Chapter 28: A Close Visit to the Heart

Knock!

Knock!

"Suzuki-San, I have brought you some lighthearted breakfast." A slender nurse entered his room with a soft yet wide smile strolling a little trey holder.

"Hmm, th-th-thank you." His smile wrinkled as he sat in bed for his first morning in the hospital. He felt better but still hadn't gotten over the fact he couldn't breathe from his nose.

"Thought I should tell you that there is a scheduled visit for you today." The nurse notified him of the report she read.

He mustered the courage to ask. "D-Do you know from who by any chance?"

"A girl named, Nagisa-San."

"Hmm, ok, I see." Suzuki cleared the way for the nurse to place the tray holder in front of his lap. Then she put a tray full of healthy soup in front of him.

"Have this; it is better to stay away from solid food for a little longer." She smiled at Suzuki, walking back to her try holder.

"Th-Th-Thank you very much." Suzuki thanked her while she strolled out.

"My pleasure." She closed the door behind herself.

"Na-Nagisa is coming to see me like this!" He inwardly screamed, flustered.

"Oh no, I should've fought back! She'll probably think I'm some coward!" He inwardly struggled to find an answer to her reaction.

"Oh, whatever!" Suzuki's usual give-up on "this" and "that" human interaction kicked in, not wanting to drag the stress for longer.

***

Some time had passed, and Suzuki fell asleep from the drossy feeling after taking medications.

Slide!

The door to his room opened, and a wheelchair strolled in.

"Thank you." A familiar voice thanked a nurse who had opened the door for her.

"No problem. I'll give you time." She informed Nagisa while the door closed.

"He's asleep?" She strolled next to his face, reaching out her thin right arm to check for his fever.

"Hmm, a little high?" She said, worried with tears in her eyes.

"Should I wake him up? Should I not wake him up?" She kept contemplating, but she decided not to. Nagisa headed toward the window of his room and closed the blinds as it was getting rather dark.

After an hour had passed, at 7:32 p.m. Suzuki finally moved for the first time.

"Uhh." He groaned as he sat up in his bed.

"Good evening, Suzuki-San." Nagisa sat close by the right side of the bed, eagerly watching him sleep until he woke up.

"Ahhhh!" Suzuki let out a small scream, scared.

"Clam down."

"Shhh!" Nagisa put her finger up to her nose, trying to silence him.

"They'll hear you and rush here!" She told him in hopes of getting him to calm down. "It's me, Nagisa!" She whispered.

"Oh, uh, ah!" He exhaled in relief. "Sacred the daylight out of me!" Suzuki held his chest, telling her how much she resembled a ghost for a moment. "I thought you were an evil spirit feeding on my negative emotions!"

"What? Where do you get all these ideas from?" She looked confused.

"My favorite novel, Hakaishin!" He told her with enthusiasm.

"Oh, stop with all the fiction." She chuckled, cashing him to chuckle along.

"How long have you been there?" Suzuki asked her, wiping the tears of laughter away.

"Not long enough, maybe an hour?" She told him, seemingly happy to be by his side.

"How are you feeling now?" She asked him, strolling closer to his bed.

"I-I'm better. Thanks for asking, coming here, and waiting for me." He played with his thumbs.

"No worries, I…." Nagisa physically forcefully stopped her expressions.

"What?" Suzuki wanted Nagisa to express herself.

"I was worried sick! I'm so grateful to God for your safety." She let out a big cry, and a river of tears flooded her beautiful earth-like eyes.

Suzuki couldn't help but feel for her. He was slowly gaining something; a random spark had gradually formed in his frozen heart. Suzuki looked at her, crying his river along.

"What is this feeling? Why am I crying?"

"Why do I not want to see her cry?"

"Please smile!"

"Nagisa, please. I beg of you not to worry yourself with me."

He spoke aloud.

"But I can't!"

"Wahhh!" She kept crying, telling Suzuki she could never leave him.