You remember the times Kiyoko would come home late from volleyball practice. Every time she arrived home, she'd immediately take off to her room. You'd always try to talk to her about your day but she was too exhausted to talk. You found it annoying at the time but, your mom would always tell you to let her rest. She would always leave you on the outside of her bedroom door. You'd sit there in front of her door, patiently waiting for her to come out. You didn't mean to eavesdrop but it was different this time. She was crying. The conversation was muffled but you could catch glimpses of the conversation. She was sobbing on the phone to a boy. A boy? Dad would be so mad if she knew that was a boy. You hear: 'I don't think we should do this anymore' and 'I can't take it.'

Your dad came down the hallway and you tried to block out the sounds from Kiyoko's room. You were setting your yellow and blue volleyball in the air while sitting on the floor. 'One, Two, Three...' counting aloud. Your dad intercepted the ball in mid-air. He rubbed the top of your head and told you to go into your room to get ready for bed.

Hope Kiyoko's okay

Holding Kiyoko's hand to your face, you always prayed that she'd wake up from this never ending nightmare. Looking at her brain waves on the screen, they maintained the same steady rate.

C'mon I know you're in there. Just stay with me please. Wake up!

You heard a loud knock on the door, interrupting your thoughts. The knocking grew louder and more angrier. It was so loud to the point it felt like they were trying to knock down the door.

Suga?

You immediately drop your sisters hand approach the door slowly. The knocking grew louder and more rapidly. Your heart was beating faster out of nervousness, but who else could it be? You turn the door knob gingerly and to your surprise a tall boy was standing at the door. His face was furious and you backed away in caution.

"Daichi?! Wa-wah how did you get here? Where did you-" before you could finish your sentence he shoves you backwards, forcing you to the wall. You hit your head against it and your glasses fell to the floor.

"Where is she!?" he yelled with panic in his face.

"Wait, Where's Suga!" you asked trying to get out of his tight hold. He was gripping onto both of your wrists and his eyes were manic. You've never thought you'd see Daichi in distress before. He's such a calm person, but this was a whole new side to him. He was breathing hard but when he turned his head to the left, his expression changed drastically. His face full of anger disappeared. He slowly let go of your wrists and you massage them.

He has such a strong grip.

Suga came in running after him and his chest was heaving in and out in a rapid pace. He ran up to you, searching for any scratches. He grabs you by the shoulders, protecting you from Daichi

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" his eyes were searching all over your face in a concerned matter. You couldn't even react to what was going on.

"Y-yes I'm okay. I'm okay. What's going on?!" you say breathlessly. Suga rubs his thumbs on your shoulders and his hazel eyes were wide. He looked like he was about to lose it. His hair was a mess and he had a slight bruise on his cheek. You gently caress his cheek with your hand.

What happened here?

You peek behind Suga and find Daichi crying at Kiyoko's bedside. He was holding her hand and tucking her hair behind her ear. His tears stained the bedsheets. He took the nearest chair and sat down urgently. He leaned his face near hers and he was still crying at her pillow case. You were shocked that Daichi would ever try to hurt you, but you realize that he did it out of love.

He really does love her.

"Daichi" you approach him carefully. You put your hand on his shoulder, but to your surprise he swats your hand away. You look into his hatred filled eyes and you felt a surmount of guilt on your shoulders.

It's all my fault.

"You kept her from me." Daichi croaked. He was trembling with anger and fear at the same time. He stood up from his chair and stood still, towering over you.

"How could you do that to me! I thought she didn't love me anymore. I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR HER FOR FOREVER!" He looked so angry that he retracted his arm, as if he was going to hit you. The words that Kiyoko said to you about love rang in your ear: 'no matter how lost you are, love will always find you.'

Before you could shield yourself, Suga stepped in between both of you, taking the hit from Daichi.

"SUGA!"

"AND YOU ESPECIALLY!" he grabbed Suga by the collar of his jacket.

"I THOUGHT WE WERE BROTHERS. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD TELL ME THESE THINGS. HOW DARE YOU HIDE THIS FROM ME!"

"I swear Daichi! I just found out today too. It's no ones fault, please don't do this to (F/N)." Suga could barely let out his words as Daichi's grip was too strong.

He looks at you cowering in a corner and his eyes fall back to Suga's hazel eyes. He didn't let go of his collar just yet but you could see Daichi's hand was trembling with fear.

He really loves my sister. He's scared of losing her again.

He finally lowers Suga to the floor and quickly sits down in the chair again. His eyes would not leave Kiyoko.

"I was here because it's my grandma's birthday. I told Michimiya I was busy after school so we did the paper at lunch time. I was wondering why Suga was here and I realized you must be here too... I just can't believe this." Daichi said in a low voice with his head hung low. You approach Daichi and this time you weren't afraid. You wrap your arms around his shoulders and place your head on top of his. You take a big inhale in and sniffed his hair.

