Once again, Chiaki woke up to the light of morning. This time she was back in the hospital, although the room she was staying in was rather spacious and had a lovely wide view of the city. When she gazed out the nearby window it looked as if nothing had changed.
"What would change?" Chiaki asked," if I did die?"
"Many things"
Chiaki looked to see vulpine standing in the door way. Vulpine graced her with a mysterious yet warm smile.
"You're the doctor who saved me" Chiaki said.
"You can just call me Vulpine" vulpine said.
"Thank you Vulpine" Chiaki said.
"You should thank your loved ones" Vulpine said," they are the ones that really saved you"
"I will" Chiaki smiled.
"Any questions?" vulpine asked.
"I don't really know" Chiaki said," do you know why I'm sick?"
"It's likely linked to the absence of something crucial" vulpine said," or it could be a cosmic entity"
"That doesn't sound scientific enough for a doctor to say" Chiaki said.
"Do you believe science to be the truth?" Vulpine asked.
"I guess" Chiaki said.
"While science has a high probability to work, it is not absolutely certain" vulpine said," only destiny is certain"
Vulpine looked to see Chiaki's dismayed face before pulling out a bright red apple from her lab coat pocket.
"Forgive me, while I am a doctor, I am a philosopher first and foremost" vulpine said as she cut the skin off an apple," I'm also a devil for apples"
"It smells sweet" Chiaki said.
"Apples are beautiful and delicious things" vulpine said," just a single taste is enough to excite the senses"
Vulpine took a bite of the apple and devoured it with an elevated look in her eyes.
"Aren't you going to eat the skin?" Chiaki asked when she noticed the discarded parts of fruit.
"I don't consume mask" vulpine said," however tempting it looks, the skin is bitter and dull compared to the fruit underneath"
"I guess, since the skin acts as armor for the seeds inside" Chiaki said.
"The skin lures in animals to consume it" vulpine said," but it is the internal flavor that makes the animal truly consume it"
"Umm...how long am I going to be in the hospital?" Chiaki asked.
"That will depend on you" vulpine said," if you are strong and truly desire to recover, you will be free"
"I just want to be with everyone" Chiaki said as she looked out the window," though I don't dislike this hospital"
"I dislike hospitals" vulpine said," the way they are built and function are too similar to a prison for my taste"
"Why did you become a doctor then?" Chiaki asked.
"I promised someone a long time ago that I would make this world better" Vulpine said," speaking of, I have another patient who needs me"
"Thank you miss vulpine" Chiaki said.
"You're welcome" vulpine smiled.
Once vulpine left, Chiaki decided to game away. As she did, she noticed she felt strange around vulpine. She felt like she could release all her burdens and weight, yet something told her she shouldn't. Chiaki wasn't the best when it came to examining emotions, so she pushed the thought into her subconscious.
...
In the afternoon, Junko stopped by to check on her friend. Together they played their special game and relaxed.
"How's that doctor treating you?" Junko asked.
"She seems nice but also really strange" Chiaki said.
"How so" Junko asked.
"It's like she's an important character in an rpg" Chiaki said.
"You say that about a lot of people" Junko said.
"But this time I really mean it" Chiaki said.
"I guess vulpine could be a name you'd see in an rpg" Junko said.
"It's not just her name, it's the way she acts" Chiaki said," like she knows something"
"She's a a doctor, they know a lot of things" Junko said.
"You're right, I'll just forget it" Chiaki said.
"Any plans for when you get out of the hospital?" Junko asked.
"I don't know" Chiaki said," probably do the same things I've always done"
"Would you be opposed to change?" Junko asked.
"Depends on what changes" Chiaki said," is something going to change?"
"I don't really know" Junko said with a tightened lip.
"As long as I can live with everyone I love then I won't mind" Chiaki said.
'Then maybe something will change' Junko thought.
"Is something wrong?" Chiaki asked.
"Oh...it's nothing" Junko said.
"Are you sure?" Chiaki asked.
"Actually" Junko said," I was thinking how cute you look when you're playing your games"
"You're so sweet Junko" Chiaki laughed causing Junko to smile.
'Yeah, I can say that If I'm her friend' Junko thought.
...
In the dark room, Munakata sat across from vulpine.
"You wanted to see me for more information on the medicine, I presume" Vulpine said.
"What exactly are we using for payment?" Munakata asked.
"What do you think is more valuable than money?" Vulpine asked," that's what it is"
"How can you take something if we don't give it to you directly?" Munakata asked.
"All of you gave me permission to take it as compensation, so I simply take the necessary amount needed to pay for the medicine" vulpine said," no more, no less"
"I see" Munakata said.
