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"You'll come? You'll really come?"
"For sure."
***
Summer. After long, scorching days, the weather had finally decided to grace the town's residents with some long-awaited coolness. The trees whispered in the wind, covering up the sounds of a bold daytime escape.
From the ground floor of the local hospital — right out of a bathroom window — a dark-haired guy's head popped out. On top of his already battle-worn look (a comically grumpy face and a big band aid on his cheek), he didn't seem to care much about hospital rules either. He had a lit cigarette clamped between his teeth. Grunting and cursing like an old man, he clumsily hoisted himself onto the windowsill. After taking a victorious drag, he crouched down and jumped to the ground, nearly breaking his perfect, slightly sloped nose in the process.
He stood there for a minute, leaning on the wall with one hand and clutching his chest with the other, smirking as he blew out smoke.
The escape was a success.
He finished his cigarette, spat it out, dusted off his hospital t-shirt, and bolted away from the yard, leaving behind nothing but a wide-open window and a smoldering butt.
A few blocks away from the hospital, another guy was waiting. He kept glancing at his watch, visibly excited with anticipation, then irritably tucked back the wheat-colored strands that kept escaping from his hair. Unable to handle the wait any longer, he opened his messenger bag and started digging for his phone, which had somehow disappeared into the unknown depths of the leather pouch.
The search didn't do much to calm him down. There was no place to set the bag down — he had to hold it in place with his leg. And after a long training, his legs were already aching traitorously, only adding to his rising annoyance of this situation.
Just as he was about to dump the whole bag on the pavement and shake everything out just to find that stupid phone, someone called out to him, voice rough and out of breath.
"Hey, Vash!"
The voice was gasping for air. Yeah, the doctor was right — it was definitely time to quit smoking while he still could.
"Wolfwood!"
Not a hint of annoyance in that voice. Just pure, genuine joy at seeing a close friend again.
Wolfwood barely had time to slow down and try to catch his breath before Vash came running at him full speed, throwing his arms around him in a tight hug. For a second, Wolfwood felt like his spine was about to snap or his organs were getting crushed. But the joy got to him too — he softened and patted his friend on the back in return. Finally, Vash let him go.
"Wolfwood, what happened to you? Did you sneak out of the hospital again?" Caring hands touched his shoulder, trying to offer comfort and calm.
"Something like that… But I honestly feel better!" Liar.
"You sure? You've lost weight again…" The other guy's turquoise eyes grew sadder as he noticed more and more of his friend's sickful features. "Why didn't you say anything? I would've brought you sandwiches! Oh, or... How about I bring you your favorite ramen at the hospital tomorrow?"
"Hey, Needle noggin, we already talked about this," Wolfwood frowned and grabbed Vash firmly by the shoulders. "You don't need to be hanging around hospitals. Just focus on getting ready for the August competition and catch up on your studying. Graduation's right around the corner — time to prep for exams! I'll get some treatment and…"
"I'm just worried about you, Nico." The silence hung in the air. It pulsed annoyingly somewhere on the left. Vash could clearly hear Wolfwood wheezing and wincing in pain, but he couldn't understand why his friend was so determined to hide it.
Wolfwood finally gave in. "Alright, let's just go buy ourselves some sugar rushes and pack of chips with the change."
Wolfwood didn't want to face his own problems. It was easier to transfer to another school, throw himself headfirst into studying, accidentally end up in a baseball club, lose all track of time, and forget about lazy weekends — than to acknowledge the issue pressing somewhere on his left. Not like there was anything he could do about it anyway.
He still wondered how, in the past two years at his new school, he'd somehow managed to make a friend. No matter how much Wolfwood tried to act like a distant grump, no matter how many disagreements they had — something about Vash had really gotten to him. Enough that Vash, with kind but insistent kicks, had dragged Wolfwood onto the local baseball team.
It wasn't that Wolfwood loved sports. Quite the opposite — he couldn't stand them. But after a couple of months, he got into it. He even helped their school team win, turning out to be a damn good player. Then things just started rolling — he met Vash's other friends, helped lead the school team to nationals, and basically forgot what boredom felt like. Every day they were off doing something — practice, hanging out — even when homework was piling up.
The guys walked out of the store with two big overly sweet slushies and a bag of chips. Hey, it was still summer — might as well enjoy the best part of the season: cold sweets. You're never gonna find slushies in winter.
"So, how's the team doing? You haven't said anything… How's practice going?"
"Oh, there's nothing to tell!"
"Come on. Something."
"Well, everything's great actually. Livio agreed to sub for you at the competition, and for a newbie, he's doing really well. I'd even say — amazing! But…"
"But?"
"It just feels wrong without you there. You're an amazing catcher, and just a great player overall… We've won so many times because of you!"
