"Mr. Sakato… I don't know how much we could express our gratitude to you…
I think we may have just turned the tables because of you."
Dr. Kurt Snetr expressed his immense awe while almost fumbling on his words.
The time was twenty minutes before noon. Just as they scheduled, the two doctors visited the hospital room at the seventh hour of the day to check on their patient whose recovery had far surpassed any and all of their expectations.
The once completely bedridden Ringo Akanami was found sitting on the hospital bed and even waved at them to boot. Her eyes were not sunken anymore and her eyelids were completely lifted, however her complexion was still the same apart from the smile found on her lips.
Trying his best to contain the excitement inside him, Dr. Snetr composed himself and drew out a blood sample from the patient to examine the results of the cure, which tells them by conjecture that it was successful.
Bearing the results of their tests, the two doctors returned four hours after.
"So to explain our findings… the concentration of BEF-1 in Ms. Akanami's blood sample is now 0-0.5% compared to the saturation level of 29% as of yesterday. And while we were examining the sample, the remainder was still actively being rid of and we missed to gather extensive data.
We managed to dilute the rapid effects of the virus… but we didn't expect that it would still be this fast… My goodness… what unprecedented results we got…
We have theorized that—I'm very sorry for bringing this up—that over the years, the virus may have been cultivated in Mr. Sakato's body and enabled him to gain incredible immunity against foreign substances."
"I'm sorry to interrupt Dr. Snetr…" Hiroomi interjected, "I'm somewhat aware that you are staying silent because you know that this will be brought up anyway, Dr. Kagetora. It was you who created this, and I am thankful for that as it looks like it's saving my sister… but I can never forget the fact that you still have a part on that, after all."
From those quick on the uptake, they realized that those final words meant more than just one thing. But realizing that he had somewhat soured the mood with his outburst, Hiroomi prompted to step out.
"Sorry, I'm going to need some air."
Not being able to bear the heavy air and guilt, Dr. Kagetora also exited the hospital room. Inevitably, he was informed with the incident between Gin and Joseph Horach, and its aftermath. In the grand scheme of things, he is still responsible for the outcome of it.
"Umm…
Ahem… I am very sorry about that, but please let me continue.
In the event that Ms. Akanami properly recovers, we would need to have her do a CT scan to examine her condition for within.
Just to confirm, Ms. Akanami, how is your leg doing?"
"It still… hurts, I guess? But it's much, much better than before. I don't think I can still move them, though…
Apart from that, I'm not hurting anywhere else."
"My word… so… s-so…
Mr. Sakato, may I ask you a question?"
"You're already asking."
"Yes?"
"Do you have history of ailments that recovered quicker than normal?"
"…
At the top of my head… I had severe respiratory infection from being exposed to cigarette smoke… I also haven't checked on the ENT but the nurse told me I damaged my throat very badly, yet it's already healing on its own.
Apart from that, I have gastroesophageal issues… and inherited high blood pressure that are just normal."
"I see… we can't confirm yet without a CT scan but it seems that Ms. Akanami's liver failure that could take months to treat is… somehow… gone…?"
Even he, a doctor, could not believe what he was saying.
"Anyways," he cleared his throat once more. "We're going to be observing her condition in the past few days, and from there if she continues to recover, we could put down a decision to perhaps at least have her go outside.
Prematurely, I would like to congratulate Ms. Akanami for not giving up."
Thus Dr. Snetr left the room after giving a few reminders.
*Growl*
How long has it been—they could not recall—since the last time they heard Rin's stomach growl. With that, her parents headed out to get food, as Dr. Snetr had suggested to see if Rin could try to eat solid food, while Yuna followed to look for his husband.
Once again, the couple has been left alone.
"Th-That was embarrassing…"
"Ahahahaha… Hahh, somehow I feel so light."
"…
Gin."
The sudden call then quickly caught Gin's attention and his countenance sculpted a shocked expression as Rin beamed her brightest smile yet.
"I haven't seen you smile again until now."
"I-I should be saying that to you, Rin… I… I'm just so happy… and relieved?
You really caught me by surprise earlier… and my eyes are still swollen even now. It's been a while since I cried that much.
But yeah… I'm still really sorry that I haven't been with you that much all this time."
"It was scary for you too, I guess?"
"That is not a valid excuse…"
"Still, even I could kind of understand.
Anyway… it looked as if Hiro-nii was implying something earlier. Was it something related to what you were going to tell me?"
Gin flinched and gave the words he wanted to say a deep thought. He straightened his back, and gave Rin a serious yet forlorn smile.
"I will tell you once you get a lot better. Can you wait for me?"
"Mhm."
