It's been about a whole day by now. We passed the time without too much trouble, simply enjoying the company of each other for the most part. We had nothing to do but await my approval and walk out of here. My legs weren't too hurt, so they worked fine. Yuri nonetheless made plently sure they had as much love and care as they needed to get better. I know she knows they're okay, but I think she's just looking for an excuse to touch me so long as she has the chance. Everyone did, actually. Not legs necessarily, but I noticed being touched way more this time than when Natsuki decommissioned me. Maybe all this has really done something to bring me closer to these girls. Natsuki obviously appreciates the rescue and care, Yuri has seen my true self, and Sayori is probably just glad to see everyone okay, but knowing what I did probably made her want to get closer to me now that she knows the lengths I'd go to for her and the others.

Perhaps she's been wanting to grow closer to me for longer than I had expected. I mean, ever since I joined this club she's been acting so... different. I'm not sure what it is, but waking up early, putting on makeup and taking pride in her looks, and even eating healthier just because I asked her to... Maybe I'm a little dense for not noticing it earlier. I guess we had been growing apart since the whole clubs thing, but joining her club seemed to do the trick for bringing us right back together. I'm glad, and she seems to be so too. Well, I'm datin- actually no. I'm in a relationship with Yuri, but... Natsuki has a piece of my love too. I'd never abandon Yuri like that, but perhaps Sayori could be the same way as Natsuki is right now. I'm sure Yuri would be okay, since we've been friends for so long anyway, right? Besides, there's no way Sayori could deal with Yuri being hurt if she ever tried to really steal me.

Anyway, the day passes with ease as we talk and play around (the best I can, anyway.) At one point, Sayori even brought in a beach ball to toss around. Are those even allowed in hospitals? Eh, we didn't care. Everyone was just happy to toss the ball to me. Every time. I tried to throw it as randomly as I could, but it's hard being the only one. Nonetheless, it's quality time and it beats being alone. We chat lightheartedly about what we can do as a club when we get back, what the kids at school will say when they see me, and other things too, like what we think will be for lunch the day I come back.

"Hey guys..." Natsuki mumbles all of the sudden. I catch the ball and hold it. "You think... What will happen to my house?"

"Well," Yuri holds up her intelligent finger. "When the bills aren't paid, it will most likely be repossessed by the bank of your father's choosing, and then... Well, nothing. You are now a permanent guest at casa de hoboes. I mean, unless you have some kind, handsome and lovely man to live with." She sits at my side and leans onto me. Natsuki huffs once more.

"That's right, Nat. You're going to be-"

"Woah! When did I EVER give you permission to call me 'Nat'?" She jams a finger into the bridge of my nose. I put up my hands defensively.

"Geez, sorry!" I say it exasperatedly, but put some sly moves onto it and look hurt. She tries to swallow some words. "I guess I'll just call you Natsuki then." She glances away, clearly regretful.

"Anyway. Ahem." I avoid looking at her. "Yeah, you're going to have to live with me, just like you have been. We can go back and get your stuff before the next bill cycle probably, so that should be nice for you."

"Uh, actually..." I raise an eyebrow. "You saw my room. It, uh, didn't have much. Or anything at all inside it, for that matter. You know."

Yuri gasps. "You didn't have a single thing? How horrid for a parent to be!" Sayori nods with an "Uh-huh" and a sympathetically pouty look. Natsuki nods and shrugs, as if it was normal for her.

"Well, I saw your closet. You had some clothes in there, and that's good news for me."

"Why? They're old."

"Oh, okay. Well, I guess I'll still have to buy those clothes from the store, which may not leave much cash left for your present..."

She gasps, thinking quickly. "B-But... no, wait! You're still on that!? I can't believe you...!" She crosses her arms with a light sneer. "After finding me, risking your life and almost losing it, you're still going to buy me a gift? How could you possibly be worried about that right now?"

"It's over. Look, for as long as Yuri is learning and doing good work, I have you to thank for it. This is no argument; as long as I have the ability, you're getting a gift, end of discussion."

"Hmph!" Haven't heard that in a while. "Fine, whatever. Waste your money. Hey- I'll only accept a gift if you buy one for Yuri too. She's your girlfr- uh, I mean, you never do anything nice for her! Don't waste yourself on me!" She's not even facing us now. I bet she's trying to hide a blush. Still, though, I have to give her credit. Not only was she correct, but she also saved face with that sick deflect.

"Well, sure I don't... I can't because I'm always too busy getting beaten up by pink-haired midgets all the time!" She stiffens out, arms and all. Unable to turn around because of her blush (which I must have guessed correctly about), she tries instead to steady her voice for a retort.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that... this time. You better be grateful." I hear her shaky sigh afterwards and I roll my eyes.

"Well, anyway. You can stay at my place, no problem. Just like Yuri- hey, wait a minute! Yuri, you haven't heard anything from your parents, have you?"

She tip taps her hands a bit. "N-No. Actually, my phone service was cut yesterday. I'm on my own..."

I jab her shoulder. "No, you're not!" A step back before she chuckles at the floor.

"R-Right..." A fist over her heart shows me her confidence has returned. Natsuki's, however, is only restarting itself as she turns around with some deep breaths.

"Well, don't expect me to take your stupid gift lying down! I'm going to make sure you never pull the 'I'm in your debt' card or anything!" Natsuki is almost shouting now.

"Natsuki..." Yuri steps over to console her friend. "You must understand... there's nothing at all wrong with him wanting to give you something nice for all you've done. Perhaps this is your chance to show him that you'd like to be friends by accepting it. After all, don't you want to be friends with the people you live with?"

