The siren cut through the muggy night… Nobody had expected it to happen. Kashino sat in the hard, plastic chair, his head in his hands. He sniffed softly, his eyes were blood-shot and he was exhausted. "Kashino…" Ichigo said behind him. Kashino immediately snapped his head backward. There was Ichigo, smiling happily, glowing softly. He got up from the chair and went to hug her; he reached for when she vanished. That's right… Kashino thought to himself, she won't come. She can't… He walked to a small bulletin board and read the notices.
… Room 1
… Room 2
Amano Ichigo Room 3
How did his beloved Ichigo end up in the hospital? A drunk driver. It was a red light! He should've stopped! Kashino could feel tears filling his eyes. He shook his head and began to blink rapidly. "K-kashino?"
Kashino turned to face his childhood friend, Andou, "Hey Andou."
"Look Kashino… Maybe you should go home, you've been here longer than all of us…"
"No…" He replied softly, "I…" His chest felt tight, depression clogging his throat.
"It's going to be okay…" Andou made an attempt to comfort his friend.
"How do you know?" Kashino whispered his voice barely audible, "h-how do you know it's going to be okay?"
"I don't" Andou replied, placing a hand on Kashino's shoulder, "but I do now that Amano-san is headstrong. She will pull through, I have trust in her."
"A-Andou…"
"She'll be fine" He smiled slightly.
"I'm going to go see her…" Kashino walked away from his friend into hospital room 3. Ichigo lay silent in the hospital bed; he sat quietly beside her, twirling her chocolate brown hair on his finger. "I-Ichigo…" Hot tears streamed down his face, wake up… My love, wake up, please wake up, for me? "It's no use…" Kashino whispered to himself, "Crying won't wake her." He got up and walked out of the room, he then sat back in the same plastic chair. Hiccupping, Kashino rubbed his tired, red eyes.
"Excuse me?" Kashino looked up to face a nurse with blonde hair.
"… Yes?"
"Sir what is your name?"
"Makoto Kashino."
"You know Amano Ichigo?"
Kashino felt like he was choking on air, "Y-yes… Why?"
"She's awake."
Kashino sat in the plastic chair, utterly shocked. Ichigo had woken? He hastily thanked the nurse and rushed into Ichigo hospital room.
"K-Kashino?" The brunette in the hospital bed asked him.
"Yeah…" He sat beside her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Are you okay?" She lifted her shaking hand and wiped at his face, "Y-you have tears…"
"I'm fine, more importantly, are you?"
"I'm hurt, everything hurts."
"… You were hit by a car."
Ichigo did not say anything, but closed her eyes. "I-Ichigo?" Kashino asked, feeling frightened.
Eyes still closed Ichigo said, "I'm going to die."
"No!" Kashino screamed, "You can't! I need you!"
"I'm so weak… I can't do it alone."
"You aren't alone! I'm with you!"
She took Kashino's hand and pulled him close, "Yes… You are, maybe I'll be alright…"
"I'll do everything! I'd give my life up for you!"
"I see… The nurse was talking to me before you came in. She says I need a new heart…"
"W-why?"
"Mine won't last much longer, it's broken."
"I…" Kashino felt things he had never experienced in his life, "I'll give you mine."
"No… I don't want you to. You would make a much bigger impact on the world than I would."
"I said I would give my life up for you!"
"Don't, there will be other girls like me. But there's only one you."
"Baka! Don't say stupid things like that! There is no one like you; I will never love any girl but you."
"I know… But you have to let me go. R-remember? You once told me, if you love something… Set if free."
"No…" Kashino whispered tears streamed down his face. As he cried Ichigo kissed him, and stroked his hair, until she no longer held life.
The End.