Chapter 8

Suzushina Yuriko.
Checkup #44
Unofficial checkup #12
3p.m.

I was in the hospital waiting room. Alone. This was apart from the normal ones i had every month, my parents were not here with me.

These check ups were... Personal.

"Okay. Suzushina-san, you may come in." The doctors voice came from a speaker above his office door.

Yes. This was the same friendly doctor as usual.

I opened the door. The warm air from his office was a huge contrast to the stale air in the waiting room.

It was September now, so it was quite cold. This warmth was welcome.

"Hi hi Suzu-chan!" He waved and leaned back on his seat. "Still don't feel like telling your parents?"

"Yeah."

"Well, the results from the forth check up have come in. Sorry it took so long for it to get confirmed. As you know, our current technology is incapable of helping you and can barely slow down your prob-"

"Just say it. I'm not here for advertisements on Academy City tech." I interrupted him. I hated that topic.

"Hai, hai" he looked at a bundle of papers on his table. "Well, as you already know, your brain was damaged and your mental capabilities have been reduced..."

I glared at him for continuing to avoid the topic. What could be so bad to make him act like this?

"But your spinal cord was also damaged. Not enough to paralyzed at the time, by as time goes on, the damage will continue to spread due to strain on the bone. But as the damage spreads, you will start to lose control of some parts of your body."

So thats why he was so nervous.

"So you will pretty much be paralyzed and if any one your organs are unable to work or if it strikes at a bad time..."

My suspicions were confirmed. I had noticed that it was getting progressively harder to move around and my back would hurt slightly whenever I moved too much or twisted it.

This was why I didn't want my parents to come with me.

"So yeah. If you wanna go to Academy City..."

I had considered treatment there before, but the costs were so damn high that even I was afraid of being treated.

Seriously, eighty million yen? What the hell.

I had no will to burden my parents and my sisters with that. If they knew, I had no doubt that they would do all they could to get me treated. And may in the process, take up multiple jobs.

And knowing my loving sister Worst... She may go do some rather... Questionable jobs to get money.

If I died, yes, they would be sad. But they would get over it after a year or so.

And if they wasted the money that would allow me to live, I wouldn't be able to live like a normal person. I won't be able to get a job easily, and I would need help from someone.

Who will want to get married to horrible 'ol me? Kihara abandoned me the moment he noticed I wasn't smart anymore.

Plus, they'd be marrying someone who will die sooner or later, or they will have to pay millions to save my pitiful ass. And by the way, I will still be a cripple.

I slammed my face on his desk, making him jump in surprise.

"No," I looked up at him. "Do not tell anyone. And I don't want treatment. Just tell me how long more."

He started sweating... Well, more than he was earlier.

"Well... For about two years more, your spine will continue to grow. Slightly. Since girls stop growing at eighteen.

But if you are lucky, which you have a five percent chance, you will be able to continue to move albeit without your legs. Both of them."

For some reason, I started laughing. What was I thinking earlier? Getting married?! Ahahahahahahahahahha!

The doctor looked at me oddly. Most likely considering to send me to a mental hospital.

I wiped away a tear. I don't know if it was from disappointment or from laughing so hard or even sadness, but it still came.

"Haha... Ha... ha... Well then I'd better enjoy myself while I can should i?"

The doctor frowned.

The first time I saw him do that.

"Why don't you seek treatment Suzu-chan? Your family loves you and-" I cut him off.

"Yes, they love me now. But what if I'm older? If I go for treatment and survive, what will I become? A cripple? And then what? Spend another few million to get my legs back to normal?" I bombarded him with questions before he could even answer the first one.

"And how will they take care of me? Huh?" My volume started increasing. "I will just become a burden to them. Even my parents. who might be grandparents by then, would be more useful than me!" By the time I had finished, my face was flushed red and my blood was pumping.

The doctor sighed and shook his head.

"I'm sad that you think that way. But if thats what you want, it is my duty as a doctor to be accommodating to my patients."

I smiled thinly in response to his reply.

"But if you ever get wheeled in, and you require medical attention, I will do whatever it takes to save you. I am not going to let you die like you want."

I liked that answer. Smiling, I nodded in thanks and pushed myself up.

