Broken Fragments

Chapter 50: Punishment

The sun was shining outside the windows. The cars were bustling in the nearby road. People rushed through the crowds with their hands tucked in their pockets for warmth. February's chilling breeze would brush by every now and then. Life was still going.

Meanwhile, it was lifeless inside. The curtains were plain white, heavy and unmoving. The sheets and blankets were also white, and the walls were pale grey. The only objects that didn't fall under the black-white color scheme were the round wooden table by the black armchair, the light brown wooden stool in the corner of the room, and the bouquet of flowers on the table. The only sound that filled the room was the beeping of the cardiac monitor attached to Yuuhi through various wires.

It had been three weeks since the incident in the beach. Yuuhi was sent to a large hospital in California where she was rescued by doctors specializing in Yuuhi's condition. After a week, Yuuhi's health stabilized. Since the hospital didn't participate in the experimental drug that Yuuhi was using, she was transferred back to the hospital in Tokyo. Though Yuuhi's health didn't show any signs of worsening, she was still comatose.

"You should go home and rest," Kumoi-san entered the room, gently closing the door behind her.

"You've been here all this time, Subaru. Akane's also getting worried."

Subaru had been sitting on the armchair by Yuuhi's bed, looking after her. His eyes were red from the sleepless nights with only the sleeping Yuuhi and the TV as his company. His complexion was almost similar to that of his younger sister's. He rarely left the room to get food for himself, relying on the bland food that the nurses would occasionally offer him.

Knowing that he had no chance of winning against the feisty manager, Subaru stood up after rubbing his eyes. He collected his things and shoved them in his backpack.

"I'll be back right away," Subaru announced with a dreary face.

The bespectacled manager sighed after Subaru closed the door. Then, she turned to Yuuhi who was still deep in her slumber. Kumoi-san's eyes were being covered by the glare of the light on her eyeglasses.

"You need to wake up soon, Yuuhi," Kumoi-san softly said as she held Yuuhi's hand.

The warm water trickling down Subaru's body seemed to thaw his frozen mind. His head had been empty the whole time he stayed in the hospital. Subaru refused to think about anything but Yuuhi. However, his reasoning began to function again.

After a long shower, Subaru got dressed in comfortable sweatpants and t-shirt. He sat on his couch as he dried his hair with the towel hanging on his neck. Subaru could see his reflection off of the TV he sat in front of. Realizing he was all alone, he frustratingly got up and immediately grabbed a bottle of beer from the refrigerator. He walked back to the living room where he quickly opened the bottle and chugged all the liquor down.

"Damn it!" Subaru roared, slamming the bottle on the coffee table after he finished his beer.

Silence surrounded him again in his dark condo. Teardrops fell on the floor as Subaru began to cry uncontrollably.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it all!"

Subaru fell as fast as his heart ached when the image of Yuuhi in the hospital rushed in his head. Subaru thought of himself as a failure for not being able to protect Yuuhi as he continuously punched the floor. He couldn't stop crying not only because he was scared to lose his remaining family member but also his first love.

"Why can't I be the one to suffer?" he thought, finally stopping his fistfight with the floor.

He leaned his back on the couch, tears still spilling everywhere. His head also tilted back and rested on the seat, his arm covering his puffy eyes.

Subaru was exhausted. He was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.

"Is this my punishment...for breaking your heart?" he whispered, his consciousness drifting.

Though it was still noon, sleep engulfed Subaru in his first proper sleep in weeks.

Kumoi-san had been quietly reading a hospital-provided magazine by the unconscious Yuuhi. Though she was reading, her mind was somewhere else and wasn't paying attention to the material in front of her. All she could think about was what happened to Kirari a few years ago. The manager would still blame herself every now and then even though she had nothing to do with it. Kumoi-san knew this was her punishment for not being there for Kirari. Although, Kumoi-san was now convincing herself that history will not repeat itself for them. She wasn't going to face the same darkness again, may the person look like Kirari or not.

