Lesson Learned

I can't lose you

Mitsuko groaned, stirring awake when the pain from her head to her toes finally hit. She ached all over and her head felt like there was cotton wool stuffed inside.

She eased her eyes open and then flinched when the bright light from the window hit her at full force. "Shit..." she croaked, her throat dry, turning her head to see who was holding her hand so tight.

"Mitsuko?!" Her brother was sat next to her side in an uncomfortable-looking hospital chair, holding her hand tight. He looked tired and washed out, and his uniform was even a little scruffy in comparison to its usual perfect state.

She felt a rise of guilt, wincing when she forced herself to sit up. "Hey—"

To her complete shock, he rushed forward and pulled her into a hug, holding onto her like she'd slip away from him.

"What were you thinking?" His voice was mumbled and weak.

Mitsuko tried to hide a wince when her bruises hurt from the embrace. "I..." She sighed, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry..."

He clung onto her for a long while, the two of them stayed silent.

"...It's okay," she reassured him, sighing. "I'm fine. Everything's fine..."

He slowly pried himself away from her, giving her a hard glare. "You nearly dying is definitely not fine." He crossed his arms. "If you're going to kill yourself, then you better have the damn curtesy to drag me along as well so I won't be stuck picking up the pieces for our poor excuse for parents."

She sighed, grimacing. "I'm sorry." Her gaze shifted to her bruised arms. Her blazer had been removed so she was in her school shirt and tie still, her bare arms showing multiple bruises. "I know what I did was stupid..."

Gakushuu sighed, sitting down on the bed when she pulled her knees up under the covers to make room. "I think terrifying is a better word."

Mitsuko touched her neck and winced when she pressed too hard on a large bruise that had formed. "What time is it?"

"It's 3:30 pm," he answered.

She frowned, rubbing her neck. "Don't you have a council meeting you should—?"

"You almost died and you're seriously asking me that?" He fixed her with an incredulous look. "You're my sister. Fuck the council meetings!"

Mitsuko nearly choked. "Did you just swear?"

Was she in some weird purgatory right now?

Maybe she had died.

No, the look glare Gakushuu was giving looked too grounded in reality to be anything supernatural or spiritual.

"This isn't funny, Mitsuko." His voice cracked a little. "I thought I'd lost you."

"I'm sorry," she apologised, smiling sadly. "My head just still feels weird and..." Her stomach churned and her legs tingled unpleasantly. "I can't believe I nearly died..." She reached out and held his hand. "I'm sorry I scared you."

Gakushuu sighed and squeezed her hand, keeping his gaze low. "...You need to stop doing reckless stuff like this."

"I'm not doing it on purpose—"

"It doesn't matter," he interrupted, looking angry. "It doesn't matter if you think you're doing it for a good reason. I can't lose you, and I won't lose you. You're my sister and...and I love you." He cringed at his own words. "And I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. I need you, I always have and I'm scared of what's going to happen when you're no longer around!"