Inside the Kajiwara flower shop, there sat our heroine Shinobu, staring at the window as tiny rain droplets slid down onto the frame. She stared at them in a daze, wondering when the rain will stop. She really hated it whenever the rainy season arrived. One of the reasons is there's no school she so she won't be able to see her beloved Tadashin and Tsukkin. 

But one advantage it brought: they're able to close their store in a much earlier hour because of lack of customers entering. It was only four o'clock when her mother decided to call it a day. "Shinobu, come on, we're closing up." Called her mother's voice, pulling her back to reality.

"H-Hai!" she pushed herself off the stool she sat on, and went to fix the scattered notes, scraps and pens on the counter, closing up the cash register. 

Her mother started to bring down the steel covers of their shop while she transferred their flowers to their storage room designated for the flowers to keep on blooming. She hit the lights off, locking the store's front door and started to head upstairs, where their home was built above their shop.

"Man, the rain's not stopping." Mrs. Kajiwara commented, staring up the sky from the window. "Well it can't be helped. I wonder what the weather is over where Papa is staying," She smiles at her daughter.

"Oh, you're right." Shinobu smiled at the poodle covered ground. "I wonder..."

'Papa, I wonder how is he?' "By the way mama-"

The Tsukishima family, excluding Akiteru who was away for college, rushed over to the hospital after receiving a sudden call from Shinobu who was crying over at the other line as she spoke. 

"A-Auntie, U-Uncle... I-I'm sorry for calling out of the blue... It's just... Oka-san... she's... she's..." the moment they heard her sobbing, they didn't question what happened and drove off to the hospital as soon as possible. 

Kei tagged along after hearing it was Shinobu who was crying on the phone. He and his parents dashed to the nurse's station asking for Kajiwara Shiori's whereabouts that led them heading to the emergency room where they saw Shinobu sitting on a chair at the waiting area.

"Shinobu-chan!" Tsukisihma Kara hugged her daughter-like girl. "Are you okay? Oh look at you! You're soaked! Honey, get her a towel from the car will you?" she requested his husband.

"Sure thing."

Kei watched as his crush cried in his mother's arms, failing to explain straightly what happened. "Oka-san... Oka-san suddenly collapsed... I... I didn't know what to do..." Shinobu whimpered, unstable in Kara's arms. 

Concerned filled the boy's features as Kara releases Shinobu from her grasp, telling her it's gonna be okay and her mother's going to be well soon. The woman left the two teenager's for a moment while she excuses herself to go talk to a doctor.

Tsukishima stood there quietly, only hearing Kajiwara's soft sobs with a mix of hiccups of her agony. "Hey..." Kei encased her in a hug, not minding her damped clothes, involving his to get soaked as well. He let her cry on his chest, rubbing her back soothingly, whispering that it'll all be okay.

"Shinobu-chan," Kei's father returned with a fresh new towel and a clean set of clothes. "Here, dry yourself with this and change," He handed it to the girl who peeked at the duffel bag containing her needs. She blushed when she opened it, shutting it immediately.

"A-Ano..."

"Ah, well... I also put some of Kara's underwear for you to borrow too... Thought you needed it as well..." Mr. Tsukishima rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, the blush on his cheeks noticeable as his son sent him a not amused look.

"I can't believe you said that to a teenage girl," The high school boy huffed.

"Eh? Kei!" his father reacted. "Your mother and I just got it from the laundry shop after we asked it to be washed," He explained.

"Ano... Thank you very much!" Shinobu bowed, embarrassed, muttering a soft 'thank you' before going to the restrooms to change. 

While the two Tsukishima's were left alone, the father asked his son of his mother's whereabouts, Kei telling his dad she left to talk to a doctor. He then ordered his son to wait for Shinobu, and go after his wife to join the conversation about Shiori's medication.

Later on, Kajiwara exited the comfort room and saw Tsukishima waiting for her on a bench nearby. She approached him, giving him a bow of gratitude for the help and comfort he and his parents had given her. "Also, I'm sorry for being such a nuisance. I didn't mean to bother you," she apologized humbly, guilty for disturbing their afternoon out of the blue, promising she won't do it again.

"Idiot, you're not a nuisance. And most especially you don't need to apologize," He reprimanded, pulling her hand so she could sit next to him. He still didn't let go, and placed a can of black coffee on her palm, closing her fingers so she was clamping on it. "Here."