Just as I left the room, I turned and reminded him. "Don't tell anyone about this."


This bridge is nice...

I was on a walkway over a river, around twenty meters wide and long... Really long. I couldn't see either end if the river.

Well, it IS a river. Yuriko you idiot. I physically hit myself on the head.

I had been standing here for the past hour. There were a few children playing an the grass river banks, playing all sorts of games.

I missed playing like that with my sisters...

*weaaanggg*

I punched the metal railing, hard enough to dent it and cause it to wobble. Luckily, it was hollow, if not, I would have broken my hand.

I stared at my hand. Blood flowing from my knuckles. The evening sun's light reflected off the fresh blood, making it shine.

The pain was welcome, it kept me from thinking anything stupid and the metallic smell of blood filled the air.

Then I heard someone come to a stop behind me.

"You shouldn't have done that you know?"

Eh? I knew that voice. I spun around as quickly as I could.

A rather welcome sight appeared.

It was Kano. Holding several plastic bags.

I controlled my voice to make it as solid and strong as possible. "I am fine thank you very much," I tried to get him to leave. "I am going home now so if you will excuse me, I will be off."

I could not trust other people with my feelings.

The last time I did it was almost a year ago.

Eight months to be exact.

At the time, I was one of the top scorers of Nagatenjouki and was pretty popular among both the boys and girls there.

And I was really close with this guy called Kihara Amata.

We were both in the top ten of the school.

But after my accident, my scores dropped. I couldn't focus and I had forgotten a lot of the things covered in the past.

I had dropped from being the top of my class to the middle. Then I dropped even lower till I reached the bottom.

The senseis understood my predicament and did not scold me.

Apparently, the students didn't get the memo. I was bullied quite a bit... More than a bit. And Worst had to step in to shoo those bastards away.

I had gone to Kihara for help and support. But he had simply laughed and punched me in the face, calling me useless to him if I wasn't smart.

So I learnt a valuable lesson; most people do not care about you unless they want something from you.

As those thoughts rushed through my mind, I set up a mental barrier and gruffly replied Kano, "Just me trying to relieve some stress."

He raised an eyebrow, "There are better ways to do that than punching a railing... Do you need a bandage? That hand is bleeding pretty badly."

I looked down at my hand. The blood hadn't stopped flowing and was dripping to the floor.

"I am fine thank you very much," I tried to get him to leave. "I am going home now so if you will excuse me, I will be off."

I started to walk but he grabbed my shoulder to stop me. "You don't seem fine. Did something happen?"

This guy...

"Nothing happened." I tried to get away again by using another tactic. "I really got to be somewhere."

"Something happened didn't it. I can see it on your face. It's obvious."

Am I really that easy to read? What the hell is wrong with me today.

"Let go of me now. Or I will hit you."

"No."

"Then I will kill you." I threatened.

"Try me." He refused to back down.

The sun was just starting setting now, casting an orange light on everything.

I spun and moved my crutch in a well practiced maneuver. It sailed in an arc around me and flowed unwaveringly through the air to its target.

Something that never happened before occurred... I shouldn't have used such dramatic terms didn't I...
Ah well.

Kano grabbed my crutch and twisted it, forcing me to drop it. With my centrifugal force gone, and with no way to support myself, I fell towards him, my elbows landing on his chest.

"Come on. I don't wanna hurt you. I want to help, Suzushina-san. And if you just let me,"

I can't stand this behavior of his! Fuck! I do NOT want to be pitied. I punched him with my bloody hand, staining his clothes.

"I DO NOT WANT YOUR PITY!" I screamed in frustration. "AND WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?!"

"I was on the way home from shopping for groceries."

What.

"And then I saw you. And this happened."

The.

"Now, I am not pitying you. I just want to help. Let me as again. Are you okay?"

Hell?!

I pulled away but he grabbed both my hands. I was now relying fully in him holding me up to keep myself from falling.

"Just... LET ME GO!" I shouted while trying to force my hands away.

"Not until you tell me why."

And at that moment, for some reason, my tears started streaming down my face. My strength left me and I leaned backwards but he pulled me back to him, making me lean on his chest.

'Get a hold of yourself Yuriko!' My inner voice was shouting at me. But my body didn't want to listen.

