When Winter Ends || Modern Naruto Love Story

1o

That night, Mayumi was sent to the hospital after someone called for emergency. She didn't stir, or woken up the entire time when Naruto was there trying to wake her - not even a single twitch can pulsate her body to move. It worried the hell out of him.

But from talking to Mayumi's nurse made it even more questionable. Naruto found out that she's been sick all along, weak ever since the last few weeks he's been with her. And it turned out that Mayumi knew all this time. It completely shocked him.

How come she didn't say anything to him? Just knowing that, Naruto couldn't help but to feel worthless, like he's no help to her. What kind of friend is he if she doesn't trust him with this?

Mayu... The blond stared through the window in her room where a resting blunette lays down quietly. He frowned deeply and his eyes shook. To think he doesn't know much about Mayumi. Why did you push yourself like this?

When Naruto entered her room, he can manage to see her waking from her nap, looking a bit startled and turned her head.

"A-Are you feeling better?" Naruto tried to find the words but he happened to stutter. Mayumi, who was in a daze, eventually nodded and sat up. He frowned at her with worried eyes, sitting on her bedside.

"Why didn't you tell me, Mayu? That you were sick," he questioned, then squinting his eyes as regret was ward in his tone. "If I knew about your condition, I wouldn't just take you out like that."

"Well, it's because..." She paused when she watched the hurt expressing his face. "It's because you wanted me to go."

Easing his shoulders, the blond looked pitifully at her as more fault was pushed into his chest. So she ignored her sickness in order to hang out with him. And how can she say no to someone who brightens her days?

Shaking his head, Naruto's eyes became hard and stern. "If you know that you're sick, you shouldn't be out of bed," he scolded, looking away in anger. "Really. You pushed yourself and this is where you ended up."

Mayumi's eyes were still down, listening to his words but her expression didn't react, taking no effect from him. Her profile still stayed the same, empty and alone. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her tone emotionless.

And then suddenly Naruto thrown his arms around her, embracing her tightly against his body. Mayumi can hear the slightest whimper from him as he buried his head on top of her shoulder. She blinked in confusion.

"I was worried about you..." Hearing those words from him illuminated her heart, feeling her surprised eyes grew tender and gentle. Mayumi didn't hug back, but touched his shaking back in wonder. "I'm sorry for bringing you into this," he said quietly.

No.. And that's when the blue headed girl reverted back to her old lonesome self, reminding herself who's fault it is who brought her here. Instead she didn't say anything and let her childhood friend calm himself down.

Pulling away, his signature, cheerful attitude sparked the air. "How about this?" He implied. "When you start getting better, I'll treat you to crepes. Okay?" Writing down on a piece of paper, Naruto lent her his number. "And you better call me once you do!"

Staring down at the little piece of paper with Naruto's large hand writing on it, Mayumi remained silent and slightly nodded towards him. But deep down inside her, she wanted to say more to him.

*~*

"Where have you been?" Sakura pestered. She watched as the blond entering through the restaurant with an tiresome face, sitting down with an exhausted sigh. "You've been gone all morning."

Sasuke, Ino, Kiba, and Chouji sat around the table, waiting for Naruto to answer. He let out a breath. "Sorry, I was at the hospital."

"The hospital? Why?" Ino asked. Sasuke gave him a bowl of rice which he gladly took it, and pinched himself for some barbecue.

"I was seeing a friend," he muttered under a mouthful of rice, and then he swallowed. "She got sick from last night so I stayed until she woke up."

"A friend?" Kiba rose a brow, eating a piece of chicken. "Who?"

"Well, it's this girl," he started. "Do you remember Mayumi? The one who showed up to class one day and then left?"

Chouji pinched his chopsticks at him, knowingly. "Oh! That girl who stayed for half an hour, and didn't come back after that!" This caused the Uchiha to wonder.

"How did you even start hanging out with her?" He asked, but Naruto was on the fence to answer that question. As he recalled it, he remembered Mayumi running to a street in desperation to get hit by a car.

He shook his head from that.

"Well, is she alright at least?" Sakura finally asked, and this made him nod.

He smiled at them. "Yeah! She's doing fine actually."

"That's good," Ino praised. "Hopefully she can eat barbecue with us later!"

"But she has to know about sharing food before coming here!" Choujj suggested, making the blond girl glare daggers at him.

"Geez, Chouji! Learn some manners first!"

Thinking about today happened, Naruto's smile faltered by the news of Mayumi's condition.

"I've been sick, that's all."

Sick huh... For how long, he wondered.