Uiharu explained that one person had always kept Ruiko company since she had come out of surgery. For the first hour Uiharu talked to the comatose girl and had just switched places with Touma. She said it was better to leave only person with Ruiko, since that way they could say personal things without having to be embarrassed about being overheard. Mikoto was the sense in that and was also grateful that Uiharu had been beside her when she herself woke up. Mikoto wanted to head straight for Ruiko's room and see for herself how her friend was doing, but there was one thing she wanted to do. No, needed to do.

"Uiharu-san?"

"Yes?"

Mikoto swallowed and spoke, "I'm sorry."

Uiharu stared at her.

"I mean, if I had been more careful, and more powerful, none of this wouldn't have happened." Mikoto closed her eyes. "You must hate me, making Saten-san go through all this. I know an apology doesn't fix any-"

The next moment, Mikoto felt the younger girl wrap her arms around her. Her eyes opened in shock.
Uiharu spoke in a soft tone. "Well, it's true that Saten-san received severe injuries trying to save you, but do you think she regrets it one bit? I don't think so. She did it because she likes you. You're her friend. Maybe even more than friends."

"Eh?" Mikoto said in surprise. "What do you mean, more than friends?"

"I've seen the way Saten-san looks at you." Uiharu replied happily. "It's pretty obvious that she likes you. Besides…" Uiharu continued in a more serious voice, "What she did? Any one of us would have done the same for you, and no doubt you would have done the same for any of us. Because we're friends. Right, Misaka-san?"

And for the second time that morning, Uiharu's words resonated deeply inside Mikoto. And again she found herself crying, hugging the younger girl firmly, drawing comfort from her friend.

"You're too kind. Thank you."

"Misaka-san, please, I'm only saying the truth."

They smiled at each other.

She's right. Mikoto thought. I would have done they same for Saten-san. Mikoto remembered the distressed face mixed with guilt and relief she had seen on her friend when Mikoto had woken in the hospital from her shoulder wound. It had pained her to see her friend so upset.

It's the same thing, isn't it. Saten-san wouldn't want to see me be self-reproaching when she wakes up.

.

Also.

.

Saten-san likes me.

The thought itself was enough to make her slightly giddy. She knew she should have noticed it before. There had been several clues, now that Mikoto knew what to look for, but she had always been slightly cagey and guarded due to her label as the third strongest level 5 esper. As a result, Mikoto was quite oblivious to the finer details of romance. Indeed, as Uiharu had pointed out, Ruiko would often give her adoring looks when she thought Mikoto wasn't looking, and often was the first to offer to wash her back at the public baths.

And Mikoto knew she herself liked Ruiko too. It hadn't been clear in the beginning, starting as a fluttery feeling in her chest whenever Ruiko looked at her. But just before the fight at the warehouse, Mikoto had felt the strong desire to keep Ruiko happy and safe. And now, there was nothing Mikoto wanted more than to have Ruiko awake and spend time with her.

This is love. Mikoto realized. I actually love her.

It was a fiery passion in her heart; a desire to hold Ruiko close and protect her from whatever obstacle came their way. It was unfamiliar, yet somehow it felt natural.

It was a good feeling.

And with her heart set, she walked into Saten Ruiko's hospital room.

.

Touma looked up at her from his seat beside the hospital bed as she walked in, and gave a strained smile.

"Hey, Biribiri, you look alright."

Normally, Mikoto would have given him a shock for calling her that, but she let it slide this time. Touma looked both physically and emotionally drained, although he hid it well. Mikoto stood in front of him and said gently.

"You should go home and rest. You look tired." Before Touma could interrupt, she continued. "Don't worry about Saten-san, I'll look after her."

Touma looked undecided. He wanted to help wake Ruiko up, but having met her less than a day ago, there was little he could talk about to try to wake her up.

"You have hungry people waiting for you at home, you know." That was the final nail in the coffin. And although Touma still looked unsure, he contemplated Mikoto's expression and seemed to find something there that settled his mind.

"Okay... I'll take you up on your offer. Thanks."

Touma stood up and walked toward the door with his bag.

"Oh, and Biribiri… don't blame yourself. You couldn't have done anything in that situation, and-"

"Yeah, I know." Mikoto butted in. "I get it."

Touma glanced at her in surprise. Mikoto realized she had matured a little. A while ago, she would have held in her emotions and kept blaming herself for everything. The fact that she was acknowledging Touma's words came as a surprise to herself as well, but Mikoto remembered Uiharu's words.

Any one of us would have done the same for you, and no doubt you would have done the same for any of us. Because we're friends. Right, Misaka-san?

Right. Mikoto thought.

She and Touma exchanged a small smile, and Touma left.

.

Saten-san, I'm here.

