𝟳 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦『𝗺𝗶𝘆𝗮 𝗮𝘁𝘀𝘂𝗺𝘂』

Lips

Atsumu followed Akari through the hospital halls, his ears filled with the sounds of nurses and doctors clamoring patients through the emergency room and the beeping of most of the machines in there. It wasn't a nice sight and Atsumu hated hospitals but for Akari, he wouldn't mind. The girl he loves needs her.

She'd let go of his hand if she doesn't.

After their small talk and the hug Atsumu gave her earlier, the boy later found out that Akari's father was sent to the emergency room after he suffered from heart attack.

The two arrived in front of a stall in the long hall, and found a middle aged man sleeping soundly on the bed with tubes connected to him. Beside the bed was another middle aged woman with dark red hair and a scornful face looking at Akari.

Atsumu felt the girl's grip on his hand tighten, and suddenly she let it go and faced forward, meeting the woman's gaze.

—

Akari felt all the more nervous when the woman took a few steps forward, her eyes screaming anger and disgust towards her. But it was all for naught. She's used to this. It wasn't a first time occurence for Akari.

"What did the doctor's say about him Mana-san?" she asked, hands bawling to a fist tightly, feeling her nails bore on her palm.

The woman called Mana scoffed with a sarcastic smile, "And you dare come here, you outsider?"the woman spat out.

Akari payed no attention to her name callings and nodded, "What happened to father? He was supposed to be under your care Mana-san." She asked once again, eyes wandering to her father's unconscious figure.

Mana's eyes squinted, "Are you blind or what? He just had a heart attack, what else? You pea brained bitch" the woman cursed, hissing at her.

Even though she was embarrassed that Atsumu had to witness something like this, she can't let her own emotions go out of control. It was the only thing they can't force out of her and it will remain that way.

"I am neither Mana-san. I just had to ask you since..." Akari trailed, her gaze sharpening as her orbs met with the woman's, "...you're his wife"

"You cocky wench..."

Succeeding on spiting Mana, Akari stood there with a slight smile on her face even though the woman was lunging in to slap her. The palms of Mana were almost to her face when it was stopped midway by none other than Atsumu.

"I'm afraid that I can't let you do that to her" said the boy, surprising Akari even more.

It was the first time that someone stopped Mana whenever she goes and abuses her for being an illegitimate child of the family. Akari was sure that no one would want to drag themselves to a mess such as he situation, yet Atsumu acted up.

And for her sake. Her own heart flipped and her stomach swarmed with butterflies. It was always like this whenever she's with him. She liked him and liked him even more so now.

Mana backed off a bit, laughing mockingly, "And who are you to  decide what I can and can't do to that bitch? Are you her boyfriend?"

"No"

"Then get out of my way, I have to deal with her insolence" said Mana and urged again to attack Akari who was still staring at Atsumu's side figure.

He wasn't a person full of surprises, yet Atsumu kept taking things out of his sleeves, especially when the blonde held her hand and hid her behind his tall frame. "If you don't stop now I will call the police and report you. Please don't make me do so, if you still have some dignity and respect for yourself left" said the boy, unwavering resolve in his words.

Akari felt her eyes stung by tears that were forming as she felt absolutely protected and cared for as she stood behind Atsumu. The way he held her hand was firm yet gentle, as if careful not to shatter her even more.

"Akari? Is that you?" A voice from the side said.

The trio's eyes landed on another middle aged woman with curly dark brown locks, holding a beige colored handbag. "I thought you weren't coming!" Said the woman again and rushed to hug Akari.

Atsumu noticed how Mana clicked her tongue in annoyance, and was thankful that the spiteful woman backed off Akari.

The brunette who just broke the hug held Akari by her arms, "I haven't heard from you for 6 months Akari, when are you coming home?"she asked.

"I am not welcome there Auntie Kiyo" Akari spoke and took a step back to keep her distance from the brunette.

"Of course you are sweetheart—"

"I still won't come back Auntie Kiyo, let's stop this conversation here. What did the doctors say about Father?" Says the bright haired girl again, wanting to desperately change the subject.

The brunette, Kiyo, sighed and respected the wishes of the younger girl looking so uncomfortable in front of her. "Your father needs to undergo an operation today. We didn't hesitate to spend a lot of money yet, even with all of our funds we're still short by 50,000 yen. Akari we need money" said Kiyo, looking at her brother's body on the hospital bed. "Without it, your father wouldn't last even a week"

Akari bit her bottom lip. She love her father so much, he taught her a lot of things which she wouldn't survive without. Even as a bastard child her father shown her love. And that person needs her. Her hands curled into a fist.

"I will do something about it Auntie Kiyo, please trust me and have the doctors start the surgery today" she said to the brunette who just nodded and didn't question her any longer.

Akari tugged on Atsumu's sleeves and pulled the boy to the empty space outside the hospital.

"Thank you Atsumu. Thanks a lot for everything you've done. I can handle it now, you can go home" she beamed, forcing herself to smile as brightly.

But what she didn't know is that Atsumu knew all of her genuine and fake smiles. He was watching her every movement and expression and knew which is true and which is not.

"Are ya sure?" He asked, his accent coming back.

Akari can't help but giggle, "Ya sure sound better without the accent. But yeah, I'm sure" she replied.

The blonde smiled seeing her giggle cutely, "That's good. See you tomorrow Akari" he smiled.

The bright haired girl returned the gesture, "See ya!" She said and turned her back, headed to the place she planned to go to. But after 3 steps, she ran back to Atsumu and pulled his collar.

It was mere seconds and wouldn't equal any of Atsumu's previous experience, but the kiss was more than enough to send electricity around Atsumu's body.

"Bye!" Akari waved her hand ran off to who knows where.

Leaving Atsumu beet red and in a trance. His head was high up in the clouds but instead of thinking just that, Atsumu composed himself and headed back inside the hospital.

He needed to know where and what Akari was going to do. He knew that if he asked her, she would naturally evade the question. Finding out in secret was a better option.

And so, he approached the brunette sitting quietly on a bench. "Kiyo-san." He called out.

The middle aged woman responded with a hum.

"Can you tell me about Akari?"

I swear, the feeling of your soft lips lingered on mine and gave me butterflies as I think about it. But I have no time to reminisce about that, I needed to know what you are planning. I don't want that kiss to be our last Akari.