Monday, Jun 6th

(Y/n) exhaustedly sighed, passing slowly down the stairs while concerns and assumptions loomed over her head. She subconsciously furrowed her brow to distinguish worry lines on her features as her mind floated thoughts and shady scenarios through. 'Maeda hasn't been responding to me...wish the school day would be over so I can visit her house.'

Reaching the final step of the stairs, she noticed a figure staring silently at the closed front door before her, as though in a hypnotic daze that sent her way from the real world. The woman hadn't noticed her daughter walking onto the scene and seemed completely detached from reality as she allowed her own mind to bustle with thoughts and anxiousness.

"Mom, you ok?" Upon the indication of a separate voice, the recesses of the worker's mind were shut off to bring the female's consciousness to surface back with a small gasp of surprise. The younger girl stared at the reaction before raising a bemused eyebrow. "Sorry, did I interrupt something?" She question, causing the woman to begin her fixture on her clothing, realising how she had left the job half done before zoning out.

"Sorry, I just started thinking and got way too absorbed." She simply excused before pausing any intention of proceeding with her morning routine. Before the student had an opportunity to continue with her personal schedule, her parent called out preliminary to the moment passing. "(Y/n) could I ask you something?" The girl paused at the request, watching her mother's serious face staring back at her for an answer.

"Sure, did I do something wrong?" She nervously quizzed, being responded with a dismissive shake of the head.

"No, no. Well...maybe..." The woman became unsure of whether it was her place to inquire her suspicions before deciding through the guidance of her curiosity. "I just wanted to ask...do any of the boys have a liking to you?" She asked, unable to hold back the connecting dots from her experiences the previous day.

(Y/n) tilted her head in slight confusion, unable to follow the inferred analysis. "Boys? Liking?" She responded in her own questioning tone, trying to figure if any male's from her school could be possibly being indicated.

"I mean from my work. And by 'liking' I mean...maybe...crush?" The parent progressively squeaked out, trying to dull down the awkwardness of the atmosphere as her daughter took it in.

(Y/n)'s eyes widened in realisation right before furrowing in further confusion. "Oh, them? Why do you ask?" The woman pressed her lips in tight contemplation and lowering her eyebrows in tactful thinking.

"It's just...yesterday they gave me really unusual reactions when I told them you won't be coming anymore." (Y/n) slowly twisted her face in intrigue before indicating for an example. "Well, Gennai especially seemed offended and personally affected by the situation." Once her mind transitioned to her interactions with the said house member, she immediately had to fix on a forced smile out of defensive reflex.

(Y/n)'s eyes became glued to the ceiling as she tried to imagine what her mother was insinuating before immediately coming to the conclusion of what the boy's outburst would consist of. She couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards the woman once she was reminded of the younger brother's uncompromising and adamant mannerisms. The girl moved her attention to the main point her parent had proposed and began doubtfully constructing variables against the claim.

"I don't really think any of them have a thing for me. I'd actually argue the opposite for some of them." She bitterly concluded, reminding herself of the more aggressive and hostile members of the household. The younger female hadn't noticed any conclusive and definite indications that would solidify the claim, and frankly felt more accustomed to believing their relationships to be nothing more than friendly. The girl gave her parent a reassuring simper before completely dismissing the speculative inquiry. "Gennai has just been looking up to me like a big sister lately, that's probably why he was so upset with my leave."

Her mother tried to wrap her head around the girl's own perspective and nodded with understanding. "You're probably right. Maybe I was looking too much into it." She simply deprecated her assumptions, beginning to prepare herself for the upcoming day once more. Before she could exit the door, the woman promptly paused as another concern popped into her mind. "Oh, (Y/n)." She blurted out before she could completely lose her daughter's attention. "Did you by any chance have some sort of deal with Lilito?" The boy's words momentarily echoed in her memory, causing her to upkeep her promise of asking on his behalf.

However, the girl seemed slightly puzzled and just as lost as her mother at the interrogation and had to search for the unrecognisable query in her own mind before emerging with inconclusive results. "I don't really remember." She simply shrugged her shoulders before gazing at her mom with requesting sights to elaborate on the subject.

Instead, her parent resulted in shaking her head to dismiss the mentioned topic before proceeding with her leave. "It's nothing. I've taken up enough of your time. Go get ready and I'll see you tonight." With her final bidding, the woman was off, leaving her daughter in her own routine. While she watched the empty entrance with a clumped perception of confusion and wonder, the girl continued to try and recollect her memory over the proposition that still lingered in her brain.

"It's not the same when I don't have someone laughing at my insecurities about my relationship." Marco moped through a hazy gaze, tactfully prodding his sandwich while simultaneously ignoring the waves of voices that circled the outside school grounds. (Y/n) narrowed her eyes in deep thought and consideration as she tried to ponder on any leads that could betray a reasoning behind her friend's absence.

"I'll be going to her house today, so we'll see what's up."

As Marco slowly nodded with approval, his wondering eyes shot at a direction as his entire face gleamed with surprise and relief. "That might not be necessary anymore." The girl followed his observant gaze towards the distraction that had caught his sights, only to sigh with content.

