Chapter 12-"White Walls and unspoken feelings"

The ambulance arrived quicker than Akaru thought possible.
One moment he was crouched on the cobblestone street, Himari faint against his chest — the next, flashing lights and hurried voices surrounded them.
He barely heard Mrs. Hoshino explaining what happened.
"Young man, you’re coming too," one paramedic said.
Akaru didn’t let go of her hand the entire way.



The hospital felt too bright. Too sterile.
White walls. The faint smell of antiseptic. Footsteps echoing in long corridors.
Akaru sat in the waiting room now, fingers clenched, knees bouncing.
"You should have stopped her. You should’ve seen it coming."
Hajime’s words echoed in his head."She’s reckless. She pushes herself too hard."
And I let her.
Akaru stood abruptly, pacing.
When the door finally opened, a nurse stepped out."You’re with Himari-chan, correct?"
He nodded at once.
"She’s stable now. Exhaustion, severe strain on her lungs. But… she’ll need to rest here for a while."
He exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
"Can I see her?"
The nurse hesitated. "Only for a moment. She insisted."



The room was dim. Machines hummed softly.
There she lay — pale, small against the stark white sheets. An oxygen tube at her nose. Her hair fanned out like crimson threads.
But her eyes fluttered open as he entered.
"Akaru…" her voice was a hoarse whisper.
"Idiot," he choked out, sitting beside her. "You should’ve told me."
She smiled faintly, eyes shining even as tears welled."I… didn’t want you to see me like this."
"You think I care?" He reached for her hand — cold, trembling slightly — and held it tightly.
"I wanted… just one day… without hospitals," she murmured. "One day to feel… normal."
His throat tightened."You could’ve had that day… if you’d let me help."
Silence.
Then a single tear slid down her cheek.
"I’m scared," she whispered. "I won’t say it to anyone else… but I’m scared, Akaru."
He leaned closer, voice low."I’ll stay. As long as you need. You don’t have to do this alone."
Her hand gripped his weakly. "Promise?"
"I promise."


Later, after she drifted into uneasy sleep, Akaru sat quietly by her side.
For the first time, he realized just how much she had been hiding — the brave smiles, the bright laughter — all wrapped around something fragile and fading.
"I won’t let you fade," he thought."Not without fighting for you."
As dawn neared, he remained there — her silent guard against the shadows.