Words: 764
Happy AoGA House Cup!
The doctor's face falls as Misaki updates him on Koko's health, "I don't know what else to do. . . He's just a boy".
The doctor puts her a cup of tea, as is customary for an upset client, staff or family member. "His Alice has lost control and it is obviously killing him, child. There is naught you and I can do but wait."
"You want to leave him like that?" Misaki asks incredulously, her eyes wide and furious. "We're Alices! There has to be someone who can-" "We are," the doctor says tartly, "But we are humans as much as those outside the walls are. I'm sorry, Harada."
Misaki desperately wants to retort, but she knows the old man is right and she slumps back in her seat, the fire in her eyes dying. "W-when..." She stutters shakily. "When will his mind..." She looks up, voice soft and clipped, "...give up?"
"We can never predict things like that," the doctor replies, his tone surprisingly cold and even. "But I would assume his mind will give up when he gives up. There's no cure besides hope."
Misaki looks down at the cup of tea she had been served, and she gets a strong urge to throw the boiling, hot water at the doctor's face. Then maybe he'll feel something called sympathy.
'You knew what you signed up for,' Misaki scolds herself, although bitterly, 'You knew your job means seeing people suffer, seeing people die.' She quickly erases the thought. 'No,' she wills herself to understand, 'Koko's not going to die, he's just going through a tough time.'
She attempts to calm herself as she places the tea on the table, "They're stronger than that."
She exits the room and heads out to see Sumire having breakfast with Mikan and Koko attached to a thousand machines. She notes how blissfully unaware they are and wonders if her decision not to meddle was a smart one.
Sumire found herself having breakfast in her room with Mikan Sakura, making it the third time this week. But this time, she has questions - lots of them, after what happened earlier in the day.
"So Natsume was like 'hn,' and then Hotaru said-"
"Mikan," Sumire interrupts, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but... do you know a Kokoro Yome?"
The brunette stills, her cup halfway in the air as she clears her throat and looks away. "Yeah, I do..." Mikan forces a smile, taking a quick sip of her hot choco. "What about him?"
"I think he needs me" Sumire says simply as she nibbles on a piece of toast. "And not one person will tell me where to find him".
Mikan sips her hot chocolate again, before it hits her.
"Wait, Sumire, you remember Koko? Do you... remember what happened to him?"
"No, but that basically means he needs me, doesn't it? Won't you tell me where to find him, Mikan?" Sumire pleads.
The other girl hesitates, plinking her cup on the small plate. "Sumire..." she says, a little uncomfortable, "Well, the thing is..." Sumire leans in, a desperate and hopeful look in her eyes that it pierces right through Mikan's heart (and she wonders why is life so cruel to them).
"I'm not supposed to tell you" she says, her voice becoming quieter, "But I'd want someone to tell me if it was Hotaru-Chan".
"So . . ." Sumire urges in hope that she may be able to save him.
Mikan's eyes twinkle, "He's next door, Permy, but I don't suggest you go in there".
Sumire feels frozen for a moment. Next door? The boy she had been wondering about, the boy she chose to try to forget about because he never visited, was right next door?
"I-I have to visit him," she whispers, standing up; but Mikan pulls her back down.
"You can't, Sumire; it'll just break your heart if you go in there!"
She tears away from the grip and glares back defiantly. "I need to go, Mikan," she says in a low tone, "I wouldn't dare not meet him." With that, she turns and opens the door.
She sees him, covered in cords. Her breath stops as she sees the boy she still doesn't quite remember cough, causing a red liquid to splatter from his mouth.
Sumire approaches him silently hearing a faint mutter come from his lips; "So many voices, why won't they shut up? I miss you, Sumire".
"... Koko?" she whispers. The boy doesn't respond, but his eyes seem to glaze over. Sumire walks more quickly towards him.
"Is that you, Koko?"