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Senbazuru, otherwise known as the 1000 paper cranes wish, is a traditional Japanese folklore that grants a wish, as long as you fold 1,000 paper cranes; there's no time limit, no deadlines.
Goshiki and y/n are both third years in Shiratorizawa now, they've been friends ever since elementary school (7 years now, to be exact) dating for 2 years. Near the end of their second year through their second year though, y/n had trouble breathing and they got diagnosed with a rare terminal illness medically named "mucoviscidosis", otherwise known as cystic fibrosis. y/n became bedridden most of the time because she struggled to breathe properly because of the mucus build-up in their lungs. Goshiki visited her often, occasionally handing them a paper crane, giving her gifts, spending more time with her rather than wasting his time on volleyball. But somedays, he didn't visit her and they instead video-called or texted.
Info about the medical condition, you can skip if you want!
Cystic fibrosis/ CF / mucoviscidosis is a rare medical condition without a discovered cure. It often affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs of the person with said condition. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes sticky, thick mucus to build up in your organs, blocking and damaging them. Many people think of it as a lung disease because it affects your lungs and airways, which can make it hard to breathe and cause frequent infections. But it’s called cystic fibrosis because it also causes cysts and scarring (fibrosis) in your pancreas. This damage, plus the thick mucus, can block ducts that release digestive enzymes, making it hard to get nutrients from your digestive tract. CF can also affect your liver, sinuses, intestines and sex organs. (source: my.clevelandclinic.org)
Each time he visited y/n, they could tell his growing complaints about his hands cramping and the dark purple circles deepening more and more under his eyes. y/n really, truly cared for Goshiki, but there was nothing they could physically do to stop him from his sleeping habits, the least that they could do is tell him to stop staying up making paper cranes all night.
"Have you been getting enough sleep?" They asked, concern growing in their chest. "I've just making paper cranes for you, that's all.." Goshiki responded, yawning while y/n massages his hands that he claimed were sore from 'volleyball'. That was believable, but it still wouldn't explain the tiny paper cuts all over his fingers. "You should really catch up on some sleep, Tsu. By the way, how many have you made so far?" "937 cranes, I could've made more if I didn't fall asleep last night." Goshiki rested his head on y/n's shoulder as they continued massaging his sore hands. "I keep telling you to sleep, I'm going to tell your mom if you don't listen to me." Goshiki just hummed in response, too tired to even talk.
Soon enough, they both fell asleep to the constant beeping of the IV drops and the low hum of the bright overhead fluorescent lights in the blindingly white and sterile hospital room of Goshiki's dearest y/n.
The amount of cranes kept adding up each day, whether Goshiki was in y/n's hospital room, at school, during training, at home or even on vacation he still made them to fulfill his one wish. He was committed in this Japanese legend, he isn't even absolutely sure if the legend was true or not but there was no harm in trying, right..? Welp, you'll find out soon.
One day, Goshiki entered into y/n's hospital room after school, like he usually does. y/n greeted him weakly and he sat down beside them, it was getting painful for them to talk and so only Goshiki talked about his day and how boring it became when y/n wasn't there for a while as the sun slowly came down. After a while, Goshiki stopped talking before he leaned down to pick up something for his bag, it was a small sheet of paper and it was in y/n's favorite color. "I'll teach you how to make a paper crane!" y/n just nodded and watched how his hands folded the piece of paper with practiced ease and precision, mostly because of how many paper cranes he had many so far. On the last fold, he let y/n do it but before they folded it, he whispered something to them. "I love you," and so y/n folded it.
Goshiki collapsed in their arms and y/n could breathe properly now, but they couldn't breathe because of how much they're crying. It was 1000th paper crane and his wish was granted.
His only wish was simple; a life for a life. His life to save y/n's.