"I know you can get through this, Yuuhi," Kumoi-san thought, turning to Yuuhi.

Before she could get swallowed up by deep thoughts again, Kumoi-san was interrupted by knocks on the door. The dark-haired manager opened the door to find Yuuhi's visitors, Seiji and Fubuki.

"Hey, Kumoi-san," Seiji greeted with a plastic bag in hand.

"We couldn't find a basket of fruits as a gift, so we just bought the things to make our own," Fubuki awkwardly smiled, showing Kumoi-san a nicely weaved basket.

After welcoming them in, Seiji and Fubuki asked about any updates on Yuuhi.

"No changes except Subaru finally left," Kumoi-san informed the two while helping them with the things they brought.

While Kumoi-san was helping Fubuki arrange the fruits in the basket, Seiji grabbed the stool in the corner and placed it next to Yuuhi's bed. He sat there and held her hand for a few moments, his eyes sincerely looking at Yuuhi. Then, he quietly started talking to her, Yuuhi's hand by his lips.

"Seiji's been worried about Yuuhi-san lately," while looking at Seiji, Fubuki took the apples out of the plastic bag.

Kumoi-san nodded in agreement as she continued to place the fruits carefully in the basket. The two women quietly arranged the gift basket when suddenly, teardrops started falling on the table. Kumoi-san looked up to see a stream of tears flowing from Fubuki's eyes. The purple-haired idol grasped a grapefruit in her hand, trying to stop her tears from flowing. Her eyes showed fear, pain, and sadness, all of them Kumoi-san understood.

"I hate seeing him this way," Fubuki kept her eyes on the fruits as if what she was doing was hiding the emotions in her eyes.

"Fubuki―" Kumoi-san was interrupted when Fubuki looked up to reveal her vulnerability to her manager.

"I hate seeing you this way. I hate seeing Hiroto this way. I hate seeing Seiji this way. I hate seeing Yuuhi-san this way. I…" Fubuki ranted until she was hugged by her manager.

Kumoi-san knew exactly how Fubuki was feeling because, after all, Kumoi-san also felt the same; she was just better at hiding it.

"I hate seeing everyone I care about this way," Fubuki kept sobbing.

"Is this my punishment...for what I had done to Kirari?"

The manager tightly hugged Fubuki, trying to comfort her. Before she could even realize it, though, Kumoi-san was also already trying to find comfort in Fubuki's embrace. The manager held both of Fubuki's hands in front of them.

"It'll all be okay."

Fubuki's eyes widened to see tears rolling down her manager's cheeks, which Fubuki had only seen happen at Kirari's funeral. Though a glare on Kumoi-san's eyeglasses covered her eyes, Fubuki was still aware of how her manager was feeling and what she was trying to convey.

"It'll all be okay," Seiji joined in, placing his hands on top of theirs.

They hugged each other in hopes that their positivity and sincerity would reach Yuuhi.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Subaru slowly opened his eyes to the sound of his vibrating phone. Panicking, he quickly got up and looked around to find his whole room flooded by darkness. Even the faint light from the sun was gone when he looked at his curtains. Then, he found the only light source in his empty condo: his vibrating phone.

Subaru first noticed the caller ID, which was Kumoi-san's. Next, he noticed the time, which was 7:03. After realizing that he had been asleep the whole day, Subaru already knew what to say to his caller.

"I'm so sorry, Kumoi-san! I fell asleep and didn't wake up until now. I'll be right there," Subaru answered while he also scurried in his bedroom for change of clothes to bring with him to the hospital.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Subaru. I'm actually glad you finally got more than a few hours of sleep. In fact, you can stay home for tonight," Kumoi-san said.

"Huh? Is he finally there to look after Yuuhi?" Subaru paused what he was doing, his face blank.

"Actually...no," Kumoi-san hesitated.

Subaru clenched his fist, not hearing the rest of what Kumoi-san was saying. The golden-haired still couldn't believe that he hasn't showed up to visit Yuuhi ever since they arrived from California. After all this time, until his senses came back in the shower he took earlier, Subaru's anger erupted.

