Fragmented Unity [Chapter 31]

[JFC]

Yuko literally smashes the car into the parking lot. At the very last moment it comes to a halt. Nacchi and Yuko don't waste time and get into the hospital as quick as possible.

By the sounds of how Yuko was driving, they're probably lucky that they don't have to admit themselves as patients while they're there.

Sayu then explains that Aichan is out of danger, there are no serious injuries; Sayu herself only has some bruises;

Yokatta~!

Yuko and Nacchi are the first visitors, but the visiting hours are already over; they are allowed to stay here at the entry of the hospital.

Aw hell that's lame. 

In a very heated discussion with two nurses and one doctor, Yuko can finally achieve the right to check on Aichan, but only one person at once. The typhoon doesn't let them go home anyway.

During her discussion she didn't notice the arrival of Eri, Miki and Risa. They didn't want to interfere, Yuko can be scary when she wants someting

Hey, it worked, didn't it?

It doesn't take much longer and the rest of the girls arrive, all except of Risa. The girls keep looking at the entrance, but are not really surprised not to see her here.

Well, Risa's just on foot, so it'll take her a while to get there. Hopefully she'll make it safely (if not a little drenched from the typhoon).

The fire alarm didn't work as well and so I tried to look for an extinguisher, but I noticed something else, something terrible, gas cylinders. They were not too far away from her room. Not knowing whether are full or empty, I had to react quick now.

HOLY SHIT! Man, they're lucky to be alive right now.

~Luckily we were able to get out of the room nearly unharmed by the fire, even myself. I was exhausted, the smoke..the fire...probably the smoke..was the reason. The man walked over to us and helped me up.~

> And then? <, Kei asks.

~Yes, I was so dizzy already that I forgot about the gas cylinders. All I can remember that I suddenly heard a bang and then.....then I felt...........HIM!~

> Him? <, Miki asks.

> The man? <, Reina adds.

The man used his body to shield the girls from the blast?

Yuko doesn't want to force anyone to sleep and so she continues to think while starring at one point.

She walks over to the window and watches the rain. It's really intense outside. They probably wouldn't be able to leave the hospital, even if they wanted to. It starts to hail. The grassland harrow in front of the hospital even turns white.

> Damn...it would be sheer suicide to walk around outside right now.. <, she says to herself.

Damn, Risa must live pretty far from the hospital. She's alright, right? She didn't get into an accident herself while she was running there?

Yuko enters Aichan's room. The typhoon keeps on raging outside, but Aichan still is asleep. Yuko sits down and sighs. She starts to talk out loudly, even though Aichan can't listen.

> ..just yesterday I thought about a reunion. It only was a joke, ....of course. However, it was a nice feeling....imagining to see everyone together again. Not everyone..I know, but .. most of them. And now this...everyone is here, together, but I don't want a reunion for such a reason...not for such a price... <, Yuko keeps on repeating, making long pauses between the sentences. Aichan might not be listening, but Yuko just had to tell her feelings out loud to somebody.

It's often healthy to say things aloud like this, even if there's no one conscious to hear them. At least that way you don't keep it all pent up inside.

Miki is in the bathroom, sitting on a toilet. She still has her pants on and she isn't there to use the toilet anyway, no, she is there to smoke. It's still a secret for most of the people around her and so she is hiding in the bathroom. Miki wasn't able to go outside because of the typhoon. She is only smoking one cigarette. It was a very stressing day and she needed it.

Oh Miki....

I take it none of the girls know about this?

Nurses and doctors are rushing through the hallway with a bed and she has to move to the side to let them pass her. It's no surprise to see an emergency during a typhoon.

> Really, it's sheer suicide to be outside right now. Huh? <, Miki stops, thunderstruck..
> Wasn't this.....Risa? <

Oh shit, there WAS an accident! RISA NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[lil_hamz]

First off, I'm soooooooooooooooooooo sorry for not replying your previous chapters *hammers head with mallet* Everything is so suspenseful and exciting!!! I almost tore my hair out while reading. It's a good thing I missed a couple of chapters so I could read them in one sitting and not go insane waiting for updates. But then the last chapter had to end with "Wasn't this.....Risa?"
Gahhhhhhhhhhhhh I think there are clumps of hair on the table now

Oh and "During her discussion she didn't notice the arrival of Eri, Miki and Risa." 
Did you mean Reina instead?

