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When Kraft opened her eyes, the same sights that had accompanied her for the past month greeted her yet again. Sterile white walls, a light above her bed, and the sunlight streaming through the open window. Understandably, Kraft had begun to get sick of it. After all, this room was where she had lived since she fell into a coma until now.
That fact was a little hard for her to believe, because Kraft didn't even realize she had been in a coma until everyone told her. One day, she took a nap in the clubroom while basking in the late afternoon sunlight. The next time she woke up, she was in a hospital room surrounded by friends that looked like they were about to faint seeing her, all of them saying she had been unconscious for three years.
But as the days passed, the proof became undeniable. Her body was physically weak from years of disuse. Pandora showed off an impressive collection of trophies that she had won in races that Kraft couldn't remember. They introduced her to girls she never met that had apparently been racing for years.
And that nightmare, of running hopelessly in the void all by herself… Was it a nightmare? Or was it something more? Whatever it was, Kraft was never going to forget the chilling darkness that surrounded her.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her reverie. “Come in,” she said. At least her vocal chords were functioning again—the first few days where she could hardly speak were torture.
She saw a nurse step into the room, her footsteps so quiet that Kraft didn’t realize she was walking over to her until she was right next to her bed “Good morning, Ms. Kraft.”
“Morning, Ms… Hana?” The nurses rotated daily, but she’s been here long enough to see some several times.
“Yes. I’ll be in charge of you today.” Stoic professionalism tempered by warm hospitality. That was the common behavior all the nurses shared. Ms. Hana was no different, talking about Kraft’s daily schedule while making sure she was comfortable. “What would you like for breakfast today? Today we’re serving porridge with your choice of fish, chicken, or tofu, as well as a fruit salad.”
“Fish, I guess?” None of the food sparked her interest, but they cooked the chicken here to the point of complete dryness, and the tofu was completely bland. Compared to that, she could stomach the fish.
“Understood. I’ll get it ready for you soon.” Ms. Hana turned to leave, but suddenly paused at the entrance. “Oh, Ms. Kraft. Your usual friends are here.”
Hearing that, Kraft immediately perked up. “Let them in!” A bright smile appeared on her face when she saw her Ascella teammates walk in. King led the charge, and everyone else filed in behind her.
It had taken a while after she woke up to get some privacy. All anyone wanted to do was keep her company. But finally, with some convincing, the constant visitors in her room agreed to keep things to normal visiting hours. Kraft didn't mind—the company was nice.
“Kraft-san, how are you feeling?” King asked, taking a seat next to the bed as the ponytailed teammate changed the flowers in her vase.
Despite still feeling weak, Kraft mustered the energy to give them a thumbs up. “I'm feeling better! The doctors say the physical therapy is working pretty well. They didn't make any promises, but I think I'll be able to walk by myself again by summer.”
“Yes, I've heard,” Despite being only a year older than her, King looked like a proud mother saying that. “I also heard that you're finally able to eat solid foods again, is that right?”
“Oh, right!” That was the part Kraft was most excited about. She never thought she'd be happy to see hospital food until she was fed flavorless, textureless nutritional sludge to help her body recover from the long coma.
“Well…” Smiling, King stepped to the side, letting Cesario walk closer to her bed. In her hands was a large package, one she carefully set on one of the tables.
Kraft didn't need to wait for her to unwrap it to know what it was. She could barely contain her excitement as her antenna-haired teammate set up a foldable table on her bed. With a flourish, Cesario opens the box, revealing a beautiful triple-layered strawberry cake.
“It's been a while since I've baked for someone, so it might not be as good as you remember…”
Kraft immediately shook her head. “What are you talking about? That looks amazing! I want a slice right now!”
“Are you sure you should be having this in the mor-”
“N-O-W!” Kraft insisted, making grabby hands at the cake.
“Be patient… Good grief, you sure have become a handful,” King's faux exasperation was quickly tossed aside as the team handed around paper plates and Cesario began cutting slices, giving the biggest one with all the toppings to Kraft first. She was able to hold back until everyone got their share before stabbing into a big chunk and stuffing it in her mouth.
“Uuuuffff… Sho good… I can die happy…”
“Please don't. But I'm glad you like it so much.” Pulling a chair closer to Kraft's bed, Cesario watched with happiness as Kraft dug into her food. If she only stared at that blissful expression, she might be able to fool herself into thinking nothing was wrong.
But it's hard not to see everything else. The hospital gowns Kraft was wearing, and her bony figure visible underneath. The tremor in her hands as she lifted the fork. Even the fact they were eating with paper utensils and drinking out of plastic cups was because Kraft couldn’t lift anything heavier—and they’re much less dangerous to drop than ceramic or glass.
The sight of it fills Cesario with an indescribable feeling. Yet despite that, Kraft was just normal. She was still the same Kraft Cesario remembered from before she left Japan four years ago. The same Kraft she talked to everyday just three years ago.
