Chapter four: New Memories

"Miss, let go of the patient."

"No…"

"We need to take her to the hospital. Please let-"

"No!"

Mio ignored the men and ran into the ambulance with Ritsu inside.

"Ritsu… Ritsu…"

Mio hugged her friend and her body was filled with her warmth.

"Ritsu… I love you… Ritsu… Why do I realize this now…"

Tears leaked out of her eyes.

Don't leave me…

"Looks like you're here."

There was a doctor at the scene and he saw Mio in the ambulance.

"Y-Yes…?"

"I got good news and bad news."

Mio couldn't decide which one she wanted to hear first.

"The good news is… The people who have been hurting you and your friend here have been arrested."

Mio sighed. At least they won't come after her and Ritsu anymore.

"The bad news is…"

Mio gulped.

"The shot she had taken is dangerously near her heart. She has a very slim chance of surviving…"

Mio's eyes widened and her eyes fell on the small brunette. No sound emerged from the shorter girl's lips. The vehicle started to move.

"Ah, looks like we're on our way. Please, rest. I need to take a inspection of your friend here."

Mio nodded slowly and folded her arms next to Ritsu, drifting in a peaceful sleep.


"Miss…. Excuse me… Wake up please…" The doctor was shaking Mio, who was sleeping on a bench near a door with the numbers '570' on it.

"Huh…?" Mio stretched and realized where she was.

"What? W-Where's Rit-"

"Oh, she's in that room, thank goodness she's alive, but there was one small-"

Mio only listened up to 'alive' and quickly went inside the room Ritsu was in.

"She's alive… Ritsu's alive…"

Mio sat in Ritsu's bedside and snuck under the covers with her. The bed was big enough to support the two of them and Mio has been losing weight lately, so it wasn't much of a problem to fit in the bed. Mio remembered the last time she and Ritsu slept in the same bed. It was since their freshman year. Mio started to reminisce in the past.

"Mio! Mio! Let's sleep over tonight!"

"Eh? Why?"

The energetic little brunette kept shaking the slightly taller girl until she heard a valid answer. They were in the playground near their houses.

"What do you mean 'why'? Best friends sleep at each other's houses all the time!"

"I need to ask mommy first…"

"Then let's go to your place!"

"W-Wait a second! I don't know what to-"

Before the black-haired girl can finish her sentence she was dragged away to her house. As they went along she noticed some strangers smiling at them as Ritsu dragged Mio to her house for permission.

"Ah, so you want to sleep over at Ritsu's house?"

Her mother smiled.

"Of course you can. It's the weekend anyways. Here's your clothes Mio, don't forget to come home tomorrow afternoon okay? We'll miss you."

Mio smiled as her mother kissed her on her cheek.

"Ok. Let's go Ritcchan."

"Yay! Let's go!"

And off they went to Ritsu's place.

"Mommy, can Mio-Chan spend the night here?

"I can't think of a reason why not to, so sure."

"Thanks mom!"

And the both ran into Ritsu's room. There was a bag of open chips and a cup of soda. Some Manga was spread onto Ritsu's bed.

"Sorry it's a little messy…" Ritsu sheepishly replied with a blush and started cleaning her room. After cleaning Ritsu shot her head up from a Manga she was reading.

"Oh!"

"What is it?"

"We don't have any spare beds…"

"Then how am I supposed to-"

"I know! Let's sleep together!"

"Eh?"

Mio was looking at a proud-looking Ritsu, who looks as if she made the most incredible suggestion ever.

"B-But isn't that-"

"It'll be fine! Come on! It's time to sleep anyways!"

Ritsu ran into her bathroom and changed into her pajamas, Mio did the same in Ritsu's room (Since Ritsu was in the bathroom).

"Night Mio!"

"G-Goodnight…" Mio tucked herself in the bed with her back facing Ritsu. They both fell asleep peacefully.

At that moment Ritsu felt like it was a really good time to change her position and she turned to face Mio. Mio realized that Ritsu's headband was taken off and was probably with the police for evidence. So now that it's gone, she saw Ritsu's bangs freely falling on her face.

Ritsu looks really cute when she's asleep…

Mio wiped some of the bangs away from Ritsu's face and stared at her sleeping figure.

"I love you… Ritsu…"

Mio couldn't control herself and on impulse her face moved closer to Ritsu's. Just before Mio could plant her lips she hesitated.

No… This doesn't seem right… Besides… It shouldn't be like this… Our first kiss…

Mio backtracked and put her lips on Ritsu's cheek. It was soft and smooth. Mio started to close her eyes.

"Goodnight… Ritcchan…"


The sunlight passed through the curtains of the room and the light flooded itself in.

"Ugh…" Ritsu moved her one arm, because the other was numb to the touch. It hit something soft.

What the…

"Ah!" Ritsu shouted and Mio fell off the bed.

"Ouch! The heck was that for, Ritsu!"

"Who-Who are you!"

Ritsu stares blankly at Mio. Mio scoffs.

"Pfft, seriously Ritsu, this prank isn't working on me."

"Who the heck is Ritsu?"

Mio stared at Ritsu.

"Are… Are you serious?"

"I'm dead serious. Who the heck is Ritsu?"

The doctor comes into the room.

"I see you found out, Miss Akiyama."

