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It's insane to think how much life can change in the matter of one minute. How much a singular action crossing the mind of an innocent child can end up changing their life forever.
How intricate the threads of fate can get.
Ever since the day of the incident, nothing had been the same for Tenma Matsukaze.
From a bubbly kid who loved going out and playing without a single care in the world, to one who had grown painfully used to hospitals in only matter of a week. The twist in his stomach whenever he had to be taken to physical rehabilitation, when he’d have to take syrups or be subjected to injections. He felt so scared.
But what was worse was the fact that he couldn't even walk at the moment. He was having to learn to use clutches, and despite the doctor’s franctic reasurings that he wouldn't need them long term, the mind of a six year old just couldn't keep up with all that.
As a result, he had become pretty detached. The boy was now very closed off, too hurt to even think of smiling like before.
He had ended up like this because of his childish wish to save that little dog. And now, he was scared of the world; scared that showing kindness again would end up in a terrible result, as if fate was determined to further mess his life. It was only natural for such a young mind to make that connection.
At some point, the doctors had told Tenma’s mother that he should be transferred to a bigger hospital, with better accommodations and equipments. After all, the town where they lived in Okinawa was small, and by no means it was as prepared as it should be for something like this.
Barely a few days after that, Tenma had been moved to a new hospital, in mainland. He had been taken to Inazuma town, where there were some relatives from his family.
Tenma’s mom hoped a change of airs would hopefully help her son calm down, but deep down, even she knew things wouldn't be so easy. Going through such a traumatic experience at such a young age was likely to scar the child for all his life, not only physically, but psychologically.
===
The sound of many voices entering the room and seemingly accomodating a new patient in the next instance of the hospital room woke up a certain child that had been there for as long as he could remember.
He could hear them, although he couldn't see anything with the curtains separating them as if they were in a different world. The boy, who had still been lying on his bed, rubbed his eyes groggily and tilted his head in direction to the voices, listening curiously.
“Tenma, sweetie, I promise everything will be fine. Once you’re a little better, we’ll be able to tour the city! Wouldn't you just love that?”
“...”
No response was heard. It ticked the boy overhearing this off – the woman’s words sounded excited, yet the other person, who he could pressume was a new patient, wasn't answering.
Then, the kid could hear a more familiar voice, this time from one of the doctors.
“Thank you for your patience, miss. For now, we should give little Tenma some space to rest, there's no need for more physical tests for the day.”
“...Okay. Yeah, you’re right. He… needs some space right now.”
There was a hint of sadness, even pity on her voice.
After that, the woman said bye, and both she and the doctors left the room, and now only silence filled the room, aside from the ocassional chatter that would be heard outside in the hallways.
The orange-haired kid’s curiosity was just growing by each passing second, though. Every other patient he had had as a ‘roommate’ had been boring older people, at least the way he described it. But this one seemed young, a kid, at least from the way he was being spoken to.
The idea of being with another kid filled him with some excitement. Sure, he got a lot of visits from his classmates, but it wasn't the same.
Carefully, he hopped off his bed, making sure not to make too many loud noises to not alert the nurses. He walked ahead, and then peeked from behind the curtain at the next instance in the room.
And there was, indeed, another kid. A brown-haired boy, who was lying in bed with bandages and clear wounds all over his body. He was looking up at the ceiling, and his expression showed…
Not much, really. His eyes lacked soul, as if it had been stripped away from him. That was something even the other boy could sense, and it made him furrow his brows in slight sadness, wondering what might have happened to him.
Shyly, he stepped ahead, deciding to reveal himself.
“Uhm… Hi! I'm your roomie. My name’s Taiyou Amemiya.”
The newly introduced kid gave a thumbsup, as he stood in front of the bed and observed the quiet one carefully.
“...hi.”
A very small voice spoke. The brown eyes silently assessed this new kid who was talking to him up and down.
Taiyou smiled at him, as he approached a little to stand at his side, making communication easier.
“So, can I know your name?”
Again, some silence was followed. During those seconds, Taiyou didn't waver however. He waited patiently for the stranger to reply.
“... I'm Tenma.”
That was it. He didn't introduce his surname, but that was okay to Taiyou.
“Nice to meet you, Tenma. I promise I'll be the best roomie!” The orange-haired boy said with excitement clear in his voice.
Breaking the boring and dull normacy that he had grown used to in this hospital by having a fellow kid his age here seemed too good to be true, and it made Taiyou feel electrified.
“Wanna be my friend?” He spoke again, his smile turning softer, carrying kindness in it. It, however, didn't seem to completely sink in Tenma.
There wasn't a reply, even if Taiyou waited a while. Instead, he lowered his head, clutching the bed sheets a little tighter, as if he was conflicted on what to answer.
But ultimately, only a painful silence came out. Tenma’s heart wasn't ready yet for this, and somehow, Taiyou could sense that. He gave a sympathetic gaze, and then drifted his eyes away.
“You know what, it's fine. Actually, I have another question.” He swiftly decided to change conversation topics.
Taiyou had never spoken to a kid like this, so being as excitable and joyful as he was with everyone, it was a little strange having to wind down. Still, by the way his eyes sparkled, it was clear that his next question was gonna be something even more important to him than anything asked prior.
“Hehe, I really wanted to ask… Do you like soccer?!”
“Soccer…?”
