When the door shut, everything became dark once again. He heard some muffled voices from the door and a lot of footsteps walking away afterwards. They're probably going to nii-san's room.
With a small sigh, Tsurugi turned his attention to the blonde on the bed. How exactly was he supposed to handle this?
"You don't have to. Just get out." Her voice came from underneath the blanket. Now that he's actually inside, he can see that she was facing the wall.
"And leave you to rot here by yourself?" He got closer until he was standing right by the bed. There weren't any chairs around that he could drag over and sit on so he hoisted himself up and sat by her legs.
"..."
"..."
The silence was starting to become unbearable.
Seeing no other way out of it, he decided to kick start the conversation. "I found out who the Holy Emperor is about a week after I ran into you. Right before the semi-finals, I figured out what his goal was."
"Good for you." He decided to ignore the sarcasm.
"Since it's Gouenji-san, I can't imagine that he was the one who sent you back to God Eden." He thought a little before adding, "I don't believe you went there yourself either."
This time, she didn't reply.
"Kuroki-san was with you, or so Hakuryuu told me. Given the timing of when you left..." Realization hit him. "It... wasn't for training." He only got a glimpse of half her face, but her expression was enough to tell him that she knew what he was going to say. "It was punishment, wasn't it?"
"... That's just your assumption."
"You were told to take responsibility for my actions because you were the one who brought me in. You left without saying anything because you knew that I'd just assume you were going abroad again. You..." And finally, it all dawned on him. "You wanted all of this to happen. You've been trying to get me to stop from the start, but because I didn't listen, you―"
He was cut off by a sudden sting on his cheek. Did she just―
"I'm not here to listen to another one of you brothers' episodes." Before he knew it, she had sat up. "None of this is your fault. It's not Yuuichi-san's fault either. It's not anyone's fault, but mine. I was the one who put the idea in your head. It was the only thing you ever wanted for the past six years, so of course you were easily tempted―" She inhaled sharply. One hand instinctively squeezed her chest while the other covered her mouth as she coughed.
Broken ribs. "Hey, lay back down." He scooted over and gently pushed her back to the bed. "Calm down and take deep breaths." She followed his instructions and the coughing slowly resided. There was still stinging in her chest but it was bearable for now.
She managed a small laugh. "You know... If you don't end up being a world-class soccer player... You'd probably make a good doctor."
"Yeah, not happening." He shook his head. "In just a few more months, I won't have a reason to keep coming here anymore either."
"Eh?"
He gave her a smile. The first genuine one she had ever seen him with in a long, long time. "Nii-san's getting his surgery soon."
"W-WHAT?!" She shot back up, before her insides started pounding again, forcing her back down. She let out a few coughs before managing to ask, "H-How? There's no way Senguuji Daigo approved―"
"It was an anonymous donor. They didn't say who they were, but they wanted the money to be used for nii-san's sake." His expression softened even more. "Soon, nii-san's going to play on the pitch again. We can play soccer again like we used to."
Her eyes widened. Memories of so long ago came rushing from the back of her head. "Oh my god." She racked her brain for something else to say, but that was all that came out. "Oh... my god..." She couldn't help the smile and tears forming. "So... everything... worked out...?"
"Somehow."
"I can't... believe...." She rubbed her eyes, trying to stop the tears from falling. "Six whole years... and it all just... I can't even begin to..." She shook her head. "Help me up! Help me up!"
She held out her hands and he pulled her to a sitting position carefully. As soon as he made sure she was steady, she tackled him in a hug. Her insides all hurt but she didn't care, she was too happy. When he finally wrapped his arms around her, she moved to nuzzle her nose in his neck.
He flinched. "Hey, cut it out!"
"No way! I haven't got to hug you in forever! I'm not letting this chance slip by!" She responded with rubbing her cheek on his. "I'm so jealous Tenma got to do this before I did!"
"Wh-What?!"
"I was watching your match against Arakumo on TV. I saw how he tackled you at the end! I wanted to do it too, you know!"
"Just how much of a kid are you?!" Despite his protests, he wasn't trying to push her off. That was a good enough sign for her.
Eventually, she had to get herself off as her chest was starting to feel the pain pulsing again. She sighed in content when she laid back down. It had been over two years since she was able to feel that happy. But now, Fifth Sector is no more. Everyone could enjoy soccer freely, and her best friend was safe. She no longer had anything to worry about.
Seeing his friend so relaxed made him smile a little. When was the last time she was able to be herself like this? A year ago? Maybe a little more than that. And him too... He knew he changed a lot in such little time, and it was a change for the worst, but he no longer wanted to be that person. He was never good at making friends, but he felt that he was willing to open up, at least a little, to the others at Raimon. Tenma specifically, he supposed... Wait.
Memories of the first few weeks they spent at Raimon replayed in his head. How she was trying to defend him, how she said she liked him, how she supported him...
"You were purposely trying to get him to influence me, weren't you?!"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "You mean you just realized? Kyou, I left him to handle you because I knew, on that first day, that if anyone could truly get through to you, it was going to be him. He's a really special person."
"How? You can read minds, but you can't see the future. How did you know he wasn't going to give up on me?"
"Easy." Her smile caught him off guard. "Because he's just like you."
"Just like me?"
"Wanna try it again today?"
"Yeah!"
"Alright. Then, let's play soccer!" She bounced the ball, waiting for him to try and take it.
"Here I come!"
He dashed at her, aiming to charge through. She kept it balanced on her leg as she turned around, evading him.
"Ack―!" He fell on his face, but got back up immediately after. "Not yet!"
"You're getting faster, Kyou." She smiled as she bounced it on her head. "Come on!"
He made another charge, trying to head it away, but missed. It went on like that for a while.
"Almost got it that time!" She kept encouraging.
"I'm not done yet!" He kept on trying...
"Not yet!" And trying...
"Not yet!" And trying...
"Not... Not yet... I'm not done yet!"
But the longer it went on, the less progress he seemed to be making.
She frowned. "Hey, your moves are getting smaller. Want to take a break?"
"No!" He pushed himself off the ground and faced her again. "I'm going to do it this time!"
... That's a pretty cool expression. There was no reason to turn him down. "Then come at me with everything you've got!"
"I can do this... I'll get that ball no matter what!"
Using the last of his energy and focus, he charged straight at her once again. His sudden speed boost caught her off guard, and for a moment, she thought there was something forming on his back. However, it disappeared in a blink as he got through her.
"H-Huh?" He was looking down at the ball by his feet. "... I did it? I-I really just―"
She couldn't help the huge grin appearing on her face. "Good job, Kyou! That was amazing! I knew it! Speed really is your strong point!"
"I won..." He turned around with a similar expression on his face. "I really won!"
She chuckled. "Just ask Yuuichi-san. I'm pretty sure he'll agree."
"He would." He rolled his eyes and they fell on the clock on the wall. "Visiting hours are almost over. Want me to call your siblings over?"
"Maybe just Shuuya-nii first... I have some stuff to discuss with him about."
He nodded and hopped off the bed. "Then, I'll be leaving you with this." His hand reached into his pocket before throwing a familiar necklace towards her.
She caught it with wide eyes. "This is... Kyou, I..."
"You dropped it." He smiled, opening the door. "I'm returning it to its rightful owner."
When she finally looked up, he had closed the door. Still, that didn't mean she couldn't reach him.
Thank you.