Your leg bounces up and down out of nervousness but you try to stay still in the moving taxi cab. We just hit the main road as the car swerves through the flow of traffic. Your anxiety was skyrocketing but, you were more concerned for Suga. He sits beside you, biting his nails as he frantically checks his phone.

What's going on. He hasn't told me why we have to go to the hospital. Is he not feeling well?

"Suga." you reach out to his open hand and intertwine your fingers with his. He turns to you with the familiar look in his eyes, telling you not to worry.

"What's wrong Suga? Are you feeling alright?" you ask tentatively

He rubs his thumb on the back of your hand and portrays a weak smile on his face,

"You should be celebrating with the rest of the team. They're probably eating their hearts out right now."

You scooch over a little closer to him so that your knees were touching. Resting your head on his shoulder, he turns his head ever so slightly to sniff your hair. Wrapping your arm around his, you bury your face into his shirt.

"Where you go, I go" you murmur as he snuggles into your hair. Your eyes fall a bit as you try to soothe your boyfriend. He was quite tense and in a state of panic, but you tried your best to subdue his worries. Taking in the scent of him, Suga remained quiet the whole car ride as you cling on to his arm. Mumbling into his jacket you manage a small,

"We'll be okay."

The look in his eyes soften and he sweetly repeats your words back to you,

"We'll be okay"

~

We rush into the ER as Suga runs ahead of you, still holding onto your hand. Your legs try to carry you as fast as they can, as your heart had trouble keeping up with every step.

"Sugawara Mai please" Suga gasps for air and the lady directs you two to the hallway on the north wing.

You both sprint toward the said direction and you try to keep up with your boyfriend. His silver hair clinging to the back of his neck and his scent stronger than ever. Reaching the door that held his mother's name, he barges in to find his mother pale and lifeless.

"Mom! Mom!" he calls out to her as he scrambles in front of the hospital bed.

"My Koushi, there's no need to worry." his mom croaked weakly. She had Suga's eyes, dark black hair and a small stature. Her eye bags were a dark purple and her eyes had sunken into their sockets. Not to mention she was hooked up to several machines, making beeping noises of the sort. The monitors were intimidating as they displayed her wavering vital signs. She was in no doubt, very sick.

Suga places his hand on his mother's cheek and brushes her hair out of her face,

"Mom, what's happening? What's wrong?" he cried as he held onto her

You stood there, mortified on anticipated events that would forego. Trembling on the spot your senses were heightened as you bit the inside of your cheek. A doctor was at her bedside, checking her vitals and jotting down notes in his clipboard.

"We've been calling every hospital for the match of a kidney. We're still getting updates but we'll let you know as soon as possible Sugawara-san" the doctor informs with the chart in hand.

He doesn't want to say it. The longer she waits... she's going to-

"She's going to die isn't she?" Suga sobbed as his mom stroked his hand tenderly.

"Suga it's going to be okay." his mom consoled. Her kind eyes met his, but his tears were falling down on her chest

"No you don't know that." Suga cried as he rested his head on his mother's chest. He held on tightly as his mom strokes the back of his head

"Please ring the call bell if there's any trouble Sugawara-san" the doctor stated before heading out. He closed the curtains leaving the three of you in the enclosed space . As you stand there watching Suga suffer, your heart aches too much for you to bear. Biting your lip and holding back your tears, you mumble,

"I will give you some privacy."

You stumble out of the room and hear your heartbeat pound loudly in your ears. Your vision was a blur and you were mustering all your strength to keep yourself upright. Heaving from your chest you hug the nearest wall and clutch your jersey. Sliding down onto the floor you sob heavily into your knees and hastily wipe away your tears

A screeching in your ear replayed in your head: "Dad? Dad! Dad wake up!!!" your 14 year-old-self yelled from the passenger side. "WAKE UP!"

"Ma'am? Excuse me? Are you okay?" a hand tapped your shoulder

You were startled as you looked up from your knees, blinking a few times as you stared at the figure in front of you.

"Oh sorry, I'm sorry" you croaked as you wiped away your tears.

"It's okay. I was just concerned" the man smiled down at you as he held a bouquet of yellow sunflowers.

He offers his hand and you take it willingly. The kind man pulls you up from the floor and you get a better look at him. Silver hair, hazel eyes and a crooked smile. He was dressed in a dark blue suit that contrasted with his pale complexion.

Suga's father

You realized you were staring for too long and he clears his throat,

"Are you looking for something or someone?"

"Ah, yes. Um..." you look at the sign behind him and point at it. "Yes, just this room right here."

