'Shun, where are you going?' Tsunan demanded at me, his tone filled with deep worried concern, as he stepped out of the lift.
Master Kagami, Hatsu and Heihachi accompanied him.
'I thought that you couldn't leave the hospital.'
'Am I dreaming or you were just trying to run away from the hospital?' asked Heihachi, stunned.
'Well, well, if she has an aversion for medical settings, that's not very good for you, my dear Tsunan!' Hatsu teased the doctor.
'It's not that,' I said to the latter, very quickly, not wanting him to have this misunderstanding. 'I just wanted to get back home.'
The spinning in my head accelerated at that moment and Tsunan grabbed me by my shoulders, making me sit down on the bench by the wall behind me, telling me, 'Well, okay. Sit down first!'
Holding my head with one hand, I looked up at the four males, asking them, 'But what are you doing here?'
'It's Yanagi who informed us of your accident,' replied the master, and my eyes widened at him in astonishment.
'Yanagi?'
'There she is!' he exclaimed, as the girl came into view.
I stared at the Gothic-Lolita as she closed the distance between us; unsure about what to think.
'So, will you two tell us how the accident happened?' the master asked, and I looked at him, then back at the girl, concluding that she didn't tell them about her involvement in it.
'Yes, Shun! Tell us! How did your accident occur?' Hatsu urged, and my eyes shifted onto him instantly.
He was watching Yanagi and I, suspiciously.
Taking a glance at the Gothic-Lolita, I lowered my eyes.
If I tell them what happened, I'll be putting Yanagi into a problem. And what will Tsunan think of her?
'It's my narcolepsy that has played tricks on me again,' I lied, keeping my eyes down.
'Well, since you're all here, I suppose that we're returning back to Toda,' declared Yanagi. 'I'll wait for you downstairs.'
At this, she strode away, heading for the staircase.
'Wait up, Yanagi!' Hatsu called, hurrying after her. 'I'm coming with you. I've got to talk to you.'
Heihachi followed after Hatsu, tagging along with them.
Master Kagami moved away to take care of my discharge, and Tsunan and I found ourselves alone with each other.
As I got my feet clumsily, suddenly, the doctor seized me by my shoulders.
This caused me to look up at his face and meet his eyes.
'Shun, what really happened? I know when you're lying. Your accident, it was due to Yanagi?'
My heart picked up speed.
I opened my mouth to deny it, but he cut me off, 'Don't lie to me. Remember your promise!'
I recalled the promise I had made to him in the genkan of Toda High School during the school festival. This plunged me into a mental conflict with myself.
'Tsunan, I...' I trailed off, lowering my head, not knowing what to do.
'It's okay. Don't say anything. I already know what happened,' he stated, and I stared at him in the eyes again, realizing that his mind was fixed on the matter.
'Tsunan, please, don't tell the master anything!'
His expression became filled with disapprobation.
'How can you ask this of me? What if the accident had killed you?!'
'Please?'
***
In the meanwhile…
'Oi!' Hatsu called after Yanagi, but the latter simply continued to walk, ignoring the blond male and Heihachi completely. 'Oi!' he called at her again and when she still made as if she didn't hear anything, he overtook her, cutting her way.
Jerking to a stop, the Gothic-Lolita gave the blond male a scowl, growling, 'What do you want, Hatsu?'
'I want you tell me what you did to Shun!' stated the latter, scowling back at her.
Heihachi caught up with them at that moment, but the girl cut him dead, saying to Hatsu, 'What are you talking about? You've heard what she said, yes? Narcolepsy is dangerous!'
'Don't play the innocent with me!' the blond snapped at her, in blazing anger and she shrugged, 'I really don't see what you're talking about.'
Hatsu clenched his fists, his teeth gritting together. 'Yeah, right! Let me warn you, Yanagi! If you start again, I swear to you that I'm going to make you regret it!'
She stared at him, her throat tightening.
His eyes were very serious.
The girl couldn't help but feel frightened.
***
Nine days later...
It took my head injury a whole week to heal.
I still felt a bit disturbed whenever I thought about what happened with Yanagi, mainly over my memory loss.
All my souvenirs with the people that I hold dear to my heart, had been snatched away from me for a brief moment.
Ironically, it wasn't when I couldn't remember anything that I felt the worse, but when I recovered my memory for, this was when I realized how much had been taken away from me.
After my accident, there had been no reports of Noppera-bō in Kurihara which has left us to think that they have really left the city.
'Say Shun,' declared Tsunan, as he joined me where I was sitting under the veranda, enjoying a hot tea. 'How about we buy a single gift on the part of both of us for the master and Yama-san?'
I flushed up at the idea.
It- It would be, as if, we formed… a couple!!!
'Uh, O-Okay!' I stuttered.
Today was Master Kagami and Yama-san's marriage anniversary and they were going to hold a party at their house this evening.
All the members of the organization would be there, as well as Shuko and Shiragiku.
'Well then, let's go to buy them their present right away!'