"Found out what? And who's Miss Akiyama?"

"It's the girl right in front of you."

"You're Miss Akiyama?"

Mio nods.

"Nice to meet you! I'm… Erm… I'm… Who am I?"

"Your name is Tainaka Ritsu."

"My name is Ritsu?"

The doctor sighs and faces Mio.

"You ran off into the room without me telling you. You see, from the massive injuries she's received, and how everything happened so fast, Ritsu has received permanent amnesia."

"P-Permanent?"

"She has forgotten completely everything."

"Ritsu… Ritsu forgot me… She forgot Yui… Mugi… Azuza… Sawako… Nodoka… Jun… She forgot the Light Music Club… All the memories…"

Mio started to tear up. No way in this world has the infamous Tainaka Ritsu forgotten completely everything.

"Hey… I haven't gotten your full name you know."

Mio tried to talk, choking between sobs, "I-It's Mio… Mio Akiyama… Your Best… Best Friend…"

"Mio? Look… I may not have remembered a single thing that has happened… But you and whoever Yui, Mugi, Azuza, Sawako, Nodoka, and Jun seem to be the most important people I know."

Mio looked up at Ritsu.

"Besides, Mio…"

Ritsu smiles.

"You are the one person that I care most about in this entire world."

Ritsu starts to laugh.

"Of course, Yui and this Light Music Club you were talking about, I care about them too."

Mio kneels next to Ritsu and hugs her.

"I love you… I love you Ritsu!"

Mio didn't care what she would say. She had to let it out. She took all the courage she could… And she let it out.

"I love you too, Mio."

Mio escorted Ritsu out of the hospital. Mio contacted everyone and they met her outside of the hospital gates.

"You guys… You must be the ones Mio has been talking about… Right?"

They all nodded.

"It's sad the Ritcchan doesn't remember all the things we did…" Yui said.

"But that leaves more room for more memories!" Ui clapped her hands together. Mugi smiled.

"Yes… How about we play a song for Ritcchan?"

"Mio-Senpai! You made a song recently before all this happened right?"

"Y-Yes… But-"

"Sing it Mio!" Ritsu smiled.

With a blush adorning Mio's cheeks, she smiles. "Alright."

She goes towards the group, facing Ritsu.

"You see, I made this a couple weeks ago… It's still winter, so I think it would be appropriate to name it 'Winter Days'"

Yui started to hum the tune. Ritsu sat on the bench and listened to Mio's voice.

No matter how cold it is, I'm happy

Watching your white breath as you spring into a run

Your hairstyle really suits you

But I want to see how you look with your bangs down

I wonder what I should say

Is "I love you" a good way to start?

The fluttering snow is like my dancing feelings

And somehow, I'm happy.

Mio stopped singing. Ritsu stared at her in awe.

"Woah… Mio. You should be a singer!"

Mio blushed, "W-Well… I am a singer. Along with Yui…"

Ritsu realized something. "Umm.. How am I going to go home?"

"Well, Mio-Chan knows the best route."

"Yes, and besides, I think Mio-Chan would be the best person to lead Ritsu home." Mugi smiles.

"S-Stop looking at me like that, Mugi." Mio blushes.

"Captain Ritcchan! We'll see you tomorrow so we can gather your memories!"

"Captain? Are you referring to me, Yui?"

"Yosh! And you call me Private Yui!"

"Alright then Private, see you tomorrow!"

Yui, Mugi, Ui, Azuza, and the others left home in their separate ways, leaving Mio and Ritsu alone once more.

"It's getting dark Mio, and I'm getting cold too."

"Here, follow me." Mio reaches out for Ritsu's hand, and the both walk to Ritsu's home holding hands. Mio hummed Winter Days while walking.

On this vivid white, shining road

I want to walk with you; it would be okay if we held hands.

Your mischievous smile really suits you

But I also want to see your shy, blushing face.

No one talked during the walk. But even so, the air was filled with a happy atmosphere.

Why is it that no words will come out?

Should I look some up in a dictionary?

The falling snow, like my feelings, won't stop.

It's sort of painful.

Inside of my heart

I'm taking a deep breath.

Ritsu looks up at the sky.

"Hey, Hey Mio! Look! It's snowing!"

Mio looks up and sees a mass of white specks fall from the sky. She smiles.

"We're almost there."

Even though I feel like the aching in my heart is increasing.

I realized it's just because I think about you that often.

Just as I thought!

They arrive at Ritsu's house.

"We're here, Ritsu."

"Thank you Mio!" Ritsu knocks on her door and waits for her mother to respond.

Tomorrow we'll meet at our usual place.

You'll be running and I'll wait for you

Just like I'm waiting for the first snow of the season.

Run a little faster!

"Ritsu! You recovered!"

"Yeah, Mom."

"She developed amnesia, Mrs. Tainaka."

"I see… We missed you a lot, Ritcchan."

"I can tell." Ritsu smiles.

I wonder what I should say

Is "I love you" a good way to start?

My feelings are dancing like fluttering snow-

"Till tomorrow, Mio!"

Mio walks away, but turns around and yells,

"I love you, Ritsu!"

"I love you too Mio!" Ritsu yells back, smiling, and she closes the door.

With a smile, Mio walks towards her own home.

And somehow, I'm happy.