7FMB: Chapter 18
Title: The 7 Faces of My Boyfriend
Genre: Romance
Characters: Shida Mirai, Kamiki Ryunosuke, Irie Jingi, Kamiki Yuu (Oizumi Yo), Yonemoto Mai (Kawashima Umika), Sakamoto Shougo, Kanata Hongo, Hiharu (Ohgo Suzuka), Narumi Riko, Nozomi Maeda
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Kamiki and Shida were childhood best friends. One day though, Shida had to go to another town and leave… so Kamiki promised that when they meet again, they’ll marry each other. Eight years later, and she’s back. But Kamiki is not the same. He was diagnosed with MPD and now has 7 personalities. What will Shida do?
Chapter 18: That Dark Smile and the Hospital
"No..." She had to say it. This was finally the moment. "You didn't faint, Yosuke-kun." She took a deep breath, wondering how to say it. "You... there's something I have to tell you."
"What is it?" Yosuke tried to smile despite the obvious curiousness and fear in his eyes.
"Yosuke-kun. This is really hard to explain..." She took one of his hands and enveloped it with both of hers. "Please listen carefully, okay?" She waited for him to nod before continuing. "Yosuke-kun doesn't have a memory problem. You don't sleepwalk either. You just... When you faint, someone comes and takes over your place... How do I say it..."
His eyes were wide. "Spirits?"
Shida immediately shook her head. "No!" She looked him in the eyes, collecting her thoughts. "It's... Hm. Remember Aki? He's the school representative and a member of a club Mai-chan is in. Don't you find it weird that you haven't met someone so important?"
"...What are you saying?" He looked weirded out, unable to understand.
"Aki-kun is inside Yosuke-kun's body. Whenever you faint, someone takes over. Aki is one of those people. There are a few others too, some of which I have met already." She explained slowly, gauging his feelings through the changes in his expression. He still looked confused, but he seems to believe her. "It's a condition called Multiple Personality Disorder. And Yosuke-kun... you're one of the personaities. That body belongs to Kamiki Ryunosuke."
"I-" he frowned deeply, confusion etched in his expression. "I've heard of his name before. Someone called me that. People sometimes call me Aki too. Is that why...?" He clutched at hair, obviously frustrated about hearing this now. "That means everything has been a lie? Mai-chan lied to me, and everyone else too..."
Shida shook her head slowly, squeezing his hand. "Some of them lied, yes. But it was for you, Yosuke-kun. They did it so you wouldn't get hurt. You shouldn't get angry at them. Mai-chan was really, really concerned about you. She just wanted you to be happy." It was weird hearing these words from her own mouth. Protecting Mai was something she did not think about, but she knew it was just right to do this. Mai cared about Yosuke the most, after all. "Please forgive them. Your happiness was something everyone wished for, you know."
The frown was still on his face. "But a lie is a lie. I can't believe... everything's..." He clenched his fist. "If I'm just a personality, I'm not real." he muttered. "I'm not even a real person. I don't... exist."
"Don't say that!" Shida said, despite the fact that she once said it too. Before, she would have agreed. But Yosuke did have memories that Kamiki does not have, just as Tomodachi has a personality that no one else has, and how Aki has a certai aura that Kamiki would never have. They were not 'real' in some sense, but in the hearts of the people around them, they were. "My memories of you are vivid. You were able to help me bake, right? You comforted me about my father too. You're... you're real for me, and for everyone else who met you."
Slowly, his frown disappeared and a small smile appeared on his face. "Really?" He was back to being that innocent teenage boy she kenw him to be. He really is so easily convinced. That's probably one of his positive-negative traits.
She smiled as well. "You are. No matter what, my memories of you will stay and there will always be a Yosuke-kun in my heart."
A soft blush appeared on his cheeks. "Thank you, Mirai-chan... Thank you for saying the truth nobody dared to tell me." He placed his free hand on her cheek and caressed it. "Knowing the truth is better than always wondering where my memories go. Thank you..."
Shida got that light feeling insde her chest, the one telling her to let go because he'll soon disappear. The feeling telling her that Kamiki was so, so near. "I'm happy for you, Yosuke-kun."
Soon enough, his hand fell to his side and his eyes closed. "I'm happy..." was his last words as he fell to the front, making her fall on her back with him on top of her.
"Aki...?" Through experience, she knew Aki would soon appear after something like this happened. When someone goes away, Aki appears to explain or make things right.
Before he could speak though, a male voice shouted from the side. "What are you doing to her, you brat?!" It was Ogawa Hayato. "Let go of her."
Aki rolled over and stood up, glaring at Hayato. Was it really Aki, though? "Aki-kun...?" Shida asked. "Let's go." But he did not look at her. He still faced Hayato with narrowed eyes. She could feel the dark aura around him. This was... this was the guy who saved her and Tomodachi. Ju- something. He is the personality Aki has been concealing from her.
