((Disclaimer: I don't own VK, or anything related to it. I only own my OCs))

Dear Hyui-san,

I hope to see you well again.

I am sorry for you.

No need to thank me for saving your life.

It was only my duty.

Love, Zero

I stare at the card. It the picture on the front is of a puppy next to a sign that says, "Get well soon," The note inside is just what I expected. He probably doesn't want to get in too deep. He probably will never glance my way after this. He probably never wanted to. Except for the 'Love, Zero' thing, I'm sure this note is harmless.

But I still love him.

I glance around the hospital room. He isn't there. A lithe tear slinks down my cheek, but I wipe it away. I refuse to cry. Instead, I place the note on the end table, and I turn to the T.V. I watch the cartoon for a while, but my mother and my doctor interrupt me.

Dr. Nobara clears her throat.

"We looked into your history. Turns out that Panic Disorder, a disease where the patient has panic attacks, is hereditary. We're not sure why you haven't experience panic attacks before this, but… you are now."

My mother looks sad. I can't imagine my own face.

I look at her.

She nods, "Your father's side."

I was just a few months old when my dad died. It isn't some sob story I grieve over, or anything. I see it as an unfortunate event, one that hasn't affected me as much as I've been told.

After hearing this news, I remain in the hospital. I will be able to attend school tomorrow.

((AN: Ok, I KNOW this is really stupid of me. It may be really bad and end up a big mess, but I CANNOT continue to write in present tense! It's just overall easier to write in past tense, and I've given it a lot of thought. It is my fault because I shouldn't have started in present tense in the first place. Sorry if you preferred it present.))

The next morning, when I walked into homeroom, a rush of whispers of gossip greeted me. I didn't feel the need to object to any of it, because I knew the truth.

Yuuki and Emi were there and ready to grill me. I told them all about it.

"Wow! Panic Disorder. That must suck." Yuuki said.

Emi was mostly silent, rolling it over in her head.

I never glanced at Kiryuu-san. I was afraid. I could feel that he was avoiding me. I don't know why, but I plan to return the gesture. It will be as if nothing ever happened.

I wanted to talk to him, though.

Classes rolled by like normal. No occurring attacks. No glances from Zero.

In study hall, however, he approached me.

"Uhm," He seemed lost in his quest to find the right words. "Hy…Shinobu, Yuuki told me that you have Panic Disorder?"

I nodded solemnly. I didn't look at him. I just continued to do my work. I'm not sure why. I could've looked at him, but I didn't.

"Well, uh, sorry 'bout that,"

Another nod.

"You have treatments for it,"

A statement. A nod.

"Good."

I didn't do anything.

"See you…. whenever,"

"Bye," I was almost shocked that the connotation of my voice wasn't, "Can't wait to see you!" but rather "Go away,"

He was distracting me. I think he got the message, the one I didn't know I sent, and he sort of shrugged and walked away.

I immediately regretted my harsh tone. Why did I say it like that? A simple goodbye would've been fine, or even a conversation starter. But I knew that a conversation would've made him uncomfortable, something I don't take pleasure in doing. I didn't glance up, though, to watch him walk away. The "See you…. Whenever," hurt enough.

Once I was back in the dorm, I chatted with Emi for a while. We really had no gossip to speak of, at least none that didn't revolve around my attack. It was surprising some of the things they came up with. Anyway, Emi still managed to make me talk about Kiryuu-san.

"Did he say anything to you today?"

I shrugged, but handed her the card. "He gave me the standard condolences, along with that. At the hospital."

She read it aloud and then grinned.

"Love, Zero," she taunted. I knew what she was implying.

"As if, Emi," I said, rather coldly. Emi frowned, but didn't say anything.

((AN: I know it's really short, but I really want to write Zero's 'response chapter', as I've named it. I also know that this took a while to post. That's because my mom takes the laptop on her business trips, and I just got a chance. Sorry. 3 –Mimi))