✩★ The Headlines ★✩
Chapter 9: How's the heart?
POV: Hisao
My slumber is disturbed by a rather annoying beeping. That can't be my alarm clock, it feels like I've barely been asleep for an hour. I battle the urge to open my eyes, but decide that I don't want to be late to class again. I muster all my strength and open my eyes, only to find that the room is still dark. I look over to my bedside table and see that my phone has vibrated it's way off the table and too the floor. I lean over and paw at it, eventually managing to grab it and answer it.
"Hello?" I ask, noticing the time and the caller.
"Hisao? Get outside, Naomi is having an episode!" With that, my heart jumps into action shortly after the rest of my body. After the thought that this is some sick joke, then banishing that thought, I reply.
"I'll be out in a second." I launch from my bed and quickly grab the first pieces of clothing I can find; Some old grey sweatpants, a loose tshirt and a jacket. Before I realize it my legs have carried me outside the dorms and towards the lone figure I see stood beneath a light.
"Where is-" I ask, before finding the answer myself, accidentally releasing an "Oh shit." under my breath. About 15 meters away lies Naomi, rolling around in the grass rather violently. Both me and Jun stand in shock for a moment, and she speaks first.
"Get over there! You need to make sure she doesn't hit her head or anything." Alright sounds- wait.
"I can't! I have a heart condition, if she hits me in the chest then it's lights out for me too." I sigh, all I want to do is get over there and make sure she's okay, but the only two people present could be seriously injured by going near her. I quickly weight up the options; She could hit me in the chest, but I'm sure Naomi would do the same for me in some twisted
mirror reality.
"Okay, I'll watch her, go get the nurse." She stands for another second before my second shout catches her attention. "Go!"
"What about your heart?"
"Well then at least the nurse will be here if it does go out, right?" She looks on for a second before nodding and taking off in a semi-sprint towards the auxiliary building. I take my que and spin on my heel, rolling up my sleeves in the process.
So I just have to make sure she doesn't hit her head? Am I meant to hold her down? Looking at her I don't think that'd even be possible, I'm sure somebody would get broken if I even had the strength to hold her down. I'll just go for making sure she stays in one place for now. Is this a bad attack, or just a regular one? Jun seemed pretty shaken up, so this must not be her lightest episode.
Naomi's leg catches on the grass and she rolls slightly closer to the concrete area. I remove my jacket and step forward, placing one arm across my chest hoping to deflect any flying limbs in the process. I carefully place the jacket under her head and catch a glimpse of her face as she rolls, and my face drains of blood. The way she looks.. it's just so...
fuck epilepsy.
After a tense couple of minutes, the nurse returns with Jun close by. He quickly makes his way over to her and takes over, causing all the adrenaline in my system to drain, leaving me to fall to the ground.
I didn't realize how out of breath I was, and how much my chest hurts. The nurse shouts to me while he pulls Naomi further into the field and I give a weak "I'm okay." Before returning to my prone position against the cool grass. As I close my eyes the sight of Naomi's face flutters through my vision, once again making me feel... awful. Compared to her my problem is a walk in the park, sure I could die at any given moment, but at least I get some notice. She just gets a face full of ground and more than a fair share of broken bones.
"You okay Hisao?" Jun speaks quietly while placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Okay... Just out... of breath." I reply between gasps.
"How's the heart?" She dances around the words, unsure if she should be asking.
"Still pumping." I grimace, considering how lucky I am to have a bum heart instead of a brain problem.
"You wanna get a drink?" Jun offers, and I can almost taste the sweet, sweet juice already. I roll over and grab onto her offered hand before picking myself up with her help. I quickly scan the surroundings and see that Naomi's movements have become a little more subdued, and a second nurse has arrived as well. The nurse sees that we're both stood up and jogs over to us.
"Are you both okay?" He asks in a deadly serious tone.
"I'm okay." I offer, and Jun offers some similar words.
"Great, great. Can you both make your way over to my office? We need to report serious episodes like this."
We both nod and begin our brisk walk over towards the nurses office. As we walk my mind just won't stay away from the image of Naomi writhing around on the ground, and there was nothing any of us could have done. It makes me feel Ill, how such a genuine person can be struck down with something as horrible as what myself and Jun just saw.
"Shakes you up, huh?" Jun speaks as she pushes open the door.
"That's one way to put it." I sigh as Jun inserts a couple of coins into the vending machine placed by the entrance.
"I couldn't sleep well for two days after I first saw one."
"I don't think I'll be getting any more sleeping done tonight." I mutter as I take a box of juice from Jun's extended hand, offering a "Thanks." as she seats herself on the ground next to me.
"I'm not going to lie, that was a rough one." She shakes her head, attempting to free herself of the memory if she's feeling anything like me right now. "Thanks Hisao, and sorry for dragging you out of bed." She gestures towards my hastily donned outfit, complete with backwards tee shirt.
"Don't worry about it, happy to help." I sip at my juice, savouring it's taste in my dry mouth.
"And I'm sorry I couldn't help..." She continues. "I've got lollipop sticks for bones." She chuckles before sipping at her own juice.
"Like I said, don't worry." I lean back, enjoying the cold brick against my back as my body finally begins to cool off.
---
POV: Naomi
Ouch, my eyes. Why is that light so bright? This thing is soft though, soft and warm. There is somebody to my left but it seems that they don't have a face. I'd be freaked out if this... bed? wasn't so comfortable. My arms hurt, also my legs and my neck, but none of that matters because I'm far to comfortable to care.
