#it doesn't come up in the story but the crew is out ice skating :3

[windfighter]

Prompt: Bad luck

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The ice cracked beneath Kouji. He screamed. Icy water wrapped around him, cut through his limbs and rushed into his lungs. He closed his mouth, curled up. Tried to spot the hole, but everything was dark under the ice. He couldn’t tell what was up and down.

Kouji’s lungs were burning. He needed oxygen. He opened his mouth again, coughed. Air left him, bubbles floating to the surface. Water replaced it, ran down his throat. The cold water was freezing, it felt like his lungs were on fire. He kicked, tried to move through the water, follow the bubbles to the surface, but his body felt heavy. Slow.

It was getting hard to keep his eyes open.

Another splash cut through the quiet of the water. Arms wrapped around Kouji’s chest, pulled at him. He tried to break free, but couldn’t move, his body too tired. Something kicked against his leg and he tried to kick as well, tried to help get them through the water. His legs hung limp.

They broke though the surface. Kouji tried to pull air into his lungs, coughed to get the water out. He couldn’t, his coughs too weak.

”I’ve got him!” Tomoki’s voice called. ”Rope!”

Ice cracked, Tomoki’s grip around Kouji’s chest got tighter. Kouji wanted to say something, but his brain was just as still as the rest of his body. He closed his eyes.

The ice was cold beneath him. His wet clothes got stuck to it. Someone put him on his side and he could finally cough up the water. Air replaced it.

”Hey. Try to stay awake”, Kouichi asked him.

Kouji was starting to feel warm. Tired. He wasn’t sure he could.

”We need to get him dry clothes”, Junpei said.

Breathing was still a struggle. His head was lifted off the ice, placed on something soft and dry. He was safe. It was probably fine for him to accept the call of unconsiousness. Hands started pulling at his clothes, and Kouji fell into oblivion.

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Something was beeping next to Kouji. He opened his eyes, glanced around. Hospital. He closed his eyes again.

”How long”, his voice was rough, talking hurt. He coughed. ”...was I out?”

”Four hours”, Kouichi answered and grabbed his hand. ”Mama and dad will be back soon, the others weren’t allowed to stay.”

Kouji nodded. Kouichi squeezed his hand.

”Get some more rest, your body temperature is still low.”

Kouji fell back asleep.