Chapter 45

"You're here again?" Yuto sighed as he stared at Souta helping Rika walk around her room.

"Well, it's not like you can be around all the time to help her." Souta smirked and patted Rika's hand on his arm.

"But you're only marginally better than she is. What will you do if you both fall?"

"It's better than sitting around all day!" Rika threw her arms in the air and stumbled back.

Souta wrapped an arm around her waist, catching her, and pulled her back upright. "See? I can handle helping her."

"This time, but things might not go the same if it happens again," Yuto said.

"It's fine. I've already recovered enough, so I can handle helping my bunny."

"Would you stop calling her that?" Yuto huffed and stomped up to them, pulling Rika away from him. "Why do you let him keep coming back?"

"He's been supporting me." Rika shrugged. It gets boring when you're not around, and he's not as crazy here. Or at least I'm not worried he's a bloodthirsty prince out to kidnap me.

"Because I'm her boyfriend," Souta said. "Of course, she wants me here with her."

Is there a point in correcting him? He won't listen to it.

Yuto narrowed his eyes. "Funny, since I have yet to hear her call you that." Yuto led Rika a few steps away. "Is he forcing his way into your life? Is he a stalker?" Yuto whispered.

Hard to say he isn't, sometimes. "Well, he is quite attached to me... but no, he's not forcing me to do anything." He's been helpful, as he always is.

Duke popped up beside them, and they jumped back. "Why are you having a secret conversation away from me?" Souta asked, holding Duke up.

Yuto rolled his eyes. "Don't use Duke against us."

Rika couldn't hold back a laugh. "I'm sorry, but Souta, you seem to really like Duke."

"He's just using him to win you over."

"What's wrong with that?" Souta smirked. "I enjoy playing with him, and Rika loves it, too."

"Please tell me you're not buying this."

Rika shrugged. Not sure how, but I've grown more attached to him.

"Rika, be careful—"

"I'm fine, Yuto. I'm used to his antics, and I understand how he works better than anyone might think, even if he can be infuriating at times."

"Aw, I love you, too." Souta handed her Duke as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

"Oh!" The mark on her neck warmed, and her heart skipped a beat. Does it work here, or is it in my head?

"Hey! What are you doing while I'm right here? There will be no kissing in the hospital, even if it's on the cheek."

"Who are you to complain? If Rika doesn't want me to, she can say so." Souta tilted his head to the side and smiled.

"What was that? You want me to throw you out of her hospital room and make sure the staff keeps you out?" Yuto cupped his ear, warning him to correct himself.

"No, sir." Souta stepped away from her. "I'll be good. Please don't kick me out."

"I should've threatened that before," he mumbled under his breath. "Ahem, anyway, I was talking to your doctor about having you discharged today, and they wanted to have an environmental check in your apartment, so Hinata let them in. They want you to use the elevator instead of the stairs for now."

"Ruins my exercise, but okay." I'll only use stairs to the roof for now.

"Hinata also cleaned up a bit and stored away some rug with a lifted corner."

"Tripping hazards?"

"Yup."

"So, am I good to go?"

Yuto backed into the hall and rolled a wheelchair in. "Yup, you're good to go."

"I can walk!"

"Hospital policy."

"Ugh." Rika rolled her eyes. Not Yuto's fault. Don't take it out on him.

"You don't even have to take it home; you just need to leave the hospital in it."

"Oh..." Rika glanced over at Souta, who smiled when their eyes met. "What about you? How long until you can leave?"

"Me?" He pointed at himself, his face lighting up. "I was allowed to leave a few days ago. I stayed so I could keep helping you."

Rika's eyes widened. "Seriously? You should've claimed your freedom as soon as possible."

"But then I wouldn't get to stick around you all the time." Souta plopped down into the wheelchair.

"What are you doing?" Yuto asked.

"Taking a wheelchair out."

"Oh!" Rika gasped as Souta pulled her onto his lap. She gripped Duke tighter as her face burned.

"See? A perfect fit. You can be my seatbelt, little bunny, and all three of us can leave together."

"Unbelievable. I'm not pushing you around like this." Yuto sighed, shaking his head.

"Guess she'll have to hold on as I roll us around then." Souta pushed on the wheels and rolled around the room.

Rika couldn't help herself and laughed as she slung one arm around his neck, leaning into him.

Yuto stared at Rika's smile and shook his head. "Fine, whatever. At least get changed first; I don't think you're supposed to take the hospital gowns home."

Souta rolled around the room a bit more and stopped. "Okay, little bunny. I'll be back soon. Don't you dare leave without me."

Rika got up off his lap. "What?" she asked Yuto after Souta left, noticing his stare.

"Nothing. Just wondering when the last time I saw you smile like that was. You've been bogged down by work for so long, so it's nice to see you like this. I wish it weren't that lunatic making you smile, but beggars can't be choosers. If you want, we can leave before he comes back."

Rika laughed and shook her head. "No, thanks." Wouldn't work anyway.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing? You're not supposed to sit together like that." A nurse chased after Souta and Rika, rolling out of the hospital together as Yuto signed her papers.

Souta laughed, his grin growing as Rika's face burned.

"Sorry about that," Yuto mumbled.

"It's weird how this one can go from charming to chaotic at the drop of a hat," the nurse said as she took the papers back. "We'll contact you to set up a checkup within the next few weeks."

"Okay, thank you." Yuto headed out of the hospital to see Souta and Rika wheeling around the paved area out front. "I'll bring my car over. Souta, how are you getting home?"

Souta stopped and turned to him. "Home? I'm going with Rika right now. I'll get someone to pick me up later."

He is?

"This is continuing?" Yuto gritted his teeth. "This is for Rika," he muttered under his breath and went to grab his car.

"Can you at least try to get along with my brother?" Rika asked.

Souta looked taken aback. "I thought we did."

"You're driving him up the wall with your antics. You might want to tone it down."

"Oh, harsh. And here I thought I was being a good boy."

"You say as we play around in a wheelchair?"

"It's just a little bit of fun! What's life without some fun? At least I'm not hurting anyone."

True enough. Probably something I need to embrace more, especially since I won't play an otome for a while. Rika stared at him in wonder.

"What's wrong? Or do you just love my handsome visage that much?"

"Well, you're not wrong about that."

A faint blush touched his cheeks.

"But I was just thinking about how much things have changed. You included. I started off terrified of you as you snuck into my bedroom at night."

"A line I shouldn't have crossed, but it was a quest. More than one, in fact. The system pushed me to pursue you... I assume, in a way Kael would have. That said, I also snuck into your hospital room on my own, so who am I to talk? I wouldn't mind sneaking into your bedroom now, but I'd much rather it be an open invitation. You know, like when we're sharing the room anyway."

"You're serious about our future?"

"Absolutely."

Her heart skipped a beat.

An SUV rolled up beside them. "Okay, let's get you home." Yuto pulled her off Souta's lap and helped her into his car. "You're in the back." Yuto opened the back door for Souta.

Souta's expression lit up. "Thank you."