[Disclaimer: I do not own any characters used in this story; Konosuba is property of Natsume Akatsuki and animated by studio Deen. The characters portrayed in this story are 18. Be warned: the following story is rated M for mature audience. Now, thanks for reading, and enjoy Chapter 5 of Konosuba: What the Heart Wants!]

The news of the tragedy involving Kazuma spread through Axel Town like wildfire. You would think that the hospital was some sort of hit spot for everyone to gather, as if there was some event being held there. But in all reality, it was just people that were actually concerned for the well-being of the young adventure that was being treated inside.

He was being held in the intensive care. The others were gathered in the waiting room, the atmosphere being a mix of gloom and worry. Megumin was practically out of breathe as she bursted into the room. She wore the same expression that the others had. Following behind her was Yunyun and Wiz.

"What room is he being held in?" She asks, obviously still in a state of panic. "Kazuma Sato. What room?!"

"Kazuma Sato is being held in the room at the far end, room 112. But I can only all--"

Before the nurse could even inform her of the rules centered around the visits, Megumin was already making a dash to the end of the hallway. Upon finding the room number, she flings the door open, only to notice that she wasn't the only one there. Sitting adjacent to his bed was Aqua. Darkness was also present, sitting near the door. Aqua was holding his hand as she sat there, her gaze being shifted towards the door as it was opened.

Kazuma was still unconscious as he was laying there. He seemed to be stable, judging by the monitor that was displaying his condition. Still, just seeing him in that state, Megumin felt her heart aching. To think something as tragic and random as a tree falling upon him was what put him here was utterly terrifying.

"They said they found him this morning," Darkness informs Megumin. "He managed to avoid being crushed completely, however, his legs were caught under the tree when they found him. He was in critical condition a while ago, but they managed to stabilize him before we got here."

"Thanks for letting me know, Darkness..." Megumin says.

Taking a seat on the right side of the bed, Megumin's gaze was fixed on Kazuma's resting visage. He looked so peaceful, unlike how hurt and perplexed he looked the night prior. She couldn't help but think that this was somehow her fault. Had she not been selfish and left the house, he wouldn't have come over to Yunyun's during that storm, and he wouldn't have gotten badly injured. All she was doing was thinking about herself and her own desires, unaware of the trouble she caused in doing so.

The guilt she was managed could only be expressed in the tears that were welling up in her eyes that soon slid down her cheeks.

"If only you hadn't got been so damn selfish..."

Megumin's gaze was soon shifted towards Aqua.

"If he hadn't gone to see you, he wouldn't be here."

"Hey, wait a minute, Aqua..." Darkness interjects.

"No!" She exclaims at Darkness. "The only reason why Kazuma wasn't happy was because she left! The only time that I finally got to have him to myself, she ruined it with your attitude and rudeness towards us! If it weren't--"

"Enough!" Darkness shouts, silencing the Goddess.

"This has gone on long enough! This fighting between you, the constant bickering--it stops now. Do you not see what you two have caused with your problems? Look at him!"

Megumin couldn't say a word. In a sense, she was right. If she had just been honest with herself and told Kazuma her true feelings, the outcome would've been different. She ran away due to her personal feelings, and she even got Yunyun involved, which was her own fault in the matter.

"I'm going outside to get some damn air," Aqua tells them, storming out of the room. Darkness soon followed, leaving Kazuma and her in the room. Silence soon fell upon the room soon after.

Kazuma awoke surrounded by darkness. With a pillar of light being focused on a wooden chair, he made his way over towards it, sitting upon it soon after. This sensation was familiar, like the times before. He was on the verge of dying.

"Just how many times must you visit me like this?" A voice asks him. He was well-aquainted with that female tone. It was the same voice that greeted him all the times he had been here. It was from the Goddess that gave him his second chance--and many chances after that--at life: the Goddess Eris. Another pillar of light was created before him, revealing her presence to him.

Her attire consisted of a purple and white one-piece hagoromo dress edged with yellow trimming; white stockings and purple, womans' dress shoes; and a purple coif that is worn upon her head. She had adorned her dress with a necklace that had a pink diamond-shaped jewel in the center. Her angelic appearance is only accentuated by her beautiful features and brilliant aura she emanated around her.

"My my, so we meet again, Kazuma. Such an unfortunate turn of events that have transpired since the last we saw each other."

"If I'm here, it must mean that I'm dying, right?"

"Correct."

"Great..."

The Goddess of Fortune steps before him. She had witnessed all the events that had occured, so she was aware of what he was going through. She was also aware of things that even he wasn't aware of, things that he needed to know.

"Everything is going to hell," he tells her. "and after last night, I just don't have enough strength to keep dealing with this. Maybe staying in the afterlife would be better..."

"I know you may think giving up is the best solution, but you'll be making a big mistake if you did," she comments. "Allow me to show you something..."

Gesturing for him to look into the darkness, Axel Town was then displayed like a projection. It was of the hospital, showing to him just how many people were present and gathered. Kazuma could see all their sadness and worry over him, something that he wasn't aware of. It eventually transitions to the room he was being held in, his body unconscious upon the medical bed. Megumin was the only one present in the room, holding his hand.

"I'm so sorry, Kazuma. I know you can't hear me, but I just want you to know how sorry I am for being so selfish. I just...when you're doing all those things with aqua...I just--I can't help but get jealous of her..."

Kazuma was in complete shock of what he was hearing. So this whole time she was jealous? He knew that him had feelings for him, but he always thought it was more on a plutonic level than anything. He didn't pursue it because he valued their relationships more than the world, yet he was willing to date Aqua. He resumed to watch as Megumin stands to her feet, her body leaning forwards. Her face was hovering just inches above his own. There was a pause in her actions, as if she were hesitant; however, lowering her face, her lips soon connected with his own.

Kazuma's jaw was dropped in utter surprise. She had finally admitted her feelings for him, that being cemented in a kiss. He just wished that he was actually conscious to experience it.

Unbeknownst to her, her actions were witnessed by another that was peering through the door. Yunyun had witnessed Megumin kissing Kazuma, this act making her both furious and sad. As tears of lament began accumulating, she turned to head towards the exit. This betrayal...it hurt more than a blade through the heart. And after all she did to be there for her.

"I have to go back!" Kazuma demands to the Goddess. "Eris, I need you to help bring me back! Like, today!"

"I'm glad to see that you've regained your resolve to keep going. Good luck, Kazuma!" And with that being said, the pillar of light was summoned. Lifting him from the ground, he was making his way back to the world of the living. He was anxious to reunite with everyone--especially Megumin. He didn't know how he was going to mend things with Aqua and her, but he wasn't going to stop trying!

Kazuma awoke in the hospital bed he had been in. Jolting up, he sat upright. He noticed that he wasn't in any particular pain from the accident; in fact, he felt good as new after resting for a while. He also noticed that nobody was around him, the room completely empty upon his awakening. He could only surmise that everyone had gone home at this point.

Since he was conscious, he was sure that they would release him in the morning after running some tests on him. Placing his fingers upon his own lips, he couldn't help but recall what he saw while with Eris. Now that he knew that Megumin had deeper feelings, he was going to make sure that she knew that he was aware of them. Things were finally seeming to be going great for him, finally.

Meanwhile, at home, Yunyun was sitting in her room. Megumin had left to return to the house, despite the drama, and she was against it. Nevertheless, after trying her best to keep Megumin with her, she still left anyway. Yunyun could feel the rage boiling in her the longer she sat in her room. There was no way that she was leaving things this way. If Megumin wanted to take her love for granted, then it was only fair that she reciprocate the pain that she gave her. And there was only way she knew how...

[Chapter End]