A/N: Thank you everyone for all the support. :)

A little Shock (part one)

(Kotoko POV)

A week has already passed since my result came out. I had to restrain myself with difficulty from running off to Kobe. I'm sure, the minute Irie-kun will see me he will know I'm not okay. I am like an open book to him. Nothing can escape his sharp eyes. I read a book on neurology whole afternoon. I had been studying neurology since the previous few months very hard along with my academic works. Amazingly I found out that nothing is too difficult when you try your best. Besides, nothing is boring when you are desperate. I'm glad that I finally found out what field I liked and it was neurology. I wouldn't kid myself saying it's easy, but I wouldn't say it's not my cup of tea either. At least I didn't found myself throwing the books out of the window or banging my head on a wall, yelling. On the contrary, I actually quite enjoyed it. I went downstairs at the evening. Oka-san was in the kitchen preparing dinner. I joined to help her.

"Kotoko-chan, let's go for shopping tomorrow." She told me after a while.

"Okay. What do you want to buy?" I asked her.

"New cloths for everyone. It's been a while since we went shopping, isn't it?" She replied delightfully.

"Yap." I agreed with her. But then suddenly I felt guilty. "I'm sorry oka-san. I stay too busy and don't give you enough time."

"Don't be silly dear." She said kindly. "You do more than anyone else in this house. You keep the house warm you know?"

I offered her a big smile. I felt so touched that my eyes filled with water. I gave her a back hug. She patted my hands. Then I started to chop some vegetables.

"We should buy something for Naoki too. Don't you think?" She asked me.

"Umm okay... Is he coming home for a visit?" I asked her with hesitation.

"No, he is not. He is busy with his thesis. He said he will visit after he is done with it. But aren't you going to Kobe? I thought you would want to see him after your exam." She asked me with surprise.

"I wanted to. But he is busy and I don't want to disturb him." I replied in a small voice.

"What do you mean? Why would he be disturbed by you?" She stopped stirring the curry and looked at me with widen eyes. I smiled to assure her.

"Trust me; I'm very efficient in that department oka-san." I joked with her. She laughed at that and continued the stirring.

"Anyway, I don't have off at my hospital work either. So I can't go." I added.

"Hmm." She nodded in approval. After that she didn't bring this topic anymore.

...

(Naoki POV)

I was reading an important article after dinner when my cell rang. It must be Kotoko. I got up to get the phone from my bed and remembered that she didn't call me the past 2 days. But the cell flashed 'oka-san' as I took it on my hands. I felt slightly bad that it wasn't her. Not that I didn't want to talk to oka-san.

"Hello?" My voice sounded tired even to my own ears.

"Naoki, are you busy?" Oka-san asked.

"Yes, I am." I replied. I knew if I tell her that I was busy, despite that, she will say what she wants to say.

"Have you finished your dinner?" She asked me with concerned voice.

"Yes. Already done that."

"Good. Are you studying now?"

"Yes."

"Don't you ever rest? Your voice sounds so tired." She said in a worried tone.

"I am fine oka-san. I am eating and sleeping enough." I replied in a sleepy voice.

"Whatever you say." She replied. I knew she wouldn't believe me. My voice wasn't convincing enough.

"Can't you take 2 days off and visit home?" She finally stated the reason for what she had called.

"The professor wouldn't let me off now. We are working on a very important project." I sighed.

"Oh. Kotoko-chan is busy at her work too." Oka-san said sadly.

"Busy? Is she?" I asked. So this is why she isn't calling.

"Yes. Well she will be moving to Kobe soon anyway. I will ask her when she will apply at Kobe. You go and get some sleep now. You can work in the morning." Oka-san ordered.

"Hm." I replied. But after finishing the call I did retire to the bed. I was too tired and oka-san was right, I can work in the morning.

...