"Come on, I was a newbie once too! Livio's a good guy. Let him prove himself!"
"This is an important competition, Wolfwood."
"So?"
"I want you there. Even if we're doomed to fail, I'd rather fail with you than without you."
Wolfwood felt uncomfortable again. God, Vash loves to dramatize…
"What makes you think the team's doomed? Just because of me, or what?" He gently touched Vash's shoulder. His hand felt heavy there. Vash just sighed, not answering. Great. Another one of those awkward, suffocating silences where you're left guessing what's going on in the other person's head.
Wolfwood decided to break the silence first. "Hey, let's go to the bay, yeah? I haven't seen it in a while. We're not that far anyway." He gave a warm smile. "Come on, I know you love that place as much as I do."
Vash didn't say anything. He just smiled back at Wolfwood and followed where he led. He really did love the bay. The water brought a sense of peace — something Vash desperately needed right now. Worry was getting the better of him.
During walk to the water they tried to stick to lighter topics, but the unease still lingered around Vash.
Finally, when they reached the shoreline, he could breathe freely. The sound of water and wind — truly the best therapy. Vash sat right down on the sand and stared at the blue waves, as if hypnotized. Wolfwood settled next to him. He was still wheezing, but quieter.
Vash heard it. He was really worried. He wanted so badly to know why Wolfwood kept ending up in hospitals, and why every time, he seemed worse than before.
Just a week ago, during practice, Wolfwood had gotten so sick they'd had to practically carry him to the nurse's office — and from there, he was sent straight to the hospital. But he stayed proud, even as his strength faded. And Vash believed everything would be okay. This was Wolfwood. He always found a way out. Things like that just didn't happen otherwise.
Vash slowly rested his head on Wolfwood's shoulder, then wrapped an arm around his. It was like he instinctively needed to be closer. To hear Wolfwood louder, to reassure himself that he was here.
It always worked. Whenever something was wrong, Vash would just rest his head on his friend's shoulder, close his eyes, and soak in his presence. At first, Wolfwood found it strange, but over time, he got used to it. Eventually, he even grew to love this habit of his friend.
Wolfwood — as gently as he was capable of — stroked Vash's head, smoothing down his unruly, goofy hair.
Then, almost in a whisper, Wolfwood said, "Hey, Needle Noggin. I've got a present for you."
Vash reluctantly snapped out of his trance. "What kind of present?"
"I made a copy of my apartment keys. Take them, okay? I talked with my parents. You can come over whenever you want."
Vash perked up immediately and looked at Wolfwood. He was already a frequent guest at his friend's place — Wolfwood dragging him over for tea after practice, or them just hanging out in cozy domestic silence. Wolfwood's apartment was incredibly comfortable. His parents were often away, so the whole space was theirs to share. They'd listen to old records together, watch movies late into the night, have heartfelt conversations sprawled out on the couch, sharing their deepest secrets. It was only a matter of time before Wolfwood decided to make keys specifically for Vash.
The boy jumped for joy, sending sand flying everywhere. "Wow! Wolfwood, that's such a precious gift!!! Just wait — I'll have a surprise for you too!" His blue eyes sparkled with happiness. No, not blue. They shimmered with something like sea-green, bright and captivating. Something between blue and green. Wolfwood had never been one to stare into someone's eyes, but he could look at his friend's forever, mesmerized, tracing every detail. His heart ached at such beauty.
Wolfwood smiled — a real, genuine smile — feeling an unfamiliar wave of tenderness wash over him. The only thing dampening the emotion was the awareness that…
"What's with the gloomy face?"
"Nothing. It's nothing." Another lie. "Let's just sit a little longer, okay?"
"Fine, but not too long, alright? I promised to be back by sunset."
"Yeah, alright…" Wolfwood put his arm around Vash and gently pulled him closer. He wanted to give him all the warmth that had been building up inside him lately. He was almost ashamed of how easily he'd been won over by someone else's kindness — that's why he always kept a certain coldness, never letting it show how much he appreciated it. But still… it was probably better to share what was inside at least once in a while. Right?
"Hey, Vash… I think you're the best person I've ever met."
"Hey, that sounds like you're saying goodbye!" Vash nudged Wolfwood's shoulder playfully, letting out a small laugh. "You're starting to scare me!"
"Sorry…" Wolfwood managed with a smile. By way of apology, he carefully kissed Vash right in the beauty mark under his left eye. Vash's eyes went wide, and he covered his mouth with his hand. His cheeks flushed pink. Then he lowered his hand and whispered teasingly, "Wow, Wolfwood's gone all soft on us…"
"Hey, I'm trying to be nicer to you. Can't you tell?"
"I can tell! It's just… way too unusual! You usually don't notice anything."
"Huh?"
