A/N: Thank you everyone for waiting patiently for the update and encouraging me.

Improvements

(Naoki POV)

Dr. Ayano along with Dr. Shinju, Hana & Mio joined us shortly. They all were panic stricken when they entered the room but eased up seeing her fully conscious. Dr. Ayano took my place to check up on her and I took the opportunity to quickly call home and inform about Kotoko. Oka-san started crying and told me with a broken voice that they will be here soon.

Kotoko was out of immediate danger but still vulnerable. We decided to keep her in the ICU for another day or two to keep her under observation. Visitors weren't allowed inside the ICU but I took permission and allowed oka-san and otou-san to see her for 10 minutes.

Everyone was relived and finally exhaustion took a toll over my mother. She nearly collapsed but Yuki moved fast and held on to her tightly. He was keeping an eye on her I suppose.

I did some check up on oka-san and prescribed her medicines. Then I forced them all to return home. There was no point for them to stay back in the hospital since they can't meet Kotoko until she is out of ICU. Otou-san didn't want to leave but when I explained her situation, he obliged.

Kotoko slept through the whole day and woke up around the evening. I was called in the ICU immediately to see her as she was asking for me.

"Kotoko, are you feeling alright?" I asked her feeling concerned.

"Irie-kun…" She held out her hand towards me so I moved closer and grabbed into her hand.

"My head is feeling a bit heavy but otherwise I'm feeling okay." She replied.

"Thanks to almighty you're okay now." I exhaled a long breath.

"I scared you all, didn't I? I heard I was in coma for more than 2 months. I'm so sorry." She said softly.

"Yeah, well you did scare the life out of me. You don't have to be sorry for anything though." I replied squeezing her hand in response. Then I quickly added, "But it doesn't mean you can scare me like this ever again. I don't ever want to go through this again. Never!" With saying that, I bent towards her and kissed on her forehead.

She sighed in contentment and smiled.

"I love you Irie-kun."

"I love you more… Kotoko." I replied in a heartbeat.

She grinned with so much happiness that it sparkled in her eyes. I smiled and sat down beside her. Then I filled her up with all the details of the last two months. She listened with utmost interest. We talked for a long time. I felt like I was talking to her after a lifetime. Her voice was soothing to my ear. And at last my heart was calm now.

...

(Kotoko POV)

Suddenly when one day you wake up from your sleep and find out that, two months of your life has passed without your knowledge- this feels very strange indeed. It feels like I was dead but came back to life again. And now, Looking at Irie-kun and listening to his voice can make me fall for him all over again.

He explained what exactly had happened after my therapy. I couldn't remember anything that took place after the therapy. Even the two weeks when I was still conscious. It was partial amnesia and it's natural to go through this. Two months straight in coma will have to have some kind of side effects. At least it wasn't something more serious or the amnesia wasn't from the time before the therapy.

Hana told me a bit about my coma stage after I woke up from sleep a while ago. I still couldn't sit up, don't have enough strength yet. So instead she hugged my right hand and cried on it. They call me crazy but they surpass me sometimes.

I wasn't allowed to meet anyone yet but I'm really missing oka-san and otou-san. They were worried sick for me and oka-san even fell ill. I wish I will recover soon to move back to home. I really want to go home.

Irie-kun was massaging on my hand lightly while talking. I didn't talk since it makes me breathless. The surrounding machines also made my movements limited. So all I could do was smile, shake or nod my head or squeeze his hand while listening to him. He looks so tired himself. But he refused to leave when I tried to tell him to go and get some rest. I can't imagine what he did these past two months. We talked what seemed like for hours, or to be precise, he talked and I listened. It was really soothing and before I knew, I drifted back to sleep.

...

(General POV)

Kotoko was moved back to her cabin after two days. Her whole family visited her again that day. Oka-san and otou-san cried their hearts out. She was allowed to eat liquid food for now. Mrs. Irie fed her while Naoki stood on guard to see if she has any kind of problems. She couldn't eat much but that was okay. It will take some time to adjust.

All her friends visited her in small groups. None of them wanted to make a crowd inside the hospital. Kinnosuke & Christine were the first to visit. No one was surprised to see Kinnosuke cry. He was probably the most worried among her all friends. He even paid visits to hospital from time to time knowing that Kotoko was in ICU and he can't meet her.

