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" You seem to be recovering quite fast, Mr. Higashikata, expect to stay for a few more days before getting discharged!"
The nurse sent Josuke a sweet smile as she placed the lunch set on the overbed table, he returned the smile before looking down at the meal. It looked so appetizing, yet, his appetite wasn’t there at all.
Why?
Josuke leaned back on the pillows and shot a glance at his phone. His gaze lingered on the smartphone, hoping for a message, or perhaps a call from you. It had been 4 days since he was admitted to the hospital, and the last time he saw you was … when? He couldn’t even remember how long it had been when he had last saw you face, the urge to scream into his pillow was almost overwhelming him, but he decided not to, for public image purposes. Instead, he let out a long sigh as he sunk deeper into the pillows, feeling like a toddler throwing a petty tantrum.
Before he could get lost in his thoughts, the cubicle curtains were pulled open, and his heart skipped a beat, only to see the businessman that was resting in the cubicle next to his.
“Ah ... Mr. Suzuki! How is your recovery going?” He sat upright, greeting the older man.
“I’m doing quite well if I say so myself, “the businessman chuckled as he sat on the edge of Josuke’s bed, “my wife is going to visit me later, I haven’t been this excited over a visit in years.” Mr. Suzuki smiled as he spoke about his wife, Josuke couldn’t help but to smile as well, his heart feeling warm and fuzzy.
“That must be nice …” Josuke started, then trailed off as the thoughts of you plagued his mind again, and he unconsciously let out another sigh.
“What’s the matter sonny, I heard you sigh before I came to have a chat.” Mr. Suzuki leaned forward and smiled knowingly, “Is it about your lover?”
Josuke’s face turned red, even his ears were blushing.
“N- Well, yes, it’s about my, f…riend? I uh… I don’t really know...” He stuttered as his tongue tripped over the words.
While he was popular with many at school, he never really felt like dating anyone, which resulted in him being rather new to this ‘dating’ thing. The type to take it slow, he felt that he wasn’t truly interested in anyone, and he didn’t want to break anyone’s heart or play with anyone’s feelings just because he wanted to try dating.
“You don’t know?” Mr. Suzuki leaned forward as Josuke forced a piece of Salmon into his mouth. “I mean, like… I don’t know our relationship… I haven’t really thought about it too much, but I do know they hold a really special place here.” He placed a bandaged hand over his heart as he thought about you, ah, his heart sped up again.
“Well… have you confessed to them? Or at least hinted to them?” Josuke pushed the edamame to a side with his chopsticks. “N-no… I’ve been friends with them for about a year after they transferred from Tokyo… but we’re really close, and I don’t want to ruin our friendship… I don’t want them to despise me…”
Mr. Suzuki placed a warm hand on Josuke’s shoulder, “These feelings will eventually destroy you if you never let them out, don’t let it eat you up sonny.”
Josuke knew it was already eating him up from inside, but the thought of you despising him made his heart sink even further, he couldn’t even respond to Mr. Suzuki as he just stared at the limp and cold edamame on the side of his plate.
“Well, chin up, I’ll share some of the assorted nuts with you if they don’t accept you, heard the second floors vending machine is finally working again.” With that, the businessman closed the cubicle curtain behind him as he left Josuke to marinate in his own feelings.
‘Mr. Suzuki is right… maybe I should just do it… if Y/N despises me afterwards…’
Moments after Mr. Suzuki left, the cubicle curtains were opened again by one of the nurses who came to collect his lunch plates.
“Mr. Higashikata, you left the edamame again! How will you recover that way?" The nurse frowned as she watched the high school boy apologize solemnly over a small side of forgotten edamame. Not expecting him to react this way, she decided to skip the topic and inform him of the visitors.
“Ah, Mr. Higashikata, do be prepared as there will be a visitor at around 4:30pm later, they asked to inform you beforehand.”
He wanted to call out to the nurse to ask her who would be coming, but by the time he looked up, he was staring at an empty spot.
‘Could it be…?! Mom visited yesterday and told me she couldn’t make it today….’ A gasp left his lips as he fell back into the pillows, tempted to scream out of excitement, ‘But it could be Okuyasu and Koichi too….actually, it might be them, it’s probably them, yeah, it’s definitely them.’ Josuke felt like screaming again, out of frustration.
Feeling exhausted from thinking too much, he decided to close his eyes and take a quick nap, falling asleep as soon as he snuggled into the hospital blankets.
━━━━━━━━━━━━
‘‘……think……should I be here?..........leave……’’
“…...okay…………what if…….i will…….no worries…….”
Josuke managed to capture a few words from a conversation that was taking place outside his cubicle. Who was it? The voices sounded awfully familiar… the nurse and … not Okuyasu… not Koichi… Yukak- No! It was you! As soon as his brain registered the fact that it was your voice and you were probably leaving because he was still asleep, he sat up at the speed of light and snatched open the cubicle curtains with the most force he could muster within his injured arm.
“Oh dear! Mr. Higashikata! You shouldn’t be moving so much! Your wounds will open!” The nurse, shocked at the sudden movement, took a step back and stumbled into you. You caught her by the shoulders and helped her regain her balance as she thanked you.
“Well, seeing as he’s awake now, you don’t need to leave, thanks again!”
“Thank you!” You bowed towards the nurse as she walked off to attend to her other duties. You could hear Josuke stuttering behind you.
