Usui and Misa were quickly taken to the hospital and she quickly realized they were not the only victims from the fire. There were other people on her block who came to checked out for smoke inhalation. Others had minor cuts and burns on their bodies. The news was on live as reporters were updating about the fire and the Bozoku gang involvement. Misa turned her attention to Usui. The news announcers were explaining the government was calling this a "terrorist attack" and the "reasons were unclear" on why it happened.
"Usui, I can't believe you went in there on a whim! That was completely reckless and dangerous!" Misa yelled at him.
"Misa, we both knew the firefighters weren't going to help." Usui said.
"But they have special equipment and training. You went in there with nothing or any kind of equipment to protect you."
Usui started coughing and wheezing.
"And yet, I was the one who got her out of there. Were you worried about me?" he said.
Usui's handsome face held a smirk. His clothes smelled like smoke. In fact, so did Misa's. "Of course I was worried!" Misa blushed. It took a moment for her realizations to come to surface. Maybe that girl would have died if Usui did not save her.
"Misa, I knew if I didn't go save that girl, you would have." he said with a smirk. Was that why he went in? So that she wouldn't? He was always looking after her. He had her pegged, he knew what she was going to do before she knew what she was going to do.
She started thinking about all the events of the evening and became solemn. She lost everything. Her family didn't have much but it was still home. Now she would not even have a home to go to.
"Oh, Usui. My home!" She said in horror. "I don't have anything anymore. Everything's burned up! I only have the clothes I am wearing. Which is this stupid mermaid costume!" She realized by looking at what she was wearing; just a thin jacket over her tarnished, blackened mermaid costume from work.
"What am I going to wear to school? What about my books and my things! I am the student council president! I can't miss school! Everything will fall apart!" Tears were starting to stream down her eyes. Usui grabbed her hand. Even though he was in worse shape than she was, when he held her hand, everything suddenly felt better, if only for a second. Her heart skipped a beat when he interlocked their fingers.
Someone knocked on the door to the hospital room. "Come in." Misa said expecting more nurses. Instead it was Suzuna and her mom! She let go of Usui's hand instantly.
"Mom! Suzuna!" Misa exclaimed and she got up excitedly and ran up to them to give them a hug.
"Oh, Misa! We tried finding you and went to your work. But, they said you left to go check on us. We were going to head back to the house, but then we saw Usui was all over the news!"
"The news?" Misa asked, looking confused.
"Yes, for saving that girl!" her mother said.
"He's famous now!" Suzuna said.
"We figured if Usui was in our neighborhood, then he was probably with you. We came to the hospital but saw you weren't checked in, so we asked about Usui and we luckily found you two together." her mom explained.
"I was worried about you guys too. I am so glad you guys are okay." Misa said because didn't care about the news. At this moment she was just relieved to see her family and to know they were ok.
"Misa, we lost everything." her mother said solemnly.
Misa's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. Her mother worked so hard to provide for her and her sister. She worked all the time to provide a safe space they could call home. "I know. I saw for myself when we went to look for you. I saw our neighbor and she said you guys weren't home." Misa said.
"But, we have been informed of a shelter for victims of the fire. The community has been donating clothes and other supplies, and they have converted a gym with some beds for the people in our neighborhood that don't have a bed tonight." Her mom said.
Misa was quiet. She did not know how she should respond to that. How was she going to manage going to school tomorrow? She did not even have a school uniform to wear. She couldn't go to school and she had so many things to do for the student council.
Usui suddenly spoke up. "Your family can stay at my apartment."
'Everybody turned to look at him. "I mean it. My apartment is small, it's only one bedroom, but your family can stay in my room and I can sleep in the living room."
Misa stared at Usui, stunned. She did not know what to say. Her mom didnt even know they were going out yet. How was she going to explain this? Not every guy from school would offer up his home to a classmate and her family.
Her mom spoke up before she could say anything. "Oh, Usui! You are really remarkable. I think we can manage. However, I won't have any objection to Misa staying with you, if that is ok?"
"What?!" Misa exclaimed. This was really unlike her mother. Not only to turn down an offer to stay somewhere for free, but to just casually let Miss stay at a boy's home. Although her mom had never been to Usui's and she didn't know how nice his place was. But why would she suggest that she stay there, but not her and Suzuna?
"Mom, I don't want to bother Usui, and where would you and Suzuna stay? If you are going to sleep at the gym, then so will I."
