??? itoshi brothers | platonic ????

────୨ৎ────

The ringing in your head still hasn't subsided yet, and the slow creak of the door as it opened wasn't helping. Rin had left to buy you some food, so you were alone as for now, trapped with the sterile, white walls and the oddly comfortable bed.

Until someone came in.

Sae's head popped through the door, managing to keep a nonchalant expression on his face even after the recent events. But, as he observed your state, his brows slowly deepened. He cared... even if he didn't show it in the most prominent ways.

"Yes? You can come in, you know." You say, sitting up. His frown of worry turned into one of annoyance, as he opened the door fully and started walking over to you.

"I know that already, just making sure you were awake." He said, pulling the chair next to you out, sitting in it.

"What are you here for, anyway?" you muttered, before turning your head back to the ceiling.

"Just checking up on you. That hit must've hurt." He rummaged into his bag - it was an expensive sports one, the type he was always carrying around no matter the situation.

"Here." He said, before retrieving [Fav drink] from his bag. You reveled at the sight, but you were too tired to show your gratitude. So you expressed it in words.

"Thanks."

A few minutes of awkward silence lingered between the two of you, as you ravishingly slurped down your drink. It was nice, of course, but it was disappointing to realize that your brothers couldn't express their worry in any other way.

Sae met your gaze, as he sighed, leaning forward.

"I might be leaving soon. To represent Spain in the Euro Cup." He dropped, his tone still too nonchalant for the information he just dropped on you. You sat up too quick, your head reeling and spinning from the impact, as you stared at him with widened eyes.

The two of you stared at each other, the awkward silence returning again.

Oh.

Oh.

Your stomach clenched, as your surprise turned to anger.

"And you just decided to tell me now?"

Sae didn't even stir under your hard gaze. He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, like he had all the time in the world to explain himself.

He didn't.

"It's not like I'm asking for your permission." he deadpanned, his eyes lazily concentrated on the floor.

You stared at him, incredulous. "But that's not the point... Sae. You can't just drop this on me. Not after all of..." You looked around at your hospital room, the large space suddenly feeling confined and small. "This."

Sae's eyes flickered to the heart monitor beside your bed, the steady beeping a reminder of why you were here.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I didn't want to make things more complicated. You've got enough to deal with already."

"Complicated?" you repeated, your voice picking up it's pace as you slowly got more and more furious. "What's complicated is that you're always running off, Sae. You come back just long enough for us to think you care, and then you're gone again."

His jaw tightened, but he simply took a deep breath, his voice still as steady as ever. "I just have other responsibilities, that's all."

"You mean football," you shot back, the bitterness in your voice impossible to hide. "Football first, family second."

Sae exhaled sharply, his frustration starting to show. "This isn't all about choosing football over you, and you know that."

"But what about us?" you demanded, your voice cracking. "What about Rin? Me? We're just supposed to sit here and watch you leave again?"

"Rin? He'll figure it out when I'm gone." He ran a hand through his hair, as he looked up at the hospital ceiling. "I'm leaving in a week. That's not going to change. But I'm here now. Isn't that enough?"

Sae paused for a moment, before he got up from his chair and swung his bag over his shoulder in a lazy motion. He stood still for a moment, his hand on his hip, blinking twice, his gaze on you, before sighing and turning around. Without another word, he headed towards the door, his footsteps quick as he reached for the door handle. But as he pulled it open, he froze.

Rin stood over him, plastic bags full of food in his hands as his eyebrows raised, then fell in obvious irritation.

Before either of them could speak, you broke the stillness, your voice firm despite the ache in your head.

"He's leaving again, Rin."

  ────୨ৎ────

NOTE FROM AUTHOR:

This was a kinda sad chapter, sorry for the slow updates, I am in boarding school!