⛸️✨️ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ #9 🪞🫧

Sanemi POV:

The ambulance doors slammed open with a loud bang. Immediately, one of the paramedics climbed out and lifted the stretcher, on which the still unconscious Tomioka was lying, out of the ambulance. I climbed out behind them and quickly followed them into the hospital.

My heart was racing. I felt it pounding in my chest. I heard the doctors and paramedics say something, but I couldn't quite make out their words. I tried to follow them, but one of the paramedics blocked my way and asked me to please wait here because I wasn't allowed to follow them into the emergency rooms.

I tried to get past him and insist on staying by his side. But it was no use, and finally I sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting room while they took Tomioka to the emergency room.

I tried to distract myself and looked around the waiting room for a bit. The walls were painted a sterile white, a few other people were sitting around me, the air smelled of disinfectant, and in the background, I could hear the woman at the reception desk typing on a keyboard or answering calls.

I impatiently bounced my leg up and down. What a load of crap. I can't get the image of his weak and pale face out of my head. Why didn't that idiot say something? Why did he insist on keeping training? I should have said something, I noticed how sick he looked. I hate it. I want to do something, anything, but there's nothing I can do right now.

I hate waiting. I hate that I can't do anything.

Every second that passed felt like an eternity while I waited for news. Suddenly, I saw my trainer and Tomioka's trainer rushing into the hospital. My coach was just about to run to the reception desk when he saw me and came up to me. Tomioka's coach followed him with slow steps. He didn't look particularly worried, more annoyed.

"You know something? How's he doing?" my coach asked worriedly. But before I could say anything, the silence was broken by Tomioka's coach. "Calm down. You worry too much, this happens to athletes. They fall all the time. He will be back on his feet in a few days."

This happens to athletes? What is that asshole talking about? Doesn't he have eyes or something? Didn't he see how awful Tomioka looked? I felt the anger boiling up inside me.

"This happens to athletes?! He looked like he almost died out there, and you just say "this happens to athletes"?!" I snapped back. He rolled his eyes. "Calm down, Shinazugawa. He's just overworked himself and trained too hard. It's nothing that won't be fixed with a few days of rest."

What is that bastard even talking about? Is he really that stupid, or does he just not want to admit it? It was clearly not just "overworking himself". He seemed completely unfazed by the situation just annoyed. He probably doesn't care about Tomioka at all. Of all of us, it should affect him the most. After all, he's his trainer. But it seemed like he really didn't care. After all, he was the one who let him keep training so hard.

"And why exactly is he training himself almost to the grave, huh? You noticed he was completely worn out, and yet you let him keep training!" "It was just a faint moment, it happens," he said dismissively. "Bullshit! You saw him slumping around for days and you ignored it!"

"Now, both of you, stop it! This isn't helping anyone-" my trainer tried to intervene. "Fuck off with your stupid excuses!" I pushed them both aside and angrily walked out the door.

Before I could stop myself, I grabbed one of the potted plants at the entrance and threw it on the ground. The pot shattered into a pile of small pieces, and the dirt scattered across the sidewalk.

I was breathing heavily and running a hand through my hair. I have to try to calm myself down...

...

A while later

I was sitting again on one of those cheap plastic chairs in the hospital waiting room. Every second felt like an eternity. After a while, one of the nurses finally came into the room and said I could finally see him.

I followed her as she took me to the room where Tomioka was lying before immediately leaving to take care of other patients. I grabbed the doorknob with a trembling hand before pushing it down, causing her to open the door.

The room was mostly silent; only the beeping of the machines could be heard. Tomioka was lying on the bed, still looking so miserable. His face was pale, and his eyes were tired and droopy. His forehead was covered with sweat, and he seemed somewhat still not completely awake.

I stepped closer to the bed and crossed my arms. I tried to appear casual, even though I could feel worry rising within me. Tomioka looked up and blinked tiredly, but I noticed how his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he couldn't really see me.

It seemed as if his brain was overwhelmed. As if it couldn't process all the impressions and information around him. Neither of us spoke a word, but his gaze was starting to make me nervous. My head screamed at me to do something.

Finally, I gave in and sat down on the edge of the bed, my gaze still fixed on him. I tried to appear reluctant but it didn't work. A moment of silence passed before I broke it. "...Idiot. Never do that again. Otherwise..." but I trailed off, not able to finish the sentence...

______

~ A/N 🎀

Hello, how are you? I hope you liked the chapter. 🫶

I'm sorry for updating so irregularly. I want to write more but I have been a bit lazy the last few days. I will try to write more often but I won't promise anything. 😅

Anyways, here are some snacks for you: ✨️🥪🧃🥪🧃🥪🧃🥪🧃🥪✨️

Take care 🫶

Butterfly 🦋