Work Text:
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In the cold, early hours of the morning, a young man named Kageyama Tobio woke up from his restless sleep. Slowly sitting up, he rubbed his eyes before glancing around the dimly lit hospital room. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and got to his feet, his movements quiet and deliberate.
Walking to the window, he pulled back the curtain blinds, revealing a still-dark sky where the sun had yet to rise. His fingers instinctively reached for the pendant around his neck, holding it tightly as if drawing strength from it.
Tobio gently placed an envelope on the table in front of the hospital bed, the letter inside carefully written for his Tooru-Nii. His fingers lingered on the paper for a moment before he pulled away, a quiet sigh escaping his lips.
With a determined breath, Tobio removed the IV from his hand with practiced precision, wincing slightly but remaining silent. He slipped on his inner shirt and jacket, their soft fabric a small comfort in the chilly air.
Approaching the door, he carefully peeked through the small crack, scanning the hallway for any sign of movement. Once satisfied it was clear, he opened the door soundlessly and slipped out, his footsteps light and calculated.
The hospital was eerily quiet, save for the occasional hum of machines and the faint shuffling of night-shift staff. Tobio navigated the halls expertly, avoiding detection until he finally stepped out into the open air. A cool breeze greeted him as he exhaled, the weight of confinement lifting ever so slightly.
With the world still cloaked in the pre-dawn stillness, Tobio began to wander, his thoughts as heavy as the dark sky above him.
Flashback
It was snowing that Christmas evening, the streets bustling with people rushing to buy last-minute gifts. Tobio wasn’t in the mood for the festive cheer; he had gone out to clear his mind, feeling out of place amidst the bright lights and cheerful music.
He wandered into a small bookstore tucked between two cafés, drawn by the warm light spilling out onto the icy sidewalk. Inside, the air was quiet, filled only with the faint sound of holiday jazz and the smell of old paper.
As he browsed the shelves aimlessly, Tobio noticed someone standing a few feet away, flipping through a book. The tall figure had blond hair and wore glasses that glinted under the soft lights. He looked composed, sharp, and just a little intimidating.
Tobio didn’t realize he’d been staring until the man glanced up, his sharp golden eyes locking onto Tobio’s with a look that could pin anyone in place. “What? Never seen someone read before?” the stranger asked, his voice low and teasing.
Caught off guard but refusing to let it show, Tobio shot back, “Maybe I’m just surprised someone like you can read.”
The blond arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Huh. Bold for a guy staring at me for the last two minutes. Is that how you usually introduce yourself?”
Flustered but unwilling to back down, Tobio frowned. “It’s not an introduction if I don’t know your name.”
The stranger chuckled, closing his book with a soft thud. “Kei. Tsukishima Kei. And you?”
“Tobio.”
“Well, Tobio,” Kei said, scribbling something on his receipt before holding it out, “call me if you ever get bored of browsing.” Without waiting for a reply, he placed the paper in Tobio’s hand and walked away, leaving Tobio standing there with a racing heart and the faintest hint of a smile on his face.
End of Flashback
Tobio stands in front of the bookstore where they first met, his gaze lingering on the familiar entrance. A faint, wistful smile tugs at his lips. "I never thought my life would truly begin after meeting you," he murmurs, his breath escaping in a soft sigh.
With slow, weary steps, he makes his way toward Sumida Park, where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The cool air nips at his skin, and as he exhales, a visible mist forms, dissipating into the evening chill. Pink petals drift lazily through the air, catching the light of the setting sun.
"I miss walking under the cherry blossoms with you, Kei," he whispers, his voice laced with longing. His breath comes heavier now, the cold biting deeper, but he keeps walking—through the path lined with cherry blossom trees, through the memories that refuse to fade.
Flashback
The park was lively with people gathered for Hanami, their laughter and chatter blending with the soft rustling of cherry blossom petals in the breeze. Tobio stood at the entrance, shifting his weight slightly as he waited. It was their date, and he had arrived on time.
As he scanned the crowd, he suddenly felt a warm sensation on his cheek. Startled, he turned—and there stood Kei, holding out a warm can of milk with a smug expression that Tobio secretly loved.
"Kei? Seriously? I was waiting for you," Tobio huffed, his usual pout forming as he shot an annoyed look at him.
Kei chuckled. "Sorry, I had to prepare something for us to eat while we watch the cherry blossoms." He lifted a food bag, revealing neatly packed bento boxes and a slightly wrinkled blue tarp—the kind people use for Hanami.
Tobio sighed but quickly forgave him, his irritation melting away. Together, they strolled under the canopy of cherry blossoms, their footsteps light against the soft ground. As they walked, they chatted about their plans for later until Kei suddenly stopped.
"Here," he said, motioning to a quiet spot beneath a particularly vibrant cherry blossom tree.
Tobio’s breath hitched as he took in the sight before him. The scenery was breathtaking—petals drifting lazily in the air, the golden hue of the afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the park. Unlike the more crowded areas, this part of the park had fewer people, making it feel like a hidden gem.
"Wow, Kei, this is my first time here. Out of all the cherry blossom spots I’ve seen, this has to be the best one," Tobio murmured in awe, eyes wide with admiration.
Kei chuckled and handed him the tarp. "Help me spread this out."
They worked together to lay the blue tarp on the grass, smoothing out the wrinkles before finally sitting down with a relieved sigh.
Kei leaned back on his hands, gazing up at the pink blossoms above them. "This is my favorite spot whenever Hanami is held. I used to come here to clear my head after work. But after meeting you, I didn’t feel the need to come as often." He turned to Tobio with a soft smile. "Because you’re my rest."
