"Italicized" = Signed

"Regular" = Spoken

Italicized = Yō typing

= Someone else typing

----- = A spoken word Yō can't understand (or at least not lip read)

...

Yō's POV:

The next day went by well. I was slowly catching up with everyone else. They were impressed with my progress. I guess they assumed it would take me a lot longer to accomplish. It probably would have if I hadn't been practicing like I was.

Ruby and I were also getting a lot done on the outfits. Within a day we had managed to buy all the materials and make one and a half of the outfits. That's pretty good progress if you ask me.

Dia didn't say anything to us like before. She came home to us working again. This time, she merely asked how it was coming along and then left us. She's so hard to read. I'd wish she'd just cough up why she isn't that nice to our group.

I know she didn't want to approve it when Chika first asked, but that was over a year ago. I feel she should be able to tell that everyone is determined to stick it out till the end. Why can't she be more supportive like Mari is?

...

It had been a few days. The open house was tomorrow. I'm not dancing in it. I'll be on the sidelines helping out. I guess that's for the best. Even though I have made a lot of progress, I guess I shouldn't push myself too much.

But I really want to prove how good I am. I've been doing a lot of extra practice just to make sure I could do that. I wish I could get more out of it right now.

Speaking of that. It's time for practice. I made my way up to the roof after changing. It was a cloudy day, but it wasn't cold or raining. We could still practice. It actually was probably better than if we were in the sun. It gets really hot really fast.

It didn't take long for everyone to gather on the roof. We started out stretching in pairs as always. We had a pretty good routine going on. Despite how unorganized Chika tended to be, she at least made sure we had a plan for each practice.

Once we were done stretching, we got to practicing. We started out with the dance they were doing for the open house. After they finished that, we started working on a new dance we had made.

The song wasn't exactly done yet, but we had enough to work off of to start the dance. The dance was a lot harder than normal. I'm starting to fall behind them again. They were all doing it so easily and I wasn't. I hate that. I want to be at the same level as them.

As we kept practicing, I felt a little lightheaded. I ignored it and pushed onward. I'm not going to let that stop me. I need to get better. I need to catch up with them. I can't keep holding them back. I have to get a lot better as fast as possible.

The more I kept practicing, the worse the feeling became. Maybe I should take a break? But no one else is. They aren't tired so I can't be either. I have to show them that I can keep up.

A few more minutes passed by. I was starting to get off tempo a little. No one seemed to notice, though. Why can't I focus as well? I need to. This dance is hard. I need to really focus on it.

Just as we finished up the dance, I felt a sharp, splitting pain in my head. My legs gave out and I went falling toward the ground. I blacked out before I even hit the ground.

...

I opened my eyes to find the world was all blurry. I tried to blink to clear my vision. As I did, I was struck with a blinding light that made me close my eyes again.

What happened? Last thing I remember is being at practice. I had a headache or something. What the hell happened then?

I forced my way through the painful light and opened my eyes again. I looked around the room. I was in a place I didn't recognize. Where am I?

I slowly forced myself into a sitting position. I was the only one in the room. I think I might be in the hospital. If that's the case, then just what the hell happened to me? How'd I end up here? Did I pass out or something?

No one else was in the room with me. I was all alone. Who will be the first to come and see me? I hope whoever comes in can explain what happened to me. I'm very confused.

Is it even the same day? It could be a different day for all I know. I hope not. I hope it's still the same day. Or at least it's only the next day. I wish someone would come in and see me. I need to figure this out now.

No one came in for over an hour. The first person who did was a nurse. She started talking to me. Great. What am I supposed to do now? I can't move very well. Everything hurts. I don't think I can get my arms up enough to sign to her.

It seems she just wants to take my vitals. I did my best to comply with what she needed. It was hard. I bet she's talking to me and asking me questions. I can't answer her. I hate this.

I hope someone comes in soon. They'll be able to help me out. But, how long will that be? I hope soon. I don't want to be here alone. It's making me panic. Mainly because I can't hear. It makes this entire thing harder for me.

...

It took another hour before anyone else came in. Thankfully, it wasn't a doctor or nurse. Chika had come to see me. She ran over to me and pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged her back. I guess I worried her a lot, didn't I?

Chika pulled away. She looked at me. She seems to be glaring at me. What did I do? Is this because I worried her? Is she mad at me for that? I think she might be.

"You scared us..." Chika signed, her face now being filled with worry. Her bottom lip was starting to quiver. Is she going to cry?

"I'm sorry." I didn't know what else to say.

"You're pushing yourself too hard. That's what the doctor said." Chika told me.

I didn't know how to reply to that. I guess I have been working myself to my limit. If I keep this up, I might never be able to do anything for the group. I'll just keep dragging them down.

I hate this. Why can't I just be like them? Am I really that out of shape?

