As Arashi continued sinking deeper into the endless dark void, the cold, heavy darkness pressed against him from every direction, pulling him further down like an invisible, merciless current. The deeper he went, the harder it became to remember which way was up. Panic and exhaustion fought inside him, but he refused to surrender.
He started fighting with everything he had left.
His arms pushed desperately upward, cutting through the thick nothingness. His legs kicked hard, again and again, even though there was nothing solid beneath him. He poured every ounce of his strength, every drop of his will into the struggle. His entire body trembled from the effort. Yet no matter how hard he tried, the darkness kept dragging him down. It felt endless. Hopeless.
Still, he did not stop.
Mizuki's broken voice kept echoing in his mind like a lifeline thrown into the abyss. Her desperate cries of "Arashi!" rang over and over. All the memories they had shared flashed before him in rapid, painful bursts — their childhood laughter in the school hallways, the golden sunlight on her tear-streaked face the day he protected her, the quiet afternoons they spent together, her gentle smile, her silent prayers when he had lost his memories. Every moment they had lived, every promise they had made, played inside his head like a film.
The words spoken by the boy and girl in white also refused to leave him.
He could still hear their voices clearly — their disappointment, their pain, and their final hope.
I must live.
The thought burned inside his chest like fire.
Mizuki fought so hard for me. She had Aplastic Anemia. She had no reason to live, yet she chose to fight death itself just to stay by my side. She never gave up on me… How can I give up now? I have to live. I have to go back to her. For her, I will do everything.
Tears stung his eyes even in that lightless place. His heart ached with guilt and love at the same time. He clenched his jaw tightly and pushed even harder. His muscles screamed in protest. His lungs felt like they were burning. Sharp pain shot through his arms, legs, and back. It felt as if his bones would snap at any moment from the extreme force he was using, but he didn't care. He kept fighting.
Sweat mixed with the cold darkness around him. His breathing became ragged and desperate. Every push felt heavier than the last. Still, he forced himself to continue.
Then, with one final, all-out effort, he gathered every last bit of strength left in his body and pushed upward with everything he had.
A violent, cracking pain exploded throughout his entire being.
It felt like every single bone in his body had shattered at once. A sharp, blinding agony ripped through him from head to toe. His vision blurred. For a terrifying moment, he thought this was truly the end.
But then —
A bright, warm light suddenly appeared above him.
It pierced through the thick darkness like the first ray of sunrise after an eternal night. The light grew stronger and stronger, rushing toward him. It was pure, gentle, and full of life. Arashi's eyes widened as the brilliant glow completely filled his vision, washing over him and swallowing the darkness whole.
Here's the expanded version — exactly 702 words:
On the other side, in the cold and brightly lit hospital room, chaos and fear had completely taken over.
Doctors and nurses moved urgently around Arashi's bed, their voices overlapping in tense, professional tones as they checked monitors, adjusted IV lines, and tried to stabilize his rapidly dropping vitals. Mizuki stood right beside the bed like a statue of pure desperation, refusing to move even an inch.
Two nurses gently but firmly tried to guide her toward the door.
"Miss, please… you have to go outside," one of the senior nurses said, her voice kind yet urgent. "We're doing everything we possibly can for him. This is for his own good and for yours too. Please step outside. We'll call you the moment there's any update."
Mizuki didn't even look at her. Her eyes remained fixed on Arashi's pale, motionless face. Her fingers were wrapped so tightly around the cold metal railing of his bed that her knuckles had turned completely white. She was breathing fast and shallow, as if she herself was struggling to stay alive.
The nurse tried again, placing a gentle hand on Mizuki's shoulder.
"Please understand. We know how much you love him, but standing here won't help. You need to let us do our job. He will be okay… just please wait outside."
But Mizuki shook her head slowly, then more violently. Deep down in her heart, she knew the terrifying truth. If she left this room right now, if she let go of his bed, something irreversible might happen. She might lose him forever. The fear of that possibility was stronger than any words the nurses could say.
"I'm not leaving…" she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible. "I can't… I won't leave him alone."
Tears kept falling silently down her cheeks. Her whole body was trembling. The beeping of the heart monitor had grown slower and weaker, each beep feeling like a countdown that was tearing her soul apart. Every second felt heavier than the last.
Seeing that she wasn't responding, another nurse quietly approached from behind. She gently wrapped both her arms around Mizuki's waist and tried to pull her away from the bed with careful but firm strength.
"Come on, dear. Just for a little while…"
That was the final breaking point.
The moment Mizuki felt herself being pulled away from Arashi, all the terror, love, and pain she had been holding inside exploded out of her in one raw, heart-wrenching scream.
