Sano Izumi kept watch of his father 24 hours a day inside the hospital room. He cant stand seeing him like this - lying in a bed all the time, unconscious. He moved his chair next to him and held his father's hand, hoping somehow that he would miraculously open his eyes.

His father didnt really mean much to his back then, But Mizuki changed it all. He no longer feel alone in this cruel world, With his dad and brother to come home to every now and then. Sano's face always tend to be life less whenever his ill dad passes his mind.

"Big brother." Shin patted him in the shoulder, indicating that he's back with the groceries already. The two boys spent most of their days in this cold room, always taking turns on keeping an eye for their father.
"Theres someone I encountered in the lobby." Shin nodded toward's his company. Sano barely notices him talking but he turned around to have a look for himself. It was Nakatsu who kept silent by the door. Sano watched him with no interest on his face and stood to lead him back outside so they can talk privately. Nakatsu followed. Silence filled the air for a while, waiting for each other to speak first.

"You know.. I really have the urge to choke you from your breath right now.. but..." Nakatsu shook his head. After seeing Sano's father, He couldnt describe how he felt sorry for him.
"Go ahead and kill me, if that ever makes you feel better. I told you to keep your ass off my personal business." Sano snapped.
"Why?" Nakatsu asked, completely ignoring him. "Do you even realize how Mizuki felt after what you've done? After all the troubles just to get you back to jumping? How can you treat her like trash?"
Although He isnt in the right moment to kill him, Nakatsu's first shook violently in his sides. He just cant stand him treating the woman he wanted to spend all of his life with like nothing. Does Sano even feel anything for Mizuki?
"Isnt that what you wanted? Theres no more walls around her now. She's free as a bird." Muttered Sano.
His words are enough to make Nakatsu unable to control his anger. He grabbed Sano's collar and shoved him against the wall with all his force. The impact was stronger than Sano have thought.
"I NEVER WANTED TO SEE HER CRY! You heartless bastard! How can you stand seeing her cry when you left her in the airport? How can you not appreciate what she have done for you? IM GONNA KILL YOU!" Nakatsu's first went for a jab but Sano blocked it effortlessly.
"How many times do i have to tell you to mind your own business? Now let go of me!"

Nakatsu trembled but he kept a firm hold of Sano's collar.
"Let go of me. You wouldnt understand anything, anyways."
"I wont unless you tell me whats your problem!" Shouted Nakatsu right at Sano's face. His voice echoed across the empty hallway. He finally let go of him as he pushed Sano's chest. Again, Silence filled both of them.
Sano thought real hard if Nakatsu deserves the truth or not. He finally decided to tell him-he owes nakatsu, anyways.

"The reason why i asked you to go to the airport back then is because I still care for Mizuki. I didnt want her to get hurt. You have to understand what costs me to leave her like that. I figured if you were there, Then maybe she could recover from it a little easier than dealing with it alone." Admitted Sano. He knows he can never be with Mizuki ever again after how he have hurt her. He still feels something for Mizuki. Not as much as Nakatsu does but he still loves her. For him, what he've done is a sacrifice.
Nakatsu shook his head. "I dont get it. Why?"
"I dont want her to deal with my father's current condition. She have grown real close to him since we were together. So I figured It would be better to leave her than to let her know that..."
Sano had a hard time spilling out the beans.
"That... My dad has no more than a month to live..." muttered Sano.
Nakatsu's eyes were widened with shock.
"I cant... I cant do highjump anymore... I couldnt do what my dad have done to my mom at her last hours. I can never abandon my father's side specially at this critical condition. and..." Sano shook his head to snap out of his grief. "High jump reminds me of Mizuki... and my dad. I just.. I just dont know what to do.. I'd rather let Mizuki deal with the lies i have left her with so she can move on than to let her know the truth. The truth that Im currently on the ground at the moment. She deserves better than a messed up freak who always needs her to solve his problems. I need to learn to figure things on my own. To stand up with my own two feet. I dont want her help anymore."
Nakatsu trembled again as he looked down.
"Why couldnt you just tell her? You do know how she felt about what you've done. I cant stand her being like this."
"Just leave it the way it is, Nakatsu! You dont know how I feel about what I've done! I want her to move on... To love somebody else who gives her what she needs this time. She has given me too much and she's not receiving enough. I love her too much that I want her to be happy, even if she's not on my side. Leaving her could be one of the mistakes I would regret all my life but it could open even greater opportunities for both of us! You cant be mad at me for sending her on her way. People come and go, Nakatsu."

