Chapter 16: Holding On ( 16 )

Chapter 16 - Holding On ( 16 ) Haruki didn't waste a second. He quickly scanned the room, found Kyouko's bag, and checked inside. Her car key and house key were there. He grabbed his wallet, slipping it into his pocket just in case they needed identification at the hospital. Then, without hesitation, he lifted Kyouko into his arms in a princess carry. Her body was light, warm—too warm. Her head rested against his chest, her breath faint against his shirt. Haruki's jaw clenched. He didn't have time to panic. He rushed downstairs, opened the front door, and made his way to her car through the lingering morning mist. Once he reached it, he carefully opened the passenger side and lowered her into the seat with gentle urgency. As he adjusted her posture, he fumbled slightly with the seatbelt, his hand brushing against her breast—soft, delicate... warm. His breath hitched for a second. But he didn't let it distract him. He made sure she was secure, closed the door, and ran around to the driver's seat. He started the engine, gripping the wheel tighter than usual, and pressed the gas. They sped off toward the hospital, the only sound inside the car being the low hum of the engine—and Kyouko's faint, rhythmic breathing beside him. As soon as the car reached the emergency lane of the hospital, Haruki slammed on the brakes and jumped out. He rushed to the passenger side and flung the door open. Kyouko was still slumped in the seat, her face pale, lips slightly parted. Haruki leaned in, gently sliding one arm under her knees and the other around her back. Lifting her again into his arms, he felt the heat of her skin through the thin fabric of her clothes—too warm. Her body pressed lightly against him, her head resting against his collarbone, her breath shallow. It was an intimate closeness he hadn't expected, but he didn't let himself think about it. Not now. "Someone!!" he shouted the moment he stepped inside the sliding doors of the emergency entrance. A nurse rushed over. "What happened?" "She fainted! She has a fever—I brought her as fast as I could." They quickly brought over a stretcher. Haruki gently laid her down as another nurse started checking her pulse and temperature. "How long has she been like this?" the nurse asked. "Just recently. I rushed here and brought her right away," Haruki said, still breathing heavily. "Any allergies to medication?" "I... I don't know," he admitted, frustrated at his own uncertainty. One of the nurses nodded. "That's fine, we'll proceed. Sir, please wait in the waiting area. We'll call you soon." "Okay..." Haruki took a step back, watching them wheel Kyouko away through the double doors. He stood there for a moment, frozen—her pale face still vivid in his mind—before slowly walking toward the waiting area, his heart pounding with worry. Haruki sat in the waiting area, elbows on his knees, his heart still pounding. He reached into his pocket, instinctively wanting to inform Satomi. But his pocket was empty. "...Crap," he muttered under his breath. He'd left his phone at home. Kyouko's bag was still with him. He glanced at it, wondering if her phone was inside—but then another thought hit him. The car. "I forgot to park the car..." He stood up in a rush and jogged out of the hospital entrance, the automatic doors sliding open behind him. The car was still in the emergency drop-off lane. He climbed in, started it up, and found the nearest parking space in the designated lot. After locking it securely, he made sure he had Kyouko's bag in hand and hurried back toward the emergency entrance. His shoes tapped quickly against the floor as he moved down the hallway, glancing at the nurse station as he returned to the waiting area. "Ah, sir. You're the one who brought in the girl earlier, correct?" a nurse called out as Haruki reentered the waiting area. "Yes, that's me. How is she?" he asked quickly, his voice filled with concern. "Don't worry, sir. She's stable now. It was just a fever, but her temperature was quite high when she arrived. The doctor's already administered treatment, and she's resting." Haruki let out a long breath, the tightness in his chest easing. "Thank God..." The nurse gave a small, understanding smile. "We'll keep her for observation for a few more hours, just to be safe. In the meantime, could you please proceed to registration at the counter down that hallway? We need to complete her admission paperwork." "Ah—yes, of course," Haruki nodded, adjusting the strap of Kyouko's bag on his shoulder and heading in the direction the nurse pointed. Haruki followed the nurse's directions and found the registration counter. The process was straightforward, though his mind kept drifting to Kyouko. Is she awake now? Still resting? After completing the forms, he returned to the waiting area, fiddling with the strap of her bag in silence. A few minutes later, another nurse approached. "Sir, you can see her now. She's been moved to a ward room for observation." Haruki stood immediately. "Is she awake?" "She is. A bit tired, but conscious." His heart eased slightly as he followed the nurse down the quiet hallway. Haruki stepped quietly into the hospital room. The curtains were half-drawn, the room dim but peaceful. Kyouko lay on the bed, hooked up to an IV, her eyes half-open, still hazy from sleep or fever. When she saw him, she offered a weak smile. "Haruki-kun... you're still here?" He smiled gently and set her bag on the small table beside her. "Of course I'm here. I was worried." Kyouko looked away briefly. "Sorry... for troubling you." "Don't say that." Haruki pulled a chair close and sat beside her. Kyouko turned her head slightly on the pillow, her eyes barely open. "You didn't have to stay, Haruki-kun..." "I wanted to," he said softly, his voice barely louder than the hum of the air conditioning. For a moment, silence lingered between them. It wasn't awkward—just calm. Kyouko's breathing was slow, her lashes resting like delicate brushes against her skin. Even tired and pale, she looked beautiful to Haruki. Fragile, but strong. Like someone who had endured more than she ever let on. "I must look awful right now..." she murmured, her voice groggy. Haruki chuckled quietly. "You don't." She looked at him again, trying to read his expression. He wasn't joking. "Thank you, Haruki-kun," she said after a pause, her voice softer now. He just smiled. "Get some rest," he said, gently adjusting the thin blanket over her shoulder. "I'll be here." "You don't have to—" Haruki just smiled, that calm, effortless kind of smile that made Kyouko's heart skip a beat. "It's not like I have anything to do at home anyway," he said lightly. Kyouko blinked, a little surprised at how handsome he looked just then. The soft lighting in the hospital room and the warmth in his voice made her chest feel oddly warm. "Are you sure?" she asked quietly. "You don't have work?" "Don't worry, Kyouko-san. My work's already finished." She looked at him for a moment longer, then slowly turned her gaze back to the window, letting a faint smile touch her lips. "...Thank you, Haruki-kun." He leaned back in the chair, still watching her gently. "Just rest." And she did. Not because he told her to—but because, with him nearby, it was the first time in a while that she actually felt safe enough to. ( End of Chapter )