"Where the hell have you been? Did you even notice our calls?" As she angrily scolded her disappeared friend, Maeda seemed completely taken out from her surroundings, her gloomy face suspiciously scanning her environment before falling on the frustrated voice of her companion.

The young girl seemed depleted from exhibiting any of her customary flamboyance or crudeness that set her up for troubled times. Staring at her two concerned friends, she monotonously sat herself between them, refusing to peel her attention from the crowd of students for any hidden shadows that were staring back. The girl soon felt a smack at the back of her head which caused her to turn her annoyed focus on the culprit.

"Are you even listening? Where have you been?" The (h/c) haired student begrudgingly repeated, causing the girl to fidget, wriggle, writhe and wonder with worry.

"Well, uhm...hey, there haven't been people asking around for me or anything, right?" (Y/n) paused her glare to grant the newcomer a baffled stare and respond with a shake of the head.

"No, why?" Her male friend piped up, sliding over a listening ear to play witness to any convoluted excuse.

Maeda warily stared at the attentive boy, speculatively eyeing him before materialising a coy smirk on her lips. "If you're going to be making it your business, you won't mind if I make it my business to inform you on the latest gossip about your boyfriend." Her sly smirk promoted her impure intents while the pair played mind games with one another on who would yield to the bluff.

"You're one nasty piece of work, you know that?" He begrudgingly declared, making the girl humph in stubborn dismissal. (Y/n) quietly watched the pair engaging in their own mental turmoil, holding a moulded fondness at the familiar scene that she had missed. An innocuous smile began itching to her face and prepared to be the third party member that would separate the quarrel had a hand not tapped her on her shoulder to attract her attention.

Upon turning her head around to glance at the new individual, she slightly shrunk back to see the stern and stoic face of the school council president. She immediately felt the environment around her shift like a court trial, aware that the important individual before her never made his presence aware to unimportant individuals of her school, unless the case was dire. She had to hold back her jumping heart while her head flew through blizzards of paranoid scenarios to remind herself if she had done something crucial or caused trouble.

"Are you (Y/n)?" His even and unwavering voice shook her very form into consciousness as she was forced to confirm the authoritarian boy's question. "The Principal would like to speak with you." (Y/n) had a deeply rooted hesitation at the reveal, all instincts in her body sending signals of anxiousness and concern over the news. She had never in her school years done something so drastic that the Principal himself wanted to correct her behaviour.

She prepared to speak up on the subject, stopping herself at a heartbeat once she reasoned it would be best to comply with the situation before she could dig her own hole in her staggered state. She slowly stood up from her seat, feeling as though leaving her willpower behind in her previous position, rendering her a confused shell for wonder. Glancing back at her two companions as she departed the area, the two bickering partners had also fallen silent and dormant at the new arrival and news. They gave the girl quiet looks of confusion that were left unanswered.

The girl stared at the large door with intent intimidation, holding a perception that once the barrier was opened, she would be prosecuted for an unknown cause. "Just go in, the Principle wants to speak with you." As the head of the school promptly indicated to her, the male silently left the bewildered girl to her own devices, giving her the chance to blankly stare at the door.

After building up the courage to take the handle and suppress her worries in her mind, the girl forced her body onwards as she stepped inside the office. A cold chill circulated through her every pore as her stomach tightened, causing a nauseous grip to bulge in her throat, feeling all colour, emotion and life drain out of her body at an instant.

Her eyes couldn't help but fall on the partners of the law, surveying any reasoning for why the police were within school grounds and why she had been asked to attend in their presence. The girl hadn't realised how stiff her body had become until a limpid voice urged her to fully enter. "Is there a problem, Sir...?" She uttered in the most level and collected voice she could produce, refusing to take her unwavering gaze away from the officers who were watching her with composure and dutifulness while she stated with pure confusion and worry.

The man who had been charged to beckon her for the introduction spoke to her in a gentle and calm tone, hoping to slowly ease the unnerved girl into the news and create mental crutches to sustain her. "Well...yes actually. You see, there's been an accident..." (Y/n)'s mind immediately went on high alert as she quickly ran through scenario is in her mind that were purposed to simulate the possible outcome before it could be revealed to her.

(Y/n) friskily tapped her foot on the tiled floor, intently listening to the words of the receptionist as she was answering the officer's enquiry on a certain person's whereabouts. All sounds of passersby, the light lingering of chatter, the incessant tapping of feet on the polished ground and the buzzing of distant equipment and air conditioners were nothing more than background noises to the girl who's ears were only held open for the woman behind the desk.

Upon hearing a room number, the female tore herself away from her police escorts to begin jogging across the hospital, ignoring the disapproving and beckoning voices of the officers. Shaking away any disheartening bombardments, the girl quickly approached the corridor which acted as a central point to her search. And as she slowed down her pace in the elongated path lined with doors, she silently observed a doctor and nurse conversing in front of a door.

