( Chiho's POV )
Since I can remember I have had a weak body, when I was little I could not play with other children my age and one of my parents always had to watch over me, Furthermore, when I turned ten, my condition worsened and I was admitted to a hospital.
The hospital was much worse than being at home, I couldn't see my parents and the food had no taste, I wanted to get better as soon as possible, being home all day didn't sound so bad now, but no matter how much time passed, it never happened.
//////////
At first, my parents visited me every day, but as time passed their visits became less frequent, I know that they did not do it on purpose, they were working excessively to pay for all my treatments, after all, but seeing that none of them were effective, I asked them to stop looking for a cure, I didn't want to be a burden to them, but things only got worse.
//////////
Three years after being hospitalized another tragedy occurred, my parents died in an accident, I felt a great deal of sadness and guilt, I could never do anything to thank them for taking care of me and in the end, I was just a burden to them.
Shortly after my parents' accident, my uncles visited me, this was the first time I spoke with them, my parents had a bad relationship with them but since they are my only relatives they would be taking care of me from now on, In this situation, the only thing I could do is put on a fake smile and not say anything to upset them, at that moment I realized that I was completely alone.
//////////
Five years after the death of my parents I had gotten used to my life in the hospital and although I have to use a wheelchair being in the garden is my favorite moment of the day and it was during one of those moments in the garden that my life changed for the better for the first time.
Chiho: what are you doing up there?
I was looking at a brown-haired girl in a side ponytail, she was hiding in the branches of a tree wearing strange and very revealing clothes, obviously, she was not a patient of this hospital.
???: Hi, listen, could you please not tell anyone that you saw me, I'm running away from the MBI.
Chiho: running away, are you a bad person?
Uzume: no no no, I'm just helping a friend of mine, I'm a really good person, my name is Uzume by the way.
She climbed down from the tree and extended her hand to greet me, her situation is strange but I feel strangely calm around her.
Chiho: my name is Chiho.
Due to my condition I have never had a friend and with Uzume's fun and friendly attitude she makes me feel as if we have been friends for a long time, she asked me why I was in the hospital, I told her about my condition and that I had spent much of my life in the hospital, Uzume put a hand on her chin doing a thinking pose and after a few seconds she snaps her fingers and she starts talking again.
Uzume: I know, Chiho do you want me to be your friend?
Chiho: eh? you want to be my friend, why?
Uzume: Why not? I feel that we will be great friends.
Her statement took me by surprise and also made me feel a bit silky, compared to me Uzume looks so free.
Chiho: ok, I'll be happy to be your friend.
//////////
Uzume visited me every day, we talked, Uzume sometimes wore costumes and told me what she had done that day, Uzume did everything to make me smile, which wasn't too difficult when Uzume is the only one who has cared for me since my parents died.
A few weeks after we met Uzume tells me that she has a secret that she wants to confess, what she told me was hard to believe, Uzume was a Sekirei and that she was part of a game organized by the MBI, the same MBI she was running away from, Sekireis are alien beings almost identical to humans, except that she possesses abilities that could be considered superpowers.
At first, I thought she was joking with me, it wouldn't be the first time, but in the garden, she showed me what she was capable of, with a single jump she could reach the roof of the hospital also with the veil she had, she could change her form and use it as a cutting weapon and leave a pretty deep mark on a tree.
Well that convinced me, I asked Uzume what this game was about and she told me in a few words that she has to find her ashikabi and fight against other sekireis until she is the last one standing.
I also asked her what an ashikabi is and she told me it is the person she will fall in love with, I had never thought about romance until that moment, can someone even fall in love with me?, I'm not attractive or interesting like Uzume and the only thing I can do is sit on my bed, the rest of the day all I could think about was how it would feel to be in love.
//////////
A few days later Uzume told me about an interesting boy she met, he is the friend of the new tenant of the inn where she lives, during the following days Uzume kept talking about him, how he saved a Sekirei girl, she told me that he was someone special and how he helped a couple escape from the Sekirei plan, I think I would like to meet him.
But once again I felt that I was about to lose someone important to me, Uzume did not feel as free and happy as usual, yet she never stopped smiling and never told me if something was going on with her, she probably didn't want to worry me, but that makes me feel useless, my best friend needs help and I can't do anything to help her.
The next day while I was feeling sorry for myself I hear a strange noise outside the hospital and when I look at the window of my room someone was entering through it, a boy around the same age as me.
???: Hello there.
Chiho: Hi... who are you?
He greets me and I look at him for a few seconds, feeling as if I knew him.
Yuuki: I am a friend of Uzume and I come to rescue you, my name is-
Chiho: Yuuki, you are Yuuki right? Uzume told me about you.
