Chapter 7

The next day at the hospital.

Matsuri and Harumin discussed how to approach yuzu without triggering her trauma. As the two girls facing the door where yuzu was admitted, Matsuri eyed Harumin, and noticing her sad, scared and worried demeanor, the brunette were hesitating to knock on the door, afraid that Yuzu will be scared of her, recalling the other day when she hugged the blonde but pushed her away coz she did not recognize the girl and said " get away from me! Do not touch me! Do not touch me!"

The brunette remembered the words that the blonde shouted vividly .

Matsuri did not waste any time and held her senpai's hand.

The brunette were shaking "maybe in this way I can somehow calm her down" Matsuri thought.

The pink haired girl knows that the blonde and her senpai is so close to each other, they are best of friends, after all she's the first person that Yuzu made friends with when the blonde transferred in the Aihara Academy, seeing Tanaguchi in that state, made her heart ache. As Matsuri gripped tightly her senpai's hand, the brunette moved her gaze at the pink haired girl "everything will be ok Tanaguchi senpai" Matsuri smiled and continued " we know how strong Yuzu-onee right? We just have to be there for her, now, she needed our support, love, care and understanding, so let us, her friends be the sun that shines clearly in her darkest moment. Ok? Tanaguchi senpai?" Matsuri gave her warmest smile to her senpai as way to comfort the the brunette.

Harumin was somewhat taken aback at the words that Matsuri spoke, she didn't know that the pink haired girl has a softy side, she can be this genuine without giving a devilish grin.

'Huh, how can a devil incarnate can be this cute and mature at the same time' Harumin whispered to herself' but somehow she felt relieved in Matsuri's words, Harumin responded, "you're right, thank you Matsuri" as she tightly gripped the young girl's hand.

Gaining the strength she needed, she's about to knock when the female doctor, Asahi Teramiki, approach the pair. " Good morning girls, you're Aihara Yuzu's friends right?" The doctor beamed as she adjust her glasses to see the girls properly. Asahi was wearing her doctors gown and a stethoscope hanging around her neck, she was carrying a tablet that contains her patient's chart and other important information regarding to the patients well-being and state. Her brown hair is in a loose bun, while her inside dress is a colored teal pair of scrub suits.

The pair nodded in unison and greeted the doctor back, the brunette doctor continued, "alright then, shall we go?, but before that, you know her condition is frail right? as what you have witnessed yesterday, I believed I don't need to remind you again of what will be your actions when you're around with her, are we clear on that?" The doctor mused. The pair did not hesitate to nod in agreement.

As the group entered the room, the doctor greet Ume who was sleeping in the couch with her head is on the couch's right side arm, her mouth is slightly agape. She made her cardigan as a blanket and wrapped herself. "Good morning Mrs. Aihara" the doctor slightly tapped her shoulder. Ume opened her right eye and slowly straightening herself on the couch as she rubbed her eyes at the back of her hands. Slightly shocked, Ume immediately rose to her seat and greeted the doctor back. "Good morning doctor, I'm sorry you witnessed me in that state" she bowed slightly, the doctor waved her hand and dismissed her apology "it's alright Mrs. Aihara, you don't have to apologize for it, you did nothing wrong" as she gave Ume a warm smile. Ume thanked the doctor as she noticed the two girls who came together with Asahi, "hello Mrs. Aihara, ohayo" Tanaguchi bowed together with Matsuri. "Good morning girls, you're early today, Ume smiled as she is pleased that Yuzu's friends are there for her daughter.

---

As the girls put the fruits that they bought for Yuzu who is still currently sleeping, the doctor approached Ume, "Mrs. Aihara, can we talk for a minute outside?" Ume nodded as she followed the doctor to their destination. They're at the terraces of the hospital, the breeze made the atmosphere relaxed. The doctor seated to the nearby couch and gestured to Ume to take the adjacent seat, " Please, take your seat Mrs. Aihara" as Ume taken her seat, the doctor starting to scroll her tablet's screen that she's carrying and studying her patient's laboratory, xray ,CT scan results and other tests that they've done.

"Hmm" the doctor muttered and nod, and satisfied that her patient's results are clean and all the lab test are within the normal ranges. That confirms her theory to be right,' I see, so "that" might be the cause' she muttered to herself and returned her gaze to the blonde's mother, she straighten herself and took a breath.