"Well, Suzuna and I won't be at the gym, will we?" her mother said slyly. Misa looked at her confused.
"We are going to stay at a fancy hotel. I won tickets in my sweepstakes! However, I only won tickets for two people. I was going to sell them, but I figured now we could use them. Especially now that our home is gone." Suzuna proudly explained.
"Oh, you kids can go ahead and take care of each other. Besides, I would feel a lot better if you were at Usui's. You can walk to school together and watch out for each other. However, we should go to the shelter gym and pick out some supplies and clothes. After the week, we will look at our options for housing."
"Are you sure mom?" Misa asked.
"Yes, I am sure. I don't think you've ever stayed at a boy's house before. It's not like I am worried something will happen. It's time you acted like a normal teenager. Even though you will be alone, you wouldn't know what to do anyways with a boy."
"MOM!" Misa turned bright red and Usui couldn't control his face and laughed.
"Or do you?" Suzuna asked slyly.
"Suzuna!" Misa said equally horrified at her sister, but her mom and sister were laughing.
"Well, we will be at the Royal Hotel. I can cash in these tickets anytime. So I guess we better cash them in tonight. Then, we will figure out something later."
"My apartment is available for you and your family." Usui reiterated.
"We might just take you up on that offer." Misa's mom said.
"After the Royal Hotel." Suzuna said. "It does have a bathhouse."
"Then, it's all settled. Although, we should stop at the gym for supplies first." Misa's mom said.
"Right. Do you know when Usui will be able to leave the hospital?"
"Actually, the doctor will be in shortly." Misa said. Just then, the door knocked. The doctor came in.
"Ah, you must be Takumi Usui? I need to do a check for some lung damage. Open your mouth."
The doctor did a few tests on Usui while Misa and her family were there.
"You're the boy from the news. It was a very brave thing you did saving that girl. Her family is here."
"How is she doing?" Misa asked since Usui had his mouth open.
"She will be fine. She has some lung damage, but she is conscious and with her family. They are very grateful to you. I will prescribe you an air inhaler in case you have any trouble breathing. I don't think there will be any long-lasting damage. Just keep the air in your home circulating. Just go to the counter to pick up your inhaler."
Misa felt relieved there wasn't any lasting damage to Usui's lungs.
"I'll go with you to pick up the supplies." Usui followed Misa and her family out of the hospital.
There were little cots around the gym for displaced families. The community rallied together and there were many various donated supplies for everybody who was affected by the fire. However, the gym was not as full as Misa expected. Many other families were offering spaces in their homes for people.
"Oh, Misa before you leave, here." her mom said and pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. "I really think after today you need one."
"Mom, that's your phone. You need it more than I do."
"We will have plenty of extra income right now. We will not have rent this month since we don't have a home to pay for. I got a new one, so I planned on giving you my old one anyway. Suzuna doesn't need one yet. She is always home with me, but you have so many more responsibilities, and it will be easier for us to keep in contact if you are out late for work or school." her mom said.
"Thank you, Mom."
"I already put my new number in the phone, so you can use the old number. Then, we can check in when you are at Usui's. Although we will be right next to each other at the Royal Hotel."
Her mom was right. The Royal Hotel was in the same district as Usui's apartment. It would be easy to take the train to school too. The shelter gave out donated duffel bags and let the families come take what they needed. All the supplies were being separated by volunteers on different tables.
Misa looked at what was donated. She took a blanket, pillow, some food, clothes, and personal supplies. The only thing she needed was a uniform. She would have to call Yukimura, the Vice President of the student council. He was going to have to lead the student council meeting tomorrow. She couldn't go to school without a uniform. She never missed school. She would have to email her teachers to let her know she was homeless now. Her mom and Suzuna were looking at the other tables of donations.
"I just need a uniform, but I think I have everything for your house Usui." Misa said.
"You have a uniform, remember?" Usui said, looking down at her body.
"Not my work uniform! My school uniform! Pervert!" Misa said.
"I was only teasing. Do you want to go to my place now that you have everything?" Usui asked.
"Yes, we can go." Misa said and she saw her mom coming over to her.
"Do you have everything you need?" Misa's mom asked.
"Yes, I think I do. I just need a school uniform."
"I'll go get new ones tomorrow and bring them over to Usui's." her mom said.
"Alright, let's go to the train. I can't wait to check into the Royal Hotel." Suzuna said.