Ju, as Shida calls him in her mind now, strode to Hayato, smirking in a way Shida has not seen before. "Brat? Oh what a name to call me, senpai." His voice had a playful tone to it, and yet it sent fear down her spine. "Are you close to Mi-chan? You aren't, right?" He chuckled darkly. "It's because she doesn't like you. She has never liked you. I'll even go as far as saying she hates you."
She couldn't understand where it was all coming from. This new Kamiki personality was just spouting nonsense. She couldn't speak though. Something about him made her want to go home and lock herself in her room. As if his whole existence was a dark black hole.
Hayato's eyes flared with anger. "Ryunosuke, you don't have any right to talk to me like that." He fisted his shirt and glared right into his eyes.
Scoffing, Ju pried away Hayato's hands and held his wrist. Painfully so. He held it so tightly that Hayato flinched and his eyes showed weakly concealed fear. "Hayato-senpai, I have every right. I can even kill you if I want to. No one would put me to jail. You see, I can plead not guilty due to insanity." He started laughing. A loud, psychotic laugh that made Shida shiver and made her want to run away. She was shaking from head to toe. "But I won't do that." Ju shrugged and let go of Hayato's wrist, showing a red and purple bruise. "Now go before I change my mind."
Hayato glared at him for one last time before running away for his dear life.
"Now, now," Ju then looked at her with a huge smile. Even with that friendly looking smile, the aura Shida felt was still paralyzing. Dark and scary. "Should we have a little talk, Mi-chan?"
Mi-chan? Shida looked down, scared to look him in the eyes. "Who are you and why do you call me Mi-chan?"
He stepped closer. She stepped back. "I'm someone you know. Someone you forgot. Someone..." He stepped closer again, this time placing a hand on her shoulder.
She couldn't help but look up. With large, searching eyes, she stared at him.
"Someone... Ah!" He clutched his head as if in pain. "Aki, stop that." He moved to the wall to steady himself. He clenched his left fist and muttered angrily. "Stop it... Aki, don't even try." He closed his eyes.
And then he fell on the ground.
"Mikki!" She kneeled on his side, holding his arms. By the looks of it, that Ju guy was gone. "Are you okay?"
When he opened his eyes, his gait looked fragile and his eyes was cloudy and unfocused. "Doctor..." He coughed. "Call sensei."
Placing him down carefully, she nodded and ran to the building where she knew Yuu-sensei was still in his office.
It turns out, he was another personality. The last one that everyone knew. Yaechi.
According to her research, Yaechi is the one who appears when Kamiki is sick, or has some sort of asthma attack. He's the one who gets the physical pain. Whenever he's in the hospital, he is Yaechi. As for his attitude, Jingi said he's really quiet and cold. He's civilized to Non-chan though, it seems. He trusts Yuu-sensei as a doctor but doesn't treat him as a father.
He also knows about the other personalities and accepts the fact that he's just a personality. He doesn't talk about it much. Out of everyone, he's the one who is the most passive.
That was all she knew.
...
Shida sat beside him, clutching his left hand with both of her hands. He had a severe asthma attack and it seems his lungs are really tired. He's been pushing himself too hard, Yuu-sensei said. Yaechi almost always appear every other week and yet he hasn't appeared in about two and a half months. Ever since Shida arrived, Yaechi has ceased to exist. Until now, that is.
"Augh..." Yaechi slowly opened his eyes. Scanning his surroundings, he caught sight of her and immediately pulled his hand away. "Who are you?"
Sitting up quickly from her bed beside them, Nozomi spoke up. "Yae-kun, this is our classmate Shida Mirai. He's Kamiki Ryunosuke's childhood best friend."
His eyes narrowed but he politely bowed. "I'm Yaegashi. Nice to meet you."
Nozomi smiled. "You can call him Yaechi. Everyone calls him that."
Shida looked at his expresson, cold and defensive. "Nice to meet you, Yaechi!" She smiles brightly, knowing that the best way to win over a cold heart is a warm smile. "I've met all of Mikki's personalities. It's nice to meet you at last."
His eyes widened for a second before it went back to being emotionless. "You've met everyone?" he asked suspiciously. "Why?"
For some reason, she felt she had to be cautious with her answers. "I've been your classmate for a while."
"Hmm." He closed his eyes, thinking. "I'm tired. I have to sleep." He lied down again and faced the other direction.
...
..
.
It was 11 o'clock in the evening, a dark and scary atmosphere around the hospital. But despite that, Shida Mirai (8 years old) was not scared. She bravely walked to the side of the building where an open window was. Kamiki had opened it earlier so she could sneak in. They promised to watch the stars together.
"Mikki?" she whispers to the wind as soon as she was in his room.
"He's sleeping." A boy in the other bed said, sitting up. "But he said you can just wake him up if you arrive. 'Don't draw on my face, okay!' he said." He chuckled, remembering how silly Kamiki looked.