[HPriest]

Uhm yea, thanks for pointing that out.

[HPriest]

Chapter 19 - The Accident



Miki is confused and follows her. She can get a second look on the girl lying on the gurney. A nurse asks her who she is and Miki explains that she is a friend of her. The nurse tells her to wait in front of the OR. She can't enter it, of course.

Flashback.
It's raining cats and dogs. Risa is on her way to the hospital. She is running at a very fast speed and slips sometimes, but nothing bad happened so far. When looking closer, you can see that she is actually holding her mobile, scrolling down a list that probably is her phone book. She finally found the desired number and stops for a moment, but she stopped at a very bad place. Risa is standing in the middle of a street and doesn't notice the lights of an incoming car. The driver probably doesn't see her either, the rain is just too damn strong. And so it happens, the car hits her. The driver noticed her in the last minute and tried to evade the crash, but it was too late. She gets hits by one of the headlights, smashes into the hood with her upper body, hits the windshield with her head, breaking the side mirror and finally lands. Risa was lucky that the rear wheel didn't hit her as well. The driver panics and does the worst thing you can do in an accident, he leaves the scene, commits hit and run. Risa lies on the wet and cold street. Her phone only lies a few meters away from her, all she has to do is to push the dial button and help would probably arrive within minutes, but her body won't move without a horrible pain. She is freezing, her sight is getting blurry, the sound of the rain becomes tubby and slowly Risa looses her consciousness.

Miki still sits in front of the OR.

Yossie notices that Miki has been to the bathroom for quite a long time already and decides to check if she is alright. At the bathroom she surprisingly sees Miki, but not in the bathroom, she is sitting around the corner in front of the OR. Yossie wonders why Miki would wait there and approachs her, when suddenly a nurse comes.

# Are you a friend of her as well? #, the nurse asks Yossie and lets Miki notice that Yossie is here as well.

> Her? <, Yossie is confused.

~ ...Risa~, Miki explains.

Yossie is in shock and still doesn't know what happened, in fact, Miki doesn't really know either. The nurse tells them what she knows.

# Risa is her name? She, Risa, has been involved in a possible hit and run accident. Another passing car called the ambulance, but we don't know for how long she has been unconsciously lying in the cold. Luckily it happened only a few 100meters away from the hospital and so we were able to pick her up really quick. The driver is still missing, but the police is at the scene. #

~ She must have been on her way here. ~, Miki assumes.

> How is her condition? <, Yossie asks.

# I don't really know. All I know is that she has a broken leg, a broken arm and wrist and a few broken ribs. The doctors are currently checking for inner bleedings and other more serious injuries. #

> ..sounds really bad.. <, Yossie sighs. She has to sit down.

# Another problem is that she didn't have any ID with her, only her mobile. It's luck that you girls are here, so we don't have to waste time figuring it out. She also seemed to have tried to call a number with her mobile before or after the accident. Do you know this number? Is this the number of her parents? #, the nurse passes Miki, who still stands, a note with the number.

Miki closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

> Hm? <, Yossie wonders.

Miki givers her the note and says ~ she wanted to call you.. ~

> ...Risa. <, Yossie sighs again.

The nurse now knows that this isn't the number of Risa's parents and so she asks for it. Miki apparently doesn't have her new number. Yossie, however, seems to know the number and accompanies the nurse to her desk. There they also go through the rest of what the nurse needs to know about Risa. Yossie tries her best to answer all of her question, but her thoughts are with Risa.

She then slowly walks back to Miki who sat down again. Yossie sits herself next to her and happens to see the pack of cigarettes in Miki's pocket.

> I thought you stopped it. <

~ What? ~, Miki asks.

