Ran's POV...
I saw them leave halfway through set 2 and now I'm just anxious. I tried to keep my head in the game, I really did, but my gut says something bad happened. I ran to the locker room after the match to check my phone, hoping to see a message from her saying that she's fine and that she's just tired. Nothing. Instead, I got a message from her brother almost more than hour ago, 'She's back in Tokyo, I'm not sure what's going but she was having chest pains and she coughed up blood, they're taking her to get a CT scan.' I dropped my phone and quickly changed.
Ishikawa-san picked it up and read the message. He quickly talked to coach and they managed to get someone to drive me back to Tokyo. I apologized to the rest of the team, but they were understanding enough that this was a big deal and that they will manage against India if I'm not back tomorrow.
The ride back to Tokyo was agonizing. It felt slower.. longer.. I asked for updates, but nobody was replying to me or answering my calls. What the fuck is going on? She was fine yesterday! What the heck happened in the span of 24 hours?
I arrived in the hospital and went straight to the help desk. They told me that Aya is still in surgery and where I can wait. How the heck is she still in surgery?! It's been hours! I arrived at the waiting area and the Higurashi men are all there, waiting anxiously.
"What happened?" I asked.
Higurashi-san told me that there was a blood clot in her lung and that she needed surgery to remove it. As he was trying to explain it... A doctor came out, a bloody doctor. What in the actual fuck.
He took his surgical mask off, Higurashi-san walked up to him. I didn't hear what the doctor said.. but the moment that Higurashi-san started acting out and the doctor trying to call him down...
"She can't be dead! She was just smiling a few days ago! What did you do?!! You said she was fine! All the tests that you did, you said they all came out fine! So how did she die?! How did my baby girl die?! She's my only girl... she can't die..." Higurashi-san yelled.
No. no. no. She can't be... she can't die.. she.. was just in my arms last night... I just spoke to her a few hours ago.. she was just smiling.. I.. we.. she.. She's not dead. No. She's not dead.
Everything seemed to be in slow motion. Kenzo trying to attack the doctor, but Ichiro and Daisuke held him back. Aro comforting Higurashi-san who was on the floor. Time stood still. Then all I could see was her...
I couldn't move. I was frozen in place... All I wanted to do was turn back time to when we were happy and carefree... back in that tiny villa with just us two... How is it that kami just gave us 4 months together? Is this karma biting my ass for rejecting her back in high school? Or are we really not destined to be together at all? Why? Why?! Why!
I was so out of it that I didn't even remember entering a room... right there on the bed was her... her lifeless body that I tried to protect but failed... this is all my fault... Ichiro was right... if we didn't take that trip she wouldn't be here right now... she'd still be alive... she'd be cheering me on my AVC matches... we'll be eating her favorite pocky and drinking strawberry milk on our usual bench...
I don't know how long I was standing there before Higurashi-san came up to me and gently took my hand, handing me something, hugging me tightly... When he let go of me, I opened my hand and there it was... her bracelet and the ring... I promised to keep her safe... I failed her... It took all my strength and courage to see her... Her skin was as white as the sheet that's covering the rest of her.. her used to be soft and pink lips are now void of color... her skin cold as ice... I wished that this was just some kind of a joke, that she'll scare me to death by waking up and me getting mad at her...
"Aya... you can't leave me yet... we haven't been together for that long. You can't just die... we still have Paris 2024... you still have to study to be an athletic trainer.. I haven't even brought you to Maldives yet... Please wake up.. tell me that this is all just a prank.. that the doctors were wrong.. that you're actually fine.. Please... I'd do anything for you to just sit up and say 'gotcha.' What am I supposed to do now? You're the reason why I wake up every morning... you're the reason why I play hard, train hard for volleyball... without you I wouldn't be where I'm at.. so please.. Aya.. please..."
I don't remember much after that... I missed the rest of AVC. I just didn't have the drive or energy to continue... how could I? She was the reason why I'm even in the national team... I pushed myself to be one of the best to make her proud... There's no point now.. she's not going to be there to watch me... to cheer me on... to tape my fingers... What's the point of living now?
I don't remember much of her wake or funeral... I don't remember much at all... Everything was a blur...
Mama helped me to my bed in Kyoto... I don't think I've slept at all... I just can't.. every time I close my eyes I see her.. bittersweet... Maybe that's what I should do... In my sleep, she'll be there... we'll be together again... it's the only way I can see her... to dream about her... to dream of what could have... to have her back in my arms... to see her smile once again... to hear her laugh... to feel her soft lips on my mines... Yeah... I should sleep...
