9.8 Meters a Second. [Complete]

18. As long as I know

"Inaho... What happened?" I ask, exasperated and in shock.
He tries to sit up, and winces.
"Nao, please..." Yuki says, placing a hand in his shoulder, pressing him back to the mattress. "I was driving him to school when we got rear ended. The car spun off and into a tree," she sighs.
"Oh, god..." I mumble. "Is he...? His eye?"
"Gone." Inaho fills for Yuki. "At least, it should be. Glass is sharp..."
Tears are welling up again. "Inaho, I'm so sorry..." I squeak, sitting down next to him. I squeeze his hand softly. He puts it to my cheek.
"I'm okay... Please, Bat. Don't worry."
"Why shouldn't I?"
"It doesn't look good on your face. A smile is better."
"How would you know?"
"I've made you smile before... I don't want to be the one to make you worry. Please, Slaine." Inaho finishes. His voice is so simple... Caring. Something I didn't expect. He's usually so plain, that seeing this struggle for a smile is scary, yet all the while more warming than anything else.
"I'm gonna go get something to eat... Slaine, can you stay with Inaho for a bit?" Yuki asks me.
"Yeah..." I breathe out. "Can do."

"You didn't have to come, you know." His wistful voice chimes.
"What do you mean?"
"I feel guilty now that you're here... I bled on your gift."
"Oh... Inaho, please..."
"No, I put a lot of thought into it. Now it's ruined. Plus, now I caused you to be upset."
I look at him now with pity, not worry. "Inaho, I'm not upset... I'm concerned... I love you... I really do. I love you, Kaizuka. I love you." I confess to him. My heart is fluttering. I've said those three words before. So many times before... I meant them, too. But I don't understand... Maybe this time, it's actually hit me. I love Inaho Kaizuka more than I love anyone else and that is a fact.
"I love you too, Slaine Troyard. More than you know... More than I can tell you."
I grip his hand tighter. "I think this is all just noise above our heads now... We're going to be fine." Inaho finishes.
'We're going to be fine', I repeat in my head. "We're going to be more than fine... We'll be alright. As long as I know that you love me." I say.
"Exactly... As long as you know that I love you. And, now I can be a pirate every halloween," Inaho jokes, cracking a small, weak smile.
"That sounds adorable..." I smile.
"Then I'll do it,"
The room falls silent.
"So... What was my gift, if I can ask...?"
"Oh, well... I got you a book about coffee, because you love it so much, and some socks."
"Socks?" I laugh lightly. For being so simple, this just seems like something he wouldn't do. It's silly, and... Comforting.
"You always complain your feet are cold."
"Okay... That's fair..." I say, getting comfortable in my chair.

We chat for a while, but soon, I can feel myself falling asleep, my hand in his.

This is love.