Wow what a large building. I stand at the bottom of this grey building as it looms over me and (F/N). I suddenly felt so small and an uneasy feeling crept over me.

I have a bad feeling about this.

I gulp and feel sweat collect in the back of my neck. Turning to (F/N), she looks at the building with a solemn expression. I couldn't read her face, but she seemed indifferent to the gigantic building in front of her.

"Kiyoko is here." she mumbled to me. She wasn't facing you as she was stuck in a trance with her eyes fixated to the glass door.

K-kiyoko is here?! What? When? How? I thought she moved abroad? This doesn't make any sense. But (F/N) is here with me. I always wondered what happened but now its- its all coming together.

I put a hand on her shoulder, making her divert her attention away from the door.

"(F/N), w-whats going on. I thought Kiyoko..." I pause and stare at her blank face.

"You thought she was dead?" she whispered. I feel tears forming in my eyes as I look away from her. She gracefully lowers my hand from her shoulder and takes hold of it.

"Come." she said slightly biting her lip, as she notions me to follow her into the building.

She swipes the white card in her hand beside the door and it makes a small beeping sound. A green light is displayed on the monitor and the doors allowed access to the two of you. The smell of musk filled my nose. A few people dressed in white were taking care of people in wheelchairs by spoon feeding them their dinner. Grumbles of the people all sorts of ages are sitting in the lounging areas. Beef stew and porridge was being severed. (F/N) approaches the front desk and a middle aged women was there to greet them.

"Why hello (F/N). Long time no see. And who is this lovely gentleman?" she gleamed at me, making you slightly uncomfortable.

"Hello Sato-senpai. This is my friend Suga." she smiled while gesturing a hand to me.

"Uh, hello" you bow, greeting her awkwardly.

"Well, well. (F/N) over here has become such a lovely woman. I can see why you like her." she softly laughs while slightly spinning in her receptionist chair. I blushed a bit and (F/N) interrupted,

"Haha very funny Sato-senpai. He's just a friend from school."

"Sure he is. You know what your father would say." she eyes (F/N), making her smile.

"Yes, Sato-senpai. I know" she smirks at the desk clerk and the woman held a hand to her mouth.

Oh, she knows the Shimizu family.

"My dad put my grandmother here. She spent a lot of time here with Sato-senpai. They're practically friends" she gestured towards the blushing woman.

"Oh stop it (F/N). Anyways, the specialist is up there now. I believe he has the papers for you to sign."

"Yes thank you senpai."

Before she waves goodbye to the receptionist I bow to her,

"Pleasure meeting you."

"Wow (F/N), you're lucky after all. What a fine young gentleman."

She tries to ignore her but I could tell she's blushing hard.

"L-lets go now Suga." she takes hold of my hand and opens the door with her white card again. It makes a small ping sound before she pushes it open. The last thing I see is the receptionist blowing me a kiss goodbye and gesturing a small wave with her fingers. Before I could react, the door closed behind us two and I start venturing off up the long flight of stairs.

"What is with you and stairs. Why didn't we take the elevator?" I huffed as I take hold of the handrails.

"Its much faster this way" she responded without breaking a sweat. I was always amazed by how she can recover so quickly from everything thats happening to her.

She's a fighter.

She pushed through the door and made her way down the hallway. There were people's names on plaques engraved on each door. After what seemed like forever, I finally reach the door that read 'Shimizu'.

"Here we go." she huffed. I take in a big inhale as she unlocked the door with her card. One more swipe and she pushed the heavy door. The room was small, but sustainable for one person. It contained a bed, a tv and toilet concealed off to the side. The sunset was seen through the tiny window at the far side.

"I'm here." she called out. She takes off her shoes and I do the same. A man in a white coat was hovering over a body in a hospital bed. He was covering her face, but in no doubt it was Kiyoko. Machines surrounded her body making fine clicking noises. Monitors were surrounding the bed showing all sorts of medical imaging that I wasn't familiar with.

Whats going on here...

"Just in time (F/N). How are you?" the man called out.

"I'm good. I brought a friend with me." she replied. She brought me to her side and bowed her head slightly.

"Hello, nice to meet you." the man smiled at me. His lab coat was a dazzling white with his ID was pinned to it. He had white hair and a crooked smile. His eyes spoke kindness as he directed his dark brown eyes on me. He was holding a clip board and a pen in his hands.

"This is Kiyoko's neurologist." she said to me.

Neurologist. Exactly what she wants to be.

