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Recently, Akitos throat had been killing him.
Everyday after practice, he has to take more water then usual. Hes had to stop for breaks more often due to how badly his throat hurts, and even eating has become a bit painful.
Just what the hell was happening to him?
Of course, this didn't go unnoticed by his teammates. An complaining about how he promised to be more open after what happened with Arata and that he shouldn't be overworking himself again. Kohane looking at him with deep concern, and clearly showing more acts of kindness because of this. Toya also looking at him with deep concern, but didn't want to push for an answer and trust Akito to tell him when he's ready.
The problem with all that is... he's not even overworking himself. He doesn't even know what's happening for himself!!
It's frustrating and irritating. He tries to tell them he doesn't know whats going on, but that comes out of it is An's voice about not believing him blah blah blah.
Can she at least try to believe him? Just a little?
"God!" He hears himself blurt out from thinking too much. He was so deep in thought he almost forgot where he even was.
He's in the bathroom at 3am once again, coughing violently into the toilet thinking he might throw up. He hasn't yet, but everytime one of these coughing cycles happen again he feels like something will come out.
It's all disgusting. He feels disgusting. Why cant Google just tell him what's going on besides some half-assed answers?
He coughs again. "Agggggghh.." He groans and bangs his head on the toilet out of anger.
Just realizing that saliva is coming out of his mouth he immediately wipes it off, feeling even more gross, and looks in the toilet.
He may have been feeling many emotions these past few days, but now all he feels is straight confusion.
He sees a big broken red flower that's surrounded by small little yellow flowers.
He stares at them for a few minutes. His eyes simply won't let go.
Suddenly, He runs to his bedside table and yanks his phone out of the charger, hurriedly searching up what the fuck he just witnessed.
He doesn't even realize how fast his heart is racing until he actually starts reading over the text on his screen.
"A disease in which the victim coughs up flower petals when they suffer from one-sided love. It ends when the beloved returns their feelings, or when the victim gets surgery. Getting a surgical removal will get rid of the disease, but the victim's memories for their love also disappear. That means that the victim will not remember anything about their loved one."
He stops reading. Okay. Okay.... Not that bad. So he can just- tell the person, right?
Hesitantly, he reads more.
"Doing neither of these two options will lead to death."
Oh. Well that's amazing, isn't it?
..I mean, still... It's not terrible. It's not like he's pussy enough to not tell whoever this is about his feelings. Who would not do that when their other options are terrible?
Wait.
If they don't return his feelings even after confessing- Does he still...
Fuck.Fuck fuck. Okay no this is so much worse than he thought. Oh my god. Oh my fucking god.
He tries to stop himself from panicking more, registering his surroundings again. He doesn't even remember sitting on his bed.
---Nevermind, he shouldn't do that. He can't just fucking ignore this!! Stop ignoring all your problems again!!!!
I mean, who could he even have a crush on anyway? He didn't think he was in love with anybody, but clearly this is showing he is, right? So...
Mizuki? No. An? Gross. Kohane? She's sweet, but he only likes her as a friend.
Okay, already down to the guys.
He can definitely see Toya being someone. Hes had a crush on him in the past so maybe it came back?.
Rui- Hell no.
Tsukasa...
....
....
....
No. Why would it be him? He can't stand being around Tsukasa. So how could Tsukasa Tenma be his crush? His heart hurts thinking of this.
It's definitely Toya(Not Tsukasa) No other option. Just ask about it tomorrow at practice, yeah? Can't be too hard.
Maybe this is a little hard actually. He's sweating like no tomorrow.
They just finished up practice and he and Toya decided to eat out together before heading home for the day at this new pancake shop.
The pancakes are delicious. Yep. Only think about the pancakes.
".. Akito, are you okay?" He looks up to Toya looking at him sadly, taking a sip from his coffee. "You're sweating a lot. Are you hot?"
He laughs nervously. "I guess so. I mean, I do wear 3 jackets, y'know?"
He takes another bite off his pancake as he feels Toya's gaze on him.
"You can tell me anything, Akito. I don't wanna pressure you, but this seems to really be bothering you."
