"Cough*cough!

 Gasping for breath, I hacked up water, my body wracked with coughs as I knelt beside Kira. Her face appeared ghostly pale in the dim moonlight, contrasting against the darkened, damp grass. My trembling hand reached out, brushing against her icy skin, a silent plea for her to wake.

"Kira," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the rush of blood in my ears. Panic surged through me as she remained unresponsive, her breaths shallow and irregular.

With shaky hands, I tore at my clothes, the fabric ripping easily as I fashioned a crude bandage for her head wound. Each movement sent a jolt of pain through my body, a grim reminder of the fall that had landed us here.

Gritting my teeth, I hoisted Kira onto my back, her weight pressing down on me like a leaden burden. Every step was agony, my injured back protesting with each movement, hard step with a hard to see darkened way, I refused to falter. The only thought that drove me forward was the need to get Kira to safety.

Pushing through the dense undergrowth, I emerged onto the road, my chest heaving with exertion. A sense of urgency flooded through me as I spotted a truck approaching in the distance. With renewed determination, I stepped into its path, waving frantically to catch the driver's attention.

The truck screeched to a halt, the sound echoing through the air like a thunderclap. I stumbled forward, desperation etched into every line of my face as I pleaded for help.

"Please," I gasped, my voice raw with emotion. "We need to get to the nearest hospital. My friend is hurt, she needs help."

The driver's eyes widened in concern as he hurriedly assisted us onto the truck, his movements swift and efficient. Relief washed over me as the engine roared to life, the promise of salvation drawing closer with each passing moment.

***

*Thirty minutes later*

The truck finally halt as we found ourselves in front of a hospital,Breathless and desperate, I burst through the doors, my heart pounding in my chest. Relief washed over me as I entered the bustling reception area, only to have it swiftly replaced by a surge of anger when a stern-faced woman with a ponytail greeted me.

"Sorry, but we need consent from her guardian and for you to fill out these forms first," she stated matter-of-factly, thrusting a stack of papers into my hands.

"Huh?" I sputtered, disbelief and frustration bubbling within me.

Rage boiled over as I slammed my fist against the reception desk. "Are you serious?" I growled through gritted teeth. "You expect me to fill out paperwork while she's bleeding from a gunshot wound? It's been over half an hour already! Are you stupid?"

The receptionist faltered, attempting to interject, but I cut her off with a fierce glare. "Do your job properly! She's dying! This is an emergency!"

My voice rose with each word, echoing through the crowded waiting room and drawing the attention of onlookers. Suddenly, a commanding voice cut through the chaos from behind me.

"What's going on here?" A woman's voice, authoritative and firm, halted the receptionist in her tracks.

The receptionist immediately bowed her head, stammering an apology. "Director, it's a young man causing a disturbance. I'll handle it."

The woman stepped forward, her hand resting gently on my shoulder as she turned me to face her. Recognition flickered in her eyes as she took in my battered appearance. "Matsuki? And who's this you're carrying? You're injured too..." She trailed off, concern etched into her features as she reached to touch the wound on my cheek.

Without hesitation, she issued a command to the staff. "Hurry up and take them to the emergency room, the most experienced staff, now!"

With her words, the hospital staff sprang into action, swiftly transferring Kira onto a stretcher and rushing her into the emergency room. As for me, I was left standing alone in the cold, sterile hallway, the chill of the air conditioning seeping into my wet clothes, a stark reminder of the harrowing ordeal we had just endured.

***

"Don't move," she admonished gently, her hands skillfully cleaning the wound on my face. Her long, black hair cascaded down her shoulders, with her white lab coat, framing her delicate features as she worked. Behind the lenses of her transparent eyeglasses, her eyes held a warmth that belied her stern demeanor.

"Are you cold? Don't worry, I've asked the nurse to bring you a blanket," she said, her voice soft but firm.

A woman in her thirties, Rina San exuded an air of professionalism and compassion. Her presence made me uneasy, though, and I shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Despite my discomfort, there was no denying her skill as she tended to my injuries with practiced ease.

