Breathless
Chapter 20: Always Somewhere
The sky this morning looks very shady and soft. The sound of raindrops that have completed their task of watering the earth gives peace to the pursuers of dreams who have risen from the island of Kapok which looks always comfortable when the morning is approaching. That morning as usual, Hiiro set foot to a flower shop right near the hospital to buy a bouquet of emu's favorite lily.
"As usual is Kagami-sensei?" the middle-aged lady greeted the young genius doctor with a friendly smile.
Hiiro nodded his head and returned the smile of the flower shop owner's woman who then deftly arranged a bouquet of lily flowers that were always ordered every morning by the genius doctor. Only a series without any greeting cards is usually done by a man to his girlfriend. After all, even if he slipped a greeting card, the sweet pediatrician would not be able to read it.
Yes, the sweet doctor is still lying weakly in the hospital bed. It has been almost two weeks after the unforgettable incident, the girl still has not opened her eyes as if reluctant to face the reality that is happening. Hiiro never absent every day to visit and accompany the pediatrician by occasionally talking to himself, trying to invite interaction in the hope Emu will soon open both eyes.
"Please Kagami-sensei!" The woman finally finished her work and immediately handed Hiiro an order flower.
"Thank you, Megumi-san!" hiiro said sincerely and then paid some money to the middle-aged woman.
"Kagami-sensei together! Hope Houjou-sensei recovers soon!" said Megumi with teary eyes that looked very sincere, making Hiiro moved and bowed politely while saying thank you once again.
Hiiro walked lightly towards the hospital. Wearing a light blue knit sweater that covered the white shirt inside as well as black cloth pants, Hiiro looks very relaxed unlike when he was serving. But he is basically not in service.
Post-incident which is enough to make a stir of government. Minister Kyotarou Hinata was furious with the doctors involved in the incident that left Emu shot and had to be treated for hospital incentives. The day after Date voluntarily surrendered, Kyotarou convened or rather launched a punitive action against Hiiro and his friends.
Hiiro, Taiga, Kiriya get a pretty heavy sanction. The three of them were suspended for two months from all activities related to their activities as doctors. Luckily their practice permit was not frozen. Minister Kyotarou said this was a request from Date submitted by his father. This is also a form of compensation because Date voluntarily surrendered and asked for the trial to be held immediately. Date asked that all responsibility of the incident be charged to him not to anyone else. Even Date willingly allowed Kyotarou to freeze his license to practice as a doctor. Hiiro, Taiga and Kiriya responded with a troubled feeling. They don't know if they should be happy or not with Date's attitude towards them.
While Kuroto and Pallad get different sanctions. Because they are not doctors and are only seconded to the cyber-hospital team, Kyotarou only gives them community service penalties. Now they are both assisted by Poppy and Nico become officers in the community service department and help all complaints of the community via phone or face to face. Hiiro sometimes feels sorry for Kuroto and Pallad who must learn to sit still and be a patient figure in listening to various kinds of complaints of the community.
"This task is more suitable for Emu! He could do well!" the complaint was the last heard by Hiiro from Pallad's mouth when he accidentally visited the two men in their break.
But regardless of the length of their complaints about the task given by Kyotarou, Pallad and Kuroto still do their duty responsibly. At least they do not need to be imprisoned for what they have done.
What about their other partners? Of course they did not escape sanctions. Gou, who has recovered, was not sanctioned because he was considered a victim and is now undergoing outpatient treatment for his injuries. Shotaru, Shinosuke and Chase have faced different punishments. Shotaru and Shinosuke are relieved of their primary duties as detectives and agents. They are now together with Chase mutated to a department that focuses on traffic activities or rather they are now assigned as a traffic cop. Not challenging indeed, but at least the police did not fire them and give them more severe sanctions.
Well, at least now they have undergone the consequences of the actions they have done. There is a little regret in each of them why they did all that without thinking. But it is undeniable that the tragedy that has passed has made their lives all changed drastically.