"Good evening, Kenta-kun." she greeted, smiling cutely. Suga Kenta was a younger kid who just got confined in here. He had a blood disease that Shida did not know about. He didn't look sick though. Instead, he always smiled and helped the two as if he was older than them. He was mature for his age and he treated the two like his siblings. "You should sleep now. It's bad for you to stay up late!" Shida tried to sound like an adult.
He laughed it off. "I just wanted to wait for you. Mikki kept on saying you might go away if you see him sleeping."
She giggled. "That's just like him." She then moved to the side of Kamiki's bed and placed a hand on his hair, combing it gently. "He looks so harmless when asleep. But he jumps around once awake. Cute~"
"Eh..." Kamiki's eyes fluttered open. Eyes widening, he sat up and exclaimed "Mi-chan!? Did you write on my face?"
Laughing, she shook her head and took a mirror from the table. "See? I didn't." She smiled brightly again and offered a hand. "Let's watch the stars together?"
The smile on his face was brighter than the sun. It made her heart jump and made her smile wider. "Hai!"
.
..
...
"Mikki, Kenta-kun is..." Shida fell asleep at Yaechi's bedside. Wiping the sides of her mouth, she looked up to see Yae staring at her. "Huh?"
He looked away. "You were talking in your sleep." He had a huge frown on his face. He was angry. "You..." Glancing one more time at her, he asked "You know Ken-chan?"
"Ken-chan...?" Blinking in confusion, she racked her brain for an answer. "Ah! Kenta-kun? Yes..." She nodded. "He was your room mate..." Her eyes widened as she glanced around the room. This was the same room as before. This was where Kamiki was confined from before. But Suga Kenta was not here. Did he go away? "What happened to Kenta-ku-"
"He died." Yaechi clenched his fist at the side. "Just before Senior High."
Shida vaguely remembers Kenta promising Mikki that they'll be classmates once Kenta gets well. She felt a heavy weight in her stomach, a sad feeling settling in. "I'm sorry."
"It's late. Go home." He said, eyes still showing that cold, distant look.
Knowing how bad he must feel, she simply nods and takes her bag to leave. Nozomi was sleeping peacefully at the other bed.
...
The next day, Shida did not go to the cultural festival and instead went to the hospital. She'll just worry about him if she doesn't, anyway. To her surprise, she sees a sad Ashida Mana standing just outside the door. Walking closer, she kneels to her side and greets her. "Good morning, Mana-chan. Did you come to visit?"
Mana nodded, still having that pitiful expression on her face. "I picked flowers from our garden. But Yae'nii-chan hates them and threw them away."
Frowning, Shida stood up and held Mana's hand. "Let's talk to your nii-chan, ne?" She opened the door and walked straight to him. Nozomi was out for her morning walk, it seems. She looked at him with that strict expression in her face. "Yaechi."
He was sitting up, a book in hand. He looked up, but quickly went back to reading whatever manga he was reading. "Oh." was his only word.
"I'm talking to you." She said, annoyance obvious in her voice. "Are you bullying Mana-chan? That's bad."
Raising a brow, he glanced at her and then at Mana at her side. "I'm not bullying anyone. Are you stupid?"
"Then why did you throw away the flowers?" Shida just can't understand how someone can even do something as bad as that to someone as adorable and innocent as Mana-chan. "She went out of her way to give you flowers. The least you could do is appreciate it."
He scoffed, looking at her straight in the eye. "I don't like flowers. I never asked her to give me those. Besides, flowers die when you pluck them. That kid just killed those flowers." He looked at Mana. "Don't do that again."
Eyes wide and innocent, Mana nodded. "I'm really sorry." She bowed down.
Aaah. So he wasn't bullying her. He was telling her a lesson. But still! He could have been straight forward about it. He shouldn't make Mana-chan sad. Shida was more or less confused whether to say sorry about her tone or to be annoyed at his actions. She chose to just be quiet and sit beside him, offering Mana a seat next to her.
"Yae'nii-chan, why are you always in this hospital?" Mana asked crusously.
He shrugged. "I'm sick."
"Why are you sick?" the little girl asked again.
"Because I was born with a sick body." He answered plainly. "It's Saaya's fault."
Mana frowned a bit. "Mama's fault?"
"Yes." He did not even look at them, and simply read on.
Shida watched as Mana stood up and gathered her things. "I'm going home." she said, bowing to the two. "Thank you, Nee-chan."
Smiling like an older sister, she patted her head fondly and nodded. "Be careful on your way home, okay?"
"Un!"
...
It has been quiet for a while now, Shida looking at the scenery outside while he read different mangas stacked at his side.
Boredom striking in though, she had to start up conversation. "Don't you like Mana-chan?" she started, wondering why Yae was so cold with the kid as well. It was so different from how Iinchou acted around Mana.
"No, I don't." He answered plainly. "She's small and fragile." he added as if it was the clearest explanation.
