I look at Teshigawara and Koichi's backs as they step into the elevator. I nervously take small steps behind them, trying to take as long as I possibly can.
When Koichi and Teshigawara saw me doing this, their eyes were on me instantly looking very concerned.
"What's the matter, Misaki?" Shuichi asks me from inside the elevator.
"Yeah, what's the hold up?"
I remain quiet.
Gathering up the little courage I had, I step into the elevator with the boys.
As the door shuts, the two start chatting with each other while I just stand in the corner, looking at the floor.
Admittedly, their conversation put me at ease.
"So, whatcha got there?" Koichi asks, gesturing to what Teshigawara was holding: a flower pot full of Wildflowers.
"A lil' somethin' for Izumi."
When he said her name out loud, I could feel myself shiver a bit. However, it seems like the guys didn't notice because they continued talking.
"Are you sure she will accept a gift from you?" "She might think you're trying to flirt with her."
"Well, she's hurt pretty bad." "She can't possibly have enough energy to reject me!"
Hearing that made me grin a bit. If Naoya can somehow be spared from Akazawa's wrath, there might be hope for me.
"Is something wrong Mei?" Sakakibara turns to me and asks with concern.
Teshigawara also turns to me out of curiosity.
Before I could answer, the elevator door opened.
I try to take a step out of the elevator, but I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"You don't have to be afraid," Sakakibara comforted me.
"Yeah, C'mon you guys let's go," Naoya says impatiently.
With lifted spirits, I step outside the elevator first.
The three of us walked down the hall for a bit and then we made a left turn.
It didn't take long for us to spot a patient room with the numbers '214' on it.
Before I could even approach the door to turn the knob, Teshigawara ran ahead of me and swung open the door.
The first thing I saw was Izumi in a patient bed near the window.
She has a stunned look on her face, probably because of the door flying open.
"YOU IDIOT, are you trying to kill me?" Akazawa shouted as she shot a glare in Teshigawara's direction. "I'm sorry, just happy to see you!" He rushes into the room with Koichi following behind him. I stand in the doorway, wanting to keep my distance.
"Well you can relax, I'm not going to die until I'm wrinkly and old." Inevitably, a conversation sparks up between the three.
In the middle of their talk, Sakakibara takes the plant from Teshigawara and sits it down on a nearby desk.
Which is a great idea because it looks as if he's going to drop and shatter the flower pot with all the movement he's doing.
Akazawa takes notice of the flower pot and asks, "I'm guessing that's for me?"
"Yes, Teshigawara got it for you as a gift."
The three of them are too wrapped up in their conversation to even notice me, until Koichi calls for me.
"Mei... you're still out there?" "You can come in, you know?"
Everyone in the room glances in my direction.
While being the center of attention made me uneasy, the stares from the guys didn't bother me as much as Izumi's gaze.
"Teshigawara, go get me some water, and Koichi, go with him in case he gets lost."
"But why does he have to go with me!?" "I can get it by myself, I'm not a kid!"
"Just do it!"
"Okay, okay."
Sakakibara leaves the room quickly with Naoya.
I go to follow them until I hear
"Please, don't leave; come in."
I timidly take small steps until I'm finally fully inside the room.
"Could you shut the door?"
Her tone was usual because for once, it didn't sound bossy.
I gently pull the door shut behind me.
"Step closer, I won't bite." "I promise."
I slowly inch towards her, not fully trusting her words.
I keep creeping towards her until I'm standing at her bedside, looking down at her.
Akazawa sits up in bed and pulls the covers down to her scarred knees so that she's able to turn her body sideways to face me.
Izumi's now free arms reach for me. Her bandaged hands grab mine. I can tell by the way her larger hands hold onto my smaller ones, that she didn't want to let go.
Being touched this way by Izumi filled my mind with confusion, lust, and embarrassment.
Not knowing how to react, I look at the ground with red cheeks.
"Stop acting like a chicken, I'm not going to hurt you."
"I thought you hated me."
"Oh, I did, but It was out of jealousy."
"Jealous...of what?"
"Of the fact that Sakakibara likes you."
My gaze lifts from the floor to Akazawa's smiling face.
She took that as an opportunity to plant a kiss on my forehead.
I want to speak, but the words are lodged in my throat.
"I'm so sorry; you did not deserve what I put you through that night."
She looks me in my eyes with sincerity.
I pause for a minute.
"If your apology is sincere, then I forgive you."
I pull my hand out of her grasp quickly.
After all, we'd have a lot of explaining to do if the guys saw us like this.