"Then… thank you, Rin.
I wish… you can go back home soon."
"I really, really miss home… How long has it been: three months?"
"Something like that."
"…"
Rin wanted to dismiss the somewhat different feeling he was getting from her significant other. Even after somewhat of a weak time in their relationship now, she could still sense that something was going on with him. She could see a hint of sadness, but the smile in his face hasn't subsided, which rarely happened. Because of his circumstances, he became a person that would have short bursts of emotions and immediately default to a neutral mood. Sad as it was to admit, Rin assumed that it would be the same even when his lover had seemed to have escaped from the grasps of death.
"You… look and sound way more excited of me coming home."
"H-Huh…? Did it really look like that…?"
"…?"
"Is he unaware or…?"
She could not think of any other reason, however. As she gave up on the thought, her parents came back with food on their hands, as it was now just allowed for them to be brought in the room.
It has been some months since Rin was able to eat proper food. In that time, she had always relied on, to that point, just mere sustenance in liquid form through a tube while her stomach still functions properly.
But the developments since the introduction of the cure in her body were really fast, to which he regained back the energy for her digestive system to work normally at the very least, while they await if she will or could regain feeling on her lower extremities.
"Can you eat by yourself?" just to make sure, Gin asked.
To which Rin responded sheepishly, "I don't think I have a grip yet…"
"Alright."
Gin then opened the container of chop suey and pressed a fork on a young corn. Perhaps unknowingly, Rin has been eyeing it ever since it reached her eyes, and even before her illness, they have always mutually like the vegetable that they would fight over it.
He then lifted the fork to her mouth and they heard an audible crunch. Somehow in silence, the family waited for her to chew and swallow in both worry and excitement.
"…
My jaw hurts a bit… b-but… it's delicious…"
A single bead of tear left her damp eyes as if to express the happiness she is feeling after months of not being able to eat any proper, cooked food. The smile was more than enough to sweep away more of their worries.
▪ ▪ ▪
A few days later.
Dr. Snetr had once again visited the hospital room. The day before, Rin had become well enough to be able to move around even if by a little bit, although her legs are still unable to move. As a result, she was able to leave the room for the first time to have her body checked through the recommended CT scan.
It was to their surprise, as the family saw the dsrk circles under the doctor's eyes.
"It felt like I had better sleep when we were developing the cure… Not like that made my already ruined circadian cycle any better…"
"Ahum, I hope you have a good morning, Ms. Akanami and all. Apologies for my somewhat messy appearances… I also just woke up a few minutes ago… Ahaha…
…
Anyway… I have, I suppose, two main things that I want to tell you all. So without further ado, first… Congratulations, Ms. Akanami—you are the first in history to be free from BEF-1."
Gasps of elation became very audible in the room as finally; the family has received a truly great news. After a very small applause, the doctor continued.
"The results of the scan revealed that Ms. Akanami's body has regained stability, and just after the scans concluded, her lower extremities showed signs of movement, although it was extremely minimal.
Did it get better?"
"It's… still the same," she demonstrated as she lifted the blanket covering her right leg, and a millimeter of movement was done on her toes.
On the other hand, the other leg still covered with the blanket was still in its worse condition apart from it regaining a natural skin tone.
"Also, has Ms. Akanami been eating well?"
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"Oh, she does," the father answered. "It's been a very long while since she has eaten normally, so she has been eating a lot. Even to the point that she had to wake up Gin for food in the middle of the night!"
"You didn't have to say that, Dad…"
"That is good, then. She doesn't seem to have any food allergies so she is good to eat anything as long as they are balanced and nothing excessive.
Ah, I almost forgot. Her blood test came out with her having zero percent of the bacteria in her blood, thankfully, and the presence of the virus is still there. I had thought that we would give you a booster of the cure, but it seems like it shouldn't be considered yet at this time.
And that brings me to the second matter I want to address…
Mr. Sakato, you are a wonder."
"Huh?"
"I am supposing that it was the effects of the one year within the program, but… the virus in and of itself that you are carrying is too strong that it could be harmful to anyone but you in theory.
I mean that the purest form of the virus, having extraordinary fast-acting characteristics could overload a person's constitution if left unchecked, meanwhile you are carrying and utilizing it as if it is nothing.
In Ms. Akanami's case, even though we dialed down its effects, her body still reacted to the virus really well that some issues in her body that could take time to treat are now… fixed! Goodness, this really kept me awake all night reading the results over and over again…
Well, her minor tinnitus still remains but anything apart from that… it appears that her body is completely healthy apart from her needing to gain weight- Ah. I am such a mess… it's also revealed that she is slowly regaining muscle mass which was why I asked earlier if she was eating well.