She pondered on his words slowly. "You don't like fragile things..." Because they get broken easily and some die quickly? Being in a hospital all his life, she guessed it was obvious for him to think that way. Seeing death around him, not being able to save anyone, not knowing who will come next... it seems like a sad, sad life. "You know what, Yaechi, whenever I see Mana-chan or Non-chan, it makes me want to protect them. Don't you?"
"Nozomi-chan does not need protection." he mutters. "She has Shougo, and he said he'll protect her forever. Mana only has her parents. They can't do anything for her."
That made her think. Mana always go out of their house and gets to the Kamiki residence without her mother's permission. Shida's own opinion of Saaya'kaa-sama is pretty low, as well. She knew how Kamiki suffered because of his mother. Instinctively, despite Kamiki not writing it in his letters, her disappearance from his life made him suffer a whole lot. "You've... got a point there." was all she could say.
Another silence enveloped them as Shida started thinking of ways to get Yae's friendship and as Yae continued reading.
A few minutes later, a Nozomi and a nurse came in. "Mirai-chan, good morning!" she greeted. The nurse rolled in the lunch cart inside and placed a tray in front of Yae ad Nozomi. "Here, lunch." the nurse simply said before walking away with the cart.
"Itadakimasu." Yae muttered before taking the chopsticks and opening his food.
Nozomi looked at her curiously. "Aren't you going to eat?" she asked Shida. "You can buy something from the canteen. Ah, but their food isn't really good." She giggled.
Shida smiled. "I brought a packed lunch." Taking a box from her bag, she placed it beside Yae and opened it up, revealing a delicious collection of mini sandwiches. "I had too much fun making it, so I ended up making too many." She laughed a bit before offering Nozomi some. "Here, I hope you like it."
"Thanks!" Nozomi took one and tasted it. "Uwah~ Yummy!" She closed her eyes, savoring the taste. "This is tons more delicious than Hospital food."
"Yae-kun, how about you?" She offered the box to him. "It's delicious, try it!"
Eyeing her food for a while, he nodded a bit before tasting one. "Thank you." He simply said, after eating it.
"No compliments at least?" Shida pouted. "You should understand a girl's heart, Mik- Yaechi!" She almost blushed upon that slip of the tongue. She always told Mikki to be sweeter before.
He blinked a bit, before looking at his lunch and avoiding her gaze. "Thank you means it was delicious, doesn't it? I wouldn't say thank you if I hated it." he explained flatly.
She had to giggle at that. Yae has a polite side too, she thinks. He's probably shy too. "Then, you're welcome." she replied, smiling before eating her lunch.
...
It went on like this for the whole day, with her just sitting by his side. She mostly talked to Nozomi about school and about different pop cultures. Yae was reading all the time. It seems he was just really quiet. A few times though, Shida caught him looking at them. It was cute~
When time came when she had to go, she took her things and stood up. But before leaving, a brilliant idea came to her mind. "Ne," she faced him, getting his attention. "Do you want to watch the stars together later? I can sneak in if you open your window."
His eyes widened, surprised. His expression had something else too. She could't quite point it out. There really was something else. "...Sure." he dismissed her off with that, as if he did not care less. He went back to reading and simply nodded a bit.
On the side, Nozomi smiled brightly at Shida and showd a thumbs up.
"It's annoying." Hayato grumbled under his breath. "Mi-chan didn't come today."
Rika giggled, placing a cold compress on Hayato's wrist. They were at the side of the garden, sitting on the benches. "She's probably with him, don't you think?"
Another boy was beside them, smoking on their right. He was the smallest of the bullies who tried to hurt Tomodachi and Hiharu before. "Damn it. That Ryunosuke even hurt you, boss. How can he do that..."
"This is nothing." Hayato smirked. "We'll just have to wait for the right time. He's a weak one right now. I saw it. An asthma attack. I knew he still was like that."
"I missed seeing him collapse~" Rika had a playful smile on her face. "Just like old times, ne. That pained look... it's beautiful."
The other boy shivered in fear. "Always the sadist, Rika."
"Ryunosuke's just more beautiful when he's hurt, that's all." Rika giggled. "Don't say stuff like me being a sadist, Satoshi-kun~"
"But you are." Satoshi laughed. "Anyway, when will we strike, boss?"
Hayato smiled darkly. "Soon."
(Shoooort chapter)
Surprise?!
Or not.
Lots of answers coming up everywhere in the last two chapters. I'm so scared to continue *______*
I'm scared of Ju-chan, actually.
And Aki disappearing. /dies.
