“Please.. you can’t leave me either. I need you.”
Hinata laid against the car, a hand holding his side as his eyes flickered over to Aguni— who had collapsed back against the rubble. If he focused enough, he could see the rise and fall of Aguni’s chest, confirming that his friend was still alive. Thank gods. There was silence, before Aguni spoke up first
“If we get back..” he spoke, his voice hoarse and gravelly. He winced, staying silent for a moment before speaking again, “I’ll take you out to dinner, yeah? And then we’ll figure out something to commemorate Takeru.. Together.” he muttered, and Hinata let out a breathy chuckle. “That sounds nice.. are you.. thinking it as a date?” he jokes
…Aguni didn’t respond to that
Worried about his friend suddenly, Hinata’s eye flickered back to Aguni. His eyes were open still, and he made sure he was breathing. Okay. Still alive. Going back to his face, he finally noticed the slight smile that appeared on his face. Hinata blushed.
….Oh.
….Oh
Biting his lip, he hissed after he started moving, putting his other hand against the car as he managed to pull himself up. That snapped Aguni out of his thoughts as he looked over. “Hinata, don’t—“ he started to protest, but the younger male didn’t listen. He just held his side as he walked over closer to Aguni, and collapsed onto his knees and then laid onto him. The warmth of his friend made Hinata’s eyes flutter, and the comforting feeling that always appeared when he was near him, was here again.
The two of them just laid there, Hinata’s eyes fluttering slightly as his head rested against Aguni’s shoulder. A small whimper escaped his lips as he felt pain shoot in his side again. He felt a hand reach up and very gently wrapped around his chest, and gently held his shoulder. They laid there, before both of them heard a noise. Aguni’s hand tightened slightly on Hinata’s arm as he glanced over, and noticed a figure crawling towards them— a small sob escaping her lips.
She joined the two, laying next to them as Hinata just breathed out softly. At least he knew Heiya was still safe. He wondered if the others were alright. He had not been apart of the big plan, but that did not mean he escaped the king of spades either. But Arisu and Usagi had made it he was sure, and they had headed off to the last game.
Suddenly, a loud voice in the sky rang out and had declared that the games were complete. Arisu and Usagi had made it. They had won.
The voice then asked to make a choice. To Stay in the Borderlands, or to leave.
Heiya was the first to speak, squeezing Aguni’s hand as she cried out that she didn’t want it. Aguni was next, taking a moment before muttering that he didn’t want it either
Hinata sniffled, shutting his eye as he spoke “Of course I don’t- shit.. don’t fucking want it. I want to go home..” He felt Aguni slowly kiss the top of his head— and Hinata held onto him tightly. Before his eyes fluttered shut and suddenly he passes out.
***
The first thought that appeared in his mind was ‘Where is Aguni?’
Which confused him. He tried sitting up but felt pain in his abdomen and suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder. “Hinata” a familiar voice said worriedly, pushing him back down. He opened his.. his eye fully and looked over at whoever had pushed him back onto the bed.
His mother sat in a chair next to his hospital bed, looking wrecked. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, her makeup running down her face. She looked terrible, something Hinata had never seen his mother look like. “Mom?” He asked, wincing at how weak his voice sounded. Yuuko immediately reached out and cupped his cheek, to which he instantly tried to pull away. The action felt foreign to him, when it came from her. She frowned immediately at that before wiping her tears.
That’s when she explained what happened. A meteor had hit Shibuya, while Hinata had been celebrating his birthday with his friends and Emiko had been shopping.
Emiko had been killed during the blast.
His parents had thought Hinata was dead as well, but miraculously his heart had started beating a minute after he was pronounced dead. He had been dead for an entire minute. Thoughts raced through his head, before one had settled— louder than anything else
“What happened to Takeru? Aguni?” He asked his mother. She furrowed her eyebrows, confused on the names of people who her son just asked about. “..I’m.. I’m guessing your asking about the friends you were with?” Hinata had made sure to keep his friends life separated from his own, except for when they were together. So it was natural that his mother didn’t know who they were. She wracked through her brain before a somber look appeared on her face
“Takeru Danma?” She asked, gently. To which Hinata slowly nodded. That’s when she told him. He was one of the names on the list. The list of people who did not make it. But Aguni.. Aguni was not one of them. That meant he was here, in the hospital.
Hinata moved to get up, but his mother yet again grabbed his shoulder to push him back down. But this time. He grabbed her wrist. He told her that he needed this, that he didn’t have time for her pity or guilt.
Yuuko was surprised by the sudden confidence of her son. But she shook her head. “At least just wait.” She said, before getting up and grabbing him some crutches. She called for a nurse, and went to fuss over Hinata, much to his discomfort. And where was his father, during all of this?
It took hours. Hours before he could escape his mothers guilt and the nurses let him leave his room.
Walking through the busy halls, he passed by doctors and patients, and family of the victims. He passed by a girl in a wheelchair, which made him stop for a moment as they made eye contact. Did he.. know her? He tried to recognize his face, but his vision was still blurry and he was getting used to only using one eye. Not wanting to stare, he just apologized and turned back.
After asking around, he finally managed to find Aguni’s room and he stood in the doorway. Covered in bandages, and surrounded by doctors— he stared at his friend who seemed.. peaceful. He asked a doctor if he was alright, and he told Hinata that Aguni was stable, but not conscious.
They didn’t know if he would wake up.
He tears up slightly, and just waited til the doctors and nurses left the room. He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed, sniffling softly. He reached out, gently placing his hand under Aguni’s, threading his fingers in his as he let out a shaky breath.
“He’s gone.” He whispered gently. “..Takeru is gone. I don’t.. apparently there was a meteor.. Emiko.. Emiko and Takeru suffered a fate.”
His eyes stared at Aguni, eyes closed and his face have covered by a ventilator mask. It was like he was here.. and he was not. Hinata started tearing up, his head tilting forward and his hair fell from his shoulders. He reached up and held Aguni’s hand with both hands this time.
Hinata was silent, before he let out a choked sob. “I’m scared. This is a terrible birthday— and I think my parents miss my sister more, and so they’re latching onto me. But I don’t want that anymore. I spent years trying to earn their love, but then I didn’t need it more.” He whispered, sniffling as his eye shut tight. Tears streamed down his cheeks, “Because I had found you guys. And I had Emiko. But she’s gone. Keru is gone. And you..”
“Please. You can’t leave me too.” He whispered, looking back at his face. “I can’t be alone. I need you. I need you to be okay.” He felt like.. like there was a promise that had meant to be held. But he couldn’t quite remember if he had made one
He stayed there. For as long as he could before he was forced to leave. Following after the nurse. Hinata was so out of it that he didn’t even realize he had bumped into another patient. “Sorry..” he whispered, eyes not fully meeting the other person. He did, however, notice the tattoo sleeve that adorned their arm. He met their eyes, and the two stared at eachother before his mother called out for him. He broke their gaze and turned to back to his room.
What a birthday, yeah?