With a bit of feedback from my first chapter, I've updated it so it doesn't spoil anything right away. If it ruined your reading experience, I apologize for those of you who already read it. I'll remember this for future chapters/stories!

I'm new to writing things, so I'm still learning.

Also, this chapter's longer! Awesome, right?

A few hours after Martha left, the children were all having fun in the backyard of the orphanage, Yusei and Jack watching them. When the two were left in charge of the others, Jack would often play with the other kids, wrestling the boys to see who was stronger. Yusei usually preferred to stay at a distance, reading his favorite books while keeping a watchful eye on the others, especially Jack.

Today was one of those days. Jack was off playing with the other kids in a game of baseball, and Yusei was sitting under one of the orphanage's many big, shady trees, reading a book about mechanics. He looked up from his book to see that the kids had stopped playing. Yusei, not knowing what had happened, put down his book and went to investigate.

"Hey, what's going on, Jack? Did something happen?"

Jack looked over his shoulder at Yusei with a mildly irritated expression on his face.

"Taro here is being a wimp! He's trying to back out of the game! Says he hurt his ankle or something while he was running, but he sure looks fine to me!"

Yusei's eyes widened with concern as he ran towards the injured boy, who was limping to one side trying not to put pressure on his injury. Yusei crouched down and quickly examined his ankle.

"Jack, are you crazy!? He's hurt! He can't keep playing on that ankle! Taro needs to rest!"

Jack looked even angrier than before after hearing this.

"We're in the middle of a game! We can't just stop! Someone's got to take his place then!"

One of the other children started to speak up in Yusei's defense.

"Y-Yusei's right…Taro needs to rest, and we can always start the game back up la—"

Jack cut him off before he could finish.

"I'M IN CHARGE HERE, SO YOU'LL ALL DO WHAT I SAY!"

Yusei became furious when Jack started yelling at the others. He stormed over to Jack and put a hand on his shoulder, quickly and roughly turning him around to face him.

"I think you forget that Martha put BOTH of us in charge, Jack. I don't appreciate you yelling at everyone just because you want to finish a game. We need to get Taro some ice for his ankle. We can finish the game later."

Just as the words left his lips, Taro walked over and grabbed Yusei's arm, gently pulling it from Jack's shoulder.

"Don't worry about me, Yusei. I'll be fine. You can take my place in the game. I know Jack wants to finish it, so you should let him, right?"

Yusei started to calm down and pondered his next action. He swayed just slightly; that happened any time he got angry. It made him feel lightheaded. One of the other children bravely spoke up a few moments later.

"I-I kinda wanna finish the game too…Come on, Yusei! Take Taro's place, please?"

Yusei continued to ponder, but he eventually gave an answer.

"Alright, I'll play. But we make it quick, okay?"

Jack smiled with a satisfied smirk on his face.

"Alright, let's play! Tetsu is up to bat! Everyone else, take your places!"

Yusei sat on the bench, waiting for his turn to bat. He was starting to feel a bit worse now. He was sweating a little, and had a slight shortness of breath. His lightheadedness had gotten worse as well. One of his teammates asked if he were alright, and he quickly perked up, playing it off as nervousness, having not been a huge sports-player in his life. Finally, it was Yusei's turn to play.

"Alright, Yusei, you're up!" Jack called.

Yusei took the plate, bat in hand. He assumed a batting position, but he kept feeling worse the longer time passed on. He was starting to pant hard now. He felt like he was going to pass out at any moment. Then he realized what was really causing his body to react this way.

"My medicine…! I-I completely forgot about it! I've got to go get it...now!"

Jack, who was just about to pitch, lowered his arm and called out to Yusei in concern.

"Yusei, you alright? You're not looking too well…"

Yusei was struggling to stand up now. He could barely see or hear anything. He was starting to black out. He kept trying to force himself to stay conscious, saying to himself a steady mantra of

"I can fight it…I can make it inside...I can...fight it…!"

But he could fight it no more. Without warning, he dropped the bat and collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Jack dropped his baseball entirely and ran to Yusei's side. The other children, unsure of what to do, stood in fear and shock.

"Yusei! YUSEI! Are you okay!? ANSWER ME!"

There was no answer. Jack, now worried and panicking, quickly scooped up the boy and carried him to the infirmary room of the orphanage.

End Chapter 2.