I nodded, cheerfully, standing up.
'But wait! You were about to go to the shrine to pray for them, weren't you?'
'It's okay. I'll do it after our return from shopping.'
'No,' he decided. 'Let's go immediately! Together!'
My eyes widened at him for a second, before I smiled, blushing.
***
In the evening…
'Shall we?' I called at Tsunan as I came down into the living.
The doctor turned around to face me and his eyes went wide.
'Shun, you're literally breath-taking!'
I lowered my eyes, blushing.
'Th-Thank you!' I murmured. 'It's Yama-san who offered me this kimono the day I went to visit Gakkuri after our return of voyage from Konishi. She told me that when she saw this kimono, it made her think of me immediately!'
It was a white kimono, with flower patterns on it of the shades of red. I had also worn the lipstick Tsunan had offered me.
Looking at the doctor, I noticed that he was wearing the gray tie I had gifted him.
'The tie suits you really well,' I told him, cheerily, adjusting it for him.
We locked gaze with each other for a minute, before he seemed to remember something.
Digging his hand into the pocket of his coat, he took out my cellphone and held it out to me, saying, 'I've got it repaired for you.'
'Thank you,' I whispered, giving him a grateful smile.
***
A short while later…
Everyone had already arrived when Tsunan and I reached the master's house and everyone was in their best evening clothes for the occasion.
The living room was sumptuously decorated and all the chandeliers were lit.
We moved directly to Master Kagami and Yama-san to felicitate them.
'This is on the part of both Tsunan and I,' I told them, handing over the beautifully-wrapped box to Yama-san.
'A gift on both your parts! Ah, it's so adorable!' cooed Hatsu, who was standing close-by with Heihachi.
I held my face in-between my hands, my cheeks heating up.
'Ane-ue!' called Gakkuri, who came running to me at that moment alongside Natsuhiko, and grabbing my hand, she began to pull me away with her, exclaiming, 'Come with me! I have to show you something!'
'Excuse me,' I said to Tsunan and the others, as I let Gakkuri drag me away with her; Natsuhiko tagging along.
She took me to her bedroom and switching off the lights, she pressed another button on the wall and this caused the room to become lit with tiny colorful bulbs ranging the walls.
'Sugoi!' I exclaimed, making a complete swirl onto myself.
'It's daddy who installed it for me,' she told me, shyly, with her eyes lowered.
It was the very first time that I was hearing her call the master as her dad.
My heart swelled.
'Oh, Gakkuri!' I cooed, getting down onto my knees to take her into my arms.
I felt so happy for her.
A minute later, we came out of her bedroom to go join the others again and my eyes fell onto Yanagi who was standing all alone in the corridor, leaning against the side wall with her arms crossed over her chest.
The Gothic-Lolita was fixating me and I stared back at her, unsure about how to react towards her.
As we passed by her, abruptly, she seized me by my wrist and yanked me to a stop, groaning, 'Stay here! I have to talk to you!'
I was a bit startled.
Taking a glance at Gakkuri and Natsuhiko, I found the two staring at the Gothic-Lolita and I, with anxiety.
'You carry on! I'll catch up with you later,' I told the kids, in a reassuring tone.
I watched them get out of sight, before I returned my attention back onto Yanagi.
Releasing my wrist, she scowled at me, muttering, 'It's been days since the accident and you still haven't told Master Kagami that it was my fault. I want to know why! Perhaps, you intend to blackmail, eh?!'
'I- I don't have the intention of telling anything to the master,' I whispered, timidly, but sincerely. 'Or, to blackmail you...'
'You want to get yourself well seen by the others, then, huh?! Hatsu had nearly jumped at my throat at the hospital and I know that Tsunan suspects me about what happened.'
She gritted her teeth together, her expression mad.
'The more I see you, the more you disgust me! I hate you, Shun Shutsuki! I hate you!' she shouted and without any warning, she raised her glass of juice to throw it in my face when, out of the blue, Tsurayuki Senryū appeared, stepping in the middle, and it was the dark-haired male who took the drink in his face.
I gasped out in shock. Yanagi was more than stupefied.
'It's your fault!' she hissed at me, infuriated, and I cringed away, my eyes drawing shut as she raised her hand to slap me at the face.
But to my astonishment, the blow never came.
Opening my eyes, I saw that Tsurayuki had stopped her hand.
'Yanagi, calm down now!' he told her, in a calm, even tone.
She stared at him, an array of emotions defiling on her face, before her eyes shifted onto me, full of rage.
Pulling her hand out of Tsurayuki's grip, she flung around and flounced away.
Yanagi…
Astounded by her behavior, I was about to run after her to try to talk to her, even if I wasn't sure about what to say when, a hand came down onto my shoulder, stopping me.
Looking around, I found myself nose-to-nose with Cho and Agasa, the two girls having witnessed the whole scene.
'Stay here! We'll go!' the dark-haired girl told me, and they hurried after the Gothic-Lolita.
Thank you for reading!