LII

Hiii.

Im not dead.

I will most definitely be editing this chapter.

And I'm not sure how long it's going to be before I update again :( I'll announce that on my page later.

Now read :)) Don't hate on me pls

Kita had been debating for a long time when to break his request- no, his DECISION- to Isuma. Akagi had sharply told him to get it over with, forcing him to promise to tell her by the end of the evening.

It wasn't easy. He'd wanted to tell her several times, but each time he'd attempted to he caught sight of her laughing or smiling with someone. Why destroy her happiness?

So he stalled some more.

During the first speaker's monologue, he caught sight of Isuma, who was on the other of the room. A stubborn voice awakened in his head and pestered, 'You have to! Before she gets worse!'

Kita did his best to ignore the voice, but it persistently insisted he immediately march up to Isuma. Towards the end of the first speech, Karu materialized next to him as if aware of the war waging in his cousin's mind. "You okay, Shin-chan?"

"I'm okay." He said absently, privately thinking that he'd been saying those words a lot lately. Karu didn't call it on him and merely turned towards the stage. Yamaha- the elder- was about to begin his address to the crowd and take the microphone. Although he attempted to, Kita couldn't pay attention to him- nor the four others that followed. It was a good 45 minutes before the last person signed off and the applause died out.

The crowds immediately began dispersing and spreading throughout the place. Karu immediately turned towards Kita and firmly said, "Tell me. Have you told her yet?"

Kita shouldn't have been surprised at Karu's ability to pick up on his emotions, but he was. "...no. I haven't." Karu's expression changed. "When will you, Shin-chan? Stop waiting. You'll only make it worse for both you and her."

"I know-" Karu cut Kita off. "Go. NOW. You'll keep putting it off if you don't."

"I can't," Kita said, caught off-guard. He didn't want to tell her- not here, surrounded by hundreds of people, many of whom would see her reaction. And not NOW, when she was enjoying herself, when they were in the middle of an important occasion.

"Yes, you can. Listen to me, Shinsuke. Isuma's not blind. She knows what's coming- or at least has a good idea. I of all people know how much you care for her. She's going to be bitter, and probably not be all too friendly with you for a while, but she'll get over it. Go. Now."

"Isuma."

She and Tamiko glanced over their shoulders at the same time. Kita was standing a few feet away from them, his demeanor different than when she'd last seen him. He glanced at Tamiko, who flinched. "May I speak with her for a few moments?"

"Um, yes." Tamiko was gone in an instant. Isuma almost called after him, but she stopped herself and turned back towards Kita, taking care not to remove her hand from her forehead. Ever since Yamaha Riok had approached them, the area right above her eyes had been throbbing with pain. "Yes?"

He went straight to his point. "Do you recall that conversation we had? Back when you first joined?" Kita prompted. Isuma hesitantly asked, "After the first day?"

"Yes. Remember my warning when you insisted you not resign?" He questioned. Isuma was slowly piecing things together, and she didn't like it. "...I do."

"You're not getting any better, Isuma." He let out his breath, slightly relieved he wouldn't have to state it outright. "Believe me when I say I want you to be happy. I do. But... your health matters more."

The pain in her head was growing to the point it was torturous- why, she didn't know. Isuma did her best to ignore it as she looked straight at Kita. "Please don't. You know-"

"I know how much this means to you. I also know that you're getting worse if anything." His voice and expression were impassive, which made the situation ten times worse for her. "Resign willingly. Please."

Her world was collapsing, slowly falling in on her. "I can't. Please don't make me."

"You must!" He suddenly raised his voice. "You're not okay, and it's my fault! I was the one to ask you to join us- I never thought it'd lead to this!"

Isuma took a step back, her mind trying to make sense of things. Part of her wanted to break down in tears, and another portion was angry. But most of her felt betrayed. "Would you rather I go back to my old self? When we didn't even know each other?"

"If it means you being healthy, then yes." His voice was the slightest bit too harsh. His expression softened by a small fraction when he spoke again.