"Eh?" Shinobu stared at the drink at her hand then gave a glance at Kei. "Thank you, Kei-kun." she smiled, opening up her beverage and chugging a bit of some.

In the inner side of Kei, his heart skipped a beat when he heard her call him that. 'Dammit...' he cursed for being so out of character.

"Ano... Tsukkin... can I ask you something?" Kajiwara mentioned, staring at her drink blankly. Tsukishima looked at her briefly, waiting for her to shoot her question. Her shoulders tensed up before questioning, "W-What... What's the cup size of Kara-san?"

A short silence occurred before the boy could reply to her, confused. "HAH?" his jaw dropped, purple lines appearing his side. "Why ask such an awkward question...?"

"EH?!" the girl quickly covered her chest, facing away from him. He may be her childhood friend, but she was still uncomfortable talking about girls stuff in front of him. Kei scanned her before realizing why she asked that and snorted a laugh. "EH! Don't laugh at me! I-I was just w-wondering b-because it's really loosened!"

"J-Just how flat are you?"

"Eh?! Being a B cup doesn't mean you're flat!"

After saying that, everyone passing by the hallway, employees, patients, visitors; all eyes are now on the two freshmen quarreling at the bench. The embarrassed girl apprehended the attention she attracted; making her shrink in her seat, hiding her face with the over-sized shirt she was lent that was actually Kei's. 'Tsukkin baka!'

"Drink your coffee before it gets cold," Shinobu heard him say that, leading her to snort a laugh. "Pfft, you're so lame, Tsukkin."

"What's so lame about that? Isn't that what you say to a person drinking coffee?"

"It is, but this is cold coffee you idiot."

"Whatever. Just drink it."

Kajiwara giggled at her friend's attitude, then drinking her coffee down to the last drop. She stood up to throw her trash in the bin when she saw Kei's parents coming back from the emergency room and told her she can now see her mother. Immediately - forgetting to throw her empty can - she rushed to her mother's hospital room to go see if she was alright. As she entered, she saw Shiori lying on her bed weakly, a face mask she wore to help her with her breathing.

Shinobu went to her side, lacing their fingers together. Kei, who followed after with his parents, stood behind his friend, putting a hand on her shoulder to express his support for her. The doctor entered afterwards, having a talk with the Tsukishima's, explaining to them Shiori's condition. "We've found out that her condition worsened. Her weak heart could no longer assist the other body parts and organs of her body," He explained, "As of now we're stabilizing her heart beat."

Kajiwara covered her ears, blocking out the conversation happening inside the room. She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to hear the doctor say they can't do anything about it. Eventually, the medic excused himself, leaving them there to have a talk of family business.

"Shinobu-chan, I already called your father and told him about your mother. He's flying back to Japan as soon as he can. But for now, he's asked us to let you stay with us until he arrives," Kara informed the girl, going by her side and placing a hand on the girl's shoulders.

Shinobu leaned her body on the bed, burying her face in her arms. "Sorry auntie, but I'd like to stay here for a while if that's okay," She requested, not wanting to leave her mother's side. The couple looked at each other, worry filled their expressions.

"Well then, Kei, accompany Shinobu-chan here for a while. Your father and I are gonna buy food for you," Kara told her son, nodding over to her husband's direction and went out the room.

Tsukishima sat beside Kajiwara who was quiet and observed her mother in silence. She felt something get put on her as she glanced at her friend wondrously. "Tsukkin?"

"You'll get a cold." It was his jacket that he dropped on her shoulders. Glancing away, he can feel Shinobu's golden yellow eyes burn the back of his head. He heard her chuckle.

"The weather sure is cold but I can feel Tsukkin's warm heart reach out to me." she says in a playful tone making it hard for him to determine if she was joking or not. He sneaked a glance at her to be greeted by a warm smile causing him to flinch. "Thank you for everything, Tsukkin."

"Tch, idiot."

A/N: Ah well---A Tsukishima-Kajiwara chapter for you guys~! ≧◠‿◠≦✌ Hope you liked it, and may the shop strengthen ᕙ('▿')ᕗ Tell me your fangirl feels----And no Tsukki is not a tsundere---