Chapter 2

Sunlight shone through the window into Yori's bedroom when she woke up in the early morning. She smiled and started to get ready for the day. After washing up, she went downstairs and found that her housemate was still sleeping. With nothing else to do, she started to prepare the breakfast.

As she was frying some eggs, her mind drifted back to her home in Hokkaido.

Yori grew up in Hokkaido before coming to Akagi. Except for holiday trips with her family where they usually went abroad, she had never even been outside of Hokkaido. She didn't know anything about Akagi at all, and didn't have any relatives nearby. When she had first accepted the job at the Takahashi's hospital, she figured that she needed to get to know the area fast and find a place for her to stay. The hospital did offer her a room at their hostel where some of the resident doctors stayed but she preferred to live outside of her workplace.

Fortunately, her childhood friend, who also happened to be her best friend, resided in the area. Shuuichi Matsumoto and his family have lived near Akagi for years. Matsumoto's family transferred from Hokkaido because of work and has settled comfortably. Matsumoto, meanwhile, has kept himself busy being the chief mechanic of Project D's downhill ace, Takumi Fujiwara.

When the Matsumoto family found out about Yori taking a position as a doctor in the hospital, they offered to let her stay at their house. Matsumoto's parents have been out of town due to their work but will be back by next week. The only people in the house right now were Matsumoto and Yori so, in gratitude for their hospitality, Yori took it upon herself to do some of the household chores, like cooking breakfast.

"Morning, Yori-chan," Matsumoto said, yawning while leaning on the kitchen door for support.

"Morning. Have a seat. Breakfast will be ready soon," she replied. She gave him a smile and went back to her frying.

"Why do I get the feeling that I'm not the owner of this house? I should be doing that. You are a guest, after all."

"Really, Shuuichi, it's the least I can do. After all, you are letting me stay for a while. Not to mention that I'm not paying for anything. Come to think of it, that hardly qualifies me as a guest."

"Err…I guess not," said Matsumoto who gave a light laugh. Yori just smiled.

"Seriously, you really don't have to do this," again insisted Matsumoto after he had settled himself on the dining table.

"Would you stop that and eat? I thought we were past these formalities already!" said Yori exasperatedly.

"Yes, yes. I just can't help it."

"Yeah, I know. Anyway, we'd better hurry. I don't want to be late for work."

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Not again," Yori sighed.

Matsumoto agreed to drive Yori to the hospital since she wasn't familiar with the area yet. As they were driving, they got to talking.

"Hey, Yori-chan. Do you think you'll be free tonight?" asked Matsumoto.

"Not sure. Why, what's up?" replied Yori.

"Well, we have some activities tonight on Akagi. You want to come along?"

"Activities like?"

"We're not racing tonight, if that's what you're thinking. We are having a party instead."

"Hmm, I'll think about it."

"Come on, you need new friends here. They're all very nice guys," cajoled Matsumoto.

"So, it's an all guy's party, huh. Why are you asking me along?" chided Yori.

"Err, well, yeah. But then, you need to get to know some guys also. I've never seen you go out on a date."

"That doesn't mean I don't have any male friends. What are you then?"

"That's different. We're like siblings already. I meant something like a boyfriend, someone special. You know, there'll be some very handsome guys there tonight."

"Handsome guys are not a motivation for me to go to the party."

"Well, if you're not going then I'm staying with you. It's not like I can just leave you alone."

"You're leaving me no choice, eh?"

Matsumoto tried to put on a very innocent smile while Yori just looked blandly at him.

"All right, all right, I'll go. But only if I'm not too tired," relented Yori.

"Oh, don't worry. You usually don't get too much work on the first day."

"How would you know? Have you ever been a doctor before?"

"Err, well, it's usually like that…probably."

Yori just shook her head at that.

It was still early when Yori arrived at the hospital so she decided to visit the victims from yesterday's accident. She had been told that the driver fell into a coma after the operation and that the pregnant woman delivered a healthy baby boy.

Yori was halfway through opening the door when she saw another figure standing at the edge of the bed.

"Good morning, Dr. Takahashi," she greeted.

"Good morning, Dr. Toshiki."

"What is his condition?"

Ryousuke handed over the patient records to Yori. She read through it silently.

"Although the operation was successful, it still depends on his own will to regain consciousness," Ryousuke stated.

"This can be very bad. However, there is still hope for him to awaken. How is his family taking this?"

