Mixed Feelings: Isolation

Faint voices. Blurred vision. Fatigue. It all hit her without any warning. She blinked a few times but nothing improved.

She shook her head but her vision darkened and the voices faded away until she heard nothing and saw nothing. Her body felt heavy as if there was a force pulling her down like a magnet. She couldn't shake it off. She couldn't ignore. She could only give up.

She lost consciousness. This wasn't her first time having this. Many times before she had lost consciousness. Whether in public or at home. It attacked her whenever it wanted to at the least expected moment.

She suffers from narcolepsy. Her grandparents had taken her to a few doctors who only disappointed them by telling them that there was no cure. Now she can't do anything but just live with it. It interrupts her daily life. She's stuck with it.

"Ms. Enomoto?"

Her eyes opened and she blinked a few times as her vision adjusted itself. She looked around the room. It was the infirmary at school. She sat up and shook her head. She rubbed her eyes then focused her gaze on the nurse.

"What happened?" Takane muttered.

"You passed out again, Ms. Enomoto. At this rate you can't continue to participate in the sports festival. You'll have to stay inside in case you have another attack," the nurse explained.

Takane's shoulders slumped. "I'm first high school year and I can't even do much," she muttered. Her head felt fuzzy.

"Get some rest," the nurse advised.

Takane nodded and laid down.

Watching everyone else run around, kicking a ball, and having fun made Takane feel envious. She felt envy due to them being able to have fun and her unable to do the same. She watched them all laugh and run. She learned to just live with it though it doesn't always work. She let out a sigh and focused on the music that played through her headphones.

"Why waste my time on this," she muttered as she relaxed and rested her head on the desk and in her arms. She was used to feeling envy. All she could do was ignore it as much as she could. She couldn't do anything else. She sighed and closed her eyes.

It was her second year of high school and she was stuck inside a classroom while everyone else enjoyed the activities that the school held. She couldn't participate in case she had an attack. She simply say at her desk while listening to music. Nothing else to do. Nothing else she could do but sit there while everyone else had fun.

While being absorbed into the music that blasted through her headphones, she was slowly falling asleep. That was all she could do. Fall asleep. It was what she was best at. Nothing else to do but sleep.

such miserable and isolated life for her.

"That seems fun," the boy muttered as he gazed out the window. His dark eyes gazed at the others who ran around under the sun with excitement. He couldn't join them. He was too weak. Too fragile.

It was his second year of high school and despite his excitement for the sports festival, he couldn't participate. Due to his weak body, the boy couldn't participate. Any attack of his could be fatal. His body is fragile, so he couldn't do anything that could cause harm to his fragile body. He could sit and watch.

He sat in a classroom along with another girl who only wore headphones and was also looking out the window. Her eyes had bags under them and she looked bored and...envious. She simply sighed, muttered a few words, then rested her head. He glanced at her and smiled. He always wanted to get close to her. To at least become friends. Though she was always cold and grumpy and would simply ignored him. Though that didn't stop him. At least he managed to learn her name.

"At least I'm not alone," he spoke softly and focused his gaze out the window.

There was a teacher at the desk, grading test scores. He was only there to take care of the two in case one of them had an attack. Though it seems that the girl had voluntary fallen asleep so he didn't worry. The boy glanced at the teacher who wore glasses. He then looked away once the teacher looked up at him from the papers.

He fiddled with his fingers. The room was quiet. It was awkward yet relaxing. The summer day felt like forever. It was nice in a way.

A sudden pain hit his chest. He gripped his shirt as the pain intensified. His breathing quickened and fear had built up inside him. "S-sensei..." He managed to say as he stretched out an arm.

The teacher noticed and immediately stood up. "Haruka!" He called out and stood up.

Haruka's vision blurred and his consciousness slowly faded. His pain never showed any signs of leaving. It only worsened. He was scared. He didn't want the summer day to end like that.

The room was cold and bright. There were noises from machines and voices of people. Most voices sounded rushed and worried. Once he was fully awake, he recognized the place that he knew so well. He was in a hospital.

Haruka turned his head to see the teacher sitting on a chair next to him. "Ah so you're awake."

Haruka gazed at him and nodded. "What did the doctor say?"

The teacher sighed. "Apparently it was a mild attack. If it were serious then you'd be dead. I already informed your parents, they should be close by now."

Haruka sighed. "I'm sorry for troubling you."

"Don't worry about it. The one who feels troubled is Ms. Enomoto. She was woken up when you had your attack and out of strong emotions like fear and anger, she passed out. I had to deal with both of you. Yes, it was a bit troublesome but as long as you two are safe then my job is completed," the teacher shrugged.

"Thank you, sir," Haruka said and looked at him.

"For what?"

"For taking care of me...and Takane," Haruka smiled.

The teacher sighed but managed a smiled. "Don't worry about it, kid. Just call me Kenjirou. Or Tateyama sensei."

Haruka chuckled. "Okay, Tateyama sensei." He gazed around the room then sat up. "Where's Takane?"

"Um she's in another room with her grandmother. Don't worry about it. She's fine," Kenjirou assured.

"That's good," Haruka sighed in relief. Even though he didn't know her well enough to call her a friend, he still cared. People would tell him that he has "Love for Humanity" and he wouldn't understand.

There was a knock on the door and Kenjirou turned to look at it. "Come in!" He called out.

The door slightly opened revealing Takane. Her hazel eyes were deadly and she wore the clothing that patients wore. She wore sandals and had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her dark hair was untied. She walked and sighed. "My grandma wanted me to thank you for taking care of me," she muttered.

"No problem," Kenjirou shrugged.

Takane focused her gaze on Haruka and Haruka grew nervous. Her eyes were deadly and it frighten him. There was a moment of silence then she spoke, "I'm glad you're alright. It'd be too troublesome if you weren't."

Haruka loosened up and gazed at her. She avoided eye contact and was blushing lightly from embarrassment. She wasn't used to showing emotions other than fear, anger, and frustration. He chuckled and smiled. "Thank you. I'm glad that you're alright!"

Takane nodded then turned around. "I'll be going now," she announced then walked out the room.

"Well I'll go see if your parents have arrived so just stay put," Kenjirou stood up and stretched before leaving.

Haruka remained smiling and siting. He was glad that he had survived another attack. He was glad that the teacher cared. He was glad that Takane cared. He liked Takane.

The isolated boy was interested in the isolated girl.

A/N: well I'm done with the first chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! This is Takane and Haruka's story! It'll have some connection to the other stories (Lies and Secrets; Safe Haven; Paper Crane) and yeah! I hope you enjoyed it!