Keep Fighting

𓊈卍 𝟖𝟗 卍𓊉

"Kano-chin!"

"Nakano!!"

Mikey and Takemichi suddenly attack Nakano. They both hug her tightly but are weary of the wounds she has. She doesn't mind the soreness of her body and hugs them back.

Takemichi is soaking her hospital clothing with the tears he's sobbing out, while Mikey is smiling with the purest relief she's ever seen. Tears are brought to her eyes, as she holds them in her arms.

"I'm so glad you're finally awake!" Takemichi cries out, still sobbing on her shoulder. "You've been out for so long! We were so worried!"

"Takemichi, are you, uh..." Nakano isn't sure if it's safe to ask if he went back to the future.

Takemichi catches on quickly and shakes his head. "I needed to make sure you were okay. I wasn't going to leave you here, You said we would go back together."

Nakano rubs the back of his head. "Hold on... How long was I out for? It felt like only a few minutes, but it's already spring?"

"Kano-chin, you've been asleep for over two months," Mikey breaks the news to her. "The doctors said it would likely take you much longer to wake. At least half a year due to all the trauma your body went through."

"I feel like being dead would've been a more reasonable outcome of all the wounds I sustained," Nakano scoffs as she jokes. "Am I immortal?"

Mikey smiles at her. "You're unkillable, that's for sure."

Takemichi sits up, wiping his eyes. "Do you need anything? Are you hungry? Are you cold? Hot? Does anything hurt still?"

"I'm fine, Takemichi."

"Every time you've said that you weren't okay. You were far from it," Takemichi points out, much more serious in his tone now. "You can't lie to me like that anymore. Please, whenever you're hurting or something is bothering you, let me know. I'm always here to help you, Nee-san."

Nakano's heart skips lightly when she hears that. "Nee-san, huh?"

"I'm calling you that, and you can't stop me."

"Even if I threaten to kill you if you don't stop?" She makes it obvious that it's a joke.

"Then they'll be my last words."

Nakano smiles as warmth blossoms within her. She ruffles Takemichi's hair before turning to Mikey, who's smiling at the two of them.

"How have you been, Manjiro?" She asks him, taking his hand.

He doesn't respond for a moment, trying to find the right words. However, he's distracted by her eyes. He hasn't seen them in so long, and they're more beautiful than he remembers. She rubs her thumb over the top of his palm, bringing him back to the moment.

"Worried out of my mind."

"Mikey-kun rarely went home," Takemichi comments. "The only time he left is when he took Emma home."

Nakano's eyes light up. "Emma's awake? She's okay?"

"She has been for a while now. She woke up a week after the incident," Mikey fills her in.

"That's a relief," Nakano sighs.

"Do you want to see her?" Takemichi suggests. "Actually, I can call all of our friends. They've all missed you and checked in with us every day."

"That'd be great. I want to see them again."

"Call a nurse too, Takemitchy, so we can get Kano-chin checked up to make sure there's nothing else wrong with her," Mikey adds.