Hmmm.
"Nu░░░░, I ░░in░ ░░e'░ ░░ak░."
Someone speaks but I have a hard time making out any words, just sounds. Sounds are strange. Voices are strange too. People leaning over you are strange as well. I see blue hair but can't make out a face, my eyes refusing to focus. They speak some more words but I still can't make it out, eventually the person takes a step back and begins a conversation with the other person, leaving me to regain my senses.
With that, the pain in all of my limbs become far more apparent. My head begins to thump as I sit myself up, having to use a fair amount of force to get my muscles to agree. I make it about half way to sitting up before my arms give out and I flop back onto the warm, soft bed.
"Naomi?" Someone speaks; A male voice. I turn my head towards the voice and try my best to focus my eyes, finally able to make out a face of the mystery murderer, but unable to put a name to the face. Behind him I can see a girl with rather long, brunette hair and a guy next to her that seems to be asleep. Still having trouble finding any names though. I feel like I know these people, so why can't I remember them?
and why are they in my room?
"Have you ever visited Italy?" The words escape from my mouth, seemingly out of nowhere. "I'd love to visit Europe someday." I continue, blinking while attempting to take in my surroundings.
"I'd love to visit Italy too, Naomi." Jun says.
Jun! That's her name!
"Jun!" I exclaim, increasing the pounding pain between my temples that seemed to be a background song before.
"Hey Naomi." She gives a meek wave before sipping at a can of coffee.
"What are you doing in my room?" I ask, genuinely curious about why Jun and two random guys are in my dorm room.
"This isn't your room, this is the nurse's office." She says after a small giggle. I look past her to the wall and can't see my dresser, she must be right. "Huh." Is all I can say, inspecting the room that was once mine. Or it wasn't, but I was convinced that it was a moment ago, now it seems obvious though.
"Why am I in the nurse's office?" I ask while taking a sip of water from the glass on the table beside me and remembering my freaky noire dreams.
"You had an episode last night." She sighs before taking another long sip from her coffee. Her eyes are framed by dark circles and her hair hasn't been brushed. Was she up all night?
"An episode? What show? what season?" The words once again release themselves from my mouth without my permission. She takes a deep breath and then drops her now empty can into the small bin beside her.
"An epileptic episode, Naomi."
Oh.
Ohhh.
Ohhhhhh.
"You were up all night?" I ask timidly, my voice sounding like a shaking leaf.
"Mhmm." She nods. "Couldn't sleep."
"And him?" I point to the sleeping boy... I'm drawing a blank on his name.
"Hisao.." She lingers on his name, obviously giving me time to remember it. "...offered to stay too, but he's too cute to wake up." She giggles. His form is hung over the small chair, his hair is a mess and his tee shirt is on backwards.
"Yeah he is..." I let slip without thinking, and immediately feel my face grow hot. Luckily Jun didn't hear me, or doesn't mind. Jun leans back in her chair and elbows Hisao, almost pushing him off the chair.
"Ughh... whu' time is it?" He asks, groggily.
"About 10:30." Jun answers, almost as groggily. He flutters his eyes open and is palmed a can of coffee by Jun. "Thanks." He leans forward and cracks the can open before noticing me, and I give a meek wave and a quiet "Hello."
"Hey Naomi, how are you feeling?"
"Everything hurts." I whine as I roll over on the bed, attempting to get comfortable. "Is Natsume here?" I haven't seen her about, she's usually first on the scene when it comes to my episodes.
"No, we decided not to worry her for once." Hisao answers, sounding a little more alive now he's got some caffeine in his system. "Nurse wants you to rest for today too, I'll let Natsume know before class." He takes a mouthful of coffee before leaning back in his seat and placing his hand over his eyes to cover the sunlight pouring through the window. I sit for another moment before I check myself over; I'm still in my casual clothes, now adorned with various grass and dirt stains, as well as a small bandage around my thigh. The nurse must have used my anti-convulsant, rather roughly given the stinging I feel coming from beneath the dressing.
Hisao lets out a contented sigh before attempting to throw his empty coffee can into the nearby bin, but misses, drawing a small giggle from both myself and Jun. He mutters some excuse and stands, bracing himself against the wall.
"I'm glad you're okay Naomi, but I've gotta go take my-" He cuts himself off and begins again. "I've gotta see what classes I can catch, I didn't mean to sleep for this long. Me and Natsume will drop by later, okay?" I nod, and he exchanges goodbyes with Jun before leaving.
"What do you think about him?" I ask.
"He's very altruistic." She chuckles while cracking open a second can of coffee.
"Huh?"
"Well... you know why he's here? I mean at Yamaku, right?" She sighs.
"Something to do with his heart right?" I blurt out after racking my brains.
"Last night he told me that getting hit in the chest could kill him." Her face transitions into a grimace. "But he still ran out to make sure you didn't bump your head." Hisao you
idiot. At least I didn't kill him. That is, unless, I did and he is haunting me.
"Was he okay? I mean he's alive, but was he
okay?"
"He got an earful from the nurse during his checkup, but aside from that he's fine." She smiles and I sigh, I should say thanks.
---
Author notes:
I had considered writing Naomi's waking up scene in complete gibberish, but decided it wouldn't be the greatest reading experience.
Thanks to Mirage for helping me out, this project wouldn't be the same without ya' !
This part draws act 1 to a close! The following acts will focus more on the romance
.