7. Trip

"Something's wrong with most of the organs in her pelvic cavity," hushed whispers were going on in the observation room, "doing a full-body check yesterday was right, because other than that, we're getting kidney issues and possibly digestive issues, too."

"But... why?" the nurse faltered.

"With this girl," there was exhaustion in the first voice, a clutter of papers, a sigh and a groan of a headache-- "I think we'll never know."

There was that stale, baleful silence that reeked of a cadaverous portent-- with deadened hope, the three in the room kept their lips tight and their eyes on the white ground.

"It is a pipe dream, to just wish good for her?" the man choked out, unable to face the others.

No one could say anything to him, not even the nurse that clutched her board a little harder, and bit her bottom lip to try and hold back that pathetic whimper that still escaped her lips.

In her wheelchair, right by the door, Kawaru backed up from there, and began to roll back toward her room. The hot chocolate in her hand had gone cold, but that wasn't on her mind.

The 'yes' really didn't need to be said.

ー

ー

"Are classes stressful or something?" I spoke up to the boy that let out his third sigh of the hour.

Mineta was grumbling under his breath, legs swinging over the chair as he, again, let out a sigh. It seemed he only got more depressed each day. Was it exam season or something?

It reminded me of test struggles I used to face. I'm glad I don't need to burn the midnight oil all the time anymore...

"Jump into my boobies?" I offered, arms outstretched.

"Really?!" he beamed instantly, eyes actually sparkling with eagerness, "wait, NO!" he slapped himself, looking at his hands and judging his own mentality.

I burst into laughter, "I just got rejected!" 

"I'm glad you'd let me do that, but I'm not a kid anymore!" Mineta whined, "don't treat me like a child. I'm a man now!"

"I'm not treating you like a child, I just think you need a hug, and my boobs are in the way anyways," I pouted, "it's not like Minoru's gonna do anything to me, after all!"

Mineta just blushed so hard because, "yes I would, I'm male! I have-- thoughts!" he choked out of himself, "you're a girl, can you be more--"

"Oh, is Minoru gonna give me the 'all men are wolves' talk?" I teased, which shut him up. Subtly ignoring the part where he implied he had dirty thoughts of his childhood friend--

"It that is what it takes to make you more aware of the dangers of the world, yes!" he buried his face in his palms.

"I'll be safe in the hospital, though," I assured him.

"But outside the hospital is dangerous," Mineta sternly emphasized, "you're too naive. Gullible. Even your male form is cute and I'm not trying to be gay-- a lot of things could happen!"

"If I go outside the hospital?" I mumbled for a bit, then realized, "but Minoru will be with me, and since you're always so overbearing, I'll be fine, right?" I grinned.

I think making my childhood friend flustered is my newest hobby.

  ー  

"Huh? Uh, sure."

The doctor wasn't very awake, he was having coffee in his hand that was darker than the abyss, and his eyebags looked like bruises. 

Then it sank in and he choked so hard on his coffee he actually groveled in coughing, writhed on the ground, and looked like he was going to die for a while, but he recovered.

"You want to what?!"

"Go outside!" I cheered, raising my hands with the brightest smile I could muster on my face. "Like, maybe to the mall?"

"Absolutely not," he groaned out, "your health, Kawaru."

"I've been stable!" I argued, "school is boring, and I wanna take a walk sometimes too!" a very childish whined, "moss is gonna grow outta my head if I stay here any longer."

"Don't worry about the moss, Nurse Chiryou will clean that out if it ever happens," he replied professionally, "you think I'll let you out when no one's available for supervision? The hospital is busy this week and--"

"Minoru is with me!" I opened my arms to grandly establish the presence of the boy on her lap, "he's an independent young man, with unfortunate dwarfism but, is still very much capable, you might know that very well."

We looked at him expectantly, pleading with practiced teary expressions--

He let out one final sigh, and pinched the bridge of his nose, mourning his aching, overworked head, and wondered once again if this job was worth it.

"Well, it's true that Kawaru being outside would be good for her," he decided, and we cheered. "This would be her first time out of hospital grounds, so lead her well, alright? Call the ambulance if anything happens."

"Yes, sir!" Mineta saluted excitedly.

ー

And so we did.

We went across the town, glamouring at the streets and city lights. The bustle of the cars in an early morning shuttle, the gritty grind of the train as it ran across its tracks.