Oh and for those who don't know Adachi Rika, google her. She's so cute. ;-; I don't know what happened why I chose her and Hayato. I adore them both. So much. Also, Satoshi is Tomiura Satoshi (Tsukushi Makino's brother in HanaDan and Matsuken's brother in Gantz?). THEY'RE ALL ADORABLE LOOKING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO ANYTHING BAD. :o
Genre: Romance
Characters: Shida Mirai, Kamiki Ryunosuke, Irie Jingi, Kamiki Yuu (Oizumi Yo), Yonemoto Mai (Kawashima Umika), Sakamoto Shougo, Kanata Hongo, Hiharu (Ohgo Suzuka), Narumi Riko, Nozomi Maeda
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Kamiki and Shida were childhood best friends. One day though, Shida had to go to another town and leave… so Kamiki promised that when they meet again, they’ll marry each other. Eight years later, and she’s back. But Kamiki is not the same. He was diagnosed with MPD and now has 7 personalities. What will Shida do?
Chapter 18: That Dark Smile and the Hospital
"No..." She had to say it. This was finally the moment. "You didn't faint, Yosuke-kun." She took a deep breath, wondering how to say it. "You... there's something I have to tell you."
"What is it?" Yosuke tried to smile despite the obvious curiousness and fear in his eyes.
"Yosuke-kun. This is really hard to explain..." She took one of his hands and enveloped it with both of hers. "Please listen carefully, okay?" She waited for him to nod before continuing. "Yosuke-kun doesn't have a memory problem. You don't sleepwalk either. You just... When you faint, someone comes and takes over your place... How do I say it..."
His eyes were wide. "Spirits?"
Shida immediately shook her head. "No!" She looked him in the eyes, collecting her thoughts. "It's... Hm. Remember Aki? He's the school representative and a member of a club Mai-chan is in. Don't you find it weird that you haven't met someone so important?"
"...What are you saying?" He looked weirded out, unable to understand.
"Aki-kun is inside Yosuke-kun's body. Whenever you faint, someone takes over. Aki is one of those people. There are a few others too, some of which I have met already." She explained slowly, gauging his feelings through the changes in his expression. He still looked confused, but he seems to believe her. "It's a condition called Multiple Personality Disorder. And Yosuke-kun... you're one of the personaities. That body belongs to Kamiki Ryunosuke."
"I-" he frowned deeply, confusion etched in his expression. "I've heard of his name before. Someone called me that. People sometimes call me Aki too. Is that why...?" He clutched at hair, obviously frustrated about hearing this now. "That means everything has been a lie? Mai-chan lied to me, and everyone else too..."
Shida shook her head slowly, squeezing his hand. "Some of them lied, yes. But it was for you, Yosuke-kun. They did it so you wouldn't get hurt. You shouldn't get angry at them. Mai-chan was really, really concerned about you. She just wanted you to be happy." It was weird hearing these words from her own mouth. Protecting Mai was something she did not think about, but she knew it was just right to do this. Mai cared about Yosuke the most, after all. "Please forgive them. Your happiness was something everyone wished for, you know."
The frown was still on his face. "But a lie is a lie. I can't believe... everything's..." He clenched his fist. "If I'm just a personality, I'm not real." he muttered. "I'm not even a real person. I don't... exist."
"Don't say that!" Shida said, despite the fact that she once said it too. Before, she would have agreed. But Yosuke did have memories that Kamiki does not have, just as Tomodachi has a personality that no one else has, and how Aki has a certai aura that Kamiki would never have. They were not 'real' in some sense, but in the hearts of the people around them, they were. "My memories of you are vivid. You were able to help me bake, right? You comforted me about my father too. You're... you're real for me, and for everyone else who met you."
Slowly, his frown disappeared and a small smile appeared on his face. "Really?" He was back to being that innocent teenage boy she kenw him to be. He really is so easily convinced. That's probably one of his positive-negative traits.
She smiled as well. "You are. No matter what, my memories of you will stay and there will always be a Yosuke-kun in my heart."
A soft blush appeared on his cheeks. "Thank you, Mirai-chan... Thank you for saying the truth nobody dared to tell me." He placed his free hand on her cheek and caressed it. "Knowing the truth is better than always wondering where my memories go. Thank you..."
Shida got that light feeling insde her chest, the one telling her to let go because he'll soon disappear. The feeling telling her that Kamiki was so, so near. "I'm happy for you, Yosuke-kun."
Soon enough, his hand fell to his side and his eyes closed. "I'm happy..." was his last words as he fell to the front, making her fall on her back with him on top of her.
"Aki...?" Through experience, she knew Aki would soon appear after something like this happened. When someone goes away, Aki appears to explain or make things right.
Before he could speak though, a male voice shouted from the side. "What are you doing to her, you brat?!" It was Ogawa Hayato. "Let go of her."
Aki rolled over and stood up, glaring at Hayato. Was it really Aki, though? "Aki-kun...?" Shida asked. "Let's go." But he did not look at her. He still faced Hayato with narrowed eyes. She could feel the dark aura around him. This was... this was the guy who saved her and Tomodachi. Ju- something. He is the personality Aki has been concealing from her.
