Chapter Text
The hospital room was cold, even with all the blankets he was huddled up under. Holly, the nice nurse, walked into the room with a smile on her face. “Hello, Josefumi! How are you feeling today?”
He sat up on his bed, offering her a shy smile in response. “I’m feeling better, miss Holly! Thank you,”
“That’s fantastic! I’m here to give you your medicine, baby. And I brought you a few treats too!” she said, handing him a small plate of cookies and a cup of hot cocoa. Holly moved over to check the IV bag and the rest of the things in the room, while Josefumi happily munched on the cookies she brought him.
Once he finished the first cookie, he glanced over at her. “These are really good, thank you very much!” Josefumi bit his lip nervously, watching her as she worked. “Miss Holly, is Yoshikage gonna come and play today?” he asked, his voice low.
The nurse let out a small laugh and nodded. “Of course! Yoshikage told me he would come right after school. So he should be here soon,” she paused, looking over at him, “You two really get along, huh?”
“He’s really cool! He knows so many interesting things. Did ya know he wants to be a doctor?” His eyes were starry and he seemed very content as he spoke of his friend.
Holly walked back to where he was and handed him his medicine. “Does he now?” Josefumi nodded enthusiastically, taking a sip of his cocoa. “That’s wonderful. What do you want to do when you grow up?”
“I don’t know yet, but I hope I get to be cool like Yoshikage. I could be a doctor too! Or a nurse like you!”
Picking up the now empty place, she smiled at him again. “Whatever you end up being, I am sure you’ll be the absolute coolest, Josefumi.”
-
Josefumi’s eyes shot open when he heard a light knock on his door. “Josefumi. Are you awake?” He sat up upon hearing these words, turning to face the door. Yoshikage stood there in his school uniform with a book in his hands.
“Yoshikage! Hi! You came to see me!” he exclaimed, a grin on his face.
The older boy sat down on the chair right next to his bed. “I told you I would, didn’t I?” he looked up at Josefumi, tilting his head to the side just a bit. “How are you feeling today? Mom said you’d be free to go soon.”
“Yes! I don’t hurt anymore which is good! But I don’t want to leave, then I have to go to school again,” he said with a small frown.
A small smile made its way to Yoshikage’s lips and he shook his head. “Going to school’s good, you get to learn new things there.”
Josefumi seemed to consider this statement for a few seconds, hand on chin. “Well… that’s true. But they don’t teach it interesting like you! It’s all boring.” His gaze shifted over to the thin book on his hands and he pointed at it. “What’s that?”
“It’s a comic… I got it today and thought maybe we could read it together. Since last time you told me you were into superheroes and stuff.”
Josefumi’s eyes lit up at his words. “Yes! I love super heroes!” he exclaimed, scooting over to the side and patting the spot next to him. “Come closer so we can read together!”
Yoshikage’s smile came back for a few seconds. He stood and sat on the bed next to Josefumi, holding the book in between them.
“Thank you for hanging out with me, Yoshikage,” he said once they were sat next to each other.
Yoshikage raised an eyebrow at him. “You don’t need to thank me for that. We’re friends, right? Besides, you’re a pretty cool kid, Josefumi.”
Josefumi looked up at him incredulously, a grin on his face. Yoshikage thought he was cool!
Both boys hung out together, reading the comic and then talking about it, until Holly’s shift finished. After this, they said their goodbyes and Yoshikage agreed to come visit again the next day.
Josefumi was happy to have found a friend.