And… I think that's about everything I needed to tell you.
In a few days, we can perhaps give a clearance for discharge, and she would be able to go home soon! We are not going to prescribe her any medications, but we just ask for the family's cooperation that you look after her well and that she receives plenty of rest, nutrients and vitamins to put her body back to normal.
Also, do we need to provide you a wheelchair just in case?"
"Ah, we have one," Hiroomi replied.
"Then, once again, congratulations."
"Dr. Snetr?" Gin called as he slowly lifted himself from his seat. He then reached out his hand in front of the doctor for a handshake.
"I can't thank you enough for all the work you've done to help her."
"No… we can't thank you enough for putting a stop to this deadly disease."
Suddenly, the doctor looked at the family and back at Gin.
"If you will excuse us, I would like to accompany Mr. Sakato to our ENT."
"Ah-"
Although Gin's throat was close to full recovery, he had put off going to get it checked when times were still uncertain. And now that they had been given assurance, he ought to meet a doctor now.
"See you later," Rin waved at Gin as he helplessly let out a chuckle as he was pulled out of the room.
~ ~ ~
The sound of the hospital-owned wheelchair was nonexistent. The elevator door opened and closed; and shortly let out a beep.
It was the ground floor.
For the first time in so long, Gin accompanied Rin to the outside later within the same day.
Immediately as the doctor left with Gin, Hiroomi left for the underground base to take a wheelchair with him back as they wait for her sister to be discharged.
Meanwhile, Gin had asked for one temporarily as they were cleared for Rin to go outside.
But as they made their way to the hospital's courtyard, they had met a child in the hallways.
"Yukaaaa~ who is she?" the curios boy asked Gin.
"Her name is Ringo. She's my girlfriend. Say hi to her?"
"Umm, h-hi."
"What's your name?" she asked as she waved at him.
"Ell."
"Nice to meet you, Ell. Are you a patient here too?"
"M-Mhm…" suddenly, the child's face hardened.
"I see… I'm also a patient here too, you see. I fought reeaaal hard to be well again, and I got over it! It's going to be alright, okay?"
As Gin noticed that Rin was trying to reach her hand to the boy, he pushed a little forward for her to be able to pat the child's head.
"Alright, Ell, you shouldn't worry the nurse and you're alone. You should go back, okay?"
"Mhm."
The boy then ran away in his little strides.
"Off he goes…"
In no time, Rin had reached the courtyard. From her eyes were certain looks of amazement even with the fact that there was nothing special there nonetheless. But for her, she had not seen the outside world in a while that it felt like everything was new.
As she looked up and stared at the clouds, Gin directed her towards a bench near a bed of flowers, which she seems to have enjoyed its view.
"Was this… how you felt way back then, Gin…?"
"I'm not sure how way back you're talking about, but the first time was never a feeling like this, especially when one of the doctors that helped save your life once wished for my death.
The second time… As much as I love the Void, I suddenly missed the view of the outside world after being surrounded by white walls for two years. I guess at that time, I really just wanted to see much of the nature, but I wasn't as interested as I thought I would be so I never really got to do that for a while.
Anyway, I'm just glad that you can finally touch grass now," he joked to lighten up the mood, and Rin chuckled.
But silence visited her once more with a thought coming to her mind.
"What happened to that boy?"
"That, huh… Their orphanage came down just a few days ago. No one died, but some of the kids were badly hurt, and the rest are in therapy because of the trauma.
From what I heard, the mayor has already set up a temporary shelter for them."
"I guess… it didn't sit well with you."
"Really. It was the only place for them, and it was gone just like that."
Rin opted not to press further on the matter, and silently enjoyed the brief comfort of the outside. For once, she had breathed air much different from the sterile one inside a hospital room, and the fragrance of the flowers added to pleasant mood she is starting to feel.
"It kind of sucks that you'll go home when it's getting warmer."
"I think that's fine? It was always air conditioned inside so I'd want it a bit warmer soon when I get out."
"I mean… sure, but even in early morning the sunlight already gets really hot when it hits summer."
"Ahh… so that's what you're worry about."
"Feeling cold, anyway?"
"I'm fine. I can stay for a little more," she reassured the man as she clutched on the blanket over her shoulders.
"Oh right… Anywhere you want to go to once we're home?"
"Hmm… Maybe I'll just rest, get physical therapy once my leg is fine, then we can talk about it. You're also going back to work too, right?"
"Yeah…" Gin affirmed reluctantly. "But I honestly want to spend more time with you. Not to make up to it or anything… I just want to be the one to take care of you, you know.
I almost forgot about it, but I'm still living in your house."
