Chapter Four: I'll Be All Right

Izumi stared at the group and slowly took her hand off Kouji's shoulder. She changed her embarrassed expression to a gleeful face, looked down then said cheerfully, "Hey you guys!"

Takuya and Kouichi walked to Kouji's left side.

"Hey bro, are you okay? How are you feeling?" Kouichi asked.

"Hey Kouji. How are you?" Takuya said brightly. "Here I brought your homework from school." Takuya handed it Kouji's right hand.

"Thanks you guys," Kouji said smiling. Izumi noticed that Junpei hadn't said anything yet. He just stood there looking outside the window.

"Junpei, is anything wrong?" Izumi asked, walking up to Junpei.

"Nope Izumi," Junpei said, trying to look fine and walked next to Kouichi.

"You'd better get well soon cause I want to play a game of soccer with you," Takuya said vibrantly, nudging Kouji on his unharmed arm. Of course, they talked about Kouji's condition and what happened to him. Afterwards, the group talked amongst themselves, having a great time, just like always. Takuya and Junpei had to leave after the small chat left from Kouji's room to home. Kouichi and Izumi were still remaining there.

Just then, a doctor came in with Kouji's x-ray results. "Hello, my name is Doctor Kinuko. I have Minamoto Kouji's x-rays," he said and put it on the wall on a light to show his shoulder.

"Well, Kouji, I'm sure it's very painful, yes? You are going to need shoulder reconstruction. For the time being, I don't want you to move around anymore without help or else the bones could go out of your skin."

"How long will it take to recover?" Izumi asked hopefully.

"Hey aren't I the one who's supposed to ask that?" Kouichi thought.

"He'll be in the recover room for a week, then he can go home, except he'll need to wear a cast for five months, then we can take it off and check from time to time how he's recovering. Kouji, what hand do you write with?"

"My right hand," he said quietly.

"Well that should be fine. By the way, where are Kouji's parents? I need to discuss this thoroughly with his parents."

"I'm a friend of Kouji and this is his brother, Kimura Kouichi," Izumi said, pointing to herself.

"I need to speak to his parents. The only limitations you will have afterwards will be you can't play sports or games anymore until your shoulder mends," said Dr. Kinuko and walked out the door.

"Kouji you'll be okay, won't you?" Izumi asked him.

Kouichi watched from his seat, seeing how deeply concerned Izumi was with him.

"Yes, Izumi," Kouji said nicely, looking the other way. Just then, the door opened. It was Kouji's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Minamoto. Kouichi and Izumi immediately stood up from their seats. Izumi bowed her head and headed for the door. "Bye, Kouji, Kouichi," she replied and left. She didn't like being involved with family issues and she didn't want to intrude. She left and walked the entire way home since she didn't have anymore money left at all. "Kouji…I hope you're all right. I'll be with you always, even in that operation you're getting," she thought. As the falling leaves around her fell, she thought, "What am I thinking?" and walked home.

Back at the hospital, Kouji's parents were talking to the doctor of Kouji's status. Kouichi was by Kouji's side. The two talked quietly so that their parents couldn't exactly hear what they were saying. "Kouji, is it that painful?"

"Well if I don't move it won't," he replied. Kouichi turned his head to the nightstand. "Hey Kouji, who brought you this card and balloon?"

"Huh? Oh, Izumi gave it to me earlier this morning."

"Izumi? Kouji, do you realize she cares for you just as much as her own life?"

Kouji gave him an odd look with the tone of red on his face and didn't say anything about it.

"Do you like her?"

Kouji nodded and then finally said, "Yes."

"Then what's stopping you?"

"A lot of things and my consciousness," Kouji said sarcastically.

"Why do you think she gave you these things? Because she was bored?"

"No, she's a nice girl but I'm scared she'd reject me."

Kouichi sighed, "You shouldn't let that get in the way, it's obvious she cares about you just as much as her own life," and got up from his chair. His parents and doctor came in and started discussing with Kouji.

"Kouji, we've decided that you will have this surgery in three days," Mr. Minamoto said. Kouji agreed and Kouichi and Mr. and Mrs. Minamoto left for home, saying good-bye to Kouji. "I can't believe I told Kouichi, but then, he is my brother, so what's to be afraid of?" and went to sleep.

Three days passed while Izumi normally visited with a bright smile to greet him with, Kouji's family visited frequently during the day, and the gang came at least once a day to see how he was doing. Takuya who usually brought him his homework, Tomoki to bring him something interesting, like a book. Junpei only came by and didn't give anything but said 'Get well soon.' When it was time, Izumi and Kouji's family was by his side before he entered the operating room.

"Kouji, I know you'll get through this, so don't be scared," Mrs. Minamoto said, holding Kouji's hand. Kouji nodded smiling, and smiled at his father and brother. Izumi, who was the only one standing beside him on the left side, didn't say anything but got her last glimpse of him before he went in.

"Izumi, I'll be all right," he said to her finally, smiling. Izumi's eyes lit up, but she didn't open her mouth to say anything. The nurses pulled him in as Izumi and the family watched him go in. Izumi watched as the doors slammed shut and Kouji, away. Mr. and Mrs. Minamoto walked quietly to the waiting room; Kouichi followed, but noticed Izumi who didn't budge.

"Izumi, are you coming?" Kouichi asked her.

"Huh? What? Oh, yeah I'm coming," Izumi said calmly, trudging behind Kouichi. "Izumi… I'll be all right…" the voice of Kouji kept echoing through her head.

End Chapter Four: I'll Be All Right

Onto Chapter Five.