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Chapter 6: The Man with Pink Hair

"Hey, Yukino."

"Chifuyu..." the tall man with the undercut smiled to her.

"Uhm...what are you doing here?" She asked peeking at the door.

"You left your phone at the shop. I came to give it you. Sorry I couldn't come at an earlier time." he said as he took her phone from his pocket. In a flash, she took it from his hand.

"Thanks. Do you uhm...have other business?" 

What if he sees her patient inside? She cannot risk it. She thought.

"Well, I actually want to check your place out while I visit you. Is now...not a good time?" the man asked hesitantly. This reaction of his made her quite guilty. She stepped out and closed the door behind her and Chifuyu noticed this as well.

"It seemed like...I'm not as welcome as Kazutora, huh?" he muttered then looked away.

"It's not like that...It's just..." she started thinking of an excuse.

"...I have a patient inside."

"He...He has a contagious disease so I cannot allow anyone to come in." she continued.

"Oh...I see." Chifuyu nodded. He seemed convinced.

"Well, aren't you supposed to wear a facemask and gloves or something?"

"I uh...I was wearing them earlier. I just removed them...before I opened the door." she lied even more.

"I see." Awkward silence enveloped the two as soon as he said that.

"Well then, I should get going. You're probably tired after your shift from the hospital." he turned his back and started to walk away. But before the brunette could sigh in relief, she heard him talk again.

"If your patient's disease gets worse, you can crash at the shop. We have a spare bedroom there." he smiled as he said that. Yukino stared at him before he turned his back and took a seat on the motorcycle which she knew very well. 

It was Baji's. He left it to Chifuyu's care before he died. Once again, she was reminded of that night Chifuyu and Kazutora had a heated argument.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you okay?" She didn't notice that Chifuyu is looking at her intently.

"Nothing. I just can't help but remember Kei-kun when I look at that motorcycle." was all she said. But soon regretted it. 

She isn't the type to show emotions like that in front of anyone. Most especially when it is connected to her best friend.

"S-Sorry. I remember that I had something to do--" she was stopped by Chifuyu who hurriedly went to her side. She felt Chifuyu's hand on her wrist. She slowly turned and looked at his face. 

For several seconds, they stared at each other. Chifuyu slowly held her hand and slowly looked at her lips. She is inexperienced with these kinds of things, but at that moment, she knew. She knew what Chifuyu wanted to do. She watched his other hand slowly reached her right cheek.

"Kazutora...he..." he started hesitatingly and touched her right cheek. His warm hand made her heart skip a beat.

"He's right, Yukino. I'm a coward." As soon as he said that, tears fell from his eyes.