Normal pov:

Miyuki dragged Sawumura back to the meeting room and once inside made sure Sawumura sat in a seat since he wasn't sure if Sawumura would be able to stand for so long. He looked so tired after all.

Everyone was silent and stared at Eijun for a while. He really looked bad now that they got a good look at his face. He just stared at nothing and it was freaking them out. It really worried them. Cause there was definitely something wrong with him and they just didn't know what.

The school nurse sighed which made everybody look at her.

"Do you know what's wrong with him?" Coach asked already understanding that it wasn't just a lack of sleep issue. No it was definitely more than that.

"Nightmare phobia." The nurse said while sighing.

"Knight merry bobia?" Kuramochi said sounding confused.

"Nightmare phobia," The nurse said once again "It doesn't happen very often. Only sometimes with reasons even we don't know anything about. It starts with a nightmare. But not just a nightmare, mostly it's something the person himself fears and then starts having nightmares about it. That nightmare comes back every night until the person himself stops sleeping. Just because they are too afraid to do so. From that moment on they'll see illusions and their senses play tricks with them. The scary thing is that those things link with their nightmare again. Or rather with their fears."

"What do you mean it links with their fears." Ryosuke asked feeling confused, worried and strangely a bit suspicious at the same time.

"The illusions they see are the things they fear the most. But instead of letting the thing they fear happen, they experience the feeling of it. For instance, if someone is afraid of spiders, they won't be seeing spiders. They'd just hear weird sounds, like the sound of a spider who's walking or eating his prey. It would also feel like as if the spiders are walking over you. You'd see blood on the walls and all those little things that have something to do with it. Even though I have to say this isn't really the best example. Those illusions would still be about spiders and not the feelings of it. But anyway let's continue."

"That just continues endlessly. For days and days and days. He or she will get worse and worse by the day. It just goes on and on until they break. Until they can't take it anymore."

"Wait, what do you mean with 'until they can't take it anymore'?!" Miyuki said sounding worried and slightly scared.

"Until they can't take it anymore. It means that if someone doesn't help them on time they'll.." The nurse stopped sounding a bit sad. She didn't want to scare them. They had been on time. Just on time that is.

"Suicide.. right..?" The coach said looking worriedly at Eijun who was staring at nothing. The nurse nodded and everyone let out shocked gasps while looking with wide and regretful eyes at Eijun. They should've helped him sooner.

"You were just on time though. A day longer and it would've been to late." The nurse said not sure if she should be mad at them for waiting so long or happy with them for being just on time.

"So what do we do now..? Does he have to go to the hospital..?" Jun said not feeling up to seeing Sawumura in a hospital bed. The others silently agreed with him. Although you could see it on their faces easily.

The nurse smiled slightly at them and said: "No need to worry. Even though this is a horrible sickness. The most dangerous part is that people don't always notice it. The curing part is done within a few days. The only thing you have to do is to give him a strong sleeping pill. One that keeps him asleep for a few days."

"The dreamless nights will help him regain his strength. The only thing left to do afterwards is for all of you to help him overcome is fears. It depends on what he fears though. It can be easy but it can also be hard. It's up to all of you to not only help him overcome his fears but also to make sure he takes good care of himself afterwards. It could come back if you don't. If a person once had it than he or she has a higher risk of getting the nightmare phobia. He will still have those illusions and nightmares when he wakes up though. Just not as bad anymore. That's why you have to act immediately. Make him understand that he doesn't have to fear whatever he fears anymore. If you succeed than his nightmares and the illusions will stop."

"I understand what we have to do. And we will but.. there is just one little problem. We have no idea what he fears.." Kuramochi said.

"Oh but don't worry about that." The nurse said "The thing is that he is in the last stage right now."

"The last stage?" Someone said.

"That's right. He doesn't recognise anyone right now. It's like he lost his memories. But the truth is that he just isn't conscious of what is happening right now. At is as if he's hypnotised. He thinks he doesn't remember anything. But if you ask him something he'll answer you with the truth not really knowing how he is answering us since he thinks he doesn't know. His memories aren't lost he just isn't conscious of them right now. That also means he'll remember all of this in the end. Which makes it easier for us. That way we won't have to explain everything to him again." The nurse finished.

"Does that mean we can ask him anything we want?! Like who he is in love with?!" Kuramochi said getting excited. It wasn't so tense in the room anymore since they knew he would be ok now.

"No, you can't." The coach said. He walked over to Eijun, got a seat and sat in front of him. Eijun's eyes seemed to stare at nothing, which they probably did. Everyone else came closer so that they could hear what he was saying. "Sawumura, can you tell us what happened? What did you see?" The coach asked and waited patiently for him to answer. Everyone else kept looking at Eijun patiently but also nervous.

"It all started with a nightmare. A very scary nightmare." Eijun said in an emotionless voice and continued "I was all alone. No one was around. The whole world was empty. It was dark and gloomy and it just kept raining as if the sky was crying. It was sad at first. I was lonely cause no one was around to play baseball with. After that everyone came back, so I was happy. Until I was left behind again. As if it was done on purpose. They laughed in my face and left me alone saying they hated me, that they didn't want to play baseball with me. Everyone hated me. They didn't want to see me. They wanted to forget me. They closed me of from the world saying that the world had no need for someone like me. Everyone left, I was left alone and they didn't come back."

