Chapter 7.

The summer was in full bloom and the weather kept getting hotter and hotter with every passing day. Hotaru was sitting at her desk next to a window at the back of the
classroom, basking in the sun like a cat. The air was stuffy, flowers blooming and insects buzzing around. It was a lazy afternoon and she had only one class left before she could head home. She crossed her arms in front of her, and placed her head on top, facing the sun. Under her eyelids, she could see white, red and yellow shapes standing out against the reddish skin, and slowly but surely she started drifting away her mind wondering with no purpose. On the outskirts of her consciousness, she felt a vibration, first delicate and then stronger. For a moment, she couldn't understand what was happening but when she opened her eyes she noticed the screen of her mobile lighting up like a Christmas Tree. Lazily she grabbed the device, her mind still somewhere else but one look at the number displayed on the screen, and her heart started racing, adrenaline pumping blood in a similar manner as during the matches. But it wasn't excitement that rushed through her blood vessels, it was fear. When she picked up the phone, she immediately recognized the voice on the other side:

- Mrs Tachibana Hotaru?

- Yes, speaking.

- You are listed as one of the points of contact for Miss Shizuka who is a patient here, is that correct?

- Yes, that's correct. Did something happen with auntie?

- Miss Tachibana, I regret to inform you that earlier today, Miss Shizuka had a stroke and she is currently on the ER. Would it be possible for you to come to the hospital? - hearing those words, Hotaru felt her heart sunk. Thousands of thoughts raced through her head, not one coherent enough to be of any use. She mumbled into the device 'I am on my way', her voice sounded foreign even to herself.

Hotaru left her bike in front of the hospital, locking it hastily to one of the lamps. She could feel drops of sweat running down her spine, her breathing heavy from the effort. She managed to get from her school to the hospital in the record time and now she was running through the corridors and straight to the room were Shuu's mum, Miss Shizuka, was sleeping.

The girl stopped in front of the door leading into the room. She hesitated. Should she really be the one to come? Did her presence here matter in any way? Before leaving the classroom, she tried calling Shuu but she went straight into the voice mail. The nurse told her, that the hospital's staff tried to reach him before but with no success. That's why she decided to leave him a voice message in which she shortly described the situation and asked him to come as soon as he could. Still, for some reason she couldn't even understand, she was sure he wouldn't be coming. The silence on the other side of the line was somehow angry and she could only suspect where his head was. In the end, she decided against looking for him. Miss Shizuka's condition was critical but stable for now, yet one could never be sure if she was going to survive another night. In this situation, her son was simply acting like a spoiled brat and Hotaru wasn't about to indulge him. She opened the door and stepped in, bracing herself for a long sleepless night.

Matsuoka took the day off and was now standing in front of the building in which Midori's flat was located. He had just finished with one cigarette, but he was already drawing another one from a half-emptied pack. He knew that Midori wasn't home yet, the doctor would usually finish his shift at four and be at home near half-past four. Matsuoka looked at his watch, needle pointing five past three. The heat was enormous and despite standing under a large tree, Matsun felt hot and sweaty. He really didn't know why he came here or what he wanted to achieve by coming but ever since the last challenge, he couldn't wipe out that one particular view from his mind. Whenever he closed his eyes, the memory would resurge every time more vivid than before. The look on Midori's face when he held Hotaru in his arms. The gentle almost hesitant kiss he planted on the girl's forehead. Matsuoka had never seen him treating anyone with such care. But he wasn't about to be deceived. No. He knew better than anyone that the doctor treated all people around him merely as toys which he would use for his own amusement. And when he would lose his interest and that always happened sooner or later, he would throw them away not caring about those broken hearts and souls that he was leaving behind. Obviously, that would be also Hotaru's fate and Matsuoka couldn't let that be.

- What are you doing here, Masamune? Don't tell me that you've been waiting for me? I am flattered – the voice he knew all too well brought him back to reality. Matsuoka turned around. Midori was standing a couple of meters away from him, impeccable as always, self-confidence emanating from him. The host swallowed hard before he replied:

- We need to talk.

