"So, she just agreed?"
Hiro answered with a single nod. She had already explained the events of last night to her mother already, but, at least to her, Hisa was still trying to wrap her head around it.
"Honestly, Natsuki seemed pretty tired of everything when I found her so… I do kind of wonder if she agreed just because she didn't want to argue over anything.," Hiro admitted.
"Hmm…" Hisa scratched her right cheek, contemplating what she just heard. "…And Natsuki pretty much confirmed our suspicions without directly saying it, right?"
Hiro answered with another singular nod.
"Hmm…"
When thinking back to all of Hisa's outbursts regarding Jomei, especially when it came to his relationship with Shujinkou and Hiroko, seeing her remain cautiously silent was quite surprising for Hiro to see.
Perhaps current events had softened her a bit. At the same time however, she didn't seem to want to be bothered.
Now seemed like it was best time to bring Natsuki her breakfast.
I wonder if she slept well last night.
Upon making it up the stairs, she spotted Natsuki stepping out of the guest room donned in her school uniform. Surprised by the sight, Hiro involuntarily called out to her.
"Huh? "Oh, morning," Natsuki's expression was a mix of well rested and embarrassment. Such a face in the morning was very reminiscent of Shujinkou.
"You're going to school?" Hiro asked.
Natsuki nodded her head and explained thusly, "It's not like I can afford to miss any more days with all the tests coming up."
It was an answer Hiro could accept, but still, she felt compelled to make a small plea. "Just don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
The sincerity in that simple request and the food obviously made for her made Natsuki's eyes swim in embarrassment.
"Uhm…"
There had been something that had been weighing on Natsuki's mind for a while now, but the events of yesterday convinced her that it had to be addressed.
"I… It's…" Natsuki shook her head and sighed. "…Thanks for letting me stay here again."
She felt a chill as Hiro just stared at her. It felt as if Hiro's normally gentle eyes were digging into her, trying to catch a glimpse of her innermost thoughts and feelings.
But those thoughts were soon melted away by Hiro's calming smile. "You don't need to thank me. I wanted you to come over, remember?"
"Still… Thanks," Natsuki bashfully looked away and scratched her right cheek. She really hoped the habit would go away when Shujinkou woke up.
"Ah, I'll pack your meal up in case you want it with lunch later." Hiro turned and returned downstairs.
Natsuki took a deep breath and glanced over her shoulder. Shujinkou's bedroom door was open, giving her a clear view of its sole occupant.
Before she realized it, she was standing before her slumbering friend.
"…I still can't really talk to you like this, you know? I know they say it's good talking to people when they're like this but still…"
She crossed her arms and considered her next words very carefully. There were so many things she wanted to say, but her heart wouldn't let her say it anything to him now.
"I just wish…"
That she could say more. It hurt, but she did find solace in the one thing she could manage to get out.
"Just wake up soon, 'kay? I promise to make up for worrying you when you do."
"Like what?"
"S-S-Sayori?!" Indeed, standing behind her was her friend, Sayori, clearly curious to discover more. "Wh-What are you doing here?"
"Eh? I was just checking up on Shiko and wanted to wish him good morning," Sayori explained. "What about you? Are you really planning to do something for Shiko when he wakes up?"
There was a droplet of saliva hanging from the corner of Sayori's mouth, cluing Natsuki in on what was really going on.
"I get it… You just wanted to see if it was something you could get in on…" Natsuki muttered.
"That's not it! Well maybe a little… But seriously I just wanted to know if it was something completely separate.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Um…" Sayori's eyes lowered to Shujinkou. "It feels weird saying it in front of Shiko?"
"It's not like he's listening right now."
"Yeah, but he's still capable of listening, right? What if his subconscious remembers and keeps nagging him with hints when he wakes up?"
The thought of that actually occurring did not seem too far-fetched. After all, if it did happen, it would have been the least strange thing to have occured in comparison to the past few weeks.
You know, you say that, but haven't you and the others already confided a lot of things to Shujinkou?" Natsuki pointed out.
"Yep," Sayori cheerfully smiled from ear to ear, showing Natsuki that her point hasn't gotten through yet.
