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Sukai was scared beyond words that day. When the pencil suddenly fell out of Keigo’s hand as he put it over his stomach, hissing softly in pain. Sukai couldn’t think about what was happening as he froze, the hand gripping his own pencil were shaking at the sight of his dear friend being in so much pain. Sukai knew it hadn't been long since school started but he had never seen Keigo like that before, he was always so cheerful.
“Teacher! Teacher, please come here!” Sukai yelled in panic when he finally found his voice again.
“What’s wrong, Sukai?”
Teacher Ruki came over almost instantly after following where he was pointing, at Keigo who was crouching over in his chair. “Are you okay, Keigo?” It was obvious that his teacher was also trying not to panic at how pale Keigo looked when he looked up. “Let’s get you to the infirmary.”
Keigo nodded and even though he seemed to be in a lot of pain, he didn’t cry, which relieved Sukai a little. Sukai watched in silence as the man led Keigo out of the classroom. Even after they were gone, he couldn’t take his eyes off the door. He even ignored Shion’s attempt to play with the action figures they bought in absence of their teacher. He only hoped that the cheerful Keigo would be back.
Only when it was time for home economics that Sukai was able to distract himself.
-
“Teacher Ruki, how’s Keigo?” Syoya asked upon noticing the man back in the class.
Ruki smiled. “He’s fine. Ren is checking up on him.”
“Does that mean Keigo can go home?” It was Shion who sounded genuinely curious.
“Yes, Keigo will go home earlier than everyone today, and since his parents aren't able to pick him up, is there anyone who can go with him?”
Sukai gently raised his hand and the teacher seemed to recognize the determined look in his eyes. He gave Sukai a soft smile before nodding. “Then, you can go and pack his bag.”
“Okay.” Sukai said in a small voice before going to collect his stuff on the table and put them into his backpack. He took the initiative to pack Keigo’s bag because that was the least he could do for his friend other than walking him home. Teacher Ruki took him to the infirmary after making sure that Teacher Sho was available to watch the class for him and thanked the older teacher.
Keigo was sitting on the bed when they got there, his legs dangling as he swung them back and forth. He was seemingly fine but still looking a little bit pale. Sukai knew he was probably making his teacher worried for being so unusually quiet but he couldn’t help feeling sad and he had no idea why he felt so sad. But the man trusted him enough to let him go home with Keigo. There were many times he had proven to be a reliable kid and now was no exception.
“How’s Keigo feeling?” Teacher Ruki turned to Keigo who smiled weakly in return.
“I’m feeling better, thanks to Ren-san.”
“What a relief,” The man ruffled Keigo’s fringe softly. “Now, you can go home. Sukai will go with you. Is it okay?”
Sukai saw the way Keigo’s eyes widened a bit as if the idea was very surprising to him but then he nodded and turned to Sukai who was still quietly watching them interact. “Of course, Teacher, but my backpack-”
“Here.” Sukai held up the red backpack in his hand.
“Oh.”
Keigo jumped off the bed to get the backpack but before he could reach for it, Ren popped in with a paper bag of medicines. “I put the instructions inside. Make sure you take them, alright?”
Keigo took the paper bag into his hand and smiled up at the school’s doctor. “Thank you, Ren-san.”
The man smiled in return. “I hope Keigo feels better soon.” Sukai wasn’t very familiar with him because he never really got sick but he thought the man looked so kind. He liked him for checking up on Keigo and helping his dear friend.
“Thank you, Ren-san. Thank you, Teacher RukI.” Sukai bowed stiffly and the adults laughed. He could feel his cheeks heating up when he thought he heard Keigo’s soft laughter too.
-
“I can hold that myself, you know.”
Keigo said at some point after they had walked far enough from the school, realizing that Sukai was still carrying his backpack. Sukai knew that he probably wanted to carry it himself but somehow he felt like he would feel bad if he let Keigo do that.
“No, you’re still sick.” he replied firmly, ignoring the way Keigo’s lips turned into a pout.
“It’s my tummy. A backpack that I carry every day is nothing, you see?”
Sukai paused to give his friend a once-over, thinking that Keigo had a point. It wasn’t like the backpack was heavy and Sukai could carry an extra backpack but after considering what Keigo had said, Sukai had an idea to make his friend not use unnecessary labor. He handed over the backpack before crouching in front of a confused Keigo. “What?”
“Get on.”
Keigo made a confused noise. “Why?”
“You said your tummy hurts.” Sukai said, hoping that Keigo would notice that he was very serious at the moment.
“It’s my tummy, not my legs, Sukai! Can you even carry me? I’m heavy!” his friend said in disbelief like Sukai was being absolutely ridiculous which he probably was but he didn’t care. Sukai just didn’t want to see Keigo in pain again.
Sukai gestured for Keigo to get on his back. “You’re smaller than me, so it’s okay.”
Keigo sighed in defeat before finally getting onto Sukai’s back.
Sukai was very happy that Keigo listened to him. “Hold on tight, Keigo.”
“…”
“And please show me the way to your house.”
-
Sukai got tired and ended up letting Keigo walk on his own after a few minutes but he was glad because it turned out that Keigo’s house was not that far left. “Thank you, Sukai. Do you want to come in and refill your bottle? Or do you want some snacks? I think I have some candies left…” Keigo trailed off when he saw Sukai staring.
“Is it okay?” Sukai fidgeted with his own fingers.
Keigo nodded then opened the door with the keys he found inside a pot. Sukai was hesitant at first because he didn’t know if he wanted to bother his friend (especially when Keigo was sick) but seeing as there seemed to be no one at home, he finally decided that he would wait for Keigo’s parents together.
“Are you usually alone at home?” Sukai asked after they put their backpack down. He took a seat on the sofa as Keigo went to the kitchen to get him a glass of cold water.
“Yes, I’m an only child.”
Sukai was surprised. He never knew about this. They only got close recently but not close enough to talk about their families. For some reason, Sukai felt warmth enveloping him when Keigo talked about it. “Must be lonely. I could only imagine how it feels,” he stared at the cute mugs Keigo brought out and laughed a little.
“Because Sukai has siblings?” Keigo asked as he sat on the sofa across from him and Sukai noticed how he still looked pale. There was this sadness again and Sukai decided that he very much didn’t like the feeling.
“Sisters, to be exact.” he corrected and Keigo’s eyes went wide, amazed. It brought a smile to Sukai’s face for the first time in a while that day. “It’s cool, right?”
He ended up finding out a lot of things about Keigo that day and Sukai could see how the color came back to Keigo’s face even though he hadn’t taken his medicines yet. Keigo decided not to call his parents so as not to worry them and it was also because Sukai was there with him and that might be the reason Keigo forgot about his stomach pain.
Keigo also ended up giving him all of his candies (which was a lot) and his backpack was loaded with all sorts of candies that Sukai had never seen before. Sukai felt really, really happy.
“Keigo, I like you a lot!”
“I like Sukai a lot too!”
“I was so scared when I saw you get sick today.”
Keigo giggled. “I could see that. But I’m feeling better now. I probably ate too much sweets. Thank you for being with me today.”
A grin split across Sukai’s face as he made his way out the door.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?”
Sukai shook his head, as much as he felt kind of reluctant to leave Keigo alone. “I need to go home before my sisters and parents get worried. Thank you for the candies! Hope to see you at school tomorrow!”
There was such a big smile on Keigo’s face as he waved his hand and somehow it made Sukai want to tell Keigo that he meant what he said (but he didn't). He wanted to see Keigo at school tomorrow but if he couldn’t come, it would be fine too because Sukai wouldn't mind going to Keigo's house to spend time together like they did today.