All four of them took the train and got off at the station near the hotel. The Royal Hotel was a huge building with fountains and bushes everywhere. Suzuna and her mom were going to be content here. It was the nicest building they have ever stayed in. Even though it was for a bad reason, it felt like they were going on a week-long vacation. It comforted Misa to know they were going to be close by and that she had a phone and could call her mom whenever she wanted.
"I'll call tomorrow and drop off the uniforms. Thank you, Usui!" Her mom and Suzuna went inside the hotel to go check-in. Misa and Usui started walking to his apartment together. The sun was starting to set and the sky was burning orange and red. It was beautiful for all the wrong reasons.
Usui and Misa did not say much. She knew she had to call Yukimura and looked in her backpack for her notebook where she had all the numbers written down in the back of her agenda for emergencies. She started calling on their walk.
"Hi Yukimura, its Misa... Yes, my mom gave me her cell phone, so save my number...I will not be able to come to school tomorrow so I need you to lead the Student Council. I don't have a uniform...my house was part of the fire that happened this evening...yes everyone is okay, but everything burned...ok thank you...I will don't worry. Ok bye."
Misa hung up the phone and walked in silence next to Usui. He was surprisingly quiet and just led the walk to his apartment. Misa was still amazed at how nice his apartment was. She still couldn't believe his family paid for it and he lived alone. They went up to his floor and she dropped her duffel bag onto the ground and led out a long sigh. She walked over to look out his window. The view was amazing from this high. She could see the whole city and all the lights coming from the windows of the apartments looked like twinkling diamonds.
"I know you must be exhausted, Misa. Just try to relax and make yourself at home." Misa looked around at the empty apartment and went to the couch. She grabbed the pillow and the blanket.
"Are you hungry? I can make us some rice balls." Usui said.
"I'm not hungry. I honestly just want to lay down." Misa told him.
"I am going to make some anyways, because I am hungry." Usui said and he went to the kitchen. Misa went to the duffel bag and started sifting through everything.
"I don't have any pajamas, Usui. There were a lot of clothes donations, but not pajamas. I don't know what to wear tonight." Misa told him.
"I guess you are going to have to wear nothing." Usui said from the kitchen.
Misa glared at him from the kitchen. Usui ignored her and just kept rolling the rice balls.
"I was just kidding. You can borrow one of my old t-shirts. It should be long enough to fit you. I just sleep in my boxers and a t-shirt." he stated. "They are in the top drawer in the dresser."
Misa took him up on his offer and went into his room. His room was bare also. There was only one dresser so she did not have to search to find his t-shirts. She got out of her work uniform finally. It felt so good and she tried on one of his shirts. It barely covered her underwear but it was long enough to look like a dress. Misa went back out to the living room.
Usui looked over at her which made her embarrassed for some reason. The way he was staring at her, she knew he was looking at her up and down and checking out her legs. "You don't need to stare." Misa said although she secretly liked the attention he was giving her. Usui stopped cooking and went straight over to her. He stood right in front of her.
"You look good in my shirt," he said. "I wish I could see more." He tried to grab the shirt she was wearing and lift it up.
Misa slapped his hand away from her. "What do you think you are trying to do?" she said angrily. But he was not intimidated. In fact, his body was getting closer to hers. Although he removed his hand from the shirt she was wearing, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Her heart started pounding from her chest.
"I want to see more of you Misa." he said and he started to kiss her softly on the lips. She wanted to pull away and remember her priorities, but she felt herself kissing back. He tasted so good and his lips were so soft. His hands started moving lower until they were around her waist. He stopped kissing her lips and started kissing her neck. She felt shivers down her body when he did that. She knew she should tell him to stop, but it felt too sweet.
"Usui…" she said in between kisses. Then, she put up her hands and pushed him away.
"Where do you plan on sleeping tonight?" Usui asked.
"The couch." Misa said. Usui gave her a sad puppy dog look.
"You don't want to sleep in the bed with me? It's just us in the apartment." Misa looked at him in the eyes.
"I don't want to, not tonight. I have a lot on my mind. I don't think it would be appropriate for us to share a bed." Misa blushed thinking about being in the same bed as Usui.
"I want you Misa," he said. "And I have you all to myself." Misa's heart would not stop beating. She needed to calm down. She never felt this way before about anyone.
"I want...to go to sleep soon. I will see you in the morning." she said.
"Alright, although if you want my bed, I can sleep on the couch."
"No, I already have my blankets and pillow here. I will be fine. But thank you." Then she kissed him goodnight and crawled under the blanket on the couch.