"Probably including some personal stuff that you wouldn't tell him normally…" Natsuki continued.
Sayori's cheer immediately vanished and she began to consider her friend's words. Natsuki watched as Sayori's face gradually become more and more serious before suddenly showing nothing but pure horror.
Sayori immediately dropped to her knees and pleaded to Shujinkou's unconscious body, "Forget everything we said! We were just making conversation! You don't have to constantly nag Shiko with that stuff!"
Sayori clapped her hands together as she continued her desperate pleas.
"Now, I'm even more glad I haven't really said much to him…" Natsuki mumbled under her breath.
"Don't say it like that. You make it sound like it's bad that we were talking to him," Sayori said with puffed up cheeks.
"Well, it's not like Shujinkou's going to subconsciously remember everything that was said to him while he's out, so you don't need to freak out over it."
"I guess you're right…" Back in good spirits, Sayori jumped back on her feet. "Thanks, Natsuki."
"By the way… What did you say to Shujinkou?" Natsuki inquired.
As she had expected, Sayori's face had turned bright red.
"N-Nothing! Nothing at all!" Sayori shook her head with all her might before suddenly bursting out in nervous laughter. "Anyway, we need to get ready to leave for school, right? Let's go!"
Sayori left in a hurry, Natsuki taking note of her frantic response.
She glanced at Shujinkou and whispered, "They must have all confessed to you, huh?"
For the next minute, Natsuki kept her eyes squarely on Shujinkou. She smiled and shook her head before heading downstairs herself.
There Sayori was waiting with their lunches in hand. "You ready, Natsuki?"
"Yep."
The two students said their goodbyes and left.
"Well," Hisa finally stood up and stretched her arms. "I'm off."
"Where are you going, Mom?" Hiro inquired.
"Hisa-things," She left without saying another word, leaving her daughter a little worried.
…
"Exams really are getting closer and closer…" Sayori lamented.
"Stop reminding me. It still feels like I'm catching up and I don't need the daily exam getting closer pressure," Natsuki groaned.
"Yeah. I feel like I just barely got out of having to take make-up exams for last time… Shiko was in the same boat too since he spaced out a lot last semester. I wonder what would happen if he woke up before they were over."
They could imagine it would not be a pleasant experience for him.
"Well, I know two people that won't have any issu-" Natsuki nearly bit her tongue as she clamped her mouth shut.
"Natsuki?" Sayori couldn't help but feel worried as she watch Natsuki's annoyed expression slowly twist into fear. "What's wrong?"
"…I just realized that I left something important at home. I'll meet you at school, okay?"
Natsuki took off running before Sayori could get a word in. She ran as hard as she could, cursing herself for forgetting something so important.
What was I thinking leaving Mali in my house alone!?
Her head was filled with all the problematic scenarios that branched out from that single miscalculation. After everything that happened with yesterday, Natsuki couldn't see a situation where Mali wouldn't egg on her father if given the opportunity.
The fear of what seemed inevitable prompted her to speed up.
…
Natsuki was gasping for air as she returned home, lugging her heavy body towards the front door. It was creaking as it hung ever so slightly open.
"Please just tell me he didn't close it all the way again…" she silently pleaded.
She placed her hands on the door and opened it slowly. She peeked inside, her eyes immediately drawn to a horrifying sight.
"Mali!"
Sprawled across the floor in a with small puddles of blood lying around was the first year she had left behind. She immediately rushed to her side, filled with remorse over what had happened while she was gone.
"Mali…"
Suddenly, Mali's body twitched. She quickly rose to her feet gasping for air.
"Wow."
She gingerly rubbed the back of her head and looked around. Dents in the wall, broken furniture and the taste of blood; Mali could still clearly remember what led to those.
"That was… something."
"Mali?"
Mali turned around, giving Natsuki a good look at her bruised and bloodied face. Contrary to her disheveled appearance, Mali seemed none worse for wear mentally.
"Natsuki-chan?" She smiled, a trail of blood crawling down her face. "You're finally back."
Natsuki was completely taken aback. Somebody who should be screaming in pain is welcoming her back warmly.
"D-Don't give me that!" Natsuki snapped. "What happened?"
