Chapter 46. A Brother's Gut Feeling

Back inside Ayaka's hospital room, the soft beep of the monitors was the only thing cutting through the hum of muffled laughter.

Keiko and Yuki were seated by her bed, both utterly failing to contain their giggles.

Ayaka, still trying to gather what was left of her composure, pulled the blanket up to her nose as if it could shield her from the two hyenas masquerading as friends.

"I swear!" Keiko said between stifled snorts, wiping the corner of her eye, "It's like we're watching a live-action drama unfold right in front of us."

Yuki leaned closer, grinning like a cat who'd cornered a canary. "Right? Did you see Dr. Nakamura's face when Dr. Hasegawa strolled in like the hero of some romance manga? I thought he was going to throw him straight out the window."

Ayaka groaned, burying her face into her hands until the tips of her ears burned. "Please stop…" she mumbled from behind her fingers, voice muffled, but the heat creeping up her neck betrayed her.

Yuki and Keiko exchanged knowing looks, nudging each other like schoolgirls who had uncovered the juiciest secret.

Before either of them could tease her further, a soft knock tapped at the door, interrupting the conspiratorial atmosphere.

The door slid open to reveal Kai standing casually at the entrance, a familiar easygoing smirk on his face, one hand holding a paper bag.

"Yo." He lifted the bag slightly in greeting. "I figured hospital food's probably not cutting it, so I brought you something decent."

Ayaka straightened immediately, relief blooming on her face like a lifeline had been tossed her way. "Kai!" she greeted enthusiastically.

Sensing the shift, Keiko and Yuki exchanged sly glances and stood abruptly.

"Well, it looks like it's family time!" Yuki said, grabbing her bag.

Keiko winked exaggeratedly. "Don't dream about your prince too much, okay?"

"Get well soon Ayaka!" Yuki waved her hand as they slipped past Kai, leaving Ayaka behind with cheeks the color of ripe cherries.

Ayaka scowled after them, but her flustered smile was hard to suppress.

Kai chuckled under his breath as he crossed the room, setting the bag gently on the bedside table before pulling up a chair beside her bed.

His eyes swept over her face, gaze sharp yet softened by a quiet relief. "You look better." he said simply, but the weight behind those words was unmistakable.

Ayaka smiled faintly, unwrapping the contents of the bag. "Thanks."

As she began nibbling on the food, Kai leaned back, stretching out his legs.

"By the way, Kei called earlier..." he added casually.

"He said Dr. Nakamura will be the one looking after you once you're discharged tomorrow. I'll be tied up with midterms, and Kei's headed out of town for that medical convention."

Ayaka's hand froze mid-bite. She blinked, trying to process the information.

"A-Akihiko…?" she repeated faintly, the name tumbling out before she could stop herself.

Her cheeks flamed instantly.

Kai caught the way her entire face turned red at the mere mention of the man's name.

He frowned slightly, recalling something that made his throat tighten—the memory of last night, when he walked back in to see Akihiko brushing his lips against Ayaka's, soft and lingering, a rare crack in the usually composed man's facade. Then, later, Akihiko's uncharacteristically candid confession to him outside in the dim hallway.

"Do you like him?"

The question came unbidden to Kai's lips before he could stop himself.

"Do you like him?" he asked, voice neutral but eyes sharp, watching her reaction closely.

Ayaka's gaze darted away instantly. Her grip tightened on her chopsticks as she stiffened.

"W-What kind of question is that?!" she sputtered, the words tumbling out too fast. "He's my doctor!"

Kai didn't move. He just stared, patient, unmoved by her deflection.

"Then why can't you answer me properly?" he pressed calmly, voice even but unwavering, like a big brother who could see right through her.

Ayaka faltered, cheeks flaming. She bit her lip, fingers twitching restlessly against the edge of the blanket.

A long silence stretched between them before she finally burst out, unable to keep the words contained any longer.

"Fine! Okay! I do! Happy?!"

The confession tumbled out, raw and unguarded.

Her face burned as she glared down at her hands, wishing she could disappear into the mattress.

Kai's lips twitched into a faint smile, but he said nothing at first. Instead, he reached over, ruffling her hair gently like he had when they were kids.

"Alright, I get it. I get it." he murmured, voice softer now. "You've been holding it long enough."

He leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on her thoughtfully.

"I'm just not sure if I should tell Kei... I mean they're colleagues..." Ayaka let off a huge sigh.

"Look..." he continued, tone shifting into something more serious, "I'm not going to tease you about it. But there's something I need you to understand."

Ayaka glanced up hesitantly.

"Kei's not an idiot, you know. And he's not the type to overreact. He might seem overprotective sometimes—hell, he is—but he's also understanding. If you're worried about how he'll react just because Nakamura's his colleague… don't be."

Kai's gaze softened. "You know how Kei is. What he cares about most is your happiness. If Akihiko's the person who makes you happy, Kei isn't going to stand in your way."

Ayaka swallowed hard, her heart squeezing unexpectedly at her brother's words.

Still, she sighed, picking at her food. "Even so… It's scary. I don't know how to bring it up. It feels like… like I'd be stirring up something I shouldn't."

Kai shook his head, leaning forward again.