When he mentions Uzume I immediately knew why he looked familiar, his hair color and those different colored eyes are not very common, Yuuki was exactly as Uzume described him.
Yuuki: oh, that made my job easier.
Yuuki walks over to my bed and picks me up easily, I've never been so close to a boy my age before, My whole body got hot and my heart was beating fast, this is the first time that I had felt this way.
Chiho: w-what are you doing?
Yuuki: I already told you, I came to save you.
When I listened to Yuuki, I was speechless, he wasn't saying that out of pity or just to make me feel better, I could feel the sincerity in his words but before I could reply Yuuki jumped out the window and slid down a large branch connected to my room.
Chiho: that was fun.
After spending much of my life in bed or a wheelchair, that was an exciting experience, my heart was now beating for a different reason, I wanted to feel the wind on my face and feel gravity pulling me once more, Yuuki started jumping from building to building, I was so excited that I couldn't help but scream and throw my arms in the air.
//////////
Chiho: Where we are?
Yuuki: this is the MBI building, this is where they're going to cure you.
Uzume: Chiho!
In the MBI building, a large group of women was waiting for us, they were Yuuki's sekireis and with such a large group we only had time to introduce ourselves before Yuuki and his sekireis had to return home but Uzume stayed with me and I had a lot of questions for her.
When Uzume and I were left alone, I questioned her about her recent attitude and why Yuuki got me out of the hospital, when I remember that, it makes me a little embarrassed, I didn't put up any resistance when Yuuki took me in his arms.
Uzume tells me that the hospital I was in belongs to the Ashikabi who was using Uzume to do his dirty work and when she met Yuuki she couldn't follow that ashikabi's orders, she became Yuuki's Sekirei and he decided to save us both, I think she is leaving some details out of her story.
Chiho: You're not hiding anything else from me, right Uzume?
Uzume: no, that's all that happened in the last few days.
Chiho: I know why you were hiding that from me but please don't do it again, you are my friend and if you are in trouble I want to help you.
Uzume: I understand, but for now just focus on recovering, ok.
Chiho: ok
Uzume stays outside my room while the doctors start my treatment, today has been a very hectic day and at some point, I fell asleep.
//////////
The next day when I woke up Uzume was sleeping in a chair and a mature woman was also in my room.
???: Good morning Chiho, how are you feeling?
Chiho: Good morning, I feel good, thank you.
Takami: my name is Takami, I will take care of you in what we hope will be a short stay, with the results of your studies from yesterday, If no problem arises you will be better in a few days.
Uzume: Takami-san can I talk to you for a moment.
Uzume woke up while I was talking to Takagi-san and the two of them come out of my room to talk privately, when I was alone, I looked out the window and sighed, this feels like a dream after spending so many years in a hospital I'll be better in a couple of days, it's a little hard to believe.
As I look out the window I can't help but think about Yuuki, I wonder what he's doing right now.
Yuuki: Chiho~.
Chiho: Y-Yuuki, what are you doing here?
I turn around when I hear someone call my name and I see Yuuki sitting in the chair that Uzume was using just now.
Yuuki: Just making sure you're okay unless that bothers you.
Chiho: no, I'm happy to see you again, I mean I appreciate you worrying about me, but I don't want to be a bother.
I blush a little when I see him and I say out loud that I was happy to see him, I try to change the subject quickly and I say the same thing I've said many times in my life, that I didn't want to be a nuisance.
Yuuki: taking care of someone you care about will never be a bother, I'm sure Uzume would tell you the same, also in a few days you will be cured so you have the right to be a little selfish until you recover, ok?
Yuuki flicks my forehead and pretends to be upset as he tells me that I'm not a bother y besides when he says that he cares about me I can only reply with one word.
Chiho: O-Ok.
Kuno: Looks like you guys are getting along.
Chiho: K-Kuno-san, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were here.
Kuno: don't worry about it, I didn't want to interrupt you.
I was still a bit nervous so our conversation was mostly Yuuki and Kuno asking me questions and me occasionally asking questions, when Uzume came back I was a little less nervous and we were able to have a more normal conversation until Yuuki and Kuno had to leave, time passed too quickly when we were chatting.
Uzume: So, what do you think of Yuuki?
Chiho: He seems to be a kind person and a bit strange, our first meeting was him entering through the window of my room, I think you make a good couple.
Uzume: hey, what do you mean by that!
Although Uzume seemed offended she had a huge smile on her face and I can't help but smile too.
Uzume: Chiho, your smile is much more beautiful than before, Yuuki will fall for you in no time.
Chiho W-what! What are you saying Uzume!