Chapter Seven
Hoshiko's eyes flutter open, and she finds herself in the hospital. She can hear her mother's muffled cries from another room, and looks up to see Keiji.
"Why didn't you let me die?" she asks.
"Hoshiko..."
"Why not?!" she cries.
"Did you do it...because of me?"
"I wont lie..." she said, her eyes glazed with tears. "Yes. But it was only fractional...My dad was threatening to kill my mom, and then he left home...Though it was probably for the better...All the ever did was fight anyway. There was a group of girls that constantly picked on me, too...and my cousin, Ai, who went off to war...Mom and I found out he'd been killed. There were also a lot of other things imprinted in my mind, too, but this is all recent...just from these past few days...and finding out that you were going out with..."
"I broke up with her," Keiji says softly.
"What?"
"I broke up with her...Just last night. When you told me how you felt about the guy you loved, I knew I didn't really love her. She'll always be a friend, and so I waited a few more days...Still, I don't feel that strongly for her." He pauses. "But...I do feel that way for you."
Hoshiko stares, unsure of what to say. Then, it hits her, that Keiji still thinks she's in love with someone else.
"No, I..."
"Hoshiko, you're awake!" Hoshiko's mother darts to the bed, and embraces her. "Oh...don't you ever do that again...Please...Promise?"
"I'm sorry, Mom..."
"PROMISE!" she screeches, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I promise...I promise."
"Thank you," she sniffles.
"Mrs. Tanaka..." One of the nurses peeks out from behind a door.
"JUST GIVE ME A SECOND!" she screams, crying harder.
"Yes, Ma'am."
She hugs Hoshiko again. "I'm going to go talk to the nurse really quick, okay?" she says.
"I'll be fine," Hoshiko smiles, as her mother walks away.
"Umm..." She and Keiji lock gazes.
"Keiji, I..."
"I'm sorry...You should sleep a bit. Please...I'll wait here for you."
"But...I...Okay," Hoshiko sighs, laying her head back down on the pillow.
I've got so much courage now...But he thinks I'm after someone else...How did I get myself into this? What if he runs whenever I try to talk to him? What if he never knows at all? What if I never have the courage to say anything after this? I've got to...
"I'll be right back...I need some time to think." Keiji gets up to walk out of the room. "Take it easy from now, 'kay? If you need me...I'm here."