"Aren't you too tense?" Yuhi asked.

For the past few minutes, Sumire kept shifting uncomfortably in his arms. When he saw how exhausted she was, he couldn't attack her like he usually would. So he suggested they just cuddle, but she seemed a bit weird.

"You know, not even I would attack you when you look exhausted."

Sumire looked down. "Well, men are usually beasts, so who knows if that is true. Besides, since you were hospitalized, you attack me every day. So I think I have every right to be cautious."

It's not his fault; she looks so pretty and dresses up whenever she visits him. Then again, maybe it is the hospital effect. Being cooped up in here for the whole day and barely seeing anybody. Of course, he would attack the prettiest thing he sees.

"Yuhi-san, you need to stop thinking about odd things. I am your girlfriend now, so I would like to request a certain degree of respect."

"Respect, eh," Yuhi repeated. He brushed his fingers across her lips.

It seemed darker than usual, and Yuhi understood why. He kisses her so aggressively these days and for a long time too. Maybe he ought to hold himself back.

Yuhi was about to say something when they hear the sound of something being slammed across the wall, followed by moans and whimpers.

"Well, this is a hospital; people get bored."

Sumire rolled her eyes. "They are too loud; they should at least keep it down."

This girl doesn't get phased by anything… Yuhi thought that hearing that would embarrass her, but it turns out that isn't the case.

Then again, what did he expect? When it comes to anything romance-related, she ends up rambling. Huh? Wait rambling? Maybe she is nervous, and that is why she is like this now. That would be an interesting theory. But unfortunately, he cannot determine whether that is true or not.

The girl moved away from his hold and suddenly sat up. She turned to the bags she brought and pulled some fruits out.

Sumire continues. "It must be awful being a star

because you've got to do your job no matter what happens. I brought you some fruit, which is from everyone." Sumire held up a plastic bag in her hands. "I thought I should get some sushi instead. But everyone said you couldn't give sushi to someone with broken bones. But since you said you were hungry, I thought that I could at least bring you some fruit."

"Thanks…."

But he preferred the sushi; still, she is acting a bit weird. Should he say something?

"I'm nervous for some reason."

"Nervous?" Yuhi repeated.

"We haven't ever really talked, have we?"

His eyes widened when he heard those words. It seems like she noticed it too, huh? Indeed, ever since they started dating. No even long before then, things were already starting to become awkward.

"We haven't?" Yuhi repeated.

Sumire averts her gaze for a while before she speaks up. "No. We've just talked about superficial things, and it feels strange."

That's right, even back then. It felt as though something was missing. Sumire saw that and strayed away from him, and that's why she became closer to other people.

"What I said to you that day was rather sly of me. But I guess it can't be helped during these times." Sumire leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. "So very dear to me, and so very precious."

....

Tuesday, April 4th, 2015 - Hospital -

When they are apart, their hearts are tested.

Even now, Yuhi could not forget the sensation of her lips when she brushed it against his and the words she said.

Yuhi does not understand how things ended up that way. Weren't the two of them happy recently? But then again, ever since he was hospitalized. Yuhi noticed that her behavior became odder and odder. It wasn't just that day.

"Terashima-kun in room 505 gets attacks every day, doesn't he?".

"Yes. But other than that, he is very energetic. Walking around and asking for sushi. No matter what you say --- " The nurse trails of, clearly only just noticing him. "Aah, not again, and he bought something from the vending machine too."

Yuhi shrugged before he dashed off, his other hand on the IV drip and crutches. It was still challenging to move about. But unlike before, he had better use of his legs.

"Yuhi-kun!"

When he turned around, he spotted three people—Akatsuki, Aika, and one of the council officers Itsuki.

"Hey." He managed to say, despite the snack, he was munching on.

"You look energetic, that's good."

Yuhi nodded.

"Ah, I brought you some flowers..."

He was about to proceed with the,' but sushi is better comment' when Itsuki holds up a familiar bag. That's from the sushi place he went to with Asami last year.

"Asami-san asked me to pass this on to you. She was saying that you're probably going crazy without it."

Yuhi blinked. It seems like Asami is trying to control her feelings.

....

They all headed back to his room; the nurse had a lot to say to him. Another lecture clearly, but with the others around, she couldn't do anything but change the IV drip.

Aika arranged the flowers, opened the bag, set out the tray in front of him, and placed the sushi boxes. Akatsuki flicks open the TV as Itsuki took a seat on the stool.

"Without you around Yuhi-kun, the signs don't have any weird dinosaurs on them....".

Usually, in times like this, he would hit him. But his arm couldn't move, Itsuki smiles. "Fu, you can't get me now. I'll take advantage of this for a while."

"Akatsuki"

The black hair boy automatically karate chops Itsuki across the head, "I forgot to mention Akatsuki started karate a month ago." Yuhi said nonchalantly.

Itsuki sweatdropped, "That's not fair..."

Yuhi kept looking at the door. "Did...Sumire not come with you?"

At that comment, Aika sighed. A frustrated look appeared on her face. "I tried, I really did." She trailed off. "Yuhi, don't get upset when you hear where she has been lately…"

Upset?

"She has stayed with her fiance for a while."

Yuhi dropped the snacks he bought from the vending machine, and Aika quickly explained.

"Look, you can't blame her. That Nagawa guy kept harassing her, and it was getting really bad."

His gaze dimmed even more. "Tell me everything." Asami would not go into detail about it, but he knew Aika would not beat around the bush.

"Where should I start..." Aika sighed. "It is a long story."