"Mai." The girl heard a faint voice. "Come on, we are here." She felt a hand stroking her hair probably trying to get her awake. Mai opened her eyes slightly to see Ayako leaning into the car. Mai reached out her hand as she felt she needed help to get up and out of the car. "I feel dizzy." She murmured. Ayako sighed. "This will take a while."
"Can you step aside?" Naru asked. He and Ayako then swapped places. He took Mai's arms and placed them around his shoulder. "Hold on tight." He then proceeded to carry her out of the car. "Naru… I can walk." She tried to protest. The boy gave her a dead glare. "I'm quiet now." She said looking down. "Good." Naru then carried her into the hospital. Ayako closed the car doors and just before she was about to follow her boss she noticed Madoka in the front seat holding her phone up. "He will kill you, you know that right?"
Madoka smirked. "Nah. Still, worth it."
Ayako rolled her eyes and as the two cars drove off she headed into the building.
"So, what happened?" The doctor asked. "She was hit with a baseball on the school ground yesterday." Naru explained. "Yesterday?" The man questioned. Naru knew he should've taken her to the hospital earlier. He couldn't understand why he didn't think of it. "Yes, she fainted and was brought to the infirmary. She was dismissed after she woke up." Ayako kept explaining. The doctor nodded her head. "And you are…" He stopped to take a closer look at Ayako. "Her mother?"
'Close enough.' The Miko thought. "No."
"A family member?"
She shook her head.
He then turned to Naru. The boy shook his head as well. The doctor sighed. "Then I'm afraid you will have to leave."
Ayako knew this would be coming. She was ready to leave the room. "I'm afraid I can't do that." Naru said suddenly.
"Sir, I know you are worried but unless you are a family member, her fiance or boyfriend, you can't stay." The doctor explained. He seemed to be sick of this phrase. Ayako imagined how many times a day he had to deal with people like Naru. "Naru, come one, let's wait outside." She tried to convince the stubborn boy.
"I am." Naru stated.
"Excuse me?" Ayako and the doctor asked at the same time.
"I am her boyfriend. Can you continue now?" He asked.
The Miko's eyes winded.
"If that's the case we can start as soon as the lady leaves the room." The man said, looking at Ayako. Still, in shock, she nodded and closed the door after she left. She then instantly realized Naru simply lied to stay in the room. He got her fooled. Just for a second...but still.
The woman waited outside until the examination was done. When Naru and Mai came out of the room the girl looked a little more alive than before. "They said she has a slight concussion." Naru spoke first. "She might get occasional headaches or feel dizzy for the next two weeks."
"They asked if I wanted to stay overnight just in case it would get worse." Mai added obviously not thrilled about this idea. "You're staying." Naru ordered making the girl sigh. "Am I supposed to go to school straight from the hospital?" She asked. Naru stared at her. "No, you're taking a day off tomorrow."
"I hate you." Mai pouted.
"You sure do." Naru answered.
"I will text Takigawa and tell him to bring Mai something to sleep in. We can then return with him." Ayako cut into the conversation.
"You will. I'm staying here." Naru corrected.
"What?" The two of the girls said at the same time. "Is that even allowed?" Mai asked. "You've been drifting off so you don't know but Naru told the doctor he is your boyfriend so…" Ayako explained for her. Mai looked at Naru with mixed feelings. "And here I thought you threatened the doctor to stay in the room. You could have just waited outside." She stated.
"No, someone had to stay with you."
At that point, Ayako went outside of the building. She decided to call Takigawa instead of texting.
"I am not five, Naru."
"Well, you sure behave like you are."
"I'm not gonna let it get to me. I don't have the energy and I know you don't mean it."
"A five-year-old you would probably be pretty cute, annoying but cute."
"So I am not cute right now?" Mai asked jokingly, trying to hide her blushing cheeks. The boy looked at her and simply smiled. "Like a wild monkey." He added making the girl frown. The two of them then started walking towards the exit. Mai guessed Naru needed some fresh air. "I'm sorry I forgot the only thing you find attractive is your reflection." She comments walking slightly behind the boy. Naru then suddenly stopped and turned around. He leaned forward. "Is it really?" He whispered in Mai's ear before once again turning around and continuing walking. "I hate you." Mai said. Naru smirked. "You sure do."
"He will be here in about 30 minutes." Ayako said once Mai and Naru reached her. She was sitting on a bench in a small park on the side of the building. It was already dark outside and the street lights were turned on. The both of them nodded in response. "How are you feeling, Mai?" The woman asked standing up. "I'm good. I got some painkillers from the doctor. Um...Ayako?" Mai was confused as the woman suddenly hugged. "You always make us all worry." She stated. It felt like she could finally relax. The Miko herself didn't even notice how tense she was all this time. "I'm sorry." Mai whispered as she hugged back. "Don't be. We should have protected you better."
"Protecting me is not your job."
"Yes, it is. We are your family, remember?"
Suddenly a cough interrupted them. "Do you feel excluded, Naru?" Mai teased.
"Not at all." He answered. "I simply had to cough."
"I bet you are jealous because you can't hug Mai like that." Ayako joined the younger girl in the teasing.
"I'm pretty sure I just told you I had to cough. Also, I do not feel the need to hug anybody. I think you are doing just fine in emotionally supporting Mai."
Mai started laughing. "Naru, you don't need to lie. I can give you a hug if you need one." She said letting go of Ayako and slowly approached Naru. The boy took a step back. "No need." The girl moved forward. "It's fine really." She tried not to laugh. "Mai, could it be that you simply want to hug me? You don't need to make excuses." Naru tried to turn the situation around. "Sure, why not." Mai kept grinning thinking how uncomfortable Naru would be if she hugged him. Wrong. Naru sight and allowed the shorter girl to hug him. Mai didn't expect him to hug her back but he did. Mai smiled. "Thank you for worrying about me." She said. "I don't." He responded. Mai thought if she should post out he literally carried her into the hospital. Nah. "You sure don't." She answered.
"Well, now I feel excluded." Ayako cut in.
Mai started laughing as she let go of the boy and hugged the Miko once again. "Sorry."
Thank you for all the comments. I love reading them. Don't worry I didn't forget about John and Masako.