[Multi-chapter] Change (4/??)
Title: Change
Authors: tsuchi8562
Bet: andreja1989 ArigaPYON~!
Pairing: SakurAiba, Aimiya (friendship), Yama (friendship), Junba (friendship)
Genre: AU, Romance, Drama, School
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: They are not ours, they belong to themselves...
*MASTERPOST*
The door was closed quietly and soon the sound of steps could be heard. Sho sighed deeply and hissed from pain in his stomach. He also received some punches in head and he felt dizzy, trying not to faint.
“You weren’t too nice towards the person that saved your butt…” Ohno stated seriously, focusing on cleaning Sakurai’s wounds. The student only groaned and bit his lower lip, trying to ignore the question. Of course he was rude but it was for the greater good. He doesn’t want to cause any more suffering; it’s enough that he lost his friends, no need to sentence anyone else upon that. Friends… They weren’t them in the first place if they left him only after learning the truth about him. “Aiba-kun is a good kid.” The doctor didn’t give up.
“I know. That’s why he should stay away from me.” Sho said firmly and looked through the window. The track was clearly visible, along with a lonely running silhouette. The rain started to fall but it didn’t scare the runner who was still sprinting, not noticing the cold drops and wind. For a longer while silence filled the office and after a few minutes, when the boy’s wounds were dressed Satoshi sighed and his gaze followed Sakurai’s.
“Maybe it’s time to open your shell a bit?” Ohno smiled. “He is a good boy, friendly and empathic. I am sure you two can get along well.” Satoshi looked at his patient and frowned. “You are way too pale… Rest here for an hour or so and then I’ll take you home.”
“No need, Sensei. I am fine, I have to rest at home, that’s it.”
“Oh no, you can have concussion, I should put you in hospital, but I am sure you wouldn’t agree.”
“No, no hospitals! You know how much I hate them!”
“Yes, that’s why you are staying here until I finish work, understood?”
“Y-yes…” Sho mumbled, not listening to the doctor’s words, still staring at Aiba, who was now drinking some water, looking in the sky and it seemed that he just noticed that it’s raining. He was so stubborn, believing that Sakurai will change his mind and will become his friend. He was stupid enough to interfere, risking his own life… okay, maybe not life but at least risking a broken leg, just to save him.
“Sakurai-kun… Rest now, I’ll take you home later. Deal?”
“Deal…” Sho sighed, lied on the settee and he fell asleep in no-time because he indeed was feeling dizzy. Some old demons haunted him in the dream but this time once in a while the younger boy’s face popped out of nowhere, chasing his fears away.
“Sakurai-kun… Wake up…” Ohno’s voice came from the distance and soon Sho felt that the doctor is shaking him gently. The student opened his eyes slowly and had to focus to remind himself where he is and what happened. “Do you know where you are?”
“I’m… I am… at school?” Sho said with weak voice, unsure what’s reality and what’s not. He was feeling tired; not because the injuries he had but because vexing images from his past. He sat and rubbed his eyes, trying to get up and finally go home, when the doctor stopped him.
“Sakurai-kun, sit down and look at me.” Ohno touched the back of Sho’s head and looked in his eyes. “You should be fine but it would be better if someone stayed with you tonight. Do you have somebody who can help you?”
“No… But I’ll be fine, Sensei… I…”
“Of course you don’t have… I’m sorry… Well, in that case you will stay with me tonight.”
“Sensei, I appreciate your offer, but…”
“No buts! I have to make sure you are fine. We’ll go to my place and you will rest there tonight.”
“Sensei, I don’t want to cause any troubles…”
“You won’t.” Satoshi’s peremptory voice made Sakurai nod. The student had to agree, remembering that if he gets sick, his problems will only increase. After a longer while sitting in the passenger seat in silence, not listening to the doctor’s ramblings and thinking about the meaning of his dreams. Soon enough they reached Ohno’s small apartment and the older man prepared the bed for his guest.
“I’ll make something to eat. Do you want ramen?”
“Yes, please. Sensei… I am sorry I caused you troubles…”
“You didn’t. At least not now… Sho-kun… Can I call you that?”
“Yes.”
“Sho-kun, do you have any plans for the future?”
“Plans?”
“You can’t let things stay like they are now. You are involved in fights, if it goes on like this, you may be dismissed from school.”