Ju, as Shida calls him in her mind now, strode to Hayato, smirking in a way Shida has not seen before. "Brat? Oh what a name to call me, senpai." His voice had a playful tone to it, and yet it sent fear down her spine. "Are you close to Mi-chan? You aren't, right?" He chuckled darkly. "It's because she doesn't like you. She has never liked you. I'll even go as far as saying she hates you."
She couldn't understand where it was all coming from. This new Kamiki personality was just spouting nonsense. She couldn't speak though. Something about him made her want to go home and lock herself in her room. As if his whole existence was a dark black hole.
Hayato's eyes flared with anger. "Ryunosuke, you don't have any right to talk to me like that." He fisted his shirt and glared right into his eyes.
Scoffing, Ju pried away Hayato's hands and held his wrist. Painfully so. He held it so tightly that Hayato flinched and his eyes showed weakly concealed fear. "Hayato-senpai, I have every right. I can even kill you if I want to. No one would put me to jail. You see, I can plead not guilty due to insanity." He started laughing. A loud, psychotic laugh that made Shida shiver and made her want to run away. She was shaking from head to toe. "But I won't do that." Ju shrugged and let go of Hayato's wrist, showing a red and purple bruise. "Now go before I change my mind."
Hayato glared at him for one last time before running away for his dear life.
"Now, now," Ju then looked at her with a huge smile. Even with that friendly looking smile, the aura Shida felt was still paralyzing. Dark and scary. "Should we have a little talk, Mi-chan?"
Mi-chan? Shida looked down, scared to look him in the eyes. "Who are you and why do you call me Mi-chan?"
He stepped closer. She stepped back. "I'm someone you know. Someone you forgot. Someone..." He stepped closer again, this time placing a hand on her shoulder.
She couldn't help but look up. With large, searching eyes, she stared at him.
"Someone... Ah!" He clutched his head as if in pain. "Aki, stop that." He moved to the wall to steady himself. He clenched his left fist and muttered angrily. "Stop it... Aki, don't even try." He closed his eyes.
And then he fell on the ground.
"Mikki!" She kneeled on his side, holding his arms. By the looks of it, that Ju guy was gone. "Are you okay?"
When he opened his eyes, his gait looked fragile and his eyes was cloudy and unfocused. "Doctor..." He coughed. "Call sensei."
Placing him down carefully, she nodded and ran to the building where she knew Yuu-sensei was still in his office.
It turns out, he was another personality. The last one that everyone knew. Yaechi.
According to her research, Yaechi is the one who appears when Kamiki is sick, or has some sort of asthma attack. He's the one who gets the physical pain. Whenever he's in the hospital, he is Yaechi. As for his attitude, Jingi said he's really quiet and cold. He's civilized to Non-chan though, it seems. He trusts Yuu-sensei as a doctor but doesn't treat him as a father.
He also knows about the other personalities and accepts the fact that he's just a personality. He doesn't talk about it much. Out of everyone, he's the one who is the most passive.
That was all she knew.
...
Shida sat beside him, clutching his left hand with both of her hands. He had a severe asthma attack and it seems his lungs are really tired. He's been pushing himself too hard, Yuu-sensei said. Yaechi almost always appear every other week and yet he hasn't appeared in about two and a half months. Ever since Shida arrived, Yaechi has ceased to exist. Until now, that is.
"Augh..." Yaechi slowly opened his eyes. Scanning his surroundings, he caught sight of her and immediately pulled his hand away. "Who are you?"
Sitting up quickly from her bed beside them, Nozomi spoke up. "Yae-kun, this is our classmate Shida Mirai. He's Kamiki Ryunosuke's childhood best friend."
His eyes narrowed but he politely bowed. "I'm Yaegashi. Nice to meet you."
Nozomi smiled. "You can call him Yaechi. Everyone calls him that."
Shida looked at his expresson, cold and defensive. "Nice to meet you, Yaechi!" She smiles brightly, knowing that the best way to win over a cold heart is a warm smile. "I've met all of Mikki's personalities. It's nice to meet you at last."
His eyes widened for a second before it went back to being emotionless. "You've met everyone?" he asked suspiciously. "Why?"
For some reason, she felt she had to be cautious with her answers. "I've been your classmate for a while."
"Hmm." He closed his eyes, thinking. "I'm tired. I have to sleep." He lied down again and faced the other direction.
...
..
.
It was 11 o'clock in the evening, a dark and scary atmosphere around the hospital. But despite that, Shida Mirai (8 years old) was not scared. She bravely walked to the side of the building where an open window was. Kamiki had opened it earlier so she could sneak in. They promised to watch the stars together.
"Mikki?" she whispers to the wind as soon as she was in his room.
"He's sleeping." A boy in the other bed said, sitting up. "But he said you can just wake him up if you arrive. 'Don't draw on my face, okay!' he said." He chuckled, remembering how silly Kamiki looked.