"Yes, and I called you earlier about what happened." He points at Kiyoko in bed with his pen. Her head was wrapped in bandages and her body laid still in the bed. She looked peaceful as her chest moving up and down slightly. I realize that she had a tube in her mouth, which was connected to a large machine near the doctor. This was making her breathe. This is what kept her alive.

"Yes, I'm aware. You wanted me to review the papers." she said meekly.

"She had an episode today." the doctor explained to me. He looked upon my shocked face as I was trying to process everything.

Is she okay? This is where she's been?

I wanted to cry at my fellow classmate. I was in disbelief that this is where she was the whole time. Daichi must've been so worried about her.

Was she suffering for that long?

"So what's the verdict." (F/N) stated. She looked pretty serious and my perspective of her changed.

She really acting like a doctor right now. How can she be so calm?

"Well, her brain activity hasn't been improving much but she is responding to a few familiar voices. Here let me show you the charts."

(F/N) took the clipboard and started scanning the charts in a serious fashion. She fixed her glasses and looked at the doctor.

"They're the same as last week too. I'm not too surprised, but..."

She looks at a Kiyoko and her serious face dissolved.

"Would it be okay... if she remains at least a few months more?" she looked disheartened at her sister.

Was she...was she going to pull the plug?

"We have to take a look see at her condition again, but (F/N)." The doctor puts a hand on her shoulder.

"If she doesn't improve. We have to do what's best for her." he turns to (F/N) with sympathy in his eyes. He hands her back the clipboard and there were legal documents that had to be signed.

"I'll give you some time." the doctor said in a gentle tone. He pats her one more time on the shoulder and smiles at me before exiting the room. Silence filled the air as (F/N) pulled up a chair at Kiyoko's bed side. I could feel the unbearable and palpable tension. Kiyoko's eyes were fully shut and her hands laid peacefully at her sides. (F/N) grabs one of her hands and brings it to her face. I notice a picture frame at her bed side.

It was the me, Daichi, Asahi and Kiyoko. This was taken the first day I joined the Karasuno volleyball team. My eyes welled up a bit as I sit on the opposite side of (F/N). I take Kiyoko's other hand and intertwine her fingers with mine. I was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions, it was impossible to wrap around everything.

I can't believe it. This is where she's been.

"She's been in a coma for a year now. She would've been joining you in your last year of high school." she stared into her sisters face and back to me.

"I'm sorry that I kept this from you. You must think I'm selfish. We didn't tell anyone about this because the doctor said she would be overwhelmed. She has the ability to hear you, but she won't wake up..." she sobbed still holding her sisters hand. I look over to the screen that displayed a variety of waves.

This must be what the doctor meant.

"No, don't blame yourself (F/N). It must've been hard for you. Don't punish yourself." I say softly. Our eyes met and looking into her eyes, this was a person who has lost everything to her.

"S-she's still fighting, you see. I still have hope." she held her sisters hand tightly.

I want to love her even more. She's so brave but, she's only human. She can't keep fighting like this forever.

"She was originally at the Miyagi's main hospital, but due to her condition mom suggested to move her here. It's more quiet and the medical team here has more advanced technology."

"So, that's why your mom works so much." I discovered.

"Yeah... she works three jobs because the medical bills are so expensive. It's hard to maintain her, but we didn't want to..." she whispered into her sisters hand. Her eyes were tightly shut and she seemed smaller than ever. I didn't want her to finish her sentence as I abruptly stand up and gently place Kiyoko's hand at her stomach. She looks up to me with a surprised expression.

I need to help her.

"Let me get you some food. You must be starving." I say in a concerned tone. Before she could say anything, I leave the room and enter the hallway. I walk for a little bit, until I slumped down to the nearest wall. I let out an unexpected cry and the tears wouldn't stop flowing. I try to get a hold of myself but I was too overwhelmed with everything that's happening. My face was flushed as tears started to fall to the floor.

She was here the whole time and I just found out now?

I try to gather yourself as I slowly wipe the tears away with my sleeve. Groggily getting up from the floor, I head down the hall and find a vending machine.

Okay, get it together Suga. Let's not make her cry more.

I lean forward towards the machine, resting my head on my arm. I insert a few coins and I click the buttons at random. I was too upset to care at this point. As the machine made a 'clunk' sound, dropping the goods. Reaching down to grab the random assortment of food, I suddenly feel a shadow loom over me. The person puts a firm hand on my shoulder. Shooting upwards I was shocked to see a familiar face,

"Daichi?"

------------ end p. 21--------------