"Mrs. Aihara, this just confirms my theory but before anything else, may I asked if when will your husband will be here? I want to talk to the both of you so that you'll know your daughter's situation and I will also ask you some important questions that may give clear to your daughter's diagnosis" Ume got her phone from her pocket and stated

" Excuse me for a minute doctor, I'll call him I know that he's on his way here, I just want to know where he is at now" Ume mused. The brunette doctor nodded, "of coarse Mrs. Aihara, take your time, I'll wait, this is important and you need to know it together after all"

---at Yuzu's room--

Matsuri took the couch where Ume was sleeping, she eyed Harumin as she still looking at the ground, unsure what to do. " Hey, Tanaguchi senpai c'mere" tapping the space beside her. The brunette gladly taking the space near her. Together they watched the blonde as she's sleeping soundly.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm still anxious, and scared at the same time. By the way thank you earlier, you somewhat calmed my nerves." Harumin said

"Don't worry about it, we are all worried about Yuzu-onee, right now we need each other's comfort, you know"

"You want me to hug you Tanaguchi-senpai?" Matsuri teased

"Really, Matsuri? You're teasing me now?"

"No, just offering you some "comfort"" Matsuri grinned

"Ugh"

And their little bickering continued. Harumin somehow felt relax, thanks to Matsuri way of "comforting". She admits that the pink haired girl knows how to really get her way.

--back to the hospital terraces--

5 minutes later, Shou saw Ume and the doctor at the place where Ume instructed him to go. After the doctor and Shou exchange pleasantries, they seated themselves and prepare themselves to the business that they about to conduct.

"Well then, Mr. and Mrs. Aihara to all the test that we've done and additionally conducted to your daughter I'am pleased to announced that they all came back normal and clean, however, as I said earlier this just confirms my theory." The doctor explained.

Ume was confused" what do you mean doctor, if the tests that you've done are normal, then what's why is she like that? Do you missed anything? Is there any additional test that you can do!? Do we need to transfer her to the other hospital?!" Ume said frantically, Shou held Ume's hand to calm her down and said

"Let's finish of what the doctor has to say first, ok?" Ume realized this, calmed down and nodded " You're right, I'm sorry I raised my voice doctor" she bowed and Shou continued

"Will you please elaborate it to us doctor?"

" Of coarse, to answer your question Mrs. Aihara we've done the appropriate tests needed " sounding unfazed by Ume's reaction and seemed that she is used to this kind of outburst emotions

"And do not worry, we did not miss anything and I'am confident of that" she assured Ume and smiled.

"You mean that the incident that happened to our daughter did not caused any of her memory loss?" Shou questioned as he eyed the doctor seriously.

"Yes and No, but before I'll explain it to you further let me first ask you this, is there any chance that your daughter behaved differently like, before the incident happened? Do you notice anything odd? Let's say uhm, is she behaving not like herself?

Do you get what I mean? Is she somewhat going through a rough patch lately? Have you noticed anything?"

The doctor leaned on the table and clasped her hand together as she put it under her chin and waited patiently for their reply. Ume wondered, and recall her daughter's behavior.

'How can she miss her baby's behavior, I know her better than anyone' Ume thought, she noticed how her ball of sunshine gradually became gloomy and somewhat aloof as the day passes by, she even asked a permission to Ume to study abroad and pursue animation after she graduate high school. But nothing happened out of the ordinary, 'sure we're sad about Mei's departure for leaving our home'.

'but..she was even at her brightest smile when I gave her the permission to study abroad as long as she got the required grades' Ume thought.

Then an idea clicked to her head 'wait,

-Mei's departure-

'Ohhh no, I know my Yuzu was getting along with Mei, she's even at her warmest and biggest smile when they hang out together I can see how happy and giddy she is, now that she can have someone now to protect but then, but, but...but then Mei told me to about the upcoming engagement and asked me to keep it a secret from Yuzu, then Mei suddenly went back to her grandfather's mansion without saying a word to Yuzu, but I think Mei did it with a purpose, a reason that she can't tell to us specially to Yuzu, wait, that means ohhhh my Yuz..u, you must been so devastated and hurt how..how can I missed that, ohhh my poor baby, my Yuzu, you must be suffering and I didn't do something about it'

Ume felt a sting in her eye, then her tears started stream down to her face, she can't stop it. She just leaned to Shou as her remaining strength left her and said

" I'm a bbb..aadd mo..ther Shou" Ume cried loudly. Shou was worried, He wrapped his hands to his wife and hugged her tightly.

