The Yakuza's flower

Her pain

Hanayama's POV

I let Kozue go with Ume in the ambulance. Baki had convinced me to let them take her to the hospital...

I followed behind—fast, and reckless.

My Heart pounding like war drums in my chest.

When I got to the hospital, they didn't let me follow her into the back.

I was stopped.

Escorted to a quiet waiting room.
The kind of place where minutes dragged like chains.

Kizaki showed up a few minutes later, out of breath.

"Is she alright?!" he asked, panicked.

I didn't answer.

The time kept crawling.

I sat still.
For as long as I could.

Eventually—

Kozue returned.

What the hell is she doing back here? She's supposed to be with Ume.

Her face was pale.
Eyes wide. Wet.
She opened her mouth to say something—

But before she could speak, a scream ripped through the corridor.

Ume...

Her scream. Raw and Violent.

I was on my feet before I even realized I'd moved.

She needs me.

Kizaki stepped in front of me, arms out. "Hanayama, wait—"

Another scream echoed through the halls
She was Crying...

I shoved past him without effort, practically throwing him aside.

Security moved in fast—two men blocking the hallway, arms raised like they could take me on.

"Sir, we can't let you through!—"

"Move." I said in a low sharp tone

They didn't.

I was ready to move them myself—

But then someone stepped up beside me, casting a long shadow across the floor.

"Listen, man," Biscuit Oliva said. His voice was steady, but heavy. "I know you wanna see her. But they're helping her. You storm in now, it won't do her any good."

What the hell was he doing here, I didn't look at him.

Didn't say a word.

Just stood there, fists clenched at my sides. Ready to push through him if I needed to.

Every inch of me screaming to break through.

If I had to start the fight, I'd start it.
Gladly.

I was yanked out of that thought when I saw Dr. Shiong appear at the end of the hall, turning the corner.

His face was calm. But I saw it—the pressure in his shoulders. The storm behind his eyes.

He didn't slow down. Walked straight to me.
Stopped only when we were toe to toe.

"Do not fight," he said, voice firm. "Not in my hospital."

He wasn't the one I was worried about.

I saw the blood on his white coat

And

All I could remember was the blood on her skin.

The panic in her voice.
The image of her breaking.