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Nagito was sick, that was a given. They all knew that, they all knew it was,, 𝘣𝘢𝘥 but they didn't really know 𝘩𝘰𝘸 bad. Nagito knew how sick he was, he wasn't stupid. The fact still hit him though, as he lay in the hospital, his old friend Chiaki by his side, the rhythmic beeping of her game almost synching with the beeps of the machines he was hooked to. He laughed dryly, cursing lady luck. He always knew his luck was going to run out eventually, the fact he made it as long as he did was damn near a medical miracle in itself. It hurt, to breathe, to move, to keep going, it all hurt. He wished he could give up, let go and be set free with his only remaining friend by his side, but of course, his luck had run out, so he was stuck to lay there, suffering. Chiaki tried to help him, once. Trying to up his morphine dosage, the goal to put him in a nice, deep sleep that he simply wouldn't wake from, but it didn't work, almost getting caught twice by nurses made Chiaki fear to try again. The hospital was on a strict "no assisted suicide" rule, so the nurses hand their hands tied in the way of helping him. He groaned a bit as he shifted in his bed, the tubes attached to him tugging at his frail skin, the fact that he was still moving was another small miracle. Chiaki looked up at him at the pained noise, a small frown on her face "Hurting again?" He nodded weakly, pain flashing in his face at the small movement "I need to borrow-" He coughed violently, sitting up straight in bed faster than his body should've been able to handle. He took a few rattling breathes in, wiping blood from his lips after the fit, "your phone," He finished, shakily reaching out a hand. Chiaki, never one to refuse a dying man's wish, handed him the device quickly. "Of course, need to see something?" She tilted her head, questions clear in her eyes. "I, I need to call someone. Lucky me I still remember the number." He smiled almost cruelly and the mention of his 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬, the word tasting like venom on his tongue. The phone rang, once, twice, three times, four..
Hajime laid back on his couch, feet kicked up and eyes trained on the TV, his phone buzzed on the table. A quick glance down to an unknown, but vaguely familiar number. He debated letting it go to voicemail, but something told him he shouldn't ignore it. He swiped the answer button and held it to his ear "Hajime Hinata, whos' this?" An all too familiar chuckle came from the other end, nearly the same as all those years ago, but with a more, gravelly pained sound to it. "Hey, Hajime. Don't hang up. Please?"
Nagito nearly laughed at the shocked silence that ran on for a minute or so, "You don't have to talk, just listen. Please. Listen, we both know I've been sick, yeah? It's bad, bad bad. It hurts, and I'm so tired. I, I want to see you again, one last time, before I go. " Silence rang on for another minute or so, nothing but the steady beep of the machines basically keeping him alive, before he finally answered, first with a deep, almost conflicted sigh, "Yeah. I'll come. It's only right, I guess. Where are you." "I'll text you the location. Hurry over Hajime..and, thank you." The door swung open slowly open a few hours later, Chiaki headed home after the call, leaving Nagito alone in the room. Hajime peeked his head in, smiling sadly at the frail boy on the bed, white hair losing it's old shape, now drooped down to his shoulders. He took a seat in the chair, pulling it closer to the bed "Hey..Nagito. How're you feeling?" He cringed internally at the stupid question, shaking his head "You came, thank you. I'm, not doing too good. They gave me my morphine not too long ago so, it's bearable at least.." Nagito shrugged a bit, wincing. "Can, can you come up here with me? I know it's a lot to ask of you after,,everything, but, I, the touch would help a lot.." Hajime froze for a second, debating it, before sighing and standing, "Yeah, scooch over, make some room." The smile Nagito flashed was the brightest one in months as he moved slowly to the side, grunting a bit in pain. Hajime slid next to him awkwardly, clearing his throat and cursing mentally. He took his hand first, before gently pulling him to his chest, rubbing his back and playing with his hair, much to Nagito's shock, "Hajime?" "Don't mention it, you said touch would help, I, I want to help you since.." "Since I'm dying?" "Yeah.." He looked away, silence stretching out between them. Nagito spoke suddenly, breaking the tension, "I've been in here for 2 weeks, nearly. Chiaki comes every few days, for a few hours, I've spent every night alone though, this is,,this is really nice.." Hajime nods, drawing soft shapes on his back "Hajime?" Hajime hums in response, glancing down at the boy next to him, who seemed to grow paler by the minute, "I love you." "Nagito- Please don't-" His body relaxed, unlike Hajime, who was tense with the confession, besides the questions in his head and blood rushing in his ears, he heard something through his messy mind, a long, continous sound from the monitor beside him, He glanced up, it sounded different then when he came in, his eyes widened with the realizion. It was a flatline. He sat up, pulling Nagito with him and looking at his face with wide eyes, he was smiling softly, eyes shut and face pale, Hajime quickly placed a finger under his nose. Nothing. He died, while Hajime was holding him. Shock and sadness filled him, he didn't register a nurse running into the room, until he was being shaken, fingers snapping in his face, "ir- Sir! Can you hear me?" He nodded, blinking away his confusion, "He,, is he? I-" She nodded sadly, looking at his chart, "He's a DNR, I'm sorry sir. He,, he was a good guy" She smiled softly, though her face was sad and tears pricked her eyes "I've been his main nurse every time, he had a few more weeks at the least, he was in pain and his vitals were iffy but, theres no logical reason he would have died so suddenly.." Hajime with a shaking voice and teary eyes, explained the phone call, his final few words, how he was sick for years. "He waited. He was so tired for a long time, sir. He was ready to go weeks ago but, he was hanging on, you helped him finally let go... I'll miss him, a lot, but I'm glad he's free now. I'm glad he wasn't alone before he went.. that was his worst fear." she shook her head, wiping at her eyes, "I'll let you say your goodbyes if you wish, we need to take him now..I'll be in the hallway when you're done." He nodded, standing shakily "Nagito..I'm sorry." He wiped the tears from his eyes, leaning to press a kiss to the cold cheek, and stepped into the hallway. He smiled sadly at the nurse, walking back to the parking garage to his car. He sat there, doors locked for a minute in silence, staring at his hands, he had a moment of silence, not peace, but silence, before the sobs started. Chest rattling, screaming sobs. He was mad at him, for calling him over just to die on him, he was sad that he wasted so many years nursing a grudge that he missed the years he could've spent with him, he was confused, he was hurt, he for a moment wished he didn't come at all, but he thought back on the nurses words and wiped roughly at his face, he did the right thing, he helped him let go. He pulled out his phone, looking for the number Nagito texted him on, and called. To his slight surprise, his other classmate, Chiaki, answered. "Hello?" "Hey, it's Hajime,, Nagito called me from your phone earlier..I just left the hospital and uhm,, he..He's gone.." She sighed, "Oh..thank you for telling me Hajime, drive safe." She hung up fast, but he didn't blame her, she needed to grieve too. He drove home in silence, slamming in his door shut and laying in his bed, the tears started again, that was okay, he needed to get it out anyway. He turned over, allowing his sobs to eventually lull him to sleep. He dreamed of Nagito that night, and for once, didn't want to wake up.