Writer's POV

"Welcome to Nochui Hospital, how can I- Ms, please calm down! Don't run in the hallway!"

"S-Sorry! I'll be!" Mafuyu apologized the nearby nurse, but she didn't slow down her sprint one bit. She dashes upstairs, worrying about Nariyuki, if it's something positive or negative happened to him.

Running to room 241, the first thing she sees is Nariyuki's mom, Hanae, talking to a doctor about her son, must be about his health condition. Without any hesitation, she walks in the room immediately.

"Hanae-san! Is there something wrong-" She asked Hanae with an exhausted tone, but she raised her hand, signaling the teacher to stop. Both Hanae and the doctor wait until Mafuyu calms down, then they continues what they've talked about.

"Your son is recovering incredibly!" – The doctor said – "If nothing changes, he will be out of his vegetative state within one or two days."

"So that means..."

"Yes. He will be conscious soon, so all you guys have to do is wait." The doctor continued, with his words brought sigh of relief for Hanae and Mafuyu. Hanae starts squeezing her purse tighter, trying to hold her emotion, while Mafuyu is struggling to stand on the ground.

After the doctor takes his leave, Mafuyu can't hold it any longer. She suddenly collapses to the floor, with her arms keep her from slamming her face in it, which surprises Hanae. There is nothing can be heard in the recovering room, except sounds of Mafuyu's sniffles, about to burst into crying. Hanae then kneels down, rubs the pink haired teacher's back, trying to calm her down.

"Hey, even you are not relative to my son, you're not about to cry first, are you?" Hanae asked nicely, but Mafuyu shook her head. Using all her courage, she looks up to Hanae with her watering eyes, and she bites her lower lip to keep her from crying, but it's almost no use.

"N-No... I-It's just... What a relief... After a-all these times..." She tried to say, but ended up sobbing after. Hanae can't even say anything, either, so she rests her chin on Mafuyu's head and sobs with her. After a year, all of their efforts, all the things they have sacrificed... is finally paid off. After all, things can now return to normal, or at least some of them.

"Look at you... You still have your tracksuit on, and you're even having your flip flops on wrong feet. How careless are you! Are these what you wear every day?" Hanae jokes to break the awkward atmosphere, but all she got was a pout from Mafuyu.

"I f-feel comfortable wearing those, okay?" Mafuyu said between sniffles. However, thanks to Hanae, she is feeling a bit happy now. It's been so long since the last time she has that same emotion.

It's been so long since the last time she was with Nariyuki.

Suddenly, some loud noise echoes across the room, like somebody's stomach is rumbling. Hanae lifts her chin up from the teacher's head, to see she's covering her tummy to hide the noise, though it's useless.

"You haven't had breakfast, have you?" Hanae asked and received a nod from embarrassed Mafuyu. "Okay then, come with me. My treat." Nariyuki's mom then stands up and reaches her hand for Mafuyu to grab, before both of them head out the door for something to fill their stomach.

After all these times, they know that this will be the best breakfast they've ever had, after a whole year.

O0O

"Slow down, Mafuyu-chan. You will swallow your hands if you keep eating like that." Hanae told Mafuyu while giggling, seeing her husband's student eating a sandwich like a hungry tiger cub, maybe without swallowing. This might be the best thing Mafuyu has ever had, after a year full of ramen cups. However, she doesn't seem to slow down her speed at all. Seeing Mafuyu eating makes Hanae smile and remind her of something.

"Is there swomthing (something) wyong (wrong), Hanae-syan (Hanae-san)?" Mafuyu asked with her mouth full of food. Hanae lets out a giggle.

"You know... You remind me of Yuiga when he was a toddler..." Hanae said and made Mafuyu blush. The teacher then turns around, trying to hide her embarrassment and swallowing her food quickly, but suddenly she coughs because of choking.

"Hey, be careful. Do you need water or something?" Hanae asked and received a head shake from Mafuyu as an answer. "N-No thanks! I'm fine!"

Although everything is fine, there is still something Hanae has been wondering. She's wondering why Mafuyu has been trying all these time to help her son recovering. She's wondering why Mafuyu sold all of her trophies that she had won, just to afford the expensive hospital fees. Why does she care for Nariyuki all that much, knowing that she may receive nothing back. These questions have been running in her head all these times.