(Y/n) momentarily stilted herself for a second, carefully observing the two workers as she urged her mind to process their purpose in front of the room she was meant to arrive at. She kept quiet, phlegmatically watching the two coworkers as they concentrated on one another's words, keeping them quiet and low for the passing ear. The newcomer wanted to grab their attention, hoped to urge herself into uttering a single word that would break the barrier between them, but remained unsure whether she was prepared to strip away her ignorance.

Once the doctor's environmental awareness seeped through, he became cognisant of her presence and immediately turned to the frozen girl. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't notice you there. Are you (Y/n) (L/n)?" He questioned in a nurturing but refined tone, moulded through the years of his medical profession. The female had to hold herself from crumbling as she gave him a slow nod, attentively hanging on every word he uttered, hoping for some sort of indication. "I'm Doctor Souta, do you know why you were called here?" He gently eased in his question, watching as the lost female quickly regained control of her emotional state to hold in the tremors within her and collectively respond.

"What happened to my mother?" She sternly inquired back, making the man tightened his lips together in slight hesitation before briefly sighing with slight frustration.

"So the police didn't inform you about the situation?" He gritted his jaw before collecting himself once he knew they would most likely leave the reveal to him. The man softened his posture before regarding her with composure and collectiveness, hoping to emanate his soothing nature to her. "Before you go inside to see your mother, I need to inform you about her condition." (Y/n)'s senses spiked in alertness, her whole form tensing up as she stared at the medical professional.

"What's wrong with her?" She quizzed, taking a step forwards with the intent on glancing inside the temporarily prohibited room to ease herself of any worry. However, the older male quickly paused her movements to prepare her before she could get the chance to discover herself.

"Your mother had an accident at her place of work today and had to be taken in. She's current put on life support-" The female broke through his even vocals with impatient words as she strode forward.

"Stop wasting my time. Let me see her!" Before the doctor or the nurse had a chance to interject with her actions, the girl dodged past the worker to perform the precluded entry despite the suggested disapproval of the staff.

Upon presenting herself inside, her first priority was to look towards the monitor displaying beeps at consecutive intervals, signalling the person's functioning vitals. (Y/n) relieved a heavy sigh from her chest as she watched the peaceful figure of her unconscious mother, finally assure she was alive and well. Once she took the time to observe her appearance, she noticed layers of bandages weaving around her head as in indication of an injury.

Approaching her bedside, the girl was washed over with gladsome ease at the woman's mostly healthy exterior. "Thank goodness, you're ok." She breathed out before placing her hand on her parent's shoulder. "Did you faint again? God, I told you not to go to work right out of hospital. Idiot..." She nurtured her gaze at the slumbering female, remaining unaware of the footsteps that followed her sudden entrance as she spoke to her mother.

"Miss, please listen." Came the stern but tactful voice of the medical member while the girl felt slightly irritated at how panicked he had gotten her for seemingly a natural cause.

"Sir don't scare me like that. I thought something really serious had happened when you said she was put on life support." She said, trying to look past the bandages and reassure herself that the cause was mild. "I was so scared."

"This isn't what-"

"When will she be waking up? Will she have to stay over night?"

"Miss, I need you to listen-"

"Will you be prescribing her medicine?" Despite the man's attempts at reaching through to the happy girl, the female seemed to reflexively block off each of his attempts at informing her. And as his incessant speech tried to break into her perception, the more denying she became, refusing to take her eyes off the sleeping patient as though her subconscious was aware of the consequences.

"Miss, she's not-"

"Is she going to stay here for a while? That might be good-"

"Miss (L/n)-"

"I need to tell her to stop pushing herself. I'll stay here until she wakes up-"

"She's in a coma!" (Y/n) jolted at the brash and fervent snap of words that erupted through the room. Her breath imploded in on itself as her throat prevented the girl from taking in oxygen. For a moment, her brain wasn't able to process the explanation that had fell on her through the loud volume, and had to take a step back in order to fully grasp the reveal, but to reject its acceptance. The doctor quickly realised his broken composure and tried to regain control of himself and the situation before his recklessness could inflict further damage. "Apologies, I did not mean to shout. But I'm truly sorry Miss...I'm afraid your mother won't be waking up any time soon."

The man unwillingly stiffened when the girl turned her head to face him for the first time, holding his guard up as her blank expression of loss didn't betray anything that could be flowing through her mind. As her distant gaze stared back at the worker, she finally gave out a reaction that had spurred out at that moment and surprised the workers. "That's stupid." She responded, almost insulted by the idea of her mother entering such crucial dormancy. "That's wrong. She's just sleeping." The girl strictly informed them, holding her claims with the highest of tones to ring truthful and factual above their information.

The doctor gazed at her with slight empathy, a look that didn't pass the girl's perception, making her tempted flair at the objection in the male's eyes. "I know it must be very difficult for you accept it, and I'll give you time-"

"But you're wrong!" She snapped, verging on the brink of hysteria at how humorously wrong she perceived him to be. Only for her face to fall with gloom and fear as she was responded with nothing but silent gazes from the staff workers. In her fit of frustration, she spun around to grab her numb mother's shoulders and desperately shake her with intent to stir, causing her entire limp body to jitter with each writhing motion. "Mom wake up! Stop it, this isn't funny! I'm scared!" However, with each vain attempt that came with her actions, no reaction was given from the unconscious woman who was left to be a ragged puppet to her daughter's denials. "I'll let you sleep for as long as you like! Just open your eyes for a second! Just one second!"

