"The surgery is finished and she's awake. But so far, only one can visit her. Talk it over, she will be in room 335." the doctor had said before he left. But despite his strict attitude, everyone had caught a happy twinkle in his eyes and a small smile on his lips.

Homare was staring longingly at the OR and the rest of the group and bidders turn to look at each other before Shindo stepped up with Katsumi's room key. "Here, Homare. Go see her."

The student was shocked when his teacher curled his hand into a fist around the small key, looking to the others for confirmation, who all nodded with grins. Despite their excitement to see Katsumi, they knew Homare was the most worried, no matter what they say or do.

"Thank you." they were all definitely shocked and amused about the thanks but they saved the teasing for later, watching as their friend hurriedly runs off.

~*****~

"Hello? Kat, you awake?"

Homare entered the room with a cautious knock to find Katsumi sitting by the window in her bed, her arms placed lightly, crossed on her lap as she stares out. "Come on in, Homare."

She gestures with her left hand, but that made Homare a tad suspicious, seeing as she was right handed. "So what happened at surgery... Did anything happen?"

"This happened." she shifted her shirt to the side, revealing her right shoulder to the student, whose cheeks threatened to burn red until he saw a long, sewed scar on her shoulder.

"What happened...?" he absentmindedly reached out, tracing the scar gently. "It turns out a tissue and muscle was bleeding internally and it was severely damaged so they had to remove both... I can't feel anything, but they said that there is a small chance I could regain feeling..."

The raven haired boy couldn't help but feel bad, as if it were all his fault. 

"I'm sorry..."

"Huh..?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I couldn't even be here when you needed it..." he mutters, leaning in to hug her. "Homare, you know-"

"No. It doesn't matter, I just left... Someone precious to me to die..." he whispers shakily. By now, Kat had wrapped her arms around her classmate, trying to comfort the trembling boy. Homare's hands were shaking, his eyes threatening to pour tears.

"Ha," she chuckles, beginning to stroke his hair, "Never seen this side of you... It's a bit funny."

"Why would that be?" he challenges with a small smirk, although he was relieved on the inside. "You never show any emotion most of the time... Unless you're with me, that is," she pulls away at arm's length, grinning at him mischievously.

"Shut up." he rolls his eyes, but he couldn't deny the affection he had for this girl as he hugged her again. Until the gang walked in, chatting loudly, only to smile devilishly at the scene. "Hey guys." Using her left arm to support her right, she waves at them.

"So it really did kill feeling your arm..." Eisuke mutters at her supported gesture.

"Yeah, but there is hope to get the feeling back so..." she shrugs, sitting up and reaching for a glass of water nearby. Of course, with her right hand. She glass wobbles in her hands and it almost topples out before Homare supported her arm, helping her sip from the cup.

"Are y'a sure these kids ain't a couple?" Mamoru chuckles from the side, watching them with amusement. "I know right? But not yet... Kat doesn't know anything about him liking her and we don't even know if she likes him back yet..." Taketo laughs.

"So what are we going to do now, Eisuke?" Soryu speaks, turning to the CEO, who ponders over it a moment before shrugging. "I guess we'll return to Japan... It turns out that entire thing was a set up. The meeting was part of this 'accident'... We'll investigate it there."

"Alright... But who's gonna do the kid's work? She can't write with her left." Mamoru adds, gesturing to her limp right arm and hand. "Well... Who understands her work here the most... Who doesn't mind doing it?"

And all eyes turn to Homare with teasing smirks. "Homare?" Kat asks softly, turning to the boy, who sighs. "Fine. But you owe me."

"Mhm."

~*****~

The trip was going smoothly with only 5 days left. The rest of the group were on normal trip activities after the whole trip. They were off touring around the city while Homare stayed behind, taking care of Kat.

"Sorry if you'd rather be with them," she mutters an apology quietly, reading over her files, "I shouldn't listen to everything everyone says..."

"I guess you really did love your family enough to do this." she stiffens at the mention of it. "I guess... But, I'm sorry about ignoring you... It's just, I have a hard time trusting people, especially telling them about my family."

"So if you don't mind me asking... How long have you been looking for their killers?"

"My brother did the research since I was only 8 at the time. He was older than me by 5 minutes, but he took care of me as if he were a decade older." she chuckled, looking down at her hands, "But he died, probably murdered as said, by the time we were 10. A day before our 11th birthday."

"So..."

"Yeah, I celebrated it myself. The servants tried their best to cheer me up, baking me a cake and bringing me presents. I just took everything they made to my room after sharing the cake. I never blew out the candles, I just brought the piece with candles to my room."

"Why not...?" "I felt as if I were mocking my brother. I never celebrated my birthday for the rest of my life. Up until today. I just left a burning candle in my room with the cake near the open window where it blew out."

Silence hung over them heavily, and Homare couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So, tell me about your family... It's only fair."

Sure he had a bad past, but this girl lost everything. "I guess... My father died when I was young, and I have a little sister named Yui. She reminds me of you when you're all happy." "Really? Heh, that's funny. You remind me of my older brother."

"But anyway, my mom's in the hospital right now... She's diagnosed with a heart disease and I'm studying to be a doctor to find a cure for it..."

"Well, I guess we have the same reasons for our dreams. You know why I want to be a lawyer."

The two stare at each other for a moment before chuckling. "Want to go up to the roof? It's almost night and the stars should be out. Clear skies."

"Let's go." he replies and stands, but when Kat tries propping herself to stand with both arms, her right arm shakes violently, unable to support her, causing her to topple.

The boy was quick to reach out, saving her from her fall. He leads her out to the roof of the hotel with Katsumi thanking him for saving her. "Now don't go falling off the roof. I can't keep saving you like this." he teases with a smirk, but the arm around her waist tightens around her figure, afraid to let go as if it would  happen.

"I'm not that clumsy. I'm just not used to not having my right arm, I guess."

"Yeah," Homare seats her at the edge of the roof, moving his arm to pull her closer, afraid to push or drop her off. They stay out, staring out to the moon. Soon, Homare's jacket was wrapped around Katsumi's petite figure, his arm moved to around her shoulders with her head on his shoulder.

As they looked out to the night, the night, early winter breeze blew at them softly, making their hair sway in the wind. Katsumi fell asleep, snuggling closer to Homare with a small smile plastered onto her face.

After hearing her even, measured breathes, the student turned to find her knocked out cold. He smiles gently and for the first time lets her know his feelings. Face to face.

"I really do love you... I don't even know why..."

He picks her up carefully,careful not to fall over as he walks back to the penthouse with her in a  princess carry. Before he appears in everyone's eyes, he plants a kiss on her forehead before finally stepping out to the group.

As he walks back to their room, he grins to himself with the same thought playing in his mind.

"I don't care what you say. I'm never leaving you."