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Mafuyu felt something off. A sense of the way words were phrased and glances were given. Kanade wasn't okay.
She hadn't managed to work out what was off, coming to the door of her room. It was open just a crack, allowing her to peek inside into the slight mess. Kanade’s room was slowly getting more organised. The music sheets on the floor had found a place in a file organizing system that Honami had bought her.
Most of the boxes had been unpacked apart from one. It had tape layered over and over like sediment, resealing the contents only to open it again.
Kanade had put the things of her mom and dad that made her the most upset in that box.
One night, Mafuyu saw Kanade curled up on the floor, wearing her mom's floral jacket like a blanket.
A box cutter was all it took to bring about unfathomable grief.
Mafuyu couldn't see her through the gap in the door. She stared at the box, feeling her stomach drop a little when she noticed the cardboard flaps were no longer sealed shut.
Where was she?
“Kanade?”
Mafuyu called, wandering around the house, waiting for an answer. She kept trying, but heard no reply. Distant shuffling made her head turn, and Mafuyu traced it to the bathroom.
“Kanade? Are you in here?”
There was the faintest hiss of pain followed by panic. “Y-yeah… Just a second.”
Reaching out, she held the door handle, waiting one moment, then two before pulling it open.
“W-wait!”
Sleeve rolled up, her arm was under the faucet, water running over a few faint red lines. A drop of blood lay in the bowl, and her box cutter rested on the side.
Kanade looked mortified, staring in terror at Mafuyu. “I…”
Ignoring all her horror, Mafuyu came forward, taking a fresh hand towel and pressing it down on the cuts.
“It's okay.”
Mafuyu couldn't find the right words to say, but she knew the right steps to take. To reduce blood flow, she raised Kanade's arm upwards to elevate it above her head. They were clear of any debris and not deep enough to be a medical emergency.
A few minutes of applied pressure with a reduced blood flow would stop the bleeding. Mafuyu would then go find sterile dressing, a bandage most likely, and apply it. That would keep Kanade safe while the wounds healed.
While this was helping Kanade’s cuts, her eyes were downcast, mouth agape, unable to say a single word.
“I will help you with your injuries. You can talk, but you don't have to.”
All Kanade could manage was a faint mutter from a shaky breath. “I'm sorry…”
“I don't mind.”
Mafuyu answered idly, still applying the right pressure. The bleeding should stop soon, but she would leave it longer just to make sure. Would seeing the cuts again distress Kanade?
“I'll apply a bandage for you shortly.” Mafuyu gave a smile in relief. “And you'll be okay.”
Kanade tried to echo the smile through a nervous, disconcerted face. “I guess I'm lucky I have a future nurse here to help me.”
Her words always felt warm. Even now.
Mafuyu’s lips curled up a little more before she focused back on Kanade's injuries. The bleeding should have stopped now.
“Kanade, can you hold pressure on this while I get you some bandages?”
“Okay.”
She took the hand towel, wincing in a flicker of pain from the slack and returned pressure. Mafuyu rushed as fast as she could to get bandages, scissors, and medical adhesive tape.
Mafuyu gently peeled away the hand towel, dropping it into the sink. By how soaked it was, she hadn't lost much blood. Good.
Methodically, she started to apply the bandage, firm enough to keep it secure but not so much that it restricted circulation. Now dressed, Mafuyu taped up the ends and finally let go.
Slowly, Kanade lowered her arm, and Mafuyu observed for any signs of further bleeding, ready to apply more pressure.
The bandage stayed unmarred, and it finally let Mafuyu’s shoulders relax. She gently pressed her hand to Kanade's shoulder, checking to see if she was still there.
“Sorry.”
“Don't worry.” Mafuyu let her hand slide off, finally daring to look away from Kanade. It was hard to get her thoughts in order. When she glanced back, she was still there. “Thank you for letting me help.”
Kanade nodded, awkwardly turning around to use the faucet and run water over the hand towel. Mafuyu stood next to her, wanting to reach over and take it. Kanade should be resting…
Slowly she gripped the wet fabric, tugging it gently and setting it down in the sink. Mafuyu looked to Kanade with blank eyes. “Please go sit down. You've lost blood and might feel light headed. I'll bring you some water.”
“Okay.”
She walked away, the movements stilted and uncomfortable. Mafuyu scrubbed her hands then left the towel in the sink. She made her way to the kitchen, grabbing a glass out and placing in ice and a tiny pinch of salt. Mafuyu added the water, swirling it around the glass. She butchered a lime to get a thin wedge, disregarding the rest as she placed her slice in the water and rushed back to Kanade.
In her room, Kanade next down on the floor, stretching packing tape over the box to once again seal it up. Mafuyu watch her press the tape down, holding all comments about resting until it was done.
Kanade leaned back against the box, shooting Mafuyu a sheepish smile. “I don't know why I go through this every night. It only makes me sad.”
Mafuyu silently handed her the water, kneeling down on the floor beside her. She didn't touch the box. Slowly, Kanade took a sip, giving no reaction. She caught Mafuyu’s eye and took another big gulp.
“I'll make some rice with beef and veg. It would be good for you after everything.” Something looked pained, and Mafuyu tried again. “You should eat. If you can't, then at least have some cup noodles with an iron supplement.”
“Right…”
Bedside manner didn't matter. This was Kanade, and she was hurting. “You can talk to me.”
“I know.”
She moved, resting her head on Mafuyu’s shoulder. Neither said a thing more. When Kanade pulled away, Mafuyu went to scrub the blood from the hand towel before it stained, and she wrung it dry.
The box cutter was nowhere to be seen, and Mafuyu figured Kanade probably still had it. Maybe she was clutching it tight, or maybe she had hidden it out of sight.
Mafuyu didn't mention it, returning to Kanade to sit opposite, her leg just ghosting against Kanade's.
“Do you want to talk?”
Kanade shook her head. “Not really.”
“Can I trust you to keep yourself safe?”
She nodded. “Nothing too deep. I know. I try.”
Mafuyu returned the nod. “And you promise to care for them properly?”
“I will.”
“And you know you can ask me for help? Either stopping the bleeding or stopping it from happening in the first place.”
“I know.”
Mafuyu gave her a little smile. “Good.”
Something was still off, but Mafuyu got the sense it would be okay for tonight. She met Kanade’s eye. She was still here.