"Blood donation?" he questioned and you nodded at his question. You leave quietly without saying another word as the man walks down the other direction.

~

"Mom, how are you feeling right now?" I murmur into her chest

"Suga, I might not make it." she said earnestly as she continued to stroke the back of my head. I flinch at her response and grasp tighter onto her nightgown. Tears pooled in my eyes but I rapidly blink them away.

"Who was that lovely girl you just brought in Suga? Is this the girl you can't stop talking about?" she asked suddenly, changing the subject. She wanted me to stop crying but even so, this pain in my chest was intolerable; I had to hold myself together for her.

"Oh right, you've never met her before, but yes. Her name is Shimizu (F/N)" I wipe away my tears and my mom mentions,

"Well she seems like a sweet lady. Tell me more."

She weakly points at the chair across from her and I take it willingly. The chair screeches a bit as I pull it closer towards my mom. I ponder on the thought of (F/N), which instantly calmed me down.

"We met in chemistry class and when I first laid my eyes on her, I knew I wanted to know more about her. She's clumsy but brilliant. She had this hatred for volleyball which intrigued me even more. When she found out I was a volleyball player she was super iffy but I tricked her into joining the volleyball club as a manager"

"Ah, my Kou doing tricks for a girl? You must really like her then?" my mom giggled and I laugh weakly along with her.

"I couldn't get enough of her. She then had this crazy and twisted story that made her hate volleyball for her life. But now when I see her, she loves it. Mom, if you see the way she plays, I can't even describe it. When she jumps, it's like she's flying. And when I'm with her, she makes me feel like I'm flying. Heh, as corny as that sounds. I don't know why but every time I think of her or see her smile, it gives me this feeling of how grateful I am that she's mine" I blush a bit, tapping the back of my neck shyly

"You must be really be in love with her"

I smile warmly in agreement with my mom, "I do, I do love her."

"Kou's in love? Isn't he a bit young to be in love?" a voice asked in the background. That voice made my heart beat faster and my limbs grew numb. Regaining my composure, I straighten myself immediately and brush down my hair.

"Dad." I say in a stern voice.

It's been years since I last saw him. Only now he comes. How typical of him.

"Kou. How are you?" he asked as he approached closer to the hospital bed.

I remained silent as I held onto my mother's hand. Leaning against the bed frame I block my mother's view from my dad.

"Mai. I've gotten your call." he said nonchalantly. He placed down the sunflowers at the bedside table and straightened his suit.

He talks as if he's in a business meeting. Does he even have a heart?

"It's only then you come when your wife is dying." I blurt out and look at him straight in the eye. His intimidating glare fell upon mine, but this time I wasn't going to back down. All the anger I felt was pent up inside and I wanted to scream.

"Is that any way to greet your father?" he said in a strict tone.

"Like you're my father." I snapped back. I was face to face with him as he held a grim expression.

"Koushi, please." my mother croaked as she squeezed my hand tighter.

Glancing down at my mom, she had forgiveness in her eyes. My tense shoulders relaxed and I let go of her hand. Sighing to myself, I utter,

"I'm going to find my girlfriend."

Before I leave the room, my dad takes a seat at my mom's bedside. Heading out the door, I hear my mother whisper,

"Welcome back my love"

Despite barely even coming to visit, she loves him unconditionally. I don't know how she does it...

~

"Why didn't you let me know?" I ask frantically to my girlfriend. She looks away and murmurs,

"I just wanted to help"

"You could've told me." I said worrisome, as I ruffle with my messy hair. She gave me an innocent smile and spoke in a hushed tone,

"Even if I told you, I know you'd say no."

"I thought we talked about discussing these things. You could've just told me! What happened to being transparent with each other?" I asked a bit too loudly.

The door swung open before she could respond. We shift our attention to the man in a white lab coat. He held a grim face as his shoes made a 'clip clop' on the cold floor. The atmosphere changed in the room as he stood directly in front of us.

"I got the test results" the doctor claimed as he took a seat in the blue plastic chair. He let out a huff as he adjusted his white coat over the chair.

We sat in dull, plastic grey chairs in a tiny examination room. I notice (F/N) in my peripheral view as she sits eagerly on her chair. Her fingers were intertwined in a tight ball as she braced herself for the news.

When did she even get tested? Why didn't she tell me?