He avoids eye contact for a second before looking Toya straight in the eye, straighting his posture in the chair.
"I like you..... I think?" All confidence and coolness went out the window. Did he really just add 'I think' at the end of that oh my god.
Toyas expression doesn't change much to the normal eye, but Akito can tell he's taken aback and confused.
"Are you.... not sure?" Toyas confusion is blunt.
"It's not that I just- like--" How can he explain this without worrying him? "Like, do you like me?"
"I'm sorry, I only see you as my partner. If you like me, I-"
"No! No, that's- all I need. I don't like you like that either, man. I think."
Yes!! Sweet!
That tells him-
absolutely nothing.
Toya's worried staring is getting larger somehow, so Akito finally speaks up. "Well, hey, I gotta get home soon, my sister wants me to get something for her so I wanna get out of here a litte early to make it home at a decent time. These pancakes were awesome, though."
Toya takes a second to answer "Oh, okay. I'm glad you enjoyed the pancakes."
"Hah, yeah. Thanks for taking me here, I'll see you tomorrow dude!"
"Like always. See you."
Walking away he lets out of a breath he didn't know he was holding. Jesus, he really made that awkward.
He got nothing out of that. His throat still feels fucking itchy, and he still doesn't know who he's in love with!
..Now knowing what his illness is, maybe he should head to a doctor.
He does exactly that, and now he's here. Waiting in the waiting room is more embarrassing then it should be. He's so embrassed of this whole thing. This illness is stupid, this 'trying to figure out who I'm in love with' game is stupid, this--
"Shinonome Akito?" He looks up and sees a doctor calling his name. He puts on his nice persona.
"Ah, that's me." He smiles and the doctor smiles back at him and leads him into a small room.
"Let's get right into it, then. Your reasoning on the form was a bit vague, so could you tell me what exactly is happening again?"
"Of course. Not too long ago my throat started to become very itchy and it was making my singing practice tough and even eating staring to hurt a little bit. Some time after that I puked up a flower pedal in my bathroom on a late night. Searching it up, it was something called Hanahaki. I-"
"How long ago did you exactly puke up this pedal?"
"Oh, around a day ago."
The doctor puts her hand up to her chest. "Thank god. I'm thrillled you came in today."
He looks at her in confusion.
"Hanahaki disease has a time limit for getting surgery. Getting it too late can result in much bigger side effects, but if you got it today for example you would barely suffer any."
He nods.
"Do you know who your crush is?"
He shakes his head.
"Okay. Then I would highly recommend getting surgery if you cannot figure out who it is in the next few days. Hanahaki is rare, and when getting it sometimes finding who the lover exactly is can be difficult if it isn't obvious from before you had this. Thats why so many victims get surgery."
His throat starts burning, but he tries to ignore it. "When reading about this, It said that getting surgery would remove any memories of who I'm in love with?"
"Yes. Of course, your peers around you would still remember that you knew this person, but you yourself will not remember a thing."
If it was anyone- He wouldn't want...
"Thank you so much for this information. I think I will try to figure out who it is in the next few and come back if I don't find anything."
The doctor smiles. "That sounds great. Please don't hesitate to call if you have more questions about this."
"Of course. Thank you again."
Dammit, dammit, dammit!!!!!!! This diseases sucks. This whole situation sucks.
The second he stepped out of that hospital he started coughing again and now he found himself in a familiar alleyway just casually coughing his life out. Along with some pedals, how cute.
His head is spinning from coughing so much that his knees give out. He hopelessly sits in the dirty floor feeling pathetic. He's extremely dizzy.
If only he knew who this was, this would be so much easier. He would know his answer right now. But he doesn't, he has no clue-
"...Shinonome?"
He looks up and sees Kohane. A hand on the wall and a hand up to her chest as she slowly walks closer.
He doesn't know what to say. He didn't even know he was on Vivid street??? What to do. He hates this. He feels cold.
In the end he just gets up, height difference coming back and he looks down at Kohane.
Before he can say anything else, Kohane says, "...Are you okay?" She looks behind him.