Yossie points at Miki's pocket with her eyes. Embarrassed, Miki puts them deeper in her pockets.

~ That's... ~, she stands up, ~ that's none of your business. ~

She walks away and Yossie tries to stop her.

~ LEAVE ME ALONE! ~, Miki suddenly reacts in a, even for herself surprisingly harsh way.

~ ...please. ~, she adds and makes it sounds like an apology.

Miki continues to walk away, but this time Yossie won't stop her. Her reaction was more than clear for Yossie, although Miki probably didn't want to sound that harsh.

> Miki... <, Yossie only whispers to herself.

---------------------------------

Note: I already wrote a lot more chapters down on paper. This means that I hopefully will be able to give you updates more often again.

[JFC]

Miki is confused and follows her. She can get a second look on the girl lying on the gurney. A nurse asks her who she is and Miki explains that she is a friend of her. The nurse tells her to wait in front of the OR. She can't enter it, of course.

The OR???  Risa needs surgery?!?!? 

Flashback.
It's raining cats and dogs. Risa is on her way to the hospital. She is running at a very fast speed and slips sometimes, but nothing bad happened so far. When looking closer, you can see that she is actually holding her mobile, scrolling down a list that probably is her phone book. She finally found the desired number and stops for a moment, but she stopped at a very bad place. Risa is standing in the middle of a street and doesn't notice the lights of an incoming car. The driver probably doesn't see her either, the rain is just too damn strong. And so it happens, the car hits her. The driver noticed her in the last minute and tried to evade the crash, but it was too late. She gets hits by one of the headlights, smashes into the hood with her upper body, hits the windshield with her head, breaking the side mirror and finally lands.

RISA!!! 

The driver panics and does the worst thing you can do in an accident, he leaves the scene, commits hit and run.

YOU BASTARD!!! 

> How is her condition? <, Yossie asks.

# I don't really know. All I know is that she has a broken leg, a broken arm and wrist and a few broken rips. The doctors are currently checking for inner bleedings and other more serious injuries. #

Please, please, please, please, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE don't let there be internal/serious injuries. 
 

Yossie sits herself next to her and happens to see the pack of cigarettes in Miki's pocket.

> I thought you stopped it. <

...

~ That's... ~, she stands up, ~ that's none of your business. ~

She walks away and Yossie tries to stop her.

~ LEAVE ME ALONE! ~, Miki suddenly reacts in a, even for herself surprisingly harsh way.

...

> Miki... <, Yossie only whispers to herself.

 

Note: I already wrote a lot more chapters down on paper. This means that I hopefully will be able to give you updates more often again.

No worries dude, no need to rush yourself. Just post them whenever you're able to. We'll still be here.

[lil_hamz]

OMG Risa....No.........

She can't be hurt too badly, cuz, cuz that would mean Ai-chan will be heartbroken when she finds out she indirectly caused it. Why is Miki acting strange? She's so touchy for some reason. Did something happened to her too?

I'd be looking forward to your updates. This is one of the fics I realy keep track of and wanna read everyday

[HPriest]

Chapter 20 - The Thoughts



Yuko still talks to the asleep Aichan about her feelings, when suddenly..

~ Yuko... ~

> Huh? Aichan? You are awake? <, Yuko is surprised.

~ ...Yuko? ~

> Eh, yes? <

~ I have to go to the bathroom. ~

Yuko didn't expect her to say something like this and not so blunt. She doesn't really know what to say.

~ Can you lend me a hand? ~, Aichan ask.

She still is a bit weak and needs Yuko to support her on her way to the bathroom in her room. Yuko helps her, of course.

> So, how are you feeling? Good? <, Yuko asks through the door while Aichan sits on the toilet.

~ Yes, I guess I'm fine. ~

> That's nice. I'm glad. <

Aichan comes out of the bathroom and Yuko supports her again.

~ Thank you.. ~

> No problem. <, Yuko smiles at her.

Back in her bed, Aichan says that she doesn't even feel any pain anymore. Yuko now is curious and asks her whether she listened to what she said or not.

