"Tell me ... is this normal?" Wataru asked.
Yuna opened her eye. "What?"
"Yui-chan's finger twitches."
As if struck by a lightning, Yuna shot up from the chair and came to the other side of the bed. Irritated, she stared at her sister's twitching finger. "I have no idea ..."
"Shall we call a nurse?" the young man puzzled.
"Yui?" The blue-haired reached for the other girl's hand. The thin fingers exerted gentle pressure on hers. "Yui ..." breathed Yuna, relieved.
"Does she wake up?"
The high-school girl nodded as she stared at the dainty hand in her own. "I think so."
"I'll get someone."
"Okay."
Wataru put his guitar aside and hurried out of the room.
"It's fine, Yui. I'm here."
The blonde pressed her hand a little tighter. Slowly, she turned her eyes to her sister, who was completely concentrated on the hands. "Yu ..." escaped her dry mouth. The older girl's red eye flinched and they stared at each other. The purple eyes closed and opened instantly. "Yu ... na ..."
"Yui!" Tears shot into the high-school student's eye. "Yui! Finally!"
The younger girl's mouth formed a grimace resembling a grin. She couldn't remember that it was so tiring to move. Yuna began to stroke excitedly over her blond hair.
"What do you need, Yui?"
She shook her head slightly.
"I'm so happy!"
She blinked once for a couple of seconds.
Wataru and Takashi hurried through the door. The young man stood aside to let the nurse get to his patient. "Yui-chan?" he asked, holding his hand in front of her eyes.
She looked at him.
"Follow my hand with your eyes." He slowly drove from one side to the other.
The patient followed the movement with her eyes.
"Okay. Yes. She's awake. Hey, Yui-chan ... was it nice in Middle-earth?"
The girl blinked.
"Good. I'll get the doctor so he can examine you. Unfortunately your visitors have to leave for that. If you have something to say, say it quickly."
She squinted again.
"See you later." Takashi turned to the others. "Unfortunately, I have to throw you out when we work with her afterwards. Come back tomorrow."
"I'll come tomorrow after school. Is that okay?"
"Absolutely. I'll give you a few more minutes, okay?"
"Thank you, Takashi-san."
The nurse nodded and left the room. Wataru stood next to his girlfriend and looked at her sister. Yuna turned around and hugged him wildly. Surprised, the singer put his hand on her back.
"Thank you, Wata," she breathed.
"For what?"
The blue-haired snuggled her head against his. "Everything."
"Sure thing."
She looked at him and smiled broadly. "At last, everything comes in place."
"Yes. You made it."
"No. We made it. All together."
Yui looked at her irritated. What had happened to her sister? She seemed to her as if she had been replaced. Yuna had always been introverted, holding back with her emotions, but now the emotions just flowed out of her. She noticed the two holding each others hands as they looked at her.
"I'm so happy, Yui. Soon you can come home."
The blonde nodded gently.
"Can I do anything for you?"
Head shaking. "I wish you would stay with me."
"I'd like to stay with you, but apparently I can't."
"I know. We'll see us soon." Yui blinked.
Wataru and Yuna stayed with her until a whole team of hospital workers swarmed into the room and they were kindly, but certainly led out.
***
Yui lay back in her bed. Takashi sat beside her with a bowl of pulpy mass. She looked at her hands, which she had laid on the plastic that stuck out of her stomach.
"Once we are sure that you can be orally fed and there are no complications, we can remove the probe."
"Okay." The violet eyes glanced at the bowl in his hands. "Is that a soup?"
"Some disgusting, badly spiced nutrient cocktail."
"Delicious."
Takashi put his nose in the bowl and took a deep sniff. "Shall I taste it for you?"
"Would you do that?"
"Of course. I will not abandon my companions."
Yui smiled. "I remember your stories. Did you meet Tomoko again?"
The carer stirred the contents of the bowl. "No. I'm too much Otaku in her opinion."
"I'm sorry." The girl studied the man, then she said, "I like you, just the way you are."
"Thank you. I appreciate that."
"You're welcome, Takashi-san."
Takashi moved the spoon through the bowl, then lifted the spoon and sipped on it. The blonde watched him. He licked his lips and twisted his eyes.
"Wow ..."
Tormented, the blonde smiled at him. "Does it taste that horrible?"
"No. It's quite good. Anyway, better than the stuff that just flows through your tube."
Yui giggled, but had to cough right away.
"Your throat is dry. You should drink some water."
"Okay."
The nurse put the bowl on the table and took the water cup. He led the mug to Yui's mouth. Slowly she raised her hands and wrapped them around the mug, but she couldn't hold it by herself. She was still too weak. Gently, he gave her some water, which she tried to swallow. Little rinks escaped from her mouth. She swallowed hard.
"Sorry," the girl apologized.
"Don't worry. You have to learn that again." He wiped her mouth with a rag. "Would you like some food?"
"Let's try."
He exchanged the water cup again for the soup bowl and took a spoonful. He put the spoon on Yui's lips so she could sip the mass. A slightly salty taste spread in her mouth and she choked it down.
"It's okay ..."
"If you eat up, you will get a dessert afterwards."
The blonde rolled with her eyes. "I don't think I can even make this bowl."
"Doesn't matter. Then you'll still get dessert."
Yui smiled contentedly.
After the nurse had fed her, Yui lay down again. He packed her nicely into the blanket. "Shall I bring you 'The Fellowship of the Ring'?" Takashi asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"So you have something to do. It can be very boring if you are in bed all day, and I don't want you to endure the TV program."
"That would be very nice of you," the girl thanked.
"Okay. Do you need anything else, Yui-chan?"
"I don't know if you can help me."
"If not I, who then?"
The blonde looked at him quietly for a moment. She could ask her questions. Maybe he knew something.
"While I was away, I've heard a lot of things. But I'm not sure what was real and what not."
Takashi nodded. "This stuff will sort itself out in time."
"Maybe ... I just want to know whether ..." She hesitated, biting her lower lip.
"What? Whether you get well again? I guess so."
"No. Whether ... my family is really dead."
The nurse looked at her thoughtfully. He grabbed his chin and rubbed it as he pondered. His hesitation gave the girl an answer.
"Then it is true."
"I'm sorry, Yui-chan."
She nodded.
"If you want to talk to someone, I can call a psychiatrist for you."
The blonde shook her head slightly. "No. It's okay. I ... I expected that."
"I'm very sorry, Yui-chan."
She turned away and nodded.
"Well ... I have to go. Feed the next patient."
"Okay. Thank you for taking some time for me."
"I like to do it. You're my little Hobbit."
Yui smiled.