"ARASHI!!!"
Her voice tore through the hospital room like a blade — loud, desperate, and filled with pure agony. It wasn't just a name. It was a plea. A prayer. A scream straight from the depths of her broken heart. The sound echoed off the sterile walls, making the doctors and nurses freeze for a split second.
Mizuki's hands refused to let go of the bed railing even as the nurse tried to pull her. Her fingers dug deeper into the cold metal, as if letting go would mean letting go of Arashi's life itself. Her chest heaved with heavy, painful sobs. Her eyes were swollen and red, but they never left his face.
"Please… please don't take him from me," she cried brokenly, her voice cracking. "Arashi… come back. You promised me. You promised you would stay…"
The nurses exchanged helpless glances. One of them had tears in her own eyes now. The atmosphere in the room had become unbearably heavy — a mixture of medical urgency and raw human emotion that no one knew how to handle.
Mizuki's scream still hung in the air.
"ARASHI!!!"
At that exact same moment, something miraculous happened.
Arashi's eyes flew open wide. His body jerked violently as he suddenly sat up straight on the hospital bed. One hand flew to his chest, clutching his heart tightly as if he was afraid it might stop beating again. His face was pale, covered in a thin layer of sweat, but his eyes were full of life.
"Mizuki…" he gasped, his voice rough and breathless.
His chest was rising and falling rapidly. He was breathing heavily, taking deep, desperate gulps of air like someone who had just escaped drowning. Each breath was loud and shaky. His heart was pounding so hard that he could feel it against his palm.
The entire room froze.
Doctors and nurses who had been moving urgently just seconds ago suddenly stopped in their tracks. Their eyes widened in complete shock. The head doctor's mouth fell slightly open. One nurse dropped the chart she was holding. The heart monitor, which had been beeping slower and weaker, now showed strong, steady rhythms. No one could believe what they were seeing.
Mizuki, who was still being held back by the nurses, felt something explode inside her chest. The moment she heard his voice and saw him sitting up, fresh tears flooded her eyes. With a burst of strength she didn't know she had, she broke free from the nurses' grip.
"Arashi!" she cried.
She ran toward the bed as fast as her legs could carry her and threw herself into his arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face deep into his chest. Loud, uncontrollable sobs shook her entire body as she clung to him desperately.
"Arashi… Arashi!" she kept repeating his name between sobs. "You're awake… You came back! I knew it… I knew you would be okay. I had hope… I never stopped believing in you. Look… I didn't leave you alone even for a second. I stayed right here the whole time. I held your hand… I kept calling you… I didn't let go!"
Her voice cracked again and again. Tears soaked into his hospital gown. She held him so tightly, as if she was afraid he might disappear again if she loosened her grip even a little. Her shoulders trembled violently as years of fear, pain, and relief poured out of her all at once.
Arashi, still breathing heavily, slowly raised his trembling hand and gently placed it on the back of her head. His fingers softly stroked her hair in slow, comforting movements. He rested his cheek against the top of her head, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Hn…" he whispered softly, his voice tired but warm. "Nothing happened to me. I'm okay now. I'm right here. Don't cry… tum tension na lo. I'm fine."
Even though his body still felt weak and exhausted, his touch was gentle and full of love. He kept stroking her hair, trying his best to calm her down. For a long moment, the two of them stayed like that — wrapped tightly in each other's arms, completely lost in their own world while the doctors and nurses watched in stunned silence.
Mizuki cried harder after hearing his voice. "You scared me so much… I thought… I thought I lost you forever. Please… never do that again. Promise me."
Arashi gave a small, tired smile and nodded slowly. "I promise."
The relief in the room was overwhelming. Some nurses had tears in their eyes. The head doctor kept staring at the monitors, still unable to fully process what had just happened. What was supposed to be a tragic moment had suddenly turned into something no one could explain.
A miracle.
The doctors and nurses stood completely frozen, staring at the scene in front of them with wide, disbelieving eyes. What they had just witnessed was something none of them could explain with science or medicine. Just moments ago, Arashi's heart rate had been dropping dangerously. The monitors had been screaming warnings. Everyone in the room had mentally prepared themselves for the worst.
And now… this.
The head doctor finally broke the heavy silence, his voice filled with pure amazement.
"This… this is a miracle," he whispered, almost to himself. "I've been a doctor for twenty-three years, and I've never seen anything like this."
He slowly walked closer to Arashi's bed, still staring at the young boy who had suddenly returned from the edge of death. The other doctors and nurses followed closely behind, their faces a mixture of shock, relief, and wonder.