"I'm sorry Daichi... she misses you too." you whispered in his hair. More tears start to fall down his face.

Suga approaches the two of you and hugs Daichi as well.

"I'm sorry buddy. I was too scared to tell you because I knew you'd react like this."

"W-whats going to happen to her? Is she safe? Is she in pain?" he sobbed into his hands. He suddenly punched the bed frame, creating a loud 'ping' sound. He rubs his hand in regret and whimpers in both you and Suga's arms. All three of you hold each other in silence.

"I love her so much" he rocked back and forth. He still had his hands covering his face.

"I know Daichi. I know." Suga said empathetically. He really does know his best friend so well. After spending three years together, they're inseparable. You look up from Daichi's head and notice Kiyoko's index finger twitch. You thought it was your eyes playing tricks on you because Daichi knocked off your glasses earlier. Also your eyes were tearing up from Daichi's cries of desperation.

It's probably my imagination.

All of you were still a jumble of arms intertwined with one another, until you hear a voice.

"W-wha.."

You look over and see Kiyoko still had her eyes closed but her lips were moving slightly. You let go of Daichi and move over to the other side of the bed.

"Kiyoko?" you call out to her. You listen in closely by leaning in your head to hers. You realize she can't speak properly with a ventilator tube in her mouth. You immediately take the tube out and turn off the machine. Daichi was still off in his own thoughts that the silence of the machine startled him.

"Hey! What are you doing?" he cried at you. You ignored him as you desperately search for your sisters voice. Kiyoko coughs a few times and opens her eyes slowly. She was still squinting at the florescent lighting.

"K-Kiyoko?" Daichi called out to her, taking hold of her hand again. Her eyes were fully opened and she let out an exhale. It was difficult for her because she hasn't used her lungs in forever. She turned her head slightly to you with a blank expression on your face. She then directed her gaze towards Daichi and Suga. Both of them stared at her with wet eyes, but they were both in shock, not moving a muscle.

"W-who..."

You waited patiently for her to speak. It pained her to even let out one word. You stroke her hand and she retracts it right away.

"Kiyoko? Are you okay?" you uttered under your breath.

"Who are you?"

You blink at her a few times in shock.

She. Doesn't. Remember. Me? Her own sister?!

Kiyoko got up slowly from her bed and terror was written on her face. She scrunched up in a ball and pulled the sheets closer to her.

"Kiyoko it's me. Your sister!" you tried to stay calm, but you couldn't believe your eyes. Your prayers were finally answered and she's finally awake. But she can't remember you?

"Nononono" Kiyoko muttered, trembling under the sheets. Daichi reached over and tried pulling it down from her face.

"Hey Kiyoko, it's me Daichi. I'm your person." he was just as desperate as you were. He looked into her eyes with the most sincere look. He was trying to let her know that he still loves her.

"NO GET AWAY FROM ME!" Kiyoko grabs the nearest thing from her bedside. Which happened to be their precious first year photo. She throws it fast at Daichi's face and the edge of the frame cuts his cheek. Blood leaked out and in panic you call Kiyoko's neurologist.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING? WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE? GET AWAY FROM ME!" Kiyoko suddenly grabbed you by your hair and pulled you down. You face planted into the mattress and her grip was surprisingly strong for a post comatose patient.

"Kiyoko, it's me please. I'm trying to help you." you muffled. You couldn't breathe or get up as she pushes you even deeper into the mattress. Your arms were flailing, but you still had a grip on your cellphone. Suga immediately grabs the cellphone from you and yells,

"Please help! Kiyoko has woken up and I there's something wro-"

Kiyoko kicks the cellphone out of Suga's hands and it shatters as it lands to the floor. You were still suffocating from your sisters grasp.

I. can't. breathe.

Just when you thought you were going to pass out, Suga leaped onto the bed and forcefully grabbed Kiyoko's arms. He pinned her to the bed with his legs and brought her wrists to the side of her face. Kiyoko was trying to fight him but Suga managed to keep her down. Kiyoko snarled at Suga as moved her head sporadically side to side, trying to escape. She even tried biting Suga's hands.

"Are you okay?!" he screamed still holding onto your sister tightly.

You were having trouble catching your breath. Your lungs were caving in on itself and every breath seemed torturous. Collapsing to the floor, you're gasping for air and your eyelids start to feel heavy.

"S-suga..."

Your were blacking out and you could see Suga struggling to get a hold of your sister.

"Kiyoko, please."

A tear escaped your eye and just like that you passed out onto the cold floor.

-------------- end pt. 22 -----------------------