"Dude, tell me more about your illness!"

"Inuzuka-kun, you're being a bit too excited there..."

"Does your chest hurt? Do you feel it is getting heavier?"

"Well... A little bit, yes..."

"Do you feel nauseous? Stomachache? Runny nose?"

"That's a bit much for me, don't you think...?"

Today's lunchtime is the same as always. It's still the hot weather, but it is getting a little more humid since summer is getting closer, which comes along with our semester test. The sky is coated in bright blue, with the scent of fresh air lingering around the area. Just as always, we are sitting under the shade of a cherry blossom tree to have our lunch, having some kind of "boy talk", while the girls are chatting about different subjects that I cannot comprehend what they are.

"Do you have any trouble breathing? Do you feel like you're suffocating?" Inuzuka-kun is still throwing questions at me about my health condition. I find that pretty annoying, but I cannot ignore him, nonetheless.

... It has been such a long time, hasn't it?

A few weeks ago, my life changed completely. I found it hard to breathe, I coughed out blood, and I even blacked out from exhaustion and blood loss. And before I knew it, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I used to think I would live my whole life with that disease, carry it all by myself, without anyone knowing a single thing about it, because of my thought of not wanting anyone to carry this burden like me. That was what I did for the following days, hiding away from everyone, putting up a fake smile on my face to tell them I was alright...

... Well, at least until my girlfriend came...

"... No, it's not great, at all. It took me quite some time to make him say it out. I even almost injured myself from that..."

I overhear the conversation between Shikimori-san and the girls, and this makes me smile nervously, but happily. She must be talking about when she found out about my health condition.

Yes, that time was very... rough. Shikimori-san was suspicious about my action when I came back to school from the day I received the diagnosis. She did everything to find out about it, from "investigating" Kamiya-san to "trapping" me inside her home to make me speak it out. It was hard to witness her emotion that day. I know she can be a bit short-tempered, but that was the first time I had ever seen her that furious. However, this also showed her caring side, which I appreciated a lot.

Shikimori-san has been more than an ally to me, someone I can depend on, someone standing by my side. To be honest, without her, I don't know where I would be going today...

"Hey bro, don't worry!" Inuzuka-kun's words brought me back to reality. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and beams a smile. "If you ever feel down or find life difficult to live, just remember that I also have your back, alright?"

"... Thanks, man. I definitely will..."

I turned to him and let out a smile on my face. Without Shikimori-san, I don't know if I would get a chance to talk normally to my friends, my pal like this. Without Shikimori-san, I don't know if I would be able to smile naturally like this. And without Shikimori-san, I don't know if I would realize that I have always had friends that have had my back since day one, who I can depend on.

Damn, why does it feel like I owe her a lot...?

I look back to the girls' side, only to find out Shikimori-san has been staring at me for quite some time, without me noticing. This sudden image makes me blush slightly and smile uneasily. She is placing her elbow on the table while using her hand to support her head, which is tilting a bit aside. She is also having a small smile on her face, with a tint of pink blush visible from my view, brightened by the noon sunlight.

"W-What's wrong, Shikimori-san?" I nervously asked her while rubbing my hand on my cheek. "Is there something weird on my face?"

"No, nothing. It's just..." Shikimori shook her head and giggled. "I just love seeing you smile, that's all..."

Her words make me blush furiously, while my face is so hot it can fry an egg if I crack it on top. My mind is having a debate about if I should continue to look at her any longer because the more I look at her, the more bashful I am getting. Meanwhile, her smile is getting wider, perhaps because of my reaction. I take a glance at Inuzuka-kun and the rest, who are all smirking at me.

This situation is becoming more awkward for me. However, somehow, I cannot stop myself from looking at her. Maybe I... also love seeing her smile. Maybe I just love seeing her happy, after all. And maybe, this is the "old Izumi" she was talking about a few days ago when we tried to reach Kamiya-san.

