A/N: First of all, to all the readers who patiently waited for my update during the last two or three(?) years, I give you all my thanks. I am very happy to tell all of you that this will be ending on this chapter. Anyway, I plan to write another fict, called "Johannes and Lili." The title is still subject to change, but I assume you already know which pairing is it(lol), it's an AU fict with some genderbending and love triangles! Be sure to watch out!(lol)
I still don't know if I'll write another OC x Aqours/Muse member (Since no one's still asking me for it lmao, I'm free for requests, kindly PM me if you want yourself an Aqours/Muse x OC from me)
Please leave a review! I'll be very happy to know what I need to improve on my writing, or what you think about this slow-fast paced shitty love story.
Chapter 06: Promise
"Finish it up for me."
She walked outside the operating room, as expected from her, it was an absolute success. Maki made her way to the changing room to change to her formal clothes to return to her office. She looked at her reflection on the mirror inside the room. Her slender fingers touched the reflection, everything eventually came back. Inside her locker, beside her stethoscope, was a small box—which hid a ring that was memorable to her during her freshman days.
She grabbed the box and the stethoscope and left the room.
It's been years, it's been twelve years and she still hasn't forgotten about that young man who claimed to be searching for the girl he liked when he was a kid. About the young man named Yuuki Masato who reminded her about someone when she was younger.
It's been twelve years and I still don't have a clue on why he didn't tell me that he'll be leaving the next day. She thought to herself. Deep inside her, she wanted to meet him again. She wanted to ask him about the things that she wanted clarification on. Also about her twelve year old feelings.
"Dr. Nishikino." She woke up from her own world. A nurse was asking her to come to one of her patients.
"Ah, I'll be coming in a few minutes." Maki smiled at the nurse and made her way to the patient room.
"Grandma, how are you doing? It's been a month since I last saw you. It feels sad that I'm not by your side when you got admitted last month."
"I'm fine, sweetie. A young female doctor's been taking care of me and my heart. I'm sure you'll like her."
"Grandma you still love jokes. Quit doing that! Hahaha!"
A voice that was somewhat familiar, she was sure she knew who the owner of the voice was. When she slid the door open, she was right. A tall young man with a red hair, and flaming red eyes, wearing a black dress shirt and black skinny jeans. There was a white coat placed on the sofa under his bag.
"Grandma, looks like your Doctor's here."
When he turned his head to look at the doorway, her amethyst violet orbs met his flaming red orbs. She was surprised but he isn't.
"M-Masato…?"
"It's been years, Maki." He stood up and smiled at her. Maki walked fast and made her way towards him, she hugged the tall young man in front of her.
"You know each other?" The grandma on the bed asked the two.
Maki then pushed him away and fixed herself "Of course! This was the man I'm telling you about, that annoying man that left me twelve years ago!"
"My, my. You should apologize to Dr. Nishikino. C'mon take her out for a meal." She gave him a push, which made them only a few inches away from each other.
"Okay! Okay!" Masato took a deep breath, "Looks like we have many things to talk about. Is there a room for apology?" He smiled at her apologetically.
Maki sighed, "Fine. Wait for me outside."
Inside an expensive coffee shop, the two were sitting opposite to each other—one was looking at the night sky, while one was enjoying the ambiance of the coffee shop, as they were the only ones inside, including the staffs. The place was somewhat like, reserved for the two of them. "So why did you suddenly disappear? You even said we'd hang out that weekend." She crossed her arms upon waiting for the young man's response.
"To call off our wedding, I persuaded my parents to give the medical equipment and supplies to your family's hospital without forcing you to marry me." Masato leaned on his chair while looking at the sky through the window beside them.
"Also, with the help of Chairwoman Minami, the plans to disband were cancelled."
"E-Eh? How? Chairwoman Minami?"
"Kotori asked her to do it. Kotori was my ex, she got arranged to me before as well." Masato sighed, "Doing all they want, including going abroad as fast as possible was a big help as well." He added.
"What!? Kotori was…" She remembered something she can't easily forget from Kotori, when she said that what they did was just a small talk as friends. He just nodded at her.
"I apologize disappearing without telling you." Masato apologized while gently patting her head.
"It's alright. At the very least I know that you did it for something." She took a sip from the teacup placed on their table. "By the way, what did you do abroad?" She asked.
"I studied medicine—just like you." Masato remembered something, "Did you give them the songs?" he raised a brow.
"Yes, Tsubasa actually cried when she saw that all of the songs are under her name."
"Seriously? Haha, I wonder how is she doing right now? I heard they used to be idols until they disbanded seven years ago." Masato then, took a sip from the tea cup on his side.
"Wait… You don't have an idea about what was happening in Japan when you were still on the states?"
