The Love Letter Lovelies
by Glee-chan
24.
Maria found herself exhausted from pacing up and down in stress and finally succumb to her weary legs and sat next to her sister. Not only had Anne come to the hospital waiting room, but Yui's family, the Love Letter Lovelies, Shiho's girlfriend, and even some of new members of Kaede's Kendo Club had arrived. When Yui's parents turned up the doctors and nurses stopped talking to Maria and only focused on the parents for information. Most of the time the Hinos were away from the rest of the group, supposedly in a super waiting room, or else with a doctor.
Hours before Yui's Mother came out and told the others what had happened. "She's got pneumonia."
"That's it?" Yui's grandfather voiced everyone's shock.
"Normally that would be dangerous enough, but it seems…. it seems…" Yui Mother seemed to struggle. Maria wished that she could read her mind and know everything. "…Yui has a terrible case of untreated asthma. We never knew… I just thought she was a weak child…."
She started to cry. That didn't explain anything, of course, but no one had the heart to tell her to get it together and explain why that was so bad. After a moment, she composed herself and continued.
"Through the years, fluid has been building up in Yui's lungs. The doctors say it's a wonder that she was breathing at all. Then she caught pneumonia. That fluid mixed with pus… and hardened. It almost put a stop to her breathing altogether. If you lot hadn't rang for an ambulance, if Yui was alone, she might be dead."
Everyone looked around at each other in shock, each wondering if they could have done something different to help Yui before hand. Shiho was in tears, being held by her girlfriend. Maria couldn't blame her, she felt the same way. Both of them had been close to Yui all this time and didn't act on their suspicions.
"She's going under two surgeries now." Yui's Mother told them more. "They have to drain her lungs, and put her on an asthma treatment in order to re-teach her how to breath correctly. But they also are doing nose surgery on her."
"Why?" Maria asked before someone else did.
Yui's mother laughed a bit wiping her tears. "When she was a little girl, apparently Yui broke her nose and never told anyone. That's just like her. Anyway, it didn't heal properly so she's not been breathing out of that either. So the doctors want to clear all her air pathways to help the asthma treatment."
"Double Surgery…" Anne breathed in, grabbing ahold of Maria's hand. "Isn't that… dangerous?"
That had been hours ago. Anne's question lingered in the back of Maria's mind. Yui wasn't out of danger, even the operation to save her life wasn't looking good. She thought of Yui's choked breathing and how she called her name at the playground over and over in her mind. Would that be the last memory she had of the girl. The ambulance ride was a blur to her, she couldn't remember it. She couldn't even remember calling her sister and Yui's parents.
It was getting dark outside and a nurse came to the waiting room with a bored expression on her face. "Visiting hours are closed. Except for immediate family members everyone should go home."
Maria's heart panicked. "No way!"
Yui's mother looked at the nurse with an exhausted expression. "Is there anyway that Maria and Anne could stay as well? These two are practically family."
"I don't make the rules." The nurse spoken in a voice of apathy as she gestured at the door.
Everyone trooped out, no one wanting too. Yui's Father said he text Maria if there was any new information, but Maria knew damn well that neither him nor his wife knew how to work they're mobiles properly. Regardless she was unceremoniously tossed out with the others, who formed a bit of a collection outside the hospital's entrance.
"… feel responsible for forcing Yui-chan into my Kendo Club." Kaede was saying when Maria's mind could process other people existing besides Yui.
Shaking her head Maria blinked heavily. "It's not your fault Kaede-chan. She wanted to join your club. I saw she was pale… I was watching her for a while. I should have said something… it's really my fault."
"I should have seen it too…" Shiho was taking off her glasses, cleaning the lenses with the bottom of her shirt in a nervous act. "I was too caught up in my own-"
"It's not your fault!" Makoto stamped her foot. "It's no one's fault. Things just happen!"
Everyone jumped at her sudden outburst, then laughed.
"You're right Mako-chan." Shiho leaned her head on her girlfriend's shoulder.
Maria nodded in agreement, but still felt guilty. Her eyes passed over a pretty girl from the Kendo club who had stuck around, not really looking at her. All she could think about was Yui's choking face in her arms. What could she have done different?
"Excuse me… is there something wrong?"
"Huh?"
