"It is very reckless of you to get out your bed." Doc Kuroh mildly scolded.

I rolled my eyes. "Well, excuse you sir but being steak for the ghouls was never in my bucket list."

The doctor shook his head, obviously used to my antics. "Your legs appear to be fine, no bones did crack. You should take extra care of them. Always ask someone to supervise you when you want a stroll on the garden."

Same old advice: Rely on others.

You see, that's why I hate checkups. It tells me how utterly hopeless and useless I am. It tells me how I will live my remaining life in this stinking hospital. And lastly, it tells me how I will die in this very bed.

"...I know what's running through your mind." Doc Kuroh warned with a stern look. "You will not live nor die here. Just believe."

I shook my head. "You have been telling me that for 8 years, doc." I laughed. "It's getting old... Just like you."

His face crumpled. "I'm not that old. But maybe I am indeed aging faster than the normal rate since I spend all my time babysitting you." He tapped my forehead with his pen. "Who could've known that my doctorate will be spent on this very reason."

"Don't worry, doc." I assured him. "You can focus on some other things soon." I continued, smiling.

"Because you will get better." He clarified.

I grinned as a response. "Who knows?~.... Anyway doc! When are you getting married?"

"I think I have no chance with that...." He thought of the most appropriate word for it. "... Endeavor if it won't be you that I will marry."

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

"I spent 16 hours a day monitoring your condition. The only events I can closely associate to dates are my strolls with you. I need a wife soon.." He trailed off. "So you better get better soon. Capiche?"

"Nope. I want you to die alone." I said and stuck my tongue out.

"You brat." He said, laughing with me.

After my examination, the doctor left the room. I was alone again. I looked out the window to my right and let my mind submerged to deep thoughts.

It has been a week since I met the guy named Juuzou Suzuya. I can still vividly remember what happened. Since then, I haven't seen the person. Well, that is to be expected since he doesn't seem to be the type to get hurt enough to be hospitalized. But he did have those numerous stitches on his small stature.

Why am I even thinking about the person in the first place!?

I shook my head and tried thinking about other things.

I can't really do anything to distract myself. Well, I can knit some stuff but my equipment is on the far side of the room.. I'm stuck here on this bed, obviously.

So what do I ought to think about?

"Knock knock~" A joyous voice called out from the door before knocking on it.

I have a visitor? Who could it be?

"Umm. Come in."

"Okay!~" the door flung open and a white haired guy stumbled to the room, his left foot balancing his whole constitution while his right foot remained uplifted from the ground. He was holding a bouquet on his right hand.

"Juuzou Suzuya at your service!~" He cheered, saluting before skipping to my bed. "I brought flowers!~ They say that the sick feels better with flowers~"

He handed me the bouquet. I took it and tried admiring its content. Well, I think it's supposed to be pretty if it wasn't for the fact that it's ...wilted already?

Suzuya chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I bought it last week but I forgot to visit you~" he explained. " But I personally like the flowers that way. It suits you."

"..Are you implying that I'm rotten?"

"No~ No~ No~" he shook his head exaggeratedly, a smile still plastered on his face. "It's like you because.. It's wilting just like you! ~"

.. I swear I can punch this guy right now if only I have strength to do so.

"But what matters most is that you are still existing and is fighting against the laws of nature~" He continued.

All my anger dissipated and I found myself smiling at his cheerfulness.

"..But we can never deny the fact that you're really dying."

...And my rage came back.

"Why are you here anyway?" I asked, trying to change the topic as I settled the bouquet on the coffee table to my side.

I turned to him to find him humming to himself as he looked around his environment.

"The scary man told me that I should say sorry for making you see a 'terrifying' scene." He answered, not really paying attention to me. "It's not really terrifying. This room really needs color if you ask me~"

He faced me with a grin that made me lose myself for a second.

..It looks.. It looks so pure.. He looks like a child that has seen a balloon for the first time.

My heart started to ache with the scene unveiling in front of me. I cleared my throat and looked away. "So..What now? Aren't you going home now that you fulfilled your agenda?"

"Hmm. Hmm Hmm hmm~" I can see him from my peripheral view as he shifted his upper body from left to right. "I still don't wanna ~ You're more entertaining than those people in CCG."

"Hmm... So!~ I eavesdropped on your conversation with Mr. Frowny Face~" He said. "Wanna take a stroll?"

I looked back at him to see his orbs staring at mine.

...He looked so cute like a boy asking for a candy.

"Sure." My mouth worked faster than my mind, damn.

"I will bring a wheelchair then~" He let out a cheerful laugh as he exited the door.

Man, just how energetic can this person be?

++++++++++

"S-suzuya, s-slow down!" I scolded, as he pushed my wheelchair with such tremendous speed.

"WHEEEEEE~" He cheered, taking wild turns here and there.

Nurses and doctors gave us worried looks while the other patients sent out a weirded look.

We soon reached the garden of the hospital, unscathed except for my traumatized state.

My knuckles have turned white since I was holding onto the wheelchair like it's my lifeline. My hair is so messed up and my eyes are bulging out my sockets.

I slowly turned my head behind my back where Suzuya was distracted by a butterfly, his head going in a circular motion as it follows the butterfly's path.

"ARE YOU TRYING TO SHORTEN MY LIFESPAN!??" I shouted, trying to grab him.

His attention went back to me and he quickly moved away from me with a grin.

"Oh come on.~ It's more fun that way!~" He said as I still tried to strangle him.

But I quickly got tired so I gave up and tried to catch my breath.

"Done already?" He asked curiously as he took quick steps to face my front.

He peered down my face, slight frowning.

"You were tired.. Just by that?"

I simply nodded, still trying to stabilize my breathing.

"That's pathetic.~"

I glared at him but he simply shrugged it off with his usual grin.

"So. What now?" I asked as I take in some fresh air, not those of the ones inside my hospital room.

"I don't know." He blandly answered, looking around. "What do you do in dates anyway?"

"I don't know." I honestly answered.  "You.. Uh.. Go and talk to each other?"

Damn, my incompetence. I haven't talk to anyone my age since I was hospitalized, let alone go on a date.

"Why do you even want to know!?" I asked, annoyed by my lack of experience.

"Because that's what we're trying to do." He answered.

"Oh so that's why.." I nodded in understanding.  "...What!??"

Blood started to rush to my cheeks. Date? With him? Why? What? What? What?

"It's a date~" He repeated, grin widening at my reaction. "I am considering in making you my wife~"

"What!?" I growled, face growing hotter and hotter.

"You see," He sat down next to me. Well,  on the ground specifically since I was on a wheelchair while there's no vacant chairs near me. "They have this thing to write on that they give to us. They said that we should write all the things we wanna say to our family on that sheet of paper."

"And..?" I asked, urging him to continue.

"I always leave mine blank for the past two years~" He confidently answered. "But now that I'm growing and growing.. Growing enough to be 21..." He fiddled with the grass on the ground. "It makes me wonder how it feels like to have a family~"

He smiled at me but his eyes show melancholy. "And then I heard your conversation with Mr. Frowny Face about getting married.. Then I thought that.. I can get a family if I get married, right?"

"You're the first person that is interesting here~" He nodded vigorously in my stead. "That's why I have decided!"

"I'm going to marry you!~"

This person's logic is beyond comprehension but I can't stop my heart from beating too fast. I can't help the blush spreading on my face.

I was having my first crush.