"Uh-huh. Only about seven years ago, I kind of got busy with my training. So I kind of shut my connections to Japan to avoid disruptions." He chuckled. "Also, congratulations on winning Love Live. And having good nine-group member successors like Aqours and the like." He added.
"Why didn't you even contact me?" Maki threw a glare.
"I wasn't able to be in contact with everyone but my grandmother. Actually, it's not like I wasn't, but more like my parents forbid me to contact any of my friends in Japan during those period." He explained.
"What? Why?"
"They're kinda on guard, they thought I might plan some annoying stunt again." Masato's phone rang, "I'll be out for a bit." He stood up and made his way outside the shop.
Maki watched him through the glass windows. His appearance had changed a bit, but he didn't change. But the thing that bothered her was he wasn't bullying her like he's always did before. It was as if, something was going on that she didn't know. If there was… What is it, and why isn't this Stupid Idiot telling me? Maki thought to herself with her eyes, still fixated on the young man talking with someone over the phone outside the shop.
She suddenly remembered something during her days as a university student. She found something on their house's storage room, some photos of her with a raven-haired boy. The boy was a bit taller than her in those photos, she was certain that the boy in that photo was the boy who saved her from that jungle gym of oily terrors from her past. Someone reminded her of that boy— it kind of reminded her of Masato. But apart from being saved from that jungle gym of oily terrors, she can't seem to recall anything that happened between them.
It was risky, but she had the thought of asking him something.
"Sorry if it took long." Masato came back and sat on his chair. He sliced the pointy-portion of the cake served to him with his fork.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?"
"Sure go ahead."
"What's your real hair color—" before she was even finished asking, the young man suddenly coughed as if he almost spewed the cup of tea he was drinking a second ago. "What's with that question?" he exclaimed.
"But if you're really that curious, it's black." Masato then sighed and looked at her. "Then it's my turn to ask. By chance, did you got saved by some black haired boy on an oily jungle gym in the past?"
"Uh… Yeah, I was saved by some black-haired kid before. And I assume that same kid is the one who saved me from my window."
They smiled at each other, they knew what they were talking about. His red pupils staring to her amethyst pupils.
"I thought you were going to study business, what's gotten into you that you turned cardiothoracic?"
"The truth is, I really studied business. But I quit due to frustrations, I was lost for three months. I didn't know what to do, until I rode a cruise ship. I became friends with a really kind old woman—she had no other relatives, she never signed the DNR, she told me she wanted to live more so I became her substitute grandchild. But boy, she died of medical malpractice." He smiled. "I know it's not that big for a reason, but I wanted to help people. That granny really changed me, you know?" Maki was slowly seeing the change he was talking about—Yep, no joke. Something in him really changed.
[A/N: DNR – Do Not Resuscitate]
"So, what's the real reason of you being out of contact for a few years?"
"H-Hey, is this some kind of interrogation? I told you, it's all about my parents—"
"I know there's more to it other than that. Come and spill it out."
Masato sighed. "I can't really escape this cutie panther," he chuckled.
"I finished my studies here in Japan, I wasn't really in the states years ago. I returned after quitting business course, and studied medicine in a college on some province, and while studying, from then up to now, I serve as a personal doctor of the most prominent clan on one of the cities under that province." Masato then gave his sincerest smile, "I hope it clears everything now, and if you're wondering about the Yuuki group, Anju's currently the CEO." He doesn't want to tell her about him, being an orphan and about their parent's choice of not having him to manage the company due to him not being a legitimate child.
The café's door opened, revealing a young woman carrying a gigantic psychology book who gave off the traditional Japanese princess aura, she was perfect—from her body to her aesthetics. Her hair was long and black, her bangs are cut in a clean hime-style. She was wearing black blazer, white dress shirt tucked on her high-waist black slacks, her shoes being a three-inch heeled black shoes. She soon tied her hair in a high ponytail, with her sideburns being left, with its trade mark '' designed pins on each side. She was about to sit on the table behind Maki, but she stopped when her emerald orbs met Masato's red orbs. The woman quickly placed her bag and book down on the table, and walked towards Masato.
What?
Whatttt?
Whaaaattt?
Is she his girlfriend or something?
Boy, I had no idea he is into JD's?
[A/N: JD – Joshidaigakusei]
Too much weird thoughts swarming on Maki's head, thinking if this pretty young woman was the one who replaced the child her in his heart.
"Fancy seeing you here, Dr. Yuuki" The young woman gave Masato a bow brimming with respect. "Please, Young Miss Dia. You don't have to do that." Masato, too, bowed.
"Oh, sorry. Young Miss, allow me to introduce you to the next head, and the current Thoracic Department head of the Nishikino University Hospital, Nishikino Maki." He introduced Maki.
"And Maki, this is Kurosawa Dia of the Kurosawa Clan. I work as their family's personal doctor." He introduced Dia.
