He runs. Runs as fast as his legs allow him as soon as his boss begrudgingly allows him to take the rest of his shift off. He doesn’t care that he’s going to be paid less for that day, doesn’t care that his boss was displeased even though Tetsu had made it clear that it is a family emergency. Other people would say he had taken advantage of the meaning behind those words, but to him Yuji is family.
It doesn’t matter that they’re still just friends, Tetsu has harbored feelings for his best friend for years. He has known that for him Yuji is it. He doesn’t want anyone else, and although he’s taken his fair share of time to let Yuji know, the feelings have never wavered, in fact they’ve only become stronger. Brighter.
So his reaction towards getting that call from Yuji’s parents that their son had yet again fainted and this time hit his head, had been totally normal.
He doesn’t regret it and never will, for as he reaches the hospital, frantically asking the nurse at the front where to find his soulmate, his heart beats faster, he’s worried. He’s scared. Yuji’s parents hadn’t given him much information, probably hadn’t known much by the time they called, and so he rushes, walking fast through the corridors, but not pushing it enough to get scolded by the staff, until he reaches the room.
In less than two seconds he’s inside and looking at a very awake and fine Yuji.
“ You can’t do this to me, ” he says loudly, eyes glassy with tears, as he moves to kneel next to Yuji who’s in a bed. “ Goddammit Yuji, fuck. You fucking scared the shit out of me. I was so worried. What … how would I go on without you, you dumbo ? I can’t, I wouldn’t be able to. ” He pauses, taking a deep breath of air, before reaching for his best friend’s hand. Everything be damned, he doesn’t care a shit for best friend etiquette because they truly aren’t just that and everyone around them knows it.
The door to the room closes, and Tetsu knows that Yuji’s family has left.
“ Did you not eat enough ? What happened ? Do I need to pack you bigger lunches ? Were you overworking yourself ? Yuji talk to me, you almost gave me a heart attack.”
Yuji had no idea what had happened prior to his fainting spell. It seems he had been having more of them recently and it had worried not only his parents but Tetsu as well - which was surprising for Yuji, since he had always thought his best friend didn’t care much for him. All Yuji remembered was that he was at his part-time job, they were being slammed with admissions of patients into the hospital and thus Yuji had opted to skip out on his lunch to help out on the unit. He remembered standing from his chair and the world tipped and turned black, a stinging pain at the side of his head.
Next thing he knew was that he woke up in the same hospital he worked in, his parents by his side, worryingly about his health. Yuji had felt bad, he tried to reassure them that he was okay; but, of course, it soothed his parents only minimally. Before he could say anything else, the door of his hospital door slide open aggressively to reveal a panting and very worried Tetsu.
“... Tetsu...” he couldn’t help but mutter in surprise, when the male had kneeled next to his bed, grabbing his hand. Yuji could feel Tetsu’s hand shaking around his - the terror very evident not only in his voice, but in his actions as well. Eyes wide as he looked down at his best friend, who looked up at him with frenzy, questions spitting left and right, and they weren’t being registered in Yuji’s head until a few seconds after.
Yuji blinked to wake up from his stupor, eyes slipping from Tetsu’s face to the hand that was gripping his own.
“... I’m fine... I didn’t eat lunch,” he said with sleepish smile towards Tetsu, trying to alleviate the mood, “...We were so busy... and no your lunches are fine, if you make them any bigger than now, I won’t be able to finish, and I know you like me finishing them...”
His free hand reached up to touch the bandages that had wrapped his head, “...They told me I hit my head on the edge of the table when I fainted... I’m surprised I didn’t have a concussion or something, right?” he asked with a light chuckle. Eyes looked back at Tetsu before remembering, “... Why did you come here? Weren’t you at work?” he asked all innocently, head tilting slightly.