"Ohayou, Kagami-sensei!" the friendly greetings of the staff, doctors and nurses at the hospital were well received by Hiiro.
The male doctor with his trademark face gave a cold smile even though according to doctors, nurses and staff, Hiiro can now smile more in response to their greeting. Not as cold and cold as before. While still responding to every greeting along the hospital hallway, Hiiro while holding a bouquet of flowers in her hand walked consistently towards the room where Emu was now being treated.
"Morning, Reiko-san!" Hiiro greeted the figure of the middle-aged woman sitting beside the bed where Emu was lying.
"Morning, Hiiro-kun!" Reiko with a warm smile turned towards Hiiro who then swiftly replaced the flowers that were beside Emu's bed.
Reiko is a regular visitor who always faithfully with Hiiro waiting and accompanying Emu in turn. Reiko, who has considered Emu as her own daughter, looks very excited every time she visits. He always carried a light reading book, and read it beside Emu. Keeping him and Emu interacting was the same as the thought Hiiro had. Hopefully with the small interactions they build can make Emu can recover and be aware immediately.
"Has Reiko-san been here a long time?" tanya Hiiro then sat down on the other side of Emu's bed.
"Iie! I also just arrived, Taiga-kun and Kiriya-kun were accompanying Emu-chan before I came!" reiko told Hiiro.
"Where are they now?" Hiiro's head was wailing about not finding the two comrades when he came.
"They said they'd buy breakfast and coffee!" reiko's reply was followed by a nod from Hiiro.
Silence for a while greeted them. Hiiro is too awkward to be alone with Reiko. Usually Taiga and Kiriya who alternately took care of Emu can melt the atmosphere with the small talk they started. But Hiiro is not the type of person who easily opens a chat.
"How's Date, Reiko-san?" that question just flashed through Hiiro's mind. The look of Reiko's face turned into a mishmash no doubt making Hiiro can only curse his stupidity. What kind of question does he really think. Of course he knew that Date wasn't entirely in good shape.
That means he's still in custody and it can't be okay, right?
"Akira-kun?" Reiko looked astonished when Hiiro asked her that question. Reiko did not expect that Hiiro would ask about Date's situation.
"Ah, yes! Akira-kun is fine. I plan to visit him this afternoon! Are you interested in coming?" for some reason Reiko suddenly offers Hiiro to come see Date in prison.
"Is it okay?" taya Hiiro half-believes that Reiko has invited him to visit her former rival.
"of course! I don't mind! It's possible that he'll be happy to have a visit other than me and Takashi-san!" reiko said with a hopeful smile. Hiiro replied with a smile as well to Reiko. There is no harm in visiting Date, right? After all, the last time they met was when he and his other friends were questioned by the police about the hospital bombing a week after Date's surrender. There is a curiosity about Hiiro about the fate that Date will accept. Hiiro just hopes, Date can get a second chance to fix everything.
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Kiriya came to visit them, after the morning just stopped by to bring them breakfast and coffee. Reiko greeted Kiriya warmly and was well-replyed by Kiriya. The coroner then sat down on a sofa not far from where Emu's bed lay. Hiiro approached Kiriya and then positioned himself sitting next to the eccentric doctor.
"I'll be visiting Date with Reiko-san in a moment!" hiiro said slowly making Kiriya wide in surprise.
"You're going to visit Date?!" Kiriya repeated the sentence that Hiiro had just spoken with half disbelief.
"of course! why then?" sahut Hiiro with a wrinkled face, the expression shown by the eccentric doctor was too excessive.
"Nothing! Just a wonder!" sahut Kiriya was as if sipping bottled mineral water that he brought along with some snacks to accompany them while guarding the pediatric.
"At least I want to thank him! Besides, I just want to talk to him about Emu's condition. I'm sure he's very worried about Emu!" hiiro's words further made Kiriya shake her head in surprise.
"Are you right Hiiro? I can't believe you can be this wise right now!" kiriya exclaimed in a half-mockful tone towards Hiiro and laughed softly.