As expected, the apartment Midori was living in was huge, luxurious and strangely empty, cold even. There were no photos on the walls, in general, no personal information could be found anywhere in the flat (or at least not in the rooms Matsuoka could see). The doctor brewed some coffee and placed a cup in front of each of them. He remained on the other side of the island that was situated in the middle of the kitchen that opened onto the living room. Matsun took his place at the high bar-stool and grabbed the cup of coffee that was handed to him. It was really too hot to drink it but that was the only beverage he came up with when the doctor asked him if he would like something to drink. Strangely enough, Midori also chose to drink coffee and now the two of them were sitting across from each other.

- So? What is it that we need to talk about, Masamune? - the doctor was looking at him expectantly but something in his gaze told Matsuoka that he had probably already guessed the reason for his unexpected visit.

- I want you to leave Hotaru out of this – the host said simply. There was no point in playing hide and seek, the two of them were long past this point or at least that was what he wanted to believe in. The doctor smiled but it was more of a hideous grimace than anything else:

- Leave her out of what exactly, Masamune?

- Out of this – the host repeated, stressing the last word.

Midori closed his eyes for a moment. Immediately he could see the pair of bright green eyes looking straight at him, never wavering. The bright smile that graced her lips when they won and the excitement whenever she was playing. The nerve-wracking feeling when he saw her rolling down that steep hill and the joy when she threw herself at him, celebrating their first win as a team. He opened his eyes and looked straight at the blond host. It was so very quiet and the two of them knew instinctively that whatever came next would decide their fates.

- She is not part of it as you say, Masamune. She might have been at the very beginning but she is not any more. And you already know that I wouldn't be able to leave her even if I wanted to.

- Midori, she is just a child, she doesn't know any better. She is way too young for this and you are...

- Don't even bother with finishing – Midori interrupted rudely. He never reacted this way towards anyone but for some reason when Hotaru was involved he couldn't keep his cool – She is not a child and you know that as well as I do. She may be sheltered or inexperienced but she is not a kid. So cut the bullshit, Masamune, and just say clearly what you want from me.

- I already said it, Midori. I want you to stay away from our Hotaru.

- Our Hotaru? Or did you mean yours?

- I promised her mother...

- Keep her mother out of this and just tell me honestly, Masamune. Name the fear that brought you here so that I can satisfy your curiosity and we can be over with this pointless discussion – the doctor's eyes were cold now, devoid of any emotions or the gleam of amusement that Masuoka saw when he first entered this place.

- Fair enough – the blond replied shrugging his shoulders slightly as if to stress that he couldn't care less – I don't want you to get romantically involved with Hotaru and from what I am seeing at the moment it's clear to me that this is where you are heading.

The doctor looked at his former partner for a moment and then replied with a fake smile:

- And what if I say no? - Matsuoka was half-expecting this answer but still, he felt weird out upon hearing the words – What exactly will you do, Masamune?

- I am not sure. I thought that I will worry when I get there, Midori.

- Hmm... It seems to me that you, at last, learned something useful, Masamune. Very good, very good indeed... Now, if I may suggest anything – the doctor smiled, the cold smile which never reached his eyes – Finish up your coffee and go home. I still have some work to do, Masamune.

The two men stared at each other in silence. Then Matsuoka picked up his cup and emptied it in one gulp. The coffee had a bitter taste so fitting his mood at that moment.

Hotaru pointed her gun at the target in front of her. She was at the shooting range practising her aim. Before she got the chance to pull the trigger, she could feel someone's presence behind and then that person grabbed her arm:

- Steady, Hotaru-chan. You need to lock your arm in the position and then point at your target. Remember about the recoil.

- Tachibana understands that, Midori-sensei.

- Good – the man said straight into her ear – Still, please let me guide you.

- Of course, sensei – she whispered her approval. The doctor let his right hand cover hers, and with his left arm, he steadied her against his frame.

- Try to feel what I am doing, Hotaru – he said and when she nodded in agreement he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the target but the doctor didn't stop, instead, he kept shooting until he emptied the clip.

By now, Hotaru was already used to the master level of his skills but still, she felt amazed every time she got the chance to witness him in action. Yes, the doctor was cool beyond belief and so a good minute passed before she realised that although the clip was empty the two of them didn't break their position. She slowly lowered her hand with the gun and Midori did the same still holding her now by her wrist. Her back was leaning against his chest and Hotaru could feel the warmth of his breath whenever he breathed out, the air tickling her in the ear and neck. The intimacy of this situation struck her hard and perhaps that was the reason why she decided to ask him the one thing she just knew she shouldn't.