The girl Maria was looking at out of focus was talking to her. "It's just that you were looking at me."
"Oh. Sorry." Maria blinked and looked away. "I was… thinking."
"I understand." The girl gave a soft smile.
Hikaru yawned. "Well I guess I'm going home." Mio nodded. For once the two were in agreement on something.
The other girl looked uneasy then walked over to Maria. "Here is my number. If it's not too much trouble could you add me to your contacts? I'd like to know how Hino-san is doing."
Maria blinked and looked down at the piece of paper she was being handed. The name over the number was Emiko Morimoto. She didn't recognize it. In fact now that she was starting to come out of her haze she didn't recognize the girl at all. Maria was sure she wasn't in the class, she had a beauty that could rival Makoto's.
Sensing Maria's thoughts Emiko gave a nervous laugh and explained. "You don't know me. Hino-san caught me reading the flier on the community board. She was really excited about the club and asked me to come. So I did."
"Oh, I see."
Looking from Maria to Kaede, Emiko asked "Is the Kendo Club still on? It might have been a crazy first day but I was really having fun until the accident."
Kaede looked unsure. Maria spoke up for her. "It is. Yui-chan would want us to keep going."
"Are you sure?" Kaede asked Maria.
"Yes." Maria was at least sure on that.
"Great!" Emiko smiled. Maria's heart leaped in her chest. "Fukui-san, please keep me informed."
Maria nodded and Emiko started to walk away. Hikaru and Mio were eyeing her with evil intentions. But she stopped and turned around, still having sweet smile. "You can call me if you just want to talk also. I don't mind. I just want to help."
"Uh- Y-Yeah, sure. Thank you." Maria felt awkward now.
"Me too!" Mio shot out.
"You can call me for anything, Fukui-san!" Hikaru talked over her friend.
Emiko laughed a bit, then turned around and continued on her way. Feeling unguarded, Maria found her eyes drifting to Emiko's gym shorts as she walked off into the darkness. Everyone noticed her looking when she came too, and Maria felt horrible for leering at the girl she didn't even know.
"C'mon Hikaru-chan." Mio grabbed the other girls hand with a pink face. "See you later, Fukui-san!"
They left in a run and Maria was sure those girls were going to do or say something to Emiko, but her brain was just too sluggish to be motivated enough to stop them. Sighing she leaned her head on her sister's shoulders again. The others were making their goodbye wishes and Maria gave them hers. As she and Anne started on their way home, Maria held her sister's hand in silence.
They didn't speak until they arrived home. The first thing said was Anne telling Maria to take a bath. Maria did as she was told. When she exited with a towel wrapped around her, Maria felt a sense of dread when she saw Rina sitting in the living room next to Anne. Even though Maria could understand her sister wanting comfort at the moment, she didn't get why Rina had to be that person.
"Yo Maria." Rina was staring a hole into her, as if she had x-ray vision.
"Rina-chan." Maria answered stiffly and sat down next to Anne.
"You two could use some cheering up." Rina grinned. "I know of one way … but I can only do that with Anne."
Anne giggled but Maria wasn't amused. "J-Just keep it down tonight, okay?"
Rina looked taken aback by this, but Anne gave a kind smile. "Sorry if we've been a bother."
Smirking Rina grabbed Anne's hand. "No promises on my end."
Anne pushed Rina off. "Can't you… Can't you just lay off Maria for tonight, okay?"
"Wha?"
"It's been a hard day for her… just be nice, alright." Anne stood up, then took Rina's hand on her own. "We're going to bed now, Maria. Unless you want to talk some more."
"I'm okay." Maria felt miserable but knew the less time she was with Rina the better.
"Alright. C'mon Rina-chan. I really need to forget about some things…" Anne dragged Rina off to her room. Rina gave one last look at Maria then gave a sheepish smile.
Even with Anne's promises of keeping it down, the two were louder than ever. Maria just sat there, immune to it. She just felt numb to the world. At least being worried about Yui did one good thing: she wasn't getting turned on listening to other people having sex. As her sister orgasmed in the other room, Maria took her phone out and looked at the pictures she had of Yui. She always looked so happy in them. All that time she was suffering. Maria felt her eyes well up in tears as Rina started screaming Anne's name in the other room.
