꧁𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧..꧂

Slipping the window shut, Kenjirou turned his head towards her desk, flooding with books, notes, and pens. The front door shut close, the all too familiar scent of alcohol flooding his senses. 'Mom's home.' Sighing, he sat down at his desk and shoved the pile to the side, giving him arm room. She had two days to turn in this group assignment. Unfortunately, her group partners bailed on her last minute. Leaving her to work on this alone. He groaned and picked up his phone, setting an alarm to wake up in the early morning. A thud caught his attention, and he flinched. Getting up and walking towards the door, he prepared for a scolding. "Kenjirou." His mother slurred. He gripped the hem of his hoodie. "Yes, Mother?" She looked at him distastefully and scoffed. "You look as much of a mess as your pathetic father was." He bit his lower lip. "I apologize, Mother." His mother rolled her eyes and waved her hand. A sign to leave. Kenjirou walked back to his room, softly shutting the door with a quiet click. He sat back down at his desk. 5 more papers to get done.

———————————

"Hey Shira-Chan!" Tendou said, slipping an arm over Kenjirou's shoulder. "Hello, Tendou-San." Tendou pouted. "Have some more enthusiasm, will you? I heard we're getting a new manager today!" Kenjirou perked up at that. "Is that so? How shocking." Tendou laughed. "Yep! Now c'mon! Let's go meet her!"

"Semisemi!!" Tendou yelled across the court. "Satori, for the last time quit calling me that." Eita scoffed. Kenjirou sighed fondly at the enthusiasm of Tendou, and for the first time today, she put on a small smile. "Oh? Is that our dear Kenjirou smiling?" Eita teased. Kenjirou scoffed. "Oh shut it Eita, it's not the first time I've smiled." Tendou giggled and pulled them both along.

"Alright! Our new manager has arrived. Treat her with respect." Washijou demanded, a glare speaking volumes. Everyone nodded as she walked in. "Hello! My name is Aiko Hirami, it's nice to meet you all!" She bowed. Everyone bowed back and introduced themselves. "Hey! My name is Tendou Satori!" "Ushijima Wakatoshi, wonderful to meet you." "Semi Eita, this teams a bit weird so goodluck." "Shirabu Kenjirou." "Hello! My name is Goshiki Tsutomu, nice to meet you!" "Taichi Kawanishi." "Reon Ohira, nice to meet you." and so on.

-------------------------

Ever sense their new manager, Aiko arrived, things have been going smoothly. Well, save for Kenjirou of course. Although Aiko did a splendid job at keeping them in check and encouraging them, she also seemed to take an interest in Semi Eita, who took an interest in her, too. This is bad for Kenjirou since Semi Eita is his childhood best friend, who also happened to be his crush. Of course, this was brought on by a promise made when they were in middle school.

"Hey, Kenjirou?"

"Yeah?"

"When we get older, let's get married, okay?"

"Okay."

"Really?"

"Mhm."

"Okay! Promise me, Kenjirou?"

"Yeah, I promise you, Eita."

Thinking back on that made Kenjirou smile. Yet the smile was short-lived when she started coughing. In the middle of the court. "Kenjirou!" Eita was at her side in an instant, making him cough more. Something arose in this throat, holding out his hand, he coughed into it. Eita patted his back and rubbed it softly. He felt something fall into his hand. Suspiciously like a flower. Not just any flower, a lilac. 'Eita's favorite flower. How funny.' He held the bloody flower infront of his face. Smiling slightly before tears rolled down his eyes. "I'm sorry." Kenjirou choked out, running to the locker room. Drops hit the floor. Not Kenjirou's, but Eita's. 'How foolish are you to fall for someone who doesn't like you back?' Eita shut his eyes bitterly, gritting his teeth. 'How foolish was I to believe you remembered our promise?'

'I can't believe I thought he remembered our promise. How foolish of me.' Kenjirou laughed bitterly, petals all over his hands and mouth, each blood stained but beautiful in a twisted way. She fished her phone out of her pocket, clicking on a familiar contact. Tooru.

"Hey, Kenji! What's up?" Oikawa's cheery voice rang out, making Kenjirou smile.

"Tooru." She choked out. "Petals." Another cough, another flower.

The line went quiet save for Kenjirou's small coughs. "I'm on my way."

The line hung up.

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"I'll be leaving early, now. Tsutomu, make sure you drink water. You too, Satori. Ushijima, take breaks please. Eita, do both. We know how bad you are at that. Taichi, eat some food before you get sick. Oh, and all of you should eat now, actually. I made bentos. They're in the club room. I'll be leaving now. Bye." Kenjirou waved. "Wait!" Eita ran after Kenjirou, the team following. A car pulled up, and the passenger seat door opened. The person who emerged made the team freeze save for Kenjirou, who ran faster. "Kenji!" Tooru ran towards Kenjirou, embracing her tightly. Kenjirou sobbed in his embrace as he led him to the car.

Everything was a blur to Eita. He didn't register Satori pulling him back to the gym. His mind repeating the same thoughts over and over.

He doesn't love you.

He doesn't remember.

He loves someone else.

Like a mantra, taunting him. Yet weirdly enough, he didn't feel flowers blooming in his chest.