"Yeah, im fine. I think i'm just sick."
Kohanes face softens. "Oh..! ..Do you want me to walk you home then?" She smiles.
"That'd be nice."
They walk in comfortable silence the rest of the way. Kohane not wanting to pry, Akito not wanting to talk. He does notice Kohane has quite the thinking face the whole way, though.
His house isn't too far, so they get to his stop quickly. He thanks Kohane for walking him but she stops him before he heads inside.
"I hope you feel better soon, Shinonome. I can take care of you if you need." She smiles softly again. Akito feels warm at her smile. Is she..?
"It's just a small cold, I'll feel better tomorrow. Thanks again."
Normally Kohane is pretty readable, but this time he can't make out the face she's making. Their short walk and conversation is cut as he says his thanks for then 3rd time and opens the door.
...Nope. Not the crush.
Walking inside, the house is unusually quiet...... He takes off his shoes suspiciously, he hangs up his coat suspiciously, he walks up the stairs suspiciously, he-
"There you are!"
He's stopped near his door as Ena jumps out, startling him.
"Gah- Fuck! What is your problem??" Now he just feels angry. Great.
"Dont play dumb with me, Akito! I heard you last night, you have Hanahaki, don't you?"
Holy shit, since when had his sister become so witty?
Any comfortableness left was gone, and he shifts uncomfortably knowing he has to be honest. He planned to get this done with soon, and now he'll be interrogated. "Yeah and im figuring it out just fine. Seriously, back up.."
She moves closer, even going on her tip toes to look him in the eyes clearer. Oh lord. "im not leaving you alone until you tell me who, and what you are gonna do about it. Just come to my room already, dumbass."
He accepts his fate and just follows. Whatever. Whatever! Just talk to Ena, figure out your crush tomorrow, and confess. Not hard.
As he walks into her room, he sees a Nightcord call up but Ena is on mute.
Ena sits on her bed and Akito follows. It takes a second before either of them talk.
"Who's your crush?"
"I don't know."
Ena grimaces, but continues her determined look. "Have you gone to the doctor yet?"
"Yep."
"What did they say?"
"If I don't figure out my crush in the next few days, I should get surgery." Let him goooooo to hisssss roommmmmmmm.
Ena pauses to think, before letting out a sigh (of relief?). "Okay... do you have any idea who your crush could be?"
He himself pauses to think too, looking back over his options. Toya, no go. Rui.... ugh. I guess now he's a possibility. Tsukasa...-
He stops himself at Tsukasas name. Tsukasa.. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, maybe he just has a dumb crush on the blonde. Just a short one that caused him to get this disease. Like a small highschool crush type of thing. Yeah, that's it.
He looks back up at Enas bored face. "I think?" 2 times.
"Mm, just try asking them out tomorrow then. Tell me what happens when you get home."
Ask out his Senpai. His heart hurts at the idea, he can't tell if it's good or bad.
"...Okay. Hey, how do you even know what Hanahaki is?" He replies unimpressed seeming.
"You think an art student wouldnt know?"
"..Fair."
Back in his room, back with his thoughts. He has to ask out his Senpai tomorrow. Not just any Senpai.. Tsukasa Tenma Senpai.
His heart hurts again and the coughing suddenly comes back. Just when he was about to go to bed.
This time, he coughs up more pedals than last time and he couldn't stop coughing for awhile.
Senpai, save me.
--
Today's the big day. Akitos nerves had racked up, and his cough is terrible.
He's wearing a mask to pass off as sick, and hopes no teachers send him home. He just wants to get this stupid small crush over with.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th... the periods go on dreadfully. Finally, the bell rings for lunch.
He walks out of his classroom, almost rushing outside, but gets stopped by idiot 1 and idiot 2.
An and Kamishiro are messing around, arguing? Probably due to to Kamishiro. He doesn't care, he needs to get to Tsukasa.
He tries to sneakily pass by but An notices and stops him, "Woah, Kohane told me you were sick but you look terrible."
He just glares at An and heads outside.
Rui stared with a thinking face, but then smiles.
"Kamishiro?" An doesn't like his look.