Aichan only grins at her.

> What? <, Yuko is embarrassed. All the talk about them making a comeback as a group again sounds too much like a dream than an idea of a realistic woman like her.

~ Maybe.. ~, Aichan giggles and turns around.

> Huh? What? What do you mean with 'maybe..'? Aichan. Aichan? <

Yuko gets closer to Aichan and notices that she fell asleep again.

> This girl...unbelievable. <, she sighs.

She doesn't want to wake her up again and decides to leave the room. In the corridor she notices Yossie staring at the ground. When asked about her problem, Yossie tells her about Risa and the accident. You can tell by her face that it is a huge shock for Yuko. Yossie suggests that they shouldn't tell Aichan right now and Yuko agrees. It would be better to tell Aichan in the morning, when she is completely recovered and Risa's surgery done. The other girls are also pretty much asleep and should spent the night sleeping instead of worrying about two of their friends. Yuko tells Yossie to go back and try to sleep while she is going to wait there until the parents of Risa arrive. Yossie doesn't really want to go, but Yuko can tell that Yossie is really tired. She is worried about Aichan, Risa and Miki. Such an emotional stress can make you more tired then physical. Yossie realizes that she can't do anything right now anyway and heeds the advice of Yuko.

The next girl can now pay Aichan a visit. Yossie goes back to Sayu's room and wakes up Nacchi. She tries not to wake the others, but Eri is sitting right next to Nacchi and rubs her sleepy eyes. Nacchi goes and visits Aichan. Eri told her that she wants to go next and after Yossie told her, that according to Yuko Aichan is fine, she fell asleep again. Yossie can't sleep. She is still thinking about Risa and Miki. Suddenly the door opens and Miki enters the room. She is really carefully not to wake the others and notices that Yossie is still awake. They look at each other without saying a word. Miki finds herself a nice place near the window and watches the rain. Yossie keeps on looking at Miki, a hundred thoughts running through her head. The image of the pack of cigarettes pops up in her mind and she doesn't know what to think of it. Miki also can't get rid off the image of Risa lying on the gurney while watching the rain. However, slowly they both start to become more and more tired, until Yossie and Miki finally fall asleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------







>>

I'd be looking forward to your updates. This is one of the fics I realy keep track of and wanna read everyday

Thanks! This encourages me a lot. 

[Kreuz_Asakura]

OHH Ai-chan is fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahaha an embarrassed Yuko   I'm dying for see that

Poor Yossy so many things in her head... and poor Miki too
Next chapter please!!!!!! This is really good!

[jafeijai]

YES!! Takahashi is fine!! And already picking on her eldest senpai~

Anyways, RISA MUST SURVIVE!! Do you hear me HPriest?! SHE MUST SURVIVE!! Or else...someone might end up like the driver...[glances at bloody mass in dark corner]

These emotes are amusing me haha...Oh the possibilities~

[HPriest]

Anyways, RISA MUST SURVIVE!! Do you hear me HPriest?! SHE MUST SURVIVE!! Or else...someone might end up like the driver...[glances at bloody mass in dark corner]

What? I can't hear you!! 

[JFC]

Yuko still talks to the asleep Aichan about her feelings, when suddenly..

~ Yuko... ~

> Huh? Aichan? You are awake? <, Yuko is surprised.

~ I have to go to the bathroom. ~

Yuko didn't expect her to say something like this and not so blunt. She doesn't really know what to say.

Well, she's been unconscious for a while, so it's not really that surprising.

Yuko now is curious and asks her whether she listened to what she said or not.

Aichan only grins at her.

> What? <, Yuko is embarrassed. All the talk about them making a comeback as a group again sounds too much like a dream than an idea of a realistic woman like her.

~ Maybe.. ~, Aichan giggles and turns around.

> Huh? What? What do you mean with 'maybe..'? Aichan. Aichan? <

Yuko gets closer to Aichan and notices that she fell asleep again.

> This girl...unbelievable. <, she sighs.