"He doesn't have any."

Doesn't have any? thought Yori. She remained still as she prayed for the driver. Out loud, she said, "Hopefully he will regain consciousness soon."

"You should learn not to hope that much."

Silence fell between them. Yori was not about to argue with him about hope for everyone has a different of point of view and she respected that. However, she could not help but wonder why he, a doctor who usually gives hope to others, gave up hope that easily.

"I am going to visit the mother and her child. Do you want to come along?" asked Yori instead.

"No, thanks. I have other things to do."

"Okay then, see you around," said Yori reluctantly. She thought, Doesn't he have any concern for the lady and the child? Well, maybe he has his own reason for that.

With that, both of them exited the room and went their separate ways. Yori found the room where the woman and the baby were staying and went inside. She was immediately greeted by the room's occupant.

"Ah, you're the one from yesterday, aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm Toshiki Yori, miss…?"

"I'm Sakamoto Satomi. Thank you for helping us yesterday."

"There's no need to thank me, Sakamoto-san. I'm just glad that you and your baby are all right."

Satomi smiled warmly at her.

"So, how are you feeling now, Sakamoto-san?" queried Yori.

"I'm fine, but I feel a bit tired though. What about the driver? How is he? Is he awake yet?" asked Satomi anxiously.

Yori shook her head. "I am afraid he isn't, Sakamoto-san."

Satomi sadly cast her eyes down.

"You should get some rest and not worry so much. Well, I should be going now, Sakamoto-san. Congratulations on your baby boy," smiled Yori.

"Thank you again, Dr. Toshiki. Feel free to drop by anytime."

"I will. See you again and have a nice rest."

After that, Yori went off to start her shift. She was introduced to every corner of the emergency room for it is the place where she will be working from the day onwards. Also, she was introduced to the doctors there and learned how they work when patients arrive.

Yori worked in the emergency room for hours without rest until she finally took a break. She went to the hospital's cafeteria and ordered a cup of tea and a sandwich. She sat beside the window in the corner and ate. Then she heard some of the nurses talking, or rather gossiping, about something.

"Hey, did you get to see him yet? He's as handsome as the others said," one of the nurses said.

Him? Who? wondered Yori.

"Yeah. He's everything a girl can dream of," another added dreamily.

Yori shamelessly eavesdropped, her curiosity growing by the minute. Oh really? But, who is it?

"Kyaa! Takahashi-sama is really handsome."

Takahashi-sama? Which one?

"Huh? I didn't know you have a thing for our boss," yet another nurse said, still unaware of whom the others were talking about, just like Yori.

"No. We're not talking about the hospital's director. We're talking about the younger one, dummy."

Right, stupid you. Of course it's Ryousuke they're talking about. After all, they won't drool over an old man, Yori thought with exasperation.

"Oh, I see. He talked to me this morning."

"He what?! What did he say?!"

"Eh, he was just asking about the patients."

"Oh goodness, I never got a chance to talk to him."

What is it that's so good about him? I don't understand it at all.

"Hey, hey, there he is. Just take a look at him."

They all turned to the direction the nurse pointed out with dreamy expressions on their faces.

Ryousuke was standing at the cashier preparing to pay for his coffee. He put his right hand into his pants pocket while the other picked up his coffee cup and took a sip. After that, he just went off, not even glancing around for he was too busy at the moment.

Yori almost laughed at the disappointed looks of the nurses upon Ryousuke's departure. She shook her head, hurriedly finished her food and went back to work.

"Hello there, is the pretty doctor ready yet?" asked Matsumoto, leaning against the doorway of Yori's room.

"Yes, yes. Why are we going to the party again?" inquired Yori.

"Huh? You mean I never told you about it? The team's having a party to congratulate our leader for becoming a doctor."

"Oh. So, your team leader also graduated recently."

"Yeah. Come on now, we should get going or we'll be late."

"All right."

They got into the car and Matsumoto drove them to Akagi.

I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I've got a lots of things to do. So, there won't be any fast update..I think. Unless something happen, lol. Thank you all for waiting for this chapter. I hope I didn't miss out any review reply. Haha...if I do, please feel free to tell me. By the way, I have repost chapter one after being beta.

Special thanks to my beta, nieskha. And also many thanks to CelicaChick, well, you know what is it.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter too.

Ja!

-dayoungarcher-