushed himself off the chair and turned away only to have himself stopped again.
"Um! I didn't introduce myself! I'm Yukimura Hanako. Nice to meet you." The said girl bowed low, low enough for her hair to brush against the gray floors lightly.
Yuuta stood feeling awkward and bowed in the same fashion. "Ah…I'm Fuji Yuuta. Nice to meet you." By now, Hanako had pulled out of her formality to regard Yuuta with surprise and curiosity.
"Fuji? Ano… if you don't mind me asking, are you related to Fuji Syuusuke-san?"
It was Yuuta's turn to be surprised. "Yes. He's my older brother. How do you know aniki?"
Forgetting her initial timidity, she eagerly informed the younger brother of her relation with the older brother.
"Well I met Syuusuke-san at the rehabilitation center while waiting for onii-chan. He was very nice and patient! Ano… I guess this means that we are very much alike Fuji-kun?"
"Alike?" The teen looked at Hanako, perplexed. What would his brother be doing near the rehabilitation center? Actually… he had been going out very often during the selection camp.
"Yes. Don't you think so? Though it might seem very pessimistic, we both have older brothers who are recovering or going through rehabilitation."
"I see… wait. Aniki's going through rehabilitation also?"
Hanako covered her mouth as if she had said the world's darkest secret out loud. This wasn't the reaction she was expecting; she had expected a nod or agreement. He didn't know?
"Ano… I-I could be wrong…but he told me that he was at the rehabilitation center… for h-himself…ano…"
She felt fear crawling through her. He didn't say anything at all. He had blanked out on her; had she done something wrong?
"Thank you. I need to go."
Not quite sure what had happened, Hanako looked at the retreating figure walking through the door. She bit her lip, wondering if it was appropriate to feel guilt right now.
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Fuji sighed. Yuuta hadn't picked up for some time now. Yumiko had told him to wait at the park nearby for Yuuta but he hadn't showed up. It was now half past three; he had been waiting for thirty minutes.
He flipped his phone open for the millionth time, wondering if there was any mail of some kind to explain his brother's apparent disappearance. Nothing. Reluctantly, Fuji put away his cell phone. What had happened? It could be as simple as low battery, but what if he had gotten into some sort of trouble? After all, there was the incident with Echizen and Akutsu. Maybe he should go look for him. But where to start? St. Rudolph? St. Rudolph's dorms were a fair distance from the rehabilitation center. He could take a bus.
The tennis prodigy stood up, lost in thought and hesitating on his next move when a familiar voice called out.
"Aniki!"
Fuji turned around to see Yuuta waving from a distance. Relieved beyond belief, Fuji waved back. Good, he's safe. He walked over with a smile on his face.
"Sorry I'm late. There was a thing… I was helping someone with something…"
"Maa, it's fine. I didn't wait too long. I'm just glad you're alright. I was worried someone might have kidnapped you or something, you being so wanted and all."
Immediately, Yuuta blushed and stepped away. "Aniki! Don't say those weird stuff! What are you talking about?!"
The older brother let a soft chuckle escape; his smile grew all the more bigger. "Don't worry; I'm sure no one will kidnap you. I'll make sure of that." He said, leaving an eerie feeling in the air. Yuuta frowned.
"Stop it! Aniki it's not funny!"
"Saa… just like that… hmm… Mifume right? Or was it Mizuko… hmm… his name escapes me at the moment, but I'm sure he's a likely candidate for kidnapper, ne?"
"Aniki! Stop it!"
"Don't worry Yuuta; I'll protect you from him… whatever his name is."
"Stop it! Just stop it!"
He stopped. This time, Yuuta was serious. His brows were set in an angry frown while his eyes glared menacingly. Fuji opened his eyes.
"I'm sorry Yuuta. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry. Let's go home now, okay? I think nee-san made your favorite snack-"
"No just stop it! It's not funny at all! You keep doing that, but it's not funny at all! If you make fun of Mizuki-san, than I'm included in it too! I'm his teammate! You're making fun of my whole school!" Yuuta let out a breath. He hadn't felt so angry in a long time. Why now?
Meanwhile, Fuji looked down, his eyes never closing. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I was just worried-"
"And why are you going to the rehabilitation center? Are you sick? Did you hurt yourself? What is it?"
The older of the two looked up sharply. His mouth began to open slightly in shock while his eyes widened to their limit.
"Who told you that?"
"So it's true! What's going on aniki? Why didn't you tell me this? Do your friends know? Does nee-san know? She knows right? That's why she sent me!"
Fuji wanted to break away, but his whole body had stiffened during the conversation; he couldn't move. Should he answer? This was the first time Yuuta seemed so… inquisitive. Suddenly, he felt the irony of his situation; was this how it felt to Yuuta when he asked questions? Stiffening? Perhaps even bordering on frustrating.
"Ah… well… let's discuss this later Yuuta. I think nee-san will be waiting."
"Tell me why you're going there first. I don't get it! Why don't you tell me anything aniki?"
"Yuuta… please, let's go."
"Just tell me! Why do I have to tell you everything but you allowed to keep secrets?"
"Maa… Yuuta…"
"Tell me! What's going on? Does this have something to do with you going to the hospital during the camp?"
"Please… don't make me lie." I would be intruding on your life if I told you…it's not right to bring sadness into your life when I have already caused you to alter it.
Yuuta looked at his brother's face. His eyes were wide open now, revealing unsettling blue eyes. It always made him uncomfortable to look into his eyes, like he was above everything he knew. But today it held so much pain. His smiling mouth was, for once, not smiling. They were opened slightly; Yuuta felt that perhaps his brother would make a sound, some sound of sorrow. He couldn't bear to look anymore; he turned away.
"Fine… I don't really want to know anyways."
He heard a sigh before his brother began speaking again. "Maa… I'm sorry Yuuta. Let's go home now. I think nee-san made some pie again."
"No, I'm not going home. I have other things to do. Don't wait up for me like last time aniki."
Yuuta trudged away, passing by the shrubbery and trees coolly. Fuji watched as Yuuta scratched the back of his head. He couldn't help but feel that something had been broken between them.
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Regret. Pitiful. It's fine if I'm in pain by myself. But I'm also bringing trouble to the people around me.
-1 Liter of Tears
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OMG DONE! –sigh- that took too long nya! I didn't mean to take so long for an update! And I feel bad that I gave you this one little measly chapter this time :( I'm sorry! I've just been enjoying myself for so long that I nearly forgot I needed to finish a chapter! Sorry! Let's see… that's right! I'm sorry for the long pointless beginning. I knew it added nothing to the chapter. But I was so proud of researching on diabetes I just wanted to put it down! I promise I won't do something selfish like that again XP So yes, I guess real confession next chapter unless I have some other plans XP
Thank you for reading! (and waiting)