During my two weeks at A Certain highschool, Kano had been with me... Not exactly with but he had been my constant companion for the first week. And even after his obligation as a guide was gone, he continued to try to be friends.

Even when he had gone through some emotional problems for a short while, he had tried to be friendly.

And yesterday was what really mattered. It was the first time I had gone out with a... Friend... And had felt no ulterior motives.

There were no weird questions or the extreme 'niceness' like Kihara emitted.

He had just wanted to enjoy himself and try to share his happiness with me... That's what I felt at least.

That's why I guess... That's why I trust him.

I could feel my eyelids getting heavy... And within seconds, I had fallen asleep.


"Uhhh... Ugh..." I opened my eyes. I saw stars.

I was outside? What was I doing sleeping outside? But this pillow feels nice.

I rolled over to my side, and saw... A T-shirt?

Then my memories from earlier returned.

EHH?!

I glanced up to Kano's face. He was sleeping with his head hanging down.

Apparently, I was sleeping on his lap.

I continued to stare at him sleep for a few seconds. Then he started to stir. His eyes opened and he grinned. "Suzushina-san... You're... Up? That's good... *yawn* are you feeling better?"

Huh.

I did feel better.

"Yeahhh... Can you help me up? I don't wanna lie down anymore."

"Oh yeah, sure..."

Why did he seem disappointed...

He helped me sit upright beside him on the bench he was sitting on. We were on a bench along the river bank. Just above the area the high tide would rise to.

"You feel like talking normally now?"

How was he so damn nonchalant? =,=

"How did I get here?" I wanted to check his honesty... In hindsight I wouldn't have known if he was lying or not since I was asleep so it was a rather stupid question.

"Well, after you started crying, you leant on me for a good five minutes then you fell asleep. I was so surprised I nearly dropped you. Then I carried you to this bench and got a nice person to help me carry my stuff here."

His story makes sense.

"How long was I out?"

"About an hour or so."

Okay. I am officially an idiot. I raised my other hand to punch the armrest in annoyance. But Kano put his hand in the way.

"Oi!" This is getting rather annoying.

"I don't want you to injure yourself." His voice was really gentle. "And you seemed pretty stressed. Are you okay?"

That was the third time or something he asked that question.

I answered him again. But this time, honestly.

"No... And yeah... I'm pretty stressed."

I don't know why, but I felt like I could trust him right there and then... So I started talking.

"Well, about a year ago, I was hit by a drunk driver while trying to save my little sister." His eyes widened and I gave him a questioning look but he waved me off, telling me to continue.

And so I did.

"And because of that, one if my legs can't move and the other can move normally up till the knee.

I also got brain damage which reduced my mental power by quite a bit. That's why I left Nagatenjouki. Because I became dumber than most the people there and they would pick on me.

And earlier, my doctor told me during my check up that my spine was also damaged and as I grow, my spine may get more damaged and I may either get paralyzed or die if the paralysis strikes at a bad time." I finished.

His head drooped. "That's a good reason to be stressed about..." He mumbled. Luckily I was sitting right next to him so I could here his next sentence which was even softer.

"Is she that girl..."

Ha?

He turned to face me. And bombarded me with questions.

"Where did you get hit?"

"Uhh near a mall..."

"Were you with four other girls with brown hair?"

"Ahh... Yeah? My sisters."

How did he know all this?

His last question answered my own question.

"Did you dye your hair brown?"

"Yes... I wanted to fit in with my sisters..."

He stood up and ran to a tree and punched it.

Damn hypocrite.

"Suzushina-san. Will you forgive me?"

Eh?

"I'm now sure that it was you... I was going to the mall with Touma, Fukiyose and his sister Index." He seemed very nervous, "I noticed a speeding car rushing towards your sister and I had the time to run over and grab her...

But I panicked and just shouted at you..."

So he was the guy that allowed me to save Last Order? I would never have thought... I was overwhelmed with emotion and I didn't know what to say. For years, I had been wishing that I could find the person who helped me save Last Order and thank him. And he was here all this while.

I grabbed my crutch that was leaning upright beside me and launched my body towards his, embracing him in a hug.