"Would you prefer if I took money instead?" Vulpine asked," though if I did that, I doubt all of you could pay for that long"
"It's fine" Munakata said," I just want to make sure my daughter has the best care"
"Believe me, she does" Vulpine said," After all, she is surrounded by those who love her. What more could a lonesome soul want?"
"How do you-" Munakata asked, only to be cut off.
"Loneliness is something that plagues many souls" vulpine explained," those who know true loneliness, can see it in others. Now is that all you need from me?"
"Yes" Munakata said before getting up and bowing," thank you for your time"
"Of course" Vulpine said.
...
After school, Nagito walked to his dorm in peaceful loneliness. He was halfway to his dorm when he spotted a hungry little dog.
"Hey there little guy" Nagito smiled as the dog approached him," are you lost?"
The dog came close before sniffing and licking his hand. With the dog's permission, Nagito rubbed its belly. Upon feeling the dog's soft underbelly, Nagito noticed it was rather skinny.
"You must be hungry" Nagito said," unfortunately, I don't have anything for you"
As soon as he said that, he heard a loud honk and crash before a bunch of cans rolled down to him. When he checked a can, he found they were all cans of dog food.
"Guess I have something for you after all" Nagito said before opening a can.
The dog happily ate from the palm of Nagito's hand, as shown from the feverish wagging of its tail.
"You remind me of my old dog" Nagito smiled," I remember when I-"
Nagito stopped mid sentence, upon realizing he had forgotten what he was about to say. He searched his thoughts and knew what he was going to say, but if he said it, it would be a lie.
"How could I forget when I met my own dog?" Nagito asked out loud.
The dog looked up at him and tilted his head.
"It's okay little guy" Nagito reassured," I'm sure my memory is just a little foggy today, so I'll remember it tomorrow"
With that, Nagito patted the dog on the head before walking back to his dorm. However, he stopped when he noticed the dog was following him. Nagito turned to face the dog.
"Please, don't follow me" Nagito said only for the dog to wag its tail," you'll get hurt if you stay around me for too long"
When the dog refused to leave, Nagito picked up a nearby pebble and threw it at the dog's paw. The dog whimpered, yet didn't runaway.
"Go away!" Nagito yelled at the dog and stomped his foot.
This time, the dog ran away with its tail between its legs. Nagito watched the dog disappear over the horizon before sighing and walking back to his dorm.
'I'm sorry' Nagito thought to himself,' I hope you find a better person to take care of you'
...
In the afternoon, Chisa arrived at the hospital with a big picnic basket. Chisa, along with Munakata, entered Chiaki's room to find she was fast asleep. While Chiaki stayed in peaceful slumber, Chisa and Munakata took out a picnic blanket from the basket and unfolded it onto the floor. Following this, Munakata prepared three sets of plates and silverware and Chisa placed the assorted food dishes in the center of the blanket. When Chiaki wasn't awoken by the scents from the food, Chisa walked over to her and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. As if like a fairytale princess, the kiss awakened Chiaki as she opened to reveal her soft pink eyes.
"Mom" Chiaki spoke softly before looking over and seeing Munakata," Dad"
"Did you sleep well" Chisa asked.
"Yeah" Chiaki said," I had a dream about a black wolf"
"That's wonderful" Chisa smiled," Your father and I actually have a surprise for you"
Chiaki looked down to the picnic blanket. The moment she did, her eyes widened and shined like a pair of full moons.
"This is amazing" Chiaki said.
"Glad to know you like it" Munakata smiled.
Chiaki happily hopped down to the picnic blanket to be joined by Chisa and Munakata. After saying thanks, the three began to fill their plates.
"What's in the rice balls?" Chiaki asked.
"Why don't you take a bite and see for yourself?" Munakata said.
Chiaki took a rice ball and ate it to find salmon in the center. Upon her finding, the room seemed to glow around her.
"It's so delicious" Chiaki said.
"You can thank your father for that" Chisa smiled," While I made most of the food, he insisted on making the rice balls"
"Thank you dad" Chiaki said before hugging him.
"Of course" Munakata hugged her back.
Following the dinner, Chiaki could feel the weight of food in her stomach.
"Hopefully you saved some room for dessert" Chisa said.
"You mean there's more?" Chiaki asked.
"Of course" Chisa smiled before raising an apple pie from the basket.
"Apple butter pie" Chiaki said with new found energy.
"There's nothing better to eat for regaining your strength" Chisa smiled.
"I can think of a few things" Munakata said only to get a glare from Chisa.
"Don't forget that an apple a day keeps the doctor away" Chisa said.
Right after saying that, there was a knock on the door.
"So much for that" Chiaki said.
"I'll get it" Munakata said.
When he opened the door, there was a nurse.
"I'm sorry to interrupt" the nurse said," but it's eight o'clock so I have to give miss Munakata her medicine".
