The Echoes of Hope in a Crisis

Chapter 149: S2 - The Echoes of Hope in a Crisis

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"MICHIKO KEIKO! CAN YOU HEAR ME!"

"OI, OPEN UP YOUR EYES!"

"COME ON! STAY WITH US!"

The Sweets Princes, the sweets spirits, the opposing team, and the five judges rushed over to Michiko Keiko's side as she lay on the ground, unresponsive to their calls. Their faces darkened as they tried to tap the girl to await her reaction, but her eyes didn't open again.

"ALL OF YOU, PLEASE GET OUT OF THE WAY!" As they rushed to the fallen girl, a woman's voice erupted from the crowd.

The woman wore a formal business skirt and blouse and had short, dirty blonde hair and fierce green eyes. She gave off an intimidating vibe that could scare people away.

The three boys recognized her and the others behind her, who came running to the scene.

Kashino's mother, Kashino Asa, and more members of his doctor family came to watch the final round of the competition.

Seeing that Kashino Asa immediately rushed to Michiko Keiko to check her condition, those around her stood back to let the doctors take over the situation.

She tapped the girl several times on the shoulder to check for a response.

"Hey! Keiko! Are you okay!? Keiko!"

Asa called the girl's name, who lay on the ground like a ragdoll.

Then, she checked the girl's neck for a pulse, but suddenly—her face turned into pure dread as her eyes widened in fright.

"S-she's not breathing! Hurry and alert the hospital and her family right away! Go and grab an AED immediately, I will perform CPR on her!" Asa sternly instructed the people who came along with her as she quickly went straight into performing CPR on the motionless girl without wasting another second.

"C-cut the cameras! Right now!" Chairman Moriyama exclaimed through a microphone in a panic, directing the news channels to turn off their cameras. Many bystanders in the crowd watched the scene go down in pure shock and confusion.

Someone ran to get an AED from the back of the auditorium, and another immediately went to call for emergency medical service from the Kashino Family Hospital, located no more than 8 minutes away from them.

Rapidly, Asa tore off the clothes covering Keiko to expose her bare chest. The group of doctors who came with her encircled the two women to protect Keiko's privacy in this dire situation. Nobody but the doctors could see what was happening.

When her chest was exposed, Asa urgently began performing CPR until backup came to help.

30 chest compressions… 2 breaths… 30 chest compressions… 2 breaths...

"I-is… i-is she…?" Andou couldn't get the words out of his mouth as he heard the sound of CPR being performed on his teammate, enclosed by a circle of doctors. In fact, he was scared to say the words he was thinking of.

"No… she can't be…" Hanabusa hesitated to finish his words as he and the others stood back.

They could do nothing but stand and watch until help arrived. They felt completely and utterly useless as they witnessed a girl, who was once full of life a minute ago, drop d—

"Here! I've got an AED!" Someone announced as they ran into the circle of doctors and began unpacking the AED kit. As they did, they removed the shock pads and placed them on Keiko's chest.

Once it was firmly placed, the device was ready to administer a shock to the girl's heart.

"EVERYBODY CLEAR!" Asa announced, directing the doctors aiding her to remove their hands from Keiko's body.

*Bzzt!*

Once the electrical shock was administered to the victim's heart, Asa switched off with another doctor to do the 30 chest compressions and the two breaths. They would hold out as long as they could until the paramedics arrived.

"The paramedics have arrived! Please clear the way!" A man said as he and a group of paramedics ran to the scene where the doctors surrounded the body of the lifeless girl.

When they came, some doctors moved out of the way for the paramedics to do their job, but Asa and her husband stayed to help.

And so, the paramedics took over to resuscitate the girl until she showed signs of breathing.

.

.

.

After about 5 minutes of doing CPR and administering an electrical shock, Asa felt under Keiko's nose for signs of breathing and her pulse.

"S-she's breathing again! Quickly! Bring her out of here and directly to the hospital!" Asa directed the group of paramedics who had grabbed a stretcher and quickly put the emaciated girl onto it, wheeling her out of the academy's auditorium as fast as they could.

The people by the girl's side witnessed almost everything; it was just a lot to take in. But instead of just standing around in a daze, the three boys and the sweet spirits went up to Kashino's mother and father, who stood on the auditorium's stage.

"Mom… Keiko… fine... w-will she be… fine?" Kashino worriedly asked his mother, who had a dark expression on her face. This was the first time Asa witnessed her son show any concern for anybody in his life.

The fact that he had a shaky voice and could barely produce a logical sentence proved that Keiko was someone he deeply cared about. Not to mention, this was the first time he'd ever said the girl's first name.

Asa and her husband looked at the three boys in dismay, unable to tell them their true thoughts or even stare directly at them.

She looked at her husband, who nodded his head at her, encouraging her to respond.

"*sigh* We believe that Keiko has just… she has suffered from cardiac arrest. Her heart suddenly stopped, as well as her breathing. We've already called her family to alert them of the situation… and just now, we were just barely able to revive her again," Asa explained directly, eyeing each of the boys with her serious answer.

This was no joke. The situation had turned severe, and for a moment, everyone had thought the worst.

She could see each of their faces turn grim after hearing her. They didn't know what to think or what to do.

"Is there any way… we can see her?" Hanabusa asked her, desperately trying to find a way to aid them, to which she shook her head.

"No. Once Keiko arrives at the emergency room, the medical staff will work to stabilize her condition. Our main priority is keeping her alive," Asa responded, relaying the truth.

They were just kids. What could they do?

"We need to head to the hospital immediately, but…."

Kashino's parents looked at the three boys, especially their son, Makoto. They came to watch his team compete and cheer him on despite their disliking the idea of their son wanting to become something other than a doctor.

After seeing that he and his team were gaining popularity, they would quit trying to pressure him into becoming a doctor—that's why they came here today. To cheer Team Michiko on.

"You… Congratulations to all of you…." Asa and her husband muttered together before turning and going to the auditorium's exit.

After hearing those final words, the boys and their spirits felt like their bodies had been drained of all life and energy.

This was supposed to be a celebration after winning the Cake Grand Prix, but it didn't feel like it.

What were they even being congratulated for?

*hicc* *hiccup* *hiccup*

Amidst it all, they witnessed a tiny fairy—with light pink hair and a pink frilly dress—weeping loudly to herself. She tried to wipe away the tears, but they wouldn't stop falling.

"U-uwah… I-IT'S ALL MY FAULT!!!" Fraise, Keiko's sweet spirit, cried out loud, blaming herself after all that had transpired.

It was her fault… wasn't it? Whose fault could it be if it wasn't hers?