"Miss (L/n), please stop! That's not-"

"Wake her up!" She flicked her enraged gaze towards the nurse who was trying to soothe her grieving labour before glaring at the doctor who was also trying to intervene. "Give her something to wake up! She's not in a damn coma!" (Y/n) seethed, her own voice seeming to become a distant echo as she felt her body moving on its own whim, all her emotions coming strenuous to control the unbearable grudge within her, while her mind mimicked a state similar to her comatose parent. Everyone around her seemed against her at that moment, even herself. The piece of thriving reasoning within her that was fighting to admit the situation to the feral rejection within seemed to be the bigger enemy.

"Please, she's currently stable but you mustn't-"

"Don't touch me!" The wild denial within her screamed out as she ripped through the man's gentle hold that aimed to steady her breaking reality. Glaring at him, her breaths kept catching in her throat, denying her lungs any relieving inhale as her body itself seemed to be trying to subdue her. "This is crazy, she's going to wake up!"

"(Y/n)." The girl was finally allowed to gasp in a supply of air as a familiar voice reached her ears. Glancing towards the doorway, she was soothed to see a familiar face who had also arrived to confirm her beliefs.

"Mikah...did you hear them? They're saying mom is in a coma. Isn't that ridiculous?" She watched her brother like a beacon of hope that would affirm her perspective and hopefully give her new hope as her side of the argument would be supported. Instead, the boy displayed emotions the girl hadn't witnessed in a long time from her close relative. She saw a weakness in his gaze as his solemn eyes staring at the unmoving body that lay still in the hospital bed. "Mikah...?" (Y/n) desperately clung to whatever thread of phantasm and hope she had, frightened by the male's complete shift in mannerisms.

As the silence drew thicker and grew between them, the older man took the opportunity to lightly inform on the confirmation of his side. "Your mother suffered severe head trauma...at the moment, we can't do anything but-"

"Shut up. I can't listen to this." The girl breathed out through a growl, suppressing the urge to cover her ears and remain blind to the casualty. "I'm going to go ask for another doctor's opinion. Doctors make incorrect diagnoses all the time-" She spitefully declared, stomping towards the doorway and preparing to make a swift exit, only to be interrupted by a hand grasping her arm tightly as a sign of disapproval and comfort. (Y/n) stared at her brother's action, preparing to turn all her anger on him as she searched for some sort of release, being stopped when she saw the grieving and unstable expression on his own face. Features that showed his struggle of remaining strong for her sake, but yearning to mourn over the situation as well. "Mikah, you can't seriously tell me you believe this..." The girl's heart sunk at the face that she had grown to see as apathetic, relaxed and incurious by anything around him now seemed to be going through its own conflict, struggling to also accept the situation. "Come on, this is insane, mom is not-"

"(Y/n)." The sibling in question felt her throat tighten and her tongue dissolve as a strong and scolding voice emerged through the pained expression. "Stop." The command was delivered with intentness and strength, but weaved in a layer of a plead and sadness.

(Y/n) swallowed down the built up lump in her throat as she presented her own plea. "No...please don't make that face." However, she remained staring in the eyes of a vulnerable individual that seemed no different from a petrified child. "Please, you're the only person that can't do this to me. Tell me this isn't right." Despite her begging and beckoning, she was not given the luxury of catering to her whim. "Please, tell me that they're wrong! I need this!" As her whole world seemed to be falling at her feet, she needed a single word of comfort; she needed someone to prologue her realisation; she needed to remain ignorant for the slightest of moments. "Please, I'm scared!" Once her soul spilt out her melancholy, she was tugged into a pair of supportive, strong arms that wrapped around her to hold her own unsteady form. As she felt the larger body shaking, she immediately knew her brother was trying to hide tears that had seeped before her own. As she was given the final bit of shelter left for her, the strand of doubt finally broke off its control to leave her quivering in her sibling's embrace. "Oh my God..." Once she no longer held the denial that was perching her back, she finally allowed her own heart to weep.

(Y/n) stared at the foot of her bed in the dim glow of the moon. Her tired eyes seemed too sensitive for any subtle glint of light after they dried themselves out. Even her head seemed too heavy to be held on her shoulders while her entire body objected to lifting its own weight. Cycling through her empty thoughts, the stricken girl reflexively rejected any provocation in her subconscious that tried to recollect on the recent issues in her life.

She sighed out a heavy and tumult groan as a deep sense of loss swept her perception away for another round. While her thoughts tried to focus on what to do next; on what her upcoming days would consist of, her distracted hearing managed to pick up on the faint sound of her doorbell invading the stillness that surrounded her. The girl knew her older sibling would be the one obliged to get it, even if the rings were to continue she couldn't find it within her to stimulate her soul and even attempt a step outside of her environment of nothingness. She rather surround herself with emptiness that would numb her emotions for as long as possible.