"Isuma, I care for you as much as I care for my family- if not more. You matter to me more than most people do. So hate me. Scream. Cry. I'll take it. I'm not changing my mind." Kita's voice wavered for a moment, revealing his actual emotions. He turned his back on her and was a few paces away before pausing and saying, "I'm sorry."

Isuma wanted to go after him- to stop him, to do all the things he'd just listed. She had a thousand things she wanted to say to him.

But her body wouldn't move. She could almost feel her various systems shut down as she dropped to her knees. Kita turned around just as her head exploded in pain.

Pain.

The world was suddenly dark. She couldn't hear anything except a faint buzzing in the back of her head. She could only feel the terrible sensation in her mind as if someone was repeatedly stabbing her.

And then nothing.

***

Isuma wasn't even fully conscious when she grasped that something was wrong.

It didn't have anything to do with her surroundings- which were completely unfamiliar to her- nor the woman clad in white next to her bed, whom she also didn't recognize. A nurse?

The woman glanced over at Isuma absently; her eyes widened and she dropped the folded blanket she'd been holding. "Miya-san!!"

Isuma tried to sit up, but the effort tired her instantly. "Don't sit up- Ani!! She's awake!"

A young man rushed in clutching a clipboard. Isuma noticed the various monitors and machines around her bed for the first time. "What-"

The first nurse pressed a button; Isuma flinched as the top half of the bed started to rise until the bed resembled an overly-large chair. The second nurse- Ani- pressed a small cup into Isuma's hands. "Drink this."

Isuma drained the cup obediently; her throat was dry as if it hadn't known water for a long, long time. Her mind was suddenly clear, bringing back a flood of memories.

Like what had happened.

"Where am I? What happened?" Isuma looked at Ani, her voice a little desperate. "Calm down, Miya-san. The doctor will explain everything."

"Doctor?" Isuma repeated. Neither of the nurses replied; both were rushing back and forth, checking the many screens. The first nurse stepped out of the room for a few moments and returned with an older woman. "How's everything?"

"Fine, just fine. Her basics are normal." Ani said hurriedly, tapping away on a keyboard. The woman glanced at Isuma with a warm smile. "Why don't we have a chat, Miya-san?"

It wasn't a question; she drew up a chair next to her bed after exchanging a few more words with the first nurse. The woman pushed her glasses further up her nose and leaned back. "I'm Doctor Fujito. It's nice to see you awake, Miya-san."

Isuma didn't say anything. Fujito continued, "You've been through quite a lot. We've never seen a case such as yours here."

"Here?" Fujito held out her badge. "I'm the head researcher here. This is Aichi Medical University Hospital. We specialize in-"

"Aichi?" Isuma's eyes widened. "This isn't Hyogo?! What about my brothers and everyone?" Fujito placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Your condition was a bit... unique. The doctors in Hyogo hadn't seen anything like it. It took a long time for us to bring you in.

"You recovered quickly once we discovered what was wrong, but you've been unconscious for a long time," Fujito explained in a calming voice. Isuma echoed, "A long time? How- how long has it been?"

"... it's been two and a half months since you first blacked out."

Fujito may have said something after that, but Isuma didn't hear. Her heart was racing and she was staring at her hands in shock. "It- It's MARCH?"

Fujito noticed her distress. "It was to be expected, Miya-san. The few people who have had your condition were out much longer- why, one young man didn't arise for two years."

March... Nationals had long since ended. The third-years had already graduated. Dozens of other thoughts crowded her mind, along with hundreds of questions. Finally, she asked, "What was wrong?"

"That's a story for another day." Fujita smiled kindly. "For now, let's make sure you're alright. We'll keep you here until you've regained your strength, and then you're free to return to Hyogo."

Fujita started to stand up but paused. "Oh, I believe you have a friend coming to visit."

"Here?" Isuma asked, perplexed. Fujita nodded. "He's been visiting almost every day."Isuma couldn't think of anyone she knew in Aichi. "And my brothers?"

"They haven't been informed yet; both their phones went straight to voicemail." Ani volunteered. Fujita stopped at the door to speak with him in urgent, hushed voices.