After he found out about Neuroshia, he was mad at Naoki. Naoki knows that he blames him for being so irresponsible. Naoki didn't disagree in that matter. Kinnosuke gave a long silence treatment to Naoki. He pointedly ignored Naoki during the therapy weeks and before that.

But when Kotoko entered into coma, he showed sympathy to Naoki. Naoki apologised to him taking all the blames and saying he couldn't keep his promise that he made to Kinnosuke before marring Kotoko. Kinnosuke said he would forget about that if Naoki makes sure to cure Kotoko by any means. But he would never forgive Naoki if he fails again.

Naoki knew Kinnosuke visited the hospital during Kotoko's coma state to get updates on her condition directly from him and also for silently supporting Naoki to stay strong. He was grateful at this gesture. Kotoko was truly blessed with some wonderful people in her life, he admitted.

...

Two weeks later…

Mio slumped down on the empty seat next to Hana and huffed.

"What's up with you?" Hana asked.

"That Irie Naoki. He gets into my nerves."

"What did he ever do to you, seriously?" Hana asked in an exasperated voice.

"Nothing! It's just that… He is working so hard! I just can't believe it's the same dumbo that was oblivious about the fact that his wife was dying while he was busy with his career." Mio huffed again. He massaged on his shoulder. He was helping Naoki in an experiment back in the lab. It went on for hours.

"At least he is here now. He is repenting his mistakes. At least he isn't anything like we thought he would be, right?" Hana asked lightly.

"Well yeah… He is not. And that is what is irritating me. I can't even hate him in peace now. Although, I still can't understand, what did Kotoko ever see in that man?"

Hana laughed. "You just told the answer before you asked the question."

Mio raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"What did Kotoko see in him? Probably a very good person. You see? We hated him since we know Kotoko. But now after meeting him, we admire him."

"I definitely don't admire him!" Mio snapped.

"Yeah well, you care about him." Hana smirked.

"What are you smirking at? I don't care about him."

"Remind me who buys lunches for him and makes me take it to him when he forgets about them due to work?" Hana wriggled her eyebrows.

"I only do that for Kotoko. So that she wouldn't worry." Mio answered heatedly.

"She couldn't worry when she was in coma." Hana added.

"Well we obviously didn't need another patient next to her bed that time. Besides we needed his brilliant brain to work out a solution for the problem."

"So you admit that he is brilliant."

"I never disagreed in that. I knew he had brains the moment Dr. Ayano recruited him. I'm not so sure about a heart though." Mio said calmly.

"I'm sure he loves Kotoko more than we think. That is the reason he is working so hard now isn't it?" Hana said.

"Hope so. He is brilliant no doubt. In fact, it's astounding that a person as brilliant as he is didn't have any hunch on what Kotoko was going through over the entire year. I mean come on, if you love someone, you should be able to tell that your partner is not okay. You should be able to feel it."

"I guess he lacks in emotional department. But now his work is showing how much he loves Kotoko, you know?" Hana said softly.

Mio just nodded his head absentmindedly.

"I'm sure Kotoko will be fine. Dr. Ayano and Dr. Irie will work something out." Hana mumbled as if she was trying to comfort herself.

"Yes." Mio smiled looking at Hana. "She will be fine in no time."

Hana relaxed immediately and also smiled in answer.

...

Two more weeks passed. Over these weeks, Kotoko recovered rapidly. Finally her treatment was back on track. It was progressing smoothly. And after being hospitalized for nearly four months since before her therapy, Kotoko was allowed to go back home.

She got discharged in the afternoon and was immediately drove back home by Naoki. Everyone including Konomi was waiting for her at home. They received her with loud welcomes and showering her with confetti. Naoki didn't expect anything less and was prepared for the worst. He just stood by Kotoko's side and let his family pull her into hugs and shower her with kisses.

They celebrated her return with her favourite foods. Mrs. Irie and Naoki were extremely careful about Kotoko's food. They literally monitored her every reaction whenever she ate something different.

Kotoko took a quick bathe when she went upstairs. She actually needs a longer one but that has to wait for a little more time. After that Naoki forced her to get to bed for some sleep. Kotoko didn't mind. Finally she was home… in her room… in her own bed… She felt good. She felt happy.