He stiffened and I stifled a laugh. I guess he really isn't used to being hugged.

"Thank you... Thank you for allowing me to save her." I whispered into his ear.

"Why..? I didn't do anything..."

"You gave me the chance to save my little sister. Which is more than enough for me. And I've always wanted to thank the person who warned me about the car. And now knowing that it was you..."

By now the sun had set and we could barely see each other via the ambient light from the bridge which was quite a distance away.

We stood there in silence for a while. It was a comfortable silence. For the first time in my life, I felt safe, secure...

So this is why the twins want a boyfriend. I can definitely see the appeal. Heck, I can feel it.

"Thank you Suzushina-san. For telling me about your problems. And thank you again for telling me that I helped save your sister."

I just nodded with my chin on his shoulder. We were almost the same height so the hug felt nice.

"Are you getting treatment for your problem?"

And at that question, the peaceful atmosphere evaporated instantly.

I supported myself on him and stood up on my own, looking past his shoulder at a random tree.

"No..."

"Why?"

"Because... I have to go to Academy City where treatment costs millions. And if it's successful, I will still be an albino cripple. I will still be a burden to my family. I will not be able to get a job, because I can't do office work and I can't do physical work.

I mind as well just... Disappear..." I whispered that last part. Afraid to say it.

And I was also afraid to tell him. I was afraid that he would react negatively and try his best to stay away from pathetic Yuriko.

Ughh... I've never shown myself like this to anyone before... Not even my sisters. If you had told me I would be in this situation in my second week of school, I would have thrown my crutch at you... Actually, its my third week.

"I..." I looked him in the eye. I wanted to hear what he wanted to say. "I... Know this is a bit weird... Since we just became friends... I actually don't know why I feel like this but... I'd ta.. ca.. you..."

Hah he feels awkward too.

"I didnt catch that last part." Its unbelievable how soft he was. We were literally face-to-face.

"I'd take care of you." He mumbled.

The words just hung in the air for a while.

Then the magnitude of what he said hit me like a meltdowner.

EHHHH!?

"Wha...?"

"I said," he repeated, with determination flowing into him "I'd take care of you."

I was confused. Why would he do this for someone he just met? Someone who has been an asshole to him most of the time.

"Why?"

He seemed to be blushing. I could feel his face radiating heat despite being unable to see him.

"Because... I know that this is the real you, someone who is caring to her sisters, someone... Who is willing to even die for them. That's something about you that I love.

From day one, when I saw you come into class, I noticed you looked really sad. Not from your expression. But from your eyes. Because I knew what it felt like to feel sad.

My problem was nothing compared to yours and the cause of it was a misunderstanding that had developed badly. So at the time when my problems were resolved and I felt the incredible feeling of having a problem resolved, I wanted to help you resolve yours.

So from that day, I decided to help you. I had trouble in the past but after I had help, I recovered and am now happy with no regrets..."

I had the feeling he wanted to say more but I cut him off.

"Then how do you want to help me resolve mine? Sooner or later I will get paralyzed. And I rather die than be a vegetable."

The clouds in the sky parted and the moonlight streamed down towards us, illuminating his face and adding a mysterious weight to his words.

"So I will give you a reason to live. That's what you need right? Since you'd rather lose your life than burden your family, I will be the one to carry that burden for them... If you let me that is." He smiled sheepishly at his cheesy words.

'Well, it's the cheese that makes you happy Yuriko.' I thought to myself.

But I still had my doubts.

"We just met. So how can I believe you will keep up that promise?"