"Fuck you Coroner! What do you think I'm a man?" timpal Hiiro in an annoyed tone responded to Kiriya's remarks.
"Some of course!" sahut Kiriya thoughtlessly who was rewarded with a sharp gaze from the genius doctor.
"Don't be angry young master! I'm just kidding!" sahut Kiriya again looked horrified with an expression of intimidation shown by Hiiro.
Hiiro let out a short sigh with a face without passion. Kiriya's statement was basically nothing wrong. He used to be a cold and selfish man who never wanted to give up or be blamed. But with time that nature begins to erode.
It's impossible for him to be a selfish man continuously isn't it?
"As long as I'm gone, I'll take Emu!" pinta Hiiro to Kiriya followed with a grin from the coroner.
"No need to ask either, I will always take care of her!!" kiriya said sincerely to produce a warm smile from the genius doctor. Yeah, he doesn't have to worry. Of course, many people will take care of Emu when she is not next to him.
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Reiko looks like she is squeezing her hand in agitation. Almost every day he visited Date after accompanying Emu, still he felt uneasiness in his heart. Seeing the son alone in a small room certainly made his heart not calm. Which mother could have seen her son languishing in a cold prison alone.
"Akira-kun!" Reiko mixed feelings put her hand on a glass that separated her physique and the son. Wishing he could channel his affection even though there was a barrier separating them
"Mommy!" said Date look excited when he saw the mother came to visit him again regularly. But slowly his gaze was surprised when he found that there were other people who visited him besides the mother, "Hiiro??"
"Hi Date!" hello Hiiro looks awkward.
"How are you? You look thinner!" hiiro added while looking at the face of Date who was seen more tapered than the last time they met.
"Food in prison is certainly not as good as home-cooked food, Hiiro!" timpal Date chuckled, half-joking after seeing Reiko's face that looked increasingly worried after hearing Hiiro's remark to Date.
The awkward atmosphere was felt later, Reiko saw the son who became silent when he saw Hiiro's arrival, finally taking the initiative to leave the two of them to be more free to talk.
"You two should talk! I'll wait outside!" timpal Reiko then moved from where he was sitting.
"But—" Hiiro tries to prevent Reiko, but Reiko pats him on the shoulder slowly.
"It's okay! I can visit my baby boy anytime, right?" said Reiko then threw a smile at Hiiro and Date. The son just nodded slowly and returned the mother's smile.
Hiiro sees Reiko coming out of the room with mixed feelings.
Where should he start their conversation?
"So, how are you feeling?" finally only that question came from his genius brain.
A thin grin appeared on Date's tapered face, he chuckled as if puzzled to respond to Hiiro's question, "Honestly I don't know what to respond to your question. But my feelings are certainly not okay! Moreover, just sitting in a small room behind an iron rope."
However, they have been involved in quite a fierce dispute. It is not even denied they ever intend to kill each other's lives. Funny thing is that they are in a very different situation. Endless awkward situations.
"How's Emu-chan doing?" a second later Date asked about Emu's condition to Hiiro so that the awkward atmosphere between the two of them did not continue and wasted the visiting time given by the prison.
"Unfortunately Emu is still unconscious to this day! The doctor who treated him only said that his own condition had stabilized and there was nothing to worry about. Now it's just a matter of waiting for his consciousness to return." said Hiiro made the look on Date's face change instantly.
"Did you miss Date?" Hiiro looks at Date who looks sad when they start talking about Emu.
"Is it too obvious?" tanya Date then looked at Hiiro with a faint look.
Hiiro nodded, confirming Date's statement. No doubt Hiiro can see the look of a longing face on Date's face. He might not be an expert face reader, but it seemed that Date could not hide his face that missed Emu so he could guess accurately.
"Not hypocritical, I miss him so much. But do I deserve to miss him?" date said as she took a heavy breath, the look on her face grew distant. His mind was like floating somewhere.
"I'm sorry Hiiro!" the next remark made Hiiro even more surprised. He really did not know the man in front of him. Men who look more mature and different.