"Ooohhh… right."
"Then, any food that you want to eat?"
"Steak?" she instantly replied.
"Hey, that came out of nowhere. But I'll make it if you want it."
"I feel like I could eat anything at this point. I felt so much better mentally after I was finally able to eat anything but blended food.
I'm grateful that I was still able to eat, but you're really the only one I can complain about this. Thanks for making it possible for me again."
"…"
"I really needed that."
He was reminded of his uselessness once again. He wanted to express those feelings to Rin right then and there, but he chose not to to preserve the good mood that is starting to build up in her.
He then once more gave Rin a deep look, realizing that her complexion has changed in the past few days while at the same time it has not. It was also painfully obvious how much damage the disease left her with. She might have been able to smile now, but he wanted her to be livelier and in better health.
If there was one thing in which he could support her, he would be very confident about it.
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
"I'll make hotpot for dinner once we get home."
"One more thing to look forward to, I guess."
▪ ▪ ▪
Weeks have passed since the last time Gin was in White Street. It was only a few minutes of walk from the hospital in Cerulean Street, but the shame could not allow him to even visit the place he calls home for a moment until now.
It was only a few hours before Rin finally returns home, and so he dropped his bags on the yard of the Akanami household and flickered to his family house.
The door of the house was unlocked, thus he opened it, carefully hiding away his reservations, and acted as though things are normal. He met his gaze with his father, then the mother, and hugged them.
"I'm back…
I'm sorry you have such a pain in the ass son…"
Anna afterwards left her room hearing the commotion and jumped on her older brother in tears seeing an imagery of him—that night, in unimaginable pain, from the way Akira described to her.
The girl did not want to let go, but Gin had to, needing to come back to his own house where Kei is watching over. He of course wanted to meet with his brother, but he wanted to meet his companion the most, as the last time he saw Haku, he had a very pained expression as his fist collided on his torso. He simply wished to know how he is doing before coming home as time is creeping towards Rin's return.
He unlocked his front door, and with his silver hair become visible from the semi-wall, Kei closed his laptop to approach Gin.
"Hahh… Dammit, I can finally get married," he uttered to himself as he briefly gave his brother a hug.
"H-Huh?"
"I postponed my wedding plans because I knew it was never the right time when Ringo got diagnosed. Shiina agreed to it, so don't worry.
Also… Kuroko gave me a copy of that 'what if' he wrote. It just won't be the same without you two, so I'm glad you guys made it out well and all."
"Sorry for the trouble."
"Anyway, I'm not sure if he knows you're here now. Go to your room and greet him."
"No need to tell me."
Silently, as he does best, Gin climbed the stairs and slowly opened the door of his own bedroom. On his bed, he saw the gray cat juggling a ball on his paws.
"Hey."
"…!"
To the cat's surprise, he jumped quite a height from the bed with the ball hitting his flabbergasted face twice.
"A-Aruji, you're back?!" immediately after, he switched to his human appearance while still in air.
"Yup. Were you lonely? Sorry I was only able to get back now."
"I really was… I'm just glad you came back to your senses when I pawed you that night…"
"Pawed…? You're talking about the last time you saw me, right?"
"Yeah…?"
"You call that a paw, you brute?"
"H-How were you after that, though…?"
"A bit scared… and lonely. But I ran back home because I got hungry."
"Ahahaha… you worried me for nothing…"
Gin had forgotten that Haku is still mostly a cat than human. He was told about his desperate actions, but it seems that it was a very rare occasion, as he still acts very much cat-like more than anything else even in a form of a human.
"Can you turn back to a fluff ball, man?"
And so the companion did as said and climbed to his shoulder.
"Ahh… this feels awesome…
Oh, I recall you were wearing my jacket. How is it?"
"Meow. (Kei taught me how to do laundry.)"
Mrrow? (Will I see Ojou soon?)"
"Yes, yes, you will. She will look different from how you imagine, so don't bother her too much since she needs a lot of rest. But make sure to give him a lot of company, okay?"
"Meooow. (Will do.)"
"Also, can you help me a bit? I'll be moving a lot of stuff from Rin's place to here, and two people would make the job faster."
"Meow? (Is something happening?)"
"Well, she won't be able to climb the stairs for a while, so she's going to sleep in Sis's room for the time being.
I guess I'll be sleeping in their living room for a while."
"Meeow? (Why not just sleep in her room, then?)"
"You probably won't understand, but it won't sit right with me doing that.
Anyway, she'll be here in a few hours. You up for it?"
"Mew. (I don't really know what's going on but I got you.)"