Mikoto sat down in the seat beside the hospital bed and observed Ruiko. Her friend's face was slightly pale, but other than that her breath was even and heartbeat steady, according to the monitor on the wall. Seeing her friend look somewhat healthy dissolved a layer of worry that had been pushing down on Mikoto. The blankets were pulled up all the way to her shoulders, so Mikoto could not see any sign of her wounds, but Ruko's right arm trailed out of her cocoon and lay at her side.

Uiharu-san probably held her hand.

Mikoto enveloped her friend's hand with both of hers. Mikoto was comforted by how warm Ruiko's hand was.

She's really alive.

For the third time that morning, tears threatened to flow down her cheeks, but Mikoto brushed away the tears and smiled.

She's okay. She just needs to wake up. Mikoto took a deep breath.

"Saten-san, I –"

.

Just then, a knock came at the door followed by the entrance of the Gekota-like doctor.

"Hi there. Would you like to know about your friend's condition?" he asked with a gentle smile.

"Yes, doctor, please." Mikoto replied, slightly nonplussed that her monologue had been interrupted but still wanting to know the extent of Ruiko's injuries.

"Alright." The doctor cleared his throat, and spoke. "She received four bullets in her upper torso, three of which had remained lodged inside her. Miraculously, none of the bullets hit her vitals." The doctor gazed at Mikoto warmly. "She was very lucky in this regard. Now, when the ambulance arrived, she had already lost a lot of blood, and gone into cardiac arrest once more."

So Saten-san's heart had stopped twice. Mikoto felt guilt rise inside her, but pushed it aside for the time being.

"It's nothing short of a miracle that she lived long enough for us doctors to operate on her. She must be a very strong person." He continued, looking fondly at his patient. "We removed the bullet and closed off her wounds. Fortunately, the hospital had just received a large stock of blood, so we were able to replenish her systems without any problems. However, due to the large amount of harm done to her body, she went into shock. Hence, her comatose state right now."

Mikoto gazed at Ruiko, as if hoping for a change in her state, but Ruiko slept on oblivious to her surroundings.

"There is no way we can tell when she will wake up. Perhaps as soon as today, perhaps a few weeks, maybe even months or years. You must understand that." The doctor said kindly.

Mikoto nodded. "Thank you doctor. She'll wake up soon." She added, stroking Ruiko's hand.

The doctor nodded back at her, and stood up with a yawn. "I'm going to take a rest. See you later."

"Thank you." Mikoto replied sincerely.

.

After the doctor left, Mikoto kept tracing circles on Ruiko's palm. She debated what to start with. An apology? Mikoto's feelings for her? Having no experience with this sort of thing, Mikoto felt slightly awkward and hesitant.

Do people in comas hear and remember what you said? No, that doesn't matter. Just say what you think. No need to be embarrassed, don't hold back.

Mikoto told herself, and took a deep breath.

Here we go.

"Saten-san, first of all, I'm sorry for causing all this. It could have been averted, but it happened. And I'm sorry. But Uiharu-san told me that any of us would have done the same for anyone else, and she's right. I would do the same for you, and I know if that happened, I wouldn't want you to be sad about it. So I'm not going to mope about it and blame myself."

Mikoto paused, still tracing patterns on Ruiko's hand. She moved the hand and laid it against her forehead, as if it would help convey her words to the comatose girl.

"Secondly, thank you for saving me. You were brave and selfless, and if you hadn't done what you did, Kuroko and I would have died. So thank you." Mikoto sniffed. "I kind of want to shout at you, were you out of your mind, but again I would have done the same, so I guess that makes me a hypocrite, huh?"

She laughed weakly and tears blurred her vision, but Mikoto went on.

"Thirdly, I need to tell you that… I… I like you." She said in a rush. "I really like you. I didn't notice it before, but I think I always have. I want to spend more time with you, get to know you even better… So if that means anything to you, please… please…"

Tears were now openly coursing down her cheeks, spotting the white blanket.

"Please, Saten-san, wake up…!"
.

And then, an incredibly familiar and nostalgic voice answered her.
.

"And here… I was… thinking you… liked Kami…jou-san…"

Mikoto lifted her head to stare at Ruiko's face incredulously, wondering if she had imagined her friend's voice. Ruiko's eyes were still closed, mouth unmoving. Mikoto shook her head wryly.

Now I'm imagining things. I better get myself checked by the doctor, huh. Mikoto sighed. A moment of hope crushed by cruel reality. She angrily brushed away her tears and gripped Ruiko's hand firmly with both of hers.

"Saten-san… I don't know when you'll wake up, but I'll be here for you when you do." Mikoto promised.

No matter how long it takes.

And felt something twitch between her fingers.

"Eh…?"

Mikoto turned back at her friend's face. And froze, when her gaze was met by Ruiko's half-open cerulean eyes.

"I'm back… Misaka…san." Her voice was weak and hoarse, but so incredibly real.

"Sorry… I made… you worry."

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Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Only one chapter left! I'll probably finish it tomorrow, so be sure to check back or follow the story to catch the ending. Thank you all for your reviews, faves, and follows. Very much appreciated!