"Um…" Mali glanced down at her improperly aligned right hand. "I think your 'Papa' broke my arm and wrist in our tussle."
"He did what!?" Their attention was soon drawn to the doorway, where a horrified Sayori stood.
Her eyes darted around the room, her feelings growing more intense as she took in the overturned furniture and imprints on the wall.
Her attention finally landed on Mali, who met her concern with glee.
"So, you're her too, VP-san," she welcomed.
Sayori kneeled down beside Mali. "How'd this happen?"
"I called out Natsuki's Papa for a few things. He took it a lot worse than his daughter did."
"What? Why would you do that?" Natsuki's voice trembled as she asked this.
"Somebody had to. Besides, what happened next was pure self-defense. I even gave him an extra shot just to be sure."
"I can't believe yo- Why would you purposely set him off?!" Natsuki yelled..
"Natsuki, we can't blame Mali for ending up like this," Sayori argued.
"Really, cause I'm pretty sure in her twisted mind, she wanted this outcome so she can say that she's the victim!"
"Ah, you're finally keying into the way I think, aren't you, Natsuki-chan?" Mali giggled, as if laughing off Natsuki's outrage.
"Even so, Natsuki, that doesn't change the fact that your father did this," Sayori argued. "It doesn't look like he even hesitated to hurt Mali this much."
"He didn't," Mali chimed in. "Besides, I'm only really like this because I wanted to make myself the scapegoat."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Natsuki questioned.
"Think about it. Eventually someone would have spoken up and who knows what would have happen. Considering past actions, it wouldn't have been good for the person so why not let the person who could take the pain do it?"
Natsuki couldn't believe what she had just heard. If true, then this could be the first truly noble thing she had heard come out of Mali's mouth.
"Besides, isn't this a nice sight for you, Natsuki-chan? Doesn't the sight of someone you hate being hurt so badly like make you smile?"
"That's- I mean… I wouldn't want something like this to happen, even to you."
"Really?" Mali gazed into Natsuki's eyes. "That's big of you, Natsuki-chan. Anyway, it's for Senpai's sake mostly. I'm sure he can live with me being all beat up rather than his precious friends after all."
Sayori furiously shook her head. "Don't say that! Shiko would be upset if bad things happen to you too."
"Ah, that's right, Senpai isn't most people," Mali recalled as she turned away. "For some reason we're all equally important to him, at least in a basic sway. Maybe that's one of the reasons me and myself couldn't have any sway over him."
She glanced back, her bright, knowing smile contrasting heavily against the others' dumbfounded expressions.
"Anyway, we need to get you to the hospital, Mali," Sayori worriedly advised. "Especially before Natsuki's dad gets back."
Those final words had achieved something in that moment. The two had witnessed the rare sight of Mali sporting a look of surprise and confusion.
"…I don't think he'll be back here any soon," Mali scratched her right cheek slowly. "I seem to recall that it sounded like he was going to Natsuki-chan before I briefly passed out."
"He's going to the school again?!" Just the thought of an even bigger incident at her school was enough to make Natsuki physically ill.
"Natsuki-chan…" Mali said no more and continued to simply scratch her right cheek.
At first it seemed like the windup for another snarky comment, but not another word came from Mali.
Not another word.
"No…" There was one possibility that Natsuki had yet to consider, one that was much worse than what she had previously assumed. "He wouldn't…"
"Would your papa really not?" Mali dangled her broken arm before Natsuki, emphasizing her point. "And was he not prepared to do so the first time before you stopped him?"
"But Shiko's not awake right now!" Sayori fretted. "Would anyone really do anything to someone in a coma?"
Mali gingerly rubbed her left torso.
"I'm fairly certain I have a few bruises I wasn't conscious for. But really, I guess the only one who could definitively answer that…"
Mali's eyes trailed back to Natsuki. Her breathing was steadily growing more and more ragged as the conversation continued.
"…is you, Natsuki-chan. Should we be worried?"
Natsuki couldn't figure out what to say. All she could do was clutch her chest in fear of what could happen next.
Elsewhere, Hiro opened the front door of her home, finally coming face to face with Kaen.