'... I thought I had lost you... Welcome back, Izumi-san.'

Honestly, I also thought that I had lost myself, as well. I think I am back, Shikimori-san. Welcome back, me...

"Hey, hey, you two," Nekozaki-san called for us, catching our attention. "We understand you 'newlyweds' want to show your admiration, but next time, do it somewhere private, alright?"

"W-We... Y-Yes, w-we understood..." Nekozaki-san's words made both of us embarrassed, so we lowered our heads and stuttered, avoiding the gazes of the people staring at us with devilish smiles on their faces. At this point, I just want to dig a hole and jump in it, staying inside for the rest of my life...

"By the way, Izumi..." Nekozaki asked me. "What were you two talking about? You and Inu?"

"Oh... Nothing big, actually..." I lifted my head and turned to her, fighting against my embarrassment. "He was just asking me about my disease's symptoms."

"That's all?" She asked to reconfirm. "But you seemed to be annoyed by him..."

"What?!" Shikimori immediately rose her head from that sentence, as well, before she shot her glare at Inuzuka-kun, who instantly shivered from it. Inuzuka-kun quickly hides behind me, while grabbing my shoulders shakingly, in which I can feel the sensation very well. He glances at Shikimori-san from my shoulders he is hiding his face behind, who is still looking at him with such a deadly stare that even I am terrified by it.

"I-I'm not annoyed at all, Shikimori-san!" I tried to calm her down, as I could feel a murder was about to be committed in front of my very eyes. "He just cared about my health, that's all!"

However, it was useless, since she is still keeping her eyes on his every movement.

"I was telling the truth, Shikimori-san..." I tried to persuade her again. "Don't kill- I mean don't hate him, okay?"

"... Alright." Shikimori seemed to finally calm down, as she beamed a bright smile. "However, Inuzuka, if you annoy him, I'll rip your head off, okay?"

The last time when she said this, I felt it was cute of her since she was flustered. However, it sounds more like a threat now...

"... Hey bud."

"Y-Yes?" I answered Inuzuka's call.

"I thought I told you to make her feel better. Why didn't I see any progress?"

There is a progress, Inuzuka-kun. It's coming, I swear. It's getting closer than you think...

"Speaking of cancer's symptoms..." Hachimitsu suddenly spoke up, breaking the scary silence. "Can you confirm this theory for me, Izumi?"

"Confirm what?" I asked her.

"That every patient who has cancer will be bald soon?"

... Why did you ask me such an absurd question, Hachimitsu-san?!

"It's not true!" I immediately retorted, almost losing my mind. When I realize what I said, I take a deep breath to calm myself down. "I-I mean... It's not true for every cancer patient. Some cases that are related to the brain or some similar ones lead to... bald, as you said. But other than that, it might not..."

I answered her, using my knowledge from some of the sources I had read or the procedure, which is given by the hospital. Having said that, my friends are suspicious about it. Nekozaki-san looks like she is about to break into laughter, while Inuzuka-kun is covering his mouth, preventing him from laughing. I thought you were terrified earlier, Inuzuka-kun...

"It's true, guys..." I tried to convince them again, but it was no use, so I turned to Shikimori-san. "Shikimori-san, help me."

However, there is no response from her. Instead, Shikimori-san is looking at me with her eyes filled with terror. She seems to be petrified, as her mouth is gaping open, which makes me very anxious witnessing that. She looks like she might have seen a ghost since she is staring blankly at me.

"S-Shikimori-san...?" I waved my hand in front of her view, trying to catch a sign of life from her. After a few seconds, her lips start moving.

"... Izumi-san... getting... bald..."

"I'M NOT GETTING BALD, SHIKIMORI-SAN!"

~0O0~

"Hey, Shikimori-san, may I ask a question?"

"Yes?"

"What's the deal with you and Inuzuka-kun?"

