[Just a quick note: This chapter and chapter 5 were written together, so they may follow on slightly better than the other chapters have so far! I hope you enjoy this new part and new turn in the story!]
Naho's eyes shot open. Expecting to see the sky, instead she saw an unfamiliar ceiling. Initially this caused panic. 'Where am I?!' raced through her head at lightning pace.
But suddenly a voice echoed from the kitchen. A voice she knew endlessly well. "Yeah... so that's why she stayed over. I'm sorry for not saying anything." Suddenly she felt calm. Her head became clear, knowing that Kakeru was near. She rose out of bed and carefully moved towards the voice. As she peered around the corner, she saw Kakeru standing with a familliar old woman.
"Ah! Naho-chan. Good morning!" Kakeru's grandma who they had visited often, and who played a vital part in saving Kakeru's life.
"Good morning, Naruse-san." She'd taken up the role of Kakeru's carer after the passing of his mother, and he's come to care about her more than anyone else, simply out of fear of losing another parent figure.
"Please, call me 'Grandma'. Did you sleep well?" she knew exactly what the situation was simply from hearing that one line from Kakeru.
"Yeah... great... ehh..." She struggled to get her words out, and it took a while before she figured out a way to state her point. Eventually she gathered her words and was able to confirm her suspicions. "So how did I get here..."
Kakeru jolted and tightened his fist. "Y-.. You... passed out in the park after telling me everything. You must have been exhausted from not getting much sleep... and you had a real bad fever too, which I guess is a cold from sleeping outside... I wasn't just going to let you sleep out again, okay!"
Naho couldn't believe she was seeing this side of Kakeru. He'd always been the type to hide his true feelings, much like herself. "Thank you, Kakeru." All that she could think about was the pain she was being. She wanted to get out, she felt terrible about it. "I'll not be a problem for much longer. I'll leave as soon as-"
"No!" Kakeru stopped Naho, "You're going to be living here with us for as long as you can't safely go home. I'm not gonna let you stay out there any longer. It's just not safe."
"But-"
"No buts, Naho-chan, Kakeru and I are more than happy to have you stay with us. Today's a school day, but I've already called you in sick. You're not going anywhere until that cold clears, so go and get some rest. We can talk about a more permanent sleeping arrangement tonight." Grandma was stern, moreso than She'd ever seen her... Naho couldn't argue, or else more tears would be shed.
Naho lay back onto the futon lay on the lounge floor. Closed her eyes, and felt a kiss connect with her lips. She opened her eyes back open to see Kakeru leaned over smiling. "See you later. I'm off."
Naho's face, flushed even before Kakeru's attack, didn't have a spot on it that wasn't bright red. "R-...Right! Bye!" Kakeru got up and walked away. Naho realised that Kakeru had once again saved her.
Naho leapt up and stumbled after Kakeru. Before he could turn around she embraced him from behind... This time she couldn't hold back the tears. "Thank you... Kakeru... Thank you so much." she said through the tears.
Kakeru spun her round, looked her in the eyes and said with a sincere smile, "No, Naho. Thank you. I owe my life to you. I love you so much." He once again locked lips with her, this time Naho was able to return the gesture.
For the first time since running out of her house for the first time, Naho had a new thought enter her head, a one that wasn't screaming for help, nor was it telling the people around her they don't understand. For the first time, it was none of that.
'I will get through this. We will get through this'