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The rain loudly splattered onto the windows as the skies thickened with grey, rumbling clouds. The blonde girl sat up on her bed and stared out of the window with a frown and grumbled. “It’s raining again today?” She sighed and laid back down, rolling over to face the empty space between her and the door. “I guess they won’t be coming today either.”
She held her crumpled letter to her chest and closed her eyes. “It’s been a while since they all came together...”
She remembered the last time Ichika, Honami and Shiho came to visit her in the hospital as a group, which was a year ago on New Years Eve. “Saki! We came to see you!” Ichika called as she stepped through her door carrying a groceries bag as the other two followed, also carrying bags.
“Icchan! Hona-chan! Shiho-chan!” Saki gleamed as she looked through the bags filled with food, manga, magazines, accessories and all sorts of things the trio knew Saki loved, but nothing made Saki happier than just being able to be together with her three friends every once in a while like this.
Honami took out the oranges and placed a couple in the fruit basket on Saki’s desk beside her bed and began to peel them, passing them around to her friends who gratefully accepted. “I think it would’ve been nice to have some oranges under a kotatsu but I don’t think we would’ve been allowed to carry a kotatsu into a hospital...”
“Hmm... if you told them it was for Saki Tenma’s room, I’m sure they would let you.” Shiho smirked and popped an orange slice into her mouth. “They know what sort of trouble Saki’s always getting herself into.”
“Shiho-chan! I’m well behaved, okay! They said if I stay like this and diligently will myself to get better, I can go back to school in a year!” Saki retorted, puffing out her chest. “My high school debut is finally coming... I can finally join clubs, get a part time job, buy crepes and boba with you guys after school...”
“That is, if you can pass the tests.” Shiho said, smacking a math textbook into Saki’s lap. “Have you been studying hard in hospital?”
“Hey Shiho, I’m sure Saki’s been working harder than all of us. She’s the most excited for high school, after all.” Ichika replied, defending Saki, who immediately pulled her blue haired friend into a tight hug. “S-Saki, I can’t breathe...”
“Waaah, I loveeeee you Icchaaaaan!” She hugged Ichika tighter, ignoring her pleas for salvation while Honami laughed and passed Ichika another orange. “I’m trying my very besty! I can’t wait to go to Miyajo with you three~”
“Haha, Ichika-chan’s going purple!” Finally realising that she was unintentionally suffocating her bestie, Saki released Ichika from her grip and rubbed her face against Ichika’s face instead.
“...What are you doing?” Shiho asked, almost regretting it knowing that nothing would come out of knowing what’s up with Saki’s strange antics. Not that she minded though. Saki’s strange antics are what made her the Saki that they all loved.
“I’m trying to charge Icchan with power so the blood can rush faster to her head and then she won’t die.” Saki stopped and gasped as she came to a realisation. “Wait, did you two want some too? Come, come. I’ve got enough Saki love power to go around~”
Giggling, Honami jumped towards the bed which Saki laid on and pulled Shiho in too by her hand, who blushed as Saki wrapped her arms around her two new victims. “Shiho-chaaaaan, Hona-chaaaaaan! I love you both so much~”
The four stayed huddled up as much as possible playing card games, reading magazines, listening to Honami gush on and on about stars (which no one minded, of course, and appreciated as they all loved the night sky and it’s wonders) until it was the closing time for visitors, when they sorrowfully bid farewell to their twin tailed blonde best friend. “Happy early new year, Saki.” Ichika said, putting her hands in prayer. “I hope you’ll be discharged from the hospital soon.”
“Happy early new year guys!” She yelled as the three departed. Saki wasn’t sad at all, however. She was lucky enough, just having the opportunity to play with her dearest friends who would go out of their way to come visit her and bring so many gifts. “They don’t need to bring this much though...”
Saki opened her eyes, staring up at her ceiling, feeling the tears stream past her ears and sink into her pillow. She reached over to the fruit basket filled with oranges her parents and Tsukasa had brought when they dropped by earlier. “I hope... those three are still getting along...”
“Even if they no longer consider me a part of them.”