"Kumoi-san, where is he?" Subaru asked, senselessly interrupting the manager.

"Subaru, you shouldn't—"

"Where is that bastard?" Subaru emphasized every word.

"I don't know, Subaru," Kumoi-san answered after a moment of silence.

Subaru threw his phone on the bed and grabbed a grey hoodie. Then, he rushed out of his condo, slamming the door.

On the other side of the phone, Kumoi-san panicked.

"Subaru? Subaru!" she called out, hanging up the phone after getting no replies.

After Kumoi-san returned her cellular device in her pocket, she turned to Ichirou, Yuuhi's adoptive father, and Neko, Yuuhi's adoptive aunt, who had arrived shortly after Seiji and Fubuki's visit. The embarrassed manager apologized for the scene she had created. While Ichirou didn't reply due to his attention only being on his adopted daughter, Neko apologized to Kumoi-san on behalf of Ichirou.

"Ichirou-nii-san was actually in the hospital for the flu the whole time last week, so we couldn't visit. We're really sorry and also thankful for taking care of our Yuuhi," Neko bowed over and over again.

"No, it's alright. I'm glad Tsubasa-san is alright now," Kumoi-san gently looked at the father and daughter.

"Is everything alright, may I ask?" Neko wondered when she heard Subaru's angry tone on the phone.

Kumoi-san proceeded to tell Yuuhi's aunt about everything she knew. After learning of Hiroto's failure to appear and stay with Yuuhi in the hospital, much to Subaru's anger, Neko remembered what she saw on her way to the hospital a couple of hours ago.

"Papa, are we going to see Yuuhi-nee-chan before we go home?" Kirika asked while staring at her dangling feet.

"Let me ask Mama, okay?" the kind Chairman Muranishi smiled at his daughter after he finished logging off.

The Chairman got up and looked out the window after contacting his wife. Kirika continued to look at her feet, expressing her boredom. After hearing the door open, Kirika looked up to see a man wearing a grey hoodie walk towards her father's desk. The hood over his head hid his face, making his identity unknown to the little girl. Before the hooded man could call out to Kirika's father, a female voice started yelling over Chairman Muranishi's phone. Kirika recognized the voice right away, causing her head to turn and listen in on a conversation she wouldn't understand.

"Chairman, I need you to go to the cemetery."

"Wait, what?! I don't—"

"Neko Kurami-san, Yuuhi's aunt, told me that on her way to the hospital, she saw Hiroto walking on the road straight to the cemetery."

"But—"

"So he's at the cemetery," the hooded man interrupted.

Chairman Muranishi turned around as the man also took off his hood. Kirika still didn't understand what was going on, but she now recognized the man who came in, thanks to his golden hair.

"Subaru!" the Chairman exclaimed as his eyes met the hostile blue eyes that Subaru owned.

"I'll see you there, Chairman."

"Wait—"

The golden-haired boy rushed out the room, his anger fueling him. Chairman Muranishi panicked, realizing that Subaru was out to harm Hiroto. Without anymore thoughts, the Chairman grabbed his keys and bag, also picking up Kirika in his arms. They immediately got out of the building and drove out to the cemetery to get there in time, even hoping to arrive before Subaru.

"Papa, where are we going?" asked the Chairman's daughter, frightened.

"Just sit tight, okay, sweetheart?" the Chairman wiped his sweat as he tried to drive quickly but safely.

After about half an hour in a cab, Subaru arrived at his destination. In contrast to the burning rage that he was keeping inside, Subaru calmly paid the taxi driver and walked out of the vehicle to the entrance. Subaru continued on his way to where his late sister was resting.

The golden-haired could picture the scene in his head. Hiroto would be on the ground by Kirari's tombstone, sobbing. Hiroto would be talking to the stone, telling Kirari how much he loved her and how he had chosen her over Yuuhi. The thought of it actually happening made Subaru clench his fists and shed a tear.