"Just what happened to you to end up like this?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern as she cleaned the wound on my face.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. "I... I fell," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. The memory of the fall still sent shivers down my spine.

Rina-san's gaze softened as she met my eyes. "Don't worry," she reassured me, a tender smile playing at the corners of her lips. "She's going to be alright. I made sure the surgery will be handled by the most skilled surgeon in the building."

Her words were a comforting balm to my frayed nerves, and I found myself relaxing slightly under her care. "Yeah, thanks," I mumbled, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment at the attention I was receiving.

"Now, don't move your face. I'm not finished treating your wounds yet," Rina instructed, her tone gentle but firm as she continued her ministrations.

Reluctantly, I complied, allowing her to tend to my injuries with a sense of trust that I hadn't realized I possessed. "Although I appreciate your help, you don't have to treat me like a child anymore. I'm nineteen, you know," 

She chuckled softly, her laughter like music in the sterile hospital room. "To me, you'll always be young," she replied affectionately, her fingers moving with practiced ease as she worked.

I couldn't help but cringe inwardly at her words, feeling a surge of discomfort at the thought of being coddled by her. "You're Just getting old" I muttered to myself.

Her concern didn't waver as she continued to tend to my wounds. "Are you sure you're alright?" 

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, though the events of the day still weighed heavily on my mind.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? Or taken a hot bath?" Rina's concern was palpable, her gaze lingering on me expectantly.

"It's alright, really. I'm fine," I insisted, not wanting to be a burden.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Should I call your sister, Yuri, and let her know what happened?" she asked tentatively.

"Please don't," I pleaded, the thought of her coming here is not something I wanna experience.

"Alright, I won't," She acquiesced, though a hint of worry remained in her eyes. 

"What about the girl? Who is she?" Rina-san's playful tone cut through the tense atmosphere, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I tensed at the question, my grip tightening on the edge of the bench. "None of your concern," I replied tersely, 

"Ehh? Why tell me," she persisted, leaning in with a mischievous grin.

I hesitated, feeling a pang of irritation at her persistence. "No," I said firmly, hoping to put an end to the conversation.

But Rina wasn't so easily deterred. "Wait, could it be, is she the one you asked me about just the day before?" she pressed, her excitement palpable.

"..." I remained silent, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a response.

"Really?" Suddenly, she wrapped me in a tight hug, "That's good, My Matsuki now has finally grown up," she teased, 

I recoiled at the embrace, feeling a surge of discomfort at her words. "What's with you, get away from me. I'm still hurt," I protested, pushing her away with more force than intended.

"Sorry, sorry," she apologized, her laughter ringing through the room. 

"And what's with 'my Matsuki'? I'm not yours," 

"Don't be like that, we've practically spent some time together," 

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, pushing her face away from me. "Don't you have work? Get to your job already."

"Eh.. I thought you needed some company, so I asked my assistant to-" she began, but I cut her off with a stern look.

"Just hurry up and get there, and... I don't need company," I insisted, feeling a mix of annoyance for her concern.

"Sighed, Okay," she relented, standing up from her seat. "I'll be back. Sending a flying kiss," she added with a wink before disappearing out the door.

"Haysss.." I let out a long breath, the weight of the day's events finally catching up to me, I closed my eyes.

I sighed once more, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. So that's the reason why... I thought this hospital seemed oddly familiar, but now it all makes sense. Rina San presence here only confirms it.

This is the place where my sister brought me when she found me, practically four years ago. The memories flooded back, memories of countless therapy sessions with the renowned psychologist, Rina San—my sister's friend. But after a long time, I stopped going as It didn't really do anything for me.

***

[2023-November 24] morning

"Kira Miyoko is her name, right?" Rina San inquired, her voice carrying a note of concern.

"Based on the records, she will be fine," she reassured, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Don't worry, the surgery went pretty well."

"Yeah, thanks," I muttered, trying to mask my lingering unease.

"Don't make that face," she scolded lightly, a playful glint in her eyes. Suddenly, she playfully swatted me on the back, causing me to flinch and accidentally lean onto Kira's thighs.