Well, she's still pretty weak, so she needs her rest. Only reason why she woke up at all was because her body told her she needed to use the bathroom.

She doesn't want to wake her up again and decides to leave the room. In the corridor she notices Yossie staring at the ground. When asked about her problem, Yossie tells her about Risa and the accident. You can tell by her face that it is a huge shock for Yuko. Yossie suggests that they shouldn't tell Aichan right now and Yuko agrees. It would be better to tell Aichan in the morning, when she is completely recovered and Risa's surgery done.

Next question is though, what will Risa and Aichan say to each other when they finally wake up and see each other? Aichan at the very least will be surprised and obviously concerned about Risa, but what will Risa say?

Yuko tells Yossie to go back and try to sleep while she is going to wait there until the parents of Risa arrive. Yossie doesn't really want to go, but Yuko can tell that Yossie is really tired. She is worried about Aichan, Risa and Miki. Such an emotional stress can make you more tired then physical. Yossie realizes that she can't do anything right now anyway and heeds the advice of Yuko.

Yossi's the only one (presumably) that knows about Miki's smoking. I wonder what Yuko would have to say about that if she found out?

[jafeijai]

Anyways, RISA MUST SURVIVE!! Do you hear me HPriest?! SHE MUST SURVIVE!! Or else...someone might end up like the driver...[glances at bloody mass in dark corner]

What? I can't hear you!! 

[lil_hamz]

Yippee, a new chapter

I was hoping that you would write about Risa waking up in this chapter all fine. But that would mean less fun right I am glad Ai-chan seems alright. She can even go to the toilet now I thought Yuko would jump at the chance of getting to help her there

[HPriest]

Chapter 21 - The Goodbye



Yossie's mobile rings and wakes everyone up. The sun dazzles their sleepy eyes. She reads on the display who is calling her and receives the call.

# Where the hell are you? You were supposed to be at the train station at 8am! #, her coach shouts at her.

> What time is it now? <, she asks in a calm way, still half asleep. After all she only slept two hours.

# 9:30! Get here now or this will be it! #, the coach hangs up.

Yossie sighs and guesses that she doesn't really have a choice, still, her movements don't really look like she wants to hurry. Well, she is late anyway, isn't she? While some girls go to Aichan's room and some try to find something to eat, Yossie stretches herself. Only Miki is left in the room, but they still don't talk to each other. They both either don't know what to say or fear to say something wrong. Yossie stands up and walks to the door.

~ You are leaving? ~, Miki asks, remembering what Yossie said to Makoto yesterday.

> Well...yeah. <, Yossie answers without turning around.

~ I see. ~

> ...bye <, Yossie finally turns around waves goodbye to Miki.

~ ... ~, Miki only looks at her and nods.

Yossie leaves the room and looks for Yuko. When passing the desk, she sees the parents of Risa.

"Where is she? Where is my Risa?", her mother questions the nurse.

The nurse tells her to calm down. She needs to look up the room number first. Yossie notices that it isn't the same nurse from the last time, probably the next shift.

~ Yossie! ~

> Yuko? <

Yuko just passed the desk as well and saw Yossie. However, she didn't see Risa's parents, who now recognizes the girls. Risa's mother immediately starts to shout at them, blaming the girls for what happened today and in the past. In her eyes nothing of all this would have happened, if Risa never joined them. Neither Yuko nor Yossie try to talk back to her, realizing that it would only increase her anger. There is nothing they can say to calm her down. Finally her husband is able to calm her. Although it actually looks like that she needs to catch her breath. She sits down on one of the chairs and her husband apologizes to the girls. Yuko tells him that they can understand her anger and that he doesn't have to apologize. He is really glad for their sympathy and goes back to his wife.

Yossie hears some noise coming from the floor and is curious about what it is, because it sounds like it's coming from Aichan's room. Both, Yuko and Yossie take a look and it seems like that all girls have been kicked out of Aichan's room. They walk back to Sayu's room. Koharu notices Yuko and Yossie.

"Eh...she is fine again..", she explains a bit embarrassed.