Sure enough, Subaru was right.

Hiroto looked pitiful. He was quietly whispering to a stone, hoping his quiet words would reach the dead. Subaru could see Hiroto's lips moving, but he couldn't make out what Hiroto was saying.

"Hey!" roared Subaru.

Hiroto continued what he was doing, undisturbed by the only person that was at the cemetery with him.

"Hey!" Subaru called out once again but to no avail.

Subaru's impatience eventually got the best of him, resulting to his lunging at Hiroto. The golden-haired boy took Hiroto to the ground and continuously punched him. They both cried, Subaru—out of anger, and Hiroto—out of misery.

"How?! How could you leave Yuuhi?! She's given you everything and you left her! She's all alone!" Subaru's conscience clamored in his head as he continued hitting Hiroto.

All his thoughts were ready to be said, but Subaru couldn't seem to say anything. Subaru's grunts mixed with his furious cries eclipsed over Hiroto's voice. He couldn't understand what Hiroto was saying, but the black-haired kept talking. Subaru's strength began to flicker, and some of Hiroto's words were becoming clear and audible.

"...please…" Subaru heard, giving Hiroto a weaker jab.

"...don't…" Hiroto said before he took another blow.

Subaru was running out of breath. The cold February night froze his fists. Though he wanted to keep hurting Hiroto for abandoning Yuuhi, Subaru couldn't keep going. It was partially because of his lack of energy and also because he wanted to hear Hiroto.

Subaru gave his final shot with a powerful cry. He let out his anger, frustration, pain, and power. Exhausted, Subaru fell on his back, sure that he had delivered what he intended Hiroto to know. Subaru's punch was enough to send someone unconscious.

However, Hiroto was still talking.

"Kirari…" Hiroto's voice was now clear, though he was slow to speak.

Subaru clenched his fists and shut his eyes in disappointment. All the pain he had inflicted on Hiroto was in vain. Subaru couldn't make Hiroto understand that Kirari was gone; that Kirari was never coming back to life; that he had left Yuuhi all alone.

Subaru was wrong.

"Please...don't take Yuuhi...from me."

Subaru's eyes shot open. He began crying again after realizing that he was mistaken. Their cries echoed throughout the empty cemetery. The two men, who both loved Yuuhi, wailed. They were so loud that they didn't even hear the footsteps that approached them.

"Hiro-nii-chan...Suba-nii-chan...please stop crying...and be friends again...okay?"

Hiroto and Subaru sat up to find Kirika sobbing and rubbing her eyes. Her cheeks were being flooded by her tears from seeing the two fight. She still couldn't comprehend anything that was going on around her, but she didn't want to see anybody she cared about getting hurt.

In Kirika, Hiroto and Subaru saw Kirari.

The two men knew that Kirari would also be crying to see the two of them in their current situation. To apologize to each other, to Kirika, and to Kirari, Hiroto and Subaru got on their knees. Their heights were now equal to that of Kirika's. Hiroto and Subaru embraced the sobbing little girl, comforting her and promising that they would never hurt each other again.

"I'm glad you two have made up," Chairman Muranishi wiped a tear in happiness.

Chairman Muranishi had been standing there with Kirika. He wanted to stop Subaru, but the Chairman figured that it was the only way for the two men to understand each other. The Chairman was afraid of how it was going to end between Hiroto and Subaru. His faith in the two, however, made it possible for Chairman Muranishi to hold back and let them settle their feelings once and for all.

The incident ended with smiles and tears of happiness, until Chairman Muranishi's phone started ringing.

While Hiroto and Subaru laughed with Kirika to lighten her mood, Chairman Muranishi took out his phone to answer the call. Before he could even greet the caller, who was Kumoi-san, her distressed voice precociously bid bad news.

"Yuuhi…"

Hiroto, Subaru, and Kirika turned to Chairman Muranishi after hearing Kumoi-san over the phone. Though the silence in the cemetery already made it easier to hear the caller, everyone still held their breaths.

"She's not doing well."