Iori runs toward the ward. She sees Kamiyama Kiyohira and his wife talking to the doctor.
She looks toward the door. Her legs are frozen on the spot. No matter what, she can"t find the strength to go inside and see him. Did this happen because of her? He heard her badmouthing him. She was just angry at him. Why did he get into an accident? Does he hate her that much?
"Iori?" Rie notices her standing near the door and crying silently. She rushes to Iori"s side. "Iori, don"t cry. He received some minor injuries."
Iori blinks her eyes. "Minor injuries?"
It"s been a long time since Rie met Iori. She did hear that Iori and Takes.h.i.+ had fought over something. Both of them refuse to bend down and talk to each other. Rie"s eyes twinkle mischievously. "He hit his head, Iori. He can"t remember anything that had happened in the last six years."
What is his wife up to? Kiyohira frowns when he hears the lies told by his wife. When the doctor looks at him questioningly, he shakes his head and steers the doctor away from the scene. His wife probably wants to create some melodrama.
"Six years!" Iori gasps. She counts on her finger. Six years ago, they were studying in university. Isn"t around that time when he confessed to her?
Seeing the changes in Iori"s expressions, Rie smirks with an evil glint in her eyes. Six years ago, Takes.h.i.+"s life changed when the mansion was bombed by Madhatter. Kiyohira was hurt. Takes.h.i.+ started changing from that moment. "He seemed gloomy about something. Did you fight with him?"
Did they fight six years ago? Iori thinks hard. They fought about many things. Among all the reasons, his confession was one of them. "Yes, we did fight about something."
"How about you make up with him?" Rie drags her along with her. "I am sure that he wants to see you."
"Um… But…" If it"s about the confession, what is she supposed to say now? Takes.h.i.+ was also angry back then. Things were a little awkward. Before she could refuse, Rie pushes the door open.
Sitting on the bed with a bandage around his head, Takes.h.i.+ frowns a little when he sees Iori. Didn"t she hate him? Then, why is she here dressed like that?
Yuta widens his eyes, pleasantly surprised to see the person whom he least expected to see. He whistles and says, "Aunt Iori, you have become prettier. You are still single, right?"
"I am…" Iori glances at Takes.h.i.+ who is watching her with a solemn gaze. "Yes, single."
Both of them are single. Then, there"s only one thing to do. Rie chuckles. "Yuta, come with me. Your father is asking for you."
Yuta could see that his mother is also planning something. While smirking to himself, he follows her outside quietly. Her mother closes the door and looks at him.
"Guard it." She tells him with sparkling eyes, "Don"t let them out until they make up. We are going to help them cook rice."
"Hehehe!" Yuta laughs with a low voice. "Mother, let"s do this."
They are alone.
Iori can"t meet his eyes, feeling awkward. She sits on the stool. Where should she start? He confessed to her so long ago. She hasn"t forgotten that she laughed at him. Back then, he was hurt and angry. She has been regretting it since that day.
Even though he has no memories of the past six years, he"s watching her sullenly.
"Ahem!" Iori clears her throat. "I-I accept."
"Accept what?" Takes.h.i.+ asks her with a quiet voice.
She glances at him stiffly. "You confessed to me, right? I am giving you the answer. I will date you."
Isn"t it a little late to answer his confession? She was saying that she had never liked him a while ago. "Are you drunk, Kinos.h.i.+ta Iori?"
"Do I look drunk to you?" Iori snaps at him and points at her clothes. "I ran here in pyjamas after I heard that you had an accident. I was so worried. You shouldn"t drive if you aren"t confident about driving. You should have called a designated driver."
"I was pretty confident, mind you." Takes.h.i.+ frowns at her. Usually, he would get mad or kick her out of the room. But she is underdressed at the moment. She isn"t even wearing a coat. Her hair is loose and dishevelled. He picks up his blanket and wraps it around her body. "At least, wear a bra when you are leaving home."
What… Iori looks down and notices the erect peaks. How many people have seen this? "This is not because of you. It"s cold outside. That"s why they are…"
Takes.h.i.+ lets out a laugh. "I don"t dare to think that you are h.o.r.n.y because of someone like me. I am sure that this is happening because of my brother."
"Takes.h.i.+!" Iori stands up with a red face. He"s always doing this. Whether it was six years ago or now, Takes.h.i.+ decides everything on his own. Her opinions or feelings don"t matter to him. This sick guy, who is really sick at the moment, needs to be taught a lesson.
"Why can"t you ever take me seriously? I don"t have those feelings toward your brother. Anyway, what kind of c.r.a.ppy confession was that? Just because I am your friend, do I not deserve a proper confession? You should have asked me out for a movie or a dinner. You kissed me in front of everyone and then, you said that you loved me. Yes, I had never noticed your feelings. But you had never made it clear to me. Did you expect me to take you seriously? How many times have you tricked me, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d? I laughed a little because I wanted to save my pride. You dumped your confession on me and then, you decided on your own. You should have given me time to absorb it. I was waiting for you to ask me out again, but you never did it. You just changed. You decided to move on. You didn"t even ask me if you should move on or not."
She trails off near the end, panting for breath. Takes.h.i.+ blinks his eyes, surprised. But she"s not finished at all.
"You!" She points at Takes.h.i.+"s chest. "I am going to be shameless like you. So, you hear me, you scoundrel. I like you. I realized my feelings when you kissed me. I don"t even look for things like love at first sight. I don"t expect romantic things from you. Even after everything that had happened between us, I was still waiting for you. Although you are the most horrible man in the world, I still love you. It"s so easy for you to break our friends.h.i.+p and move on. But it"s not the same for me. I still haven"t been able to move on. Whenever I see a handsome man, I compare him with you. Whenever I meet Haru, I think of you. I have missed our little fights and how we used to be. I miss being with you, Takes.h.i.+. Why can"t you see this simple fact, you blind moron? Do I have to utter it in words? Can"t you see it in my eyes?"