Before The Storm - Chapter Two
Daiki stood outside Momiji’s designated room at the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) section. He kept his gaze on Momiji’s lying limp body on the bed, attached with all tubes and apparatus on the other side of the glass window that he was looking through.
The events from the afternoon seemed so daze in Daiki’s view. He felt Momiji fell unconscious on his arms, before he knew it, paramedics were on the run taking care of Momiji’s body and how he didn’t want to let go of his hold on her hand; then Kyoko-san arriving a little later on the scene, holding him by the shoulder, until the paramedics took Momiji’s body to the emergency room while he and Kyoko-san followed.
He heard footsteps coming close nearby, and when he turned, he saw Kyoko-san approaching. She forced a smile to greet him. He nodded in response, turning his eyes back to Momiji.
Kyoko laid her hand in his shoulder, wanting to comfort Daiki. Surely, it was hard on him to be experiencing this. She, herself, is Momiji’s sister and she has seen this kind of event at least once or twice before today, and even so, it still pained her to see her own sister at this state.
“It seems that she had a momentary seizure during this afternoon,” Kyoko uttered, opening up a conversation.
Daiki faced her hearing her words. “Could it be that it’s because-”
“…it’s been happening quite often these past few months, so don’t stress yourself to think that it’s because of the activities that you did for the day” Kyoko cut Daiki off, not wanting to lead him to any wrong conclusion.
Daiki looked down, and Kyoko, knowing that his thoughts is probably still at his wrong conclusion, tried to change the subject. “More so… the family’s already decided on what to do towards her state.”
Daiki looked back at her. “What do you mean?”
Kyoko looked down, debating on whether she should tell Daiki the news or not.
Daiki, sensing something wrong with what’s about to come, urged himself to ask some of the many questions that were suddenly popping into his mind. “Has her condition gotten worse? Is she still gonna be able to wake up? Is her heart getting weaker?...”
He paused, waiting for Kyoko to answer at least one of his questions. “Kyoko-san, I have to know” he muttered.
Kyoko-san, hearing desperation in Daiki’s words couldn’t help but decide that he just had the right to know this as much as a member of a family.
“Mo-chan’s getting a heart transplant” Kyoko said.
Daiki stood, dumbfounded by what he’s hearing. He pulled his thoughts together, knowing he needs to hear this wholly.
“Shortly after your graduation, she had several minor heart seizures during our trip to the States. There, we found out that her heart was growing weaker with its slow, but evident growth more than how it’s suppose to. Since then, she’d been under frequent medications for the last 6 months, and it wasn’t until the end of her medication that we could decide on whether she’ll need the transplant or not. So, after we have all agreed to go on with the transplant, the problem now becomes the donor. Finding a donor that is compatible to her is what’s hard to find.”
Kyoko paused looking at Daiki, who now looks deep in thought.
“And have you guys found a donor, yet?” Daiki asked.
Kyoko nodded. “Fortunately, we have. However,” Kyoko paused.
Daiki kept his attention full on. It just seemed like a never-ending risk, one after the other.
“…however, the transplant operation has its risks. The results are never guaranteed, and only God knows when a patient can stay in their states or not.”
Daiki kept silent as Kyoko turned to Momiji’s direction as well. Daiki hesitated, but found himself having the need to ask the question, “so, what’re the chances of survival?”
There was a silent before Kyoko answered. “Chances are at 50/50”
Hearing this, Daiki felt everything around him stop. There was a 50/50 chance of survival. Fifty percent chance of him to continue having a piece of his life stay with him, and fifty percent chances of him losing everything.
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It has been a couple of days since the incident. Daiki has been concentrating on his rehearsals since. With the concert 2 days away, the pressure is much more on for the group.
The practice for the day has ended. They all agreed on to end the rehearsal at 3 in the afternoon for the day, since they started early and also, since they have performed this routine for several times for the season.
As soon as everyone finished their reverence, Daiki hurriedly ran to gather his stuffs and sweater and pulled his cap on.
“Oh, Dai-chan! You’re not going to join everyone? We planned to go out for dinner tonight. Sorry we couldn’t tell you ahead of time, do you wanna come?” Hikaru asked as Daiki quickly changed his shirt.
“Gomen, I have to go somewhere. Maybe next time…” Daiki replied.
“Maa~, that’s what you said last time. What have you been busy with these past few days Dai-chan?” Chinen inserted, popping out of the blue.
“Hontoni, gomenasai.” Daiki apologized.
“You seem anxious since the start of the week too, what’s up Dai-chan?” Takaki joined in. Everyone seemed to have notice this change in Daiki too. Before he knew it, Daiki found himself being eyed, and waited for an answer for everyone.
“Ah.. Minna-san, hontoni gomenasai. But, it’s just that, I really can’t tell you guys at the time. But, I promise, I’ll inform you as soon as I can. But for now, I really have to go…” Daiki said, bowing his head, feeling guilty of having not to tell his group the truth and worrying them about him. He waited for one of them to reply.
