Chapter 2: The Hospital, and the Unwelcome Surprises

The white fluorescent light from the hospital ceiling cast a dim glow over the room, carrying with it the faint scent of disinfectant. Slowly, I opened my eyes. My head felt unbearably heavy, my throat dry as sandpaper. As my vision cleared, the first thing that came into view wasn’t the detestable machines around me—

but a small, delicate figure right by my side.

Miyu.

Her head rested against the bed, her slender hands folded together, gently placed over my arm as if using it for a pillow. Her long black hair had slipped off her shoulder, strands trailing across my skin. Her breathing was steady, so calm it felt like my heart was being lulled into peace just by watching her.

My chest thumped wildly. Was she an angel? Or had I died and started dreaming already?

I gave a faint, self-mocking laugh at the thought. Yet instinct soon overcame reason. My left hand—the one still uninjured—reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from her cheek. My finger trembled as it lingered, then before I knew it, I leaned forward and pressed the lightest kiss against her soft skin.

…Just a fleeting touch, gone in an instant.

But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Her lashes quivered. Those clear brown eyes opened—

and locked directly onto mine.

My whole body froze. My heart nearly burst out of my chest. Damn it! Akira, you idiot, you just stole a kiss right in front of her! You’re dead meat!

In a fraction of a second, my brain whirred like a supercomputer. I spat out the dumbest excuse imaginable, still trying to sound confident:

“Uh… I was just checking if you had a fever. Diagnosis complete—temperature normal!”

God, even I cringed at my own words. But once you’ve fired the arrow, you can’t pull it back.

Miyu’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushed scarlet. She touched her cheek, then looked back at me as if to say: You seriously expect me to buy that nonsense?

The tension in the room grew so thick I swore I could hear the beeping of the heart monitor tattling on my racing pulse.

I swallowed hard, forcing out a shaky grin.

“Well then… want to check my temperature too, just to be fair?” I tilted my face toward her, closing my eyes in mock anticipation.

“…Y-You pervert!” Miyu blurted, voice trembling more from embarrassment than anger, and snatched up the nearest pillow to smack me square in the chest.

“Owwww! Is it legal to assault a patient like this?!” I clutched the pillow, wincing dramatically, though the grin tugging at my lips betrayed me. “Seriously, Miyu… you’re adorable. Even when you’re mad, you’re cute.”

“Y-You—!” Miyu bit her lip, her ears turning bright red. She turned away without replying further. Yet… her hand still held onto mine tightly, refusing to let go.

I smirked faintly and tugged her closer. Miyu stiffened for a moment, but didn’t resist. Her head came to rest gently on my shoulder. The room, which had been charged with awkward tension moments ago, now grew still and strangely warm.

Neither of us spoke another word. Only the mingling of our heartbeats and quiet breaths filled the silence, creating a fragile peace I wished would never break.

The hospital room stayed hushed for a long while, until only the faint moonlight spilling through the window remained. Miyu leaned against my shoulder, her breath warm against my neck. I thought she had fallen asleep—

until her soft voice broke the stillness.

“Akira… do you know what happened after you collapsed?”

I blinked, shaking my head slightly.

“Not really. I just remember a freezing sensation shooting through my arm, then everything went dark. After that… I woke up here.”

Miyu lifted her gaze, shadows of fear lingering in her eyes.

“When you fell… I was terrified. Thankfully, our teachers heard the screaming from the training ground and rushed over. Some classmates called for an ambulance. You were brought straight to the hospital. As for the guy who stabbed you…”—her grip on my hand tightened—“…he was caught on the spot and taken to the police.”

My brows furrowed.

“Good. A bastard like that has no place roaming free.”

Miyu nodded faintly, but her eyes still clouded with unease.

“…The incident was serious. The school held an emergency meeting. Everyone involved in the fight has been expelled. People are shocked. And you… you’ve become the center of attention—for better and for worse.”

I let out a bitter laugh, forcing a touch of humor into my tone.

“So I’m a reluctant hero now? Doesn’t feel glorious at all. Honestly… if I’d just been a little quicker, a little sharper… I could’ve dodged that stab.”

“Akira…” Miyu called softly, her voice gentle yet firm. “Stop blaming yourself. You protected someone else, even though you got hurt. To me, that’s already more than enough to call you a hero.”

Her words left me stunned, warmth swelling in my chest, easing the ache that lingered there.

“A hero, huh? Sounds kinda cool. But hey…” I gave a sly grin. “If I’m the hero, don’t I deserve a reward from the princess?”

Miyu’s face went crimson. She gave my shoulder a light shove.

“Y-You always have to ruin the mood… I’m being serious here!”

“I am serious.” I clasped her hand tighter. “When I blacked out… I thought I’d never open my eyes again. But when I did, the first thing I saw was you, sitting there, watching over me. That’s when I realized… I hadn’t lost everything. I still had you.”

Her eyes shimmered faintly as she whispered:

“Idiot… I’ll always be here. So never say such hopeless things again, okay?”

I nodded firmly, squeezing her hand as if to etch her promise into my heart.

Outside, the city’s noise faded into the night. Inside the quiet hospital room, two people who had narrowly escaped death simply sat together, speaking no more words—yet knowing, without a doubt, that the distance between them had changed forever.

After the long conversation, the heaviness on our chests seemed to lift. Miyu’s head remained on my shoulder, her small hand still clutching mine.

“You’re tired. Go to sleep,” she murmured drowsily.

“Mm… but if I sleep, you have to sleep too. Don’t sneak off.” I smiled, tugging her closer.

Miyu didn’t reply, just gave a tiny nod before slipping under the blanket, wrapping my arm like a pillow. Her warmth seeped into me, chasing away the room’s chill.

Getting stabbed really does have its perks… I thought wryly, lips curving upward. After all, I get to fall asleep holding Miyu like this.

Her breathing soon deepened, her face serene in slumber. I let my eyes drift shut as well, surrendering to the rare tranquility.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window, painting golden streaks across the white hospital ceiling. The air was quiet except for the steady beeping of the monitor, filling the room with an odd sense of peace.

I stirred, eyelids heavy, blinking awake. And the first sensation I felt wasn’t pain from my wound—

but the gentle warmth wrapped tightly around my left arm.

Turning my head, Miyu’s figure filled my vision.

She was still asleep, long black hair cascading down, a few strands brushing her rosy cheek. Her steady breath fanned lightly across my skin, her peaceful face like a painted portrait—so much so that I unconsciously held my breath.

“D-Damn… at this distance, who could possibly stay calm…” I swallowed hard, my heart racing wildly. The faint fragrance of her hair and body filled my senses, while her soft embrace pulsed with her heartbeat against mine. It was… dangerously intoxicating.

And just as I was struggling to regain composure—

Click!

The door opened with a sharp sound. My entire body froze as my eyes snapped toward it.

Standing there were Miyu’s father and mother.

“…What exactly are you two doing here?” Her father’s stern voice cut through the air.

Arms crossed, his glare was sharp enough to pierce through steel. Her mother, however, was the opposite—smiling warmly, phone already in hand as she snapped picture after picture.

My mind went utterly blank. One thing was certain:

Something big was about to go down.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***