"Harada-kun, Nagakura-kun, I also have a question about this special patient in room 109. The one being hidden from the Chief Physician."

Shinpachi coughed, choking on his burger, looking up at the Chief Physician. He wore a strained smile that looked rather gentle at first glance, but there was something else behind it, something that many of his friends and colleagues had come to fear. Sanosuke paled, hearing the voice behind him.

"Well, Harada-kun? Nagakura-kun?"

"S-S-Sannan-sensei!" Shinpachi finally caught his breath. "…Whatever do you mean?" His voice shook a bit, suddenly losing his appetite.

Keisuke took a seat next to Shinpachi, knowing he was the easier target to get answers out of. "Well, then, Nagakura-kun, should I hear it from you, or find out for myself?"

Sanosuke sighed, knowing they were defeated. There was no other choice than to explain what was going on to Sannan-sensei.

—

Chizuru wiped her eyes with a tissue. "Okita-san…I'm sorry I blew up on you like that." She let her emotions spin out of control and she took it out on him, (perhaps rightfully so).

"Hajime-kun explained to me a bit about your relationship." He stared out the window. "I'll admit I might have pushed you too far, Chizuru-chan…" He paused, his voice going quieter, "and I'm sorry for that."

"Thank you, Okita-san."

Neither of them knew what to say to each other, resulting in an awkward silence.

Luckily (or maybe unfortunately), for them, the door interrupted their silence and gave them something to do.

"How…Fascinating." His hazel eyes observed Souji.

Chizuru immediately stood up and bowed politely. "Sannan-sensei!"

"Good day, Yukimura-kun. I've come to meet our special case." Keisuke walked closer to the bed. "Okita-kun, I presume? I've already heard the gist of your situation, but I'd like to hear it from you."

Now, this is one person Souji never messed with. Sannan-san may look like a soft-spoken man, but he was the scariest out of all the Shinsengumi, he didn't doubt that it was the same in this time period. "Nice to meet you too, Sannan-san."

—

"I see…" Keisuke mused, his chin resting on his hand. "I have several theories for this, but I believe there is one possibility that seems to make the most sense to me." He paused, looking over at Yukimura-kun. Her romantic relationship with the Okita-kun from their time had helped him come to this conclusion. "This Okita-san, from Edo, contracted tuberculosis, therefore, I assume his lifespan was not meant to very long." He looked apologetically at Okita-kun, pushing up his round glasses up the bridge of his nose. "And the Okita-kun from our time was healthy, most likely meant to live a full life out."

"What do you mean by this, Sannan-sensei?" Chizuru was unsure as where he was going with this explanation.

He smiled lightly at her. "Our Okita-kun was supposed to live his life with you, Yukimura-kun, but he did not have a chance to do so." He gestured to Okita-kun. "So, it seems the universe, or fate, if you would like to call it that, has brought this Okita-kun to our future to live his life here. I understand that it lacks scientific finesse, but I believe it is the only reason to justify his presence during our era. It seems that history has remained unchanged due to Okita-kun's early death from tuberculosis in the past."

"So, Sannan-san, you're saying that my reason for being here is to be with Chizuru-chan?" Was the love that Chizuru and his future self so strong that the universe had brought him back to her because of that? How strange…and interesting.

"It essentially boils down to that, Okita-kun. It is merely speculation on my part." Keisuke stood up after checking the time on his designer brand smart watch. "I'm afraid I must leave you now, I have a meeting with the board in Kondō-san's place today."

Chizuru stood up to bow and sat back down when he had exited.

Sannan-san had given them a lot to think about with his theory. Souji plopped down in bed, his arms behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. "Ne, Chizuru-chan, what do you think about what Sannan-san said?"

Jade green eyes glanced over at her the longer she remained quiet. He didn't press her, he just waited.

"…I think Sannan-sensei is right. I think it is fate." She looked down at her shoes. "You're not my Souji, but…you're like him. You could never replace him, but…" There could be something more here.

"Hmm, I wonder if he's right. What if I'm here for a different purpose?"

"We'll just have to see, then." Chizuru stood up to stretch her legs. "It's past lunchtime, I'll bring us something to eat."

Souji closed his eyes, only humming in response.