Chapter 17

4:15 p.m.

**Yu's POV**

It was calm for the next 15 minutes, after they came out of the closet. Yu and Sasha bumble out of the closet, laughing. Yu has Sasha's lipstick on his face. Nanako wonders what they were doing, and they answer simply:

Sasha: We were planning a surprise for you. I was asking him if you wanted to ride in my truck.

Nanako: Really?! 

Yu: *whispers:* Nice save.

Nanako: Big Bro, are you coming too?

Yu: Yup.

Sasha goes into Yu's bathroom to change into a skating outfit. She returns, looking all pro and savage. Her hair re-brushed, courtesy of Yu's hairbrush, her makeup retouched, and her slim figure complimented by her renewed outfit.

Sasha: Shall we go?

Nanako: Yup!

Nanako nods and gets up giddily from her seat at the table. She runs out the door, followed by Yu Narukami and Sasha. Yu skillfully places his hand on her hip, ushering her out the door.

**Sasha's POV**

I nab my keys from the counter on my way out. I unlock the truck, letting Nanako ride shotgun. Yu slides comfortably in the back behind me. I flip the key in the ignition; the truck rumbles to life. Nanako is cheering happily. My legs are already warming up. I put on an old skating outfit. That was it. I took off the dress, and laid it on Yu's toilet seat. He could return it to me when I gave him back his jacket.

We drive through Inaba, windows rolled down this time. It's a comfortable temperature, only around 50 degrees. Nanako plays my iPod yet again, choosing good songs for the mood. I can feel Yu playing with my hair in the back. I look in the rearview mirror, and he's leaned back, fussing with my wavy hair.

Yu: Your hair's really soft when it's wavy.

Me: It's naturally wavy, I just wanted to try something different.

Yu: Oh. Well, it's still soft.

Nanako: Can I feel?

I laugh. It's not very normal, or safe for that matter, to play with the driver's hair while in a moving vehicle. However, Nanako reaches out to touch my wavy strands. She's taken aback.

Nanako: You're right, Big Bro. It is really soft...

Nanako pulls her hair out from her ponytail. It goes to around her shoulder blades. It's straight, brown, and very shiny. I'm sort of envious of her. That was always the kind of hair I wanted.

We pull into the ice arena's parking lot. I choose a spot close to the entrance. It's packed tonight. I tap my finger on the steering wheel in time to the beat of the song. I pull into a spot I've been waiting for; someone was backing out of their spot. Nanako turns off the iPod and hands it to me. 

I open the door slowly, wary not to hit another car. Yu hops out, and Nanako twirls onto the sidewalk. We open the glass doors, and Kanji, Rise, Naoto, Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko are waiting for us. Teddie is over at the concession stand getting what looks to be hot chocolate.

Yosuke: Yo!

Yu: Sup.

Naoto: Glad you could make it.

Nanako: This is gonna be fun!

I walk away to go get my ice skates.

Attendant: Hello, what size would you like?

Me: 10's please.

Attendant: Would you like beginner, professional, or hockey skates?

Me: Professional skates please.

Attendant: You a good skater? I've never seen you here before.

Me: I used to ice skate all the time.

The attendant laughs.

Attendant: Maybe you should be in the Olympics, then.

Me: I used to consider that.

He stops laughing. I turn around and go back into the ice arena. I slip out of my jacket. My skating uniform is black, sparkly, and shows plenty of skin. I slip into the comfortable skates, tying them as tight as possible. A man comes on over intercom.

Intercom: The ice arena will be opening in 5 minutes. Have fun and enjoy.

The guys laughing listen in to the next announcement.

Intercom: Interested in playing ice hockey for Inaba, and possibly even Japan in the Winter Olympics? Try out here, TONIGHT!

I look over at the guys. Yu's eyes are sparkling. He's wearing skinny jeans and a warm-looking fleece jacket. I shiver. I toddle around in my skates, careful not to snap my ankle again. The machine that comes to clean the ice sweeps past us. The people around me all crowd around to touch it.

I look around. There are lots of people in the stands. Not very people are in skates. Nanako is already laced up. She looks excited. Attendants on skates come by and open the doors. I'm the first on the ice. Time to show my stuff. I give the gang a reassuring thumbs-up. I kick my feet into compliance. It's time to skate. I'm speeding around the ice, hands behind my back. My outfit ruffles with my speed. I pass couples, children. I hear the gang cheering for me. I decide to do some tricks for them. 

Music plays in the background. I try triple axels and handstands. The gang cheers for me every time I land from being in the air. I feel everyone's gaze on me. I pass by Yu. I grab his hand. I pull him with enough force to move him, but I try not to make him fall. He keeps pace with me well.

Me: You good at skating?

Yu: Yeah, actually.

Me: Show me what you got.

I let go of his hand. He speeds past me, his skinny jeans not seeming to be a bother to him at all. He does a double axel like it's nothing.

Rise: Yeah, Sensei!

I shoot daggers at her. She lowers her arm and her voice. She purses her lips. Nanako is moving at a quick pace too. I grab her by the hand, and she grins up at me.

Nanako: You guys are amazing!

Me: Thank you. You're not so bad yourself, if you can keep up with me so well.

Nanako grins. The song that plays over the sound system gets people excited, so I try keeping up the mood. I pump my legs and match Yu's pace, which is quite swift. He takes me by the hand and pulls me closer. Many people by now are getting off the ice. I look around. Naoto keeps falling, and while Kanji tries to keep her up, she makes him fall too. It's cute. Chie and Yukiko are really goo too, they're racing around the ice hand-in-hand. Yosuke is fairly good, but he's not moving his feet.

Me: Would you like to have a race?

Yu: With who?

Me: Me.

