"Are you certain you have everything with you, Yumi?" Sachiko asked as she double checked whether she'd packed all sets of clothes and hygiene essentials she would need.

Yumi sighed as she took a careful look, examining every item she'd packed until she was certain that everything she would need had been put into her bag. She then turned around and nodded, crossing her arms and glaring slightly when Sachiko gave her a doubtful look. In the end, Yumi had forgotten to pack her toothbrush.

The two had laughed whole-heartedly at that situation and were talking amiably among reach other when a concerned Rei passed through the, not even bothering to greet them. Yumi shot Sachiko a concerned look who only nodded and went after her friend. Once she'd managed to reach Rei who was sitting at a bench, scrolling through her phone worriedly, Sachiko sighed and decided to intrude slightly:

"I don't mean to be imposing, but has anything happened, Rei?"

Her best friend was startled, and when she lifted her bangs and Sachiko noticed her flushed face and red eyes her concern grew tenfold.

"Y-Yoshino she…" Rei choked and added vaguely,"She's not okay, Sachiko… far from it actually."

Sachiko gave her friend a bewildered look. She'd known her best friend's cousin had been rather sickly when she was younger, but never went to the point of actually causing so much distress everywhere. At this point it seemed something horrible had happened.

"Does Shimako know? Is that why we haven't seen either of them the past week?"

Rei nodded as she accepted Sachiko's embrace," They're both in the hospital."

"Why aren't you with them?" Sachiko questioned before Rei broke down and Sachiko cursed herself internally for hurting her friend more.

"B-because I can't stand looking at her like that."

"What exactly happened, Rei?" Sachiko asked, sensing that her friend needed to let it all out.

Rei merely shook her head and whispered, "The heart surgery has not been as successful as we thought. The doctors are doing everything they can, but…" She then locked eyes with Sachiko and added," They're not sure if she will be able to live a normal life… I became so frustrated that I lashed out and caused a scene. Yoshino became mad as well and was so distressed that we had a fight, lashing out at one another like no tomorrow and then she kicked me out…"

Sachiko's eyes widened as she let out a gasp.

'Oh no…' She thought as she tried to console her best friend.

"I've always wanted to go to Rome, Paris, see the world." Yoshino stated as she visitations had ended. Her parents had gone home to get changed and Shimako was the only one left there. Yoshino was grateful that Shimako had yet to break down in front of her. It was awfully selfish she thought, but she needed Shimako to be strong, so that she could remain tear-free as well. She wanted for people to see her smiling and calmer face rather than the distressed and teary-eyed version of it.

"You always can fulfill it. After you get out of here I mean." Shimako answered.

Yoshino smiled sadly. The chances of that happening were slim to none. There were different treatments she could try yes, but nothing guaranteed whether she'd be able to endure going out every day, traveling via plane… handle the complications which came with different time-zones, climates etc. She would have to live a sheltered life. A sheltered life though was better than no life.

She'd remembered Rei's words before. Before operation was even mentioned, she always reminded Yoshino that the girl should be grateful she was a live. Yoshino was, in fact, she loved every bit of it, but there were just some times, times like this one, when she had to undergo another heart surgery to correct some mistakes which had been made during the previous one and hopefully promise her a normal life that she felt like screaming.

Yoshino knew it was stupid to have take out her frustration at Rei. Her cousin loved her and was worried about her, she'd looked after her all those years after all. Still at this time Yoshino needed someone to become her punching bag, a rock she could vent her frustrations onto and Rei had just been there, she'd always been there.

Shimako, on the other hand, was the rock she could lean on, rest her head and cry until there was no tomorrow. Before Rei had fit both parts, right now it seemed as though Yoshino's girlfriend had taken one of them. Yoshino knew that Rei was slightly jealous of it ,the quick way the closeness between the two had grown. In spite of that knowledge, Yoshino abused her power over Rei, threw tantrums and treated her cousin like for lack of better term shit so because she knew her relationship with Rei could handle it.

She and Shimako, on the other hand, were still fresh - a couple of months in - and it would be risky revealing her entire self to her yet. At least that was what Yoshino thought and she could not have been wronger. Shimako would've accepted her, temper tantrums, insecurities, ugly tears, dazzling smiles, dashingly beautiful gazes and captivating touches, the ability to read between the lines and seemingly know whenever something was amiss with others, especially those she was in tune with. . . Shimako loved it all, she just had yet to say so and perhaps rightfully so as a small part of her that Yoshino would always remain someone else's or at least a part of her heart would always belong to someone else.

"There is nothing to worry about, Yoshino. I am sure that this time luck will be on your side." Shimako stated as she embraced her girlfriend who smiles gratefully and interlaced their fingers. Shimako kissed Yoshino on the forehead who soon welcomed the warmth of the body she knew all too well.

"I want to see Yoshino-san." Yumi stated once Sachiko had filled her in of the matter at hand. She'd had no other choice. Yumi had gone searching for her and found her and Rei cuddled up. Rei had fallen asleep on Sachiko's shoulder. Yumi had gazed at them suspiciously and after she'd helped Sachiko carry her best friend to the nurse's office she'd demanded to know what was going on. Naturally Sachiko obliged, wishing to not have a misunderstanding going on between them and thinking that Yumi had a right to know what was going on with her friend and why she was absent from school.

"I know, Yumi, and I want the same. Still I believe it would be better for this situation to be handled by the family only. We will drop by and visit her after the operation. Meanwhile we will support her in our thoughts and prayers."

"Sachiko…" Yumi protested weakly. She knew her roommate was right. In spite of that Yumi felt a part of her should show how much she cared and was worried about her friend or at least give her due share of the moral support system.

"You could always call her, Yumi." Sachiko suggested, shaking her head once Yumi beamed at her and nodded. Sachiko sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. This situation was so bizarre. She could not believe a couple of hours ago she and Yumi were planning on visiting her family and now they were worried about their cost friend undergoing heart surgery.

'She'll be fine.' The two repeated like a mantra in their heads on their way to the Fukuzawa residence.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.