"You've spent so much of your life worrying about other people's expectations, Ayaka." he said quietly. "Maybe it's time you let yourself want something, without being afraid of the fallout."

Ayaka stared at him, words momentarily caught in her throat.

He grinned suddenly, ruffling her hair one more time. "Anyway, you should eat now. We can talk more about this when you're better."

She huffed, cheeks still pink. "You're the one who brought this whole thing up, and now you're telling me to eat."

Kai laughed, raising his hands in a mock surrender. "I was just curious."

Ayaka glanced at him, a small, reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"But..." she added seriously, leveling him with a look, "You swear on your life and soul you won't breathe a word of this to Kei."

Kai smirked. "Relax. Your secret is safe with me."

But even as she turned back to her meal, Kai's eyes lingered thoughtfully on her face, a quiet fondness glimmering beneath the surface.

He'd seen enough to know—both she and Akihiko were far deeper in this than either of them dared admit.

------

The day of Ayaka's discharge dawned clear and bright, but her stomach churned with a restless energy that had nothing to do with her recovery.

The faint scent of antiseptic still lingered in the air of her hospital room, mixing oddly with the sunshine pouring through the window.

She stood quietly by the edge of the bed, fingers nervously smoothing over the hem of her sweater, as Kai handled the last of the paperwork at the nurse's station.

She half-expected her brother to return any minute, maybe with one last round of overprotective fussing.

But instead, the soft click of the door startled her.

She turned—and there he was.

Akihiko stepped inside, no longer clad in the sterile white of his doctor's coat, but in casual clothes that somehow made him appear even more striking.

A black fitted jacket, sleeves slightly pushed up, collar loose, and that ever-present calm in his piercing blue eyes.

His gaze flicked over her briefly, assessing, before settling on her face.

"Professor Yamamoto's almost done with the paperwork." he said smoothly, voice low and composed. "We can go ahead to the car."

Ayaka swallowed, fingers twisting nervously in front of her. She hadn't expected him to agree with her brothers just to take care of her.

The words tumbled out before she could stop them. "Akihiko… I'm really sorry for troubling you. You don't have to stay at my apartment. If you're too busy, really—it's fine. I'll rest well, I promise."

She tried to smile, tried to sound convincing, but it came out thin and unsteady.

But Akihiko's response wasn't what she expected.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, a small, knowing smile ghosted across his lips. Without a word, he stepped closer, his presence washing over her like a slow-building wave.

Then, without hesitation, he lifted his hand and gently pressed a single finger against her lips.

Her breath caught.

The soft pressure silenced her completely.

His eyes, sharp and unreadable, bore into hers. "Enough." he murmured, voice quiet but unyielding. "I already promised your brothers I'd take care of you."

Ayaka's heart thudded hard against her ribs. His touch, light as it was, sent a shiver crawling down her spine.

He withdrew his hand but didn't step back. Instead, he tilted his head, leaning in until there was barely any space left between them.

"Dr. Yamamoto's out of town. And Professor Yamamoto's going back to the university right after he finishes up."

The distance between them felt razor-thin, his voice a low murmur meant only for her ears.

She opened her mouth, struggling to come up with something, anything to counter the pull of his nearness.

"B-but…"

But he leaned in even further, eyes glinting with something unreadable, something electric.

"No buts." Akihiko said, voice a whisper now, as if sealing a pact between them. "Just let me take care of you, okay?"

Ayaka's pulse raced wildly. His words felt heavier than they should have, like they carried meanings unspoken—layers just beneath the surface.

She could only nod faintly, caught entirely in his orbit, unable to muster even a weak protest.

-----

The paperwork didn't take long after that.

Soon enough, Kai reappeared at the hospital entrance, car keys dangling from his hand, casting worried glances between his sister and Akihiko.

He pulled Ayaka gently aside, his voice warm but laced with concern.

"Be sure to call if anything happens, alright?" Kai's gaze softened as it landed on her.

Before Ayaka could answer, Akihiko's calm voice cut in smoothly from beside her. "We will."

Kai's eyes lingered on him for a heartbeat longer, as if sizing him up one last time.

Then, satisfied, he clapped a hand lightly on Akihiko's shoulder.

"Take care of her for us, okay?" Kai's smile turned knowing.

Akihiko met his gaze evenly, nodding once. "Rest assured, I will."

Kai threw Ayaka a final glance, then walked toward his car, starting the engine.

"Bye, Kai! Drive safe!" Ayaka called, waving as he pulled out of the lot.

The sound of the engine faded, leaving the hospital's entrance quiet—empty save for the two of them.

Akihiko glanced down at her. "Let's go." he said, voice returning to that soft, steady cadence.

Ayaka nodded, heart still beating faster than she cared to admit.

Without a word, he took her overnight bag from her hands, easily slinging it over his shoulder.

He walked around to his sleek black car, placing the bag in the back before opening the passenger side door for her.

She slipped inside, hands folded tensely in her lap.

When Akihiko slid into the driver's seat beside her, starting the engine, the hum of the car couldn't drown out the charged silence between them.

For a while, neither of them spoke as they pulled out onto the road.

But Ayaka could feel it—the tension humming low like a taut wire stretched too tight, vibrating quietly between them.