I refused to believe someone other than my family would say that.

~~~~~~~~Kano~~~~~~~~~~~

"We just met. So how can I believe you will keep up that promise?" She said and stared right into my eyes.

I didn't know how to respond. Everything I said just came naturally.

As we maintained silence and just heard each other breathing, a few memories ran through my mind.

The first was my Grandpa telling me that actions spoke louder than words.

It was from just before he died and was on his deathbed. I had promised him that I would remember to honor him and would make sure that I would earn enough money to make a huge shrine in thanks for his help.

He had told me to keep quiet. "You should not promises like that lightly kiddo." He whispered, "but if that is how you really feel, you'd better keep it. Don't just tell me what you are going to do. Show me. I'll be watching you as a ghost okay? Hehe."

He still had the energy to laugh on his deathbed. That was how strong he was.

The second memory was about how I felt when I thought Uomi had left me.

The two of us had promised each other that we would never leave each other. And since it was after my Grandpa's death, I took promises extremely seriously.

And then the feeling of dejectedness and depression when I thought she had abandoned me which was followed by my friends pulling me from that dark pit I had thrown myself into.

Lastly, it was the feeling I felt after I had found out the truth to why Uomi disappeared.

The feeling of relief and joy that had come after we had reconciled was what I wanted everyone to enjoy.

Especially Yuriko.

We had been silent for a good four minutes or so. The ambient noise of crickets and speeding cars on the bridge as well as the trickling of the nearby river water made the atmosphere somewhat relaxing.

I decided to maintain this silence. And my memory rang loud and clear.

'Actions speak louder than words' eh?

Let's put that to the test.

~~~~~~~~~~Yuriko~~~~~~~~~

Kano has been silent for a while.

Was he at a loss of words or something? This atmosphere seems awkward... Yet strangely relaxing.

How contradictive can I be =.=

Kano seemed to be finished with his thinking. It's gonna be another cheesy line won't it?

Suddenly, he moved his arms away from me, removing my source of support.

I had been holding on to his arms like an eagle sitting on its trainers glove.

Before I could continue with that line of thought, he pulled me into a hug and whispered, "I will take care of you. You don't need to be tough all the time okay?

When you are with your sisters, I'm sure you are an excellent role model and are a pillar of support.

But when you are with me, you don't need to keep up that tough facade. Just be yourself."

I nodded into his shoulder. This is a good answer.

Now I'm sure I liked him a little more than a bit.

Maybe a lot more.

After a few more seconds, he separated. And took my injured hand in his.

The blood had dried up by now and his makeshift bandage that I neglected to mention earlier was soaked with blood.

Why didn't I mention it? Well, it wasn't nessasary.

"Come on Suzushina-san, I'll bring you over to my place. Its five minutes away from here."

This is his home? A two room flat?

"Hehe... Sorry about the mess. I didn't think that anyone would be coming over..." He moved a chair from the dining table and adjusted it for me to sit.

"I'll get some bandages" he finished and disappeared into a room.

His house looked rather run down. The living room was combined with the kitchen and there were two rooms.

The living area had a tiny, box television and a beanbag cushion and a rocking chair with a tiny coffee table was set opposite it.

There was a picture of an old, smiling man with grey hair and a short beard smiling. A cup of water was set beside it.

Probably an old family member...

Now that I mention it, I haven't seen Kano's parents.

Kano reappeared from the room with a roll of bandages in one hand and a small basin filled with a pair of scissors and some anti-sceptic thingy. I had no idea what it was.

He filled the basin with warm water and started to work on my hand.

"This feels... Weird..."

"Hmm?" He said... Not really said but you get the idea... As he continued to clean my hand.

Good thing I had a high pain tolerance.

"This is gonna hurt by the way."

Eh?

He picked up the spray and opened the cap. He poured some of its contents onto a wet handkerchief and passed me a pillow to bite on.

"Nahh. I don't need it." I was rather proud of myself.

He sniggered and pressed rubbed the cloth on my hand.

I would now like to remove my earlier statement about my high pain tolerance.


"Yeah I'm fine mom. Yeah. Mmhmm... My phone was dead. I went to a friend's house to charge it. Mmhmm. Yeah... Worst wants to come pick me?! No thanks. I can make my way back on my own. Yeah... Okay... Bye!"

I sighed as I ended my call to my worried parents.

Kano was standing by the stove cooking noodles and still trying to stifle his laughter.

"What's so funny Kano?"

"Well... Heh. I liked how you said you had a high pain tolerance."

I started to blush.

"I DO!"

"But you screamed like... Hahahah... You screamed like a banshee! HAHAHAHA"

I'm never gonna live this down am I?

Haiz.

"Okay! Foods done." Kano slid a bowl of noodles with some random stuff thrown in.

It looked scary.

"Whats this?"

It was dry noodles, with some weird looking vegetables and egg and meat?

