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People being in groups, others alone. Some studying whilst enjoying the company of cats rubbing against them. To even get their minds even less stressed than they could be.
Some normally tend to pet cats and enjoy their order when being at a highly esteemed cat cafe. It’s rare for others moreover to search anything on a website than to pay attention to the miniature creatures.
The doors open and close at least every few minutes, conversing about the simple subjects of mere life. Laughing about as these pets enjoy the attention.
A small door separating it in two, a library and the cat cafe. To safeguard the kittens there.
The library being opened for mostly the whole day, even computers being there for the discretion of the customers.
As Gin gets on a social media service in the libraries computer, she notices a message from her acquaintance.
>ichiyo: hey! Sorry for seeing your message so late, so you want to meet up?
Gin almost freezes, albeit they have been texting back and force for closely two months. She was always so fearful of meeting others; moreover online friends.
True, she wears a mask all the time. Being afraid of her own face and how people perceive her. Almost as always her one black piece of hair fell onto their face.
Over to the other side of a door a cat nuzzles onto a blonde haired girl. Deciding to lay its body onto her shoulder. Almost batting her hair as it sways when she turns her head. Taking another sip from her coffee, she takes note of the response.
>gin_lovesgin: oh yeah! Just not today though, i’m a bit busy
At this her smile forms to a straight face. Staring at her phone, a little disappointed. Her face being a reflection in the phone’s dark screen.
The saddening feeling welling inside her is drowned by the sound of meows and mumbling, as well the occasional cooing by the other customers.
Then, the serene white noise of the rain as Gin takes note of the car that’s similar to her brother’s.
“Hey, you sure of doing this treatment?” A thickly voice mentions, eying his sister.
Truly they don’t look too far off as siblings; bystanders can easily formulate that conjecture. The only minuscule difference is that Gin’s sibling has white ends of hair; dyed only to his boredom of how unappealing it was.
“Hm? Why of course Ryu, if it helps me getting well easier than might as well.” She sighs, and stares at the dark blank screen for a new response. “Right, Ryunoske?” She turns to him, almost seemingly desperation was in her eyes.
For this experience was merely shortened, true he dealt with this but it’s years past. He stares at her being at a red light, trying to form an opinion or fact. But nothing can be uttered from him.
Only thing remaining is the silence eating at them away, until they arrive to the hospital. The same as it’s always been, ever since Ryunoske dealt with lung cancer. After then, the Akutagawa’s have been deemed as loyal customers.
So Gin just stands whilst her brother checked her in. Her eyes gazing over at the walls just to entertain herself. Noticing the lobby has been way less occupied for awhile.
Staring at her shoes, her arms, playing around with her bracelets. Feeling utmost vital to them to not make eye contact with anyone. For Gin detested these visits.
Whether it being good or terrible news, it was all the same to her. Her arms, crossed with an indignant face(although no one could see given the mask). Her mind being a swarm of overthinking.
“Uh, Gin? We’re ready for you!” A lady walked out with a clipboard, looks back at the paper of her information to back at the patrons.
At that she follows her to a room that soon is enclosed as she sits on a chair. “So, what’s on the agenda today?” She mutters.
To her gaze the nurse walked back and forth, almost no eye contact being made. Normally they schedule an appointment if it was to check up on her. So far none of that has occurred just yet.
At that the other swivels her chair over to Gin. Commencing the check up exam. Less conversation was made however.
When Gin started to collect her items placed on the floor. Then started to get up; a voice stopped her.
“I’m sorry for this Gin, but there’s no easy way to say this.” Her eyes looking between both the clipboard and the patient.
Her eyes start to widen, for she has heard of the doctor’s before when her brother went through a similar situation. For she fears the same or worse, almost plopping back to the chair she was sat posed before.
“..You’re uh, I might as well just say it.” She takes a notice to sigh, “Gin you have level three breast cancer. If you’re not aware..”
Oh she was aware of it just not all, it’s changing far too quickly. She’d think it would’ve been lung cancer since that’s what Ryunoske dealt with.
This is far worse though.
Her hands formed into fists, gripping onto her pants. Fearing for what is to happen.
