Gin turned towards Sugawara and sighed. The younger of the two looked up from idly munching on a pop tart and smiled. "Hello."

"I don't understand how you can eat so much sugar."

Sugawara put the sweet down and shrugged. "It tastes good. You can have the rest if you'd like."

"No way. You've already put your mouth on it. I'm not gay."

"We're cousins."

"It's still gross."

Sugawara sighed. "Why do you have to be so mean about me being gay? What's your issue?"

Gin rolled his eyes and nudged Sugawara with his foot. "Cause I can. Besides no one will believe you."

"My mom will."

"Have you seen how much attention she gives me? Don't be stupid."

"I'm not stupid. I teach you stuff."

"Whatever Meat." Another awful thing Gin liked to do. Point out weight with harsh nicknames.

Sugawara subconsciously prodded his waist, uneasy. "Gin?"

"Hm?"

"You're just messing with me, right?"

"Yeah." Gin stretched. "Sometimes."

Sugawara nodded and sighed. Sometimes meant no. He knew that much. He walked to the dinner table and sat down. His mother put down two plates and sat down as well.

"Hey mom..."

"Yes?"

"I'm not that hungry. Sorry."

"Try to eat."

Sugawara sighed and grabbed his fork. A few minutes later he set it down, shaking his head. "I'm full."

"What has gotten into you?"

"I'm fine. I just can't eat."

"I'm going to need you to eat more. You're starting to look a little bit off." Sugawara tried to put another fork full of food into his mouth but stopped, feeling stares on him. He dropped the utensil and put his head down. "Koushi?"

Sugawara started to cry, overwhelmed by the fact that he might actually have an issue with his body. His mother got up quickly and held him as he cried, confused.

"Koushi... baby what's wrong?"

"I-I just can't eat... I'm sorry..."

"It's okay." She patted his back. "It's going to be okay. Go lay down. I'll bring you something if you feel better."

"Thank you." He stood and rubbed his eyes, walking off to his room. As soon as he entered it he disregarded the sweater draped over his desk chair and opened his bookbag. He took out the laxatives that Daichi had bought him.

What an unwilling way to make someone suffer.

Sugawara emptied two cap fulls into a water bottle and shook it up. As he did so he went into the bathroom, sitting down in front of the toilet. Soon enough he was able to chug down the medicated water, calmer against the tiles of his bathroom.

He put the water bottle into a cabinet and eased up. The laxatives should kick in any moment.

****

"Suga!" Daichi called out.

Sugawara looked up and smiled weakly. "Hey..."

"Woah. You alright there?"

"Fine." He yawned softly. "My stomach gave me issues all night. So I'm a little tired."

"Oh. Does it still hurt? Because I was wondering if you'd toss to some others today."

"Um... my stomach is alright. I guess I can toss."

"You seem a little too tired. Maybe-"

"I can still toss!" Sugawara stood quickly. He rushed over to the other members of his team.

"That was aggressive... Jesus." Daichi walked over to his team captain to talk. Occasionally he would glance over at Sugawara and worriedly squinted. There was just something off about the older male at the moment.

Sugawara was occasionally "aggressive" or "irritable" but right now he just didn't seem right. He looked scared.

"Hey, Daichi stop staring at Sugawara. You can give him googly eyes after practice."

Daichi chuckled nervously. "Um... does something seem off about him?"

"Oh you weren't staring at him... I'm not sure. I guess." The captain called Sugawara over. Sugawara happily came over, tossing a ball back to an upperclassman.

"Hey! What's up?"

"Are you alright?"

"I'm okay." Sugawara coughed. "Throat's a little dry."

"Here." Daichi reached behind him and handed Sugawara a water bottle. Suga took it and sipped at it, rocking on his heels. "You seem a bit more tired than you say you are."

"I'm okay. People get tired."

"If you say so..."

"Mhm!" Sugawara set the bottle down. "Come on, I wanna set for more people."

"Alright Suga. Just take care of yourself, okay?"

"Yeah we don't need anyone collapsing. You're our best setter."

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine." Sugawara turned around and headed closer to the net.

As Sugawara lifted his arms to set a ball again, he felt a pit in his stomach. His arms. His arms were exposed for everyone to see. Sugawara lowered his arms after setting a ball and wrapped them around himself. Asahi got closer to him, nervous.

"Suga? Are you alright?"

"Mhm."

"Are you sure?" Asahi started to set his hand on the boy's back. Sugawara swung back, forcing him away. "Ow!"

Asahi was clutching his nose, blood seeping through his fingers. Sugawara backed up, his eyes wide. "N-no... I'm sorry..."

Daichi looked away from pressing a cloth to Asahi's nose carefully and stared at Sugawara. "Suga. It's okay." Sugawara's breathing hitched and Daichi furrowed his brows. "Asahi, you got that?"

"Mhm."

"Alright." Daichi hurried to Sugawara and held him. "Breathe. It's alright."

Asahi eased the cloth away from his nose and tested the amount of blood coming out of his nose. "Ah! It stopped!"

"See? See, it's okay?" Daichi rocked him back and forth carefully., rubbing his back. Sugawara kept crying, holding onto Daichi tightly. The rest of the team stared, worried. "Shh shh... it stopped bleeding. Asahi is okay. It's okay. Look." Daichi turned and showed him Asahi, who was now standing there, watching intently. The brunette smiled warmly, not wanting to startle the crying male.

"I'm sorry..."

"No, no it's okay. My blood clots quickly." Asahi chuckled softly. "It's alright."

"But I hit your nose..."

Asahi sighed and reached out a hand. He took one of Sugawara's hands and pressed it against the bridge of his nose. Daichi laughed lightly. "It's okay."

"Okay..." Sugawara sighed. He backed away from everyone and gulped. "I'm still very sorry..."

"It's alright, really."

Daichi nodded. "Let's get you cleaned up since Asahi is alright now." Daichi held out his hand and clasped Sugawara's. He led him to the bathroom, worried. "You sure you're okay?"

"I just feel bad for hurting him."

"You couldn't sleep either..." Daichi turned on the water in a sink. He took the cloth he had been holding and put it under the water. "Come closer, it's alright."

"Okay..." Sugawara stepped closer, frowning with his eyes cast down. Daichi eased his chin up and started wiping away the drying tears away carefully.

"Sorry if it's a little cold." Daichi smiled and turned the cloth around to the dry side and wiped Sugawara's cheek gently. "Do you feel alright?"

"I um..." Sugawara gulped.

Hands.

On his face.

What the fuck why was this making his heart race.

"Hello?" Daichi snapped his fingers twice.

Sugawara startled and laughed. "You're funny." He kept laughing, forgetting why he was upset.

"Um..." Daichi blushed a soft red, watching Sugawara laugh lightly. He smiled and crossed his arms. "You going to set some more for me?"

"Yeah!" Sugawara put his hand up and grinned.

Daichi slapped his hand before grabbing it. "Let's go then." Daichi led Sugawara back to the gym. The lighter haired male swung their hands back and forth, humming happily.