A Secret Kept // Rewritten

A Guilty Hospital Stay

    We rushed Cho to the hospital, and on our way there, one of her friends called her parents and told them they needed at the hospital immediately. As soon as we arrived, the girls cried for help and one of the doctors rushed over to us.

"What seems to be the issue?" they ask.

The doctor then spots me carrying an injured girl and calls for a hospital bed. When they put the bed in front of me, I gave Cho one last hug and put her down. Of course, I tried to put her on the bed, without trying to hurt her any more than she already was.

As they disappear down the hallway, I can't help but feel as though I am responsible for this.

"This is my fault," I say.

"No, it's not."

"It couldn't be helped."

"She was just protecting you."

"I feel guilty."

"It's normal to feel that way," Reika assures me. "There's nothing you can do about it now."

After some time, her parents rushed in. They give a hug to each of the girls, however, ignoring me.

"Sorry we're late!" says Cho's Mother. "Is she okay?"

"Yes, her condition is stable." the doctor reveals. "She has some fight in her."

'What a relief!'

"It's a good thing you brought her here when you did." the doctor smiles. "Otherwise, things would've been different."

We each take turns visiting Cho in her room. I am the last one to see her. While in the room with Cho, I couldn't help the string feel the responsibility of putting her here. She's lucky to have escaped with her life.

'I know what I have to do. I'm sorry, Cho.'

As I wake up, I hear the sound of beeping and take a look at my surroundings. When I get a good look at everything, I find myself to be in a private hospital room.

"Cho, are you awake?" someone asks.

Looking around to see who is speaking to me, my eyes land on a familiar face.

"Of course, I am."

"Cho! You're awake!"

"You had us all worried."

"I'm sorry."

"Girls, are you-"

"Hey, Mum."

"Oh my gosh."

After a day or two in the hospital, the doctors had taken off most of the wiring and one of them had asked me to accompany them to the children's ward.

"Why are we going there?"

"I heard the story you were saying aloud to yourself the other night, and I would think that the children would like that."

"I'll see what I can do."

We stopped in front of a door and the doctor buzzed us into the children's ward. As I look at the place with bright colours and a cheery attitude, I take notice of a group of kids playing with a wide array of toys.

"Okay, everyone." the doctor claps. "Please sit in a circle for storytime."

The children did as they were asked, and said doctor let me take a seat at the top of the circle.

"Thank you for doing this so quickly."

"Who is this girl you invited to join us?"

"This is Cho, and she has been spending time here after an unfortunate accident." the doctor explains.

"How did you feel afterward?"

"I felt very sore and I had a tingling in my legs," I recount. "It was all very strange to be going through and I am still recovering from the wounds."

"How did you get them?"

"I didn't listen to my friends."

"Did you cry?"

"Of course, I cried," I confirm. "Crying is natural when you get hurt."

"Can we please get on with the story already?!" a child exclaims.

"Hey, there is no need to be rude!"

All of a sudden, everyone starts saying such horrible things. Taking a look at my surroundings, I find that Majorina is behind it. Making my way outside, I find Majorina cackling and the girls are nowhere in sight.

"Have you got any ideas of what you have done?!"

"I don't know, I don't care." Majorina grins. "Come forth, Akanbe!"

"Akanbe!"

"All right, that does it!" I exclaim.

"Precure! Smile Charge!"

"With overflowing feelings, they run free! Cure Emotion!"

"Akanbe!"

"Oh no, you don't."

Jumping, dodging, and fighting the Akanbe, I do all that I can to weaken it so I can use my finisher. After fighting the Akanbe for some time, I finally got what I wanted.

"Precure! Emotion Bomb!"

"That took a lot out of me," I say between pants.

"Akanbe!"

"Seriously?!"

"Tired already, Precure? I thought you had a lot more in you. Guess I was wrong." Majorina taunts, smirking.

"I'm just getting warmed up." I grin, standing.

Putting up a fight once more, I do my best to fight it when I am eventually knocked back down.

"Ha, Ha!" Majorina exclaims. "All that fighting for nothing. No wonder you are all alone. You are a pathetic weakling."

"That may be so, but I love others from a distance and they recognise that then they return it in their way. I am going to protect them with all that I have."

"Ha?!"

Surrounded by Purple energy, I fight the Akanbe once more and this time, I manage to weaken it.

"Precure! Emotion Bomb...Explosion!"

"Akan...be."

"I'll get you for this."

"Phew!"

Sitting in front of the kids once more, they are suggesting different ideas for a story I could tell. I get an idea for a story to tell when one of the kids mentions fighters.

"Hey, I've got an idea. How about a story about a group of girls who defend dreams?"

"That sounds super cool!" the kids exclaim.

"So, the story begins like this. In a land far, far away..."