As it is getting late, I am walking home with Shikimori-san by my side, as always. The sky is painted orange, while the afternoon sun is still shining, but its light is slowly fading away. While we are on our way, I take the chance of us being alone to ask Shikimori-san about Inuzuka-kun. Having heard my question, she takes a deep breath and looks up at the sky, maybe to avoid my gaze.

"I've already told you, right?" She responded. "My relationship with Inuzuka-san is totally healthy. There's nothing wrong with us."

"I don't think that is true, Shikimori-san," I didn't accept her answer. "I'm not buying that. I've heard everything from him."

"E-Everything?"

"Yeah," I blatantly answered her. "If your relationship with him is 'healthy', as you said, then how do you explain that time when you gave him a 10-point deduction?"

I asked her, and that might have shot her right in the black heart, as she immediately lowered her head and turned away from me when we both stopped in our track. She is definitely hiding something, but I don't want to let it slide, so I take advantage of the situation and keep barraging her, even though I don't really want to.

"By the way, there were some unusual signs from you, Shikimori-san..." I reminded her. "From when you smacked his arm, to when you glared at him... Do they seem 'healthy' to you?"

One more time, there is no response from her. Instead, she starts gripping the straps of her school bag, while fidgeting with the zipper of it. I find this poor, but somewhat amusing. However, still, on my path to finding out the truth, I deliver my last strike at her.

"Hey, you told me to be true and never lie to you again, right?" I jogged her memories. "So maybe it's time for you to live with your words, Shikimori-san."

At this point, Shikimori-san cannot hold it anymore. She begins grunting some adorable voice again while keeping her lips shut. I lean my head to her side to check on her face, which she soon realizes, causing her to turn her head to the other side. However, she knows that she cannot hide the secret away from me again, as she might have seen the smile beaming on my face.

It's not like I am being cruel. I just want to find out the truth and figure out the solution for this issue...

After a while, Shikimori-san finally opens her lips to speak something.

"... My brother."

"Your what?"

"My brother, you dork!" Shikimori retorted. "He reminded me of my brother!"

"Fuji-san?"

Fuji-san is Shikimori-san's older brother, whom I met back when I had a sleepover at her home. At first glance, he seemed to be a menacing person, someone you may not want to mess with. Despite that, when I talked with him, I found out that his look didn't match his personality. At least from the way he talked, he seemed to be a very caring person and a generous guy. He didn't mind about my health and how it would affect my relationship with his younger sister, which I am very glad about it.

'... Keep fighting, kid.'

By the way, I haven't got his phone number. Maybe I will get it if I have a chance to come to her home...

"But what about it?" I asked her. "Maybe his look is the same as Inuzuka-kun?"

"No, it's just...!" Shikimori tried to say something, but then she took a quick pause and let out a sigh. "It's just... the way that he talked... it reminded me of my brother..."

"Why does it bother you? I asked her while having my eyebrows raised. "I mean... if it's the way that he talked, then it's fine, right? Fuji-san seemed to be a nice person, after all."

Having heard my words, Shikimori-san turns around and looks at me. Her eyes are widening, while she is staring blankly at me, maybe she is at a loss for words.

"I... I..." Shikimori stuttered. "I don't know where I should start, the way of his talk or the fact that you said he was nice."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked her confusedly. "You should be proud of having such a good brother," I told her, but she didn't seem to trust my saying. Instead, she turns away from me again and lowers her head. She seems a bit... angry, with her shrinking forehead and her strong grip on the strap. "Shikimori-san?"

"... You don't understand..."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't understand, Izumi-san!" Shikimori suddenly retorted, jolting me backward. "That guy, he..." She tried to utter something, but she may have found it hard to express it in words since she gritted her teeth and stomped her foot on the ground. "He always finds a way to tease me! I bet that until now, he still sees me as his baby sister, nothing more, nothing less!"

Well, that's... not very bad, right?