"(Y/n)." She heard the familiar voice of her brother indicating for her presence. It took every ounce of her will power to lift her head towards the doorway where she hesitated on whether to comply or completely ignore the call. She rather not move from her cocoon of lucidness.

(Y/n) slowly descended downwards, hoping in some small crevice of her delusions that she would see her mother's form on the ground floor. Instead, she was surprised to see her two companions sending one another delicate and earnest looks before noticing the girl's dolour presence. Maeda gave her a cautious smile before speaking out in a quiet and gentle voice. "Heeeyy..." She sounded out in a single frequency, being responded with only the slightest of facial movements from her solemn friend. The newcomer slightly fidgeted and repositioned herself in a more optimistic stance before carefully giving her an empathetic glance. "We were worried about you today and we called up your house to see if everything was alright. Mikah told us what happened..."

The (e/c) eyed female tightly shut her eyes before reopening them widely again to try and snap herself out of her ghostly manner. After she seemed to regain some life to her mood, she fully descended down to greet her guests. "And being the irritating and paranoid friends we are, we wanted to come down to see how you were doing." Marco explained, coming to the girl's side to gently place a hand on her shoulder. The simple act of compassion seemed to support the girl's state in some way, enough for her to utter a response to their concerns.

"Thanks you guys. I appreciate your worry." She politely replied while her female friend walked over to the young child that seemed to be happily playing with drawings on the floor.

"Wow Mai, you're such a strong girl. You seem to be holding out pretty well after all of this." The girl supportively emphasised the younger female's stable attitude while she only stared at the teenager's words of encouragement with obliviousness.

"What are you talking about?"

No sooner had her confusing enquiry left her lips, Maeda's eyes widened in immediate realisation before swiftly sucking in a deep breath. "Oh, nothing! Hey kid, look! A puzzle! Solve it!" She quickly chucked the box of disassembled pieces to the floor, causing a few to spill on impact in hopes of distracting the child from her previous topic.

Marco and (Y/n) stared at the spectacle before the boy worriedly turned his attention towards the female to whisper to her in a low voice. "You didn't tell her?" The only response that could come from the female was her silent gaze looking away in confirmation.

"She doesn't need to know right now..." The girl hoped to keep her younger sister absent to the dire state their parent was in, hoping to prologue the confrontation until it seemed to be the right time. Though it seemed no situation would be appropriate for the reveal.

"God that was close..." The brash female commented as she sulked towards her two companions.

"Why did you bring a puzzle?" (Y/n) remained bemused at her compassions' intentions, being answered with an assuring smirk.

Her male friend lifted up a bag of luxuries with a comforting simper displayed on his features. "We came here to hang out with you for a bit. We brought a bunch of movies and popcorn to pass the time-unless you don't want to! We're not here to push on anything." Marco quickly reassured, trying to apologetically slouch his body inwards to give the girl some form of respectful privacy.

(Y/n) felt slightly dazed for a brief second, and internally shuddered once she thought about returning to the darkness in her room to her own wallowing woes. The thought of having familiar and comforting voices to fill in the silence filled some of the cracks in her essence. "I would actually love that. Thank you." She affirmed with a small smile before allowing her two glad visitors to make their way up the stairs.

As Marco prepared to begging his ascent, he was momentarily pushed by his boisterous friend who took the liberty of being the first to storm up. "Come on, if you feel like the movies are boring you at any point then we can make fun of Marco's doubts on his relationship." Maeda jested with an arch smirk tugging her playful lips while her male friend seemed far from amused at the tease.

"Aw man, that's absolute bulls**t!" Maeda screamed out at the man displayed on the computer screen. She gritted her teeth with tension as the character in the movie tried to figure who had been following him during his spy mission. "This dude is seriously the best they have?! Can't he see it's the Romanian underground gang?!" While the girl fumed with frustration and complete assurance her assumption was a factual claim, her two friends could only scowl at her interruption and interpretation.

"Maeda, I don't think they'll make an appearance in this movie. They haven't even been mentioned once." The boy indicated with a lecturing tone, causing the hyped girl to grumble into a pout.

"Oh you can't say that. No one ever expects the Romanian underground association of interconnecting gangs and mafia." (Y/n) darkly recollected as a gaze of wary knowledge came appeared. "Before you know it, you'll be sailing halfway across the Atlantic with a bunch of seals, all because you forgot to pay back for the gum you borrowed from that 5 year old." The bitter explanation of a seemingly convoluted past had her female companion awing while the boy simply weighed out how much of the story held true.

"Can we switch lives?!" Maeda groaned with wishtfulness while Marco heaved out a dismissive sigh, taking the bowl that once contained popcorn that was now filled with unpopped pellets of the dried snack.

"Why is it empty already?" He grumbled with annoyance before his sharp gaze drifted towards the silver eyed girl who seemed to be staring right back at the accusing scowl. "How does your fat a** managed to wolf it all down in a matter of seconds?" He aggravatingly seethed, standing up from the bed to direct his swift and vexed steps towards the kitchen to prepare another batch.

