Asagaya Hospital was too quiet, in Hitomiko's opinion.

She didn't like sneaking out. But she didn't like not seeing him either. Especially since she felt partly responsible for the incident. She wasn't a witness and she definitely wasn't the one who caused the accident, but she was a close friend.

If Hitomiko could even call herself that.

"Hito-nee!" Hitomiko looks up, seeing Mikey coming up to her with Wakasa trailing behind. She musters up a smile, even though she knew to herself that it was a fake one. And judging by the expression on Mikey's face, she knew that his smile was forced. "Kenchin and I bought the stuff you wanted, and Wakasa-san was the one who gave me a ride here." He says while holding up the plastic bag filled with assorted snacks.

Wakasa just waves at Hitomiko. "The kid's motorcycle ran out of gas."

"Did the doctors say anything?" Mikey asks as he puts down the plastic bag. Hitomiko's smile faltered for a few seconds, before letting out a sigh. "The doctor said both good news and bad news, but she said that we would have to wait for your grandfather for this since me and Wakasa aren't immediate family."

Mikey frowned. "Can't they just tell it to me?"

Wakasa pinched his ear. "You wouldn't understand even if they told you."

"Owww! Wakasa-san, that hurts!" Mikey whined as he held his ear. "I can understand enough! You and Mina-nee already hurt me enough with the medical knowledge..."

Hitomiko managed to let out a laugh, but even then, it couldn't hold in the sadness and guilt that she had been harboring up. Her phone rings, and she answers it. "Hello, Hitomiko speaking."

"Hito-chan? I got into contact with one of the doctors tending to him. He'll be with you shortly."

Hitomiko raised an eyebrow, then she sighed. "Mina, please tell me you didn't use your connections for us to get the news out. I'm surprised that your dad's allowing you to do these types of things..."

There was chuckling heard on the other line. Hitomiko could tell that Mina was only doing this to get her mind away from the incident, and she couldn't really blame her. "Mina, you don't have to do this. We're still your friends, even if your memories are all over the place." 

There was a sigh. "I know that... but I can't help but feel a little out of place."

"It's okay. Your therapist said that they'll come back eventually." Hitomiko reassures her. She knew that dealing with memory loss was difficult, especially those memories held... bad experiences. "But since it's already here, thanks for giving us the heads up. We owe you... a lot, actually."

"It's no problem. Oh, and tell Manjiro about his gramps. I visited him earlier and his granddaughter's helping him with back pain."

The line ends and Hitomiko hides her phone, facing Wakasa and Mikey. "Manjiro, did you leave your grandfather alone?" She asks bluntly. Mikey sweatdropped, scratching the back of his head while chuckling nervously. Wakasa didn't pinch his ear again but he let out a sigh of exasperation. "Mikey, you seriously need to balance your priorities." He tells him. "Your gramps isn't exactly as young and nimble as he used to be."

Mikey looked down. "No one else is teaching at the dojo."

"Excuse me, are you the ones visiting the patient in this room?" The three turned over to see someone--probably one of the doctors, walking towards them. Mikey saw the name tag on his jacket, and he squinted his eyes. "Ishida Ryūken..." He mumbles quietly. 

Hitomiko stood up from her seat. "Yes, we are. Is everything okay with him...?" Her voice falters for a bit, her hands shaking.

Ryūken looks down at his file before looking at the three. "It's a miracle that he's been surviving for this long."

Wakasa resisted the urge to glare, but he managed to keep a neutral expression. "What's the bad news and good news?" He asks directly.

"He woke up from his coma," Ryūken starts, adjusting his glasses. "However, he's currently in a vegetative state." His eyes dart over to Mikey, who was staring in complete silence. Ryūken had a moment of sympathy before continuing. "In short, he's become a plant; He's lost all awareness, yet his body is still alive."

Hitomiko lets her mask of façade break as she chokes up a sob. Wakasa had to be the one to hold her shoulders just in case she could fall down. Mikey, who had been silent the entire time, looks over at the door.

Patient 190
Sano Shinichiro

"...is there a chance?" Mikey asks quietly, then looks at Ryūken. "Is there a chance that he'll be able to wake up again?"

Ryūken stayed silent for a moment, before speaking. "They are a rare occurrence, but even then... he won't stay the same. Not all people recover from this state fully recovered. There could be damages in his physical and mental state, and it's most likely that he'll be using a wheelchair or crutches. Most people have the former."

"And how many people recovered from this fully?"

"One." Ryūken answered. "A child, eight years ago."

Mikey just nodded. There was still hope. There was still hope that his older brother could live. He didn't care if he was using a wheelchair or anything, he just wanted him back.

Ryūken wanted to say something else, but for the first time in his life, he didn't. "He'll come back. Just don't lose hope."

Ryūken leaves, his footsteps echoing as he walks. Hitomiko sat back down and she tried wiping away her tears, but they were still falling down from her eyes. Wakasa was patting her back, providing comfort.

Mikey walked towards the door, opening it slightly.

There was Shinichiro, sitting up on the bed, his eyes blank and dead.