It was all the same, and Cesario wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or stressed about it.
“Isn't this great?” Kraft asked, looking around the room to see everyone's reactions. “It's like we're having a picnic! If only Trainer was here.”
“Ah, yes.” King cleared her throat. “She's busy with some new team members who have upcoming races.”
“Huh? We have new team members?!” Kraft nearly jumped out of the bed, before immediately regretting her decision when a sharp pain went through her leg. “Ow!”
“Kraft?! Are you okay?” Like a switch, Cesario was in serious mode and all over Kraft, only stopping when Kraft gave her a reassuring smile.
“I'm okay, I'm okay.” Kraft waited for Cesario to sit back down before returning her gaze to King. “So, the new team members! Tell me about them.”
“Well, one of them is a Shuka Sho winner.”
“Amazing!” Kraft said in awe. “She, Cesario and I make up the Triple Tiara together!”
“...and the other is, or rather was, an undefeated Triple Crown.”
“What?!”
The rest of their time was spent showing pictures of the new team members and talking about them. They could've easily gone on for another hour, if not for the attending nurse knocking on the door and poking her head in.
“Our apologies, but Kraft has some prior engagements. We're going to have to ask you to leave for today.”
“Aww…” Kraft pouted. “Alright, but make sure to bring them in next time! I wanna meet them.”
“I’m sure they’d love to meet you too.” King lingered at Kraft's side for a few seconds before leaning in for a quick hug. “Get well soon, Kraft-san.”
“Thank you, King-san.” Kraft quickly returned the hug, holding it for a few more seconds before finally separating. Influenced by their ace, the other team members do the same, each giving her words of encouragement or promises to come back with more sweets.
When it came to Cesario's turn, she intended to do the same, only to be surprised when Kraft spoke first. “Are you busy tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Can you sneak me out before 4am?”
Cesario was left speechless. She pulled back a bit, just to see if Kraft was joking and teasing her, but her face was completely serious.
“...if you want me to.”
"Please," Kraft confirmed. “And bring some of your hot cocoa if you can.”
Cesario nodded hesitantly, before quietly leaving the room with everyone else.
Soon after, Kraft was heralded into one room after another, going through a laborious day of therapy and tests before finally returning to her room just as the sun had set and the day turned to night. Watching the sky slowly grow dark, a sudden wave of sadness washed over her.
In just a few hours, the night sky would be lit up by thousands of fireworks, and celebration would fill the streets. The fact that Kraft would be celebrating tonight, of all nights, alone felt like a stab in her chest, but all she could do was bear with it.
Kraft closed her eyes, hoping she could sleep through most of the fireworks and keep her loneliness at bay for just a few more hours.
After all, if she knew anything about Cesario, it’s that she never broke a promise.
“Kraft.”
Just like when she was in a coma, she heard a voice and a warm hand on her cheek, reaching out to her and pulling her out of the darkness. But this time, there was much less fanfare when she opened her eyes and saw Cesario staring down at her.
“Are you ready?” Cesario asked her. “I brought a wheelchair if you needed it.”
“Yeah, thanks Cesario.” Shaking off the drowsiness, Kraft allowed Cesario to help her off the bed and into the chair she had prepared. “...where did you get this?”
“Borrowed it from the school infirmary. Didn't think I could get one from the nurses without questions.”
“Good thinking!” Kraft watched as Cesario left a note on the bed. Even if they were sneaking out, Cesario wanted the nurses to know she was safe, just in case they stumbled upon her empty bedroom. With that, they headed down the empty hallways, sneaking through the nurse's quarters, before finally catching a break in an elevator.
“So,” Cesario said, “where are we going?”
Kraft mulled the question over, thinking of all the possible places they could visit. In the end, she settled on a simple place. “There's a park just a couple hundred meters away we can go to. Shouldn't take long to go there and back.”
“Huh? Back?"
Kraft looked up at Cesario. “Is something wrong?”
After a long pause, realization flashed across Cesario's face. “Oh...” Cesario trailed off, a light hint of embarrassment tinging her cheeks. “I just… I thought you were trying to… you know…”
The gears in Kraft's head turned before suddenly clicking into place. “You thought I was gonna run away?!” Cesario nodded. “And you still agreed to help?!”
Cesario's lack of a response was louder than words. Kraft giggled, eliciting a pout from her partner in crime. “We can turn back now if you want…”
“Wait wait wait, I'm sorry!” Kraft clasped her hands together, staring up at Cesario. “I'm really grateful for you helping me!”
Cesario sighed, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips. “King-san was right. You have become a bit of a handful.”
Walking out of the elevator, Cesario sneaked Kraft out of the emergency exit, the darkness providing excellent cover for them. With a bit of guidance, Cesario brings Kraft to the park, completely empty save for the two of them.