~ What happened? ~, Yuko still wants to know.

"Well, ... she had to go to the bathroom and suddenly kicked us out."

Yuko laughs, ~ I see. It's good that she is recovering fast, isn't it? ~

"I guess so.", Koharu laughs and embarrassingly holds the back of her head.

She heads back to Sayu's room and is happy that Aichan is healthy again. Yuko and Yossie kept their smiles until the last girl left the corridor. Then they start to talk about Risa again.

~ Risa's surgery finished. The doctors said that there were some difficulties, but they were able to handle it. ~, Yuko explains.

> That's why it took so long, I see. <

~ Her leg and her arm still have to heal, but apart from that she won't have any problems. ~

Yossie takes a deep breath, > That's great. <

~ She go moved to another room to wake up. I was on my way to you, when I saw you at the desk. ~, Yuko continues.

Yossie only nods, her thoughts already somewhere else now that she can stop bothering about Risa. Yuko suggests that they should join the other girls and tell them about what happened, but Yossie doesn't want to go back. It was very special for all of them being together and as sudden as she met them, she wants to leave them again. This way there won't be any sad feelings and the whole moment would stay as a one-time thing in her memory. Because that's what it is in her eyes, a one-time thing. Yossie doubts that there will be such a moment in the future again. She tells Yuko about her training camp and that she has to leave now. Yuko doesn't try to make her stay a bit longer, but still is a bit sad about it, having this dream about a lasting reunion in her mind. They say goodbye to each other and Yuko wishes her good luck with her futsal career.

Yuko heads back to Sayu's room. Yossie watches as she enters Sayu's room. She first feels gloomy, but the noise of the girls as soon as Yuko opens the door puts a smile on her face. It was a great moment, despite the two accidents. Yossie will try to keep it as a happy moment in her memory and heads for the exit.

Aichan comes out of her room and sees Yossie leaving the hospital. She tries to call for her, but the door already closed behind Yossie. Aichan is still curious about where she is going and decides to follow her. On her way to the exit..

# Mr. and Mrs Niigaki, you can now visit your daughter. #

Aichan can't believe what she just heard and turns around, > .....Risa? <

[JFC]

Chapter 21 - The Goodbye

EH?

Risa's mother immediately starts to shout at them, blaming the girls for what happened today and in the past. In her eyes nothing of all this would have happened, if Risa never joined them. Neither Yuko nor Yossie try to talk back to her, realizing that it would only increase her anger. There is nothing they can say to calm her down. Finally her husband is able to calm her. Although it actually looks like that she needs to catch her breath. She sits down on one of the chairs and her husband apologizes to the girls. Yuko tells him that they can understand her anger and that he doesn't have to apologize. He is really glad for their sympathy and goes back to his wife.

It's understandable that Risa's mom is frustrated considering what happened (whatever it was) and how Risa got blacklisted the way that she did. It greatly affected her life (not in a good way either), and it hurts to see her have to go through this. Also, if you want to get technical, when you boil right down to it, Risa's mom can be considered right. It's not likely that this would have happened to Risa if she hadn't joined MM.

Koharu notices Yuko and Yossie.

"Eh...she is fine again..", she explains a bit embarrassed.

~ What happened? ~, Yuko still wants to know.

"Well, ... she had to go to the bathroom and suddenly kicked us out."

~ Risa's surgery finished. The doctors said that there were some difficulties, but they were able to handle it. ~, Yuko explains.

Please let it be fine now. Please don't have any post-surgery complications. 

Yossie doubts that there will be such a moment in the future again. She tells Yuko about her training camp and that she has to leave now. Yuko doesn't try to make her stay a bit longer, but still is a bit sad about it, having this dream about a lasting reunion in her mind. They say goodbye to each other and Yuko wishes her good luck with her futsal career.

Yuko heads back to Sayu's room. Yossie watches as she enters Sayu's room. She first feels gloomy, but the noise of the girls as soon as Yuko opens the door puts a smile on her face. It was a great moment, despite the two accidents. Yossie will try to keep it as a happy moment in her memory and heads for the exit.

