"Look, the boy has nothing to do with this," Akagi took a decisive step towards the two, "Just let Kiyota go, OK?"
"No!" came a desperate shriek.
"Just let him go…"
"He's the reason, isn't he?"
"The reason?" Akagi was confused.
"The reason why you rejected me."
"Kiyota?" more confusion. The crowd (hey, seven is a crowd!) looked at each other.
"Yes, I saw you! I saw you two kissing and hugging!"
"You mean at the pool?" Akagi looked shocked.
A nod was the silent answer he received.
"Look, I think you misunderstood," said Maki, "that was a CPR… you know, mouth-to-mouth, Kiyota passed out, and Akagi was the only one who was man enough to do it."
Everyone nodded in unison, this time including Rukawa.
"He called the rest of us wussies!" chuckled Sendoh, which seemed to convince the nurse.
Akagi led out a huge sigh, and spoke, "Look, if I ever hurt you, I didn't mean to."
And with that he took one firm and deliberate step forward.
The nurse pulled back hesitantly.
He continued, "In fact, when I receive the letter, I was… I was stunned, surprised, flattered."
The nurse looked at him now, unsure whether she wanted to believe him.
"It was my first confession letter, and I was so happy that I thought I could jump to heaven."
At this, Rukawa, Sendoh and Fujima raised an eyebrow. They got enough of the stuff every week that they use it to incinerate their fire place.
Another step.
"And knowing that it is from you..." The tall man pressed his palm against his heart to emphasize his sincerity, "Most women are scared of me. They call me a gorilla."
At this, Mitsui had to cover Sakuragi's mouth before the redhead could let out any laughter.
"But you," Akagi peered at both his gangster teammates, and nodded as they managed to quiet down, "You are not scared of me. This is the first time I met a woman who isn't scared of me."
The nurse looked visibly touched. Kiyota sucked in some air desperately as the grip on his neck loosened a little.
"Maybe I am not good at this, maybe I am clumsy."
Another step.
"But if you would allow me, I promise I will make it up to you." Akagi sucked in a deep breath, here it goes, "I thought maybe, just maybe, we could go on a date?"
"A date?" the nurse's features softened a little, tears welled up in her slanted eyes.
"Yes, a date. Like going to an ice cream parlour, or to a movie, whatever you like."
"Whatever I like?" her arms trembling now, the decisive strength that was so stubborn before noticeably loosened.
"Do you like movie?"
"Yes… I," she said, her face broke into a smile, which made her looked again like a sweet angel, "I like it very much." And with that, she lowered the scalper, and tears started streaming down her pretty face.
It was at this moment Akagi yelled, "NOW - !"
At his command Sakuragi and Mitsui sprang forward in lightning speed, and with a practiced move Sakuragi grabbed the nurse by the shoulder and head-butted her, causing her to release both Kiyota and the scalper, while Mitsui grabbed Kiyota by his nape, wrenching him forcefully from the nurse's gripe as they both fell to the floor.
With the nurse temporarily unconscious, Akagi took a large stride forward.
He then felt something squished under his foot.
It was the worm.
He rolled his eyes and took a deep sigh, gave Sendoh and Rukawa an accusing stare before taking the last step forward to help the nurse sit up.
"We will go on a date." He said as he smiled sweetly at her, holding both her shoulders, "Tonight, dinner and movie, OK?"
The nurse nodded, the large form in her vision blurred as tears continued to fall down her cheeks, her voice low and trembling, "Dinner and movie sounds wonderful".
"I will pick you up at 7."
The nurse smiled and crumbled into Akagi's chest, the swollen lump on her head still steaming form the head-butt.
Everyone led out a sign of relieve. The hostage situation was over, and everyone turned to return to their rooms.
"Hey, Kenji." It was Hanagata as he was walking with his captain side-by-side down the corridoor.
"Yes?"
"We should go on a date too." Hanagata said it with a smirk.
"Yeah right." answered Fujima with a smile, and elbowed his team mate on the side.
"Ouch!"
With everyone gone, one person remained standing at the corridor, starring solemnly on the floor where the mashed up worm laid.
"Sorry worm, rest in peace." muttered Sendoh quietly as he picked up his fish food, and headed out to the garden.