"Mirai~ Mirai!" Daiki called her sister desperately as she dragged her feet across their rooms and towards the living room. he has been especially worried for her ever since she returned home 2 days ago, looking pale with red, swollen eyes. he should have asked Yuto about what happened but because he was on the phone at that time, he completely overlooked. regardless of how hard he tried to talk to her, the only response he could get from her was subtle nods and shakes, just like now. she is like a zombie moving in the house, with a terrible eyebag. she worries everyone in the house with her expressionless face, unlike her usual bubbly character.

out of frustration for her non-response, Daiki grabbed her by the shoulder to get her fullest attention   "Baka. where are you going? you don't look well"    "I'm meeting my friends" she responded with droopy lids and fleeting concentration. she turned and resumed her motion as soon she replied. Daiki was stunned that she did not retaliate even when he called her names. but at least she's meeting her friends. the past 2 days, all she did was coop up in her room, wrapped under her blanket and stare into her phone.   Without even having her breakfast, she left the house before Daiki could nag at her.    "what's wrong with your sister?" his mother asked while she do the dishes.   "I don't know. but okasan, don't worry about it. I'm sure she's okay" Daiki replied with optimism.   "Alright if you say so. take care of her for me and your otousan, okay?" his mother reminded.   "definitely. leave Mirai to me" Daiki shouldered the burden and gave his mother a cheerful pat to lighten her mood.   **** Mirai walked down the street with her eyes on her phone, scrolling up and down her inbox, hoping that she has missed out a reply from Ryosuke since they parted on a traumatizing note that day. but all there was in her inbox were her messages of concern and worries.   "Ryosuke, please pick up my call..."   "Ryosuke, where are you?"   "Ryosuke, Nanase-san said you didn't come for your scheduled treatment. please come back!"   "Ryosuke, I'm sorry I ruin everything for you. it's okay if you ignore me, but please don't isolate yourself"   "Ryosuke... I'm worried for you, we all are! please return our calls!"   a loud beep came from behind, startling Mirai so much that her phone slipped out from her hand and crashed on the hard ground. more concerned for her phone, then her safety, she quickly bend down and picked it up. desperately checking if her phone is alright, she felt relieved that everything was in working order. her gestures worry the 2 behind that although they didnt know what happened, but they could tell their friend isn't herself.   "Mirai!" Chinen and Umika ran up to her from behind. Chinen placed his arms over shoulder and bring her close while Umika held her hand as she always did.   "Daijoubu? it was so dangerous just now" Umika asked.   "ah gomene for worrying you guys" she feigned a smile and was obvious to the 2 friends.   "it must have scared you. lets quickly go in and grab a drink to calm your nerves" Chinen said and ushered the 2 girls to their regular cafe where their clique always meet. when they entered, Suzuka and Yuto were already seated.   "Mirai~" Yuto couldn't hide his relief when he saw Mirai. he hasn't received a return message and calls from her since he fetched her home that day. he stood up in excitement, causing the rest to look confused at the unexplainable uptight mood in the air.   she gave a subtle nod to acknowledge his presence resulting in a slight disappointment in him. realising the awkwardness, Chinen quickly tried to break the ice.   "We bought nice goodies for all of you!" Chinen poured out a bag of presents, and Umika quickly picked up the tri-angel that she specifically bought for Mirai.   "Mirai, this doll brings love luck! for you... don't lose it" Umika stuffed into the palms of the listless Mirai.   "can this bring hope too?" Mirai murmured and this question caused the clique to stare clueless at her, except Yuto who knows exactly what she implied.   "erm... I guess?" Umika tried to answer.   "what's wrong with you, Mirai? you're scaring us!" the usual forthcoming Suzuka could no longer tolerate the awkwardness in the air and hence decided to confront.   "Suzuka~ chill," Chinen quickly pressed her down, while Umika tried to console Mirai who looks like she's going to break down any time soon, " Mirai, what happened when we're gone? did Yuto bully you? if he did, tell us, we'll whack his head off.. right Chinen?"   