Chapter 21: Comfused

"... I hope Aichi wakes up soon"

The peach haired girl whispered softly as she leaned against her brother's hospital bed.

"Same, I need to apologize for not noticing how much pain he was in..."

Shizuka murmured half to himself, the brunette sighed inwardly to himself, guessing that the younger boy's caring nature came from his mother.

"He'll wake up when he's fully rested"

The brunette replied softly, causing both girls to look at him suspiciously.

"Kai... Do you like my brother?..."

The peach haired girl asked, catching the brunette by surprise, jades gazed towards the resting blue haired boy for a second before meeting the blue eyes of Emi. He wasn't sure if he should tell, however he severely doubted that they would be rejected and hated due to how much care the two had shown towards the young boy.

"Yeah, he's a really kind and special person"

Blue eyes narrowed slightly before the young girl moved so that she was slightly in the brunette's face.

"I mean do you like him?"

The brunette closed his eyes before nodding silently, hoping that Aichi wouldn't be too angry about everything he's said so far.

The peach haired girl's shoulders slumped slightly as she let out a sigh.

"I guess I won't ever become a aunt..."

The brunette looked over towards the cyan haired mother to see her reaction, he was surprised to see her eyes shining with excitement.

"My Aichi is finally in a relationship, now I can tease him about it"

The brunette smirked, somehow not surprised about how the two took the news. Guessing that at the least he'd receive complaints from the blue haired boy due to his shyness.

Jades narrowed when he noticed that the blue haired boy's face was tinted a slight shade of pink. Concerned about a fever, the brunette placed a hand upon his forehead and was relieved and surprised to feel that it was not too warm.

"Aichi's awake"

The brunette sighed, causing the blue haired boy to cover his face with his blanket in embarrassment.

"Aichi why didn't you tell us!"

Emi called as she tried to take the blanket away from Aichi's face.

"How could I randomly say I'm awake in the middle of such an embarrassing conversation?..."

The smaller boy whispered softly with a faint blush.

"How do you feel?"

Kai asked and the smaller boy looked down and gripped the bed sheets gently with his hands.

"It hurts to breathe"

The brunette frowned slightly, though he had expected that the smaller boy would be in pain, that didn't mean he liked it.

"Anything else?"

The blue haired boy looked towards his mother and sister for a quick second before looking away, a slight pink tinge covering his face.

"Besides embarrassed? I guess I'm tiered"

The younger boy whispered softly.

"That's good, anyway why didn't you tell us?"

Sapphires looked at his mother in confusion, obviously not understanding what she was talking about.

"Tell you what?"

"That Saito was hurting you..."

The brunette winced slightly when he noticed that the younger boy's frame went rigid at the cyan haired mother's words, guessing that the small boy hadn't yet fully realized the situation that he was in.

"...what do you mean?..."

Jades glanced towards the ground, the feeling of shame of himself was an odd feeling to him.

"Kai told us about what happened..."

The peach haired girl replied as she gave the brunette a quick glance.

"..."

"..."

"I told you not to tell them..."

Aichi whispered darkly as sapphires glared fiercely towards the brunette.

"I... Had to... You needed a guardian for your operation..."

The brunette's voice felt weak to himself as he spoke.

"Operation...?"

The younger boy whispered half to himself before looking around, sapphires wide in realization.

"The police officer accidentally shot you in the chest... You almost died Aichi"

The brunette whispered softly.

"My dad is he-"

"Yes he's back in jail"

The smaller boy breathed a sigh of relief at the brunette's words and relaxed slightly in the bed.

"Good..."

"Aichi, why didn't you tell us? I could have gotten help"

Shizuka said as she clasped his hands within her own. Said boy gazed towards a ground, a thin frown crept upon his lips.

"I didn't want to worry or involve you guys..."

He whispered softly, causing light sighs to escape from the two girls.

"Aichi that plan kinda failed..."

The peach haired girl replied, the brunette was silent to allow things to be settled between the family.

"S-sorry..."

The blue haired boy apologized as he hung his head downward, the brunette was shocked when the cyan haired mother suddenly turned around and gazed at him intently while pointing a finger at him.

"And you, you should have ignored my son's wishes and immediately called for help."

"..."

Jades went wide at the sudden unexpected scolding, a kind smile appeared upon Shizuka's lips.

"Things could have been a lot more easy for the both of you if you just asked for help..."

"Sorry..."

"...Sorry..."

Both teens apologized towards the cyan haired mother who nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, you better be... We could have lost you Aichi..."

A small blush formed upon Aichi's face as his mother ruffled his blue hair gently.

"Ah... You're up quicker than expected..."

All heads turned towards the door to see a blond haired doctor enter the room.

"You're Aichi's doctor?"

The brunette asked as he and the others moved away from the blue haired boy to give the doctor some room.

"Yes, I'm Dr. Shinko but I prefer to be called Shinko"

The blond doctor replied as he strolled casually up towards the IV and checked it.

"Thank you for taking care of my son"

Shizuka said with a grateful smile, Shinko nodded towards her before frowning at the IV levels.

"He shouldn't be awake right now... The IV levels have barely been absorbed into Sendou Aichi..."

The doctor said as he wrote a few things down on his clipboard before turning towards the curious Aichi.

"I feel fine, when can I leave?"

The blue haired boy asked, earning him a glare from the brunette because Kai didn't want the smaller boy suddenly leaving the hospital soon after an operation of any kind.

"Mmmmm you may feel fine, but I doubt you're actually fine. You at least have to stay a week to recuperate. I'm seriously surprised that you're conscious after all the sleeping medication that was put into you to knock you out for the operation..."

"But..."

"No buts, you may feel fine but your body needs time to rest after everything that's happened. If you leave the hospital now, you'd probably collapse and fall on your face soon after"

The brunette looked over towards the younger boy to see that a small frown had made its way upon his lips, obviously not too pleased with the idea of having to stay in the hospital.

"I don't like hospitals..."

The doctor's gaze softened slightly as he let out a small chuckle.

"Not many people do"

"I'll visit you often if you'd like"

The brunette offered, his words turning the smaller boy's previous frown into a slight smile and a soft blush.

"O-okay..."

Emi turned away so that the two couldn't see her slight smirk at how the two interacted.