"Sorry, what for?" tanya Hiiro looked at Date with a contorted expression, although Hiiro understood where they were going.
"I'm sorry I gave you all this trouble!" date added again while giving a thin smile to Hiiro.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Date! What distinguishes them is only the attitude they show after making a mistake. Regret it or not! If regret is the answer that comes when you realize your mistake, a second chance is always worth giving!" Hiiro can't deny that Date has done a lot of things to hurt a lot of people, but the regret he has shown is enough to impress Hiiro. Moreover, with full awareness Date admitted his mistake without defense. Actions that have proven if he has indeed changed and regretted all his actions.
"If we had met under different circumstances! Maybe you can be a friend I can trust!" said Date while scratching his head that does not itch.
"Is it too late to make friends?" date added that was welcomed by Hiiro.
"Of course not!" replied Hiiro firmly who developed a smile on Date's face.
"Friends?" tanya Date assures if she's not wrong to offer Hiiro friendship.
"Friends!" hiiro replied with a stern look at his former rival, Date.
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"Thank you Hiiro-kun!" Reiko thanked him sincerely as they were on their way back to the hospital.
"Thank you for what Reiko-san is?" Hiiro who looked confused responded to the thanks made by Reiko.
"Thank you for being a friend to Akira-kun!" reiko said sincerely, there were tears that appeared in the corner of her eyes.
"Oh, it doesn't matter Reiko-san! I'm glad to do it!" timpal Hiiro tries to make Reiko comfortable with her smile. At least this time he didn't want to look like a cold and heartless man.
"Akira-kun never had someone who was considered a friend by him! So, I was quite surprised when he offered you a friendship!" said Reiko who remembered that Date was very unlucky in friendship, until finally he never made a real friendship with others.
Hiiro could feel what Reiko was feeling. Hiiro himself is not the type of person who easily gets along with others. So for him he and Date are actually not much different. Friendship is not their skill.
"I hope you can make good friends, even though Akira-kun is in prison!" added Reiko followed a gentle nod from Hiiro.
"Thank you again!" Reiko does not stop thanking Hiiro, he is sure they can make healthy friends and can support each other. At least that was what Reiko had expected at the moment.
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After a long debate, Reiko finally gave up the night and obeyed the words of the male doctors who were now guarding Emu in her treatment room. The three of them compactly asked Reiko to go home and rest at home. Takashi picks up Reiko with awkwardness. Unlike Reiko who easily mingled with Emu's friends, Takashi still showed them the attitude of her feet. Especially after the problems that have happened with them. Even Fujita, Kusaka and Mihara still look tense every meeting with the doctors, Kuroto and Pallad, considering they were once in a situation of wanting to 'kill each other'.
The treatment room where Emu is now, is filled by Hiiro, Kiriya and Kuroto. Poppy, Pallad, Taiga, and Nico decide to head to Emu's apartment, in addition to their plans to bring some supplies for Emu, who is, they also intend to buy dinner and other snacks to accompany them in the evening.
Hiiro, Kiriya and Kuroto are currently chatting. Hiiro and Kiriya look enthusiastic to hear the story of how troublesome Kuroto and Pallad are handling the complaints of some elderly who have problems with their hearing. Kiriya had forgotten he was in the treatment room and laughed when he heard one of the elderly lost his false teeth and asked Kuroto and Pallad to find it until the dentures were found. It took nearly half a day to search for the dentures, which were eventually found in the pockets of the hospital robes the elderly man was wearing. Hiiro who originally put on an ordinary face, in the end could not help but laugh along with Kiriya who was already laughing like an insane person. Had they been there maybe they would not let go of the opportunity to record the activities of Kuroto and Pallad at that time.
"Mcphmm!" their laughter stopped when they heard a small moan from where Emu was lying.
The three of them got up in a hurry and approached the bed where Emu was. Hiiro watches the monitor monitoring Emu's condition. It appears that Emu's heart rate is rising. Although slow, Hiiro also felt a weak movement from Emu. Hiiro grasped Emu's hand tightly, so that the girl could feel his warmth. Slowly Emu opened her eyes and groaned softly as her pupils were still not ready to receive the incoming light.