...........................................................................
Someone was trying to wake me up... no.. let me stay in this dream where I'm with Aya... Someone poked my side, then my right cheek. What the fuck?! Can a grieving boyfriend get some privacy to grieve?! I opened my eyes to see who was trying to wake me up.
Aya?
Wait... what?
"Ran... come on, wakey wakey" I heard her say. That can't be, she's dead.
"Ran, come on, we'll miss the train back to Tokyo"
Back to Tokyo? What's going on?
I opened my eyes and sat up. I was in old room in Kyoto. Ok, that's correct... Mama helped me to bed after Aya's funeral. I looked around and... Aya... she's sitting on my bed with a worried look on her face. "Am I dreaming..?" I asked myself.
"Hey.. what's wrong?" I heard her ask.
"You're a.. alive?" I asked.
"Uhh, yeah? Last I checked I'm very much alive.. what's the matter?" she said, scooting closer to me, her face worried.
"I.. I don't know..." I admitted.
I felt her left hand on my forehead... it was warm.. when she pulled it away, I noticed her bracelet and the ring. Am I dreaming? This is way too realistic to be a dream.
I took her left hand and held it in mines. Both were warm and not a single scratch... I looked at the left side of her head, it's not shaved, no stitches.. I cupped her face with both of my hands, looking straight in her eyes. She looked confused. I pinched myself... ow.. yeah that hurts. I then slapped myself to her surprise. Yup, it definitely hurts and she's still right infront of me. She's real... she's right infront of me.. alive.
I quickly pulled her to me, hugging her tight, not wanting to let her go. She's alive... she's alive and here with me. I felt her arms wrapped around me. I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt my tears land on my arm... she was rubbing my back, trying to calm me down..
"Did you have a nightmare..?" she asked.
I just nodded.
"Wanna talk about it..?"
I shook my head, I don't think I can. It felt so real... I'm not ready to talk about it...
"Okay... we won't talk about it" she said, hugging me tighter, "it's going to be okay, I'm here.."
Yes, she's here.. she's in my arms, safe and sound. We stayed in that position for a while. She waited for me to calm down... When I pulled away, she wiped the tears off of my face and smiled, the smile that I thought I'll never see again. She fixed my hair and made sure that I was alright.
"Are you going to be okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine" I answered.
"How did I get here? I don't remember much" I asked.
"Of course you don't, you, papa, and Takahashi-san drank too much last night when we got home from Miyako-jima... Riri and I had to drag you back here" she explained.
"I see.." we got back safely. I tried to remember... we left the villa and took a cab... it was a sunny day when we left Miyako-jima, it wasn't raining. Higurashi-san picked us up at the airport and had dinner at their place and I guess we got drunk... We made it home safely...
I looked at Aya, she's still worried, probably bothered with how I acted earlier.
"In my nightmare... I thought I lost you forever.." I said, I'm not going to bother with the details.
"Forever?"
"Yeah.., it felt so real that when you woke me up I thought you were just a dream... I had to make sure you were real, that you're not just an imaginations or a dream..."
Her face softened, understanding what I was trying to say. She kissed my forehead and hugged me. "I'm here, Ran, I'm real.. I'm alive.. next to you.."
I nodded.
"You do have to get ready though, or we'll miss the afternoon train to Tokyo" she said, pulling away.
I just nodded, staring at her.
She then leaned towards me and her lips met mines for a soft kiss. I instantly pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, she moaned a bit, not expecting it.
"We can't do it here.. you're sister is right next door" she said, pulling away.
"I know... maybe when we get back to Tokyo"
"Maybe" she winked, "now, get ready."
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A/N: Here's a shorter chapter... I hope you guys don't kill me for this one hahahahaha
I'm trying to get some sleep before their match today/tonight/afternoon... well, early morning for me since it's going to be 5am here when they start the match. I'm also trying to finish my Japanese lesson for today, self teaching myself just in case I meet Ran when I travel to Japan next year or whenever Covid permits... hahaha I wish I'll meet him in person.
Also, you guys should listen to Dandelions by Ruth. B, it's such a cute song. I'm thinking of writing another fanfic based on that song after this one. Maybe an Ishikawa Yuki fanfic? or should I still do Takahashi Ran?
As always, thank you for all the support, comments, votes, and follows. I appreciate them a lot!
Take care and see you on the next chapter!!