“Yeah! You know! The sport where you…”
He made some kicking motions with his foot, dribbling and hitting an imaginary ball, all while having a wide grin on his face. Tenma’s lifeless expression, which had barely changed all this time, twitched a bit, perhaps interested in how much this kid seemed to like that sport which he had never actually cared that much about.
“Soccer! You know it, right?” He stopped his small show, and looked back at Tenma proudly.
That same silence followed again, but it looked like it had managed to catch the kid’s attention for once. He gave a little nod.
“Of course, everyone knows soccer! Wait, give me a sec.”
With that, he ran off, practically tackling off the curtains separating their instances in the room. Tenma stared, a little baffled by the enthusiasm this kid had.
He had been like that before too. But after what he went through, it was as if something was holding him back. An ache on his chest, the occasional pains on his body reminding him of what happened last when he tried to be kind…
“Check this out!” Tenma was pulled out of the thoughts eating away at his head like a virus when the orange-haired kid, who almost seemed like the sun rising and pulling the darkness of the night away, returned, this time with an spheric object in his hand.
“Ball…” The one in bed leaned a little, curious by it.
“Yeah! I wanna show you what I can do!”
With that, –being careful not to break anything in the room–, Taiyou started kicking the ball a little, also hitting it with his knee a couple times, even spinning it on his finger.
The sincere sentiment he felt for this sport was so clear, so honest, that it was managing to reach Tenma's heart. The smile that Taiyou had while playing was almost infectious.
Taiyou didn't get to see the other’s lips actually change, but again, that was okay. The kid was fine with having an interested audience while playing.
Soon, perhaps deciding it was enough, he let the ball roll away until it gently reached the foot of Tenma's bed.
“Soccer is amazing. I wish I could seriously play it…”
There was a sudden shift in attitude from Taiyou that took Tenma by surprise. He carried a downcast expression, looking at the ball with longing, as if he was unable to reach it despite the fact that it was right there.
It's then when it hit Tenma that, this kid was also ill, whatever that illness was.
“...Why you can't?”
He decided he wanted to know Taiyou’s story. The other, in response, looked at him with a bit of a more serious expression. But, as if catching himself acting like that, he quickly set a reluctant smile on his face, even if it didn't reflect how he really felt.
“I'm ill, and my chest hurts a lot when I run.” Motioning that, he set his little hand on his chest, where his heart would be, then sighed. “I can't play soccer.”
The ambience of lightheartness that had been basketing the room seemed to have gone away now, when replaced by the actual issues the two young kids were here for.
It was a big contrast with how bubbly and happy Taiyou had been a few seconds ago. Tenma couldn't help but simply stare back at him with a gaze filled with understanding.
He might not get what's so good about this soccer, but even over just a week, he had already grown so painfully used to being so limited by his body. He hated having to use clutches to walk, it was so difficult.
“Soccer… you like soccer a lot?” With a quiet and a little voice, Tenma asked this.
Taiyou was thankful that the topic was changed – his eyes were sparkling again with childish joy.
“Yeah! Like I said it’s super fun! My school has a football team and I used to be part of it!”
Taiyou walked ahead and grabbed the ball in his hands, hugging it to his chest.
“Actually – I'm gonna get better one day. Then, I'll actually join them and we’ll win the Football Frontier! We’ll be the best!”
He gave a reasuring, ear-to-ear grin, and it seemed like he genuinely believed that was happening someday, it wasn't just a delusion. Somehow, that further intrigued Tenma.
“...Okay. You’ll do it.”
“Yeah! And, uhm…”
Taiyou looked at him up and down in the bed, as if assessing something. His gaze fell on the clutches resting forgotten near the bed.
“Maybe we can practice a little together when you get better?”
His tone was hopeful, hoping to get a yes. Tenma’s eyebrows raised a little.
He wanted to say yes. Deep down, he thought it was right – he should be friends with this kid, accept him.
But then again, every time he was about to say the word, the memories of that day kept coming back to him like a violent flow of water destroying everything on its way.
He was afraid. Afraid of being nice again. Afraid that everything was gonna end up in a disaster. It was the reason why he had closed off his heart to the world, but now, he was being invited to open up again.
There was a lump on his throat, and his heart was beating much faster than usual. He couldn't seem to find his voice, and the other boy’s expectant gaze on him wasn't helping at all.
At last, he looked away onto his own bed sheets, and took a small breather.
“...maybe.”
That was everything he could manage to say.
Before getting a response, however, both could hear the room’s door open. Taiyou gasped.
“Oh shoot, that must be the nurse! I gotta go, talk to you later!”
Taiyou gave a rushed, yet truthful grin and again he ran off to his instance, practically pushing the curtains off. Tenma could next hear him throw himself onto the bed, and the ball roll off somewhere.
His gaze was still fixed on the direction of the other. Slowly, his heart started to calm down, but his mind kept going over all of that.
It was all so strange. Perhaps due to the fact that he wasn't being treated with pitifulness, or looked down upon, was the reason why he felt oddly connected to his kid. After all, both were patients here, and both understood each other’s pain, in a way.
Tenma laid back more comfortably on the bed. In this time before, he hadn't even sat up or anything to listen better to the other’s loud voice.
But… he found himself craving to hear more of him.
Even to hear about that strange sport that kid was so obsessed about.