Having heard her answer, I just find it amusing. Therefore, I cover my mouth and try not to laugh. However, Shikimori-san might have heard the chuckle in my mouth, due to her turning around and shooting her glare at me, which I find scary but not as scary as earlier, maybe because of her response. "What's so funny?!" She angrily asked me.

"I don't know, it's just..." I answered her while scratching my temple. "Maybe that's just his way of being your brother, right?"

"What do you mean?!"

"Well, he cares about you," I responded. "I mean, think about it, he wouldn't tease you if he didn't care about you, right? Maybe that's just his way of... being a big brother to you. Besides, the fact that he sees you as his little sister is good since he can protect you, at least that is from my view..."

Shikimori-san does not seem to believe what I said. However, instead of fighting back with something like 'I don't believe it', or 'it's not true at all', she just turns away and speaks nothing, while strengthening her grip on the strap, which I will consider that she is buying my words, then.

"To be honest, I... envy you, Shikimori-san," I confessed to her.

"W-Why?"

"You have an older brother. It must be nice to have a brother or sister, right?" I asked her. "I mean... having someone to accompany you when you're alone, or having someone to share with when you have something bothering you..." I trailed off, before continuing. "To me, as an only child, that seems to be a great experience. You should be proud to have a caring brother like Fuji-san, Shikimori-san."

I asked her, but I didn't hear any answer but some angry grunts from her. She furiously looks back at me with her gritting teeth and her blushing red face, which I think is more because of her anger rather than her embarrassment. I find it terrifying but worrying, so I walk to her place to check on her.

"S-Shikimori-san?"

"You want to have an older brother?!" Shikimori-san suddenly fumingly asked me. "Well, sure, you can have mine, then! Maybe you can replace me with him, too!"

"Oh, c'mon, I didn't mean that!" I tried to prove myself right, but she didn't care. She immediately turns away from me, before folding her arms and sulking. No matter how I try to look at her face, she keeps facing away from me. "Come on, I'm just kidding. Of course I can't replace you with him..." I tried to persuade her, but she didn't believe me, as her face was getting poutier.

Despite how cute she looks, I know I have to make things right, or else we might never get home on time. Therefore, sneaking behind her back, I wrap my arms around her neck, which makes her start from my sudden movement. Before she can do anything, I place my chin on her shoulder and tilt my head aside to look at her angry face, which is blushing from my action.

"Forgive me, okay, Shikimori-san?" I looked at her with my pleading eyes, trying to impersonate Gin-chan, who had the same look whenever he messes up something in my room. Shikimori-san looks at me with her furious expression, but soon her lips soften, as she lets out a heavy sigh and looks at me again with her forgiving smile.

"... Fine." She gave in and accepted my apology.

"Yay!"

"But put your head out of my shoulder!"

"Y-Yes ma'am!" I accepted her order and pulled my head away from her while unwrapping my arms from her neck. She takes some time to adjust her uniform collar, while I am brushing off the dust from my pants.

... Well, it's more like an action to distract me from the fact that the thing I did was embarrassing as hell! Gosh, I don't know if she saw my flustered face or not!

... But honestly, having a brother or sister does not sound bad, right? You have someone to share your story with, someone to cheer you up whenever you feel down, or simply just someone to spend some time with to keep you from being lonely. Back when I knew about my health condition, I had no one to share it with, besides my cat, in which I'm not sure if it worked or not. I don't know if I would feel better or not, less alone or more if I had a brother or sister by my side...

Well, that does not bother my mind anymore, since I know I have Shikimori-san, my girlfriend who is always by my side when I feel down now.

"... You know, I wouldn't mind if my brother is Fuji-san- WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT! PLEASE! I'M SORRY! DON'T KILL ME!"

I was speaking to her about that when she suddenly turned around and attacked me, without letting me finish my sentence. Before I know it, I am being pinned on the wall nearby, while the sunlight is blocked by Shikimori-san's body. I look up at her face, only to see her enraged expression, as she is breathing heavily and blushing furiously. Our faces are very close, just a few inches away. Right now, I feel like a little kitten being pinned by an angry, giant dog. I believe that in a few minutes, my life shall be over.

