QoH: By the way, just in case you haven't noticed, I've made it so the titles of the chapters string together to make a poem that pretty much sums up my story. Of course, I won't be revealing it until the end... hehe ^_~ Hope you all think it's all right.

Chapter 3: To Brighten Your World

                "Miss Adachi?"

                Momo lifted her head from her hands and blinked up at the doctor in confusion, "How did you know my name?"

                The man smiled as she wiped her eyes hurriedly, "I'm glad to see you're coming back to yourself. This is the first time you've really responded to anyone since you've been here."

                "How long has that been, sir?" she asked, straightening in her chair, at last noticing the nurse that sat beside her. She'd obviously been there for a while, judging by the finished snack of nachos and soda that sat on the small table in front of them. Momo looked up at the young woman, "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to keep you away from your duties."

                She laughed, hugging her, "That's quite all right. I didn't mind taking a break. Besides, I've got a friend covering for me."

                "Speaking of friends, that's how we found out who you are," the doctor commented, his brown eyes twinkling in amusement.

                "Who was it?" Momo asked, surprised. She looked down at her hands, "I don't really have a lot of friends..."

                "Well, that's a shocker," the nurse said, raising her eyebrows, "I would've thought you had loads of them."

                "Quite," the doctor nodded seriously, "Anyway, it was a young man, one by the name of Kiley Okayasu. He was extremely worried about you, you know."

                Momo smiled sadly, still studying her hands, "Of course, it would be Kiley, wouldn't it..." she whispered this more to herself than anything, "He's the only true friend I have right now..."

                "He cares a lot for you, I think," he said, kneeling beside her, "He didn't have time to tell me what's going on, but from what I can tell, it's not good."

                "No, not really."

                Seeing that she didn't want to talk about it, he stood, "Well, I have to get back to my rounds. If you need anything, just ask for Dr. Takahashi, all right?"

                Momo nodded, sniffing, "Thanks. You're very kind."

                "It's no trouble." Dr. Takahashi smiled, shaking his head before heading for the door.

                "Wait, sir," she called, just realizing something, "Where is he? Did he tell you anything about what he was going to do?"

                "Yes, he did say something," he answered, frowning as he tried to remember exactly what it was, "He said that he'd come get you after he'd finished something up." That's not all he said, but I get the feeling that I shouldn't say any more than that.

                "Oh, OK." Momo smiled, "Thank you again for everything."

                He nodded and left. The nurse turned to her, "I'm Miho Washu. It's nice to meet you."

                "Momo Adachi," she swiped her hair out of her face, "And the same goes for you."

                Miho put her hand on Momo's arm, "Are sure you don't want to talk about what was bothering you? It might pass the time until your friend comes back."

                "Friends," she laughed a little to herself and shook her head wearily, "That's how all this started in the first place..."

****

Ten minutes later

                "Wow." Miho blinked, her violet eyes showing her shock at everything she'd just heard, "This 'Sae' sounds like a real monster. I hope I never meet her!" she laughed then, "But then again, maybe I do, just so I can give her a piece of my mind!"

                "Well, I hope you don't, really." Momo scowled as she took a sip of her Coke, "She has this remarkable talent for lying, turning everything to her advantage. She's deluded my entire school into thinking she's some kind of goddess. It's sickening."

                "How does she get away with it, though?" she asked, amazed, "You'd think someone would catch on, eventually."

                "Yeah, all of two people." Momo put up her fingers for emphasis, "Me and Kiley. That's it."

                "And your boyfriend, this Toji? He thinks the same as everyone else?"

                "Unfortunately, yes," she flopped back against her chair, "And that's how I ended up here."

                "Hm." Miho stood and walked around for a bit, thinking, then turned back to her, "Well, first, I believe we need to change how you look at yourself."

                Momo looked up at her, surprised, "What do you mean?"
                "You've been taken advantage of by this Sae girl so badly because you let her, I think."

                "Why on earth would I do that?" she stared at her, startled.

                She shook her head so her dark red ponytail flipped back and forth, "No, I'm not saying that you do it on purpose. Certainly not. But you said yourself that she's the only girl who will talk to you."

                Momo nodded, "That's true, but-"

                Miho sat down next her, putting her hands on the younger girl's shoulders, "Look, I'm really not trying to be mean, or anything. I just think maybe you should refuse her so-called 'friendship,' that's all. That way, if she doesn't know what's going on in your life, she won't be able to ruin it."

                "I've tried that, but she's like my shadow. She follows me anywhere she wants to, regardless of what I do."

                "You ignore those jerks at school, not to mention the perverts, right?" she laughed, putting her arm around her shoulder, "Except the occasional time when you have to kick one of them where the sun don't shine."

                Momo giggled, "You've got a point."

                "I know it's probably easier said than done, but I really think you're strong enough to resist her offers of 'friendship.' Even if you don't have one other friend in all the world, at least you'll have one in yourself," seeing the girl take this in thoughtfully, Miho poked her playfully, "You do have friends, though, and I'd consider it an honor if you'd count me among them."

                "Same here," she grinned, feeling much better, "So, what do you think I should do about Toji?"

                "That's the sticky part," Miho frowned, thinking to herself again, "I suppose all you can do is wait it out. He might be regretting what he said even as we speak. There's no way to tell until you see him again."

                "What if he's still the same, though?" Momo worried, "I really don't want to lose him. I've loved him for so long."

                "That may just be what saves this whole mess in the end," she answered thoughtfully, "If he's worth his salt, like you say he is, he'll realize that he wasn't thinking clearly," she shrugged, "Like I said, it's a waiting game."

QoH: ^_^ Glad I made Momo feel better? Tell me what you think so far, please! :D I know this was a little short, but I swear the next one's much longer!