However the nurse just continues, whilst Gin has a mental breakdown. “..So you’re not in too badly of a condition. But it can get worse unless if you have chemotherapy.”
For a second her eyes almost swelled with tears; but still she held them back. “So what were we doing originally? Doing my treatment right?”
“Yes, but since the situation changed- not right now.” She looks saddened and sighs, “listen I’m sorry you had to hear this. But hey you’re a survivor I just know you would. Both you and your brother.” A small smile formed to her face. Her soft voice ends.
“Thanks Ms. Montgomery. Truely you helped my brother and now me!” Her dreary voice utters.
“Well, goodbye Gin. See you in a month.”
As they leave, the skylights turn on and the sun goes down. A glorious sunset being shown almost as though painted.
A plethora of messages too from Higuchi, she should give it a rest; her idea of how she looks will be ruined soon enough. Those mere photos sent are going to be different, than how she’ll appear.
From as much as she can tell the other is to hell bound to meet another. It’s almost like her top priority as of now. Gin thinks to themself.
Then she looks back down at her phone, a message pops up. From her dear friend Tachihara.
“Hey, want to hang out at least tomorrow? I also have a friend you’ll love to meet!!”
For a second she hesitates to go, i mean sure she knew Tachihara. But somehow it seems to be impossible. She has yet to tell him, let alone another person or people her situation. To his response she texts back,
“Oh sure! How many people then?”
“Just us, and the friend!”
“So who’s this mysterious friend?”
“You’ll know soon enough! Byee gin”
At this Gin smiles a bit, somehow he always managed to make her smile. Maybe that’s what Tachihara was great at.
With the next day she awoke, instead of having little to any motivation Gin actually wanted to go. With little sleep she got, they instantly tried to get ready. As they neared the place, the ginger made haste to meet her.
“Hey Gin! So glad you made it.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t a problem- but i have to tell you something about. My situation.” She smiles at him to maintaining being serious whilst walking down a road at the park.
“Oh, so what was the result? Negative?” He starts to grin at the false hope he gave himself.
Gin continues to stare forwards, trying not to continue eye contact. “Um, actually-“ She stopped midway, seeing a familiar blonde haired girl.
Sort of a rush of feelings flow inside her, so is this truely her? She seems so lovely and admirable, way less anxious than the persona as known online.
She sharply turns her head towards her acquaintance, “wait how do you know her?” Close to yelling they inquire.
“Oh, we all knew her online. Almost like she wanted to form a friendgroup. We already met beforehand though.” He stops, sighing smiling tucking open to showing his teeth, “yet she always talks about you.”
She moves her head to him, eyes close to being widened. Unlike other times, she wasn’t wearing a mask and her hair was down.
As she returns her gaze back over to her other friends she sees the girl running over to give a hug.
As that performance occurs she takes a few steps back trying to hard to avoid her; then they both fell on another.
As they both seemed discombobulated from the acquaintance’s stunt for a hug. They open their eyes and a small rush of blood goes at their faces.
She immediately got up off the other- slightly blushing - and lent them a hand. “Oh-! I’m so sorry Gin; it’s just that I’ve been learning so much about you!
“And you are?” Her voice sounded a bit strained.
“Higuchi ichiyo!” She beams at her, almost as if she was the sun. So gorgeous and perfect.
Close to the same she takes the time to admire her, until Higichi notices they were staring. “Oh- right! You know my first name but not my last, so it’s Gin Akutagawa!” Then they rub the back of their neck with an awkward smile.
“Wait- Akutagawa? THE AKUTAGAWA?”
“Yes? What’s so special about him?”
“HES AN IDOL-“
“He’s not? You’re thinking of someone else Higuchi..”
“BUT wait really?”
“Yeah- our DAD was an idol- apparently - Ryunoske; my brother is not.”
From the sidelines Tachihara was staring, “so- how long have you guys ‘known each other’?” He does air quotes on the last bit.
“Uhm?”
“Uh yeah, Higuchi you were supposed to remember!” They eye her, crossing arms.
“I’m sorry my dear Gin!” She jokingly mentions.
“But below jokes, i’d guess what 4 months?” Gin looks at Higuchi and she does the same; both resulting in looking away quickly.
