the flowers bloom | chishiya shuntaro
"do you...." you paused, clearing your throat before continuing, "do you think hanahaki will ever go away?"
he turned his head, studying you once more, before shifting his body to fully face you, "why are you asking me?"
"you're a doctor. i thought you'd know."
a beat of silence followed, and he titled his head before replying to your question, "at the rate things are....no. it will not go away."
you didn't know what to feel by his answer. should you have felt upset, knowing more people would experience the same thing you currently were? or perhaps relieved, to know you wouldn't be the only one so unfortunate.
"do you believe that to be a bad thing?" you asked, for you couldn't place the jumble of emotions coursing through your body.
he shrugged, "i don't care for love."
"and yet you treat it."
a smile twitched his lips, appearing amused by your words, "i do."
"why nurture something you care nothing for?"
"you have a lot of questions."
"does that bother you?"
he didn't answer right away, seemingly trying to decide if you were worth the time to think. finally, after several seconds you spent in anticipation, he allowed words to slip through his lips, "i suppose im looking for something. a reason why so many patients decide to choose love over life."
