After story:Devotion male reader insert version

Chapter two-The First Step

After classes on Saturday, I paid a visit to Kouko to get the information for the hospital where Fuuko was staying.

"Thank you, Kouko-san," I said with a bow.

"You're welcome, L/n-san. I'm happy to see someone from school visiting her. Though I admit, I don't know how you know her."

"When do you plan to visit her? Tomorrow?" Kouko's husband asked with a curious expression. "You'll want to get an early start for the trains."

I nodded respectfully. "I've accounted for that. I plan to catch the first train out to give myself enough time in case I make a wrong turn somewhere. I'll have to figure out the rest of the day based on what Kouko-sensei has just told me." I took a step back and bowed. "Thank you again for your time and congratulations, again, on your wedding."

The Yoshinos both returned my bow. "Have a safe return home, and on your trip tomorrow." Yuusuke said.

"And say 'Hi' to my sister for me?" Kouko added.

After exchanging final farewells, I returned home...well, after killing time to avoid my old man.

The smell of the hospital was a refreshing change from the smell of my dad's place. Where his place smelled a lot like alcohol, the hospital had a nice, clean smell to it. Both places smelled like alcohol, but it was kinda like 'dirty' alcohol versus 'clean' alcohol.

I reflected back on the trip here. Fortunately, everything went smoothly; I was early for the train, the train arrived on time (if not a bit early), and I had no troubles finding the hospital.

It was as though I was supposed to be here today, like I had earned some god's favor.

I asked where Fuuko's room was and, after a nurse contacted Kouko, I was given her room number: 225.

After an uneventful ride to the second floor, I checked the floor map, found 225, and headed that way. Sure enough, under the tile for Room 225 was the name Ibuki, Fuuko.

For some reason, I was nervous. I mean, it's not as though she would throw me out of her room. When I thought about it, it was probably because I'd never seen her real physical body before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Was I worried about being let down or something?

I knocked first to make sure that I wouldn't surprise anybody. After a second or two with no answer, I slowly and quietly opened the door.

It was your basic hospital room: a bed with a few medical-type things around it, a couple of chairs, the token health-related posters. I focused on the bed to find who I was looking for. My heart leaped to my throat. "Fu-chan..."

She certainly looked like that girl who used to run around the school giving away carved starfish, but she was...different. She looked taller, but it was hard to tell for sure with her laying down and covered by the sheet. Instead of the girlish face that I saw at school, I saw a more....mature face, even though it was partly covered by the breathing machine. Her hair was much shorter, a little longer than her sister's, probably to make it easier to take care of. At least her hair color was the same as what I remembered seeing. I wondered why the girl at school looked barely a day over fifteen, but the girl here...

Regardless of the differences, this was Fu-chan, and her presence still took my breath away.

I approached the bed and sat in one of the chairs next to the bed. I couldn't think of anything special to say, so I started with the basics.

"Hey, Fu-chan. It's me, L/n-san. You know, 'Strange Guy'?" I tried humor, but it fell flat even in my own mind.

Of course, Fuuko didn't respond.

Remembering something that Kouko told me about interacting with coma patients I said, "I'm going to hold your right hand" before taking her hand in my own. It was soft and cool to the touch. It was an unfamiliar hand, yet familiar.

"I haven't seen you since you gave me the starfish. When I found out that people were starting to forget you, I made sure to write your name a whole bunch of times. My room at home is almost full of starfish."

"I really miss you." I chuckled in spite of a heaviness. "Every time I'd see you at school, this tune would come to mind; a bouncy tune with flutes and horns, like a parade. A starfish parade. At a starfish festival."

"Everyone seems to be doing okay. We're all looking forward to summer break. Sunohara-san's his usual obnoxious self. Kotomi-chan alternates between making friends and driving them away with her violin assaults. Tomoyo's the new student body president, which should help Furukawa with her situation with the Drama Club."

"Kyou's still a pain in the ass...or head...or back – wherever she decides to hit me. And Fujibayashi?" I sighed sadly. "She's still a mouse."

I thought about what I knew about her past. "Kouko-san told me about your accident. I know it's not my fault, but I feel really bad that this happened to you. I'm glad that you were able to help with your sister's wedding, but I wish you could have been there...physically?...as well. I guess it's better than nothing, huh?"

I started to feel depressed, and made a fist with the hand that wasn't holding hers. "Dammit, I feel so useless!" I ground out the words. "I wish I could help you somehow; donate time, money, blood, whatever, to help you get out of that bed!" I lightly thumped the arm of the chair with my fist.

I suddenly had a flash of insight that shot me to my feet. "Fu-chan, I know that you have lost two years of your life. I know that when you get out, you'll be at least two years behind. I'm going to do everything I can to shorten that time.'

"I'll bring first-year course-books and read them to you. Summer break's coming up, so I'll have plenty of time. I'll bring worksheets and go over them with you." I took her hand in both of mine and promised: "I will not give up on you." Feeling somewhat tired, I sat back down.

I spent the rest of the time just holding her hand and quietly contemplating things. At the end, I gently released her hand, laying it back by her side. The last thing I did was affectionately pat her head, smiling as I remembered how much she hated it...at least, she did before. "I'll take care of you the best that I can."