Mrs. Hanamura broke down.

"If it's what's best for my baby, then do it..." she said, sobbing. Despite the protests from the investigation team, the doctor turned and disapeared back into the room, leaving them staring at the door.

Yosuke died within minutes of them pulling the plug.

His funeral was three days later. Only the investigation team, Mrs. Hanamura, Dojima, Nanako, and a couple of Yosuke's regular customers at Junes showed.

He was buried in a remote corner of the cemetary.

"NO!"

Souji snapped out of his day-nightmare.

"No no no!" Mrs. Hanamura repeated. "My son is strong. He'll pull through. If you say that there's some chance he'll survive, then I'll give him that chance. Even if he winds up forgetting everything, I still love my son and I'll see him through it."

"We all will..." Yukiko murmered, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Yeah! Through everything, Yosuke stood by us!" Kanji almost shouted. "It's our turn to stand by him!"

"We won't let him die. He has to survive." Chie interjected.

Souji blinked. It should've been him saying no first. It should've been him speaking on Yosuke's behalf. Speaking for the life of his first friend in Inaba. Instead, the doctor's words made him think of the worst possible outcomes.

"Even... even if he forgets, we won't. We'll help him remember. The good, and even the bad." he finally said. Around him, his friends nodded. Mrs. Hanamura smiled.

"I have faith in my son. You're not taking him off lifesupport."

Suddenly the door to the room Yosuke was in burst open, revealing an excited nurse.

"He's breathing! His heart rate stablized! There's a chance he'll pull through!" she cried, rushing up to the doctor. Mrs. Hanamura clasped her hand to her mouth. Her baby... her one true light in the world was breathing.

Again, there were tears everywhere.

The atmosphere in the waiting area was a bit more cheery after that. With the prospect of Yosuke pulling through, there were smiles mixed with tears (and a garbage can with three empty tissue boxes...) After recieving the news about Yosuke, Mrs. Hanamura was allowed to go to his side. Family only, they had said. But that didn't dampen their spirits one bit.

Teddie was chatting with Nanako, making her smile around tears. Chie and Yukiko were absorbed in some sort of conversation, something about what a customer did a few days ago at the inn. Finally, both Kanji and Naoto were getting eachother confused while attempting to flirt with eachother, (though you couldn't really tell Naoto was flirting). Souji just sat there, staring at the wall. His usual chatting partner, and partner altogether, was behind his back in that little white room.

"You keep looking in the distance like that and someone's going to come up and rape you," a teasing voice stated. Beside him stood a blacked haired nurse with an almost crooked grin.

"Sayako-san! You're back?"

"To visit. I decided to help at the hospital was a bit while I'm back in Inaba. What brings you here? I didn't think you still worked here."

Souji glanced over his shoulder at the ER door.

"Oh... Family?"

"Might as well be... he was after all, my first friend in Inaba." Sayako blinked.

"Souji-chan... so that'd be Yosuke-chan? The one you told me about?" A sly grin crept across her face, causing Souji to blush and look away. She knew. She always had a way of knowing.

"Nn..." he grunted, staring at the door. "Yeah... that's him. And we almost lost him..." Sayako looked at the door, and back at Souji.

"It's never easy, is it. To lose someone you love. I hear it almost happened last year to you too. That sweet little girl over there, right? I'm sure your Yosuke-chan will pull through, just like that child did." For the first time that night, Souji smiled. His smile made Sayako smile one of her real smiles too.

"I know he will. I just have to have faith, right?"

"Faith..." she gave him and hug and whispered in his ear, "and perhaps a bit of love too."

Straightening up, she waved. "Bye bye Souji-chan, and friends. And have courage."

A.N.- It's been almost a year since it happened. Last year, on December 8th, my friend Sayo got hit by a car while crossing the road. In the hospital, they said she had brain damage and was responding. They had her on life support while trying to contact her mom (whom Sayo didn't care for anyways.) The next day, on the 9th, as per her mom's allowance, they pulled her from life support. She died not long after. Her funeral was on the 15th.

The doctor and an on-hand priest at the hospital pressured Sayo's mom into consenting. They said to her that Sayo probably wouldn't make it, and that it'd be easier to just let her go. That head trauma cases rarely make it, and those that do either have amnesia or serious problems.

I thought Sayo would be strong, if she was given a chance. I thought she'd pull through. I knew she'd be fine. But they never gave her the chance.

Now here I am, almost a year later, writing this in her honor.

She was my writing buddy, my cosplay partner, and my all around good friend.

Now I do it for her.

Brittany "Sayo" Kilpatrick 12-9-09

May her soul forever be remembered.

I know I said I wasn't going to update until I got five reviews, but I lied. I got three. Now let's see if I can go for five, or more.