Isuma leaned back, her mind reeling. Any exhaustion she'd been feeling had vanished. Two and a half months... a chunk of her life had slipped away. She remembered her argument with Kita- god, what was KITA thinking right now? And her brothers? What all had changed?

***

It was two hours before the nurses pronounced Isuma healthy and stabilized. She was still recovering her strength and was under orders to not leave her room.

As it turned out, her visitor was Suna. Isuma had almost forgotten that he wasn't from Hyogo. He was home the few weeks they had off from school and had dropped in every day to check in on her.

She hadn't grasped exactly how worried everyone must've been until she met Suna.

Isuma was observing the people outside from her window when she heard the door open and shut behind her. She turned; Suna was standing there, his expression unreadable. "Rin-kun!"

He didn't say anything; Isuma slid off her chair and approached him. "Rintaro?" Suna sharply exhaled. "Never scare me like that again. Do you have any idea how terrifying that was?!"

"What-" Suna cut her off, his eyes blazing. "I thought you'd die!! Do you have any idea how much it hurt to see you unconscious for two months?! The doctors told us there was a chance you would NEVER wake up!! We've all been out of our minds with worry!!!"

Isuma reached out her hand as if to take his but seemed to think better of it. "I know. I'm sorry."

Suna glared at her for a few more seconds before lowering his voice. "I watched it happen. I saw everything. Kita-san and Tamiko-kun were screaming your name. It- it terrified me."

Isuma didn't say anything. Suna let out his breath. "Come on. Let's talk."

***

"I wasn't there when you first fell- only when Kita-san and Tamiko-kun caught you. Everyone had gathered around the three of you by then."

They were seated on the guest chairs in her room. Suna continued, "Kita-san's sister called a few minutes after that. Your brothers and Kita-san took you to the hospital she works at. I think you were there for around five days.

"Three days before we were set to leave for Tokyo, the doctors said there was nothing they could do. They hadn't seen a case like yours before. You had to be transferred, and fast. Your parents were at home at the time, and they agreed to it. Aichi was the first hospital to respond."

Isuma's fingers were laced together so tightly they were white. "And?"

"Your brothers refused at first. I had to convince them. I live thirty minutes away from here, so I could check in on you over break." Suna let out his breath. "So yeah. That happened. Everyone knows by now. Your brothers are already on a train."

"...okay." Isuma could tell he was holding several details back but didn't call it on him. She tentatively asked, "What about the third-years?"

Suna flinched. "...they graduated. Akagi-san and Aran-san are still in Hyogo."

Isuma waited. Suna took a deep breath. "Kita-san asked for me to give you this when you woke up."

He pulled out a small envelope and shook it around slightly. A small object and a card rattled inside. Isuma made no motion to take it. "What about him?"

"...we don't know."

"What do you mean?" Isuma asked, confused. Suna bit his lip. "None of us know. He disappeared the day after their graduation. Hishari-san refused to tell us."

Isuma stared at him, lost; her mind was refusing to accept it. "Haven't you-"

Suna cut her off. "We've tried everything. EVERYTHING. Isuma... it's you he's avoiding."

She didn't speak for several long moments. When she finally did, her voice was completely emotionless, surprising Suna.

"He's... gone?"

APPROXIMATELY SIX YEARS LATER

Irvine, California: 2020

Isuma looked around the airport front entrance, her anxiety growing. Everyone in the proximity was casting her curious glances, as she'd stopped in the middle of a crowd. 'Where is he...?'

Someone tapped her shoulder from behind, and for the first time in hours, Isuma heard Japanese words. "Sorry I'm late, Isuma-san."

She turned around. A tall young man with spiky hair was standing behind her, still in his work clothes. His dark eyes were glinting with amusement as if he'd just watched her look around, lost. Isuma flashed a smile, her own eyes sparkling with relief. "Iwaizumi-kun!"

WE DID IT WE GOT TO TIME-SKIP

AND MY LOVEE IWA CHAN

I promise everything that has happened will be explained.