"Emu! You're sober, baby!" said Hiiro excited when he saw the idol finally opened his eyes.
"Where am I?" Emu who was still furrowing her forehead until her two eyebrows cluttered began to let out a soft voice asking about her whereabouts that felt very foreign to her.
"At the hospital, baby! How you feeling?" sahut Hiiro clasped Emu's hand tightly as if afraid to lose it for the umpteenth time.
"Ehmp, I don't know! Little dizzy!" emu said slowly while trying to adjust his breathing that sounded quite heavy at that time.
"Don't move much first!" kiriya then pressed a button to call the doctor and nurse on guard followed by a weak nod from Emu.
Of course the doctors and nurses who treat Emu should be aware of the development of Emu condition. Especially at this time Emu just regained consciousness from a long enough sleep.
How long later a doctor and nurse came to Emu's room. Hiiro, Kiriya and Kuroto leave room for the doctor to conduct a thorough examination of Emu. After the examination was completed, the doctor and nurse reported the paediatric's last condition to the three men who were waiting for him. The three look very relieved because they know Emu's condition is quite stable.
Hiiro, Kuroto and Kiriya approached Emu who still looked pale excitedly. After a long time they were finally able to breathe. Emu had regained consciousness and was in good condition, let alone one that could make them feel an overwhelming sense of relief.
"Da-date-san? Where's Date-san?" but the question that then came out of Emu's tiny lips made the three jerk.
The three of them looked at each other. Confusion adorns their faces. What should they tell Emu about Date's current condition? It is impossible for them to tell Emu the truth in the midst of his condition that has not fully recovered.
"Date is fine! He's taking care of some important things!" hiiro said quickly followed by a surprised look from Kiriya and Kuroto. Since when did Hiiro tolerate lies?
"Did I just hear you lied Hiiro-san!?" speak Emu weakly. Hiiro is not the type of person who is good at covering up lies, Emu is very sorry about Hiiro's face when covering things up. Hiiro gulped his saliva nervously, he was indeed not good at lying.
"For a while, I beg you to think about your health first, Emu! After recovering, Emu could ask me anything! I promise!" said Hiiro then grasped Emu's hand with a slight tremble.
There was a sense of pain in his heart, when the first thing Emu asked was the condition of another man not himself. Hiiro does not deny that all this time, he has never given Emu the happiness he deserves. Even he hurt her too often because of the past feelings that had been holding her up for so long.
But, Is there no longer any love left in Emu's heart for her?
"I'm sorry Hiiro-san!" for some reason Emu felt a sense of guilt wash in his heart, when he saw the look on Hiiro's face that became sad. Emu returned Hiiro's grasp slowly and looked at him with a feeling of guilt.
"For what? I should have apologized to you Emu! There are so many mistakes that I made that I made you like this!" hiiro started to sound a little emotional. Guilt again came back in his head. It shouldn't be Emu who bears all this.
"Hiiro-san—" Emu was about to say something else but was quickly prevented by Hiiro. For the genius doctor it no longer mattered the feeling he felt. All he wanted now was to return Emu's smile like his promise to Date and of course his promise to himself.
"Here you go, now you have to focus on your condition first! Don't think about anything else! I beg!" hiiro smiled softly at the sweet girl. Emu nodded slowly and let Hiiro stroke her hair fondly.
Kuroto and Kiriya who saw Hiiro's different demeanor could only look at each other awkwardly. Not only Date, Hiiro has also become a different person after this incident. Now they can only hope, whoever Emu will choose, the man can give him happiness. Enough of the suffering he's been through all this time. They just want to see Emu get her happiness, be it with Hiiro or with Date.
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*We've seen our share of ups and downs
How quickly life can turn around
In an instant, It feels so good to reunite
Within yourself and within your mind
Let's find peace there
When you are with me, I'm free, I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly, This brings tears to my eyes
My sacrifice
Creed - My description*