Compromise

Chapter 23

Ryosuke's POV

When I arrived at the hospital, Ai is awake. It seems like she's waiting for me. I smiled at her. Her eyes tells me like she wants to ask something.

"Doushite?" I asked as I walked towards her.

"Hmmm... H-How are you?" she asked then she looked down.

I chuckled. "I'm fine. I should be the one asking that," I said. I sat on the chair beside her bed.

She chuckled a bit. "Sou ne," she muttered.

"Ah," I gasped. I thought that she might be hungry. "I'll ask the nurse if you can eat already, " I said. "You might be hungry." I added.

"I'm not really hungry. How long have I slept?" she wondered.

"You were asleep for four days," I replied.

Her eyes gone wide. "That long..." she muttered.

"Hai," I nodded. "I'll go and ask the nurse. It won't be long," I assured.

"Uhn," she nodded.

I went out and went straight to the nurse station. Ah! I should've just pressed the buzzer! I forgot! I'm not my usual self right now... I continued to the nurse station anyway.

"Hi!" I greeted the nurses there but I am looking to a particular nurse. If I'm not mistaken she's the nurse-in-charge of Ai.

"Yes, sir?" she asked, smiling at me.

"Can Ai eat now?" I asked.

"Kawashima~san?" she asked.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Yes, she can. But only soft foods. Like porridge," she informed.

"Ok," I said. "Thanks!" I smiled and went back to her room.

I was startled. Yabu~kun and the others are there. They looked at me and smiled but it didn't reach their eyes.

"Oh, guys! Hi!" I said anyway. "Good thing you visited Ai." I said gladly.

"Of course! I'm here to take care of my daughter!" Hikaru~kun exclaimed. He's actually holding Ai's hand and he squeezed it.

I felt a bit jealous. I chuckled to ease that feeling. "Why, of course!" I laughed.

"And as her body guard, I will be here for her," Keito said, he smirked at me.

I grimaced and chuckled. You, gorilla! Tsk!

"Maa, to cut it short, her family is here to take care of her." Yabu~kun stated.

"I'm happy to hear that," I smiled.

We had short chit chats while Hikaru~kun was feeding her. I was actually the one to feed her but I'm no match to her so-called "Toochan" that's why I just let him do it.

After an hour or so, Ai fell asleep. I looked at her sleeping face. I can see a smile on her face even though she's sleeping.

Yabu~kun cleared his throat, all of our attention is on him now.

"Yama~chan," he uttered.

"Hai?" I responded.

"Could you tell us what happened?" he asked.

I was startled. I don't know how to tell them... in fact, I don't have a face to show to them right now...

"Johnny~san called me by phone and he said--"

"Could we talk about it outside?" I cut him. "Ai maybe sleeping but she might hear it..." I said, with fear.

"Sure," he said.

We went outside the room. There, they gathered around me. All their eyes on me.

"I... I..." I didn't know this is too difficult to say...

"Gambatte, Yama~chan!" Yuto~kun cheered with a smile.

"Uhn," I nodded but then I looked down. "Guys, I'm really sorry for causing a lot of trouble to all of you... to this group..." I started. "Starting today, Hey! Say! JUMP will only have 9 members. I'm really sorry," I said. I tried to look at their faces. They all look shocked.

"Why?" Yabu~kun asked flatly.

"He wanted me to stay away from Ai forever... I don't want to do that. That's why he fired me. I know you won't understand me and I know you will be angry to me but I d-don't want to abandon her..." my voice cracked and my tears ran down my face. "You are all precious to me but... she's also important to me..." I couldn't speak anymore. I just cried not even looking at them... I didn't expect it to be this hard... I don't want to see their faces full of anger... They might be thinking that I'm too selfish...

I felt a pat on my shoulder. I tilted my head upwards. It's Yabu~kun who is smiling at me. It looks like an encouraging smile.

"I actually want to hit you right now for deciding without even consulting us first but I think, until now, I haven't done much as a leader to all of you. I've decided," he said. "I'll talk to Johnny~san. I won't let him fire you. JUMP will be 10 forever. If he's still on it then the 10 JUMP will leave J.E. and start a career over again with 10 members," he said firmly.

"No, that's too much. I can't let you do that, Yabu~kun. This is only my fau--"

"He's the leader, right? That's the greatest idea I've ever heard from him," Hikaru~kun said.

"Eh?" I uttered.

"We understand you, Yama~chan. Ai is a part of our group. We also learned to love her as our family member," Yuto~kun said.

"And thanks to her you learned the word 'sacrifice' and 'true love'. I was actually afraid back then that you'll never know those words. And we know that she'll be very very sad if she'll know what you did. That's why leave it to Leader~san. He knows what to do," Daiki said.

I'm speechless. I didn't know they really care for me. For each of us. I felt fragile because I thought I'm ok without them but I'm not. They are my family and I don't want to lose a family again.

"Arigatou, minna," I said while looking each of them. They are all smiling at me. "HONTOU NI ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!!!" I bowed 90 degrees.

"You're really a cry baby!" it's Keito.

"Wow! Look who's talking!" it's Hikaru~kun.

"It's the gorilla!" it's Inoo~kun.

They all laughed. I laughed with them.

"Maa, I got to get going. Jaa!" Yabu~kun bid goodbye. We waved at him.

Gambatte, Yabu~kun! I wish you success!

END OF CHAPTER 23.