𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐬 | ʰ. ʳⁱⁿᵈᵒᵘ [✓]

forty-five

Her footsteps were quick even though her legs felt heavy and fatigued. They're awake. Sanzu's whispers continued to ring in her head as she raced across the hospital, both Sanzu and Rindou trailing behind her.

The room was not really that far from hers, but it felt like she walked for a while, and she grew impatient. The busy halls filled with scattered nurses, guests, and patients didn't help her reach her destination faster at all.

The moment her gaze landed on the painfully familiar door, her heart thumped louder than ever. Before she could even twist the knob, she could already hear the voices she yearned to hear.

"Where's my nee-san? She's coming right? Right??" The little boy continued to ask. "Be patient, Haku. Your sister will be here soon. Haruchiyo already went to get her right?" 

She couldn't believe her ears. After so long, they were finally awake, and both at the same time. "What are you waiting for?" Sanzu asked as he poked her side. "Go on, they're waiting!" He pushed, opening the door for her.

Hana fell to her knees as the door opened, greeted by the sight of her mother sitting up on her bed and Haku skipping around the room in excitement. Sanzu couldn't help but smile. He hated smiling because it accentuated the scars that he hated more than anything. He found his scars hideous, disgusting to even bat an eye on. But Hana disagreed.

"You should let go of the mask, Haru. I like seeing your scars. They're pretty beyond comparison."

Pretty. He never thought that his scars and the word 'pretty' could ever be used in the same sentence, but she even said it with a smile that lifted more than just his spirits. He was about to enter the room when the figure of Rindou slowly inching away caught his eye.

"Where're ya going? Get in there!" He yelled, grabbing Rindou by his collar and pushing him inside the room. He could feel his heart drop to his stomach as his eyes met with Hana's mother. His stomach felt like it was being twisted and wrung, memories of how her mother looked at him the last time they met slapping him back.

"I shouldn't be here... I-I'm sorry... glad to see you back, Mrs. Sato--"

"Rindou, dear, are you alright? You look awfully pale.. come have a seat and drink some water." He wasn't sure if he was hearing right, or if Hana's mother was still not in a proper state of mind. "But I... I was-- this is all my fault? Isn't it?"

Mirai could feel her heart sink as she saw the boy cripple in front of her eyes. Although they only shared a short amount with each other, she adored the boy, treating him like a son of her own. "I never blamed you to begin with, Rindou.."

His amethyst hues shot up. "I knew you wouldn't do anything like that. And that day, I remember you said that you didn't know anything. It was unfortunate, but it couldn't be helped. I'm here right now, and I'm alive, thanks to you. If you never came, who knows what might've happened to me-"

"It was Hana's father."

The atmosphere was quick to change from sentimental to ticking pressure. "What about my father..?" Hana asked, hand in her chest as her heart thumped loudly. Mitsuya was quick to cover Haku's ears after the mere mention of the word 'father'. The boy was simply too young for this.