Yu: Yup.

We start at where the door is, and I yell, Go! We skate as fast as we can, speeding around the track. Every bystander holds on the walls as we pass them. I get on the outside and start bumping Yu.

Yu: Hey! This isn't a contact sport!

Me: What the fuck ever.

I laugh and pass him with ease. I hear people in the stand cheering for me and stomping their feet. I grin and wave at them. I make the final turn. Then, I'm knocked to the ice. Yu falls too, laughing his ass off.

Me: Not fair!

Yu: "What the fuck ever."

Yu imitates my voice near perfectly. I start to laugh. He gets up and brushes himself off. He holds out his hand. I grab it and yank him down.

Me: Too bad.

I laugh at him and hold him down. I peck him on the cheek and the crowd roars. I get up and brush the ice off of me. I'm freezing. Yu picks himself up, blushing. I wave to the crowd and take a bow. I see Naoto grinning at me, and Kanji grins at Yu.

I make my way off the ice slowly. Then, something bad happens. A delinquent is speeding around the ice, not watching what she's doing. I think she goes to our school, but I can't tell. She knocks right into little Nanako, right on her ass. I race after the delinquent. I knock her right into the protective wall. I hear her yell cuss words at me.

Delinquent: You bitch!

Me: I'M THE BITCH HUH?! Tell that to the little kid you just hit! 

I knock her down and punch her in the face. I feel people trying to pry me off her. I yell some offensive words at her, kicking and trying to hit her again.

Me: You watch your back!

The girl is hauled away; she's hurt fairly bad. I storm off the ice and into the bathroom. I tug off the skates and chuck them at the wall. They land with a reassuring clump! I grit my teeth. My face is dripping with sweat. I throw myself into a bathroom stall and clench my fists. I hear someone come in.

Stranger: You okay? That bitch got you good. 

I hear a familiar voice. My pupils dilate. I slam open the door.

Delinquent: Yeah I'm fine. She did it for no reas-

I punch her in the face. Her goon tries to pull me off of her, and they get me on the ground. Her friend kicks me in the back of the head, skates on. I continue hitting her friend. It won't matter, I can just heal myself in the TV world. 

More people come in, and in moments I'm pinned on the ground, arms behind me. I feel handcuffs planted on my wrists, the cold hard feeling of metal. I'm dragged to my feet. There's a stray hair in my face, dripping with sweat. 

I'm moved out of the bathroom with an escort of people and 2 police officers. I spot Yu and Nanako, and they shoot me a worried look. I lean my head back and sigh. I'm calming down. I feel something drip down my neck. 

Officer: Shit, she's bleeding real bad.

Deputy: Want me to get a Band-Aid?

Officer: No, we can do that at the station.

Great, just great. I'm being arrested. As I'm escorted out, I crumple to the floor. I'm seeing spots dance in front of my eyes.

Officer: Deputy, check her head wound.

Deputy: Yes, Boss.

Officer: How bad is it?

Deputy: It's really deep. Looks like her skull is broken. It's really deep.

I moan as he pulls apart bloody follicles of hair. I see blood drip onto the carpet.

Officer: Get her on the pavement. We can't have blood on the floor here.

Deputy: Yes, Boss.

They turn me around, and I see who's arresting me. It's Dojima. Of course. I groan.

Me: Dojima-a-a...

Dojima: Hey. Chill out. You'll be fine.

Deputy: Boss, she needs to go to the hospital. Like, right now.

Dojima: Who proclaimed YOU doctor, huh?!

Me: Dojima, he's right. If I'm dripping blood from-the...head I need serious medical attention. 

I moan. It hurts like hell. It feels like the skate is still lodged in my head. I see the delinquent and her goon being rushed out the door by a few attendants. My vision goes black.

9:43 a.m. 

May 16, 2017

I wake up in a pure white room. There's all kinds of equipment. A drip, vital sign machine-thingy? Other things I can't possibly name. And needles. Lots and lots of needles. I feel my stomach flip. The door to my room opens, revealing a certain Yu and his little sister.

Me: Hey.

Nanako: Thank you for beating up the bad guys...

Yu: Turns out those girls were actually wanted criminals. They were murderers. They were "this" close to having another life on their hands.

He shows my how close I was to dying. I close my eyes and sigh.

Me: You were always one for drama, right Yu?

Yu chuckles softly.

Yu: Only when it comes to you.

Me: Only when it comes to Yu, you mean.

Yu: Yeah, whatever. Same diff.

Nanako sets something on my bed. It's a teddy bear. Kanji must've made it for her. I ask her my thoughts.

Me: Kanji make that?

Yu: Yeah. He says feel better, by the way.

I hear the door close. I open my eyes. Nanako's left, but is replaced by Dojima. I groan.

Dojima: Yu, do you mind exiting for a moment?

Yu: Sure, Uncle.

Dojima: Thanks.

I hear the door close behind Yu. Dojima sits on the edge of my bed. I close my eyes again. Dojima sighs.

Dojima: Thanks. For sticking up for my daughter. I would've arrested you if it was someone else that girl had hurt. Did Yu tell you that those girls were murderers?

Me: Yeah.

Dojima: I guess you're the hero twice then. Thanks.

Me: Yup.

Dojima eases himself off the bed. I hear him walk away. The door opens and Yu comes in. I smile gently as Yu sits next to me on my bed. 

Yu: How're you feeling?

Me: Tired...

Yu: That would be the medicine the doctors gave you to ease the pain. They had you in surgery for a while. At first, you lost so much blood I thought you weren't gonna make it.

I shake my head sleepily with insisting negation.

Me: Like that'll happen...

He lays down next to me on my hospital bed. He gives me a kiss on the cheek, then everything fades to black.