Chapter 6: I Don't Not Love You

Otonashi's POV

When we reached the hospital, the front counter lady looked up at us. Hinata and I apologized for the damage but she kept insisting we go up and apologize to the patient instead.

"Those shards could've hit the person. Even if it didn't, the person should be really surprised, would he or she not?"

So we were forced to go to the 7th floor where the damage is and down the hallway. It took us forever because there was no shouting or anything so it took a long time. We checked almost every room until Kanade stopped hallway through the search.

"I think it is this room," she pointed at the name plate.

Yui!

Hinata stopped in his tracks as his mouth opened in surprise, "H-how? It can't be, Angel. There's no way it can!"

"Let's check," I patted his shoulder. "I'll do the talking if you're uncomfortable with it."

He didn't answer so I went ahead and knocked on the door three times, Kanade by my right hand side. When nobody answered, I called, "Hello? Anybody there?"

I couldn't help but get really excited. One, I get to see an old friend but also my plan was executed perfectly! How lucky.

When nobody answered, I opened a door a bit and looked in, Kanade still under me.

I saw the back of Yuri's head and a tall man in a lab coat whom I guessed was her father but that was it.

"Uncle Kiyoshi," Kanade opened the door the whole way, causing me to fall over as she walked in as if nothing happened.

The man turned and looked at Tachibana, "Kanade? You're here, too?"

"I was at the game with my friends Yuzuru and Hinata," she answered as he petted her head.

"Your father will be here tomorrow so stop by and say hi, got it?"

She nodded then turned towards the broken window.

I stood up and brushed myself off. The people in the room are Yuri and her father, Yui and her mother.

I scanned the room to find everybody in shock looking at the window and an object in Yui's hand.

Yui's hand?

I looked at my old friend. She was sitting up, her eyes open, and rotating the ball in her little hand.

"Wait I thought you were supposed to be in a coma?" I exclaimed.

She looked over at me for the first time. Her eyes widen at the sight of me before she smiled, "Hey it's one of the morons!"

"That's not a way to greet a friend you haven't seen for years!" I argued.

"Oh I'm sorry for pointing out the obvious!"

"You didn't even sugar coat it!"

"Hey! How was I supposed to know you that would get offend by that now?!"

"But you don't straight out tell somebody they're a moron even if they are one!"

"Ha! So I was right! You are a moron! A bigger one than that purple headed dude with halberd!"

"Don't go comparing me to Noda, alright? At least I never fell into my own traps and survived the guild more times than you!"

"I made it to the very end my very first time!"

"I did, too!"

If sparks and flames were able to be appear, I'd bet the whole room would be engulfed in flames and or the building would've been exploded.

This little girl just knows how to piss me off!

"HEY! WOULD YOU TWO KNOCK IT OFF?!" Yurippe's sudden outburst caused the whole room to become cold and sweatdrops to appear.

She cleared her throat as we turned to her, "Thank you. But it seems like Yui has made a speedy recovery."

The woman, I presume Yui's mother, only looked at all of us in disbelief as I asked a question, "How did you recover anyway?"

"Huh?" she looked at me before smiling sadly and looking down at the ball, "I don't know. One minute I'm not even in this room, the next I had to warn Yuri to get away from the window."

"Miss Yui, tell me, do you remember where you were?"

"I remember walking around the baseball stadium and seeing the familiar orange, purple, and silver hair. The game hasn't even started and the pitchers were getting eliminated as I walked up to them. The Moron then turned his head and I saw his face. This gave me a whole bunch of flashbacks that I don't want to talk about. He then jumped onto the field and was confronted by."

She stopped, unable to say the name. Again, my heart ached. Yui balled her hospital gown into her tiny fists above her heart.

"I eavesdropped while they talked," she looked up at me and I only smiled at her.

There's nothing else I can do.

"I followed Hinata onto the field and whispered words of encouragement into his ears though I know for sure that he couldn't hear me no matter how loudly I screamed. When Otonashi threw the ball and Hinata hit it, I know for a fact he aimed for my window."