"Honey, please do not say that, you know that it's not true" Shou rarely call Ume that kind of pet name but in this situation he doesn't care, she loved the woman deeply and there's no room to be awkward calling her that.

'As I thought' Asahi pondered. While Shou was worried to the state of her wife, he eyed the doctor then she nodded to respond,

"Take your time Mr. Aihara, she needs you now, just go beep me up whenever you're ready, ok?"

When the brunette doctor was on her way to the leave, Ume talked, and straighten herself "No..no.. doctor, I'll tell you now," as she talked between sobs and wiped her tears to the back of her hand

"This is for the sake of my daughter after all, I will not my feelings delay this any further"

--at the Udagawa's residence (continuation to their convo last chap)

"But enough all of that" Udagawa said

Come, breakfast is ready, here's your coffee"

She seated and took a sip of coffee.

"Thanks for the coffee, it's delicious" Mei mused although giving a sad vibe

'She's clearly bothered by something again is it about her grandfather forced us to have an heir or something?' Udagawa thought.

As he observed the young girl across form him, he has nothing but admiration to the raven haired girl. Even though in her stoic demeanor, she's so enticing no matter what situation she's in. She rarely show her emotions

'What happened to her? Her eyes are nothing but dull and emotionless as always' he said to himself.

"Is everything alright Udagawa?" Asked Mei as Udagawa snapped form his thought.

"Ahh, yeah, I was just thinking of something he he" as he smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.

"Alright then I have to go now to grandfather's, he said he has something to discuss with me, see you then and thanks for the meal" as she got up from her seat and excused herself.

'But you didn't even eat something' Udagawa mustered to his thought

"Ok, see you later then" he replied.

Mei just want to succumb herself to work to relieved herself from distress, 'this is the only way I know to keep my sanity intact. 'What happened to me last night that was not me, but if the kettle did not blow, what could've have happened to us last night'

As Mei arrived to her grandfather's mansion she heard that her grandfather was on the line "I knew that already Shou! But that's not my priority now-,'he's talking to father?' Mei thought -you left our household remember, what is it with me if help you with that matter-, I do not care!" He said angrily -"You're to suppose to be in her shoes,- you're suppose doing your responsibilities as an Aihara!-no, I said no-

Daigo drop the call as he take his seat and leaned at his table, 'Mei's best friend told that also to me you think I'm an idiot Shou, do you think I need you to tell me that hmm!, maybe it's best this way to not let Mei know, she cannot deal with this distraction, not right now, my priority is more important. Secure the future of the Aihara Academy first'. He said proudly to himself.

'Grandfather is not in the mood, I wonder what are they quarreling about, maybe I should let him cool down first, I'll head first to the study room to get my work done'.

--Hospital--

As Ume told everything she knows about the change of her Yuzu's behavior to Asahi, the doctor then nodded and replied

" I see, thanks for the additional information Mrs. Aihara, that's the last piece I needed to confirm my diagnosis" the doctor continued

" You see, one of the major causes of short/partial memory loss is mental health conditions, Aihara Yuzu was going thru all these pain and she does not have someone to confide in, even though she wanted to, but there are deeper reasons why she can't and she only knows that, that's why she's trying to escape this reality and maybe she just want to forget all of the pain that she felt and the person that caused that to her and all the people that maybe contributed to it. In layman's term, she's trying to regress all of it and that incident was just the right stimuli to trigger this phenomenon, she was hit in the head and had a concussion, so that fits my diagnosis to her." The doctor said in calm and sympathetic manner.

The couple was dumbfounded, they didn't know that Yuzu was going through a lot and they failed to noticed that. Ume started to feel the sting in her eyes again, and started to blame herself again, but Shou said

"No Ume, it's not your fault, please, do not blame yourself, none of this is neither our fault, we just don't know, some people just want to deal with this situations alone, you're a good mother and wife Ume so please." smiled Shou and kiss her tears away

"We'll do everything to bring our Yuzu back, ok?" as he rubbed Ume's back.

" Together?" Ume responded

" Yes, together" as he put his forehead to his wife.

'I'll let father know, maybe he can help us, we can't contact Mei, so I have no choice but to call him'

"Very well then Mr. and Mrs. Aihara" as the doctor interrupted his thought "I'll let you know what are the measures to be taken care with the regards of Aihara Yuzu's condition" and they went with the discussion.