"Fufu, I'm just curious what Shinonome is so urgently needing Tsukasa for."
An looks back to where Akito just headed out and thinks. "Oh true.. Tsukasa is there."
They look at each other and smirk.
He!!! Finally!!!! Found!!!! Tsukasa!!!!!!
Tsukasa is sitting and humming happily opening his Luncheon. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the junior and his face brightens up. "Oh, Akito!!"
Akito stays quiet as he sits down near Tsukasa.
"What brings you here my dear junior? Are you sick?" He ask noticing the mask.
Ok. He can finally get this over with. "Just a small cold. Anyway, I-" His heart hurts again. "-needed to tell you something."
Tsukasa smiles proudly. "Anything!"
This will be embarrassing.
But it's temporarily, right?
"..I like you, Senpai."
Tsukasas eyes widen as his face goes extremely red. Akito giggles slightly seeing this. He stays quiet, expecting a similar response to rejection to Toya.
Tsukasa stays looking stunned for a few seconds, unsure how to move forward. Soon, he clears his throat and gets his words out.
"I..- I didn't expect you'd like me back."
"Eh?
His throat suddenly feels clear, he feels alive again. The only thing still there is his heart hurting.
Now Akito is the one staring stunned as Tsukasa as a cute smile on his face. Wait, cute?!
No. No. No. No. This isn't happening. This is not..
Tsukasa moves closer, and Akito is about to pass out. This isn't some small crush. Senpai likes him back, and by the second Akito is falling deeper.
It.. it's all making sense. The way he would make him blush, the way he loved listening to his stories as his voice became softer, the way he loved watching him light up at the sight of Akito.
Wait, he likes him back? HE LIKES TSUKASA?
Akito drops his head on Tsukasa shoulders as his mask falls down with him.
"Ah! Is it your cold?! Akito?"
"..Can I kiss you?"
"Wha-?"
He looks up and sees Tsukasas face melt lovingly. "Please."
And they kiss.
The moment one tries to pull back, the other pulls back in. It's not a short kiss by any means.
Eventually though, they pull away. Both just staring at each other and then the realization hits.
He likes Tsukasa. He kissed Tsukasa. And... he wants to do it again.
Is this still past the line of a 'small' crush?
Luncheon long abandoned, Tsukasa suddenly panics. "Ah- A-arent you sick?" His whole face looks like a tomato. It's adorable.
"Oh.. That's-" Ack, how is he gonna explain all this. Also, what just happened. He's still processing.
Also, is that really what he's worried about? What an idiot.
Out of the blue, idiot 1 and idiot 2 pop out from the bush near. Tsukasa screams and Akito jumps.
"Rui!?" "An?!"
An comes out with a guilty smile, and Kamishiro is just :3.
An comes up and points at Akito, "You had Hanahaki, didn't you, Akito?"
Akito freezes. "What the hell.. how did you.."
An smirks. "Thanks to a little hamster."
Gah.
They all notice Tsukasa looking confused, as they explain Hanahaki.
"One-sided love?" Tsukasa asks after they finish. He pauses.
Rui speaks up this time. "Maybe when Shinonome happened to get Hanahaki you didn't realize your feelings yet, but someone helped that push."
Tsukasa jumps up and pouts at Rui. This guy...
Rui knew he had some type of hidden feelings for someone, but Tsukasa didn't even know himself. He's been helping Tsukasa figure it out the past few days, leading up to here.
Silence erupts and Akito and Tsukasa look at each other again.
"I guess we should leave these love-birds alone." An giggles as her and Rui wave off. "Thinking back, wasn't it kinda obvious?" He hears in the distance along with Ruis chuckle.
They both just stare. This is all happening so fast.
....
"Are we..?"
Tsukasa is knocked out of his trance and is back to his usual self quickly. "Id be delighted to be your boyfriend, Akito." He looked like a prince saying this.
Akito sheeplyish smiles. "I can't believe I... God, what have I gotten myself into?"
Tsukasa holds his hand, "The best partner you'll ever have!!! Haha!"
"I'm sure I will."