The next day wasn't very different from the last. Horohoro was still deeply concerned about Ren, and he made a point to ask everyone to give him their napkins.

"What do you need them for?" Yoh asked curiously. "Anything I can help with?" he inquired as he gave his napkin to Horohoro.

"It's not really your business," Horohoro replied as he carefully ripped the napkins into squares.

Slightly hurt, Yoh frowned. "Really? Then I won't ask anymore."

Horohoro kept these napkins in his pocket, and whenever he had a few spare seconds between activities, he'd whip one out and take a seat. When he was sure no one was paying attention to him, he'd carefully fold the napkins into cranes.

By that afternoon, he had four more, making a total of five cranes if he were to add them with the one he had already given Ren.

At lunch, he took one napkin from everyone except for Hao, and with his own, he now had four more napkins to use. He also found a discarded extra on the floor, and it was intact other than the fact that there was a little wasabi on it.

"The gods better like wasabi," he muttered as he picked up the napkin and shoved it into his pocket. He exited the cafetria, found a solitary spot on the field, and began folding.

As he was finishing up the last of his napkins, he heard someone behind him. Turning around, he waved at Yoh. "Hi," he said, hastily shoving the cranes back into his pocket.

Yoh smiled in a carefree manner. "The weather's nice today, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

Yoh took a seat next to Horohoro. "Why were you making those cranes, Horo?" he asked. "Look, I know you said it's not my business, but I was just wondering if my assumptions about your new origami project were right..."

"I'm just making them for Pirika," Horohoro snapped. "She likes 'em."

"Aww, Horo," Yoh said softly. "Haven't we been best buddies since first grade? And you can't even tell me the truth after all that? I know what you're trying to do. You're thinking about that old story about making a thousand cranes and getting a wish, aren't you? Is it because of that Ren kid being hospitalized, and that he might die and all that stuff?"

"You know me to well for your own good," Horohoro chuckled.

Yoh grinned. "I was right, then. So let me help you out." He pulled some more napkins out of his pocket. "I nicked them from the cafetria and thought you might wanna use them," he said with a shrug.

"Thanks, Yoh."

"No problem, Horo. Fold like there's no tomorrow, and you take care of that Ren kid, okay?"

"Sure."

Waving, Yoh got up and walked away, leaving Horohoro to do more folding.

At the end of the day, he had 19 cranes to give to Ren.

Before sleeping, Horohoro walked, clad in pajamas, to the camp medical center. He entered, checking in as a visitor. After sticking the required "Hi, I'm a Visitor!" sticker on his shirt, he made his way to Ren's bed.

Ren wasn't asleep yet, and when he saw Horohoro, his face seemed to light up a little.

Horohoro took a seat next to him. "I made more," he said cheerfully, dumping the cranes on Ren's bedside table. "See? Now you have twenty." He told Ren all about the day at camp, how much he was worried, and about the wasabi napkin. He told him everything, and how much he wished that Ren could be outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Laughing, Horohoro said, "You are not going to believe what happened to Hao today! That stupid bastard ran right into a wasp nest and got chased into the lake! Gosh, I wish you could've seen that...I thought I was gonna pee myself laughing...Though it's too bad he didn't actually get hurt, huh?"

Ren smiled and listened quietly to Horohoro speak, extremely grateful for his company.

"So," the Ainu said. "How's life for you in here?"

"I...it's not that bad," Ren replied. "It's boring...a-and I feel like I-I'm in a lot of pain...b-but the doctor's a good guy...and he's trying his best to h-help me..."

"Aww. You poor thing," Horohoro chuckled. "I sound like your mom, don't you?"

Ren was about to reply, but before he could, he felt Horohoro's lips brush his cheek softly. Blushing furiously, the Chinese boy began stuttering, "H-Horohoro...I...uh..."

"It's alright," the Ainu grinned. "You'd better get well soon, yeah?"

"Y-yeah..."

Horohoro stood up and grinned at Ren. "I have to be going. Good night, Ren. Sleep well."