- Midori-san, why did you leave Matsuoka-san behind? - she whispered so quietly that for a moment she thought he couldn't hear her.

- Why would you like to know that? - he replied but when she tried to turn around and face him, he locked her in place, his arms caging her with force she wasn't expecting but should have foreseen.

- Well... One reason would be because I care about Matsuoka-san and I think that it would help him a lot if he knew the answer. Is that something you could share with me, Midori-san? - the doctor felt a weird cramp in his chest when he heard her answer. He tightened his grip on her, pulling her closer to himself. The scent of her hair and the warmth of her body against him and before he knew the words escaped his mouth:

- Why do you think I did that? Did Yukimura tell you my reasons?

- If he did, I wouldn't be asking you, sensei – she replied again trying to face him and again being held in place – I never talked about this with any of my team-mates.

- And why is that?

- I think they lack the distance... Asking them about this would probably open up some nasty old wounds.

- I see. And is it fine to open mine? - he asked bitterly.

- Of course not – this time she caught him off-guard and before he knew, the green eyes were fixed on him, too close for comfort, her face only inches apart from his.

- I don't want to hurt you same as I don't want to hurt them, Midori-san... I merely thought that you seem to have better control over your emotions and... I don't know... Like I felt that by now I could ask you anything even though I won't get an answer every time.

Midori was feeling strange. He clearly knew he didn't want to have this conversation but at the same time, he felt compelled to. The fire in her eyes stopped him from walking away although all his senses were screaming that it was time to go. 'What did you do to me?' He thought to himself already resigned to his fate.

- I don't want to talk about this, Hotaru. Especially not with you and not now – he immediately noticed the effect his words had as she stepped back and looked to the side. And then this strange urge overwhelmed him and he just wanted for her to look at him again so despite himself he added:

- But you are welcome to try and guess – her head whipped back, her gaze fixed at him.

- Are you sure, sensei?

- No, I am not – he replied honestly, his hand reaching her cheek. Gently he held her face so that she couldn't turn her head away, his thumb delicately swiped her lips. A pink blush crept up her face and for a moment, she looked down avoiding his gaze. With his hand now on her neck, he could feel her heightened pulse and he thought that this feeling alone was worth having this conversation. And then with her eyes still lowered she whispered against his lips and he could feel the rage feeling his heart:

- I think that you left Matsuoka-san behind because of what Shingen-san told you. I don't know what it could be but from what I've seen of him, I would guess that it was something along the lines: there can only be one king... As long as Masamune is with you he will always be content with his second place and will never be able to hone his skills – Midori's breath was caught in his lungs and then she looked up at him, her green eyes able to see all of him – Am I right? Don't answer, Midori-san. I know I am. You are a really kind and dishonest man. You thought it was below you to tell Matsuoka the truth so you probably said something really stupid, something that made Yukimura-san hate you like...

Hotaru never got the chance to finish her sentence. Midori pressed his lips hard against hers at the same time pinning her to the wall behind her back. He just wanted to make her stop, to silence her. She struggled with him for a moment and then to his surprise she gave in. Not thinking much, he started kissing her fervently, his hands wandering all over her body until he grabbed her by her thighs to lift her up. At once her legs encircled him as she tried to steady herself. There was this sense of urgency with the haste kisses they shared, and then the doctor let his lips wander down her neck and to her chest. He heard her moaning and so he covered her mouth with his hand so that nobody could hear them. He then shifted and placed her onto one of the tables that stood next to them, letting his hand slid under her shorts. It was the moment when his finger was about to slide under her underwear when he realised what he was doing. He pulled his hand away, grabbing her by both her wrists and pulling her up to make her stand. He then stopped, standing inches from her and looking at what he had done. Her hair was ruffled, the leg of her shorts pulled up so that he could see her panties, her shirt rumpled. His gaze stopped at her swollen lips and it took all his will-power not to continue. Instead, he heard his own voice coming from afar:

- Don't you there ever say a word about your little guessing game to anyone else – he hissed and then forced another kiss. When their lips parted and he was staring in her green eyes he knew he had hurt her. The next moment, she slapped him hard with an open hand which he deserved:

- Don't you ever dare to kiss me again if you are to do it so half-heartedly – she said hot tears rolling down her cheeks. Before he could say or do anything to stop her, she was gone and he stood there all alone feeling like he broke the one thing that was good about him.