... A sniffle is heard.

"Yuri... I... I can't accept it!"

"Wha- Natsuki..." Yuri looks taken aback at Natsuki's tears.

"I just can't, okay?" She wipes her runny nose with the uniform's sleeve and bolts out the door.

...

"W-Wh..." Yuri and Sayori are shocked, but I know what it is that's bothering her.

See, when Sayori had her first... ahem, "boyfriend" (hard to believe, I know), things went about as well as you would expect them to. With Sayori becoming so easily attached to random people all the time, it only makes sense she'd end up really falling for someone at some point. However, when that happened, she became really overbearing to him, and he wasn't used to her yet, so obviously, she got dumped in about two days. This, in turn, almost destroyed her usually bubbly personality for about a week before she recovered.

Why am I saying this? Simple, really. Realize that I tried to help her during that recovery week, so I got the full dose of it. Crying, wailing and- surprisingly- some hatred all filled my ears for 4 hours a day after school. And during school. And in the morning. Basically, all the time she complained about it. I knew what she was thinking because she's only ever talk to me about it... And what else did she talk about besides men being gigolos and players? Nothing, that's what. When she got dumped, it temporarily warped her perception of not only him, but of all guys as if they were the same as him. That's what I think is going on here. Natsuki doesn't want to accept anything from me because if she does, she believes I'll use it to my advantage or against her by holding it over her head because that must be how her father was. I can't imagine how Sayori felt during that time after her breakup, but when I think about Natsuki and her father... she lived her entire lifetime with him and his ways. What she must think of men... I don't know if I should talk to her yet, but if I ever can again, I better choose my words carefully.

I poke of Yuri. I know for a fact I can't go, let alone even get out of bed, so I'd better send a girl for increased comfort. Yuri's already her friend, so that should help too. I'd send Sayori, but I don't know if she can handle this. Yuri wrings her fingers with worry as she awaits my instruction.

"Alright, Yuri. She needs to be alone for a bit. You know where her room is, right?" She nods slowly. "Okay. Give her an hour to cool off and then go and talk to her about..."

"About what?"

"I'm thinking." I scratch my nose. Everyone shifts uncomfortably for a moment. "Okay, maybe you can go and tell her that I... No, how about you talk to her about how people are different."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... Uh, I mean that she probably has had some bad experiences dealing with the only man she's ever known." Yuri lets her face fall a bit. "I don't want her thinking I'm the same way, and I think me trying to push my gift onto her must have really aggravated that feeling. It's my fault, I know, but this isn't like it was when we went yesterday. Now that her father is dead, the barrier in her mind is broken. He never changed, so now the image of him demanding her and being manipulative is all she has left to remember him by. Well, that and a headless corpse... Either way, she can't live the rest of her life fearing people because of what he did. We have to... no... I suppose it's up to me to show her that people- men, specifically, I bet- can be trustworthy."

Yuri is tearing up a bit now, and I notice Sayori is, too. Without a word, they both sit down, starting the hour... now. I reach over the bed for the beach ball and toss it at Sayori, who lets it bounce off of her head.

"... Sorry."

"You're alright. That was out of place anyway."

...

I lean my bed back to the laying down position. I press the nurse call button and wait for a moment.

"Yes, sir? Did you need something?"

"Yes, I'd like to know my condition and when I might be able to walk again."

"Oh, I just realized I never told you! My apologies... Anyway, you have suffered multiple broken ribs, a collarbone and your sternum had to be reset... twice. But unlike your last visit, you're wearing a cast and not a brace. That should keep everything okay so that you'll be walking in three days, tops."

"Great. Thanks. Oh, and... could you bring us some menus? It's almost dinner time."

He nods and leaves.

"Oh, I know you guys probably aren't in any mood to eat, right?"

As soon as it's said, Sayori covers her stomach to hopefully hide its greedy grumble. Yuri does the same moments later. I chuckle futilely.


After dinner, I contemplate the talk I'll probably have with my parents when they finally come home from work about all these hospital bills.

My thoughts are interrupted, however, when a familiar soft and airy voice breaks the crumbling silence, telling me an hour has been up.

"Okay, Yuri. I guess it's your turn to shine. Do me proud, okay?" Although she looks as nervous as the day is long, I know she wants to do this, not just for Natsuki, but for her and my sake as well. How could we live with ourselves knowing we sent a helpless girl into the harsh world all alone? It sounds selfish considering she's in a much worse situation than we are, but it still stands to reason. And that reason I hope would help her to choose the right words and make Natsuki feel like she can expect different from me than the looming terror in her mind. By now, she's left and Sayori is gripping my hand so hard she's starting to get it quite sweaty.

All I can do now is wait.

And wait.

Maybe some more waiting couldn't hurt, right?

...

"Sayori."

"Huh? Oh, sorry." She lets go and wipes her hand on her jacket, and I do the same on my gown.

...

This is awful. If only I could at least go and eavesdrop on what could be happening...!

"Hey... I hate to sound maybe a little underhanded, but... Do you want me to go listen at the door for a sec?"

"Sayori, that's-! Well..."

"I'll do it if you really want..."

"I mean, I do, but I wouldn't condone it."

"So... no, then?"

"Let's let them just have it for now, okay?"

...

Not another word.

...

The ticking of the clock becomes loud.

"Sayori."

"S-Sorry..." She wipes her hand again, and I do mine.