The wind was a welcoming embrace, and the blue sky was a cordial umbrella over my head. The sun was that star that kept itself in the corner, ducked behind the clouds, and made the world so bright no one really noticed it was his work in the first place.

As Mineta pushed Kawaru along the busy shopping mall-- they wanted to go for the shopping district, but that was too crowded.

They were mostly window shopping, picking up every toy that looked bigger than Mineta, how some of them looked ugly but people still bought them in droves anyway-- Kawaru adored the hat shop, except the part where Mineta accidentally stuck two hats to a pole and they had to try and figure out how to make sure no one noticed--

They shared a crepe, and hung out at a cafe for drinks.

They didn't have the money to buy anything, but it was a very, very enjoyable time.

"Is this a date?" Kawaru wondered, taking in the familiar, warm bitterness of coffee-- "two teenagers, a boy and a girl, hanging out alone at the shopping mall."

Mineta choked on his tea, flushing-- "wha-?!"

"Congratulations, you're officially a boy that has gone on a date before!" Kawaru teased.

"I-" Mineta argued, "You're-- Waru, please," he covered his face.

"Or is it that..." Kawaru softened her voice, leaving the bully tone for a more mature, quiet one, "you don't see me that way?"

At that, Mineta stopped.

He eyed his tea, the sweet scent an aromatic waft in the air, gentle and mellow yet ever-so-calming-- Then, he admitted, 

"Maybe." 

And surprisingly, a smile rose to my face.

"I'm sure we'll find out eventually, then," I took another sip of my coffee, "but for now-- congrats on your first date!" I giggled.

"It's not a date!" he whined.

  ー  

  ー  

There were lots of clothes stores, and they enjoyed putting each other in strange clothes they'd never wear out. Mineta took to dressing like a rich kid, complete with sunglasses and gold-- and somehow, Kawaru got herself in a full gothic-lolita clothing set, with a plush rabbit to complete her haunting look.

They behaved like kindergarteners for just one day, getting through with maximum euphoria for the day. 

They took a ton of pictures for memory, joking to each other that such a rare chance may never come up again. Maybe Doctor Isha wouldn't let them out again like this when he was fully conscious, so they had to treasure it while they could!

"Wait-" Mineta panicked, arms swinging to the side, spinning the arcade machine's driver wheel abruptly.

Kawaru laughed, crashing into him and scooting far ahead, "see ya!"

"No fair!" Mineta whined, ready to cry, "wait, I'm spinning! I'm spinning!"

"Goooall!!" Kawaru cheered.

"NOoo!!" Mineta despaired.

Kawaru hopped back onto the wheelchair, and held out her arms for Mineta.

With a toothy grin, she asked, "next?"

Mineta, with a defeated sigh, responded, "no more."

"Well too bad!" she snickered, grasping him in her arms, "next!"

  ー  

"I'm exhausted!" Kawaru laughed, enjoying the light wind as Mineta pushed her along the street. 

"What a coincidence. My wallet is, too," Mineta mumbled behind her.

"What was that?" she leaned back.

"As long as you're happy, nothing," Mineta assured. 

They had a leisurely chat. Embraced by a happy atmosphere, their laughter echoed as they streamed through the town, making their way back toward the hospital with arcade gifts in tow.

Then, the traffic light turned red.

Mineta stopped the wheelchair by the side of the road, walking forward to face Kawaru closer.

"Are you thirsty? I can go grab some water by the vending machine if you need-- Waru?" Mineta was quick to worry about the pale expression on his friend's face. "Waru, are you alright?"

Kawaru was tensed, hands griping unconsciously at her armrests-- her eyes fixated on the road. She found herself hitching a breath, holding one back-- and forcing herself to breathe.

A trickle of sweat dripped to her chin, and she reached up to wipe it away.

She saw flashes. Red, blue, white-- and then, black.

She heard crashes, shatters-- the phantom noise, blinking in and out of the cacophony-- was this the crowd talking in background voices, or was this the panicked hollers of the witnesses of a car accident?

Now there was ringing. The noise of a can crushing into the trash bin made her flinch. There was the beep. The beep of a traffic light calling for the end of green--

"Waru," he called out, "look at me!"

Kawaru was wrenched right out of her trance, but only her broken legs kept her seated. Mineta looked frantic. Horrified, so, so scared.

"W-What?" she managed to break the voice out of her throat.

"Are you alright?" there was a hint of relief in his voice, but the stern fear on his features didn't fade.

Kawaru's throat felt dry.

"I'm... fine," she told him. "Fine."