"Please... don't kill me..." I begged her, sounding more like my last words, while tears were forming in the corners of my eyes. However, it does not seem to work, as her expression does not change at all.

"S-Shikimori-san...?"

"... You! Me! This Sunday! DATE!" She snapped back at me, in the most abstract way possible.

"... Uhh... I don't think I can..." I tried my best to answer her, using all my strength.

"WHY?!"

"Can you please let me go first?"

I convinced her to do that, and even how mad she was, she obliged. Having let go of her grip, I dust off my pants and shove my hand in my pocket, trying to find my phone. When I found it, I take it out and unlock it, access the messaging app, and show the messages to her, letting her read them from the screen.

"... Health checking schedule?" Shikimori asked me, repeating the things on my screen, and I nodded as a response.

Yesterday, I finally received the message from the hospital. They informed me about my upcoming health checking schedule, which happened to be on this Sunday. This kind of... sucks, due to my date with Shikimori-san usually occurring on Sunday, as well, although we might be having a date in the library since the semester exam is coming. However, this is something I cannot miss, because this is the day that I might know how my health condition is, maybe better or worse. Its importance can be compared to the upcoming semester test.

"T-Then I'll go with you, too!" Shikimori suddenly figured out her solution. "L-Like a hospital date!"

Hospital date?! Does that thing actually exist?!

"W-We can't do that!" I refused her request. "My mom will be coming with me on that day!"

"W-Well, maybe we can-"

"Besides, the hospital does not allow too many people to join the patient!"

"But... We..."

Shikimori tried to think of another excuse to join me on my health check day, but she couldn't think of any, so she bowed her head in defeat, with a frown on her face. Wanting to cheer her up, I approach her side and put my hand on her head, before rubbing it to comfort her. I know she is worried about me and wants to fulfill her role, but this is an exception and I cannot do something about it. Despite that, I still want to make her happy and relieved.

"Sorry about that, Shikimori-san," I comforted her. "But on that day, I'll text you whenever I can, okay?"

I asked her, and after a few moments, she nodded as an answer. I know she is still anxious, but this is probably the best I can do for her...

"Okay, it's getting late. Let's go home, alright?"

I requested while looking at the sky, which was getting darker, as the afternoon sun was slowly fading away. Accepting my request, Shikimori-san proceeds to walk and join me right by my side...

... Before she suddenly trips and falls to the ground.

"Shikimori-san!" I exclaimed while immediately crouched down to hold her, keeping her from hitting her knees on the hard ground. When I finally hold her on her arm, I ask her to check her status. "What's wrong, Shikimori-san? Are you alright?"

"... Yeah, it's just..." Shikimori hesitantly said. "I think my ankles are soring again..."

It is because of her injury again? It has recurred?

"Do you think you can walk?" I asked her.

"Yeah, maybe if I try..." Shikimori said and tried to stand up from the ground, before letting out a hiss of pain and falling to the ground again, in which I caught her. "Or maybe not..." She said with a sad smile on her face.

This is bad...

I cannot let Shikimori-san walk home all by herself with her soring ankles. What if something bad happens to her? What if she hurts herself and makes her injury worse. I cannot allow myself to let her alone. Because of that, I start wandering my eyes around the area, hoping to find something to treat her injury, although there is a high chance that it may not exist. Still, I have to keep my hope alive...

... And I think God has finally graced me. It is not something that I can cure her with, but it is a place where I can take a pitstop to do something about it.

"Shikimori-san?"

"Y-Yes?"

"Let's take a break, shall we?"

~0O0~

The scene is so familiar...