Yossi...

# Mr. and Mrs Niigaki, you can now visit your daughter. #

Aichan can't believe what she just heard and turns around, > .....Risa? <

Oh crap...not the best way for Aichan to find out about this. 

[glcorps2002]

Man, the way you had this title written... you lucky that Risa's alive.

[HPriest]

Chapter 22 - The Teardrops



Sayu also seems to be healthy again. A nice and long sleep was enough for her to get back to recover her strength. Almost all girls are gathered in her room and talk about various kind of things. Now her mobile rings as well and it also is her boss. The situation is very similar to Yossie's situation, only that Sayu doesn't have anything in her schedule now. So, what does her manager want? He doesn't want to say what it is, but it looks like he has an amazing job offer for her. She is supposed to come to a short meeting immediately. Sayu doesn't know what to do, but the other girls tell her to go. They don't know about Risa yet, so they are all in very good mood. However, Sayu still is not sure whether she should leave now or not. The decision becomes a lot easier when Eri offers her to go with her. Sayu is moved by all the support from the other girls, although they haven't seen each other for such a long time. She basically has no other choice than to go now.

Right when they want to leave the room, Yuko opens the door and comes in. She sees Sayu and Eri heading for the door and ask where they are going, but they only respond that they are in a hurry and leave the room. Yuko tries to stop them, but they are already gone.

~ You can tell them later. ~, Miki suddenly says out loud, knowing what Yuko wants to say now.

> I guess you are right.. <, Yuko agrees.

+ Tell them what? +, the others get curious.

Yuko then slowly begins to explain what happened last night. You can see in their faces how the happy mood turns back to the sad mood they all had when they were worried about Aichan. "Does Aichan knows about this?", is the first questions that gets asked. Everybody knows about the problems between the two. It has been like this since Aichan or her new agency, but still with the knowledge of Aichan blamed Risa for the death of Mitsui. Since then the press stopped getting in the way of Aichan's own career. Anyway, Yuko explains them that she hasn't told Aichan yet. She actually wants to do this now and asks the other girls to help her. By no means they should say something like 'Risa only had the accident because she wanted to come and see you' or things like that. What Aichan needs are the smiling faces of the others, telling her that everything is fine.

That's easier said than done, because the girls themselves have to realize what happened to Risa. However, they want to try their best and so they move up to Aichan's room, all of them. Yuko is behind them, but the girls suddenly stop at Aichan's open door.

> Why are you stopping? <

~ She ... is not here. ~, Reina explains.

Yuko first is confused, but then she gets a slight shock. Where is she? Did she already found out? She immediately walks to the desk and asks the nurse where Aichan went.

# Aichan? #

> Takahashi Ai, the girl in room 069. <, Yuko quickly answers.

# Takashashi.....mmh... #

~ You DON'T know Aichan? ~ Kei bluntly adds. Aichan is so famous right now that it is a surprise to find somebody who doesn't know about her.

# Let me see. Wait, could it be that girl from just now? #

> Hm? <

# There was a patient just now, asking for another patient called Niigaki Risa. #

> Please no...I mean, yes that's her. Where is she? <

# She asked for Ms. Niigaki's room and I explained her the way to.. #

> WHAT? <, Yuko suddenly shouts at her.

# Ehh? #, the nurse of course has no clue why they are so tense.

> What's her room? <

# Takahashi's? #, the nurse is confused.

> No, Risa's! <

# Let me look it up again, but not all of you can visit her now. Her parents are already visiting her. She needs time to recover, you know. Ah there it is. #

~ I'll go. ~, Miki suddenly suggests.

The nurse gave them the room number and Miki suddenly stepped forward, heading into the direction of Risa's room. The other girls are confused, but Miki repeats the nurse that not all of them should go and visit her now.

~ Let me speak to Aichan. Besides, you should calm down a bit, you are not the youngest anymore, Yuko. ~ Miki adds with a smile.

