When I awoke, it was late in the afternoon. Yui and I stayed up a little too late talking and laughing about things I couldn't remember.

The small room had no windows, so I had no idea that I had woken up so late. The darkness made me believe it was still the middle of the night. The small hospital chair was very uncomfortable, but I didn't mind. I slept so well that night, I didn't think about how hard and rough the chair was. Yui was still sleeping soundly when I awoke, so I decided to leave her be. I caught myself smiling as I looked at her.

I had almost forgotten about what happened the night before. Her lips were so soft and gentle, my heart skipping a beat every time I thought about it. I couldn't believe that it had happened.

Was she my girlfriend now? I questioned myself if kissing a girl made her my girlfriend, which I later realized was probably a silly thing to think. I had never had a girlfriend before, so you could say I was highly unexperienced. I didn't know the first thing about dating, but somehow convinced myself I would ask her when she woke up.

To pass the time, I turned on the TV and watched some baseball. I felt terrified of waking Yui up for some reason, so I left the volume low. A few nurses came in and out to check on her monitor and her tubes, all of them looking surprised to see me sitting there.

After awhile, Yui's mother came in. I hadn't seen her since I took Yui to the hospital the first night, and she never returned my calls. Was that her own doing or was it by Yui's instruction?

"Hello Hinata," she gave me a small smile, so I at least knew she didn't hate me. "I didn't expect to see you here."

I paused for a moment as she gently walked over to her daughter. "I hope you don't mind... She wanted me to stay for the night."

Myoshi put her hand on Yui's forehead. "That's quite alright. I'm glad to see you two are friends again."

It was strange to have her act so distant towards me. "Did you get any of my-"

"Yes, I recieved your calls," she finished, turning to look at me. "Yui told me not to talk with you. She wanted you to forget about her."

My hand balled into a fist. "But I still don't understand why that would make things any better. Of course I want to be friends with her."

Yui's heart monitor beeped a little faster and Miyoshi looked down at her. "She's a strange girl. Please remember she hasn't had many friends... She's still learning how to have them."

I watched as Yui's small chest moved up and down underneath the blankets. She looked so peaceful I wanted to crawl next to her and sleep forever. "I'm glad I can help her in some way at least."

"Don't be silly Hinata. All she wants is to have a friend. I'm so glad she's finally found someone that can stay with her."

I lowered my head to look down at my feet. "I'm happy then," I said quietly. "I'm sorry to put you through all of this."

"It's not your fault at all. She's been lonely without you," she turned to smile at me. "I'm so glad you're back."

We discussed things a little more, but it was all small talk. How I was doing, what was going on at school, how baseball has been, that sort of thing. Before leaving, she brushed a piece of hair out of Yui's face and gave me a small smile. "You'll take care of her for me won't you?"

I returned her smile. "Of course I will."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Yui woke up an hour later. I was watching the baseball game on TV when I heard a small moan and saw her stretching her tubing-filled arms. I practically jumped out of my seat. "Yui! You're awake!"

She rubbed her eyes. "Yeah." Her voice was quiet and sleepy. "You stayed."

I sat on the edge of the mattess. "Of course I stayed. I told you I wasn't going to leave remember?"

"Yeah... I remember," she sat up a little. "I just thought you might need to go somewhere, that's all."

"Well actually," I smiled. "I was going to call two friends of mine to come over. I met them on the train a month or so ago and they might know what's going on. Between us and our strange feelings towards each other I mean."

I told her about Otonashi and Kanade. I explained how I had felt the same connection towards them as I had with her, and that if we all came together we might be able to understand what was happening. There wasn't a huge chance it would help very much but it was worth a shot. Yui agreed, and I dialed Otonashi's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Otonashi. Yui's awake and she's agreed to let you and Kanade come and see her."

"That's great!" He sounded genuinely excited. "We'll be over soon."

"Sounds great," I said. "See you in a bit."

