He quickly scanned the room after gently laying Kyouko on her bed. He found her bag and checked inside. Her car key and house key were still there. He rushed to his room, grabbed his wallet, and hurried back to Kyouko's room.
He lifted her into his arms.
Her body felt light, and far too warm. Her head rested against his chest, her shallow breaths brushing faintly against his shirt.
Haruki's jaw tightened.
This is not the time to panic, Haruki!
He hurried downstairs, carefully carrying Kyouko in his arms.
Once he reached the front door, he opened it and made his way to her car. He carefully opened the passenger side and lowered her gently into the seat.
While adjusting her posture, he fumbled slightly with the seatbelt, his hand brushing against her breast.
Now is not the time for that, Haruki! Don't get distracted.
He secured the belt, closed the door, and hurried around to the driver's side. Sliding in, he started the engine, gripped the wheel tighter, and pressed down on the accelerator.
Once outside the gate, he pressed the remote and sped down the road without waiting for it to fully shut.
When they finally reached the hospital's emergency lane, Haruki slammed on the brakes and leapt out.
He rushed to the passenger side and pulled the door open. Kyouko was still slumped in her seat, her face pale, lips slightly parted. Haruki leaned in, sliding one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back.
He rushed inside the emergency area.
"Someone!" Haruki shouted the moment he burst through the sliding doors of the emergency entrance.
A nurse rushed over immediately. "What happened?"
"She fainted! She has a fever… I brought her as fast as I could."
Another nurse quickly appeared with a stretcher. Haruki gently laid Kyouko down and stepped aside as they checked her pulse and temperature.
"How long has she been like this?" one of them asked.
"Just recently. I rushed her here right away," Haruki replied, still breathing hard.
"Any known allergies to medication?"
"I… I don't know," he admitted, frustration tightening his voice.
"Sir, please wait in the waiting area. We'll call you once we have updates."
"Okay…"
He took a few unsteady steps back, watching as they wheeled Kyouko through the double doors.
He sank into a chair, elbows on his knees, heart still pounding. His hand instinctively went to his pocket. He wanted to call Satomi, to tell her what happened.
But his pocket was empty.
Shit... I left my phone at home in the rush.
Kyouko's bag was still with him. He glanced at it, wondering if her phone was inside. But before he could check, another thought struck him.
The car.
"I forgot to park the car…"
He shot up from his seat and hurried toward the exit, the automatic doors sliding open with a hiss. Her car was still sitting in the emergency drop-off lane.
He climbed in, started the engine, and drove to the nearest parking lot. After locking the car, he slung Kyouko's bag over his shoulder and walk back toward the emergency entrance.
His footsteps echoed against the floor as he moved down the hallway, glancing at the nurse station as he returned to the waiting area.
"Ah, sir... are you the one who brought in the woman earlier?" a nurse called out.
"Yes, that's me. How is she?" Haruki asked quickly.
"Don't worry, sir. She's stable now. It was just a fever, but her temperature was quite high when she arrived. The doctor has already given her treatment, and she's resting now."
Haruki exhaled deeply, the tightness in his chest finally loosening.
"Thank God…" he murmured.
The nurse gave him a small, understanding smile.
"We'll keep her for observation for a few more hours, just to be safe. In the meantime, could you please proceed to registration at the counter down that hallway? We'll need to complete her admission paperwork."
"Ah, yes, of course." Haruki adjusted the strap of Kyouko's bag on his shoulder and walked in the direction she indicated.
The registration process was smooth, but his thoughts kept wandering back to Kyouko.
Is she awake now? Still resting?
He opened her bag, took out her wallet, and found her ID card for registration.He glanced at it and his eyes paused on the date of birth.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
After completing the forms, he returned to the waiting area, fiddling with the strap of her bag in silence. A few minutes later, another nurse approached.
"Sir, you can see her now. She's been moved to a ward room for observation."
Haruki stood. "Is she awake?"
"She is," the nurse replied. "A little weak, but conscious."
A quiet breath of relief escaped him as he followed her.
Haruki stepped quietly into the hospital room. The curtains were half-drawn. Kyouko lay on the bed, an IV line running gently into her arm. Her eyes were half-open, hazy from sleep or fever.
When she saw him, a weak smile curved her lips.
"Haruki-kun… you're still here?"
He placed her bag on the small table beside the bed and smiled softly.
"Of course. I was worried about you."
Kyouko lowered her gaze, her lashes trembling slightly.
"Sorry… for troubling you."
"Don't say that," he murmured, pulling a chair closer. "You didn't trouble me."
She turned her head toward him, the faintest trace of warmth in her expression.
"You didn't have to stay, Haruki-kun…"
Haruki smiled. "Don't worry about it, Kyouko-san. Just rest."
Silence settled between them again. "I must look awful right now…" she murmured softly.
"Hmm… I don't think so, Kyouko-san."
She looked at him again. "Thank you, Haruki-kun," she said softly.
He adjusted the blanket over her shoulder, his fingers brushing lightly against the edge of her arm.
"Get some rest. If you need anything, I'll be here."
"You don't have to—"
Haruki smiled, that calm, effortless smile that made Kyouko's heart skip a beat.
"It's not like I have anything to do at home anyway," he said lightly.
"Are you sure?" she asked quietly.
He shook his head slightly. "Don't worry, Kyouko-san."
She exhaled softly, turning her gaze to the window. Sunlight shimmered faintly through the curtain, warm and gentle on her skin.
"...Thank you, Haruki-kun."
He leaned back in his chair, eyes lingering on her face as her lashes lowered once more.
"Just rest," he whispered.
( End Of Chapter )