------------------------

"Kenjirou! How are you feeling?" He ran up to the younger. "I'm fine, Eita." Kenjirou said, a forced smile on his face as his hands fiddled with the hem of his shirt. Eita sighed. "Kenjirou. I can tell you aren't. What's wrong?" Kenjirou flinched at how serious Eita was being, given the fact his love was unrequited. "Nothing, I promise. You should get going now, Aiko is waiting." Eita turned his head to see Aiko at the front gates. "Do you wanna walk with us?" Eita asked, tugging Kenjirou's hand. She shook her head. "No, I'm fine, I think I'll stop by the convenience store soon, I've gotta go get Tsutomu anyway." Eita bit his lip. "Alright, if you say so." Kenjirou grinned slightly, "I'll pick you up a cake, kay'?" That seemed to lighten up Eita a bit, he grinned back and nodded, ruffling the younger's hair as he said goodbye and ran towards Aiko.

"Hey, Kenji, should we get some for the team?" Tsutomu asked, pointing a large case of cakes. "Yeah, I did say I would buy Eita a cake earlier anyway."

———————————

The team enjoyed their cakes as a break, thanking Tsutomu and Kenjirou. Although, as Kenjirou and Eita glanced at eachother, the tension didn't fade, but only grew. "Eita!" A voice rang out. "Oh! Hirami! Hey, want some?" Eita asked, holding up a small cake. Aiko giggled and sat next to him, the two chatting as they ate.

Kenjirou sighed, yearning for that familiar feeling of Eita by his side, blabbering on about whatever Tendou did as he made little motions with his hands, something Kenjirou never realized he was so fond of until he watched it from afar.

cough.

cough.

cough.

A loud crash sounded through the gym. Blood soaked petals covered the fallen boy, her copper hair covering his face. Blood dripped down his chin, flowers coated his lips.

He didn't wake when someone called for him.

——————

"You've had this for 4 months, and didn't even tell us it's been that long?!" Tooru said, holding Kenjirou's hand tightly as she laid in the hospital bed. Kenjirou let out a bitter chuckle. "Yeah. I didn't want you guys to worry." Atsumu sighed. "Kenji.." Keiji spoke up before Atsumu could finish, "Kenji, we all worry for you no matter what. I just don't understand why you let it go on for this long." Yahaba nodded. "You're never the type to let things like this happen, so why?" Kenjirou bit her lip. "I didn't want to forget him."

For the first time in months, Kenjrou sobbed in the embrace of his closest friends.

She was running out of time, and she knew it.

They all did.

———————

It's been 10 years since Kenjirou's death. Today was Eita's birthday. Today was the day he'd be getting married to the love of his life.

"Eita, I'm so fucking proud of you!" Tendou said, embracing him. Eita chuckled. "Oh, and before I forget, read this later, 'kay?" Tendou handed him a neatly sealed letter with a purple wax seal, the picture of a lilac on it. "Who's it from?" Tendou bit his lip. "Just read it after your wedding, and don't let Hirami see." Eita nodded.

Eita slipped away from the crowd, going to a secluded area of the forest where his wedding was held. He took a deep breath, letter in hand, and sighed. He carefully took off the wax seal and removed the letter, unfolding it.

Dear Semi Eita,

I'm sorry you're reading this so long after, and I'm sorry if I ruin your perfect day. You got married though, and I'm so proud of you for making it this far. I hope whoever you end up marrying is the perfect match for you, because I wasn't. I never was, and I couldn't have been. I don't want you to think those promises we made meant nothing, but I want you to live happy. I want you to forget about me. Remember those star shaped hearts we made?

Eita blinked. He knew who this letter was from, and tears welled up at the memory.

"Eita! C'mere!" Kenjirou said, motioning him to come over. Eita walked over without question and sat next to her. "Here. It's a paper star. Keep it safe, okay? The star represents my heart, and I'm trusting you with it so be careful!" Kenjirou said, placing the small star into Eita's hand, along with a chain. "You can wear it as a necklace if you want." Eita grinned widely. "If you're giving me your heart, then I'll give you mine! Show me how to make one, 'kay?" Kenjirou gave a small, happy smile and the two spent the rest of the day folding paper stars with little messages. Each representing a shard of their heart.

I hope you still have it, I still have yours after all. Well, did. It's in the envelope. I want you to give it to whoever you've married and make paper stars with them. Just like we did. I'm sure you caught on, especially since Lilacs are your favorite flower. It's ironic it's the cause of my death huh? I don't mind though. As long as you're happy, so am I. I love you so much, Eita. I always have. Maybe it's my fault for waiting so long until I died, but that's okay. Tell your wife, husband, or partner I wish you two a happy life. Perhaps we'll meet again in another life. Maybe you'll live up to your promise.

I'll always love you,
Shirabu Kenjirou.

P.S. The plastic rings are in the envelope too, just like when you proposed when we were kids.

Eita let the tears fall. He picked up the envelope, digging through it for the memoirs. The two plastic rings, and the paper star lay in his palm. A bitter chuckle left his mouth. "It wasn't your fault. It was mine."

———-

Running through the empty streets, he giggled as the rain pattered lightly on his skin. However in his distraction, he ran into something. Or rather, someone.

"Ow! I'm sorry!" He got up and bowed to the boy.

"It's okay, don't worry! What's your name?"

"Shirabu Kenjirou, what about you?"

"Semi Eita! Nice to meet you! C'mon now, I know a spot we can play in the rain." Eita grabbed the younger's hand, leading him away.

The two smiled, unable to ignore the familiar comforting feeling they got. One thought plagued their mind, however.

Why is his name so familiar?

End.

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