Standing up, she went into her room and put on some pajamas, then she walked back out and went to the outside balcony. She looked at Yui's picture some more in silence. Half heartedly she checked her messages a few times, hoping Yui's parents had messaged her, but she already knew they didn't. Sighing she was about to switch to Yui's picture again when her phone rang. Without checking to see who it was she answered it.
"Hello!"
"Hi."
Maria blinked. It wasn't Yui's parents. "Who is this?"
"Sorry… it's Emiko Morimoto. Am I… Am I interrupting something?"
"No! No." Maria quickly said. "I just thought that maybe this call was from Yui-chan's family."
"I can hang up if you want."
Maria thought about it, but at the moment she didn't want to be alone. "No… we can talk."
"I don't know you that well, but I could tell this really hit you hard." Emiko was saying. "Hino-san is your best friend, right?"
"Yeah. I've known her since I was a little kid." Maria leaned against the railing.
"I really hope she pulls through." Emiko sighed. It sounded like she was laying on her stomach, as when she sighed it was more like an exhale because she was rolling on her bed. "The look on your face… I can tell she means a lot to you."
"I keep thinking to myself that I wasn't as good a friend as I should have been." Maria admitted. "What if she dies and I haven't said all the things I needed too?"
"That's normal." Emiko reassured her. "When my cousin was sick I felt the same way. Try and remember the good times. That helps."
"Thank you."
"When she wakes up, you'll forget all about the guilt." Emiko assured her. "I bet she doesn't even remember the things you think you did that was bad. It's all in your head. Your mind wants to do something to help, and since it can't it starts playing the blame game."
"I see…" Maria wondered if that was true.
"Until then, it's best you take your mind off it." Emiko continued. "Let your friends pamper you."
Maria gave a small laugh. "I don't know about that."
There was some silence, as if Emiko was thinking of the right thing to say before she said it. "This is a bit off topic, and I'm not sure how to ask you…"
"Off topic is a good thing, right?"
"Okay." Emiko breathed in. "There are rumors about Class 1-3 going around the school. I was just wondering if… Sorry, this really isn't an appropriate question…"
"The rest of the school calls us 'The Lesbian Class', right?" Maria smirked slightly. "Is that what you're asking?"
"I was wondering… I mean those girls in the Kendo Club seemed to think something else was going to happen. And the way those two fawn over you… but what am I saying? I guess I'm too curious for my own good. You don't have to answer that."
"It's true." Maria admitted, wondering if Emiko would be grossed out. "Most of the girls in our class seem to be that way."
"Even you and Hino-san?"
"Yeah… we aren't a couple… she's just my friend." Maria pointed out. "Those girls who came to the Kendo Club probably thought it was a front for a lesbian club or something…"
"I see…" Emiko spoke in a small voice.
"You're straight, right? I understand if you're freaked out." Maria said after a long moment of silence. "You don't have to feel bad."
"It's not that, I'm just shocked is all." Emiko said after a moment. "Fukui-san… since all your friends are that way, does that mean you don't want to talk to me anymore?"
"What?" Maria blinked, feeling her body heat up slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm not a lesbian so … you might not want to talk to me because I won't relate to certain issues."
"I don't care of you're straight… I don't see people like that. I'll like someone because their nice, not because they think other girls are cute."
"Oh." Emiko inhaled. "Good. I was thinking we could be friends."
"You're not afraid I'll hit on you, are you?"
"Not until you just said it!" Emiko laughed. "Seriously though, I've been where you're at now… with my cousin and all. Back then I could have used someone who wasn't in the middle of the situation to talk to. I saw you at the hospital today and thought… I wanted to be there for you, Fukui-san."
Maria thought Emiko was slightly off, but knew she had good intentions. "Hey, call me Maria from now on. No honorifics… I have a western name, it just sounds weird."
"Just call you Maria?" Emiko asked. "Does that mean we can be friends?"
"Yeah. All my other friends are dating each other, it's quite awkward. I really appreciate you reaching out to me."
"Then… call me Emi." Emiko said. "No honorifics for me as well. It'll be weird if I call you Maria and you call me Emiko-chan."
"Alright, Emi."
There was a giggle on the other line. "So what do you want to talk about?"
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