Tobio blinked, caught off guard. Kei looked especially handsome in that moment, the sunlight highlighting the sharp angles of his face. His heart stuttered slightly at the unexpected confession.
Then, as if snapping out of a daze, he narrowed his eyes. "Wait, who's the second person you brought here?"
Kei frowned in confusion. "Pardon?"
End of Flashback
Tobio chuckled softly as the memory played in his mind. His fingers brushed against the rough bark of the cherry blossom tree they once sat under, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips.
"I never thought this would be the last time I'd see these cherry blossoms," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His chest tightened, and a sharp cough escaped him. "Sorry, I didn’t come last year… I couldn’t bear to. Every time I thought about it, I kept reminding myself of you."
A tear slipped down his cheek, but he quickly wiped it away. He took a shaky breath before turning on his heel, his steps slow yet determined.
There was one last place he had to go.
The Sumida River.
The place where Kei had proposed to him.
Tobio walked toward the familiar bench where they used to sit together. His steps were slow, unsteady. As he reached out to grip the backrest, a violent cough wracked his body. His other hand covered his mouth, and when he pulled it away, his fingers were stained red. He stared at the blood for a moment, his vision blurring, before sinking onto the bench, his chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. His body felt heavier with every passing second.
"Kei… Tooru-nii kept persuading me to agree to the surgery," he murmured, his voice weak but laced with frustration. "But I refused. It’s too tiring… and there was only a ten percent chance of success. I didn’t want to go through that pain again."
He let out a bitter laugh, though it quickly turned into another fit of coughing. The taste of iron filled his mouth, but he barely reacted. Instead, he leaned back against the bench, gazing up at the sky, where the cherry blossoms swayed gently in the breeze.
"So this is where our story ends…" he whispered, his tone filled with quiet acceptance.
His grip on the bench tightened as he forced out the words. "It was my fault. I told you I had a rare disease. I told you to leave me. I insisted and walked away… but you never wanted to give up."
He swallowed hard, the weight of regret crushing him. His mind drifted back to that day—the day everything changed.
Flashback
On a snowy night, Kei finished his work at the office. He let out a deep sigh, weighed down by the tension between him and Tobio. Despite everything, he couldn't bring himself to give up on Tobio—he believed that, somehow, Tobio would be okay. Kei had even spoken with Tooru, who had insisted that Kei persuade Tobio to undergo the transplant. It was a difficult decision, but Kei knew it was the only way. He was about to speak to Tobio, hoping to convince him, when his phone rang.
The caller ID displayed Tooru’s name. Kei quickly answered.
"Kei, Tobio!" Tooru’s voice was frantic, filled with panic.
Kei's heart skipped a beat. He widened his eyes in shock as he grabbed his winter coat and rushed out of the building. He hurried to his car, the urgency of Tooru's voice fueling his every movement. As he sped down the street, the cold air biting at his face, his thoughts raced.
At a red light, he pressed his foot anxiously on the brake, eyes glued to the signal. The light turned green, but just as Kei was about to accelerate, a blinding light appeared in his peripheral vision. He barely had time to react before a massive truck crashed into the side of his car, sending it spiraling out of control. The force of the impact threw him against the seatbelt, darkness taking over as the world around him spun.
---
Five days later, Tobio sat in his room, staring blankly at the wall. His fiancée was gone. The words still didn’t make sense. Kei…
The news of the car crash reached him like a cruel, slow punch to the gut. His throat tightened, but there were no words left to say. The grief choked him, leaving him unable to speak, unable to react. The illness that had already ravaged his body now felt like a weight that was too heavy to bear.
His condition worsened. The pain was unbearable, but even worse was the hollow emptiness that consumed him. Without Kei, what reason did he have to keep going? What reason did he have to fight?
End of Flashback
The last memory he had after that tragic event faded into nothingness. Tobio gazed at the light breaking through the sky, glowing faintly behind the buildings or perhaps Mount Fuji in the distance. It was the sunrise, the one he and Kei had always planned to watch together before their wedding day. But now, that dream would remain unfulfilled. It would never happen.
"I feel like I’m going to meet you soon, Kei..." Tobio whispered, his voice barely audible, as if it were being carried away by the cold wind. "I’m sorry... I couldn’t keep my promise to get better. I want to be with you. I can't live in a world without you, Kei..."
His voice faltered, growing quieter as his body weakened. His eyes grew heavy, the exhaustion and pain consuming him. As he spoke the final words, his vision blurred, and the first snow began to fall, delicate flakes swirling in the crisp air. The sun slowly began to rise, painting the sky with warm hues as Tobio’s eyes finally closed.
———
To my big brother, Tooru-Nii,
By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. I know you’ll be angry. I know you’ll say I was stubborn, that I should have listened to you, that I should have fought harder. But, Nii-san, I was tired. I was so, so tired.
You always told me I was strong. Even when my body was failing me, even when I felt like nothing but a burden, you still believed I could make it. And I wanted to believe it too. But when Kei left, everything fell apart. You asked me to keep going, to hold on even when I had nothing left, but Nii-san… I couldn’t.
Kei was my future. My home. My reason to fight. And when he was gone, I felt like I had already lost.
I know you tried to save me. You and everyone else. But this isn’t a battle I was meant to win. I was only waiting for the right time, for the first snow to fall again. Because that was always our promise, mine and Kei’s—to meet again under the snow. And now, I finally will.
Please don’t hate me for this. I know it’s selfish, and I know it will hurt you. But I also know you’re strong. You always have been. So please, don’t let my absence keep you from the future you deserve.
Goodbye, Nii-san. Thank you for everything. I love you.
—Tobio
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End.