“Maa~.. Daijobu. We’re just worried that’s all, but if you need any help, you know we’re always all here to help out.” Yabu replied, breaking the awkward silence the momentarily formed. The other members nodded in assurance.
“Hai. Hontoni arigatou minna-san…” Daiki said, before quickly grabbing his stuff and run out of the room.
“Mou~… something’s up..” Yamada muttered looking at the door that closed after Daiki’s departure. Yuto was beside him and no doubt he was thinking of the same thing.
“Dai-chan’s usually loud and noisy… but since the start of the week… he’s been looking down.” Chinen exclaimed.
“Well, for now… We just have to let him think about what he needs to do. Whatever his decision will be, will be. Besides, we all know how Dai-chan can be when it comes to his personal issues..” Yabu reasoned. The other members just agreed, knowing that Daiki’s just having his moment. Although deep inside, each one of them is curious as to what Daiki’s problem is, wanting to give a help no matter what.
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When Daiki arrived at the hospital, everything was at phase. Thankfully, Momiji has gained consciousness after the seizure that she got from the weekend with Daiki. Unfortunately, the doctors suggested and much preferred she stayed in the hospital since they have to make strict monitoring on her heart condition and observe reasons and sign for her frequent seizures. That being said, she was moved out of the I.C.U and moved to one of the hospital room.
Daiki took a breather before pushing past the door leading to Momiji’s room. Upon entering the room, he saw Momiji sitting up, a book placed on her lap. There were still tubes attached to her nostrils, but at least it didn’t look quite as life threatening as all the tubes that they attached to her when they arrived at emergency hall.
“Tadaima” Daiki said, walking further into the room.
Noticing his arrival, Momiji turned to Daiki’s direction. “Okaeri” she answered.
Daiki just gave a smile back, approaching her bed. “How are you feeling?”
Momiji picked her book up and put it away, laughing slightly, “You sound like my dad..”
“Nani ga?”
Momiji chuckled. “Nanjatte. Daijobu des.”
“Ah… Souka” Daiki uttered. He put his bag, which he was carrying over his shoulder, on the vacant table near Momiji’s bed, and sat on the chair near the bed.
“How was rehearsal?” Momiji asked.
“Ahh.. maa~ maa~, you’re not really planning on still attending that now are you?” Daiki meant it as a joke, well at least he intended to make it sound like one.
“Nani? Doushite?” Momiji muttered.
“Majide?”
Momiji nodded.
Daiki just looked at her. “Baka! Haha. Don’t worry, I’ll just send you a dvd first copy once it releases okay?”
Momiji pouted upon hearing this. “Mou~… Daii-channn..” she started to whine “I really mean that you know. It’s the first concert I actually get to see you in. Because when you guys held your first concert at Tokyo Dome, I was away to a family trip to Okinawa, then on your tour concert that ended in Yokohama, I was in the States for the whole concert tour. This is the only concert I actually get to see you in you know… that’s why I really wanna go”
Daiki looked at her, trying not to show his anxiousness toward the circumstances.
“And plus… you promised me, remember?” Momiji added, holding out her pinky finger.
~Flashback~
It was way back when they were in Middle School, when Daiki was able to enter Johnny’s and was thrilled about the whole entertainment career he was experiencing. He told Momiji everything he felt, the anxiety, the excitement and the awesome dances got to learn. They were at the playground then.
“The stage is so big Momo-chan, I thought I was gonna mess up badly when I entered the stage in screening time. Good thing I took a breather and Inoo-san was there with me.” Daiki exclaimed, standing on the swing.
“Uwaahh~ Sugoi Dai-chan! So does that mean you’ll be doing concerts of your own one day?” Momiji, who was swinging beside Daiki’s swing, asked.
“Uhhmm.. wakaranai.. I probably wouldn’t want to be doing solos.. those are scary. But… maybe” Daiki exclaimed looking up at the sky deep in thought of being in a concert he would work hard on to present
“Ahhh.. souka.” Momiji exclaimed, looking up at the thinking Daiki. “OHHH! When that day comes, I will be your no.1 supporter! Sitting on the V.I.P section and cheering on you, ne?”
Daiki lightened up, hearing Momiji’s energetic voice. “Baka! Of course you are! You’ll have to be definitely be there”
Momiji jumped off of her swing and stood in front of Daiki, raising her hand and sticking her pinky finger out. “That’s a promise, alright?”
Daiki hopped off of his swing and hooked his pinky finger with Momiji’s. “It’s a promise.”
~end of flashback~
Sadly, that promise was hold off because of the occurrences that always seem to take Momiji at a distance from Daiki every time he had the JUMP concert to hold, and this time, she swore to herself she was gonna stand up to that promise that she made with him.
Stuck at the moment, Daiki just nodded in response hooking his pinky finger with hers, even if he himself was undecided about this.
Momiji lit up a smile on her face after seeing Daiki’s response.
It was a smile she wanted most to show, because deep down inside, she knew she had to go to this concert, she knew she wanted this badly, she had to do this more than anything; she just can’t not fulfill this promise. For all she knew, that if she can’t make it to this one, she might not be able to make it to one ever at all.
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