A Forgotten Story =?
DAY 5 - [Shine Sun Sakae - Hospital]
"You know... This is really surprising for me to hear about your recklessness in the campus. We're in college, specifically scholar-dormers. So tell me how your school blazer got a rip?" She asked, bewildered at the injury of the clothing. 'Was it because of the fan girls or some rouge jocks?'
Joe shrugged, sitting down fiddling his collar from his white collar shirt. On her first week of classes in college, she saw a post from her past classmates of Joe wearing the male version of her college's clothes. Weirdness turned to the max, she came in the dormitory one day to see her new dorm friends surrounding Joe. His carefree personality and smooth talk made him the dorm's idol-model guy. Looking at the dark blue blazer, the girl looks back at Joe and remembered his birthday presents. 'Wearing dark colors certainly seem to suit him more than bright colors… I think I know what to give him in his next birthday.'
"Something in your mind?" Joe smiles in a 'suave' manner, making his companion role her eyes. She remembered that Joe told all his and her friends that they were lovers. Pretending that they were high school lovers which she knows isn't official. He's just doing that to remove unwanted attention. Ever since he made that rumor though, Joe has been sticking around her room for group studies and etc. She can't tell him off because he's also a dormer, a neighboring dormer in fact. Funny right?
But she kind of liked play-pretend with Joe in terms of being lovers since he has to do whatever she wants. A.K.A. study and research inside the library, shopping for food supplies in their room and joining organizations such as the art's club. However, on third year, their play-pretend became a reality when Joe saw her talking with her classmate. The guy looked nice and decent, asking her out for a date since they finished their project. She was about to decline when suddenly Joe came. Coming in to waltz her away with his persuasion skill, he held her hand tightly as they went to the garden. Since they were alone there, they had a rather load verbal argument. He said she shouldn't date guys she just met while she complained that he isn't the boss of her. The argument escalated to being a direct confession from Joe - stating that she was very important to him and that he doesn't her to get hurt by anyone like in her past love life. (Finding out your ex-boyfriend is secretly dating your best friend made her stop talking to anyone for a month.)
Since then, Joe hasn't left her side, watching over her like a real boyfriend. She waited and waited until the day of Valentine where he proposes that they stop playing pretend and really become lovers. She accepted and life hadn't changed after that much to her amazement, except well the kisses and hugs she receive and give to Joe. Right now, he rests there with his slightly unbuttoned collar shirt. She wondered if Joe was an organized person when he was still in home. Home which was a very sensitive topic to him until now. "Never mind my thoughts. Give me five minutes probably for me to fix it."
"Actually, I was thinking of buying a new one since I have the money and all." Joe mumbled, knowing fully well that she was very thrifty with money, making persuasion difficult. The girl stares at him, thinking of the situation at hand. Now that she thinks about it, why did he go to her to ask permission? He is her boyfriend so she shouldn't show his weakness to her. Unless he didn't read those sappy love books in the bookstore. She sighed with a smile on her lips, 'Thank you, GOD.'
"No. The blazer can still be worn so don't waste money." She scolded, picking up a needle and thread from her purse. Joe just shook his head with a smile, watching her connect the two together so as to hand stitch the rip. "Besides, I don't think you have utilized your resources to buy one clothing. We're both going to finish college soon so we won't know what will happen in the future."
"Pfft. Trust me will ya? My intuition is always right. I will be able to get a job right off the bat. No sweat even." Joe waved his hand, dismissing what he heard from her. Sure. He had to take a scholarship since he left his parents at the end of high school, forcing himself to do part-time jobs at night just to get payment for his miscellaneous fees. Yet did he want her to know that? He already gave a lie telling her that his family was poor. 'How would she react to the truth?' is something Joe didn't need to know. "And what happens if this gets ripped again?"
"Then you still have to call me. I like stitching." She muttered, closing the rip with a simple cross stitch. Joe didn't respond, resting his chin on his palm as he watched her do her work. After a while, she showed her finished work to Joe who smiled gratefully. Pausing for a while, she looks up at Joe meaningfully. "We are going to still talk even after college right?"
"Of course, Love." Joe walks up to her and gives a peck on the lips. She giggled and hugs him affectionately, holding the jacket behind him. After letting go, both of them stared each other in the eyes. "I know I could count on you."
"Anything for you love. Call me anytime~" She winks seductively, making Joe laugh and cup her cheeks for a kiss. But as they were about to kiss, she felt like something was about to come out of her mouth that accompanied a sharp jab of pain on the chest.
"!" The woman woke up coughing, covering her mouth with her blanket to muffle out her sound. There was patients who needed there sleep after all. However, when she finally calmed down… She looks down at the blanket and sees traces of blood. It was getting worse and she really hated her immune system right now. I mean, Joe just proposed to her yesterday. She was going to get married and have a happy life with him in an apocalyptic era when she gets out of this hospital. Okay, it sounds bad at first, but the notion sounded exciting. Just think of the possibilities of helping others as well as kick demon butt without a certificate of beating those things? Tomorrow, Joe was going to invite and explain to her personally a demon summoning app called Nicaea. Hopefully, she gets a useful demon so she can help with the fighting. If the demons are support type, she'll have to be in the sidelines. 'Stupid illness.'
"…" Looking at the window now dressed with a strong orange colored curtain, the brunette longed to be outside. Being inside this room made her remember what Otome said to her, hopefully she was wrong. There must be some medicine supply to treat her illness. For Joe's sake, she has to survive this illness. Trying to stand up, she felt an unknown yet strong sense of exhaustion, making her just lie on her bed. Taking deep breaths, she changed her mind on seeing the stars and go back to sleep. A small thought lingered in her head, vanishing quickly as it wasn't very important for her.
"I wonder who is the person changing the curtain color?"
[Hisaya Odori - Nagoya Branch]
"What is Otome doing, Makoto-san?" Io asked, sitting beside her companion on top of Nagoya branch. Watching the hospital from afar, the blue-haired adult leans her chin on the palm of her hand. "I thought we shouldn't change the timeline?"
"She isn't making any direct change per say." Makoto tried to explain, her palm slowly slid to her cheek while thinking of a good reason. Io looks at her tentatively, her short brown locks bouncing in the air due to the wind speed on top of the building. Makoto closed her eyes, making sure that there is no double meaning to what she is going to mention to the young brunette. "Yanagiya is just testing the water. She does this to see if there will be any horrible effects if she gets our last member."
"Heh? Like throwing a rock at Canopus? Making a huge wave of water if you hit the right spot~!" Io thought out loud with a smile, making Makoto's head fell from her supporting hand. Makoto then turned to Io with a dubious expression. Io blinked, unfazed at her friend's reaction. Tilting her head, Io covered her mouth, "Haven't you done that before? I mean Hibiki did introduce that game to us."
"She didn't. Probably because she stuck to the rules." A familiar albino appeared behind them. Wearing his usual black top and white shorts, Keita looked smug and bored at the same time. Makoto was not pleased at all. Seeing the woman stand up, the albino knew something bad was about to happen to him. Whenever Makoto stood up with that annoyed face, she would tug your ear and begin her hour-long scolding. "Crap. The old hag's going to start!"
"Who you calling Hag? Come back here Keita!" Makoto raged as Keita teleported away. Looking at Io, Makoto pats her head. "I'll be right back. Do not fall down or summon demons for entertainment. Understood young lady?"
"Yes Mom~" Io giggled, happy to see Makoto and Keita getting along so well. Seeing the adult disappear, she checks the hospital again to see the Ferris wheel move slowly. "2 more days to go~!"