When Hito awoke, Aki gave him some food and the box. After eating, Hito opened the box, his cheeks going red. Aki pulled the box to look. An expensive three-layer forest-green colored kimono in silk was neatly packed inside.

“Wow… Is this yours?” Aki asked finally, holding up the kimono.

Hito nodded a bit.

“Put it on?” Hito shook his head, looking away. “Why not? I’ll bet it looks good on you?” That got a nod. “…So, wear it?” A shake. “Please?” A slow nod. Aki smiled and carefully hung the kimono on several hangers in the closet. “You can put it on when you’re feeling better, kay?”

“All right.” Hito nodded.

Aki walked back to the bedside, sitting down again. “Feeling a bit better? You aren’t wheezing much any more.”

Hito nodded. “Yeah… I am.”

Aki smiled.

“Hey?”

“Hm?”

“Can you get me some of that paper over there?” Hito pointed to his desk. “And a pen?”

“Sure.” Aki got Hito some paper, a pen and a thick book. “Here you go. I’m going to go take a shower and soak my wrist. You need anything before I go?”

Hito shook his head and waved as Aki left the room, closing the door behind him.

“If I could just write it out…” Hito said softly to himself and began to write on the paper.

Aki came back a bit later after his shower. He gave Hito some more medicine and food and left to finish some homework. Noah popped in after that with a book for Hito to read while he rested. At the end of the night, Mastuki dropped in to try and get some words out of Hito about that man Jack, but Hito wouldn’t speak. He just handed Mastuki a labeled envelope.

“You want this mailed?” Hito nodded. “Okay.. Rest easy, kay?” Hito nodded and watched as Mastuki left.

Hito listened as Aki asked Noah about how Roen was doing, and hearing that Roen had a broken leg. Then they walked off and Hito couldn’t hear any more.

When Hito was almost asleep in the middle of the night, Aki came in quietly to check on him. He smiled, moving some of the locks of golden hair from Hito’s face. This woke him more, causing Hito to open his eyes.

“Oh… How are you feeling?” Aki asked, leaning down close to Hito’s face.

“Warm…”

“Feverish?”

“…A little.” Hito answered with a nod.

Aki gave Hito some more medicine and patted his head. “I’m going to sleep. I have to rest so I can pitch for the game tomorrow.”

“You’re going to play?”

“Just pitching.” Aki nodded. “I have to participate some how.. If I don’t… I might go crazy.” He chuckled a bit.

Hito grabbed Aki’s left wrist gently. “You promised…” Aki blinked, looking to the hold on his arm. “You said you wouldn’t hurt yourself.”

Aki nodded slowly, “Okay. As soon as it starts to hurt, I’ll pull myself out and I’ll even walk off the field completely… And come back here? Will that make you happy?”

Hito shook his head. “I know you’d like to play… But… Please don’t get hurt for the sake of it.”

Aki sighed heavily. “You win… I won’t. I promise.” He gently pulled his arm from Hito’s and waved as he left the room.