As days later formed into months and years, they started to see another more. As a thanks they attempted to include Tachihara.
Still, Gin had to go in for treatment and her normal physical exams. They started to go on dates nonetheless, once was a picnic date. The sunset was gorgeous to see together; for they found a home in each other. “You know what my moonshine?” Higuchi softly speaks under her breath, holding Gin’s hand
“Yeah Higuchi?” She looks up from cuddling with her.
“I wish it could stay like this forever.”
“No, it will! I promise my dear.” She said close to falling asleep.
“That promise scares me.” Higuchi eyes her to fixing a strand of black hair, and to kiss her hand.
“No- I promise I’ll overcome this”
Then she started to fall sicker and weaker. So close she was to be bed ridden, failing to message anyone.
Being ran to the ER one day though was the worst dreadful experience for Akutagawa, his exact fear arose from within himself. The exact worry he experienced when he dealt with lung cancer.
Atsushi attempts to soothe his worries about his siter, but he’s become too tense. Distancing himself off from everyone else in order to make sure he won’t get hurt as much. There were knocks on his apartment door every day, which he ignored. He wished for it to end.
For him and his sister to be reconciled- maybe even for their parents to be alive once more.
Every day a knock could be heard inside.“Ryunoske let me in! I know you’re there, I bet you already know it’s me but please! You need help and that-
The door was to be opened, his eyes having eyebags under them. Appearing to have no sleep; which he hasn’t at all.
..t’s ok”
“I’m sorry Atsushi, but I just need to be alone for now.” He stares at the floor, as if he’s ashamed of something.
“No, you need to get closure. Now I don’t know what happened to your parents, but what’s going on with your sister isn’t your fault!” He raised his voice by just a bit.
As he sighs and looks around he opens his mouth to continue, “and also she’s still alive, she’s been requesting to see you. Gin isn’t doing too bad, her girlfriend is keeping her in good spirits.”
Akutagawa starts to mumble to himself, it was almost completely inaudible.
“Now listen Ryu, you can’t change the past or future- however much you want to change it. I’m here for you always, and I love you.”
In reaction he doesn’t do much but stare at him, he knew that definitely but it was something needed to hear.
“Thank you. I needed that. Just wait for me ok?”
As his leave from view, Atsushi smiles to himself and shakes his head in sync.
They start to converse being at the hospital, the waiting room is quite vast and many people are waiting for oneself’s turn. Somehow, they just know she’ll be let out soon. Hopefully Gin will at least come home, so how can this outcome get worse?
Ascending towards the stairs, gaining more steps toward the more tense Akutagawa got. Overthinking as per usual, and then they got to her room. There was a scene occurring in front of them both, she was dying in front of their eyes. The nurses were pulling her plug and ran her out of there.
For them both, it felt like a stop motion film was in the process. It didn’t feel real at all. It was moreover just purely confusing. His younger sister was dying and all he could do is stand there informed in this aspect.
He didn’t want to stand there yet didn’t want to see her decaying corpse.
The familiar blonde’s voice came behind them in the stairs.“Hey guys! What are you doing standing in front of Gin’s room?”
Akutagawa slowly turned his head towards higuchi, his eyes being widened and darker than before. “Um, she- I can’t believe it.
Atsushi took note of how emotional he was turning to be, after all it is to be understandable. His sister had died. As Atsushi sighs, he stares at the blonde’s eyes. “Gin is more than likely dead.”
The corridor was to feel so tense, that the pressure of air was worsening. Close to hearing a pin drop as to how silent the room fell.
The overall tone of the room was somber, it was a shock to them all.
Higuchi just stood there for seconds before reacting. Eyes swelling up with tears, she immediately started to sprint over there.
She tried to run in that direction, but is far too slow. And again, she knew of her condition - so it truly was a futile relationship, but again they spent so much with little time.
As she kept speeding over she noticed they took her to the ER.
Critical condition.
For months passing, Higuchi has became so distraught. For life had become so much less satisfying, nothing had been going well- life well had lost its flavor, it’s attribute which made it so enjoyable - Gin Akutagawa.