Chinen nodded and turned to Yuto and pulled his ear immediately. despite so, Yuto continued to stare at Mirai with worried eyes and the rest knew they got the reason wrong.   Mirai suddenly gave a hysteric laugh to unnerve her worried friends and wiped the fallen tear off her eyes "it's nothing ne~ I'm okay guys. Yuto didn't bully me haha" all those smiles were fake and they all knew it. unsure of how to react, they just observed her unnatural reactions.   "I'm going to the washroom," Mirai dashed off and Yuto knew that Ryosuke's impact on her is too great to wipe off and too difficult for her innocent heart. Yuto stood up and was about to run after her but Chinen grabbed hold of him.   "I think it's best you stay and explain what's going on..." Chinen requested, while signaling Umika to go after her instead. she complied immediately  and towards the toilet.   "Mirai!!!" Umika was stunned when she saw her friend crying by the sink, crying so heartbreakingly that she was shivering. Umika threw her arms over her friend and embraced her tight, praying that she could alleviate some of her sorrows. she has never seen Mirai so depressed before, the bubbly, happy-go-lucky girl seemed like she has gone through miles of hardship and pain.    "I'm here, Mirai. I'm your best friend, ne? tell me what's wrong... we can solve it together"   "Umika...." she cried harder and Umika could feel her own sleeves drenched with her friend's tears, and she too felt an unknown sense of heartache. she Mirai's hair and tried to comfort her, while suppressing her own emotions. Mirai pulled back slightly and looked into Umika eyes.   "Ryosuke~ he.... he's so young... w-why must it be him... I ruined everything for him... I d-deserve to be punished..."   "heh? Ryosuke? ....yamada Ryosuke??? our senpai???" it took awhile for Umika to realise who she's talking about as she recalled Mirai's phone conversation earlier.    "what about him? what happened Mirai? if you don't say, I can't help"   "you can't help... it's a problem none of us can help, Umika.... it's hopeless~" Mirai struggled to speak with the tears choking , and she already saw stars above her. she's gradually losing her sight and senses in her limbs, eventually her vision turned black.   "Mirai!" Umika caught hold of her fallen friend and held her tight in her arms. Mirai has lost all colours on her face and a touch on her forehead indicated her high fever. Umika, with all the strength she has got, carried her friend to where the rest are.   "Chinen!" she yelled his name for help. as soon as Chinen's attention was fixated at the source of the calling, he stood up in shock to see Mirai unconscious. Yuto and Suzuka did likewise.   "what the heck happened?!!!" Chinen took over the weight and tried to knock her conscious but to no avail. "she's burning..." Yuto exclaimed as he ran his hand on her forehead.   "damn! Yuto, hold her... I'll call her brother" Chinen said. as Mirai's family friend, Daiki's number was indefinitely one of his quick dials.   As instructed by Daiki, Yuto piggybacked Mirai with her friends by her side towards the nearby clinic. Yuto could hear murmurs from Mirai and tried to speak to her.   "is your body aching?" Yuto asked. his delicate voice and care settled her heart and made the pain more endurable, but warm tears still ran down her cheeks onto his collar.   "Itai" she responded softly while tightening her grip around his neck. she buried herself on his shoulder and could briefly feel the brushing of his hair beside her ear, unknowingly giving her additional sense of security.    "Mirai, we're here!" Umika and Suzuka said in unison as they entered the clinic. the clique accompanied her into the consultation room, fortunately she's just down with a case of fatigue, hence the high fever. Well, after days of irregular meal and insomnia, plus her depression, it's no wonder her body shuts down.   Yuto lay Mirai on his lap while waiting for Daiki. only after confirming she's asleep, he told them all about the happenings the past weeks as well as the shocking revelation 2days ago regarding Ryosuke. even though there's no personal connection with Ryosuke, the 3 listeners felt their hearts cringed like never before. he's the first person of their age they knew who suffers from such horrible disease. they could finally understand how much worst this gets for Mirai who became attach to him after these weeks of interaction.    "minna, all of us know Mirai well enough to know she has crushes on almost every guy that past her. I think... for once I'm almost sure... she has fallen for him. and it's nothing like her previous crushes. I could tell her heart is going all out to him" Yuto