At first Tsugumi was hesistant to leave without bringing Ayase with her but eventually gave up and let her stay with Shu a little longer.
His face was pale and soft, yet so cold and far away. Her fingers travel his cheek until her thumb feels the corner of his mouth, this undying feeling inside her pains her everyday. She knows that there is only one thing that Shu longs for.
She rests her hand on the side of his bed for a moment, then brushes his forehead and, after a hesitant moment, kisses it. Ayase has been in love with Shu for as long as she can remember. When Shu thought he lost everything, at least Ayase knew she would always be there for him whether he wanted it or not.
Never had she ever felt so free when she was with him, the days she spent living alone were hard for her to handle. She was so unhappy and self-hatred overwhelmed her.
To live without legs was scary, and she lived trying to endure that fear for the longest time. It wasn't until Shu drew her void that she was able to feel so complete with her legs. Her void, as she had once said, was her heart. And Shu gave her that heart.
Although it was like that for a while, she learned to live without a void and easily found a new way to heal. Shu became the biggest part of her without realizing it.
Even though her feelings were so strong, she knew she could only watch him from afar. Her feelings for Shu were just as strong as Shu's feelings for Inori, and she respected that. Ayase thought that it haunted Shu everyday, to live in the nightmares of the day that Inori died.
Her crystallized body that shattered as he accepted the Cat's Cradle.
Ayase recalls the time when he woke up in tears to that dream. Almost every night he would call her asking for comfort and she could only silently watch as it happened. What makes matters even worse is that Shu isn't that much of the crying type, unless push comes to shove.
"Here he is now, looking lifeless, even though he's just right here beside me."
She sits back and wipes her face. Tsugumi and Souta left just a while ago, but Ayase felt the need to stay by his side. After all, that's how Shu always was when it came to her. She takes another good look at him. He adorns a hospital gown, and she notices the evident changes his body went through. Despite the male's blindness, his body is quite fit and in shape, it especially showed after his rehab. It's been a few years after the fourth 'Lost Christmas' and Shu looks a lot more mature. His hair is the same but his build became much more masculine, Ayase thought.
Suddenly the door opens violently as Haruka runs in and tries to catch her breath. "A-Ayase-san? How is he?" Haruka asks. She walks up to the sleeping Shu in deep guilt.
"He's...in a coma." Ayase says, as the aura of the room becomes even more sad.
After the fourth 'Lost Christmas' taxes in Japan increased incredibly, due a population decline and difficulties in politics, Japan was totally rebuilt. One significant change was the medical institution in Japan. Medicines became much more effective, but also very limited in supply, especially without the support of the UN, Japan returned to how it once was, but on much lower standards than it used to be. Haruka remains as a scientist, but no longer in the hands of the GHQ. She was lucky enough to keep the apartment they lived in, but there were also a lot of difficulties that she faced before attaining the usual lifestyle they had.
Haruka clenches tightly on her purse, and takes a seat next to Shu. Ayase notices the despair in her eyes and can't help but be taken aback with emotions she tried to control just a while ago.
Minutes pass as the hurtful silence pierces their hearts even further.
Ayase can't take it anymore. She closes her eyes. "I-I'll give you some alone time with Shu. Thank you for letting me visit him." She thanks Haruka, barely making eye contact with her.
Haruka nods but keeps her eyes directed at Shu. Her face is clearly showing she can barely supress the tears falling out of her eyes. Ayase exits the room and decides to head home. She lives in an apartment complex just a few blocks away from the hospital, which is quite beneficial for her as her wheels can only take her so far.
The night is still young when Ayase heads outside, and she quietly returns to her apartment complex.
"Ah, Aya-nee, that was quick." Tsugumi says as Ayase enters the apartment. "Oh, by the way, Souta's gonna sleep over."
"Don't worry, i won't do any weird stuff. Tsugumi and I are just gonna play around with her new gadgets. I'm gonna head over to Shu's tomorrow as well."