We stopped at a park nearby. Well, it is not just any park, it is the same park where Shikimori-san took me on the first day ever since my absence. It is still the same clock in the middle of the park, it still has the same swings as I used to see, and it still has the same slide as I remember. This is such a simple scene yet so nostalgic, something that I can still bear in mind.

Still supporting Shikimori-san with my arm, I guide her to the nearby bench and help her sit down on it, before joining her. I put down my backpack next to the bench, and so does Shikimori-san, who has finished taking off her school bag. I take a glance at the clock, which shows 5 p.m. It is not as late as I thought, so I guess I can take my time and use it, although the sky is getting darker on top of us.

"Okay, Shikimori-san..." I spoke first. "Put your legs on the bench."

I requested her, and perhaps she knew what I was up to, she obliged and shakingly placed her legs on the bench, which still hurt because of the soring spot. Shikimori-san then proceeds to take off her shoes, before letting me roll down her leggings to reveal her ankles, which are soring red. I let out a small sigh when I see those, which makes her worried.

"I-Is it very bad, Izumi-san?" Shikimori stuttered, but I shook my head in response.

"No, not at all," I answered her to ensure her about the injury. Although her ankles are soring, they are not as bad as they used to be, when we were on the school's rooftop with Kamiya-san. "However, just to make sure nothing will get worse, I have to do something with them."

Having said that, I start rubbing my hands, before positioning them on one of her ankles. However, just to make sure she is alright, I look up to her one last time. "I'm going to massage them, but in case it is too painful, just let me know immediately, okay?"

And thus, Shikimori-san gives a nod as her response, allowing me to start the massage. I start rubbing one of the soring ankles carefully, trying not to make it too hurtful or too strong, before moving my hands to another one. I continue doing these motions simultaneously, one and another, to ease her pain and avoid the blood from pressuring.

"Do you need me to say the magic words, Shikimori-san?" I asked her while doing my work.

"... Yes, I would like you to say them."

She responded, but it was strange that it took her quite a while to answer. Nonetheless, I keep massaging her ankles while repeatedly whispering "pain, pain, go away" in my mouth, hoping to ease her painful ankles.

These soring ankles are bad, but that doesn't mean they do not have their goods. These are the signs that we have met Kamiya-san. These are the signs of our confrontation. And without that confrontation, I don't know if I would have had an easy sleep, shutting my eyes knowing that my burdens had gone. I don't know if I could rest easy, knowing that I had sorted out all the problems, without anything left to worry about. These soring ankles are the signs that I have accomplished my goals, and perhaps what I have to focus on just about treating my health.

Looking back at my journey, it is still somewhat... hilarious to me. I started it with the mission to hide away my disease at all cost, but from my conversation with Shikimori-san, and knowing that Kamiya-san was suffering because of me, that mission had somehow become "sorting things out with Kamiya-san". And when my secret was revealed to my girlfriend, a new mission called "revealing that to my friends" was added to the list, along with the other one. I don't know which is crazier, me totally forgetting about hiding my secret from anyone else, or the fact that I was able to complete both missions in just one day!

This journey for me has been very incredible, and now, somehow I just feel that I want to fight against my disease, not accept it or live with it...

... But damn it, I don't know if God will grace me one more time, and allow me to live longer than I thought. In this silent atmosphere, only the ticking sound of the clock can be heard, like it is counting down the time I have left to live. The more I think of it, the more low-spirit I become.

However, I still want to fight against my destiny, even how hard it is. If there is a glimpse of hope, I will grab it no matter what.

I was so lost in my land of thoughts that I hadn't realized I had finished massaging Shikimori-san's ankles. Luckily, the light from the nearby lamp post shines down our spot, which helps me see that her ankles are no more pressured with blood. The pain might have eased away and perhaps she can walk easily again.

"Shikimori-san, I think they are better now. Can you try to walk-"

I was talking to Shikimori-san when suddenly I felt her hand reach to my cheek and caress it.

