"Hitoka, I'm here!"

"I'm right here too."

Shoyo was too excited to tell his story, he didn't think about sitting anywhere.

"We lost at today's practice match but it was epic! Nishinoya-san was very hyper! He manages to save the ball when it was faaar away from the court!"

"That's indeed very epic! I've experienced something epic too! I finished that 4 piles of book!"

"Eeepic!!"

"Though I always want that one novel about fantasy romance, I never had the time to buy it from the bookstore."

"One day I'll get it for you!"

"Really? You don't have to spend money on me though..."

"It's fine! I'll do anything to make you happy until the very end."

"Thank you... So much."

"Hey, Hinata!"

Tobio came to Shoyo which just entered the gym. Shoyo turned his head and look at him. "Sup, Kageyama?"

"What exactly happened yesterday under the bridge?"

"Well... You know what happened to Hitoka until she can't go to school for a long time?"

"Yeah, I heard about it, you just knew?"

"...Yes, I was so surprised, she was a very special friend to me." he lied that he just knew, he also lied that she's a ' very special friend'. She was everything to him, he loved her and she loved him.

"I was also very shocked... Hope she manages to defeat her fight."

"I really hope so too."

Shoyo came back to the hospital after school every day to check on Hitoka, she can't go to school due to her disease getting worse. She's easy to bleed and can't walk fast anymore. There's no other option other than telling the truth about her disease to the school so she can have an excuse to not appear there for a long time. Shoyo enters the room then he saw her sitting in her bed, writing something.

"Hey, Hitoka. I'm here."

"I'm right here too." Hitoka stopped her writing to see him.

Shoyo sat down in the usual chair, it's always there next to her bed for him, doctors use another chair which is placed in the corner of the room.

"You seemed interested in writing and reading lately, why is that?" he asked

"Well I hardly finish a book when I was at home, there's homework, chores, and I sometimes forgot about those books. So I thought that this'll be a good time to finish them all."

"You should make a story about yourself, so the world could see how strong and great you are!"

"I don't have the bravery to publish anything to the world, what if it's actually bad and everyone hates it?"

"Every writer has their own ways to make what they write good, and I'm sure you have one too. But if Hitoka really doesn't want to then I'm not forcing."

"Your words always make me feel... Happy? I don't know how to express it."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" Shoyo digs to his backpack and pulls out a plastic full of fruits. There are apples, bananas, and peaches.

"My family's garden grew some fruits and I thought I'd share it with you and the whole team!"

"Those look delicious! I love apples!" Hitoka received the fruits, put them on her lap, and grab the apples. She took her first bite and felt its sweet taste. "This is so good!! I could have this forever!"

"Well, I guess it was a good idea to fertilize it in early February. Glad you like it! I could bring one every day if you want."

"How about once every 3 days, I'm scared of getting overnutrition and you running out of them quickly."

"Alright then, and it won't run out quickly, there's like 2 whole sack full of them."

"That's a lot!"

"You should not expect an apple tree to grow only 5 or 10 fruits, there's over 30 of them!"

Hitoka and Shoyo spend their time almost every day talking in the hospital. The same lines "Hitoka, I'm here" and "I'm right here too." were always used.

It has been days since Hitoka last went to school, though she still goes outside with Shoyo sometimes, they walk carefully due to Hitoka not being able to walk fast since her bone strength is getting weaker.

Hitoka's mother often visits her, twice a week after she finishes her job. She sometimes brings presents like a heart doll written "Stay Strong!" on it or even books to keep her motivated and Hitoka loved it all.

Hitoka's classmates also sometimes come and see her. One time, Tadashi and Kei came and gave her tofu because they think she likes it, and she does. She has been through a couple of small surgeries, just so she can stay strong longer until a liver transplant is available. But since the day she has to stay at the hospital, no liver transplant is available yet.

"Hitoka, I'm here!" Shoyo came to Hitoka's hospital room with a bright smile, a sign that something great has happened.

There was no response so he came closer and check on her closer. "You're sleeping again aren't you? Guess I'll leave this here and I'll be back okay?"

Of course, there was no response. "I'll take that as an okay." Shoyo then leaves the room after he puts down a white bag with a lot of stuff next to her bed.

Moments later, she woke up and the first thing she saw was the white bag Shoyo put earlier. She opens it and is very surprised. He gave her the book she always wanted. The book was 'Antony and Cleopatra'.

She was very happy, she wished she didn't sleep so she can thank him. Before she does anything she checks in the bag again. There was a letter and an apple.

"Dear Hitoka,

I'm sorry, I can't come to see you in the hospital for a week. I'm going out from Miyagi to Ichinoseki with my family. I hope you can stay strong without me. I honestly don't want to go either but my family's really worried about me being alone. I begged them that I don't want to come and I'll be okay but they still say no. I hope you understand, I bought that book for you so that one week will feel shorter than the wide of a Ritz cracker!

Also, this feels kinda selfish and bad of me to say I don't know why, but can you stay strong like now until I came back? I promise I'll bring good stuff just for you when I get back home! I still want to see your cute face, there always lies my happiness and future. I love you, forever and always.

- Shoyo Hinata."

After reading the letter, Hitoka felt like she wanted to cry, run up to him, and say "don't go". But obviously, she can't, she can just accept it like how it is with her disease. She grabbed the book and look at it, "I hope it's true that you can make the time feel shorter. I do want to see his handsome face too, there lies my source of warmth and spirit to live long."