“A mother” ch.3 alternative scene
Here’s an alternative scene for the third chapter of my fanfiction.
It is set roughly between "He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before pushing himself up once, twice, three times…" and "Once his stomach is done convulsing, he shakily pushes himself into a sitting position."
He reaches twenty-seven before he has to stop, breathless. He pushes himself back up one last time and moves his legs so that he is sitting on his heels. His whole body is trembling, and he honestly can’t tell if it’s of cold or of exhaustion.
He doesn't know how long he stays like this before Gran Torino joins him.
"Alright, let's get to it. Get up and get ready."
Toshinori stands up and gets in a defensive position, waiting for his teacher to make the first move.
Gran Torino looks at him, frowns, and puts his hands on his hips, letting out a frustrated sigh.
"What are you doing? What kind of wonky position is that? You've got openings everywhere."
"S… Sorry." Toshinori whispers, and he tries to correct his stance, but between the pain in his throat, the queasy feeling in his stomach, and the constant shivers that he can't seem to control anymore, he simply can't concentrate.
Gran Torino looks worried, an expression rarely seen on his face.
"You're…swaying. Are you alright?"
He approaches his student cautiously, hands extended in front of him to catch the blond teen should he fall.
Toshinori tries to answer, tries to say that, no, he's not completely alright, but he'll be fine, he can do it… But when he opens his mouth, the orange juice he drank earlier takes it as an invitation to travel all the way up his oesophagus. Before he knows it, he's on his hands and knees, retching.