Chapter 17
Early the next morning, Hikaru and Asha leave for Haru’s hideout. “Why’re you leaving so early?” Ari asks.
“Do we have to tell you everything?” Hikaru retorts irritably.
“Well, you freeloaders are livin’ under my family’s roof,” Ari shoots back.
Hikaru sighs. “I just want to check up on Haru,” he says.
“Check up?” Ari asks. “Why? Did something happen?”
“That’s none of your business,” Hikaru says. “C’mon, Asha.”
Asha follows Hikaru down the road from Ari’s house as Ari watches them leave. “I do care, you idiot,” she mutters.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Hikaru-san, did you have to be so cold to Ari-san?” Asha asks.
“I’m sorry, but Haru’s problems are none of Ari’s business,” Hikaru says matter-of-factly.
Asha sighs. “Maybe, but still...”
They stop in front of the building and the kitten is outside, pushing against the door and meowing loudly. “Oh no!” Asha cries.
“Oh no, what?” Hikaru asks in a panic. “What is it?”
“This is what happened last time, when Haru-san was hurt!” Asha explains. She opens the door, calling, “We’re coming in, Haru-san!”
When they walk in, Haru is tossing and turning under his blanket, muttering in his sleep. “Not this again!” Hikaru cries. He rushes up to Haru and kneels next to him. “Stay back,” he cautions Asha. Hikaru starts shaking Haru, trying to wake him up. “Hey, Haru! Haru, snap out of it!” Hikaru grabs Haru’s shoulder to shake him again, and Haru pulls away and starts screaming, kicking and flailing wildly. “CALM DOWN!!!” Hikaru yells. “It’s me! It’s Hikaru!”
Asha backs up a few more steps, watching on in terror. Hikaru reaches out and barely touches Haru, and Haru kicks himself across the floor into a pile of glass and rubble. “HARU!!!” Hikaru yells.
“HARU-SAN!!!” Asha cries, running in.
Hikaru grabs Haru’s arm and picks him up out of the debris, then puts him down farther away. Haru flinches and finally wakes up. “Haru-san!” Asha cries, “Are you okay?”
Haru tries to get up and a wave of pain surges through him. He cries out and doubles over. “Asha, stay with him!” Hikaru says. “I’ll go get his medicine kit!”
Hikaru scrambles for the kit while Asha tries in vain to calm Haru down. “Do you want me to go get some water?” Asha asks, her voice rising with panic. “Hikaru-san, should I? There’s a hose outside!”
Hikaru tosses her a cloth. “Go ahead!”
Asha rushes out to the hose and soaks the cloth in water, then brings it back to Hikaru. Hikaru starts cleaning Haru’s cuts, but Haru is hurt badly. “Hang in there,” Hikaru says. “Don’t pass out on me, okay? I’m no good at this stuff.”
“Haru-san, I know you said you can’t heal yourself, but please, at least try!” Asha pleads. “Your cuts are really bad!”
“No– That’ll only drain me more...” Haru rasps.
“D – Drain?”
Haru grips his injured arm, where the wound has opened again.
“Move your hand, Haru,” Hikaru says. “Let me–!”
“I’ll take care of it,” Haru says. “Hand me the bandages...”
“Tell me what to do and I’ll do it,” Hikaru insists. “You just take it easy.”
After a few minutes, the worst of the commotion is over and the three kids sit in silence around the room. “This place is a safety hazard,” Hikaru mutters.
“Hikaru-san is right,” Asha agrees. “You should find somewhere else to stay – maybe come stay at Ari-san’s house with the rest of us.”
“You know I can’t do that,” Haru says.
Hikaru stares at Haru. “So what’s got you worked up like this?” he asks.
“Worked up?” Haru asks.
“When you get the really bad ones, there’s usually a reason. Like last time, we’d been talking about – well, you know...”
Haru frowns. “I went back last night,” he explains. “I found more files at the abandoned BIOTECH building...”
“You did?” Asha asks.
“And now, after talking to Miss Mitsuye, everything’s coming back to me,” Haru adds. “It’s no wonder… that I didn’t want to remember...”
“Was it bad?” Asha inquires. Haru nods.
“I was...like you, Hikaru,” Haru says. “I don’t have any family. I was all alone when Miss Mitsuye took me in off the streets.”
“So what did you find in the files?” Hikaru asks.
Haru glances at his hands. “I was supposed to be a weapon,” he says grimly. “If I hadn’t escaped, that’s what I would’ve been.”
“So BIOTECH just wants to use you,” Hikaru surmises. “Is that it?” Haru nods. Hikaru clenches his fists. “Man, that makes me sick!” he says disgustedly. “You’re a person, doggone it! They can’t treat you like– like–!”
“...A tool?” Haru finishes darkly.
Hikaru frowns. “Yeah.”
“And when they’re done with me...they’ll probably just throw me away,” Haru murmurs.
“So what are your plans now?” Hikaru asks.
“...I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?!”
“I’m not...”
“You’re not what?! Are you telling me that you’re just going to give up?!” Hikaru yells.
“I’m not strong enough...to fight back,” Haru says.
“Maybe not by yourself, but–!”
“But nothing,” Haru says. “That’s it. Period.”
“But, Haru–!”
“I couldn’t live with myself if something were to happen to you two, or to Miss Mitsuye,” Haru says. “You’re the only family I have left.” Hikaru’s expression softens.
“Haru-san...” Asha murmurs.
“Please understand that,” Haru pleads.
“We’re your friends,” Asha says. “We’ll stick by you no matter what happens, Haru-san. I promise. I know you’re scared, but…you have to let us help you.” Haru looks even more depressed. “All we want is to see you smiling and happy,” Asha says. “That alone is enough to make up for anything that might happen.”
“But...”
“No buts about it, Haru,” Hikaru says, grinning. “Anyone who wants to treat my friend like a tool is going to pay for it. Asha and I won’t be satisfied until we see a smile on your face. That’s how it is.”
“Thanks, guys,” Haru says quietly, still looking doubtful.
“I know this may sound selfish, but...there’s just…one thing I want to ask...” Asha says.
“What?” Haru asks.
“Haru-san, please...I feel so useless...‘cause I can’t really do anything without getting hurt and causing trouble for you. I just want...to be normal. Can you – Could you heal me?”
Haru looks surprised. “You mean...your Hemophilia?” Asha nods. “I’ve never tried to do something like that before,” Haru says. “But I’ll try. And no matter what, I swear to do my best to protect you both.”
Asha smiles. “Thank you, Haru-san...”
“Then that’s that,” Hikaru says. “It’s time to give BIOTECH a taste of their own medicine.”
Haru smiles a bit. “Yeah.”
