Basically a flashback thingy. Fukase uses she/her pronouns in this cus he hasn't had his "awakening" yet

White.

That had been the first thing the child saw when she opened her eyes. Pure, blinding white light obscured her vision. Blinking, it took a moment for her eyes- or eye, the one that was functioning-  to get used to her surroundings. 

Turns out, the ceiling was white too. And the curtains. And the bedsheets. The colour should've comforted her and yet...

The locked clicked. Tilting her head as much as she could without pain ricocheting down her neck, she saw the nurse stalk in with a clipboard  in her hands. She took one look at Fukase before sighing and walking up to her. Then she opened a drawer, pulled out a roll of bandages and scissors, and began to cut at Fukase's old bandages.

Fukase whimpered as she did so, but the nurse went on without a care. When she was done, she stood up and opened the windows. More light seeped in.

"I'll give you your breakfast in a bit," she said to no one in particular before leaving.

Fukase watched her leave before slowly sitting up. It hurt even to move the tiniest bit. Using the hand that was less injured, she moved a white framed mirror closer to her. Inhaling, she opened her eye.

Bandages. White, thick bandages covered the left side of her face. And despite being covered, she can barely make out the redness surrounding them. From what she remembered overhearing yesterday, her eye got the worst of it. The doctor said that it will be a miracle if she could see out of it again.

Swallowing the lump in her through, she pushed the mirror away. Why her? Why did her apartment have to be the one to burn down? Why did the flames decide to eat away at her body? Why-

Why did her mom have to die?

It's his fault. If he hadn't left, then maybe-

The door opened again, but this time, much slower. A woman with short green hair tiptoed in, careful not touch anything. She wore a cream coloured blouse and a denim shirt. Perched on her head was a pair of red aviators.

When her eyes feel on Fukase, her face lit up. "Ah, you're awake," she said softly.

Fukase didn't answer. Instead, she silently watched as the woman sat down in the white recliner and placed the takeout bag she was holding on the desk. She looked around the room with disgust before clearing her throat.

"Sorry for barging in like this," she laughed sheepishly. "I just wanted to see how you were doing after Tuesday's events."

How she was? That was a laughable question. She lost her mom and almost passed away herself, so how could she possibly be alright?

But Fukase didn't voice those thoughts out loud. Instead, she just shrugged (unsurprisingly, it hurt when she did so) in response.

"Do you know who I am?" she asked, pointing to herself.

"No." Fukase said bluntly.

"My name is Megumi Yamane, but all my friends call me Gumi," she answered. "I work at Station 39 of Yamaha's Firefighting Network. I was the one who found you a couple days ago. If I hadn't seen you-" She didn't complete that sentence. "Never mind. Anyways, you're probably hungry, right? I bought you breakfast."

Gumi began to unload the brown bag before frowning and standing up again. She carefully navigated her way to Fukase's bedside and unloaded the tray out in front of her. Then she placed a grilled cheese sandwich, paper bowl of chilli, juice box and orange muffin.

"I didn't know if you liked eggs or not, so I didn't get the cheese omelette," she joked. "My little brother hates eggs and veggies with a burning passion."

Fukase ignored her attempt to make a conversation and nibbled at the sandwich. Realizing how hungry she was, devoured the rest of the grilled cheese within minutes. Then she took picked up a spoon and stirred around the soup.

"So, do you have any hobbies? A favourite TV show?" the green haired woman asked upon realizing that the child didn't care about her brother's picky eating.

Why was this woman bombarding her with so many questions? Couldn't she see that the redhead didn't want to talk? Then again, she did bring her breakfast...

"I like to draw," the little girl said quietly.

"Oh, is that so?" Gumi smiled. "Can I see your drawings?"

"I don't have any with me." Fukase pointed out.

"Oh," the green-haired girl's smile fell. "My bad, I didn't realize that you wouldn't have any belongings on you-"

A popular J-pop song interrupted her. Gumi reached into her pocket, pulled out a cell phone, quickly tapped at the screen and held it up to her ear. "What." she demanded. Cursing, she shook her head. "Fine, I'll be there in ten minutes."

Gumi hung up and stared at the ceiling. "I don't even get a break, do I?" she muttered before turning her attention back to the child. "Sorry kid, I've got to go now. But I'll come back later sometime this week."

Fukase watched the woman stand up and hurry to the door. Before she touched the doorknob, she turned back to the redhead. "Kyoko-chan, I know this has been very hard on you. Losing a parent... I know that feeling," she sighed. "But don't give up on hope. Even if things are dark right now, they'll lighten up soon. Trust me."

She turned back around and gave Fukase a cheesy grin. "Until then, hang in there! Just give me a call whenever you want to talk. I have my number to the doctor."

With that, she finally, left the room. Fukase stared after her and glanced down at her half-eaten breakfast.

That woman... she wasn't that bad, was she? It was almost like...

"Thank you," Fukase whispered.