"I know you want to catch up. But, you need to go slower." Chika told me.

"It's your fault." I glared at her, "You keep expecting too much from me. I've just been trying to please you."

Chika's eyes went wide, "I..."

I nodded. I guess it's not all her fault. I pushed myself beyond what she was expecting. But, maybe it wouldn't have happened if I wasn't pressured into getting better.

What am I saying? It's my fault. I should've known my limit. I shouldn't have let myself be pushed around so much. I can't just blame Chika. It's not her fault this happened. Now I've made her cry. Great.

"Chika, don't cry." I frowned and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry..."

I don't know what she's apologizing for. Is it for crying or is it for expecting too much from me? I kind of don't want to ask.

I just hugged her. I feel bad now. I put all the blame on her. I should apologize. I shouldn't have done that. I made her feel really bad.

I made Chika look at me, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't only blame you for this. It's my fault too."

"But you said I-"

"I shouldn't have let myself be pushed around. It's my fault." I cut her off.

We stared at each other in silence. Neither of us moved. I don't know what to do. It seems like Chika doesn't know either. It's tense around us. I don't like this feeling.

We were broken out of our silence when someone else entered the room. It was Riko. She waved to me and then stood beside Chika.

"How are you doing?" Riko asked me.

I shrugged, "I think I'm okay."

"You really worried us for a while." Riko told me.

"How long has it been?" I asked.

"Three days." Chika replied, "You really pushed yourself to your limit."

"I'm sorry." I apologized.

"Just promise us you won't do that again." Riko signed.

"I promise." I replied.

"Do you have any idea when you'll be released?" Chika changed the topic.

I shook my head, "How am I supposed to know that? I can't hear what they say to me."

"Right. Sorry." Chika looked a little embarrassed.

...

We later found out I was to be released tomorrow. They hung out with me for a while. We did inform the nurse that I was deaf and needed an interpreter. We still haven't seen anyone for that job yet. They should have someone they could call.

As it started getting later in the day, Riko and Chika left. They had to go home. I was all alone again. Thankfully, it wasn't for too long. Only a little while had passed before someone else came in.

It was Mari. She waved to me and took a seat beside me. Is she going to scold me as well?

"You feeling alright?" Mari asked.

I nodded, "I'm fine."

"Learned not to overwork yourself again?"

Ah. There's the start of the scolding. I knew it was going to happen.

"Yeah. I won't do it again." I promised, hoping she wouldn't say anything else about it.

"You better not." Mari did seem to accept my promise.

"So... what have I missed?" I asked. Chika had been too talkative for me to ask that to her or Riko.

"Quite a lot, actually." Mari told me.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Well, Aqours got a letter asking them to perform at a festival event." Mari started with.

"I guess I'm still not going to be performing."

"You never know." Mari replied.

"Anything else?" I asked.

Mari nodded, "I got Kanan to join them."

"Are you in the group now too?"

I'm surprised she managed to do that. I remember the few times I saw them. Whenever Mari would try that, it would tend to end with them getting into a screaming match. How did she get Kanan to change her view.

"Yep. Oh, there's actually two new couples too." Mari smiled.

Two new couples? Wow. And yet, I can't think of who they would be. No one has really shown signs of being that close. I wonder who they are.

"You gonna tell me who? Or am I supposed to guess?" I asked.

"Yoshiko and Ruby started yesterday. And, well... I'm kinda dating two people." Mari told me.

Yoshiko? Who's that? Wait. Could that be Yohane? Is that not the name everyone calls her? Why wasn't I told this?

"Who are you dating?" I asked. I'll talk to Yohane later to see if it's true.

"Kanan and Dia."

I knew about Kanan, but since when was Dia involved in this? Perhaps that was where she was every day. She was always home late. I thought it was her doing work, but maybe not.

"Surprised?"

I nodded, "I wasn't expecting Dia. I kinda knew you and Kanan had a thing for each other for a little bit."

"I see. Well, it was just me and Kanan for a while, but then somehow Kanan got Dia involved with us." Mari explained.

What? Kanan was responsible for that? I was sure it would've been Mari. Jeez. Today is just full of surprises.

But, now that I think about it... maybe it's not that surprising. After all, Kanan had to have been meeting up with Dia. That's how she learned to sign. So, maybe that's what caused it.

"Anyway, are you staying until visiting hours are over?" I changed topic.

"I can if you want me too." Mari replied.

"I'd like if you would. They still haven't given me an interpreter." I told her.

"Okay. I'll stay until then." Mari agreed.

Let's hope this never happens again. I'll make sure to be careful from now on. I can't afford to push myself like that again. If I did, I fear they may kick me out of the group.

I'll just be a big disappointment to them then. I don't want that. I wanna show them how good I can get. I'll prove I can be an idol like them. I will.