"Mafuyu-chan..." Hanae asked Mafuyu, made the pink haired turned around to look at her. "If you want to be my son's bride, you can just ask me, you know?" Hanae asked. Mafuyu then stares at her for a while and blushes red for what she said.

"What? So you do want to-"

"I-IT'S NOTHING! Please don't think like that, Hanae-san..." Mafuyu said, but almost sounded like she was whispering.

"Then why are you trying so hard so my son can continue recovering?" Hanae asked curiously. She doesn't know that this is all from Mafuyu's responsibility of being a teacher.

"... If I don't do that, then I don't have any right to be a good teacher..." Mafuyu whispered, enough for Hanae to hear.

Being a teacher, Mafuyu has sworn to fulfill her responsibility perfectly. She wants to be the one that her students can trust, a good role model for them to learn from. Although there have been some stories that she was too serious to her students, or her decisions were too strict, admiration is still something that can be found in almost all of the pupils she has taught.

Nariyuki, on the other hand, is a special thing. She sees him as a genius, though she doesn't want to admit it. He was an excellent one back in Ichinose Academy, a great tutor to some students she couldn't teach in the past. So she's been trying to do everything she could, affording any expensive fees to live on with the hope that he will be conscious, back to his normal life and continuing his dream of becoming a teacher.

All she think is that genius should be alive at all cost, but like people with secrets, she doesn't want to admit it.

"... I just feel that it's my responsibility to do it... Hanae-san..." Mafuyu said and lowered her head, avoiding herself from Hanae's sight. Listening to what she's said, Hanae can understand why, or in the other word, because of someone inspiring her.

"I guess that's some typical words from my husband, Hiroshi's, former student, no?" Hanae asked.

"... I-I guess..." Mafuyu said and this made Nariyuki's mom more concerning about the 'responsible' thing. To Mafuyu and any other student Hiroshi Yuiga had taught, he was a role model, a pure and shiny mirror teachers could admire and follow. He wasn't very good at teaching, even if we compared him to other teacher at Ichinose Academy, we could bring out more teachers that better than him. What he had but the others didn't was his care for the students. Every event, every festival, every ceremony... there is hardly anything that didn't involve him.

For Mafuyu, she wants to become, or at least half of him. But she soon learned about how hard it was to become a role model you admired. Even so, she's trying very hard to become a good teacher. Maybe she's not as caring as Hiroshi, maybe she can't involve in almost every event Ichinose Academy has and will have, maybe she might be strict to her students, she always puts their bests on top of her shoulders.

But ever since Nariyuki's accident, she's hasn't been staying attention to her teaching, which makes she lose a lot of good image to her colleagues and her students. Since that day, the cold-hearted but caring Mafuyu Kirisu has disappeared, replaced with a weak-mental and gloomy one. Although meeting her just a day or two, Hanae can somehow see this, a different Mafuyu to the one she sometimes sees some years ago, but also the result of the depressed one she saw just a year ago, the day when the accident happened.

"You know, Mafuyu-chan..." Hanae said, made Mafuyu to raise her head up, look at her. "... You really have a high standard for 'responsibility'."

"Confusing. I have a high standard?" Mafuyu asked and Hanae simply answered with a nod.

"But teachers are not god-like, you should know that, neither is Hiroshi. I know he has inspired a whole lot of students, especially some who decided to become a teacher, but after all, he was still an ordinary man, a good father for our children. So even if you want to, next time don't try so hard to chase after that 'great teacher' award, okay?"

Hanae's words are a wake-up call for Mafuyu. All these times, she's been trying and trying to grab that award, but hasn't she knew that there are also lots of thing that she sacrificed for it. She's been sacrificed a lot to fix the accident that she was the main reason back then, but why? Why has she tried that hard to fix it? Or is it just mainly because of responsibility?

"And I think when Yuiga wakes up, he will have the same concerning for you, if he knows that you're the on selling trophies, paying fees to keep him alive." Hanae said, but Mafuyu shook her head. All these times, she just thinks about disappearing from Nariyuki's life. It might be cruel to say this, but she hopes that he will lose his memory about her, about the accident, so he won't hate her and she will be relieved for not getting someone hated.

"... Admitting. I don't want Yuiga-kun to remember about me..." Mafuyu said, with some pain in her tone but she tried to hide it. Her words surprise Hanae.

