Youya's POV:
Hina-san has left me and Ayane-san with Kuro-san. She went out to bring some medical equipment she thought were necessary. But the main reason was to hold Rin away from Kuro-san, so he got dragged out with her by force.
Ayane-san was sitting on a chair beside one of the beds. She has never left her spot from the moment we've laid Kuro-san on that bed.
She was awake all night, so it's not strange to see her sleeping, as she rested her head on her folded arms on the side of the bed, knocked out due to exhaustion. Her other hand still holding Kuro's since the moment he was brought here.
I stood beside the window, leaning slightly onto the frame and watching how people started their business that early morning.
The black magician, Kuro-san, was still passed out. It was frankly a shock when he just passed out on the street, but at least I'm glad we finally had the chance to bring him with us. I only hope now that this will put both Ayane-san and Hina-san finally at ease.
Kuro-san was running a high fever the whole night, but thanks to Hina-san's medical knowledge, he seemed better now.
********
While I was observing the outside world through the window absentmindedly and deep in thoughts, Kuro-san started to stir and wake up slowly.
I looked at him, a bit afraid of what would happen. I mean, I knew he was Ayane-san's friend, or family, or whatever she called him, but he is still that dangerous black magician after all.
He opened his eye, the other one hidden by his half mask that we haven't dared to remove.
He sat up slowly, looking around and trying to progress where he was. He tried to raise his hand to his face but realized that Ayane-san was holding tightly to it.
"She was up all night taking care of you" I spoke up, waiting for his reaction in slight distress.
He looked at me for a moment, cold sweat running down my body. He kept staring with his lifeless dullish-green right eye.
Finally, he gave out a sigh and freed his right hand from Ayane-san's grasp. And was about to get up from the bed.
I was panicking a bit as I remembered Hina-san telling me not to allow him to leave at any circumstances. But I was a bit angry too. How could he make Ayane-san that worried and sad again?!
"She was so worried about you! From the moment I met her she was desperate to find you. Are you going to leave her again?!" I said half yelling at him.
He didn't look at me, he just kept his gaze fixed at Ayane-san's sleeping form. He sighed yet again as he hesitantly raised his hand and put it on Ayane-san's head. He patted her hair slowly and gently.
"I know" was the only thing he said.
He kept stroking her hair quietly before he stopped and looked at me.
"Who are you?" He said with his cold low voice. He said it lifelessly and coldly, but I felt that there was more than that to him.
"I- I'm just a friend of Ayane-san and Hina-san" I said hesitantly.
"Hina?" He asked.
After everything Hina-san seemed to know about him, it hasn't crossed my mind that they didn't know each other.
"Yeah, she is also Ayane-san's friend, I don't know how they met, but they were already together when I met them. Oh, and there is also Rin, he is that red-haired fighting maniac who wants to fight with you all the time" I started rambling cheerfully, forgetting every logical cautiousness as I kept telling him everything about how I met them and all the things that happened since.
I realized after a moment that I was saying too much and snapped both my hands up to my mouth as a pink hue spread on my cheeks in embarrassment.
The magician looked at me, the sides of his lips turning up. One could barely call it a smile, but I got the feeling that this was most emotions he had ever expressed. He looked back at Ayane-san and started stroking her hair once more.
"I see..... She is not alone anymore" he said in some sort of relief. "Thank you for taking care of her" He added without looking up at me, a genuine smile-like expression on his face.
"Then...you're not leaving?" I asked wondering. He stopped stroking Ayane-san's hair, still not taking his gaze off of Ayane-san.
"I have to" he answered. A short pause took place before he continued. "For her own good"
I didn't get what he meant, but before I could ask, he started to get up, careful not to wake Ayane-san.
I didn't know what to do, I just did what first came to mind and ran to the bed, putting my hands on his shoulders and pushing him down to try to stop him from leaving.
But the moment my hands touched his shoulders, his eye widened. He hissed defensively and pushed me to the floor.
Fear rushed through my veins again and I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, not knowing what would come next.
But when I felt that nothing was happening, I cracked open one of my eyes.
I saw Kuro-san clutching his chest in obvious pain. He bit his under lip and his eye was squeezed shut. His breathing started to become uneven.
I panicked once more and got up immediately. This time I didn't try to touch him as I saw what the first touch had caused. Though I really didn't do anything! I barely touched him. It shouldn't be my fault!
But that wasn't important now, I had to come up with something. Maybe give him a painkiller?
Then something strange caught my sight. A strange black pattern on his left arm. It was spreading downwards. Probably upwards too, but I wasn't able to see it due to his clothes and half-mask.
Kuro-san doubled over in a coughing fit, I just didn't know what to do and stared fearfully at the sight.
At the coughing sound, Ayane-san was wild awake now. She looked around in horror before she locked her eyes on the form of the coughing boy.
"Wha-? Where's Hina?!" Ayane-san asked, looking at me. I shook my head to answer as I knew that Hina-san was not here now.
But luckily, the door banged open at that exact same moment, showing Hina-san who rushed instantly inside and Rin who was struggling to hold dozens of bags right behind.
*******
Still Youya's POV:
15 minutes later, Kuro-san was unconscious again. Hina-san gave him a strange syringe that made him forcefully sleep.
I sighed in relief.
"T- thank you, Hina" Ayane-san's shaky voice said as she held Kuro-san's hand again tightly.
"Don't mention it" Hina-san said with a sympathizing face while she put her hand on Ayane-san's shoulder in an attempt to calm her down. "I'm sorry that there is nothing I can do. I can't seem to find out what the problem is" Hina-san said in an apologetic tone.
A long silence took place as I and Hina-san exchanged worried looks.
"I see it's still the same" a voice said from behind, startling all of us. We looked back to the corner of the room where the least expected person was talking.
"Wha- what do you mean, Rin?" Ayane-san said while she stood up and headed toward said boy.
"The side effects" he said confidently, dropping the bags he was holding to the floor harshly with a loud thud to look directly at Ayane-san's sulky eyes. He took a big step over the scattered supplies that were in the bags and came face to face with Ayane-san.
Tension filled the air as they both stared at each other, a silence challenge occurring between them.
"What do you know?" Ayane-san said in a low voice. It was obvious that she was trying to contain her overwhelming feelings.
"Who knows" Rin snickered and shrugged. A maniac grin painted on his lips.
"You- !!" Ayane-san growled and clutched the collar of Rin's shirt with both her hands angrily. But Rin seemed unbothered by that and just continued with his provocative attitude.
Oh, how I feel this is not gonna end so well.....