She placed her right hand on her chest, "I am Kurosawa Dia of the Kurosawa family, I am currently taking Psychology as my pre-law." She then bowed at Maki, after a few seconds, she slowly got up and pulled Masato's collar, then whispered to him a few.
"I-I-I-Is she that Nishikino Maki from µ's?"
"Yes Young Miss Dia, she is."
"Can I take a photo with her? Please Doctor! Ask her for me!"
"Sure. Sure."
"Maki, can she take a photo with you? She's a big fan of µ's." Maki just smiled and nodded in response.
The door then opened and revealed two young ladies, the first one was a bluenette, and the second one was a blonde. "Oh hey, Dia!" the bluenette waved at Dia, and the blonde one, well… "and her crush!"
"M-Mari! Cut it out!"
"Oh c'mon, stop saying as if it's not tr—" she received a thick psychology book on her face.
"Good day, Doctor." The bluenette greeted.
"Hello, Ms. Matsuura and Ms. Mari."
"Hello~!" The blonde waved.
Soon, the three sat at the table behind Maki, and had a conversation of their own.
"What are you, an Idol magnet?" Maki rested her chin on her left palm, then stared at Masato.
"I don't think so." Masato stared back at her amethyst orbs, causing her to blush.
"Wait, you said you work for their family, right? Then why are you here on Tokyo, when their family is way way wayyyy far on Numazu?"
"Well, the madame is currently here in Tokyo for her heart surgery."
"Wait, I thought you're a thoracic surgeon?"
"Yes, and I'll be the head surgeon of her surgery. But they are yet to contact me on where the surgery is taking place." He was lying, the truth is the surgery will take place on Maki's hospital, as it was said on the call he received a while ago. He'll be the head surgeon, while Maki will be his first assistant.
His phone rang… again. He went out of the café and answered the phone. Maki watched the young man's expression to change drastically, did something happen? She thought. Without dropping the phone call, he rushed back inside the café.
"Young Miss, your mother had a cardiac arrest and is needing an immediate surgery."
As they were washing their hands before entering the operating room, Maki then asked him.
"Why didn't you tell me about me being your first assistant in this operation?" She sighed, "And before, I was really frustrated when I received this message a while ago. That I, a department head would serve as a first assistant." She threw him a glare.
"I'm sorry. I was really going to tell you once we return to the hospital, but emergency struck first." He smiled at her. But for now, let's focus on saving the patient. I'll propose to you later." He whispered then entered the operating room.
The operation was a success. Maki was just surprised to see him wearing his white coat, for some reason it fits on him. Masato noticed her looking at him.
"Maki, where's your office? I have something to tell you." He thought Maki forgot about what he told her before operation. He followed her until they arrived at an organized office—judging from its arrangement seen from its glass walls. Maki pressed something on her table that made the room covered. She placed her right hand on her table stood looking at him.
He brought out something that seemed familiar to Maki, it was the box she always looked at after doing surgeries.
"You dropped this on the café." He handed her the box, "Don't worry I didn't open it."
Masato then placed his left hand on top of Maki's hand. "Be my girlfriend? Without our parent's arrangements, of course." Maki then crossed her arms.
"I-It can't be helped. I guess you really like me so much, fine then. I'll give you a try." She played the edge of her hair on her fingers. She can't look at him in the eyes, seconds passed while being as red as she could be, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on his left cheek.
"Can you… uhm… repeat?" Masato, smiled at her while making a 'one' gesture on his hand.
"D-Don't make me repeat myself."
"Pretty please?"
"Stupid, idiot. I'm not going to do this again, alright?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck again, and when her lips were about to touch the red head's cheek, he turned his head to kiss her on the lips.
[end]
Extra:
At the café, the three girls returned after being relieved on the success of the surgery.
"Dia, why did you not push through after your first confession?" Mari asked.
"Well… You know, when I was about to confess again, that's where I saw his left hand the closest. He really hides his right hand a lot—I mean not hide, he normally wears gloves, right? He was wearing a gold ring on the ring finger of his left hand. That's when I assumed that maybe he's already engaged." Dia answered as she placed down her cup of tea.
"Maybe he just loves to wear rings, right?" Mari added.
"I mean, yeah maybe you heard father teasing me to him a lot 'cause he's too young for an expert, and he's someone from a rich family. So they thought of arranging us once. He'd always say he's not yet engaged but… but…" Dia then sighed, "I realized he's too old for me and he's not my type." She chuckled.
"Just look at how he acts with Dr. Nishikino, right?" Kanan sipped on her iced coffee, then bit on her donut.
"Here's the Matcha cheesecake you ordered!" A blonde girl with a manager tag on her left chest placed the order on the table.
Manager, Eli Ayase
Dia then turned red and collapsed.
