Author’s POV

“Man, what are we going to do with you?” Kotaro sighed sitting back on the bed. “How can we contact your boyfriend or even Kyo like this…?”

“There isn’t any signal so it’s useless to send a text message” Ame pointed, crossing her arms.

“Whatever, go get some rest” Kotaro stood up before tucking Ame in like a little kid. “If the rain stops tomorrow we’ll take you home, okay?” Ame flinched at the thought of that. She didn’t want to go home now. She wants to see Teppei first before anything else.

“Kotan…” Ame called when Kotaro was about to leave her there. “Could you… stay with me for a bit?”

“Huh?” Kotaro gave her a surprised look, a hint of blush on his cheek. “B-But Hana…”

“It’s not like I’m telling you to sleep with me on the bed. I’m just asking you to stay” she huffed embarrassingly and looked away from him.

“Hana’s still afraid of dark, isn’t she?” Kotaro chuckled walking over to her bed, stroking her hair. “Fine. I’ll stay until you fall asleep”

“Th-Thank you, onii-chan” Ame murmured causing Kotaro to stiffen. “You’re still my onii-chan right? We’re… we’re family, Kotan?” she reached to touch his hand.

“Hana…” Kotaro had this dumbfounded look on his face. Why was she saying this now? Is this pay back for before? Or is it… because, she’s feeling lonely right now? Either way, he squeezed her hand tightly, not wanting to let go and gave her a soft smile. “Hai! Onii-chan will take care of Chisana Hana until she gets better!”

“A-Arigato, Kotan” Ame smiled back. Slowly, she drifted to sleep, her face showing peace as she held hands with him. Kotaro stared at her sleeping face, caressing her cheek, with glee on his expression. He was grateful to gain her forgiveness. It was a sign that they could bring back the same things again. Being her onii-chan; her being their little flower. They were open for that idea, but she had to leave. Again.

She had to leave, she is going to leave. She will leave.

“H-Hana…” Kotaro’s tears dripped on the covers as he silently cried while giving Ame a soft kiss on the forehead, tenderly. Why did she have to leave now? When everything is okay and sorted out? When they could be happy again? When she is happy again? Why now?

“Kotaro…” Reo entered the room seeing the sulking Kotaro, beside the bed where Ame was sleeping peacefully. He approached his friend, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Kotaro, let’s—”

“No, I won’t leave her” Kotaro stated before Reo could even finish his sentence.

“Kotaro…” Reo looked startled but then his eyes softened. “I called Masako-san to come over. Her number is the only thing I found in my contacts. She also texted Kyo where Hana is. They should be coming over in a few minutes”

“Kiyoshi Teppei… did you call him?” Kotaro questioned staring at Ame’s face.

“He’s with Kyo. I expect him to arrive here with her” Reo answered.

.           .           .

“Eikichi, would you get the door please?” Reo requested after hearing the sound of the doorbell of their hotel room. Eikichi approached the door to open it, revealing Masako together with Kyo and the others who are worriedly looking for Ame.

“Where is she?” questioned the Yosen coach as she stepped in.

“Masako-san. Hana is in the bedroom” Reo answered, stepping out from the kitchen.

Before anyone else, Kyo already went ahead to go check where her sister was. Of course, Teppei went after out of worry about his girlfriend. Opening the door, they found Kotaro, sleeping beside the bed where Ame was sleeping. He was sitting on the floor, his head laid just beside hers.

“Ame-ne!” Kyo called walking over to Ame’s side.

“K-Kyo…” Kotaro woke up, lifting his head from the bed and saw Kyo looking at her sister crying. “K-Kiyoshi…?”

“Amei-chan…” Teppei held her hand.

“Ame-ne… Ame-ne…”

“She’s having a high fever and we’re letting her rest. I think you guys should wait in the living room” Kotaro said, putting a hand on Kyo’s shoulder.

“Kyo…” Taiga pulled Kyo up from the floor since she was kneeling.