"Excuse me?!" Maeda glared back with an offended gaze before she pulled up a spiteful smirk. "At least this fat a** would be something your boyfriend would look forwards to." She mocked, indicating towards the boy's own behind with a disapproving glance.

"Are you seriously p**sing off the person that will be handling your food?!" Marco shouted back before an immediate wave of calm and serenity washed over him. "Alright, I'll see you when I come back." With the final promising statement, he closed the door behind him to leave the two girls to await his presence.

"Do you think I tease him too much?"

"Even if I said 'yes', you wouldn't really care."

Her flamboyant company responded with light, amused laughter. "Haha, yeah fair point." Once the girl had satisfyingly had her chuckle, she glanced over to her partner in hopes to see her reciprocating the humorous situation, only for her own smile to fall when she saw the distant and dazed countenance as (Y/n) seemed to isolate herself in lamentation. Maeda tensed up at the wordless response as she felt a failure in her attempts to bring her some comfort. "Hey, you alright...? You're having fun right?"

"Yeah...it's just all burning at the back of my mind though." Her low and dulled out voice expressed while her mind began filling with overbearing concern. "Maeda, do you think my mom will ever wake up?"

"Oh! Uhm..." The targeted girl felt centred and taken off guard by the question and immediately reverted her eye contact away.

(Y/n) sensed the discomfort and internally scolded herself for asking such a daunting request to her companion. She quickly shook her head and gave a weak smile to assure her friend with permission to dodge the topic entirely. "Sorry...it's not right for me to just ask you something so sentimental and heavy. You don't have to answer me if you don't want to."

"Oh, no! I would ask for your opinion in a situation like this as well! It just caught me off guard..." Maeda tried to chuckle away the queasiness that came along, and quickly reassured her friend with an abetting smile. She then relaxed her body slightly before focusing her contemplative eyes towards an area in the room that would not cause any bias in her final statement. "I'm going to say that...I'm almost positive she will."

(Y/n) took a moment to watch her friend's confident and knowing smile with her sullen features, feeling the female's warm and comforting statement of positivity too good to be true. Before she could get overwhelmed with emotions that would only result in confused sulking, she directed her gaze towards the ground. "I can't help but wonder if you're just saying that..."

"No way! I'll tell you why then!" Maeda quickly piped up with sanguine energy, quickly shifting in her seat to stare the downhearted girl straight in the face. She prepared to seemingly lay out all her soul into her words before taking a second to compose herself, interpreting the situation needing a more delicate approach. "I've known your mother for almost as long as I've known you. And when I see her: I don't see just a random person, I don't see a woman going through another day in her life; all I see is the purest representation of a mother." Her winning, positive smile seemed to brighten up the entire perspective to the situation. Maeda's gaze became glossed over and distant as she reminisced over her perceptions and opinions. "Your mom has dedicated her life to you guys. I can see she's lived her life just to make you all happy."

(Y/n) stilted her mourning eyes to the floor as her companion's words flowed through before giving out a slightly amused and touched scoff. "Didn't know you paid this much attention."

"I'll have to be blind to not notice all this." Maeda enthusiastically reassured before proceeding to condole her downhearted friend. "I know that no matter what happens, she'll never leave you. She loves you too much to let you suffer because of her. So I can absolutely imagine that the moment she realises she's left you, she'll turn on like a switch and come running home with the hospital clothes still on." The girl mused, avidly assured in her beliefs, as though she could bring her claims to life with the mere passion in her words.

(Y/n) unintentionally smiled at the nostalgia and amused scenario that hit too close to reality. "You probably wouldn't believe how right you are."

Maeda slightly lowered her energy to avoid overwhelming the sensitive girl, thinking through her years with the pair of them as she slightly recollected. When she recalled back to the girl's parent, it became easy for her to lay down her observations and statements. "She's a very strong person. I've always respected her for how much freedom she wants to give you. I know how hard your family used to struggle but I recently realised how you were never unsatisfied with your life. It's clear your mom sacrificed a lot to make you happy." (Y/n)'s felt slightly shaken at the statement, but more so, she filled her heart with gratitude and regret as the girl's words began poking weak spots while healing others. "That's why I can't believe she'll let all that go to waste by leaving you at such a crucial time in your life. Not even without a goodbye. She'll sooner resurrect herself before leaving you without a final word." Maeda finished off light heartedly, feeling the mood becoming too heavy for her vulnerable friend to bear. Her energy decreased as she simply sat beside the thoughtful (e/c) eyed female while she ruminated over her assurance.

"Don't you think it's a bit risky...I want to believe you so badly but I'm scared of what might happen if..." The single thought of the worst case scenario was enough to make the girl feel sick and create an imaginary hole in her heart. Her defensive mechanisms were clogging her perception while her hopeful optimism tried to fight for space in her rationing.