Everyone was silent. They had no idea that he had a fear like that. It was understandable but they didn't expect it. They thought he was scared of ghosts or something. And that they had to learn him how not to be afraid of ghosts. No, they definitely didn't expect this. They also weren't quite sure if this was going to be harder or easier than the ghost one.

"What happened after that?" The coach continued patiently.

"I wasn't able to sleep anymore so I decided to go outside and ran until morning. I didn't want to tell anyone cause I was afraid that they would laugh and make fun of me. That's why I didn't tell anyone. I thought it would stop. It strangely enough didn't. That's how I ended up waking up every night at four am from the same nightmare. After that I would go and run until morning cause sleeping just wasn't an option after the nightmare. I had nightmares for four nights until I decided I was done with those nightmares and stopped sleeping all together."

Some gasps could be heard when he told them that. No wonder he looked so tired.

"How many days ago did you have your first nightmare?" Coach asked.

"10 days" Eijun replied. Again gasps could be heard. They all really wanted to smack him on the head for that but just knew they couldn't do that when he was in this state. That idiot hadn't slept for six days dammit! And not to forget that he slept barely on those other four days.

"What happened after that?" Coach asked again.

"I ran every night cause I didn't have anything better to do. Sometimes I would sit against a tree since I needed more energy to get through the day." Eijun told them and again sighs could be heard. Not sleeping is bad enough. But nonstop sporting is just crazy.

"Eventually the world turned black and white. It was scary. As if all the happiness was gone. Soon after the sounds turned weird. Every sound and every voice sounded like it came from underwater. Or maybe it felt like I was the one who was underwater. I'm not sure which one. All I know is that the world turned grey and dull. It was as if I didn't belong anymore. It felt lonely. But at some point I didn't care anymore. I was quite done with it. I somehow knew that something wasn't quite right. I also knew I needed sleep. I knew that I needed help, I just couldn't ask. It was as if someone was telling me not to, even though I didn't hear any voices. I couldn't ask, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't do anything. I wasn't allowed to." Eijun stopped talking. He was done. He'd told them everything.

Almost everyone was crying. Only a few like the coach and the captain were able not to cry. It was hard though. They felt horrible for letting him experience this on his own. They were glad that they were on time but were sad at the same time. They should've done something sooner. It had gotten so far that he couldn't even ask them for help anymore. His own fear had held him back from telling people of his nightmare. They felt so guilty even though it wasn't all their fault. The two sentences "It felt lonely." And "I wasn't allowed to." Hit them hard. They would do anything to make it up to him. They'd just realises how much they actually cared about him. He would never feel alone again. Never again. They'd make sure of it. It doesn't matter how many times they'd have to tell him he wasn't alone. They'd do it no matter how many times it would take. He was like their little brother after all.

"I have a sleep pill here which should keep him asleep for about three days. That should be about right. Make sure he gets his sleep though, cause if he doesn't it'll just go downhill again." The nurse said and gave the sleeping pill to the coach. She walked to the door, opened it and stopped. She turned around and gave them one last smile. "Take good care of him." She said while smiling and left. "We will" Some muttered and smiled as well.

Someone had grabbed a glass of water and gave it to the coach. Who in response said: "Drink this Sawumura. It'll make you feel better." Eijun grabbed it slowly and drank it. Not soon after his still lifeless eyes began to close and his body went limp. Miyuki caught him before his head could hit the table. "You can all handle it on your own now, right? Call me if you need any help. It's fine if you guys slack on practise a bit. Take all the time you need." The coach said walking out of the room as well. The others just stood there a bit surprised before smiling and silently thanking the coach.

Miyuki picked Eijun up and brought him to his, Kuramochi's and Masuko room. The others followed him and watched when Miyuki placed him in his own (Eijun's bed) bed. Miyuki ruffled his hair a bit and smiled softly. "I'm sorry for letting you handle this on your own for so long." He said really meaning it. "You'll never feel alone again. That's a promise." After that he left going to his own room. He had no idea how late it was but he needed some time alone, maybe sleep a bit. Maybe even let a few tears fall. He'd almost lost his little brother. Their little brother. And they all hadn't even realised it. They'd never realised until now how important he was to them. He couldn't help but let a tear fall when he realised that if they had been just a day later.. they would've lost him..! They would've lost their little brother. It would never ¬¬happen again. He was sure of that. Never. Ever. Again!

The others to had taken turns on ruffling Eijun's hair a bit while saying sorry and then leaving. Yes, everyone. Even Tanba and Jun. Now only Kuramochi and Masuko were left. They too had ruffled his hair and apologised. Now they were staring at his pale face. He still looked like crap with these huge bags under his eyes and his pale skin. Luckily it was going to be ok though. He was going to be fine now. They'd make sure of it.

Tell me what you think of it :)

I'm probably going to write another chapter (or more) with some cuteness. Showing their protectiveness towards Eijun. Maybe some cuddling or something. I don't know. Tell me what you want. Do you want more chapters or not? If so than what do you want me to write about?

Also, I know that this all isn't possible. I know that it isn't possible to not sleep (and sport at night) for so long. Nightmare phobia doesn't exists either of course. It was just something I came up with ;) :p

Well thanks for reading :p

See you later!

zuppercat