A/N: Yo! I tried updating earlier! Well, this chapter may be shorter but, I guess… you'll see why. I had to cut it off hehe. Well Fact 2: I'm the daughter of a doctor! Well thank you for the continued support and please help me reach 1,500 views! I'm at 1400! So thanks guys! please don't forget to review!

~Shintori Khazumi

"Principal Minami?!"

"Okaa-san? What are you doing here?" Kotori asked, getting strangely nervous.

"Oh, I just went to see Honoka-chan and check on her condition. I'm guessing that's what you girls are here for?" She questioned, smiling warmly at them.

"Y-yes. We would like to know if Honoka is alright now. Can you please tell us?" Umi said politely.

"Well, you girls came all the way here. Why don't you see for yourselves? But… if you must know, don't be too excited. She's alright, just…" Principal Minami looked away, as if thinking of the right words to say.

"I guess you should just go see her." She said. The girls noticed her smile was gone and was replaced by an unreadable emotion. Before they could all leave, Principal Minami grabbed Kotori's arm. "Kotori, don't ever make the same mistakes I did. You might lose a lot more than you think." Then she let go and walked out the door, leaving Kotori dumbfounded.

In the hallway, everyone was chattering about what they might find once they entered Honoka's room, although Kotori didn't really join in, still thinking about her mother's words. 'You might lose a lot more than you think.' Lose what? I've already lost everything? So what do I have to lose?

"Kotori? Are you alright?" Umi said, slowing down to match her pace. Kotori smiled, Umi, her ever reliable best friend.

"Yeah. Just thinking of what to tell Honoka-chan." Kotori said with a smile so fake, Umi saw right through it but decided not to comment on it.

"OK… anyway, we're almost at her room. If I recall correctly… Ah! Eli Stop! It's here… 2E14." Umi said, bringing everyone to a stop. Eli who was walking in front immediately stopped and the ones behind her bumped into each other making them all, except Umi and Kotori fall over.

Everyone stood in front of the door, debating among themselves who should open the door. Finally after a voting (and Nozomi's wonderful way of coaxing), Kotori was 'given the honor' of opening the door to their dear leader's room.

"Pardon the intrusion…" Kotori said in barely a whisper. No answer was heard… just… sniffling?

"Onee-chan… I promise I won't get mad at you for a week… just wake up already! Don't you know how lonely I am without you? I don't mind if you're too noisy, just… talk to me already!" Yukiho's voice was heart breaking. Kotori closed the door without going inside.

"What happened Kotori? Why didn't you go in?" Eli asked.

"I think Yukiho-chan needs time alone right now."

"Yukiho is in there? What about Honoka? What did she say?" Nozomi asked, sensing the wrongness of the situation.

"Honoka-chan is…" "I'll go in there and ask Yukiho." Nozomi said without letting Kotori finish, her motherly instincts kicking in.

"Alright. We'll wait out here." Eli replied.

Once Nozomi was inside, a doctor came… she was headed for… this room?

"Ara, are you girls friends of the patient?" The female doctor smiled warmly.

"Ah… yes ma'am." Maki replied.

"Wait… are you… Dr. Nishikino's daughter? You look just like her!" She said.

"Yes, but ma'am we'd like to know our friends condition." At Maki's statement, her smile dropped. Just like Principal Minami, She seemed to be at a loss for words.

"You see… your friend has been having brain trouble ever since she was young. We only discovered it recently, but she must have had a traumatic experience that was triggered. It is one of the reasons for being in a coma. I'd like to ask you girls if you know of anything that might have triggered this?" The doctor was no cold and serious, which made Kotori's stomach drop. "I-I might know…"

"Really?" Everyone gasped in surprise.

"Minna-san Yukiho said that- Eh? What's going on?" Nozomi said confused of why there was a doctor outside and why everyon looked so… bewildered… did they already know the reason behind Honoka's current state? She thought.

"Please tell us… for your friend." The doctor was pleading.

"Alright… It happened before me and Honoka-chan met… she told me she didn't want to lose someone dear again."

"What do you mean, Kotori?" Umi said, clearly not knowing anything about this.

"She… lost a friend… in the most horrible way possible."

A/N: So minna… the backstory will be next time! I'm sorry if this is short. I'm trying to make it longer, just failing at it… hehe gomen. Well see ya next time!

~Shintori Khazumi