"(F/N) is a match." the doctor revealed. My jaw drops open and my heart races. (F/N)'s face spoke differently as she made a closed eye smile at me. A tear slips out of her eye as she says,

"Now we can save your mom"

"However, (F/N) you've had a major surgery not too long ago, if I'm not mistaken?" the doctor says as he flips a few papers on his chart. "You're also anemic and you've had a few complications from the previous surgery..."

"(F/N). You can't do this." I interject as I take hold of her hand.

"Suga, your mom is dying. She needs this." (F/N) states as she holds my hand tightly.

"There's not much time left but I will give you time to discuss. Call me when you've made a decision." the physician states as he left the room, closing the door on his way out.

I sit there in an uncomfortable silence that I could cut the tension with a knife. It made my skin crawl. Coming around my seat, I approach (F/N) and kneel in front of her. Grasping her hands on her lap, she stares down at me with a slight perplexed face.

"What are you doing Suga? We have no other choice."

"It should be me." I interjected. My hands trembled as she placed her hands on top of mine.

She shakes her head and says, "I was a match, not you. Let me do this."

"Please don't do this. What if something goes wrong with the surgery or what if-"

"You won't lose me Suga. I promise"

Our foreheads touch and we close our eyes. We let out a large sigh and brush our noses together.

"I won't let you. She's been waiting for a kidney for a while now, she can still wait for another one." I say defensively but she shakes her head at your proposal.

"Please Suga."

"I won't lose you too." I cried

Gently, she lifts her hands and brings them to the sides of my face. The sureness in her eyes meant she wanted this and there was nothing from stopping her.

"We'll be okay, okay?" she mumbles through her tears. Though she was crying, a smile was plastered on her face.

She wanted me to let go.

"Please don't do this!" I begged but she stood up from her chair while I was on the ground, clinging onto her legs.

"Suga Please!" she exclaimed and I dust yourself off from the floor to face her, "If this were my dad, I'd do anything to get him back! You have the chance. Take it."

"No no, please don't. Or I'll... I'll.." I stutter, closing my eyes tightly to contain my tumultuous emotions from spilling out.

"You'll what Suga!" she yells

"I'LL BREAK UP WITH YOU." I exclaimed out of desperation.

I wasn't thinking clearly as the turn of events have torn my heart to pieces. I firmly hold her, pressing my thumbs into her forearms but she lets go of me entirely.

Please stop, I'm desperate. Please don't let me choose. I can't do this without you. Please stop (F/N). I can't let you do this.

"(F/N) please" I huffed as she looked up at my pained face. My eyes fell upon hers with the most sincerity.

My heart is aching, please make this stop.

"Then... this will be my goodbye." she murmured as she tiptoed one last time to meet my lips. Tears fell down from the both of our faces and I immediately regret what I said,

"Wait, (F/N)! Come back! I d-didn't mean it, YAMERU!" I beg but she was already headed out of the door.

She holds the door knob and glances over her shoulder, "Goodbye Suga."

She smiles one last time. Her smile burned in my mind before she disappeared into the crowd. I ran after her but I was interfered by nurses who were frantically running into the room my mom was in.

"Mom!" I yell wiping the tears from my eyes. I run into the room to find my dad frantically shaking my mom's shoulder.

"Mai! What's wrong?!"

"She's in shock! Her heart stopped, we need to get her on the table now!" the doctor exclaimed as the nurses scattered around my mom. They powered the defibrillator and it made a high pitched sound that made my head scream.

"Clear!" a nurse yelled as she shocked my mom, making her heart find its rhythm again. It was weak but it was the only sign that proved she was still hanging on, but barely.

"What's going on? Where are you taking her!" my father demanded as they rushed my mother down the hall to the elevator.

"We need to perform surgery! Prep the patient and the donor and book an OR for the transplant stat!" the doctor demanded as the nurses pushed the hospital bed with my unconscious mother. My dad runs with the nurses and asks questions out of panic.

"She's going to be okay, right! Tell me she's going to be okay!"

I couldn't move an inch. As if a gravity was working hard against me, to prevent me from moving. Cold sweat. All I could feel was my head throbbing from the turn of events my brain couldn't process.

I lost two people who I love the most just like that. Has the universe always been that cruel or have I done something to deserve this?

Clutching my chest, I run into an empty hospital room and scream my heart out. I punch the nearby pillows on the vacant hospital bed until I hear someone say,

"Heart trouble?"

Opening the curtain slightly, I was greeted by an old man in a blue hospital gown. He was frail and propped up with a TV remote in his hand. He was on the sports channel, watching the replays of todays tournament with Seijoh,

"Ukai-san."

---------- end pt. 47---------