HANAHAKI DISEASE. . .

"You made flowers grow in my lungs, and although they are beautiful, I cannot breathe. . ."

— warning: angst, angst, angst, and mentions of death :(

— AND MAJOR MANGA SPOILER WARNING!

Ever since the day started, Yashiro felt her stomach bubbling with anxiety and pain, all the while she had quick moments where she feels like there's something blocking her throat.

But then it would be gone before she could dwell on it further.

She paid it no mind, until one day in class. . .

Everything started off normal. Yashiro would do her daily activities, talk with her friends, make time for school work and balance it out with the life of an apparition's assistant.

Normal, right?

That is, until, she began to cough violently. She felt as if her lungs and throat were constricted. It was so bad that Aoi had to hurry towards over her and pat her back gently.

She stopped coughing.

"Nene-chan?" Aoi cried out in worry, her lips formed into a pout while her eyes were as wide as saucers. "Are you okay?"

Yashiro glanced at her, trying to clear her throat. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine, Ao-chan. I probably just choked on something," she assured, because really, even she doesn't know what happened and that's the only excuse (and only reason!) she could think of.

Aoi's eyes flitted to Yashiro's hands, which covered her mouth a while ago. Aoi's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Nene-chan, since when did you have that chrysanthemum?"

Yashiro followed her gaze and softly gasped at the sight of a flower that bloomed with a rich, deep yellow color. It was beautiful.

It kind of reminded Yashiro of Hanako's eyes — golden and bright and all. She didn't know why she suddenly remembered Hanako's pretty golden orbs, but now she can't get it off of her mind. She suddenly felt like there was something in her throat again.

Yashiro swallowed down the urge to cough again, afraid of worrying Aoi when the poor girl is already busy with her own work.

"You don't know where that came from?" Aoi asked.

Yashiro shook her head. "I just realized after you pointed at it." Yashiro wanted to light up the mood, so she joked, "it's like I ate a flower and coughed it out."

Aoi didn't laugh.

"Coughing out flowers?" Aoi hummed a bit, placing a hand on her chin, trying to recall something. "It kind of reminds me of. . ." Aoi started, "a myth or legend my mom told me when I was little."

Yashiro perked up in interest.

"It's the legend of the Hanahaki disease," Aoi stated.

"Hanahaki disease?" Yashiro repeated quizzically. "What's that?"

Aoi motioned for Yashiro to get closer, waving a hand after she looked around to see of anyone was watching (Akane definitely is). "It's a disease caused by one-sided love."

Yashiro almost wanted to cough again. "How would unrequited feelings become a disease?" Yashiro asked her, dubious.

Aoi shrugged. "I don't even know if it's real. It's just a disease that begins when the person suffers from one-sided love. They said that the person coughs up certain flowers that grow in their lungs and throat. It can go away if the person's interest likes them back, however, if it's ignored, the person will die because of choking.

There's also surgery, but then the person's feeling for their loved one will disappear along with it.

It starts by growing flowers and thorns inside your lungs and block your throat, then as time passes, and the more the person feels pained by the one-sided love, flowers would grow until the victim can't breathe."

Yashiro shivered. She didn't know such a myth even existed! It was too horrifying.

Aoi noticed her best friend's panicked expression. "But it's just a silly little rumor," Aoi said with a smile.

Yashiro faked a laugh. Yeah, but, lately, all of your rumors are real. I don't know how to feel about this.

Aoi sighed and held Yashiro's left hand, drawing soothing circles on Yashiro's hand with her thumb. "I really hope it isn't fake. Tell me if you feel weird, okay?" Aoi eyed the chrysanthemum that Yashiro clutched on her right hand, before she looked away. "Well, I need to tend my plants. I'll see you later, Nene-chan, okay?"

Once she left, Yashiro was left conflicted.

She didn't know whether or not it's a good thing Aoi didn't see the smudge of blood on one of the petals.

Yashiro's brows furrowed as she studied the pint of blood that painted the gold flower. Such a shame a beautiful flower that resembled Hanako's eyes were ruined with a splash of bright red.

Why is there blood in the first place? Yashiro wondered. Is that supposed to represent something?

Yashiro's mind trailed off back to Hanako again. She seemed to like his eyes very much. No one can blame her, he has really pretty eyes. It's the first thing you'd notice if you see him, glinting brighter than sun itself.

Yashiro realized that she had been thinking of Hanako a lot lately.

Is that a good thing?

Does it mean I like him?

No, no! That's impossible! I'm just his assistant! It's nothing like that! Why am I even thinking this?

Yashiro remembered the moments she had with the boy. He's a pervert, he's hard to read, and he's very slimy! Although. . .he can be pretty cool sometimes. He has saved me a lot.

Yashiro huffed. That's it! I just admire him because he's good at fighting! Definitely not because I like him.

He's dead, for goodness sakes!

Besides, even if I like him. . .he would never feel the same way because I'm just his assistant.

Yashiro coughed a bit when she felt pain in her lungs.

Yashiro shook those thoughts away. She shouldn't get distracted! There are so much more important things to mind first.

- MEANWHILE -

Hanako paused from walking, feeling his chest burn oddly. He forced himself to stop from coughing. He had been feeling bad lately, which is absurd because apparitions like him don't get sick.

It isn't bad, it's faint and only happens rarely. But it still bothers him.

Hanako heard frantic footsteps by the doorstep, and cocked a brow at the sight of Yashiro breathing heavily, her lips trembling.

"Yashiro?"

Yashiro's eyes snapped towards Hanako's, and if Hanako isn't mistaken, it seems like she looks even more panicked than before.

Now Hanako was worried, but he decided it would be best to let the amber-eyed girl speak first.