"It's okay" Chiaki smiled," I can eat pie after"
"Well aren't you a brave one" the nurse laughed.
After the nurse gave Chiaki her medicine through a shot and left, the family of three resumed their indoor picnic.
"It's just as sweet as I remembered" Chiaki said after taking a bite of pie.
"Is something wrong?" Chisa asked when she noticed tears forming in Chiaki's eyes.
"Oh" Chiaki said," I'm just really happy in this moment"
"We are too" Munakata said.
"That's why we'll have more moments like these, in the future" Chisa said.
"Great" Chiaki smiled.
...
Back a Junko's apartment, she laid comfortably in her bed while she read an old storybook. Right as she was in the middle of the story, Mukuro knocked on the door.
"You can come in" Junko said, not taking her eyes of the book.
"I made dinner" Mukuro said as she walked in with a tray of ramen.
"Great, just sit it down" Junko said as she kept her attention on the book," what did you make?"
"You looked troubled, so I made you some healing ramen" Mukuro said.
"Healing ramen?" Junko asked as she put the book down and looked at the ramen.
"Don't you remember?" Mukuro asked," that time when you were really sad, so I made it all by myself to cheer you up"
"Doesn't ring a bell" Junko said," but thanks for the thought"
"Is something wrong?" Mukuro asked," you know you can talk to me"
"It's nothing" Junko said.
"Then why are you reading that book?" Mukuro asked," is it about Chiaki?"
"Fine, you caught me" Junko said.
"Do you wanna talk about?" Mukuro asked.
"I guess, but you have to promise to keep it a secret" Junko said.
"I promise" Mukuro said.
"I want to confess my feelings to someone" Junko said," but I'm worried that I'm being selfish considering what that person is going through. What should I do?"
"Just tell them" Mukuro said," then you'll know if they like you or not and you can move on"
"I don't know" Junko said," how would I even confess?"
"You could make their favorite food" Mukuro offered.
"Perfect, I know just the food they like" Junko said before hugging her sister," you're the best sis, thank you"
"You're welcome" Mukuro smiled.
...
After dinner, Junko continued reading the storybook. As she read and looked at the illustrations, she remembered a fond memory.
...
Back in the days of Junko's youth, under the tree that overlooked the nearby elementary school, a small girl with short cream hair was asleep in the shade. Junko ran up the hill, clutching a book to her chest. She panted upon arrival before nudging the girl awake.
"Good morning" Chiaki yawned.
"What's with you and naps?" Junko asked," did you not grow out of preschool?"
"I just like to close my eyes and dream when I find a comfy place" Chiaki said before noticing the book," what's that?"
"This is how I'll see if you're a vixen or not" Junko said before handing her the book.
"'The Two Witches'" Chiaki read the title and looked at the two foxes with witch hats on the cover," it looks cute"
"You can read it if you want" Junko said.
"Can we read it together?" Chiaki asked.
"I'll allow it" Junko said before taking a seat next to Chiaki.
Together, the two read side by side.
"I'm glad the witches found each other" Chiaki smiled," even when they were separated"
"Yeah, that part's pretty cool" Junko said," but even better is how they're both so powerful that they could change the world together"
"Do you think that's why they were separated?" Chiaki asked.
"That's probably why" Junko said," The sheep don't take change that well, so they're probably behind it"
"Maybe it was fate, just like how they met" Chiaki said.
"That's pretty cruel of fate" Junko said.
"I think fate is kind" Chiaki said.
"What makes you say that?" Junko asked.
"It was fate that let me meet you" Chiaki smiled.
"I guess" Junko said, trying to ignore the cute smile," but what if fate separates us"
"Even if that happens, which I doubt" Chiaki said," fate will bring us back together"
"Promise?" Junko asked," even if one day, something bad happens to either of us?"
"Yes" Chiaki said with a spark of determination glowing in her eyes.
"Congratulations then" Junko smiled," You've proven yourself a vixen, but that means we're going to be best friends forever. Got it?"
"Got it" Chiaki nodded with a smile.
...
'That's right' present Junko thought,' no matter what happens, we'll always be friends'
Junko closed the old book from the past and placed it on her nightstand. She looked out to the moon before going to bed with a smile.
'I won't hold it in anymore' Junko thought,' tomorrow I'll tell you how I feel and you'll stay with me either way because that is our fate'
...
In the dark room, Vulpine looked through her collection of tapes. Meanwhile, the two kittens stared at her.
"Is something wrong?" The white haired girl asked.
"It would appear that tape 3 has vanished" Vulpine said.
"Finally, I'll get to eat for real" the black haired boy said.
"Should we do something?" The white haired girl asked.
"Let's see what happens" Vulpine said with a sinister smile," it may prove useful"