It was a very rushed plan. Yuna's bedroom had turned into a store room for the household when she had left for her married life with Hiroomi. Gin, a few months ago, had only improvised a way for it to be once again used as somewhat of a bedroom for him to stay in while he lives under the Akanami roof.
But for the purpose of it being used by Rin for the time being, he had to displace most of the things that Yuna left to his actually owned house. In no time, the usually somewhat empty household of Gin became filled with unusual items that Kei had to see every time he leaves the guest room of the first floor. He tried not to mind it at all, especially since the owner of the house ought to be the one responsible for it, and he is only living there for free.
Over the years of learning how to create a pleasant space for himself, he prepared the room to be presentable enough for Rin to stay at while also taking visual cues on how her room upstairs look like and at the same time giving way to intuitiveness to adjust to Rin's condition.
Although one thing he could have wished was that the wall outside dividing his house to this residence was farther, to let in more natural light, and it did not help that it was already in the middle of the afternoon.
"Now that I think about it, this is probably why Sis always sleeps in back then because it's always dark."
"Are we done, Aruji?"
"I… think we are."
"What time is she going back, actually?"
"Around 5, I recall…" he looked at the room's clock, and found that both the hands are pointed at 3.
In a very sudden urgency, he ran to his fridge to inspect its contents only to hurriedly close it and sprinted outside of the house.
"Keep watch of the house and please lock the door! I'll be out shopping…!" Gin asked of the cat, and disappeared like a blur.
…
Just before sundown, the hazard lights of a car flashed in the quiet street in front of the Akanami residence. Hearing the car's doors, Gin immediately bolted out of the house to assist outside.
"You good?"
With the wheelchair unfolded just before the car, he offered a hand to the lady.
"Thanks."
It was very much a small thing, but Rin having the energy to finally move on her own to some extent gave him delight. It was not yet to the point that her legs have returned to their old strength, however, so it gave Gin more opportunities to support her.
"Finally home, you are."
"As long as I'm still not inside, not yet."
"Ah…"
Taking from the queue, he pushed the wheelchair towards the yard, then slowly, towards the doorway of the home she has not been at in a few months.
Not a lot of things have changed since the last time she saw her own home, and it was enough to inspire joy in her being assured that it is still the same place she had known it to be. Somewhat inquisitively, Gin then gave her an excited look.
She sighed, and so she gently uttered:
"I'm home."
All of her hospital paperwork have been sorted out the same time she was discharged, and it felt like the entire family had a weight removed on their shoulders as the sun went down. As promised, Gin in anticipation of her homecoming had prepared the ingredients for hotpot in advance for the six of them, refusing any help from the parents of the household, with him wanting to let them rest.
He was, for a moment, anxious if he could still even do something so normal for him like holding a knife, as he had been away from the kitchen since the time his employer had kicked him out of the restaurant's kitchen, but he worried for nothing as he let his muscle memory do the work for him.
It was evident in the past few days that Rin has not been emoting much, but the sudden energy coming from her as she savored the food gave the family relief. Part of the reason could also be that most of the solid meals she had eaten were light and not as savory as she wished her food would be, hence what prompted the suggestion of steak to her significant other.
"Mmm… sooo good…!"
Thus, the richness and the myriad of flavors being reintroduced to her palette made her exclaim in every bite.
With their energy returning to them as the storm is finally passing, they all retired early for the night while the Yuna and Hiroomi borrowed the other room upstairs in Gin's house.
~ ~ ~
"…in… Gin…? A-Are you awake… Gin…?"
Unknown if it was from a dream or not, his eyes opened and looked at the time from his phone. It was 10:39 in the evening—he had only fell asleep twenty minutes ago, and he heard a voice.
From the futon laid out in the living room, he got up and walked to the opened bedroom while turning on a dim lamp with a remote.
"Were you calling for me, Rin…?"
"Mhm…"
The affirmation did sound somewhat sad, and it made him worry a little. He then crouched to the bed and held the hand poking out from the blanket.
"Are you cold? Something you need? Just say the word, okay? I'm only in the living room."
"I… I feel scared…
Can you… Can you also sleep here…?"
"Alright… just give me sec. I'm not going anywhere."
Briefly leaving the room, he carried the futon back inside and laid it anew beside the bed. He then sat on the sheets and once more held her frail hands.
"This time I'm really never going anywhere, so I'll just be here until you fall asleep, got that?
I'm turning off the light."
Rin did not reply back, and only had a million-mile stare from her eyes. Not having a chance until now, Gin then stroked her white hair until he sensed that she is finally drifting to her sleep.
"Good night," he whispered softly and soundlessly sat back and leaned on the bed.
"…
This time… I'm really… really not going to let go of you."