"Good evening, Kenta-kun." she greeted, smiling cutely. Suga Kenta was a younger kid who just got confined in here. He had a blood disease that Shida did not know about. He didn't look sick though. Instead, he always smiled and helped the two as if he was older than them. He was mature for his age and he treated the two like his siblings. "You should sleep now. It's bad for you to stay up late!" Shida tried to sound like an adult.
He laughed it off. "I just wanted to wait for you. Mikki kept on saying you might go away if you see him sleeping."
She giggled. "That's just like him." She then moved to the side of Kamiki's bed and placed a hand on his hair, combing it gently. "He looks so harmless when asleep. But he jumps around once awake. Cute~"
"Eh..." Kamiki's eyes fluttered open. Eyes widening, he sat up and exclaimed "Mi-chan!? Did you write on my face?"
Laughing, she shook her head and took a mirror from the table. "See? I didn't." She smiled brightly again and offered a hand. "Let's watch the stars together?"
The smile on his face was brighter than the sun. It made her heart jump and made her smile wider. "Hai!"
.
..
...
"Mikki, Kenta-kun is..." Shida fell asleep at Yaechi's bedside. Wiping the sides of her mouth, she looked up to see Yae staring at her. "Huh?"
He looked away. "You were talking in your sleep." He had a huge frown on his face. He was angry. "You..." Glancing one more time at her, he asked "You know Ken-chan?"
"Ken-chan...?" Blinking in confusion, she racked her brain for an answer. "Ah! Kenta-kun? Yes..." She nodded. "He was your room mate..." Her eyes widened as she glanced around the room. This was the same room as before. This was where Kamiki was confined from before. But Suga Kenta was not here. Did he go away? "What happened to Kenta-ku-"
"He died." Yaechi clenched his fist at the side. "Just before Senior High."
Shida vaguely remembers Kenta promising Mikki that they'll be classmates once Kenta gets well. She felt a heavy weight in her stomach, a sad feeling settling in. "I'm sorry."
"It's late. Go home." He said, eyes still showing that cold, distant look.
Knowing how bad he must feel, she simply nods and takes her bag to leave. Nozomi was sleeping peacefully at the other bed.
...
The next day, Shida did not go to the cultural festival and instead went to the hospital. She'll just worry about him if she doesn't, anyway. To her surprise, she sees a sad Ashida Mana standing just outside the door. Walking closer, she kneels to her side and greets her. "Good morning, Mana-chan. Did you come to visit?"
Mana nodded, still having that pitiful expression on her face. "I picked flowers from our garden. But Yae'nii-chan hates them and threw them away."
Frowning, Shida stood up and held Mana's hand. "Let's talk to your nii-chan, ne?" She opened the door and walked straight to him. Nozomi was out for her morning walk, it seems. She looked at him with that strict expression in her face. "Yaechi."
He was sitting up, a book in hand. He looked up, but quickly went back to reading whatever manga he was reading. "Oh." was his only word.
"I'm talking to you." She said, annoyance obvious in her voice. "Are you bullying Mana-chan? That's bad."
Raising a brow, he glanced at her and then at Mana at her side. "I'm not bullying anyone. Are you stupid?"
"Then why did you throw away the flowers?" Shida just can't understand how someone can even do something as bad as that to someone as adorable and innocent as Mana-chan. "She went out of her way to give you flowers. The least you could do is appreciate it."
He scoffed, looking at her straight in the eye. "I don't like flowers. I never asked her to give me those. Besides, flowers die when you pluck them. That kid just killed those flowers." He looked at Mana. "Don't do that again."
Eyes wide and innocent, Mana nodded. "I'm really sorry." She bowed down.
Aaah. So he wasn't bullying her. He was telling her a lesson. But still! He could have been straight forward about it. He shouldn't make Mana-chan sad. Shida was more or less confused whether to say sorry about her tone or to be annoyed at his actions. She chose to just be quiet and sit beside him, offering Mana a seat next to her.
"Yae'nii-chan, why are you always in this hospital?" Mana asked crusously.
He shrugged. "I'm sick."
"Why are you sick?" the little girl asked again.
"Because I was born with a sick body." He answered plainly. "It's Saaya's fault."
Mana frowned a bit. "Mama's fault?"
"Yes." He did not even look at them, and simply read on.
Shida watched as Mana stood up and gathered her things. "I'm going home." she said, bowing to the two. "Thank you, Nee-chan."
Smiling like an older sister, she patted her head fondly and nodded. "Be careful on your way home, okay?"
"Un!"
...
It has been quiet for a while now, Shida looking at the scenery outside while he read different mangas stacked at his side.
Boredom striking in though, she had to start up conversation. "Don't you like Mana-chan?" she started, wondering why Yae was so cold with the kid as well. It was so different from how Iinchou acted around Mana.
"No, I don't." He answered plainly. "She's small and fragile." he added as if it was the clearest explanation.
