Hitoka is all alone in her hospital room. It's the hour where Shoyo usually came but he's not here. That day feels very empty for her. But she promised him and herself to stay strong until he gets back home, both of them still want to see each other even if they know that won't be very long.

She started reading the book he bought for her. She reads it very carefully and makes sure she understands the story. 1 chapter has passed, another one has passed too, and another one until she didn't realize the evening has almost come.

Every day her activities are just like that, sometimes she video calls Shoyo to check his situation. Just like what he said, the day felt fast despite being alone. She already read half of her book

It has been 5 days since Shoyo left which is 2 days left, 48 hours left, 2.880 minutes left, 172.800 seconds left. Hitoka counts the estimated days until she can meet him again. She thought, she managed 5 days so 2 days would be easy. And on that day the doctors are going to give her checkups and medicines. Her conditions are fine, except that she lost bone strength so she can no longer walk and lift heavy things. She went back to her room with a nurse and found her phone ringing.

Shoyo was calling, she picked it up after the nurse left.

"Hey, Hitoka! I have good news for you!"

"What is it?"

"We will be going home today night! Turns out my dad has an important meeting to do tomorrow."

"Oh, you don't feel sad because you lost 2 days of fun with your family?"

"Well that's true, but I got a 2 days bonus to be with you. No, not that I prefer you over my family, I love both. But I have only a little memory of you and a mountain of them, so I want to add more."

"That's very sweet, Shoyo. But I believe there will be only memories of me and you in the hospital."

"What happened? You can't go anywhere?"

"I lost my bone strength so I can't walk and lift heavy things. I don't want to trouble you by carrying me around all the time."

"I don't mind carrying you, you're light even before the disease."

"No, it's alright, honestly I just don't want to go out."

"Oh okay that's fine, well see you later then."

"See you later."

Hitoka's heart beats fast as in excitement. She forgets about her disease and almost everything, she can't wait any longer to see him.

Shoyo runs in the hospital hallway heading to Hitoka's room with Sugawara Koushi, the former setter in Karasuno who just heard that she's in the hospital, and Shoyo brings something special for her as he promised.

"Hinata! Don't run in the hall you'll make loud noises!" Koushi spoke.

"Oh, I'm just so excited to see her! I want to give her these as I promised!"

"Huh? Do you like Yachi?"

Shoyo stopped for a moment and think about what he just spoke and heard. "N- n- not like that! I just want her to feel better, I mean she's our friend and manager!"

"Then why did you bring all of those to her and not someone else?"

Shoyo thinks again, he's now trapped in the corner of the wall with a hard way to go out. "...alright fine I like her. J- just don't tell anyone."

"Oh, I won't," Koushi smirks like he's lying which Shoyo can't trust one bit.

"Suga-san, please don't!"

"Hehe of course I won't tell anyone, I promise."

Conversation stopped as they reach Hitoka's room. He silently opens the door in case if she's asleep.

And she was there sleeping, with books and paper laying on everywhere on her. Shoyo approach her silently and sit where he used to. "She's asleep yesterday, she's asleep today, asleep or not, she's always beautiful," he whispers.

"When did you learn to say those things?" Koushi asked.

"It slowly came up to me, somehow every time I'm with her."

"You love her huh?"

"I love her so much."

Hitoka, on the other hand, heard Shoyo said all of that. She carefully opens her eyes then wipes them to see the two.

"She's awake, good morning, Hitoka." Shoyo greets her with a gentle voice.

Without saying a word, without doing anything at first, she came up to him, despite her bones being weak as ever, she did all she can to hold him in her arms. He catches her and formed a big hug. "Hitoka, I'm right here," he said. "I'm right here too..." she said in tears.

"Hey, Hitoka, I got you something that I think you'll like."

Shoyo pulls out a star-shaped necklace and opens the star which shows a picture of them together when Hitoka is still active.

"I found that picture in my phone's gallery and I knew I had to do something with it. At the same time, it made me sad remembering the old times."

"This is the best gift you ever gave so far..., Thank you. I feel bad because I couldn't give you something too."

"Hitoka, just you smiling there makes me happy, I don't need something like these because I have you."

"You're so sweet as always... Ah- Sugawara-san is here?!" Hitoka was very surpised.

"Yeah, I came to see you, I heard that you're sick in the hospital so I just had to."

"I'm so sorry I didn't notice! T- this is very embarrassing..."

"Not really, I'm glad that you still have the spirit to live. Even so, I hope you get well soon." Koushi was also happy, very happy that she can make someone felt love in his heart. One that can shine now shines to its limit and beyond. Everyone there now is happy to see each other happy, especially for Shoyo. But little did he know, that was the last time he saw her smiling the brightest.

Hitoka's health gets worse every day, 3 days after Shoyo came home, she started feeling nausea and fatigue, she also throw up more often. This makes Shoyo feel more worried and scared.

"Are you sure you're fine?" Shoyo questioned one day after seeing Hitoka feeling as weak as ever.

"I'm... All alright, I feel this.. often," she answered. Her voice was small and her eyes were not as brilliant as it's used to. She frequently lay down doing nothing, making Shoyo sometimes panic thinking that she fainted or was in critical condition. He had to feed her and take care of her more than usual because of this.

Hitoka sighed, seeing Shoyo looking worried made her tear up, "I'm sorry you have to see me like this, I know how much you hate it."

"Ah... It's alright, I understand."

"I'm so scared..., I'm so scared of... dying..."

"Every creature will die when the time comes, we can only 'avoid' death, that's why I'm here."

"I really don't... deserve you, you're... the best."

"And you're my best, Hitoka."

Sketch, shading (Shoyo), background by me

Lineart (Shoyo), shading (Hitoka by @/its_ryuk1senkai (Instagram)

Lineart (Hitoka), base color by @/naaichi (Instagram)