What a life

The promise

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

My eyes flutter open only to be blinded by white lights.
Where am I?
Once they've adjusted and my blurry vision focuses I notice eight boys around my bed.
"Ryo? Hikaru? Takumi? Guys? Even Aito! Wait..." I recount, only counting eight again. Talking hurts so as much as I want to ask, I wince in pain instead.
"Don't push yourself, Aya." Kyoya places a hand on mine.
"Guys...what happened?" I ask, looking down my hospital dress at the blood-stained bandages on my stomach.
"Georgia stabbed you. We saw it but it was too late." Hikaru explains. I smile at them understandably.
"It's okay. Where's Subaru?" I ask, noticing the missing boy. Everyone exchanges worried looks and murmurs about 'who's going to tell her'.
"Subaru left yesterday night. He really wanted to see you but we told him there was no way you'd be home." Takumi explains. I look down at the floor in disappointment.
"I see." Is all I manage to say. There's a silence which is only filled by the rhythmic beeps of the hospital machines.
"We were scared you were dead, Aya." Koji cries, taking on of my hands and clutching it to his chest.
"I'm fine." I say softly.
"You must be hungry. After all, Georgia did leave a hole in your stomach," Ryo doesn't finish. Instead, he bursts out laughing but everyone gives him a glare. I smile too at Ryo's uplifting spirit.
"You want me to get you something to eat?" He asks me. I shake my head, not feeling very hungry.
"You really worried us back then." Satoshi starts. His soft expression hardens into a frown and he hits my hand angrily.
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD! DON'T DO THAT, AYA!" He then shouts. I chuckle and wince at the pain.
"Sorry, I'll try not to get stabbed again." I utter. We chuckle together.
"It's not the same without Subaru here." Kyoya takes my hand at this and places a light kiss on my forehead.
"I'm sure he'll be home at New Years." Kyoya comforts. I look out the window at the gentle flurry of snow.
My eyes gradually get heavier as I fall into a deep sleep.

"Subaru!" Subaru takes his place at the side of my hospital bed.
"You're here..." I smile and sigh, feelings pain crawl up from my stomach.
"You're hurt."
"No kidding, I've been stabbed." We chuckle again. He looks directly into my eyes and smiles.
"I'm going to miss you, Aya."
"Where are you going?" I ask back, my expression morphed into a confused one.
"Don't you realise? I was never here..." his hand slips from mine and my eyes flutter open.

Ah~ I should've known it was only a dream.

It felt like weeks that passed and I'm finally discharged from the hospital and in the car park I find a group of boys.
"Sweetheart! Your stabby-hole is patched up! You're free to come home!" Ryo throws his arms around me but I grit my teeth and pull away, obviously in pain.
"Oh sorry, forgot." He explains. I roll my eyes at him as we all begin to make our way home.

I've been here for less than a week and already I've lost my best friend, been kidnapped and stabbed and had a lifetime worth of awkward moments.

10/10 would recommend.

We enter the familiar apartment complex and Satoshi decides to take me to my room, claiming he has something he wants to say to me. For once, he kindly lays me down and covers me with my blanket.
"Aya?" He starts.
"You think we're all joking don't you? You think this is our little game?" He looks down at the floor, swinging his feet under the bed.
"What?" I ask, generally confused.
"You don't see it, Aya. We all love you. Not as friends but-" Satoshi is interrupted by the door opening and Kyoya peeking through, checking everything is alright. At this, Satoshi rises from the bed in a violent manner and glares at me.
"You're too stupid to understand!" He shouts, running out of the room past Kyoya. Kyoya chuckles and sits beside me on the bed.
"I apologise for that, Aya. He's been a little off lately yet we can't seem to put our finger on it." He explains, looking down at the piece of paper in his hand. I nod in agreement, barely able to find my own voice.
"It's been weird living with you all. I went from orphan to a VIP in under a week." I chuckle. Kyoya joins in and laughs. He places his soft hand on my forehead and leans in close to me, his nose so close to mine they're almost touching.
"Maybe you should get some rest. Goodnight Aya." He kisses me but this time it isn't on the forehead it's on my lips. As he pulls away, he smiles and gets up, leaving me alone in my room red as a tomato. I look on my bed to see the piece of paper Kyoya was once holding left there. I debate whether or not to call out but curiosity takes the best of me.

Aya,
We want you to know this:
We promise to never put you in any danger and if we ever found you in a situation where your life is on the line, we would save you.
Even if it means sacrificing ourselves.
You are our new world, Aya.
We love you.
All of us.
Some more than others, however.
We want you to remember this. Our promise to you as friends and maybe one day something more.
We promise.
-Takagawas

I smile at the note and can't help but blush. A promise to me? They're protecting me even if they get killed? No one should have to make that promise but the fact that they could...and they did...warms my heart.
"I love you all too..." I mutter as my eyes shut and a new day draws closer...