"Ah, H-Hanako-kun, uhm." Yashiro looked around wildly. "I was just looking for someone and, uh. . .I lost them?"

"Oh?" Hanako grinned, amused at how Yashiro was so desperate to escape his boundary. "I don't think that hiding in a girls' bathroom is a good way of finding someone."

Yashiro playfully glared at him. "And I don't think being stuck in a girls' bathroom is a good idea when you're a boy, either, but look where we are now."

Hanako hummed thoughtfully, before he chuckled. "Eh, touche. You got me there."

They smiled at each other.

"So, what's up, my dear assistant?" Hanako floated around Yashiro, his index finger placed on his chin. "Today's not really toilet-cleaning day, and yet you're here."

"I didn't even mean to go here."

"But you're still here," Hanako sang. "It's not everyday you go here on your own will. Usually, I have to summon you. That reminds me—" Hanako stared at Yashiro curiously— "is it just me, or have you been avoiding me lately?"

The way Yashiro's eyes widened for a second didn't go unnoticed by the keen eye of Hanako.

Her eyes were cast down. "I don't really want to talk about."

Hanako, despite being so curious, understood that she needed a bit of time to think. "Alright." His playful smirk appeared again. "What do you wanna do? I'm pretty bored."

Yashiro laughed. "No mystery case today?"

"Nope."

"No sign of Minamoto-kun?"

"The boy visited me earlier and told me he will be late because of that Mitsuba boy."

"Ah, okay." Yashiro nodded to herself. "What do you wanna do?"

And Yashiro knows she should be telling Hanako about the chrysanthemum, and the Hanahaki disease, but Hanako seemed to be in such a good mood she didn't want to ruin it. Maybe tomorrow?

Hanako flashed her a smile, slight blush on his cheeks. "I don't really care as long as I get to hang out with you!"

Yashiro wanted to smile back.

She really, really wanted to. But she felt her throat squeeze and her lungs lose air that she just couldn't. It's like she forgot how to do anything at all, because she just focused on trying to regain her breathing.

She wheezed, trying to stop her choking, but it won't. She felt a sharp sting on her chest and almost cried out.

Another flower fell on her hand.

Hanako's eyes widened in fear. He quickly rushed to her and rubbed her back, muttered soothing words — don't blame him, he doesn't know what to do. He wanted to call Tsuchigomori, but Yashiro's state shouldn't be left alone.

He commanded his Hakujoudai instead.

"Yashiro? What's happening?" Hanako asked frantically, even though he knows that Yashiro can't respond.

He saw something fall on the ground and gasped at the sight of a bright, and perfect chrysanthemum that had a splash of blood.

Did that come out of her mouth!?

More and more petals flew out of her mouth as blood dripped down. Yashiro whimpered, which only caused Hanako to tear up a bit.

"Yashiro, tell me what's happening, please. I can't help you if I don't know what's going on, just—" Yashiro collapsed on the ground, but she was still awake and conscious, she probably just lost the power to stand up.

Yashiro whispered something under her breath.

Hanako leaned close, indicating he didn't hear her. He pretty much heard Yashiro's uneven breathing. His heart throbbed painfully upon hearing it.

"G-Get away from me, please. Let go of me."

Hanako inched away in surprise. Yashiro took it as an opportunity to shakily stand up and exit the toilets. She didn't bother to look back.

Yashiro missed Hanako's saddened face as he just stared at her fading figure.

His hakujoudai floated back a few moments later, informing him that Tsuchigomori stumbled upon Yashiro and quickly helped her. That removes some of his worries, at least.

Hanako bit his lip and lowered his hat, trying to cover his crestfallen face with tears welling in his eyes.

"Oh, what's the point," Hanako cursed. "She's been avoiding me for a reason. It's impossible she'd want someone like me. She's a human, and I'm dead," he added bitterly.

He caught sight of the golden flower that was drenched in her blood and picked it up. He scowled at it, since it was the reason Yashiro was in pain, but then it just faltered.

He'd figure out what's wrong with her, no matter what.

Hopefully, he won't be too late.

- - -

"Do you want surgery?" Tsuchigomori asked Yashiro, who lied on her bed with no life at all.

Yashiro looked up at Tsuchigomori and shook her head weakly.

Tsuchigomori frowned. "Yashiro-san, you know this can be so much easier if you just told Honorable No. 7 about your feelin-"

"No."

Tsuchigomori's eyes widened, before he looked away and sadly said, "alright, it's your choice. Just tell me if— if y-you feel bad, okay?"

Tsuchigomori left the room.

Yashiro relaxed on her death bed.

She had told Tsuchigomori not to tell anyone about it for personal reasons. Tsuchigomori hesitantly obliged.

She gently removed the blanket covering her arm and brought out her notebook that was filled with piled up, unfinished ideas of short poems and letters she can't show.

She flipped towards the page where she recently wrote a whole poem about her situation, slightly smudged. The page was crumpled because of her tears.

"These feelings you didn't return bloomed into flowers,

I suffer when I think of you, which is more than every hour

These gold petals remind me of your eyes,

They grow and grow everytime I see your smile,

The one I think about each night

I imagine a future where we'd be happily together for eternity,

But then the thorns, sharp and painful, prick me back to reality,

I remember how unfortunate I am for loving you, because you will never love me

But as long as its for you, it's okay,

I'd go through hell for you any day

It's pitiful, but it's true,

This disease just reminded me more how much I'm helplessly in love with you."

Yashiro wondered if Hanako ever regretted choosing her as his assistant, someone whose death isn't far off.

Yashiro died before she could find out.

- - -

I wrote a whole poem for this chapter 😤

This idea was requested by CrystalTale!

Hope you enjoyed this angsty chapter—

Thanks for reading! 💞💞