That Should Be Me [A Short Story (Fanfiction)]

Part VI: The Shortcomings

"Cell regeneration?" Kei and Nino-senpai repeated what Nakajima-sensei said.

Nakajima-sensei and Maya-sensei managed only to nod. The doctors decided to meet Daiki's VERY close relatives to a coffee shop near the hospital weeks after they returned to Tokyo.

"It was the newest research in the States, where the weak cell of a patient can regenerate on its own thru cell regeneration." Maya-sensei explained to them. "Depending on the situation of a patient, the cell regeneration can be so successful, it may not need an organ transplant."

"In Arioka-kun's case," Nakajima-sensei continued. "It may prolong his life, though he may probably still needs to go under heart transplant."

"Eh, sensei ..." Kei starting to ask. "How does Dai-chan's heart condition right now?"

Nakajima-sensei and Maya-sensei exchange looks before they face the two again.

"As of this moment, 60% of his heart muscle is already in necrosis." Maya-sensei answered.

"What does it mean, sensei?" Nino-senpai asked in confusion.

"It means that most of his heart cells are dying or already dead." Nakajima-sensei answered.

Nakajima-sensei presented a chart in which it shows one of Daiki's heart results.

"This black area over here on his left verticle is not functioning anymore because their cells are dead. If we do the cell regeneration, we can reduce the necrosis to 25%, depending on the outcome of this treatment." Maya-sensei explained.

"What will happen if we don't do this immediately?" Kei asked the two doctors out of the blue.

Nakajima-sensei gulped before he gave his reply.

"We are not gods to say this, but , if we don't do this now, he may only have two more years to live."

Those news, alone, brings Kei to tears. Nino-senpai, on the other hand, was just silent about it. He knew to himself that he's about to loose his brother, again ...

And this time, it may be forever.

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Every time Nino-senpai thinks of Daiki's current situation, it still gives him a pang on his heart.

Two months has passed since Daiki slashed himself. It was the end of school year that time, and Nino-senpai enjoys his remaining moments together with his lover, Cath.

He didn't know when will it came, but sooner or later, she is going to find out.

About Daiki,

and his relationship with him as his half-brother.

But the one that he feared the most ...

Is that when she'll find out about his brother's sickness.

The very reason why they are ALL broken, inside and out.

As of this moment, he was just watching Cath, babbling about her classmate who's always asking her about Plate Lines for the nth time.

To be honest, Nino-senpai wanted to kiss her in the middle of her story so that she'll shut her mouth, but he can't.

He was still enjoying looking at her silly face as she's making those cute, annoying facial reactions.

He loves looking at her facial reactions. Like a painting that magically moves on its own. He loves those cute, facial reactions of hers, just like the way he loves the taste of her cooking.