So he caught on, I glanced back out of the corner of my eye at my friend hiding outside the door.

"That's when I woke up and yelled at Yuri to get away from the window," Yui finished. "It might sound crazy but it's true. The Moron can confirm those events if you doubt me, Doc."

Dr. Nakamura shook his head, "I believe you. I'm not really a spiritual person but I do believe in things like that. However, a surgery still needs to be performed no matter what. We don't want you dropping dead one day while you're walking or anything."

Yui's eyes widen, "H-how did you get the money, Mom?"

"He's willing to do it for free with his brother," she spoke for the first time. I was aware she was glaring at all of us in turn while Yui was telling us her story.

Again, the Yui's eyes lit up, "That great! I thank you a million times cubed! Does Hinata know of this?"

Kanade and I exchange looks of uncertainty as the whole atmosphere became quiet and dull.

"What did I say? I'm pretty sure I didn't offend anybody," Yui noticed everything changing.

I couldn't help but look at her mother. I'm guessing by now, she knows about the fact that we figured everything out.

She looked back at me, daring me to say a word. Determination hit me like a wave as I turned to Yui and accepted her mother's challenge, "Do you still love Hinata?"

"What?" for the third time that afternoon, her eyes were bigger than usual.

"You broke up with him, remember? And if I'm not mistaken, you also told him you hated him. Come on, Yui, we need to know and fast. I still have a baseball game I need to get back to."

Yui looked away from me, unable to answer my question. Anger suddenly bubbled up in me and soon washed over with annoyance.

"Can't you see that he still loves you? I had no idea why you two were fighting in the first place but he wasn't able to live with himself when he found out about the accident! He had this whole bizarre plan of going to Los Angeles next year and sending home money for your surgery and everything."

I didn't want to tattle on her mother so I chose my words carefully, "He believes that it was his fault and by being with him, he would only hurt you more. That's why he came up with the plan. That way he can't hurt you anymore."

Kanade's small hand found mines as she squeezed it, half saving me from yelling at Yui half helping me maintain control.

Still no answer. With a frustrated sigh I repeated my question, "One last time. Do you still love Hinata?"

"Shut up, you scumbag!" Her mother finally spat at me. "Can't you see that she's hurt just by the mention of that, that creature's name? All of you get out of here, NOW! Dr. Nakamura, I appreciate your offer, but my daughter's ex-boyfriend will be taking care of all the money here but may I have your number just in case I change my mind? That would be lovely."

This woman can't be serious!

Now, Kanade's hand is no longer holding me back and the next thing I knew Yuri had her arms over my shoulder and helping her cousin.

"WHY DON'T YOU CHECK YOURSELF FIRST WITCH? YOU'RE MORE FOCUSED ON PUNISHING HINATA YOU JUST LET AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP YOUR DAUGHTER RECOVER FLY BY, YOU FUCKING GOLD-DIGGER!" (A/N: excuse the language! Just using whatever would fit!)

Again, there was not a single peep in the room. Everybody had their eyes on me and I felt Yuri's grip on me loosen. I wiggled her off but kept my hold on Kanade.

"Aren't I right?" I hissed. "After we all leave, you're just gonna call Yuri's father and tell him to go forth with the surgery anyway. Then you're going to move Yui to a different hospital. If Hinata were to go forth with his future plan and send home the money, you would take it for yourself and do whatever you want with it."

She gawked at me as I continued to glare at her, "I was wrong though, you're not letting this opportunity fly by but you're only taking advantage of it. You get to make $3,000 American dollars, after all."

Yui's mother still didn't answer but her eyes started shooting bullets into me. I then turned back to my friend in bed, "Now reply the damn question, Yui. Do you love Hinata or not?"

Tears glisten her eyes as she looked at me to Yuri then to Kanade.

For the first time, Yuri spoke, "I agree that Otonashi is being a little nosy and pushy about this but we need a quick answer. He still needs to return to the game and it starts again in about ten minutes."

When she still didn't answer, I said to her in a very soft voice, "You don't even need to say anything. Just shake your head or nod."

