92. Settle

92. Settle

Have you ever woken up and found the world to be an utter disappointment? The moment you open your eyes, you feel spite-- a sense of annoyance from seeing this same world again; knowing you'll be living in this same universe for another day?

This time, I did. I felt sick, but was probably not, and nothing felt more uncomfortable than the sweltering, stuffy warmth of the hospital sheets tangled all around my limbs.

It was a nuisance, a frustration added to my day.

Rolling over, sheets and all, I curled up tight. Discomfort filled me as I adjusted my position, so I curled up tighter and tried to ignore it all.

The glaring morning light flared in from the windows. Silently cursing whoever opened it in the first place, I squeezed my eyes tight and hoped the world would be different the next time I opened them. 

"Are you awake, Rei?"

My eyes drifted apart-- and I caught sight of a blurry figure by my bedside. My eyes had yet to focus, but I could recognize that spiked hairstyle anywhere-- 

Rolling to my back, I internally groaned at the weight of my own head. My brain felt like a clunky, loose piece of rock inside my skull, and it was beyond uncomfortable having it in there. Covering my eyes with one arm, I let out a meaningless groan in response.

Takeshi leaned in close, "What's wrong, Rei?" he chuckled, nonchalant. 

Moving my arm away from my eyes-- I saw him. Takeshi, in his uniform, right before going to school. He had stopped by before leaving, I sighed.

He tilted his head to the side, curiously.

Pushing myself up-- my whole body felt like a duty mass of lead. My limbs were weak and sore, and really didn't want to do anything but lie back down.

Turning back to him, he eyed me.

My eyes half-lidded, I raised a hand and waved him in, telling him to come closer. Complying without another question, Takeshi crouched in--

My arms shot out and all around him, wrapping around his waist as I buried my face into his stomach and leaned my whole weight in.

Yelping in surprise, Takeshi staggered a little but balanced quickly.

"Uhm," he managed, chortling nervously, "Yes?" instinctively returning the hug, he sparkled with blinding cheerfulness. 

Dammit Takeshi I hate you sometimes, Lifting my head, I pouted in his face.

"Just tell the nurses I'm sick already," I whined.

"Eh?" Takeshi quickly reacted, reaching for the nurse call button, "Oh- right away!"

-

"Why?" Takeshi had asked that day when I left my house. 

He had eyed me with such eyes-- a very heartbroken, betrayed look-- and I nearly caved from just that gaze.

Swallowing my feelings back down, I willed myself to smile.

"Sorry, Takeshi," I knew that was the first thing I should say. "But my lung condition is at its climax now. Kuma-sensei and Amano-sensei are trying their best to do everything they can." 

I thought this through, I reminded myself. I thought this through.

I considered and considered, and landed with the conclusion I thought best.

"That's why, I want to do everything I can to help them too." I sounded a lot more resolved than I felt, "Even if I have to be confined to a hospital indefinitely."

I was probably lying when I told myself I wanted it this way.

-

The next I woke up, I felt a little better, so much I was able to stand and mess around. I was alone in this two-person room, with no stupid IV drip for once. 

But nurses filled the corridors so escape was impossible for now.

And pointless, where the hell would I even go I've gone around this same hospital fifteen times

So I started off trying to see if my flexibility was still there with me. After a while of trying to get used to and attempting to regain some of my fitness, I decided to stay on a handstand for a while. 

"But the Shimon Arc, hm," I thought to myself, acting all cool and stuff, "Maybe I'll end up skipping out on the whole thing this time." 

Dropping down, I spotted the curtain railing.

Boosting myself up with my good leg, I leaped as high as I could and-- narrowly missed it. Landing on the bed, I tried again from the bed this time. 

Taking hold of it easily now, I lifted myself up with my arms. Swinging around as gently as I could, trying not to cause sudden jerks that may rip the metal from the cement--

Eventually I managed to spin around the thing like a horizontal bar-- and found myself comfortable hanging upside down with my foot a hook around the bar.

I sighed. 

Maybe I should revive my Clown Show tomorrow... 

-

"Huh?" Kuma was beyond taken aback, "wait-- did you just say Yes?" 

"Yes!" I beamed. 

There was a painful moment of silence-- then Kuma stood up abruptly with a loud BANG on the table, eyes wide and mouth agape--

"Amano, check this guy's head, something's wrong!" Kuma snapped.

"Fuse? Could you get an MRI machine set up right now-" Amano was already at the phone.

"No, stop!" I had to shriek, panicking before they did the ridiculous, "I'm thinking straight, I didn't hit my head, don't worry!"

Kuma sat back down with a sigh. "What gives?"

What gives? What made you change your mind?

Leaving behind your sisters in a mostly empty household, forcing their growth and independence? Forsaking your precious time to spend with them in youth?

Without an answer, I could only chuckle bashfully, "Well, why not?"

-

The door opened.

One Hibari Kyouya stepped in-- his stoical, stern expression and perfectly neat uniform and all-- looking forward for one moment-- then lifted his head to meet me in the eyes.

Cold sweat ran down my neck, a smile twitching on my face.

Hibari drew his tonfas.

"I'm sorry!" I panicked, "I'll get down, I'll get down now! Don't kill me!"

-

"No way, why??" Sae had cried a whole lot, "Why, Rei-chan, Whyyyy???" 

Up until the very end, she had clung to me and even spent my first night here with me. She's still brooding, and probably hasn't forgiven me yet.

Sui, on the other hand, was quite supportive.

"But Sae," she had put in quite the effort to convince her twin, "If Rei-chan gets healed faster we can play with him more, right?"

The day I returned home, Sui found it duty to report to me regarding the memories she received from the future. It was a simple report-- quick and easy, and after the word she never pursued it again. 

I guess my whole 'moving out of the house' thing only went well because Sui was there for me. 

But as I was packing, Sui picked up my green journal. My heart skipped a beat as I realized she was holding it, but instead of a shriek I felt questioned if I should snatch it from her at all--

That's the journal with novel-form KHR-

Willingly, she handed to me after a quick flip through the centers.

"Rei-chan," she had asked me calmly instead of inquiring the contents, "When I turn sixteen, and when I manage to get better at English and other languages, can I read it?"

...did she just ask me permission?

This is-- this is surprisingly not cliche?? 

"Yes!" I answered before I could think, too happy about my adorable, polite, privacy-respecting younger sister to think straight, "Of course!"

-

Hibari scrutinized me, sitting on the other bed, his arms and legs crossed as he seriously judged my and my entire life.

On my knees, looking down in guilt, I tried not to cry at the sting of the bump on my head.

"When will you cease your reckless behaviour?" when Hibari finally spat out any words, it was surprisingly more worry than anger, more concern than annoyance. 

"Sorry," I answered simply, I won't do it again."

Hibari sighed. 

"Regardless," he said, "What are you doing in my usual room?" 

"Huh?"