The boisterous girl watched her friend for a few moments, contemplating over her words before releasing a deep sigh, feeling the events of her life lagging onto herself. "...I'm giving you advice as someone who lives for the present. Believe whatever makes you happy at this moment. Believe in whatever will encourage you to get out of bed in the morning and what will give you hope while the time passes." The grieving student was sure that her filled up hopes would cause the days to pass with greater relief. Until she felt her entire world sinking as she pondered over the possibility of a heavy loss. "And then we'll cross that bridge when we get there. And I promise me and Marco and your siblings will be on the other side to help you, no matter what happens." The female guest eagerly reassured, placing an uncharacteristically gentle hand on the girl's head, giving her the compassionate comfort she needed.

"Thank you." Was all that the stricken girl could breathe out in a stable and even tone before she relaxed in her companion's embrace that enveloped her in a more stable environment.

Once Maeda separated from the girl, she slightly crumpled her expression in embarrassed confusion at her sentimentality. "God, did I just say all that? Maybe the drugs are finally kicking in." She mumbled her analogy, intending it to be more for herself than public ear.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing!" She quickly waved off with dismissal before springing up to her feet and stretching her back to rid some of the stiffness. "Hey, I have to be going now. Really wish I could stay and keep you company but I have curfew." (Y/n) wondered since when the girl had started following anything that was intended to restrict her, but didn't find the urge to question as she felt her company had done enough.

"I'm back with more popcorn!" Their male friend cheerfully popped into the room with a fresh bowl of the steaming snack before wonderingly staring at the girl who was walking past him to execute her departure. "Huh? Where are you going?"

"It's time for me to take my leave. You guys enjoy the rest of the movies." The girl informed him, putting on her thin jacket to display her genuine intents.

"Don't you want a bit of the popcorn I just made?" Marco pestered and eagerly grinned, prompting her to indulge herself on the fresh food. To his disappointment, the girl placidly declined before a new target lined her sights.

"Nah, dad's cooking my favourite tonight so I'm leaving space for that." She indicatively patted her stomach before leaning to the side to give her friend a playful farewell. "I'll see you tomorrow (Y/n)." Upon exiting out of the room and closing the door, she shouted out her final wishes to both her partners. "Night b***hes!"

Marco disapprovingly shook his head while glaring at the closed entrance, reminding himself to teach the female manners the next time they were together. "Was that last part necessary?" Bitterly sighing to himself, the boy looked down at the bowl he had prepared and huffed out in slight frustration. "And what a waste..." He muttered to himself before flinging the food out of the window and setting the empty container down to rest on a small table while (Y/n) stared at the action, dumbfounded.

"Why did you...?" She didn't dare finish the sentence as she somewhat knew what the answer was.

"No reason." He sweetly explained before picking up a brush from the girl's nightstand and settling behind her with an offering smile. "Hey, let me brush your hair while you enjoy the movie. Does that sound good?"

(Y/n) slightly flinched at the situation as memories dawned on her of her past self impatiently sitting in front of her mother as the woman tried to perform a decent enough job at controlling her messy, (h/c) locks. "I don't mind." She mumbled, slightly pleased at the familiar action while another area of her conscience fought against nostalgia.

The boy joyfully obliged as he began gently combing from the tips of one lock before progressively moving up until he reached the roots. The process seemed to soothe the girl as she felt the comforting presence beside her, intent on bringing her weighing thoughts some solace. However, after each consecutive brush, she felt her ears draining out any dialogue or sound from the movie she had intended to descry as her mind became isolated once more to bring on her doubts and fears. After a while, her thoughts and inner struggle became too packed for the girl to even register the boy's gentle actions.

"Marco, can I ask you something?" After the words had left her lips, the bemoaned girl wanted to take it back as it was an unwilling spurt from the moment.

"Go ahead." Marco promptly obliged, only stopping his pattern of brushes when the surprise of the request dawned on him.

(Y/n) hesitated on beginning her query but eventually found her genuine yearning for an answer in her troubled world to be too overbearing for her grief to ignore. "You don't need to answer this if you're not comfortable. But, do you think my mom will ever wake up?"

Marco paused his strokes with the brush before giving the girl a concerned stare which was unseen by her turned head. "Oh, that's a heavy question." He uncertainly muttered, making his friend slightly cringe at her impulsive pestering before she felt her mood calming once her hair began getting gently tugged and separated from the continued brushing. To her obliviousness, Marco watched her with concern and self-deprecation as he felt greatly unprepared for the confrontation. "I don't know if this is the thing you want to hear at a moment like this and I feel like I'm not the right person to ask but; I don't want you to feel like life betrayed you if your mother doesn't come around." (Y/n) rained silent at the revelation and wasn't sure whether to submit to the possibility, or vehemently disagree with the proposition. Marco picked up on the tormenting contemplation within the female and continued to elaborate on his point, hoping to give her understanding of his view. "It's always a risk to look at such sensitive situations through rose-tinted glasses. It makes the negative consequences much harder to accept and the grieving much heavier."

The female sunk her head into her arms and between her knees as she wished to escape the reality before her. "So you're saying my mom might not wake up in the end?"

