" – so he was lucky that his injuries weren't severe."
"Hah? Are you blind, doctor? Do you not see his broken legs?!"
"Momoi-san, please calm down. Though his legs are broken, they are broken very cleanly, not fractured in many different places. Therefore, his legs will heal up quickly. Also, for someone who was trapped within a burning car, the fact that he received no other injury except for his legs shows just how fortunate he is."
"That's… That's true. Somehow, he miraculously doesn't have any burns..."
"Yes, indeed. Now then, please excuse me. I still have other patients to see too. Please call for the nurses once the patient awakes."
"Alright."
The sound of a door sliding shut filled the now quiet room, and it was soon followed by the steady clicks of high heels that came to a stop beside him. Then came a soft sigh.
Akashi slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the bright lights.
"Akashi-kun!"
He blinked multiple times, trying to adjust his eyes to the light. Turning his head to where the voice came from, the first thing he saw was a wide-eyed Momoi.
"Momoi." He called, his voice hoarse and rough.
Momoi immediately reached over to the table by the bedside, grabbing the pitcher to pour a glass of water for Akashi. She searched for the little remote to raise the bed, moving Akashi into a lounging position. Akashi gratefully accepted the water, carefully drinking it down. After handing the glass back to Momoi, he took a look around the room.
"A hospital?" He murmured.
Momoi was quick to respond. "Yes. It's a VIP private room, so there won't be anyone barging in. Even the nurses and doctors are all carefully picked and won't change for the duration of your hospital stay. This way, we can monitor everyone who has come into contact with you."
Momoi watched Akashi's reaction to her words, or rather, a lack of it. Deciding it was best to get all his worries out of the way, she continued to report the situation to him.
"Also, Akashi-kun, I've suppressed all the media and the reporters regarding this accident. No one knows that you were involved, and that also includes your father."
Akashi's eyes snapped back to Momoi, and he stared at her for a short moment. Then, a smile surface on his face. "As expected of you. It would have been troublesome if he had known. Thank you, Momoi."
Momoi returned his smile and bowed her head. But when she lifted her head again, her expression had become serious. "Akashi-kun, your legs…"
"Ah, they're broken, aren't they?"
Momoi nodded her head.
"I overheard the doctor's words earlier. So they were broken cleanly, he said?" Akashi hummed.
"Yes, once they have healed enough, you will have to undergo physiotherapy for the next few months." Momoi informed him.
Akashi turned away, his face becoming thoughtful. "That means I will be out of work for some time. It would draw too much attention if I were to turn up at the office using crutches."
Momoi silently nodded her head again.
"Well then. Push back all my appointments and whatever events that are scheduled. Release an announcement to my business partners that I have gone on an important business trip. But make sure not to reveal too many details, no matter who asks."
"Yes, as you wish, Akashi-kun."
Momoi glanced at Akashi, then asked, "Would you like for me to call the doctor? Since you've awakened, it would be best to get a check-up."
Akashi shook his head. "There's no need for that now. I'm alright."
"But…"
Taking a peek at Akashi's firm expression, Momoi realised that no matter how she tried to persuade him, he would not budge. So in the end, she only quietly accepted that fact and Akashi's stubbornness.
The hospital room became quiet once more.
Neither spoke for long moments, their silence broken only by the beeping of the machines. Every now and then, Momoi would turn her head to check on Akashi's condition; to see whether he needed anything, or if he appeared tired and would like a nap. But after falling silent, Akashi had gone very still, as though he had somehow turned into a statue, staring at a wall with his face completely blank, not a single hint of expression could be seen.
Momoi was both worried and confused, but she did not attempt to break the strange atmosphere around Akashi.
Nearly twenty minutes later, Akashi's head suddenly jerked up, startling Momoi terribly.
"Akashi-kun? What's wrong?"
Akashi did not answer her, and Momoi could only helplessly follow the direction he was looking at. Akashi's intense gaze was now fixed on the private room's door, and he was frowning. Momoi did not understand.
Perhaps, did he notice something there that she did not?
"Momoi." Akashi's voice softly called for her attention.
"Yes?"
"I want to leave the hospital."
Momoi's eyes widened, and she froze from the shock of the sudden statement. But she quickly snapped to her senses and franticly exclaimed, "You can't, Akashi-kun! You have just regained consciousness after an accident, it's too risky to move recklessly. And you're still heavily injured!"
Akashi glanced at her, his eyes showing slight surprise. Then he gave her a little smile. "Calm down, Momoi. I've not finished what I want to say. I meant to say that I want to leave the hospital, and recover in my apartment instead."
"Oh." Momoi blinked, quickly settling down. "I see. So that's what it was… Alright then. I will immediately arrange for that."
Staring at Akashi, Momoi suddenly gave a condition. "However, you must get a check-up first before leaving." As she spoke, the expression in her eyes was clearly conveyed to Akashi; firm and ready to challenge him should he disagree.
Akashi was amused, and with a soft chuckle, he obediently nodded his head.
Momoi smiled, satisfied. Then, she raised a question. "Akashi-kun? May I ask why do you not want to stay in the hospital?"
Upon hearing her question, Akashi's eyes narrowed at the door.
After a moment, he said, "You do not have to be concerned about that. I have my reasons for doing so. If the doctors ask, just tell them that I find being in a hospital room too stifling."
Momoi hesitated, glancing between Akashi and the door he was staring at. Biting her lip, she eventually decided that she didn't want to know the reasons for Akashi's decision to leave the hospital. Ignorance was bliss, after all. Especially when it came to dealing with Akashi.
"Yes, I understand." She simply answered.
Against the pale beige of the hospital walls, the light blue hair belonging to a young man popped out in bright relief. The man was leaning against the wall, his weight supported on one foot as he lightly crossed one ankle over the other. In his hands was a plain white cup with a black straw.
He was leisurely sipping on it as he eavesdropped on the conversation going on inside the room.
"I want to leave the hospital."
A blink of his eyes and the straw left his mouth without a single sound as he heard that sentence. Then, soon after, a little smirk appeared on his face. He chuckled softly, pulling himself away from the wall. He quietly turned and left, taking the stairs down to the first floor, making his way into the main area where it was filled with people – doctors, nurses and patients alike.
Passing by a trashcan, he tossed his empty cup into it while tilting his body to avoid bumping into a pregnant lady. As he neared the entrance, the automatic doors of the hospital slid open as a man with his arm in a sling entered. Casually walking past the injured man, the young man stepped out through the doors, leaving the hospital premises.
His every single action was soundless, even his footsteps. No one turned to look at him, not even lifting their heads when they were about to collide. They remained entirely oblivious to his presence.
Like a phantom, the blue-haired young man entered and left the hospital completely unnoticed by anyone.
