The next day, as class ended and the bright hum of chatter filled the hallways, Shu approached me with a tentative smile.
"Do you want to come visit Miku after school?" she asked quietly, her voice carrying a note of hopeful concern.
I smiled politely but shook my head. "Thanks, Shu, but I already have a plan to meet Miss Elsa," I replied, trying to sound casual though my heart felt heavy.
Shu gave a small nod, though her eyes lingered on me a moment longer, as if reading between the lines. "Alright. If you need anything, just let me know," she said gently before turning away.
Zen, who had been focused at his desk but noticed the conversation, walked over with a furrowed brow. "So, do you think it will work?" His voice was low, filled with worry.
I sighed and looked at him seriously. "Whether it worked or not depends on Miku and Shu. I can only hope they find a way."
Zen bit his lip, uneasy. "What now? What's the plan?"
"There's no plan anymore," I admitted. "Now, all we can do is wait. Hope that everything settles in time."
He nodded slowly. "I hope you're right."
Later that afternoon, in the quiet white-walled hospital room, Shu stood just outside the door, her hand raised hesitantly before she knocked gently.
"Come in," Miku's soft voice invited.
Stepping inside, Shu managed a faint smile. "Hey! How are you feeling today?"
Miku shifted on her bed, her eyes tired but alert. "Nothing new," she answered, voice almost flat.
Shu carefully placed a bag of fruits and snacks on the bedside table, then started peeling an apple. Her actions were gentle, her movements slow as if careful not to break the fragile atmosphere around them.
For a long moment, Miku glanced at Shu, then at the apples, unable to find a way to bridge the silence.
Noticing Miku's hesitation, Shu finally asked softly, "Do you want to say something?"
"No... nothing," Miku replied, forcing a nervous smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Shu's voice dropped to a more earnest tone. "You know, I don't know what really happened, but last night, during dinner, Mom apologized to me."
Miku's eyes widened slightly. "Really? Mom did that?"
Shu chuckled softly, a sound full of surprised relief. "Yeah. I was surprised too. She just apologized out of the blue. When I tried to ask why, she wouldn't say much, just that she's sorry for how she treated things before… and promises it won't happen again."
Miku whispered to herself, almost as if trying to grasp an unbelievable truth. "It's like a miracle..."
Shu tilted her head, curious. "It looks like someone really pulled this off."
Miku's voice grew quieter, heavier with resignation. "And now, I have to play my part in this."
"Hm? Did you say something?" Shu asked, brows knitting.
Miku inhaled deeply, steadying herself. "Maybe you should stop this, big sis."
Shu's smile faltered ever so slightly, sensing the weight behind the words, but she kept her voice steady. "What do you mean, Miku?"
"You don't have to waste your life on me," Miku said, eyes locking onto Shu's with a sorrowful firmness. "I'm sick, Shu. The doctors say there's no cure. Everything you're doing… it's futile. You don't have to sacrifice your youth and your dreams for someone who can't get better."
A brief silence filled the room. Shu's calm mask faltered, but she quickly recovered. "I want to be here for you. You're not alone."
Miku's gaze didn't soften. "Please, Shu... Don't waste your life on me. You deserve so much better. A life without this weight."
Shu reached out instinctively to touch Miku's hand, but Miku pulled hers back gently, almost apologetically.
"You're strong, Shu," Miku continued, voice trembling slightly but firm. "Sometimes being strong means knowing when to let go."
"I'm not going anywhere," Shu whispered, the lie cloaked in a fragile hope.
Frustration overcame Miku's composure, her voice rising before she could hold it back. "You don't have to lock yourself away because of me! I hate seeing you like this."
Before Shu could respond, Miku's frustration spilled over, her voice piercing the quiet room. "Stop pretending! Stop lying to yourself and me!"
Shu took a slow, steady breath, stepping closer, lowering her voice to soothe the storm between them. "Miku... please listen to me. I'm not pretending or lying. I care about you more than anything. You're not a burden. You're family."
Miku's eyes glistened, the tears threatening but held back. "Family? Is this what family means? Suffering in silence? Watching someone throw their life away for hopelessness? You're lying, Shu. Lying to yourself and me. And it hurts."
For a moment, no words came from Shu's lips. The walls she had built around her feelings began to crack, her throat tightening with every painful truth spoken. She blinked rapidly, swallowing the lump that rose.
"I... I don't know what to say," Shu finally whispered, voice breaking with the weight she carried.
Miku looked away, weary and defeated. "Then maybe you should just go."
Shu's breath hitched painfully as her heart shattered silently. Without another word, she turned and quietly left the room, the door clicking softly behind her, leaving a heavy silence in the space between them.
Miku let the tears fall freely at last, curling up on the bed and covering her face.
"I am sorry... sorry, sis..." she sobbed, the weight of it finally breaking through her defenses. The room echoed with her quiet grief, the unspoken pain hanging thick in the sterile air.