"Hey, that hurts," I protested, shooting her a half-hearted glare.

"Just hurry up and rest," she insisted, her tone softening with genuine concern. "You're pretty injured too, and you're not doing yourself any favors by refusing to accept my offer to rest at my facility."

"I'm fine, I got my sleep," I insisted stubbornly, ignoring the dull ache in my body. "I'll just stay here. And isn't this the job of another doctor? You're a psychologist, so what the hell are you doing here? Isn't this someone else's responsibility?"

Rina-san waved off my concerns with a dismissive gesture. "It's fine, it's fine. I asked them to let me handle it," she explained, her tone casual but firm.

"Seriously?" I raised an eyebrow, skepticism creeping into my voice.

...

"Matsuki," she called my name, her tone gentle but firm.

"Yes?" 

"Now, care to explain what happened?" she prompted, her gaze steady and unwavering.

"Ughh... eh..." I sighed, "okay," I relented, steeling myself for the difficult conversation that lay ahead.

....

.........

................

"So just recently you got kidnapped and managed to escape, and now the perpetrator, whatever his reason is, is not letting you go and so resorting to other means, and that is kidnapping Kira, your girlfriend. Hmm..." Rina-san's voice trailed off, her eyes darkening and her gaze becoming fierce.

 "Care to explain why? Just why didn't you tell it to your sister or me?"

"..."I lowered my head, avoiding eye contact. I couldn't find the words to respond.

"Don't you know that it's dangerous? You almost got killed," Rina sighed, leaning back in her chair.

 "Geez, I don't know how I'll explain this to your sister if she learns about it. Really..."

"...Thankfully you're alright, and the girl didn't sustain any serious injuries. Luck is on your side, huh? The girlmanaged to survive, though her head sustained some damage she'll be fine."

"But really, considering the situation, did you really have to jump off the cliff in desperation? Kids these days are so reckless," she remarked, her tone tinged with concern.

"Yeah, it was the only choice," I admitted reluctantly, leaving out Takumi's involvement. I didn't know if my decision was right, but I felt it would be a headache to explain everything about her, especially since I didn't fully understand her motives myself.

I couldn't help but wonder what Takumi was doing now, being left alone with so many men surrounding her just what's her deal?.. thoughts about her started to fill my head But dwelling on it wouldn't change anything. I pushed the thought aside for now.

"Then I'll leave her to you and make sure to rest," Rina announced, abruptly standing up.

I expected her to press for more information or question me further, but to my surprise, her demeanor shifted, and she left the room in a hurry, as if she had somewhere important to be.

Left alone in the room with Kira, I found myself enveloped in a peaceful silence. Exhaustion washed over me, and before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep, slumped in the chair beside Kira.

**A few hours later...**

Feeling a weight on my forehead, I blinked awake, startled by the unexpected sensation. "Eh, sorry, did I wake you up?" a soft voice reached my ears, drawing my attention.

As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, my vision slowly cleared, revealing the close-up view of a face hovering just inches from mine. 

I jolted back in surprise, The chair scraping against the floor as I put some distance between us. The sudden movement caught the woman off guard, and she recoiled slightly, her expression shifting to one of concern.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. You're shivering, and so I tried feeling your forehead using mine. It must have been a surprise for you," she explained, her voice tinged with apology.

"Uh-uhm... don't worry about it," I mumbled, still trying to adjust to the situation.

"You're burning hot, you know. Are you alright? Are you, young man?" Her voice was laced with genuine concern as she continued to hover close, her forehead nearly touching mine. I immediately backed away, surprised by the sudden proximity.

"Here, I brought some food. You better eat and take some medicine," she offered, her tone firm but caring.

"Ah, thanks, but I think I'm fine," 

"No, you're not," she insisted, moving closer and placing the food in my hand. "Eat this and take some medicine, got it?" Her face loomed closer again, and I couldn't help but feel the familiarity of the situation, I nervously agree and accepted it.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" I finally mustered the courage to ask.

"Ah, my bad, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm really getting old now," she chuckled softly, though her youthful appearance belied her words. "I'm Kira's mother."

Kira's mother?...