Haruhi sat down on a bed as she listened to the shower running. Takashi pulled himself onto his bed and studied the girl. Almost as if she could tell he was looking, she glanced over and smiled at him. He instantly noted that the smile wasn't a hundred percent happy, and he frowned. "Takashi-san, I'm kind of jealous of the twins."

"Why?" he questioned his frown deepening. She laughed lightly.

"Kaoru can hear and Hikaru can speak again..." she tugged at the sleeves of her shirt and shifted her head so she was looking down. He reached across the space between the beds and patted her knee. A serious look crossed her face and she grabbed his hand. "If I could see again, I would love too. I'm sure an ex-Kendo champion would love to be able to walk again, correct?"

Takashi went silent, staring at Haruhi. "I thought you said you wouldn't care if you could see again," he asked, thousands of questions running through his mind. Haruhi squeezed his hand lightly.

"I said that because I don't want you guys worrying about me for anything, I could easily get my eye sight back...if I had enough money," she swallowed lightly, and shook her head with a smile. He shifted his hand so he was holding hers, giving her a comforting squeeze. With that question answered, he immediately went to the next question on his mind.

"How did you know I was a Kendo champion?"

"Stop avoiding the question," Haruhi demanded, shaking her head. "Would you want to be able to walk again?" It was silent for the longest time. So long, in fact, that she was beginning to think he wasn't going to answer. Eventually he grunted in confirmation. She smiled weakly at him and squeezed his hand. "There are some great surgeons around the world who would be able to do surgery for you so you can walk again-"

"I can't," he whispered quietly. Haruhi was startled by the fact that he had whispered instead of outright said it. She stood up and shifted to the opposite bed, sitting beside him and placing a hand on his shoulder in comfort. Their hands still intertwined.

"Why not? Don't tell me you're afraid because we both know you'd be lying," she spoke softly, rubbing his back lightly. "Be honest."

There was more silence; the sound of the showering running was the only sound in the room. Eventually Takashi shook his head and sighed. "I can't leave him here, I wouldn't be able to stay and he'd be alone...I failed my duty to protect him once, I'm not letting that happen again," he spoke firmly. Looking over at the girl beside him. Her lips pursed before she sighed. Mitsukuni wouldn't leave because Takashi couldn't leave, and Takashi wouldn't leave because he thought Mitsukuni couldn't leave. If they were just honest with each other, this wouldn't have happened.

"What...what if he was doing better in his therapy?" she questioned, squeezing his hand lightly. "What if he could leave? Would you consider it then?"

"Yes," he spoke confidently but sighed, "He hasn't been doing better."

Haruhi noticed the shower had stopped running a minute or so back. Takashi hadn't yet and kneaded his eyes with the heels of his hands. The door to the bathroom opened, and Mitsukuni shuffled out. Looking down at his feet. "Takashi..." he trailed off, making the man's head snap up to him. "I am doing better," Mitsukuni spoke and walked over. Tears evident in his eyes. "I didn't want to leave because I caused this. You were injured because of me and I couldn't let you be alone after that!" he sobbed and threw his arms around his cousin. Haruhi smiled softly at this, Takashi rubbed his cousins back. Incredibly bemused with the situation. "Haruhi knew about it, but I made her promise not to tell you!"

"How long?" there was a bit of anger and hurt in Takashi's voice. Haruhi glanced away, feeling bad.

"I noticed that he was acting odd for someone who was supposed to be thinking like a young child. He was acting like an adult being a child..." she trailed off, "When we went to 'get something' from my room."

Takashi was silent, staring between the two of them. Things were starting to make sense. Why they hung out alone, why the two of them seemed so much more relaxed after those moments alone. Mitsukuni was free to drop the act and she could tell him things that she knew he wouldn't tell anyone else, least they figure out that he was doing better. He was amazed by the awareness of the female.

"Takashi, are you willing to walk again?" she asked softly, tilting her head. He was silent.

"I have to think about it-"

"Why!" Mitsukuni shouted, looking angry. "You don't have to hold back anymore! You can return to normal!"

"Mitsukuni," Takashi scolded, patting the man's head. "It's a big decision."

"It's a great decision to say yes to," Haruhi pointed out, "There's no reason for you to stay here."

"Isn't there?" Takashi asked quietly, looking at Haruhi. She was silent for the longest time, Mitsukuni looked between the two.

"Takashi, the reason you want to stay here is because you don't want to leave Haru-chan alone?" he asked, spot on. Takashi nodded slightly.

"That's a stupid reason," Haruhi scoffed, shaking her head. "I want you to get better."

"If I get my surgery, we won't see each other."

"I've never seen you."

They were silent and Takashi nodded. That he knew. "Then I'll pay for your eye surgery."

Haruhi stood up, placing her hands on her hips. "You will do no such thing. If you don't go for that surgery because of me, then I swear I will stop being your friend!" she spoke firmly and turned around. Snatching her cane up and leaving. Mitsukuni sighed and patted his cousin on the head. He was well intentioned; he just needed to get his head in the right place.

-X

Takashi saw Haruhi talking to Mitsukuni and a girl. The girl was from the dance the other day. He headed over immediately. There was no coincidence now. Mitsukuni knew the girl. Said boy turned to Takashi when he got closer and waved with a grin. "Takashi, Takashi! Meet Kanazuki Reiko!" he waved a hand towards the girl. "Reiko~! It's lunch, let's go and get something to eat!"

Before anyone could say another word, the Black Magic club member was dragged away by the Lolita Host. Haruhi stood there, twirling her cane in her hand and staring in Takashi's direction. "She's his girlfriend, mild autism, nice girl, antisocial though, as expected with autism."

"I wasn't going to-"Takashi started but Haruhi waved a hand with a smile.

"I know you," she patted his head like he would do. "Have you decided yet?"

Takashi sighed, "I will talk to my parents about it."

She smiled widely at him. "That's great-"

"If you promise we'll continue being...friends after," he added, looking up at her. She paused and snorted.

"I didn't think we would stop," she explained before tapping her wrist. He told her the time and she nodded. "Let's get some lunch."