Then it hit him. Sano's words cut deep in his heart. 'People come and go, Nakatsu...' It echoed in his head again and again. At the moment, Nakatsu knew karma has taken its revenge. He used that line to break up with the multiple girls he have dated before, but now that someone did it to the only person he loved the most, He felt guilty. He felt disappointed with himself. He felt disgusted.
"Look, Nakatsu. I'd be lying if i say I never felt anything for Mizuki.. And Ive already accepted the fact that we can never be together anymore-as much as it hurts me. I know she deserves better. Someone who can solve her problems rather than she be the one who solves the problems itself. That woman deserved to be treated like a royalty. But I can never do that to her..."
"Although as little as it can be.." Sano continued. "I know a part of me still loved her. It would maybe even last forever. Who knows? But if theres one thing I know about you, Nakatsu... is that.. I can never love Mizuki as much as you love her. You gave your everything for her.. While theres nothing else I gave her than those hurtful words to make her go away. And that is why... If theres any other guy I could trust to make her smile forever, It would be my bestfriend-you..."

Nakatsu was caught off guard by Sano's words. He couldnt help not to open his mouth.
"You deserver her more than I do. I felt guilty having her to solve me all the time and.. I need to find myself first before having to settle with anyone else with all my life... Its a very hard decision for me but life is all about opportunities. When a door closes, More with be opened. Ive thought about this for months already. You can trust me with this if its the last thing on earth. But... Nakatsu... If you ever make her cry, I wouldnt have any second thoughts to take her away from you." Sano smiled half heartedly, Hoping Nakatsu could understand everything.

Nakatsu nodded slightly. "I do understand, Sano. and i would probably do the same.. I could never.. Never be selfish enough to not give the things that makes her smile even if it would cost me my life. I know that it would take time but I could never give up from being her source of smile."
Sano smiled as a reply. Then he turned his back to Nakatsu and headed to the door of his father's room.
"Oh! Sano! Wait... How is your dad?"


The ride home wasnt nice at all. Nakatsu couldnt stop worrying about Sano. His words were on repeat on his mind...
"Theres nothing else that can be done." He remembered Sano say in grief. "The cancer is spreading violently. Leukemia can be healed if it was still on its first stage but... When it reached its third.. Im afraid everything will become useless... He'll only have weeks left under this building."

He could still hear the hurt in Sano's voice. Even if he wanted to do something to help, He simply cannot.

"Nakatsu. Do me a favor and Please dont mention a word on Mizuki about this."
It feels like he want to punch a dry wall with all his frustration. How the hell can he not tell Mizuki about this?

His phone vibrated. He reached for his pocket and picked it up. It was Haruka-chan texting... It took him a moment to remember who 'Haruka' is.. She was his girlfriend.. Right. He read the message with no enthusiasm

"Nakatsu-Kun. I'll be back in Kanto in two days! See you till then!
-Haruka"

Her girlfriend left the Kanto region a week from now and went to have a vacation in Hokkaido. She hasnt called him nor even texted him until now.
Nakatsu hopped aboard on a very deep train of thoughts. He wanted to break up with Haruka but theres just no communication but by phone. He's not that disrespectful to break up with a girl by a phone call. But if he would wait for her to arrive until Monday, Then It would be considered that he is cheating with Mizuki.. Not in a double relationship kind of way but he's living with Mizuki.. And his heart belongs to no one but her.

Thus, he made his choice. Breaking up with a phone call might be the worst idea ever.. But its better than 'cheating' with your girlfriend.
He dialed Haruka's number. it rang. It rang and it rang.. Nakatsu's now loosing hope that his call will be a failure but luckily, before the last phone ring, Haruka answered Nakatsu's phone call.
"Hello? Nakatsu kun?"
"Ah. hey.. Haruka.. Listen..We need to talk."


End of this chapter.
Its not much, is it? I didnt have enough time to prepare for this one thats why it was scattered all around.
But I hope you guys could atleast understand the plot, right? I'll be doing better by next time.

Anyways, I made some changes in this chapter.. Like the name of Nakatsu's girlfriend. From Sakura to Haruka. It wasnt really according to plan to change it with much surprise and I really dont want to shift names but i had no choice(Personal reasons).

Thank you so much for reading. Till next update.