(Kotoko POV)

Another week has passed. I applied for a position as a nurse in the Neuro-Hope Hospital during the last week and I was appointed today. I will officially start my work from this week. I started walking towards otou-san's restaurant from the station. I had invited everyone at home for a treat at my father's restaurant. As expected, I was the first to arrive. I helped Chris and Kin-chan to prepare dinner. An hour later oka-san and otou-san arrived and after another 10 minutes Yuki-kun arrived with Konomi-chan. Kin-chan served us all with drinks. Beers for otou-sans and oka-san, while Yuki-kun, Konomi-chan and I had fruit juices. I stopped drinking alcohol 6 months ago as it has a side effect with my treatment. If I consume alcohol I will suffer from body swelling and severe breathing problem. This is probably the only piece of information that everyone knows of. As I found out about my allergic reaction in a hard way. But let's not go there for now. Also, when I said everyone, that excluded Irie-kun. He doesn't know about it. When everyone took their respective glasses in their hands, it was then I declared that I got officially hired as a nurse.

"I have good news for you all. I got hired as a nurse. I will officially start working soon." I announced with a bright smile on my face.

Everyone cheered for me and congratulated me holding up the glasses. Then the dinner was served.

"When do you plan on to leave Kotoko-chan?" Oka-san asked me.

"Leave?" I was confused at her question.

"Oh no... We need to go to shopping again. We need to buy lots of things. We should make a list first thought, right?" Oka-san said all these very fast while I was still trying to figure out what she was taking about. Then it suddenly hit me. Of course!' She must have thought I was moving to Kobe now as I was done with my studies. But surely the others didn't get me wrong? I looked around at everyone only to find out that they did indeed. I put down my chop sticks and cleared my throat.

"Err... Oka-san? I... joined the Neuro-Hope Hospital as a nurse..." I told her hesitantly and smiled uneasily. Everyone stopped eating and looked up at me. The looks on their faces clearly said that they think I have lost my mind. Damn!' I forgot they would expect me to apply at Kobe. I thought they will know as I was already working at a different hospital, there wasn't any chance I will apply for Tonan's branch at Kobe.

I sighed. "I already work at Hope. I can't get transferred to Tonan just like that. Besides, I'm working with a research team. I'm trying to help a Neuroshia patient. I want to try until the end before I move back to Tonan. I really hope I will, soon one day." I looked down at my food.

"It's all right, Kotoko." My father who was sitting beside me patted my head. "I'm sure you know what you are doing." I looked up at him sadly.

"Kotoko-chan, your patient will be fine soon. Don't worry." Oka-san said. I smiled at her.

"Naoki would also want you to continue your work Kotoko-chan." Otou-san smiled gently and I nodded at him.

"Kotoko not going to Kobe to trouble oni-chan is surprising." My smile dropped at Yuki-kun's remark. Oka-san gave him a scolding look while Konomi-chan added, "Kotoko-san is already sad enough for not going Yuki-kun. Don't tease her." I smiled at her.

"Well I'm glad I heard her right. I thought I was hearing things for a moment." Yuki-kun resumed eating. I gritted my teeth at him.

"I'll talk to my professor and provide you a hearing aid." I told him.

"Well I will certainly need one in the future as long as you and oka-san are around." Oka-san tried to hit him but he ducked out of her reach.

"We're not loud." I said loudly. Konomi-chan was silently shaking with laughter. But she burst out in laugh when I said that. I looked around at her and started laughing too. The others also joined. Even Yuki-kun smiled a little shaking his head.

I knew oka-san was feeling uneasy with my decision. But she must have decided to ignore it as she didn't say anything. I felt probably for the 1000th times that I was lucky to be a part of this family. They all have very warm hearts. Hiding the truth from them was like deceiving this wonderful family. I composed myself with difficulty and plastered a smile on my face and continued my dinner.

I was still upset a bit when we returned home. I took a long bath hoping that would help. I was yet to inform Irie-kun about my job. I'm not sure how he will feel about it. He might feel sad or might not bother at all. I don't even know how I want him to feel. I want him to miss me, but then again, I don't want to hurt him by not moving to Kobe. So I hope he will be fine and not be bothered at all. I took the phone in my hand to call him and found a missed call from him. He must have called while I was in the bath. I smiled happily and dialled his number. But I didn't have to wait as he received it before it rang twice.