"Noodles, cabbage, egg, spinach, and some chicken cubes from last night."

It was just as disgusting as it sounded.

He grinned. "Just try it! Touma and the others love it. His sister Index comes over when she's free just to eat this."

Begrudginy, I forced myself to pick up some of it with my chopsticks. I made a face and glanced at him to make sure that it was edible.

He was fully engrossed with his food and didn't bother looking at me.

What did you expect him to do? Smile and say 'go on!'?

I gulped and ate a mouthful.

This is good. Surprisingly.

He was staring at me now and grinning. "Good eh?"

I glared at him and forced out a compliment.

"It's... Nice."

"Hahahah there you go! The wonders of using nearly expired food. I learnt the skill from Touma and modified it with some fresh things to make it taste better."

He seems rather proud of himself. Good for him.


"You'd better stop here. I don't want my family to know I was staying with a boy."

"Sure! No problem. Bye!"

"Bye."

Kano had accompanied me to the park near my home like last time.

Without any drama this time if you were wondering.

I looked at his disappearing figure and smiled.

I was looking forward for tomorrow.

We were going to watch his childhood friend Uomi's match. He was pretty excited about it so I guess it would be an exciting match.

=======Five minutes later=======

"I'm home..."

Eh?

When I had opened the main door, an amusing sight welcomed me.

Worst and Last Order were lying on the floor, sleeping while the twins were leaning on each other while sitting upright and were also sleeping.

Had they stayed up late just to wait for me to come home?

"Yuri, where have you been? Look at your sisters. They were waiting for you since eight!" My father whispered loudly while scratching the piercing on this cheek.

My mom dismissed him with a wave of her hand and picked up Last Order who was sleeping on Worst.

"Shiage, help me get them to their rooms. Yuriko. Take a bath and go to sleep too."

I smiled gratefully for her help and was responded by a sleepy smile from her.

Rushing to my room, I flopped onto my bunk bed and lay down, memories from earlier still running through my mind like a movie.

I still didn't believe that they were actually real...

Until I hit my bandaged hand on the wall when I swung my arms around in a bid to adjust myself. The throbbing pain ran through my arm as if to tell me that those memories were real.

I looked around the room while adjusting myself with my arms into a more comfortable position.

Worst's bunk bed was surprisingly clean. No dirty clothes on it. Normally, her old clothes and underwear would be arranged in a nest on her bed. Mikoto and Misaka shared the top bunk and it was converted into a mini Gekota land. Last Order often joined them to play with the plush toys.

It's nice to see that everything else was going on like normal despite the mess that was my head having all kinds of problems.

My thoughts were interrupted when my door burst open and my mom placed Last Order on the bunk above mine and my father pulled Worst to hers opposite mine.

Misaka and Mikoto groggily pulled themselves into the room, mumbling a 'You're finally home Onee-chan' and 'goodnight' to us as they flopped on their bed.

"Night girls." "Love you." My parents closed the door slowly.

I smiled and returned the gesture. "Love you Dad... Mom..."

They smiled left the room to go to sleep as well.

After a minute or so, I too, fell asleep.


A.N. weeeee I had a performance yesterday and I was so hyped that I couldn't sleep so I wrote this through the night. and I edited and posted it today XD

I tried to make it as emotional as I could... I dunno if I did it well. And as the past few chapters were about Yuriko and Kano becoming friends, I wanted Yuriko to break out of her shell to show her caring side (hence the story name) to Kano. Don't worry, she will still be her usual snarky self when in public but when she gets some private time with Kano... Heheheh.

I hope you guys liked it and I hope to get some feedback. Be it positive or negative. I like both. They help me improve. Except flames. I hate them.

I may try to write a lemon in the future...? Maybe after chapter ten or something. I'm not sure. It will be published as a separate story though. I don't wanna change this story's rating.

Plus, my sister also told me that after I'm done with this story, I should make another version. Pretty much a GIANT one shot which is a compilation of ALL the chapters which will be re-written for quality purposes. But it wont happen soon cos I'm sure it will be a while before I finish this story and a longer while till my writing improves.

Sooooo yeah! Thanks for reading through my A.N. and my story and I hope any if you readers will review or fav or follow. It's a huge morale boost =D