Now that was blunt, blunt enough to make Yuko speechless. Nacchi takes the floor and suggests everyone to calm down.

+ You are still sensitive when somebody mentions your age? +, Nacchi whispers to Yuko and tells her to sit down as well.

> My age? No,...NO! I am more surprised about Miki. <, Yuko finally speaks again.

+ Mmh? +

Nacchi wonders what Yuko means, but Yuko seems to be deep in thoughts already. Is it that strange for Miki being the one willing to calm down another person or is there something else?

Meanwhile Aichan stands in front of Risa's room, leaning against the wall. Risa's parents are inside right now, but that's not necessarily the reason why Aichan is too afraid to enter the room. She realizes why Risa actually went out during such a stormy night. Slowly she slides down the wall until she sits on the ground. You can see the tears dripping down from her face. She lies her head on her knees and holds herself very tight. Miki finds her like this and slowly sits herself down next to her. She doesn't say anything, just sits next to her.

> Did it happen because of me? <, Aichan suddenly speaks up.

Miki looks at her.

> Did I ruin her life...again? <, she adds and looks at Miki with her teary eyes.

Miki clasps Aichan in her arms, ~It wasn't your fault, ...it wasn't.~

[JFC]

They don't know about Risa yet, so they are all in very good mood. However, Sayu still is not sure whether she should leave now or not. The decision becomes a lot easier when Eri offers her to go with her.

...

Yuko opens the door and comes in. She sees Sayu and Eri heading for the door and ask where they are going, but they only respond that they are in a hurry and leave the room. Yuko tries to stop them, but they are already gone.

Even if they knew about what happened to Risa, there really isn't anything they can do to help her right now anyway, so Sayu might as well go to her meeting.

Yuko then slowly begins to explain what happened last night. You can see in their faces how the happy mood turns back to the sad mood they all had when they were worried about Aichan. "Does Aichan knows about this?", is the first questions that gets asked.

Even with the awkwardness that is going on with Aichan & Risa's personal situation now, the girls still feel the desire to tell Aichan what happened.  They were, after all, best friends at one point in time. While they may not be close at the moment, given how much of an impact/influence they had on each other, it's only fair that she should know.

Little do they realize that Aichan has already found out.

# She asked for Ms. Niigaki's room and I explained her the way to.. #

> WHAT? <, Yuko suddenly shouts at her.

Whoa-oh.

~ I'll go. ~, Miki suddenly suggests.

The nurse gave them the room number and Miki suddenly stepped forward, heading into the direction of Risa's room. The other girls are confused, but Miki repeats the nurse that not all of them should go and visit her now.

That's a bit strange. One would expect that Yuko would be first to go, considering her standing amongst them all. Miki just isn't the first person one would expect to step up to do something like this.

Miki looks at her.

> Did I ruin her life...again? <, she adds and looks at Miki with her teary eyes.

Miki clasps Aichan in her arms, ~It wasn't your fault, ...it wasn't.~

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh shit...don't tell me...it was Miki who was the one who...and unknown to the others, Risa was innocent all along? Is this why Miki started smoking? Is she dealing with guilt that is stressing her out so much that she's doing this to herself?

[lil_hamz]

AHhhhhhhhhh I'm so sorry for missing the previous chapter and not commenting. I hate having exams On 2nd thoughts, I'm kinda glad that I missed it though since I didn't have to tear my hair out while waiting for the next update I can't stand not knowing how Ai-chan reacted upon hearing about Gaki-san.

The nurse bit was funny but I totally understand why Yuko got so annoyed. It was after all a situation which called for knowing Gaki-san's room number asap. But Miki....EHhhhhhhhhh??? (inserts Gaki-san reaction). Her 180 degrees change was surprising. JFC, your reason for Miki picking up smoking sounds feasible. I really want to know what happened. Gahhhhh this is getting really good. Not that it wasn't before but now there are so many questions to be answered.

I wanna see an emotional TakaGaki scene please

[Sancho]

This story is getting better and better. I hope you'll continue this one till the end. I mean, it's a waste if this one didn't end.