It was one of the short winter days when a little kid holding an adult's hand entered the hospital.

After entering the hospital, "Leon, could you be a good boy and sit there while a talk to receptionist?" the adult asked to child.

"Hmm~! Yes dad," kid nodded before the adult patted his head before going to the receptionist.

As he said, sitting on the chair, while waiting for his father, the child murmured some song lyrics as his father started talking with the receptionist. After a minute, finishing talking, the kid's father came towards to little kid.

"Let's go, Leon," the adult said before holding the kid's hand.

"Dad, why is mom staying here? Doesn't she want to return home?" little kid asked while both of them walked towards to the elevator.

"Oh Leon, of course she wants to, but mom is a little sick. So until doctors heal her, she has to stay here for a while," the adult responded while smiling.

"Ah, just like when I was sick?" the kid asked again when his father pushed the elevator's button.

"Yes, just like that time," the adult responded as the door of elevator closed. Until the elevator went up to the fourth floor, the boy tried to mislead his own image in the mirror. Unfortunately, whatever he did, he couldn't manage to trick the kid in the mirror. So he gave up when the elevator reached the fourth floor.

Getting out of the elevator, the adult looked at the room numbers as he tried to find a certain one. Walking in the hospital's corridor for a while, the adult passed some rooms before he stopped in front of one.

"Here we here. Let's say hello to mom," the adult said while looking at the little kid.

"Dad, can I go first in? Please, please, please!" the little kid asked to his father while looking at his eyes.

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Not being able to resist those little eyes, "Okay, okay, you can go first but don't make so much noise," the adult said.

"Yay!" the little kid said as he opened the door.

"L-Leon?" a woman's voice came when she saw the little kid at the door.

"Mom!!!" the little kid started running to hug the woman as soon as he saw her on the hospital bed.

Quickly coming to her side, the kid and the woman hug each other with longing.

"Mom! I missed you so much!" the little kid said as he continued his hug.

"Me too, Leon," the woman said while wiping some tears before stopping hugging.

"Let me look *COUGH* at you. Oh, you seem to have grown up," the woman said while observing the little kid.

"Haha! Of course I did. As you said, I ate every food dad cooked. I'm a big boy now!" the kid said while puffing his chest out proudly.

"Hey don't steal all love to yourself 'big boy'," the adult said while holding the woman's hand and kissing her from forehead.

"How have you been de-"

"Mr. Gray, can I have a moment, please?" not letting him to finish his sentences, a voice comes from his behind.

Turning back and seeing the doctor, "Of course," the adult says while going towards to door.

"I will return in a minute. Don't tire your mom," the adult says before closing the door.

With this, the little kid and the woman start talking. While mostly the woman asked the questions, the little kid answered each with a smile. Sometimes the little kid talks about his school life, and sometimes about his daily life. When the kid laughs, the woman also laughs too. But whatever the little kid says, the woman listens carefully to not to miss even one word. After some time that passed with talking, while looking at the kid's face, the woman brim with tears.

"M-mom, why are you crying? Did I say something that upset you?" the kid wondered.

"N-no, just here is a little too hot," the woman said while wiping out some tears.

"Ah, then I will tell dad to turn on the air conditioner. Wait for me!" the kid said as he started walking to get out from room.

"*COUGH* Wait Leon!" the woman tried to stop the kid, but he already left the room.

Quickly walking to the corner of the corridor, the kid sees his father talking to the doctor. Wondering what they are talking about, the kid eavesdrop on their talk.

"Isn't there really a way to save Lisa, doctor?" the man desperately asked to the doctor.

"I'm really sorry. We could have done something if the diagnosis had been made earlier, but now, the cancer has already spread too far. There is nothing we can do to stop it," the doctor said in a sad tone.

Realizing a little head looking at them from the corner, "Leon?" the adult says as the memory fades away in silence when Leon opens his eyes to see the white sky of hub after gaining his consciousness.

-CHAPTER 17 END-