"Well… since we're being honest… You mean so much to me. And, you know… I'd like to spend all my tomorrows with you. My life's become so much fuller and more interesting since you came into it. Thank you for being here..."
Wolfwood's heart traitorly skipped a beat. No, no crying now. That'd be way too sappy.
He hugged his friend tightly, without a word. And Vash hugged him back.
A couple of hours of pointless but lighthearted and heartfelt conversation later, the guys finally got ready to head back.
As they climbed the stairs from the embankment, Vash kept looking up at the sky, at the clouds. Suddenly, he stopped and stared upward, mesmerized. Wolfwood walked a few more paces before realizing his friend had fallen behind. He turned around.
"What are you frozen for?"
"Look, up there! A dove!" Vash pointed at the sky, showing him a specific cloud. Wolfwood followed his gaze. Yeah, it really did look like a snow-white dove carrying a branch in its beak.
"Huh. Yeah."
"You know what that kind of dove means? Love and peace! And also — hope!" Vash was smiling. "Looks like the competition is going to go great!"
A dove of hope… Hmm... Wolfwood turned to his friend and said with surprising confidence, "You know what? I'll come to the competition to cheer you on. What difference does it make where I hang out — a hospital, or a match that matters to my friend, right?!"
Vash's mouth fell open, stunned by Wolfwood's sudden burst of energy. Then he jumped up, threw his arms around him, and even let out a little squeal of joy.
"You'll come? You'll really come?"
"For sure."
Wolfwood was just happy to see Vash this overjoyed. All the pain that had built up in his chest over the day suddenly washed away. Moments like these were worth giving in a little.
"Thank you, Nico! You have no idea how much this means to me!"
***
Vash walked down the street alone. He could barely drag his feet, staring down at the ground, completely lost in his own head. In one hand, he nervously fidgeted with the keys, trying to calm himself down. There was nothing wrong with just walking into a house he'd been given the keys to, right? But his emotions were taking over, choking him, twisting his stomach from the inside, making his legs weak.
He didn't even notice when he reached the right building. He just snapped back to reality standing in front of that painfully familiar door, unable to do anything. The keys in his hand suddenly felt heavy, like he was holding a cast-iron weight.
Just…
Insert…
The key…
When he finally worked up the nerve to open the door, it creaked open slowly. He was completely drained. His usual straight posture crumpled from exhaustion. Vash collapsed onto the bench by the door and buried his face in his hands, still wondering if he should take off his shoes and go inside — or not. He could still leave. Or could he? Something had brought him here, right?
He took off his shoes and finally dragged himself to Wolfwood's room. It was strangely cold. Vash had never seen it so… Empty. Like something was missing.
Or someone.
The last rays of sunlight lit up the room, dancing across the hanging homemade garlands made of green and blue glass pieces, clumsily cut into star shapes. Vash still remembered making them with Wolfwood. How fun it had been.
On the shelves stood figures, comics, and all sorts of knickknacks that teenagers usually put on display. Posters of bands still hung on the wall, exactly where they'd always been. Vash sighed. The room was bursting with their shared memories — almost every little thing had a story, and Vash had been part of it.
Even the photos Wolfwood had tucked away in a corner — they were all pictures of the two of them together.
All but one.
Vash picked it up to get a closer look.
In it, Wolfwood had just transferred to their school. He'd come from the other side of the country, apparently.
Vash stared at those familiar features with aching longing. Tanned skin, a prominent nose, sharp and expressive features, silver eyes, black hair, an athletic build. Guys like him were considered incredibly handsome. And he was — at least Vash thought so. He'd complimented Wolfwood's looks more than once. Wolfwood would just laugh. Guess he never knew how to respond.
Vash pressed his lips together bitterly, trying to hold back his emotions. He missed him so much. He wanted to hear his voice, feel his touch… Even just sense his presence here.
But he wasn't there anymore.
Nowhere.
The only place he existed now was in memories.
And that was so little…
Was that why he'd always been so cold? To keep from getting attached to anyone? His heart must have flinched and ached at the thought that his leaving would leave someone wounded.
With a trembling hand, Vash put the photo back and let out a painful, quiet whimper.
Not wanting to bury himself any deeper in painful thoughts, he lay down and tried to distract himself with something — anything. After all, today is a happy day. No crying today. Don't ruin the celebration.
The pillow still smelled like its owner. That familiar scent began to soothe Vash.
There was nothing he could do.
They were both powerless here.
Even if Vash had known about Wolfwood's problems, what could he have done?
Vash hugged the pillow and buried his face in it. Closing his eyes, for a moment, he almost felt like he was hugging Wolfwood himself. He curled into a ball, clutching the pillow tighter. Tears treacherously welled up in his eyes.
"Nico… W-we did it… W-we w-won… Nicholas…"