"Shikimori... san?" I mumbled while looking up at her face. Although her head is blocking the light, I can somehow see her sapphire blue eyes, which are filled with sorrow, while her lips have curled into a frown. Her breath is not steady, as she is letting out some unnatural ones, sometimes they are heavy, and sometimes they are just short and light. "Shikimori-san... If my massage was too painful, you should have told me about that..." I sighed and tried to guess the reason behind her sorrow, but it was the wrong answer which could be told when she shook her head.

"No, it's not... It's just..." She denied it, and I could hear that her voice was... shaking. She squeezes her lips tight like she is trying to confess, but something is holding her throat, while her breath is getting heavier and more unsteady. Before I can say something, she shakes her head furiously and lets out a heavy sigh. "Izumi-san?"

"... Hmm?"

"Could you... turn your back, please?"

Shikimori made a request, which I found weird, but I accepted it, nonetheless. I start shifting my body around so that my back is facing her.

"Like this? So... what do you want me to do-"

I was about to ask her when suddenly she tackled me behind with a hug, which almost jolted me forward. She wraps her arms around my stomach while burying her face in my back. I can feel her heavy breathing blowing to my spine, which is a little bit tickling, to be honest.

"Shikimori-san..." I mumbled. "M-Maybe you're still afraid that I'm going to be bald? I'm not going to-"

"Please... don't joke like that..."

I was about to say something to cheer her up, but it just made the situation slightly worse, as her voice was shaking even more. Before I realize it, she tightens her hug more, while burying her face deeper into my back. The warm air from her breath brushes through my spine, creating an unfamiliar sensation behind me.

"Izumi-san..." Shikimori mumbled in my back. "Can you... keep your position like this and don't look back?" She requested me. "My face must be very weird right now... I don't want you to look at it..."

"... Alright."

I whispered to her, enough for her to hear. My breathing is getting a bit heavier, as well, while my face is burning red from this sensation. I close my eyes to feel her breathing on my back, as I begin to feel more of it. After a few seconds, Shikimori-san presses her body behind me, and I feel like she has totally sunk into my back. I can feel my heart pounding faster and faster. However, I don't mind at all, therefore I allow her to stay like that for how long she wants.

I feel like time has stopped, as I can no longer hear the ticking of the clock. Now it is just us in this quiet park, in this silent atmosphere. Somewhere in my mind, I just want us to keep it like that for as long as we want. This is what they call 'having someone's back to rely on', right?

After quite a while, her breathing has become more steady, as all I can feel and hear is her small breaths coming from her. Shikimori-san must have calmed down a little bit. However, she still does not want to let me go, as her wrap is tight nonetheless.

"Izumi-san..." I heard her mumble behind me, as she was stuffing her face in my back up to that time. "I hope there is nothing wrong with your health check when it comes..."

She told me, and I can no longer hear her shaking tone, but it seemed that she was afraid of something. Therefore, I put my hand on hers and rub through her knuckles, trying to reassure her.

"It's just a health check, Shikimori-san..." I comforted her. "I'll be alright."

"... I know, and I want to believe that, but still..."

"Hey, it's alright. I've promised to text you, remember?" I reminded her. "If there is something happens, you'll be the one to know first, okay?"

I told her while rubbing my hand on hers, trying to warm it up. After a few seconds, she nods as her response, which feels a bit ticklish when she rubs her nose on my back. Nonetheless, I stay in my place, letting her lean on me for how long she wants, as we both stay put on the bench and feel our presence together.

As I have said, I still have a long road to go. It is going to be a bumpy ride, with obstacles waiting for me to overcome. However, as long as I have faith in myself, and as long as I have allies by my side, Shikimori-san, Inuzuka-kun, Nekozaki-san, Hachimitsu-san, and even Kamiya-san, I believe that I can get through them all so that God will appreciate my effort and grant me my wish: to live and stay with them the longer the better...

... But for now, tomorrow is just another new day...

End of chapter 8

~0O0~