When he opened his eyes, Haruto saw Rio Futaba sitting on top of him. He noticed her crooked tie, then her tear-filled, reddened eyes. His lips were dry. He tried to speak, tried to say something, but no words came out.
Rio, her eyes meeting his, froze in surprise. Her gaze was dazed as it locked with Haruto's.
"Y-you're awake?"
Haruto, lying beneath her, opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but his weakened state made him unable to. He could only lie quietly in bed, expressing himself with his eyes.
Rio glanced from his eyes to somewhere beside him. She seemed to understand something.
"Do you want me to get down?"
Haruto didn't have the strength to speak. After lying in bed for a month, cared for by his mother, having only moistened his lips occasionally and barely eating or drinking properly, his body was extremely weak. He could only close his eyes for a moment, then slowly open them, looking at Rio.
Understanding his intention, Rio panicked slightly, quickly climbing off him. She put on her shoes and stood by his side, gazing at the awakening Haruto.
"D-do you… remember me?"
Hearing that as the first question after he woke, Haruto couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth into a small smile. But the strain of his weakened body and recovering organs made smiling painful. His expression twisted; his brow furrowed, and cold sweat formed on his forehead.
"I-I'll contact the doctor!"
Seeing Haruto suddenly in pain, Rio panicked, unsure what to do, and hurried out to find a doctor.
Haruto, lying in bed, lips trembling from the pain, thought: Isn't there a nurse call button in the room?
He struggled to breathe. All he had wanted was to smile, but his organs seemed tied into knots. Pain coursed through him, his scalp tingled, and he wanted to curl into a ball—yet his weak limbs prevented him from doing anything.
Within minutes, nurses and doctors arrived. Haruto also saw his mother, Rio, and Koharu.
Seeing Koharu, Haruto's eyes reflected surprise. He had many questions but couldn't speak. His gaze shifted toward the attending doctor.
The mature, elegant woman glanced down at her report, then slowly approached him, asking several questions. Unlike the flustered Rio, her words were clear and rational. Haruto could respond with a simple blink.
"Do you feel this?"
Her delicate fingers gently squeezed his hand. It didn't hurt much. Haruto blinked to indicate he could feel it.
"How about here?"
She pressed lightly on his leg. Haruto blinked again, confirming sensation.
"Do you remember who you are? What happened?"
"And them—do you remember them?"
Haruto noticed the room was mostly women. He wanted to joke with them, but this wasn't the time. He silently blinked to indicate he remembered.
"There's nothing serious. You're just weak, and there are lingering effects from the car accident. You'll need at least a month of rest in the hospital to fully recover," the doctor explained.
"I understand. Thank you, Doctor."
Hearing this, Futaba let out a small sigh of relief. She escorted the doctor out, then turned to Haruto on the bed. She wanted to smile, but couldn't. Her face reflected a mix of relief and worry. She turned her head, took a deep breath, and composed herself.
"Is there anything you want to do?"
Haruto looked at Rio and Koharu, then at a drink on the bedside table, signaling his need.
"…Water?"
Noticing his gaze, Koharu spoke softly, indicating the juice bottle on the table. Haruto blinked to affirm.
The petite, white-clad upperclasswoman picked up the bottle and brought it to him. She gently twisted the cap open. Rio adjusted the bed so Haruto's upper body was at a 150° angle. A towel was placed near his neck, and the juice slowly wet his dry mouth.
It was a struggle. When Haruto felt he had drunk enough, he blinked rapidly, and Koharu took the bottle away. Swallowing the juice was a grueling task for his weak body. He could feel it passing through his throat and settling into his stomach.
Seeing Haruto so uncomfortable, Rio bit her lip. She wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.
Futaba glanced at Koharu and the unfamiliar gray-haired girl, sensing the connection they shared with Haruto.
As a diversion, Koharu had drawn Futaba away. Now, she glanced at the awakening Haruto, then at Rio beside her, and decided it was best to withdraw for the time being.
"Since Haruto has woken up, we won't disturb you two. See you at school, Haruto."
Gently tugging on Rio's sleeve, Koharu was the first to leave the hospital room. Rio, looking at Haruto on the bed, hesitated, bit her lip, and then glanced toward Futaba, bowing slightly.
"I'm… sorry."
She then turned and left. Futaba, hearing the girl's words, opened her mouth to say something, but watching her walk away, she couldn't find the right words.