Cesario finds a nice bench to park Kraft's wheelchair next to, while she sat down on the bench proper. Shifting through her bag, she pulled out a thermos and started pouring two cups of hot cocoa for them, offering the first to Rhein Kraft. Kraft simply held the cup between her hands at first, letting the warmth work through her arms and into her body. Then, she lifted the cup up to her lips and took a sip of the cocoa.
That was the goal. But her arms weren't cooperating—they were tired and sluggish. It was as if only her hands were in slow-mo, laughing at her for struggling with the most basic of things.
Another hand reached out, helping to guide the cup to her lips. Kraft gratefully accepted the help, enjoying the taste of the sweet hot cocoa against her tongue before lowering the cup. “Thanks, Cesario.”
“Don't mention it. It's the least I could do.”
“No, I mean it,” Kraft said, her tone suddenly becoming serious. “King-san… She told me a lot about what happened while I was unconscious. About how you'd accompany me every day, talk to me… even how you'd help wash me.”
Cesario nearly spat out her cocoa after hearing that. “S-seriously, no need to mention it. I was… I was happy to do it.”
“Even if you say that…” Kraft stared up at the sky above her; pitch black without a star in sight. It reminded her of her dream. “... I can't help but feel like you've wasted your time.”
“Don't say that about yourself!”
“It's true!” Kraft shouted back at Cesario. It was the most lively she's felt since waking up. “I was only in a coma for three years, but what if it was longer?”
“Then I'd still visit you every day,” Cesario answered calmly, like stating an objective fact. “Or do you not want me to?”
“Of course I'm happy you visited me! But…”
Trailing off, Kraft stared down at her hands folded over her lap. “I… I don't want you to pause your life for me.”
Cesario stayed quiet.
“I want you to be happy, Cesario. I want you to go out with friends, travel the world some more… find someone that can make you happier than I can.” Kraft saw her vision begin to blur, and she quickly tried to blink away her tears to no avail.
“Kraft.” All of a sudden, she felt Cesario’s hands on her cheeks, tenderly directing Kraft’s gaze to her face. “Do you want to know something?” Cesario asked, as her fingers swiped over Kraft’s teary eyes.
“M-mhm?”
“Every day I come back to our empty dorm room, I miss you even more,” Cesario spoke, smiling gently at her, “I thought about how sad it was that I couldn't be here for you when I was overseas. And it made me realize…”
Cesario paused, willing herself the confidence to speak her feelings into existence, all while still looking right at Kraft.
“... That I want to spend every day with you. So even if you ask me to, I wouldn’t be able to imagine a life without you. I would've waited for you, as long as it took,” Cesario reassured her.
Kraft felt fresh tears fall down her face once more. “Even if it took me 14 years to wake up?”
“Yes.”
“Even if you could've already had kids by then?”
“Of course.”
“...even if you could've had grandkids?”
Cesario stifled a laugh. “I don't think that would be very likely.”
The pair smiled at each other, their soft laughters halting only when they felt warm rays of sun hit their body.
“Ah…” Kraft paused, staring at the horizon, an orange glow encroaching upon the night. “It's sunrise.”
“It is.” Cesario’s hands moved down, wrapping one around Kraft’s palm. “Happy new years, Kraft.”
Kraft nodded, leaning to rest her head on Cesario's shoulder. “Nothing beats enjoying the first sunlight of the year with Cesario.”
“Fufu. Now I'm part of the package?”
“Where else am I gonna get your hot cocoa?!”
“Ahhh, so it’s my hot cocoa you’re after?” Cesario teased back, turning her head slightly to watch Kraft from the corner of her eyes. “... are you tired?”
“No.” A yawn immediately caught Kraft on her lie. She quickly amended, “a little.”
“Do you want to go back to the hospital?”
Kraft shook her head. “In a bit.”
“The nurses are probably going to be worried.”
“I know, I know,” Kraft sighed. “I’ll apologize to them later. Just… let’s stay here for a bit, okay?” Seeing Cesario still unconvinced, Kraft made one last appeal. “Please? It’s my once-in-a-lifetime wish.”
“You know,” Cesario started, her tone amused, “you've made quite a few ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ wishes over the years.”
“Waaaahhhh! You remember them?!”
“Of course I do,” she replied, “this makes your third, if I remember correctly. You used your first two to beg for sweets and to keep a stray puppy in our room until we found its owners.”
“... Now that I think about it, the first one was a pretty bad way to use the wish.” Cesario could practically hear Kraft pouting as she said that.
“I thought it was cute.” Cesario laughed. Her eyes and her thoughts weren’t on the faraway sun, but the one right in front of her. “... I suppose that means you owe me a few more lifetimes together.”
After a long pause, Kraft giggled as well. A carefree laugh, as the burdens of a past life fall away. “I guess it does.” With all the strength she’s able to muster, Kraft squeezes Cesario’s hand. “I’ll… be in your care.”
Cesario wordlessly squeezes back, savoring the warmth of her drink, the sun, and the girl next to her.