Moment of Truth

Chapter 30: Sick

As we leave on the airplane back to Toronto, I notice Yuzuru has his head down and a medical mask on. I wrap my arm around his torso. He looks at me with a soft smile. He looks tired and a little pink. I put the back of my hand to his forehead and it feels hot.

"Yuzu, daijobu desu ka*?" I ask him softly.

"Daijobu*," Yuzuru mutters avoiding my gaze.

I roll my eyes knowing he isn't okay. "You're sick," I accuse him with a light tone.

"I said I was okay."

"Your forehead feels hot and you're covering your mouth with a medical mask. I know you don't want to draw attention to yourself, but we're away from any kind of media. Also on our  way here, you were walking slower than usual with a slight slump in your step. Now tell me, as your girlfriend, are you feeling okay?"

"You're acting more like my mother than my girlfriend..."

"Yuzuru Hanyu!"

"Okay, okay. I am feeling a little sick. Only a little though."

"When we get back, you're going to get checked out."

"No."

"Yuzuru, you don't look well and you're starting to sound a little hoarse. I care about you and I don't want you to get too sick. Plus, you have Japan Nationals coming up. If you don't take care of yourself, you might not be able to compete. Don't think I don't know about you wanting to defend your title. And we wouldn't want to worry your mother. So please, when we get back to Toronto, can you visit a doctor?"

Yuzuru sighs through his mask, but nods his head. I smile at him. I move the arm rest between Yuzuru and I. I begin to move him so he could rest his head on my shoulder. Yuzuru lays his head there. I let him stay there for most of the ride back to Toronto. I wake him up when it's time to eat. I make sure he has water and orange juice. I check his forehead from time to time. He still feels hot. He might have a cold or the flu. I notice him sniffle every once and awhile. He's been focusing the Grand Prix Final and not on himself. He's bound to get sick, especially after being constantly exposed to the cold.

Once we get back to Toronto, I see Yuzuru's mother is there to greet us and take Yuzuru home. I tell Yuzuru to get our luggage while I talk to his mother.

"Hanyu-sama, it's good to see you," I greet her in Japanese. I bow to her.

"It's good to see you too, Mai-chan," Mrs. Hanyu responds back in Japanese. She bows back. "How was Yuzuru?"

"He was great, won his fourth consecutive title in a row."

"That's great. Is my son grabbing your luggage?"

"Yes. I needed to busy him so I can talk to you."

"What did you need to talk to me about?"

"I think Yuzuru is very sick. And as much as he wants to deny it, he might be too ill to compete on the Japan Nationals. Please take him to the doctors so he can be diagnosed. I think it might be the flu."

"Oh my. That is very serious. Well I will take him to the doctors tomorrow so we can see how sick he really is. Oh I am so happy that Yuzuru has someone like you watching over him."

"I try my hardest. I only want him to be his best. Oh there he is now."

I see Yuzuru lugging my little suitcase and his larger one at a slow pace. I scurry over to him and take my luggage and his. He tries to argue but goes into a coughing fit. I grab a water bottle from my luggage and hand it to him. He takes off his mask and chugs half of the bottle. After drinking the water, he closes it and hands it back to me. I take him over to his mother. His mother carefully hugs him and gives him words of congratulation. I get a text from my parents saying that they're here to pick me up. I say my goodbyes to Yuzuru and his mother, but first making sure that Yuzuru tells his mother about his sickness.

"I better hear from you that you went to the doctors," I scold him.

"And if I don't?" Yuzuru mutters looking at the ground.

"Then I will personally drag you from wherever you are and bring you to the doctors, understood?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now I gotta go. My parents are here. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Yes."

I give Yuzuru a tight hug and he hugs back carefully. I give him a stern look and he just nods his head. I make sure no one is looking as I pull his mask down and kiss him on the lips. I pull the mask back up and run off with my luggage behind me. I leave the airport and see my parents car waiting for me. I put my suitcase in the back and hop on the car. I hear my phone ding as the car moves away from the airport.

I pull out my phone to see a text from Yuzuru. I open the text to see it reads, 'That was cruel and my mother saw.'

'Then you can explain to her two things.'

'You owe me.'

'Yeah, yeah.'

'Now my mom is gushing about us.'

'Oh well! Bye sick boy!'

'Bye mean girl.'

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Foreign Words

Daijobu desu ka?: Are you okay?

Daijobu: I'm okay.