"Why? I think he will be happy to see you." Hanae asked

"N-No, he won't! I'm the main reason for the accident. What if he hates me? What if out of everyone he wants to see, I'm at the bottom? I just want Yuiga-kun to forget about me. Even if he forgives me, will I finally relieve for it?" Mafuyu answered, clenching her fists tightly. But all Hanae does is patting Mafuyu's back, calming her down, as a signal for 'everything will be okay'.

"All I know is Yuiga-kun is not that type of person you're worried about. Hell I think he will happy to see you." Hanae said.

"R-Really?"

"Yes. When he was a trainee, he was talking a lot about those two-month with you, you know? Can't you see that? I think he's bad at hiding those feelings as well." Hanae said made Mafuyu blush a bit. But in the end, those words have brought something called 'relief' to herself. Her confidence is a bit better, maybe not the same as before, but at least she has something to believe in herself, to fully confidently meet Nariyuki when he awakes

"... Thank you, Hanae-san. That means a lot to me."

O0O

Mafuyu's POV

'All I know is Yuiga-kun is not that type of person you're worried about. Hell I think he will happy to see you.'

Yuiga-kun... will you really forgive me when you're out of conscious.

Only this morning was too strange. First I was relieved and couldn't hold my emotion, then I got treated by Hanae-san. Did I do that much to receive all of them? Ever since Yuiga-kun's accident, that's the first time someone actually did something nice to me. It was great talking to her, hearing her advice despite how unconfident and stubborn I was.

This might be the first time I can feel something warm from someone else not relative with me, something so warm that I can't describe what it was. Where can I feel the same, or when was the last time I can feel it...?

My family...

No, even when I was a figure skater, my mother and father didn't even treat that nice to me. All I got was their hope for me to success, not their cheering if I failed. It was the pressure to make them proud, so they wouldn't leave me if I didn't win. It was so hard for me to feel something called 'love'. Mother and father paid a lot of money for my practice, for my lessons, so I could become a professional figure skater in the future.

I didn't choose that path. For the first time I had actually fought back my mom and dad's decision. For the first time I had left my house to live on my own.

Was I a failure? Did I make them disappointed in me?

It was when I met Hiroshi-sensei. He was so kind to his students, always helpful when needed. And like anyone, he was always be there with me, cheering me when I got low scores in class, which was strange.

And now it's Hanae-san, comforting me with warm words, treating me with breakfast. It was just a simple sandwich... so why can I feel so much 'love' that filled my stomach?

... Is this what people call 'mother's love'?

But to me, the happiest thing is Yuiga-kun is recovering quickly. He will soon open his eyes after a year, after all my efforts and wishes. But will he actually want to meet me, to see me, to see the factor that caused his accident?

Oh, I almost forgot. Mizuki Yuiga...

She is Yuiga-kun's little sister, so it was explainable when she shouted at me and didn't want me to visit her brother. I guess she hasn't forgotten about that since then, right?

If there was something happened to me, or something really serious, Mihara would do the same. Gosh will I be able to encounter Mizuki-chan? After a whole year, will she forgive me?

Maybe it's still best if I don't meet Yuiga-kun, so I can avoid Mizuki-chan. I know for someone like Yuiga-kun, he'll probably defend, but I've caused him enough trouble anyway. I hope Mizuki-chan will be happy when her brother awakes.

Alright Mafuyu, focus, focus. You have whole weekends ahead. Let's just put aside all these thoughts and focusing on preparing lessons for next week. You need to get back form again!

I open my apartment's door, go to my working desk and open my laptop. It's time to prepare lessons for next week. History time!

Wait... Why am I hearing something screeching in my kitchen?

Curious...

I go to the kitchen and switch on the light. The sound is coming from a nearby trash bin, or more correctly, behind it.

So I slowly approach it, move it aside, and what I see is a feast to the eyes.

There are cockroaches... About 5 or even more, I don't know. I can't count it properly.

Maybe it's because of my tiredness for driving to the hospital way too fast. I even dropped Hanae-san to her home and received her complaint about my high speed. Did I actually go that fast? I think I must be dizzy for going out under the sun, because I'm used to staying at home in the weekends, rather than going outside.

I think I have to take a quick rest. This has to be an illusion, right?

Let me just quickly wipe my eyes, then I'll take my rest...

Oh wait, they're real then. Even one of them just crawled on my foot...

... KYAAAAAH!