I put my phone back in my pocket. "They're coming."

Yui smiled. "I really hope we can come up with something."

"Me too," I said, taking ahold of her hand. "Also uhm... Yui?"

"Yes?" Her eyes were fixed on me, which didn't help my nervousness. How was I going to say this without sounding stupid?

I squeezed her hand a little. "Last night... I just wanted to ask..." My voice couldn't form words.

"Is something wrong?" Yui looked worried.

"No, no. It's the opposite actually," I laughed quietly. "Would you... Are we... Will you be my girlfriend Yui?"

I didn't look up at her. I was too afraid to, even though we had kissed the night before and held hands and hugged, I was still nervous as to what she would say.

"But Hinata I-" she didn't sound happy which made my heart sink. "I can't walk, I can't take care of you or do things like a normal girl would."

My eyes met hers. "Yui, I don't care about that. I don't care if you can't walk or can't always take care of me or even take care of yourself. I want to be the boy who takes care of you." I couldn't believe I was saying all of this outloud but honestly it felt good. So I kept going.

"You may not be able to cook or clean or run or dance or work... But that doesn't matter to me Yui. I want to be here for you," I said. "I love you, Yui."

She stared at me with wide eyes. Her mouth was open slightly but no words came out.

"So will you stay with me?"

Her voice was so quiet I barely heard her. "Yes. Of course I'll stay with you," she smiled.

"Great," my voice cracked. "I'm really happy."

"Me too," she laughed. "I've never had a boyfriend before..."

"And I've never had a girlfriend," I laughed. "I guess it'll be a learning experience for us."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

An hour later Otonashi and Kanade arrived. I went to the front desk and took them into the back hallway towards Yui's room. Kanade was her usual quiet self while Otonashi seemed cheerful and sprightly. I couldn't help but laugh a little.

"Do you feel anything?" I asked them when we stood in front of Yui's door. "Anything unusual at all?"

"I do," Kanade said. "It's the same feeling I had when I met Yuzuru."

"Good," I said. "So we know that this isn't just me and that I'm not insane."

"I feel it a little too," Otonashi said, putting his hands in his pockets. "It feels like I need to open the door and see her... Like an attraction. Like a magnet."

I nodded. "That's how I felt too. You ready?"

They both agreed, and I opened the door. Yui sat in her bed happily, and it reminded me of when I first met her when I hit the baseball through her window.

We all stepped inside and I closed the door behind us. "This is Yui," I introduced her. "Yui, this is Otonashi and Kanade."

Kanade went right up to Yui and took her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Otonashi stood next to me and made a small waving motion with his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Looking at Yui and Kanade I could tell they would get along well. They both were small and friendly, and they smiled at each other like they were best friends.

"So Yui," I asked. "Do you remember anything?"

"A little," she said, studying Kanade's face carefully. "I remember seeing a girl who looks like you. But I don't remember the name Kanade. It was another name."

"Was it Angel?" I asked. "That's the name I remembered for her."

Yui knitted her eyebrows like she was trying so hard to think. "That sounds so familiar... So so familiar."

"I think I remember you, Yui." Otonashi piped in. "You sing right? Play in a musical group?"

Yui shook her head. "No I don't do either of those. I mean I like to sing but I'm not a professional or anything... I don't perform if that's what you're thinking. I'm paralyzed... so I couldn't play an instrument."

"Yeah that's why I'm feeling conflicted," Otonashi leaned against the wall. "I remember you playing guitar and singing, yet you couldn't play guitar because you can't move your hands."

"I've always wanted to play in a band though," she smiled. "I watch girl bands on TV at home and I always wanted to sing with them."

The room was silent for a moment. "Anything else you remember?" I asked Otonashi and Kanade.

"I feel like I know her," Kanade said. "I just don't know how."

Hey guys :) I hope you liked the chapter! The next one should be up soon since I took a little longer for this one. Thank you for all the nice reviews/follows :)