“Y-you’re- you actually- for me- “he looked at you, his mouth open in shock as if he couldn’t believe you were actually there in flesh. Setting down the assorted fruit basket, you smiled and pinched his cheek lightly, watching his expression change from shock to feigning pain.
“You really thought I wouldn’t visit you? What kind of friend do you think I am?” You released your grip on his cheek and watched his place a hand over the cheek as if it were badly damaged. Scanning your eyes over his whole body, you realized how many injuries he had sustained and felt your heart sink.
Josuke watched the playful light from your eyes die down as you looked at him again, but this time, with worry filled eyes.
“You know… I really didn’t expect you to come and visit me… I mean… you’re probably really caught up in school and work and I just- “Josuke didn’t make eye contact with you, awkwardly looking away and twiddling his thumbs.
“Josuke.” You used both your hands to cup his face, “You have no idea how worried I was for you, I wanted to come visit the first few days but Okuyasu told me you were in critical condition and the hospital wouldn’t allow visitors because you needed rest.. and I came here yesterday… but it was past visiting hours. I’m sorry Josuke…” You squished his cheeks slightly, hoping he’d forgive you.
“Aaaaah… you’re being really unfair right now you know… if you look at me with those puppy eyes, I’ve got no choice but to forgive you.” Josuke’s face burned up as you watched even his ears turn red, he leaned into your touch even more, enjoying every moment your hands were on his face.
He felt it in his heart, he was definitely ready for this moment, he was going to confess, it was now or never.
“You know, Josuke- “
“Y/N, I’ve been wanting- “
“Oh- uh-, Josuke, you can go- “
“N-no, it’s alright, it’s uh, not that important” His heart sank as he watched you look around awkwardly.
Little did he know, you were going to confess as well, you decided that you had kept these feelings for too long, you swore you’d confess to him now, even if he wasn’t going to reciprocate your feelings, at least you’d get this off your chest.
Your hands left his face and he pouted slightly, watching you shuffle backwards, anticipating your next words.
“Okay, so, it’s going to be awkward, but here we go. Sit tight Josuke.”
“Y/N- wha- “
“Higashikata Josuke! I really like you!”
At that moment, it felt as if everyone had gone silent, you could hear your own heart beating wildly, you took shallow breaths as your fears crept up your back. Josuke’s expression stayed the same as he watched small tears prick your eyes as you fidgeted on the spot, waiting for an answer from him.
“I- Y/N- I- “
There it was. The rejection. You were so sure he was about to smile it off and tell you he wasn't interested and then you both would have to become awkward buddies. You couldn’t do anything but stare at the ground and fight the lump in your throat and the tears that were threatening to fall out, blinking with all your might to prevent the tears, you took another deep breath and looked at him in the eyes, with a shaky voice, you started,
“It’s okay, if you can’t or don’t want to return my feelings, but please know, I won’t- I won’t give up so easily, so, I just want to hear an answer- “
“Yes. Yes, my answer is yes.” Josuke cut you off, he was smiling from ear to ear as he spread his arms for a hug.
“You know, if I could get up and hug you right now, I would, but I can’t” he grinned as he beckoned you over.
“Stupid.” You closed your eyes as he wrapped his arms around you in a tight hug. “I’m so glad, I’m so so so glad.” You buried your face in his shoulder, enjoying the moment.
“Y’know, I was gonna confess too, but I thought you had something more important…” he looked down after releasing you from the hug.
“Dummy Josuke.” You puffed out your cheeks and crossed your arms, “What could be more important than your feelings, you big dummy.”
“You.”
Feeling your cheeks heat up, you smacked him, how was this motherfucker so smooth?!
“That- really hurt-!” He placed a hand over where you smacked him, “Uh- Oh shit! D-do you need a nurse? Doctor? Did the wound open-?”
“N-no, it’s fine- I just need to rest a little”
You sighed a breath of relief, despite Josuke telling you it was alright, you still felt guilty, and that was when an idea popped up in your head, something your mom used to do when you were younger.
“I know this might not work so well, but maybe… it wouldn’t hurt if I tried… want me to kiss it better? “
“K-k-kiss it better- ?!” Josuke sputtered, “I mean- hell yeah- yeah it’d be great!”
“My mom used to do this for me heheh, it worked wonders when I was younger, I hope the magic works here too”
You leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his hands, his jawline, then above his eyebrow, under his eye, taking a closer look, there were many scratches and scars all over his face, you traced some of the more prominent scars on his face with your thumb, wanting to ask what had happened, but he interrupted you before you got a chance to voice out your thoughts,
“You forgot one part,” You tilted your head as he lifted his finger and pointed to his lips, “right here.” You felt your cheeks heating up again and watched as his lips stretched into a cheeky smile, “It’s not gonna get better if you don’t kiss it you know~ “
Without giving him a reply, you closed your eyes and leaned in, placing a tender kiss on his lips.
Feeling embarrassed, you pulled away, “T-there, it’s gonna get better soon”,
“I’m thinking it’s not enough, maybe once more?” Josuke grinned and intertwined his fingers with yours, “Fine, one more”
You pressed your lips to his once again as the both of you shared a memorable afternoon in a hospital cubicle.
Mr. Suzuki smiled knowingly in the cubicle next to Josuke’s, “Guess he won’t need these assorted nuts anymore.”