She pondered on his words slowly. "You don't like fragile things..." Because they get broken easily and some die quickly? Being in a hospital all his life, she guessed it was obvious for him to think that way. Seeing death around him, not being able to save anyone, not knowing who will come next... it seems like a sad, sad life. "You know what, Yaechi, whenever I see Mana-chan or Non-chan, it makes me want to protect them. Don't you?"
"Nozomi-chan does not need protection." he mutters. "She has Shougo, and he said he'll protect her forever. Mana only has her parents. They can't do anything for her."
That made her think. Mana always go out of their house and gets to the Kamiki residence without her mother's permission. Shida's own opinion of Saaya'kaa-sama is pretty low, as well. She knew how Kamiki suffered because of his mother. Instinctively, despite Kamiki not writing it in his letters, her disappearance from his life made him suffer a whole lot. "You've... got a point there." was all she could say.
Another silence enveloped them as Shida started thinking of ways to get Yae's friendship and as Yae continued reading.
A few minutes later, a Nozomi and a nurse came in. "Mirai-chan, good morning!" she greeted. The nurse rolled in the lunch cart inside and placed a tray in front of Yae ad Nozomi. "Here, lunch." the nurse simply said before walking away with the cart.
"Itadakimasu." Yae muttered before taking the chopsticks and opening his food.
Nozomi looked at her curiously. "Aren't you going to eat?" she asked Shida. "You can buy something from the canteen. Ah, but their food isn't really good." She giggled.
Shida smiled. "I brought a packed lunch." Taking a box from her bag, she placed it beside Yae and opened it up, revealing a delicious collection of mini sandwiches. "I had too much fun making it, so I ended up making too many." She laughed a bit before offering Nozomi some. "Here, I hope you like it."
"Thanks!" Nozomi took one and tasted it. "Uwah~ Yummy!" She closed her eyes, savoring the taste. "This is tons more delicious than Hospital food."
"Yae-kun, how about you?" She offered the box to him. "It's delicious, try it!"
Eyeing her food for a while, he nodded a bit before tasting one. "Thank you." He simply said, after eating it.
"No compliments at least?" Shida pouted. "You should understand a girl's heart, Mik- Yaechi!" She almost blushed upon that slip of the tongue. She always told Mikki to be sweeter before.
He blinked a bit, before looking at his lunch and avoiding her gaze. "Thank you means it was delicious, doesn't it? I wouldn't say thank you if I hated it." he explained flatly.
She had to giggle at that. Yae has a polite side too, she thinks. He's probably shy too. "Then, you're welcome." she replied, smiling before eating her lunch.
...
It went on like this for the whole day, with her just sitting by his side. She mostly talked to Nozomi about school and about different pop cultures. Yae was reading all the time. It seems he was just really quiet. A few times though, Shida caught him looking at them. It was cute~
When time came when she had to go, she took her things and stood up. But before leaving, a brilliant idea came to her mind. "Ne," she faced him, getting his attention. "Do you want to watch the stars together later? I can sneak in if you open your window."
His eyes widened, surprised. His expression had something else too. She could't quite point it out. There really was something else. "...Sure." he dismissed her off with that, as if he did not care less. He went back to reading and simply nodded a bit.
On the side, Nozomi smiled brightly at Shida and showd a thumbs up.
"It's annoying." Hayato grumbled under his breath. "Mi-chan didn't come today."
Rika giggled, placing a cold compress on Hayato's wrist. They were at the side of the garden, sitting on the benches. "She's probably with him, don't you think?"
Another boy was beside them, smoking on their right. He was the smallest of the bullies who tried to hurt Tomodachi and Hiharu before. "Damn it. That Ryunosuke even hurt you, boss. How can he do that..."
"This is nothing." Hayato smirked. "We'll just have to wait for the right time. He's a weak one right now. I saw it. An asthma attack. I knew he still was like that."
"I missed seeing him collapse~" Rika had a playful smile on her face. "Just like old times, ne. That pained look... it's beautiful."
The other boy shivered in fear. "Always the sadist, Rika."
"Ryunosuke's just more beautiful when he's hurt, that's all." Rika giggled. "Don't say stuff like me being a sadist, Satoshi-kun~"
"But you are." Satoshi laughed. "Anyway, when will we strike, boss?"
Hayato smiled darkly. "Soon."
(Shoooort chapter)
Surprise?!
Or not.
Lots of answers coming up everywhere in the last two chapters. I'm so scared to continue *______*
I'm scared of Ju-chan, actually.
And Aki disappearing. /dies.
Oh and for those who don't know Adachi Rika, google her. She's so cute. ;-; I don't know what happened why I chose her and Hayato. I adore them both. So much. Also, Satoshi is Tomiura Satoshi (Tsukushi Makino's brother in HanaDan and Matsuken's brother in Gantz?). THEY'RE ALL ADORABLE LOOKING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T DO ANYTHING BAD. :o