After a brief moment of silence near the door, Futaba returned her gaze to her son lying in the bed. She had so much she wanted to say, but now, with him awake, she didn't know where to start.
She slowly approached the bedside and sat down in the chair nearby. Looking at her son, whose face was still somewhat pale, she couldn't help but sigh.
"I had so many things I wanted to tell you after you woke up… but now, I don't even know where to begin. That gray-haired girl in the room earlier… she's also your girlfriend, isn't she?"
Haruto, unable to speak, felt his emotions tangle. His mood was difficult to describe—like being caught by his mother while secretly watching something he shouldn't in his own room. No, perhaps it wasn't quite that awkward.
"While you were unconscious, so many girls came to visit. Besides the two just now, there were the Miss Kiyuora and her daughter taking care of you, and that girl named Sekai. Also, someone named Sayu who lives in the same apartment as you?"
Koharu Otori, Rio Futaba, Kiyoura Mai and Kiyoura Setsuna , Saionji Sekai, Sayu Ogiwara.
The faces Futaba named surfaced in Haruto's mind. He blinked, looking at his mother's conflicted expression. She seemed like she wanted to say something, yet didn't know how.
"There was also a girl named Mito Yuka who came to visit you… umm, Haruto…"
As Futaba opened her mouth to continue, there was a knock at the door. The door opened, and Setsuna and Sekai entered the room, seeing Futaba by the bed and… Haruto awake?!
Clatter.
The shopping bag in Setsuna's hand fell to the floor. She stared at the awakened Haruto in shock.
Haruto, still unable to speak, could only watch the two girls at the door. Seeing Setsuna's tearful eyes, she slowly approached his bedside.
"Haruto… you've finally… awake."
"It's been a whole month… and now you've finally woken up."
Sekai also came to the bedside, looking at Haruto with a complex expression. During this past month, she had been utterly conflicted—unsure when he would wake, unsure of what to do. She didn't know Setsuna's choice, or whether waiting had been the right decision. She had accompanied Setsuna every day, visiting the hospital, checking on Haruto's condition.
Yet seeing him awake now, she didn't feel the joy she expected. Instead, she felt more confusion and disappointment. She pressed her lips together and gave a faint smile.
"Haruto just woke up. He's still very weak and can't speak or do much. You should sit for now."
"No, that's fine. I just… brought some things over. Now that he's awake, he should rest properly. He needs quiet and recovery. I'll… leave now."
Handing the items Sekai had helped pick up to Futaba, Setsuna glanced at Haruto, then quickly left. Sekai, unsure of what had happened with Setsuna, politely said goodbye to Futaba and Haruto before hurrying after Setsuna.
"During this past month, ever since I knew about your situation, she came every day. Even during holidays, she helped cover for me and take care of you," Futaba said.
Haruto glanced toward the door, then at Futaba by his side. He felt warm and wanted to lift his blanket slightly, but he couldn't speak. His eyes looked toward the door with helplessness.
"Haruto's awake?"
Back home, Mai was preparing dinner to bring to the hospital when she heard Setsuna's voice. She froze in disbelief, then relaxed, closing her eyes and exhaling slowly.
"Now that Haruto is awake, why did you come back so early? Shouldn't you talk with him, strengthen your bond?"
"He's still too weak to speak and needs rest," Setsuna replied.
"Then you didn't need to come back so early, right?"
Mai hadn't expected Setsuna to return home so soon after Haruto's awakening.
"I still need to deliver the food. Do you want to come with me?"
"I… need some time to calm down."
"Calm down?"
Setsuna didn't answer. She sat quietly in the living room, unusually solemn, deep in thought. Mai, unsure what to say, lowered her head and continued preparing dinner.
"No… since Haruto is awake, I should prepare something to eat for him. But the ingredients at home aren't enough… hmm, I'll cook some porridge for now, the rest can wait until tomorrow."
After thinking it through and preparing the food, Mai asked Setsuna again:
"Are you really not coming?"
"Mm… not going."
Having received her daughter's reply, Mai set out for the hospital alone.
Sitting in the hospital, watching the sky darken, the dim evening light filtering into the room, Futaba sat by Haruto's bedside. She looked at her son, pale and weak, wanting to speak but unsure how to start.
Haruto had just woken up. Seeing his frail figure, she pressed her lips together, deciding to postpone the difficult conversation for now.
"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Would you like me to add some extra pillows for you?"
~~~~~~~~~~
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