"Do as you wish." Ayase states, exhausted. She opens the door to her room and shuts it quietly, suspending the noise from the other room.
"She gone?" Souta eyes towards Tsugumi.
"Yup." Tsugumi says, peeking at the back to check. Tsugumi then opens up a large screen TV and connects it with her computer. "Okay, everything's hooked up. I've created an application that can pinpoint his location and contact information. All there's left is for you to talk to him."
Souta gulps his throat. "Okay, okay. Here goes nothing. G-Give him a call."
Tsugumi then proceeds to enter and search for his contact information.
"Oka-"
"W-wait, i'm not mentally prepared..you know, he's actually pretty crazy and all.." Souta interrupts.
"Do it or i'll go with plan B."
Souta laughs unnaturally "Uhh..Plan B it is."
Tsugumi glares at Souta dissapointed. "I didn't attain all this information for you to pussy out..but i guess i have no choice." Tsugumi exhales. She proceeds with the call, and within seconds someone answers. Tsugumi opens up the options menu on her screen and enables a voice enhancer.
"Who the hell is this? Calling so damn late at night."
"Listen, i'll be straightforward with this. You have something that I want, and you're going to give it to me."
"HA?"
Tsugumi smirks. A desired response.
"Daryl Yan, former lieutenant of the GHQ, currently in 'Love Love Hotel' with a close mistress of a famous business corporation. Shall I tell you more?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"That is not important. I need you to deliver 10 million yen, whatever method, cash preferred."
"..." Silence ensued from the irritated blonde.
"I have just finished downloading every picture you've ever taken on your phone. They can easily fall into the hands of the wrong people."
"This is really cheap of you, you know. What do you think of me? A pervert?! When I find you I will kill you without mercy."
"Ugh...Seriously? That all you got pig-brain?"
A sigh of relief escapes Daryl's mouth.
"Is this Tsugumi?...It is, isn't it? Jeez. Seriously? How pitiful." He sighs on the phone. "If you want money that bad you could have just asked me. You know it all just comes down to that one circumstance that I've placed on you."
"Since when did you think I could converse with you so casually? It's really weird of you, since you act like a such a pretty-boy prince."
"Why you little! You should be flattered I even asked you anyways!"
"Like hell would I act as your damn girlfriend in front of your family, especially when you do such shameless things like take middle-aged married women to 'Love Love' Hotels!"
"What the hell? That's a misunderstanding, I'm just picking up a contract from my aunt who happens to be in this hotel!"
"Tch, what a lame excuse. How scandalous."
"I told you! It's not like that!"
Souta laughs in the background as the two undergo what seems to be a Lover's Quarrel.
"Tsugumi, I'll give you the money you need as long as you do this one favor for me. This crazy old man wants me to marry his daughter and I just can't stand it anymore."
"..."
"...please?"
"F-fine."
"Good. I'll pick you up at your home tomorrow and I'll hand over the money. Oh, and wear something nice."
As Tsugumi hangs up the phone Daryl barely makes out the sound of Souta excitingly teasing Tsugumi in the background.
Ever since Daryl resigned from the GHQ, he and Tsugumi have become much closer. Daryl still is not quite settled without his position as Lieutenant, and it became very clear to Tsugumi he's missing something important to him. After a while she realizes that behind his rough exterior, exists a kind heart deep down. It's come to a point where they both properly acknowledge each other. Their friendship has grown over the years. The pain of their past has scarred them, but they continue looking forward.
This is something that has set everyone apart from Shu. Slowly but surely they were beginning to forget, but as for him, things were different. Shu's blindness put time at a pause for him in a special way. Since he cannot see the change, he refuses to believe it. He stays at a time where he and Inori exist together, and painfully wakes up to reality for a short period of the day, every single day.
Others watch as he lives everyday still not maturing, still not over the day of the lost GHQ. They sometimes question his sanity but always support him throughout.
Little did they know he was venturing out to a serious fight that stored the souls of precious comrades lost during the time of the Guilty Crown.