Tsugumi slipped back into her car, shutting the door a bit too forcefully. With a sigh she slid her headband back through her long black locks, scowling as she recalled the meeting. It was not… perfect. That was the best way she could describe it. All the potential employers had all looked uncertain whenever she mentioned her old job, and wondered at the qualifications she had. All promised to review her resume. So far she had gotten nowhere.

Tsugumi was growing just a little desperate. The rent was due, and she hardly had enough money to pay it off, and still needed food.

Turning the key the engine jumped to life, only to ding at her, light flashing in warning that gas was needed. Gritting her teeth Tsugumi turned to her pocket book, rifling through as she began to calculate just how much gas would cost from her meager bank account.

A manila envelope caught her eye, caught between the passenger seat and the center console. She turned her attention from her money to it, surprised to see such a thing in her car. The reminder of the past such a bright color against the drabness of the car's interior. She picked it up, and found that it did indeed carry what she has suspected.

The rough drafts of the Funeral Parlor.

She just stared at it, pain pricking the back of her eyes as she remembered. She was supposed to look over it, and then take it to the publishers. But that had never happened…

Her phone began to chirp and she quickly stuffed the papers back into the envelope. Picking up her phone she saw a name she did not at first recognize.

Yahiro.

But it was familiar, and in a moment she remembered. Yahiro was Shu's school friend. She had met him after the funeral to talk about Shu's health

"Hello?"

"Tsugumi." Tsugumi leaned back in the seat and made an affirmative noise. "Please come to the hospital immediately."

A cold spread through her heart, eyes widening slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Shu's been admitted into the mental ward."

Tsugumi banged into the hospital, surprising a group of people she immediately recognized.

"Tsugumi!" Hare exclaimed, and rushed to her, grabbing onto the girl she had only recent become an acquaintance of as if she were her closest lifelong friend.

Pain had a way of drawing people desperately together.

"Where's Shu?" Tsugumi asked immediately, attention toward Yahiro who stood beside another of Shu's school friends, Souta.

"He's being… helped now." Yahiro said in his gentle low voice. "He's not stable anymore."

"What happened?" Tsugumi was not sure she wanted to know, and judging from the pain that passed across Souta's face and the clench of Hare's fingers against her arm it was nothing good.

"I found him in his apartment," Yahiro's voice remained level, the only one who managed to sufficiently smother his feelings. "He had tried to commit suicide."

Tsugumi bit her lip, eyes widening slightly. Yahiro kept watching her and she felt like she should say something. "Oh…"

Hare sniffed and clutched tighter at Tsugumi. "We've been trying to call you… We didn't call Ayase yet since she couldn't get over here by herself."

"I was at a job interview…" Tsugumi murmured, feeling the need to offer an explanation. Souta swiped at his nose, trying to hide how close he was to tears.

The doors opened and the group turned quickly to see who entered.
It was Rowan, followed closely by Segai.

"Everyone," Rowan tilted his head, brow drawn and creasing wrinkles into his skin. "Shu has been stabilized and we currently him under supervision."

"How is he?" Yahiro asked forcefully, and Rowan sighed.

"He's unstable. I had seen signs, but I had hoped with such an extensive support network he would be able to cope, but it appears that he has been unable to deal properly with the deaths."

"Now what?" Hare whispered, voice laced with unshed tears.

"Well… I managed to contact his mother and she said she thought it would be best to keep him under our supervision."

"So he stay's here." Hare looked down, tears slithering down her cheeks.

"Come, come!" Segai interrupted suddenly, pushing in front of Rowan with a cheery smile. "It's not so bad! We'll take good care of him."

Yahiro's eyes narrowed slightly. "Made sure you do."

"Um…" Souta spoke up uncertainly. "Can we see him?"

"Not right now," Rowan gave a sorry shake of his head. "He's still recuperating."

"Now, now, no need for just dejected faces! Go on, you'll be able to see Shu soon enough!"

"Come on," Yahiro turned; ignoring Segai's little cheerful speech. "We should get going."

"But…"

"It's ok Hare," Tsugumi smiled at her. "There's nothing we can do right now."

She frowned but nodded and slid away, following Yahiro and Souta toward the door.

"A moment Tsugumi."
Segai's sudden request made Tsugumi freeze.

"You're job hunting correct?" He asked when Tsugumi had turned around. Rowan tried to grab at his arm but Segai merely fluttered his hand at the man.

"How do you know?"

"Oh… just heard it around that's all!" He smirked, and Tsugumi doubted his story. "So, you are?"

"Yes."
"Good, then you're hired!" Tsugumi's eyes widened immediately, uncertain she had heard correctly. "Come in at eight tomorrow and then I'll give you the details."

Before she could ask further he had turned and walked away, whipping out his phone and ignoring Rowan who had given the shocked girl a shaky smile before chasing after his boss.

Tsugumi just stood, frozen to the floor. Her mind reeled, trying to fit everything that had just happened into her mind.

Shu had been admitted into a Mental Ward, the same Mental Ward she had just been hired at.

Don't know... I'm not that keen on this chapter, but then again nothing really great happened... I'm looking forward to other scenes :3