Disclaimer(s): K-On! rightfully belongs to Kakifly © Alternate Universe.

Part 1: How's Life?

Ritsu's POV

"Thanks," I thanked the receptionist as soon as she gives me admission to his room – I still can't believe it. It honestly had been five years ever since we met head on and even if we had bad blood, I managed to find it in myself to forgive him, to give them my blessings. "Mio?" I was greeted by his ailing voice which always sounded so cheerful back then.

"No, it's me," I countered and he gently opened his eyes, smiled all the time as he did so, even more when his pensive eyes found mine. He then grappled the handle in order to prop himself before I could even stop his recklessness. "You shouldn't get up or else, Mio would sue me for sure," I scolded him straightway and he let out quiet chuckles – it's sad.

"I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner," I confessed once his chuckles subsided but he simply raised his left hand, then waved it aimlessly. "You're busy, right? I get it," he comforted me and although I did not say it out loud I bet he already knew it well – the real reason why I cut ties with them soon after I left Japan. It plagued me in doing so, now above all.

"How did it happen?" I asked in a while and his eyes darted to his permanently paralysed torso at the same time a few seconds before they settled on mine. "I took a wrong turn," he stated shortly as I watched him – the wires were all over him, piercing him mercilessly, while the cardiograph transmitted the intensity of his heart's movements. It saddens me.

"It took me months but then I somehow put them out of my mind – those stupid hows and whys," he figured in between coughs as I shifted my gaze elsewhere – how do I focus on him when we both know that he's dying? I feel like crying. "How's life? Did you finally find anyone to spend your life with? " he teased as he laughed curtly while I faked a smile.

"I stopped searching a long time ago. I just want to concentrate on my career," I answered almost immediately and he nodded every so often. Still, I could tell that he only wished to direct the matter on me instead. "You're truly a Tainaka, after all. I used to doubt it sometimes," he concluded with his trademark smirk as I chuckled silently for the meantime.

"By the way, what about you? Did you two have a kid or two?" I asked while I helped to peel some apples for him as he seemed preoccupied for a moment, then I looked up soon enough to come across his guilty face. "It befell me one day before the wedding, Ritsu, I called it off at once," he settled in a low voice and I quickly narrowed my eyes at him.

"You waited two whole years until you finall–" I was about to lash him out the moment someone walked on our fairly heated argument and I drove my eyes to the entry simultaneously – my heart naturally beat faster once I drew in her appearance but it was nothing new. In a short time, I looked away, as if I was not awestricken by her presence at all.

"Hey, Mio, she's back," he pointed out the obvious on impulse as he eyed us, with that typical frustrating smile of his. She bowed a little for the moment and I returned her gesture right away while she moved forward to give me a small hug – a show I believed she did out of courtesy. "It must've been a long flight, Ritsu, I thank you for dropping by," her tone somehow disheartened my being.

"I got your favourite books," Mio let me go in no time and she then made steps towards him whereas I was still shaken by her tone of voice – it never sounded so despairing before. "You're really the best," he exclaimed shortly as she took a seat at the left side of his bed and as usual I found it harder to breathe when I saw them together ever since forever.

To Be Continued

Author's Notes: Thanks for reading.