Echoes of Legacy

"Breaking Point?"

As they drove toward the city's royal hospital, the car was filled with a chaotic mix of emotions. Jun, pale and trembling, was continuously vomiting, her body struggling to cope with the shock. Gaku, in intense pain, cried out like a wounded child, his voice filled with agony. Rimmy, sitting next to him, was visibly irritated, her mood teetering on the edge of violence as she shot him sharp looks, clearly at her breaking point.

Asahi, usually composed, was now in a state of deep shock and depression. He stared out the window, tears welling in his eyes, the emotional toll of the day weighing heavily on him. Meanwhile, Norio, determined to maintain some semblance of normalcy, buried himself in his studies, focusing on his upcoming exams as a way to block out the chaos around him.

In the front seat, Jack held Mayumi on his lap, cradling her as gently as he could. Her stomach, bandaged from the bullet wound, rested heavily against him as he kept a protective arm around her. The car sped through the streets, the tension inside matching the urgency of their destination.

A few hours later, they arrived at the hospital. Ren, Norio, and Joseph entered the hospital's guest room, finding Jack talking softly to Mayumi, whose waist was bandaged tightly. Concerned, they asked Jack if he was alright.

Jack, his voice steady but tired, replied, "If Rimmy is with me, I don't think anything will ever happen to me in this life."

Joseph, his face tight with anger, turned to Mayumi and shouted, "Why aren't you in your hostel by now?"

Mayumi, her voice choked with emotion, shouted back, "I had a fucking accident, Dad! You didn't even ask how I am!"

Ren, not tolerating her tone, shouted, "Mayumi, control your lips!"

Mayumi, on the verge of another outburst, was silenced when Joseph's hand raised in anger, about to slap her. But before he could, Mayumi's body suddenly went limp, and she collapsed onto Jack. Both Ren and Jack immediately shouted for the doctors, their voices echoing through the room as the tension reached a breaking point.

---

It was evening, 6 o'clock, and Mayumi was asleep on the hospital bed. Jack entered the room with extreme silence and leaned over to kiss her forehead. Just as he was about to pull away, Joseph walked in, not noticing Jack's presence.

"Jack, it's not safe here. We need to take you to the headquarters for extreme safety. Please come with me," Joseph said urgently.

Jack, still close to Mayumi, responded quietly, "She's still asleep."

Joseph walked over to Mayumi's bed, gently playing with her hair and planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "Love you, baby. Why are you so naughty?" he whispered.

Jack smiled as Joseph turned to leave. The two of them exited the room, heading towards the safety of the headquarters.

Soon after they left, Norio, Asahi, and Robin entered Mayumi's room. Mayumi was still asleep, her breathing steady. Robin approached her and gently shook her face, waking her with a start.

Mayumi groaned in annoyance and blinked awake. Seeing Robin's signal for silence, she reluctantly complied.

"It's time to go back to the hostel," Robin said softly.

Mayumi, feeling weak, clung to Norio's jacket as he offered her support. Her voice trembled as she said, "I'm feeling too weak... I don't want to go, and I don't think Sensei (Robin) will allow me to."

Robin's tone was firm but gentle. "I hear you, dear. Thanks for not complaining, but you need to face the reality of growing up. Okay?"

With that, Norio, Asahi, and Mayumi were ushered into Robin's car. Despite her reluctance, Mayumi, still emotionally and physically drained, was driven off to the hostel.