“You guys are soaked, were you looking for her in the rain?” Kotaro asked noticing the three dripping wet because of the heavy rain outside. Kyo nodded her head curtly. “Well then, we’ll lend you some of our shirts. Kiyoshi, you should ask a shirt from Eikichi”

“Ah, thanks”

“Follow me, you two” Kotaro told Taiga and Kyo walking out of the room to get some clothes for them. Teppei was left with Ame as he sat beside her and caressed her face, feeling relieved that she was okay and resting.

“Thank goodness…” he pressed his forehead against hers.

“T-Teppei…” Ame murmured, her face looking like she’s in pain. Teppei grabbed her hands in his and kissed her forehead.

“I’m here, Amei-chan. I’m here” he whispered softly.

“T-Teppei!” Ame sat up, waken from her nightmare. She was sweating and breathing heavily, her heart rising as she held it. “Teppei… Teppei…”

“Amei-chan” Teppei turned her body to face him as she hugged him tightly. “T-Teppei…” she started crying while Teppei rubbed her back soothingly. “Teppei…” she breathed out, relieved that he was here with her. She was in his arms. She’s in his warmth.

“It’s okay… everything will be alright” he comforted her, trying to calm her down. “I’m here Amei-chan, I won’t leave you” that line made her even cry more.

“I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry” she kept a repeating an apology to him. “I don’t want to leave you… I want to… I want to stay with you… T-Teppei, I—”

“That’s enough Amei-chan. You should go back to rest” Teppei spoke, pained to see her like this. It’s back. The pain in her heart is back again. Just when they were happy.

He was about to put her back on the bed when she grip on him tightly. “D-Don’t let me go. Please… let’s stay like this much longer” she begged. She still hasn’t stop crying which he didn’t like.

“Okay, but you have to rest” Teppei agreed and went to lie beside her on the bed. Ame buried her face on his chest like she always does. Teppei looked down at her, seeing her face soaked in her own tears. He wiped it away as Ame held his hand, putting it on her cheek.

“You… you know about the Germany thing?” she asked. He flinched before nodding. “I met Amei-chan’s mother, Yoite-san. She was the one who told me” it was Ame’s turn to flinch. She had a bad feeling about that meeting between Teppei and Yoite. Knowing her mother, she must’ve said colder things than Ame would have said to Teppei.

“Did she say something else?” she questioned.

“Well she…” Teppei sighed. There’s no point in lying anymore. “She told me to break up with you” he admits and held Ame tightly as soon as he felt her flinch. “She said it’s pointless to be in a relationship with you because you’ll be leaving”

“T-Teppei…” tears filled her eyes again.

“It’s not pointless” Teppei snapped. “It doesn’t matter if we’re far from each other. As long as we know we love each other, it’s fine. Distance doesn’t determine whether we should be together or not. I love you, Amei-chan. And I’ll wait for you to comeback even if I have to wait for years…”

“T-Teppei…” Ame looked up at him, seeing his crying face. “Don’t… don’t cry. Don’t cry” she told him, wiping the tears of his face.

“If I could take you away from here, I would. But, it wouldn’t be unfair to the people who love you too”

“T-Teppei…”

“Say, Amei-chan, do you have any dreams?”

“Tch, of course I do”

“Is that so?” Teppei smiled. “Do you sometimes wish… it to wishing stars?”

“I’ve stopped doing that a long time ago, idiot”

“Hehe, I see” he chuckled as she snuggled much closer to him. “Wishing stars don’t make your dreams come true; you do” Ame quoted, remembering a certain someone telling her that. “Oto-san doesn’t believe in those things either… so that’s what he told me”

Teppei looked surprised that she was bringing up a topic about her father. He knows she’s sensitive when it comes to him. Her father brings back memories of pain to her; but it also brought back happy ones that overwhelmed the pain.

“And he also told me that it wouldn’t hurt if you try to wish on a star” she added sitting up from the bed. She looked at Teppei. “Would you like to try it with me?”

He smiled at her. “Sure!”

And with that, they spent the night star gazing when the rain had stopped showing a clear view of the stars above them. They kept telling each other’s dreams and even made some for each other. They even made promises for each other that they’ll see each other again after Ame leaves. Unfortunately, there was no stopping their departure to Germany. But Yoite had given the sisters time to say their goodbyes. 

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3rd to the last chapter .... owo... 

Yes, it is ending... :((( 

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