“Sensei, it’s not my fault! I am trying to avoid the troubles as much as I can but you see how it ends. Maybe I should move to Kobe, as I wanted in the first place?”
“It is your choice, but please remember what you’ve told me before. You didn’t want your mother to change your life even more than she did already. I know you hate giving up.”
“You’re right, Sensei, but… I can’t stay here. As you said, I may be expelled from school and that won’t help me to get to the university. Sensei, what should I do?”
“I can’t tell you that but there is one thing I can say to you. Bearing problems alone is devastating. Getting a friend would help you greatly and I know somebody perfect for this…”
“Do you know what can that mean to him? I am a public enemy in that school, he is very popular…”
“But he risked that reputation by following you and saving your butt, right? Think about it. Now, take some rest. I will be waking you up every two hours to check if you are okay, so don’t be surprised when I will ask you about your name out of sudden. Goodnight.”
Sakurai was left alone in the dark room, where the only source of light was moon shining brightly on the clear night sky. In no-time he fell asleep, dreaming about nothing.
___
The morning wasn’t warm at all and to make the picture even more miserable he felt like crap. Ohno, as he promised, was waking him up every couple of hours and were asking some random and easy questions to check if his brain works properly. Sho was tired but he had to go to school because of the important Math test he had. Shambling he slowly was heading towards school, trying not to faint when he bumped in somebody or something on his way.
“Sorry…” Sakurai mumbled, looking down and he wanted to pass the obstacle, when he heard familiar, cheery but somehow worried voice.
“Sakurai-senpai, are you okay? I was worried…”
“A-aiba-kun… I am fine…” Just then Sho looked up and saw his kouhai with slightly blushed cheeks and gentle smile.
“Good to know.” Masaki nodded and wanted to walk away, when the older boy grabbed his arm.
“I… I wanted to thank you for… you know…” Sakurai was stuttering like never before and didn’t dare to look at the latter anymore. “See you at lunch…” He spitted and rushed to the classroom, not believing in the thing he just said. Yes, he decided to give it a shot and become friends with Aiba. Of course he was aware that this could mean that he will have to meet with his soon-to-be friend in secret, to make sure that it won’t affect in any way on the younger boy’s popularity.
The noon came fast and Sho had to admit that he was actually waiting for Masaki. He even looked around, slowly starting to doubt that the latter will come, but when he saw silhouette bouncing towards him he couldn’t stop a little smile on his face.
“Why are you so happy?” The older boy asked with mouth full of rice.
“Because we’re friends!” Aiba sat next to Sakurai and opened his bento box. Talking with the speed of a machine gun about everything and nothing, he didn’t let Sho say a word. The shorter boy didn’t mind that at all; he wasn’t used to having a conversation with anybody anyway. However he slowly started to remember how enjoyable this can be, to have somebody to be with, even if he didn’t say a word. Just by having a possibility of spending some time with another boy was pleasant and brought back good memories from his childhood.
“Oh my, I am babbling and babbling and you didn’t stop me.” The younger student’s words brought Sho back to earth. Masaki pouted and looked at the latter reproachfully. “Why didn’t you kick me?”
“You’re funny Aiba-kun!” Sakurai laughed quietly, but then he just couldn’t refrain and he burst in laughter and soon Masaki joined him. Both of them were shortly gasping for air, wiping tears, looking at each other. Sakurai didn’t laugh that much in a long time; he even forgot about his problems for a tiny little while. It was like an escape from his own dark world to the latter’s colorful one. However nothing can be perfect though; the lunch time was over. Before Sho managed to oppose, Aiba throw that he will wait for the older boy behind the building after school. “But…”
“See you later~!” The taller boy disappeared, leaving Sakurai alone with his thoughts. He was wondering if he is doing the right thing, letting somebody in his life in those circumstances. Ohno-sensei was right, he can’t be alone for the rest of his life; he can’t submit his life only for his mother. Not anymore. But there was the other side of this situation, the more dangerous one. The bullies that were persecuting him can easily find a new target - Masaki. That’s why he has to keep this friendship in secret. There was just one more matter he had to think about. Should he share his darkest secret with Aiba? Should he say who he truly is?
“I think I have to wait with this, right?” Sho mumbled to himself, looking at the place where Masaki was sitting a minute ago. “I don’t want to scare him though…”