Revised Chapter 1! Happy Halloween!
"Maa, that may have been the smoothest ride I've had since Echizen moved here." Momo sighed contently as he finished tying his shoes before practice.
"Momo! Where is Echizen! What if he is hurt and alone!? What if he is delirious!? Maybe we should call? Tezuka, what do you think?" Oishi was rambling on like his usual mother hen self.
"Mina! Get to practice!" Tezuka barked before turning to his vice captain. "Oishi, I am sure that Echizen is quite alright. Just a small fever."
"I know, but..." he trailed off at the sight of his captain's sharp glare.
He was running faster then he ever has before in his life.
Faster then the times that the regulars would race to save themselves from the morbid deaths caused by Inui's 'health' drinks. Faster, by far.
His bare feet ached and he had small stones and glass burrowing their way into callused flesh, leaving the small dainty feet riddled with drying blood. Intense pain coursed through his body as wave after wave of nausea and dizziness left the small boy aching to the point that the pain was threatening to force him to the ground.
He Didn't dare slow for his destination was only a few more steps away.
Momo had just finished telling the regulars about Ryoma's fever and that the brat would be back the next day, when Oishi shouted an all to familiar name.
"Echizen!" He called running to the boy who was slowing down greatly.
Oishi caught him just as he collapsed and the other regulars sprinted to the young prodigy's side.
"Echizen/Ochibi/Gaki!" The regulars all called.
Oishi wasted no time getting into mother hen mode the minute he came in contact with Ryoma's shirtless chest. He removed his coat and wrapped it securely around the shivering boy. Echizen's usually sharp bright golden eyes were dull and glazed with fever.
"Ryoma!" Oishi yelled ignoring all formalities. "Why would you run here half naked with a fever!"His eyes trailed down to the bleeding feet.
There was a heavy coughing fit from the said Freshman prodigy. "Oyaji...Kaa-san...Nanako...even Karupin!" He broke into sobs coughing and crying trying hard to catch his breath. Oishi recognized this as a panic attack and he had read somewhere that by lifting up the one in question's arms over their head they can breath. Oishi proceeded to do this to their little freshman.
Once he was breathing at a steadier pace Oishi brought him into a hug rubbing his back soothingly a shushing him like an infant. The breathing calmed and Ryoma's erratic breathing relaxed into a steady beat matching Oishi's forced calm heart beat.
"Call an ambulance his fever is beyond anything in a drug store at this point and he is going to need stitches in his feet as well."