Marco frantically began shaking his head as his palms began to sweat with worry at the quick judgement. "Ah! No! Don't misunderstand! There are so many cases where coma patients wake up, even after years in the hospital. She could be out and recovering in just a few weeks." Once he had settled his guilty nerves he proceeded to grant the girl a sad look as he dreaded to see her sink into further depression. "I just want you to look at this realistically and objectively...the sooner you accept the outcome of what might happen, the easier you can heal if the outcome is the one that would bring the most pain." As he completed his analogy, the male guest placed the brush away to allow the female a moment of peace to ponder over his words.

(Y/n) released a deep and shaky sigh as she felt her eyes stinging, only to be left dry from exhaustion and fear. "I'm so confused...Maeda told me that she's definitely going to make it. And then you say that it's best to start preparing for the worst."

"That's good! It's great to have opinions from both sides! As I said, it's best to remain subjective to this..." After his assuring tone slowly trailed off to a more delicate annunciation, he allowed a few second of silence to gather his own thoughts "The important thing to know is that you shouldn't force yourself to take up someone else's opinion as your own. Whatever you decide, I hope it helps you."

However, her thoughts seemed farm from assembled and both scenarios came in conjunction to only unsettle her bustling mind further. "I'm just so confused at the moment. I guess I'm just desperate for some guidance..."

Marco softened his gaze before looking away from the bleak aura. "Yeah, it's expected when you found out so recently." After moments of wordless exchanges, the boy immediately recalled back to a moment of his own past that sparked a more qualified side of him. "Remember what you told me when I was terrified of telling my parents about my sexuality?" The girl glanced back at the enthused boy who switched his gaze upwards in easier recollection. "It was 'hope for the best, expect the worst'. It stuck with me and made me sure that I was prepared for whatever result would come out of my confession." It became a treasured moment between them as friends and continued giving him motivation even to the present, persisting him to hope to return the favour in her own uncertain time. "And I also remember you told me that no matter what the outcome was, your arms were alway open for me; to congratulate and celebrate or cry into and comfort." The fond experience seemed to simultaneously bring both their moods up as though warmth and support emanated from the mere recollection and linked them on a single track of thought. "And now it's my chance to do the same. I promise that Maeda and I will be here for you (Y/n), regardless of the outcome." The girl watched his heartfelt gaze while he lightly patted her head and beamed at her with a composed and solicitous smile, causing her to slightly reciprocate his expression.

"Thank you. I always forget how mature and nurturing you can be." She honestly explained causing the boy to bunch up from slight embarrassment.

"Aww, come on, you're my favourite girl. You know you're the only one I'd go straight for." He humoured, pocking the female to further tease her.

"Oh really?" She raised a doubtful eyebrow, amusingly challenging his claim.

"Ye-uhm...sure." After hesitating on his agreement, he simply patted her head to assert his ambiguous words.

(Y/n) stared at him for a few moments before burying her head back in her knees while muffling out a slight giggle. "God, you're such a charmer." She sarcastically announced, chuckling to herself for a few more seconds before all her amusement stopped altogether, feeling a stab of guilt and shame at her enjoyment of a moment when her circumstances were far from a happy matter. It gave her a sickening feeling not only for her relaxed jesting but for herself.

Marco gladly smiled at her soothed and enlightened state before feeling his self-awareness catching up. "Well, I better not overstay my welcome. I know you need some time on your own so I best be off. It's a school night anyway." Grinning at the girl who gave him a grateful smile that hoped would portray her enjoyment of their company.

"Thank you both for your support."

"No problem. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go creepily stalk my boyfriend's social media while I cry myself to sleep into my pillow; and probably wake up from a nightmare about him cheating on me." He sulked, stitching on a lopsided smile filled with shame and awareness of the paranoia in his mind.

"You need to talk to someone about that..."

"I talk to myself about it and I fully support my insecure behaviour." He briefly rattled out before bowing his head in defeat at his own vulnerability "I'm guessing you won't be going to school tomorrow to rest a bit. So I'll see you after that, ok?" He shined her a promising simper as he began backing out of the door.

"Ok. Goodnight." Once the entrance closed behind him, the female immediately felt the effects of being stranded in solitude. Even the movie she had been distractingly skimming over was placed in its menu where it only deepened the silence.

With nothing to keep her mind busy, with no consolidating words to hold her severed reasoning, with no company to contrast her lonesome state; she felt empty. Soon her head began forcing her to recall the day's events on possible future outcomes and it made her head ache. As though her brewing perceptions would eventually ooze out and burst through her skull, possibly giving her relief from emptying her mind. However, no such luxury occurred as she was stuck in endless thought cycles.

After trying numerous times to suppress her doubts and fears, another notion prioritised itself between the uncertainty. 'What would happen to us...?' She tampered in the clamped logical processor inside her brain as she considered the wellbeing of her remaining family. 'What would mom do?' Placing her hands to rest against her head, trying to shelter from any biases, she considered the woman's own words as her blank eyes stared onwards into open space. 'Work...I need to work.'