: Act Two : My Eternal Spring, a My Beautiful Man/Utsukushii Kare FF.

2.8 : My Nightmare Came To Life, PT. 1

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An entire week passed before Kiyoi decided whether or not to ignore his brother's call. His energy was already worn thin between managing work and navigating the complexities of his love life. Anna-san needed support with a career-threatening controversy, while the rift between Hira and him had gotten so bad they hadn't slept together since their argument. Then there was poor Usagi-chan, who had to rotate between which parent she slept with each night. She looked miserably confused every time they went separate ways after dinner. With the newest addition of family troubles to top it all off, it felt like he was spending the week climbing a muddy mountainside only to slip back to the base after every day.  It almost didn't matter which direction he chose, no matter what, there was no telling what damage would be done.

The seventh morning after the fight, Kiyoi approached Hira on the couch he was camped-out on. First, the King made sure his Knight was still completely passed out, then he carefully re-tucked his blanket. They cared for each other in secret like that even when they weren't communicating. While it was still impossible to stay away from each other, it was equally as difficult to admit to that, being two hard-headed men. As Kiyoi finished adjusting the blanket, Hira had mumbled, "Kiyoi-kun... I love you sooo-ooo much...~" The Star almost panicked, thinking he'd been caught, but realized Hira was only sleep-talking. "I'm sorry, Kiyoi-kun... ah..." Hira continued to ramble some more, puckering his lips like a distressed baby.

"You're so weird." Kiyoi sighed and planted a tender kiss atop his forehead. "Don't say sorry, just don't give up on me yet." He touched Hira's cheek, and the odd peasant smiled blissfully as he nestled against the warm palm. At least he could find comfort in knowing that Hira was still home, and dreaming of the same Star, too. Kiyoi quietly laughed before removing his hand, and left him to rest.

After that he attended an urgent meeting to discuss the future of his and Anna-san's joint activities with their managers. She didn't show up, but her manager explained that she called out sick and left Manager Yamada to brief Kiyoi on the team's plan to pause everything until further notice. "We should check on her when you're available," Yamada suggested, to which Kiyoi readily agreed.

Because of everything going on, the King almost chose to dismiss his brother's call entirely, but something within him ached to explore that connection. He'd sworn to never care for his family, that those feelings were buried long ago; but after learning that his only mother was in critical condition his stubbornness had been overpowered by rue.  After all he, the eldest son, was the last family member to find out about his mother's condition. He couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility.

So that remorse brought Kiyoi to the hospital, all the way to her assigned recovery room, to the spot behind the curtains where he was frozen in place. A woman's silhouette showed through the hanging sheet, and the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment confirmed there was someone waiting behind that fabric wall. He hoped that it would just turn out to be some strange mix-up, that it was just another woman of similar name, and perhaps his brother somehow confused the two; but that would require Fate to be in the Star's favor, and the chances of that were astronomically low.

"Is there someone out there?" That was her voice, albeit a bit more gravelly than in the past, but it was her.

Kiyoi pushed aside the barrier, and when their eyes met both were struck silent. To Kiyoi she had become completely disheveled; besides the bandages, the bruises and cuts, her roots were overgrown and entirely gray, lacking the luster of a young mother that he once remembered. Permanent worry lines etched all over her face, and when she smiled at him, it was a little awkward as if she had forgotten how to. Neither looked similar to the last time they spoke in person, but there was no mistaking the gaze shared between mother and son. "Sou-chan, you came." Even his own name sounded strange rolling off her tongue.