O0O

Right now I'm really panicked. That's it! I'm staying in the car for the night! There's no way I'm going back there! Please god have mercy and send ALL OF THEM to the flame of hell!

Oh I know! Maybe I can sit outside and wait for Yuiga-

Wait... That's right... How foolish am I...

I guess I'll have to work in my car then... and eating in my car... maybe living in my car for eternity since my pocket is almost empty and I've not received my salary yet...

Those bugs probably have had a family, with two of them were enjoying their joyful life with their grandchildren. This is what people call 'sharing is caring' right? Have a wonderful life in my apartment, you bugs...

Now where will my life lead to? Should I book a hotel somewhere for temporary stay?

Oh I remember now! Hanae-san once told me that I could stay at her home if I want to. I guess that could be called as something for all my trouble! Yes, now I shall go to-

Oh right, Mizuki-chan is probably staying at her home as well. She's her daughter, after all.

My life is full of dark again...

*knock knock*

... Is that a police? Am I parking my car in an illegal way? Oh please don't be like that. Okay, I should turn around and apologize him or her.

"Officer, I'm sorry! Please don't arrest me!" I shouted at him while pretending to be frightened, or I'm not sure if I was pretending or not. But turns out, it's Hanae-san. She's probably buying some food when she sees me like this.

"Mafuyu-chan, what's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost or something..." Hanae-san slightly giggled at me, but I didn't care. Using all my might, I bring out the most frightened and panicked face I've ever made.

"... HANAE-SAN!" And so, I cried out to her with watering eyes and runny nose. She looks at me for a while, then she covers her mouth, trying to hold her laughter. Why are you so cruel, Hanae-san?

"Okay then... Tell me what happened?" With that same warming tone, she gives me a mixed feeling of embarrassed and relieved.

Chapter 3
Even the predecessor has [X] to be worried

O0O

Writer's POV

"What? You abandoned your apartment because you saw a family of coc-"

"Please don't say out their names, Hanae-san!" Mafuyu told Hanae with her face blushing red. 'This is so embarrassed! I've never talked about my fear to anyone but Yuiga-kun...' She thought.

"You know... For an over-25-year-old woman, you really are... cute, like a little kid. You do have some fear for- Okay okay, don't pout! I'm just kidding!" Hanae tried to cheer Mafuyu up, who is pouting and extremely embarrassed for what she said.

After a little while, Mafuyu is the first to speak up. "So this is where I'll be staying?" She asked. They're right back in room 241, where Nariyuki Yuiga is recovering.

"I'm sorry, Mafuyu-chan, but I can't anywhere else better for you, at least right now. You can go to my house for temporary stay, but you know... Mizuki..." Hanae said, but then she continued. "But right now, this is the best I can think of for you. The hospital allows family members to come and stay, but just until the afternoon. Until then, you'll be playing as his sister and waiting until I can find a solution, alright?"

'... Sister?' Mafuyu thought. But after a quick think, she believes that this is still better than nothing, or better than staying in her car with sweating tracksuit.

"Oh and Mafuyu-chan..."

"Y-Yes, Hanae-san?"

"Feel free to confess to Yuiga if you like. I hope that he still can hear you somehow." Hanae said while smirking and took her leave, leaving behind a blushing pink Mafuyu, whose head is thinking almost nothing after hearing that. But soon, she remains cool and head to the room.

She puts her laptop on a nearby table and starts working, but her eyes still takes some glance on Nariyuki. The recovery room is almost quiet, only sounds of typing, the peeping from the heart monitor and the blowing from the air conditioner can be heard. She can't help herself from distracting to Nariyuki. 'Maybe I should check on him, just a little.'

So she goes to his bed, where the young man is lying down, looking like he's having a peaceful sleep. Slightly holding up his hand, she brushes it with her thumb, to find out how cold it is. But she gently puts it down soon and shakes her head.

'No, Mafuyu! What are you doing? That's way too creepy for a teacher to do that!' She thought and blushed a bit. But she couldn't stop thinking of what Hanae has said.

'Feel free to confess to Yuiga if you like. I hope that he still can hear you somehow.'

"D-Denial. It's not like I like him or something..." She spoke to herself. The pink haired teacher starts thinking of how this has happened. Why is she having a strange feeling for him, which she can't understand?

And it's all started, from the day of the beginning.

Those two damn months... The trainee program...