"I-I," she started sobbing.

I was about to say something but a flash of blue made me freeze up. I blinked once and Hinata's back is to me.

"H-Hinata," Yui shuttered.

"I need to know, Yui," he replied. "Because no matter what, I will always love you and remember, I promised I'd marry you. Even if you say you don't love me, I will make you love me again."

She suddenly gestured for him to come closer. He leaned down as she threw her hands around his neck, "I don't not love you."

Yui then started crying like she was a child of five.

I felt a punch hit my side. It was painful though.

"What the heck, Kanade?" I asked looking at her.

"You jerk," she said with her straight face. "You made a little girl cry."

"Little girl? She's 16, Kanade!" I argued.

"It would not matter if she started crying while in public," Kanade countered. "If some random person came back, they would think you were trying to sexual harass her."

"When would that ever happen?"

"Aw, come on guys," Hinata said over his shoulder to us. "Don't let your first fight be something this stupid."

Kanade then crossed her arms and pouted.

Kanade Tachibana made a pouting face!

I was utterly surprised by this. I never saw Kanade pout before and it's a sight to behold

I couldn't contain myself and the next thing I knew, I threw my arms around her small body and hugged her, "You were right, I can never stay mad at you."

I thought she was still mad but it was immediately shattered when I felt her snuggle closer to me.

We heard a loud audible sigh coming from Yui's mother; we all turned to her, waiting for her next word.

"Scumbag," she said and I immediately got annoyed, "What's your name?"

"Otonashi Yuzuru," I replied, surprised.

"I'm starting to like the name 'Scumbag' better," when I continued glaring at her she only busted out laughing before stopping with a very warm smile, "Nonetheless, I must thank you. When my ex-husband, Yui's father, cheated on me, it hurt me. He came back many times trying to apologize but I would always push him away. I now know that for the person you love, one chance just isn't enough. Because they, too, are only human. Dr. Nakamura, please, perform the surgery as soon as you can."

"Huh? Uh, you're welcome ma'am," I scratched my cheek embarrassed because I had no idea my words carried the message. I guess whenever I get mad, my words are cherished by others.

Yuri's father smiled, "Anytime, ma'am. I'll see everybody the day after tomorrow then." And he left the room without another word.

I suddenly felt a punch on the other side of my face, sending me flying out of the room, "Ouch!"

An angry Yuri had her fist lifted standing in the doorway. The afternoon rays made her look like a true demon.

"That was for the baseball coming through the window!" she snapped. "What were you trying to do? Kill me aga-"

Before she could continue, Hinata lifted her over his shoulder, Kanade on his other, "We need to run before we get in trouble."

"Idiot! Put me down!" Yuri continued yelling and squirming.

My best friend just continued ignoring her, "I'll be back later!"

"Win the game, alright?!"

"Of course I will!"

"Hey, Hinata, while you're at it, please pick up some dinner, too," Yui's mother voice said. "Oh and sorry, for everything."

"Not a problem ma'am. I was never really mad at you in the first place. Just more confused on why you hated me so much."

Frustrated that I couldn't see their faces, I walked over to Kanade. Of course, her face returned to its emotionless state as she calmly held her arms out towards me. Blushing a bit I tucked my hand under her arms and lifted her into the air, like she was a child. I lowered her and pushed her gently against my chest.

Her right hand went up and wrapped itself around my right shoulder. Again, I blushed at this sight and to add a bonus, my heart was beating three times its normal pace.

"You got your girl, Otonashi?" Hinata's voice made me look up.

He had his true smile drawn on his lips.

"You got your leader, Hinata?" I returned his smile.

"Yep and guess what, we're gonna kick your asses in the game today," Hinata said, winking at me.

"Hell naw!" I replied. "We will!"

"None of you will if you don't get your asses moving!" Yuri cried over Hinata shoulder. By now, she was just resting her face on her right arm, completely given up on trying to free herself from Hinata.

With a pound, we rushed down the hallways of the hospital with laughter bouncing off all the walls.