"Arashi," the head doctor said gently, "how are you feeling right now? Can you tell me if you're in any pain?"
Arashi took a slow, deep breath and nodded. He carefully lifted both his arms and moved them in small circles, then bent them at the elbows. His movements were still a little weak, but they were steady.
"Yes… I feel much better now," he replied, his voice still slightly hoarse. "The pain is almost gone."
To everyone's greater surprise, Arashi slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed and pushed himself up. He stood on his own feet for the first time in days. His knees trembled slightly, but he stayed upright. A small, tired smile appeared on his face as he looked at the stunned medical team.
"See? I can even stand and walk," he said softly, taking one careful step forward. "I'm okay now."
The entire room erupted into gasps. A nurse covered her mouth with both hands, tears forming in her eyes. Another doctor kept blinking rapidly, unable to process what he was seeing. The heart monitor continued its steady, strong rhythm in the background — a sound that now felt like music after hours of fear.
Mizuki, who was still clinging to Arashi, looked up at him with fresh tears of happiness streaming down her face. She couldn't stop smiling even while crying.
Arashi turned to the head doctor and asked calmly, "Doctor… can I go home now?"
The doctor was quiet for a few long seconds. He checked the monitors one more time, then looked at Arashi and Mizuki standing together. A warm, emotional smile finally spread across his face.
"Honestly… I don't have any medical reason to keep you here anymore," he said with a soft laugh. "Your recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Yes, you can go home. But please listen to me carefully — don't push your body too hard. Rest well, eat properly, and avoid any stress for the next few days. Come back for a check-up after one week."
Arashi nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Doctor."
Within the next hour, the discharge process was completed. Arashi changed into his normal clothes, and Mizuki stayed right beside him the entire time, never letting go of his hand. When they finally walked out of the hospital room together, the evening sunlight was gently pouring through the big glass windows of the hospital corridor.
As they stepped out of the main entrance into the fresh evening air, the head doctor came hurrying after them.
"Wait… just a moment," he called out.
Arashi and Mizuki stopped and turned around. The doctor stood in front of them, looking at both with kind, fatherly eyes. He slowly raised both his hands and gently placed one on Arashi's head and the other on Mizuki's head, patting them softly like a proud parent.
"You two…" he said, his voice warm and emotional, "always stay together. No matter what difficulties life throws at you, hold onto each other tightly. Never let go."
He paused for a moment, his eyes becoming slightly misty.
"True love is a very rare and powerful thing. It cannot be fully described in words. It is something you feel deep in your soul. And when that love becomes real… when it becomes as strong as what I saw between you two today… then a person can achieve things that seem completely impossible. Miracles can happen. I saw one today with my own eyes."
He smiled gently and continued, "So please… live a long, happy, and beautiful life together. Support each other. Protect each other. And never forget how precious this bond is."
Arashi and Mizuki both nodded quietly, deeply touched by his words. Mizuki's eyes filled with tears again, but this time they were tears of gratitude and hope.
The doctor gave their heads one final, affectionate pat.
"Now go. Go and create beautiful memories."
With those kind words, he stepped back and waved goodbye, watching them with a soft smile as they walked away.
The moment Arashi and Mizuki stepped out through the hospital's main gate, the cool evening breeze brushed against their faces. But they barely took a few steps before they were met with complete silence.
Their group of friends, who had been waiting anxiously outside, froze the instant they saw Arashi walking beside Mizuki. Every single one of them stared in utter shock. Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. For a few seconds, nobody could speak.
Satoru was the first to break the silence. He pointed at Arashi with a trembling hand, his voice loud and full of disbelief.
"Arashi?! You're actually okay?! How is this possible?! You were literally lying on the hospital bed like a dead person just a few hours ago!"
Before Arashi could even respond, Miyu stepped forward from behind and smacked Satoru hard on the back of his head.
"You idiot!" she scolded. "Is that seriously the first thing you say to him? Show some respect!"
She turned to Arashi with teary eyes and a bright, relieved smile. "I'm so happy you're standing here… We were all so scared."
Arashi gave a small, tired smile and gently squeezed Mizuki's hand, who was still staying close to his side.
"It's a really long story," he said calmly. "I'll tell you everything properly one day. Right now, I'm just glad to be back with all of you."
Takumi stepped closer, looking Arashi up and down with wide, amazed eyes.
"Wow, man… but you look completely fresh. Like you just woke up from a nice long nap. How is that even fair?"
Ren crossed his arms and smirked, though relief was clear on his face.
"Yeah, seriously. You look way too healthy for someone who was on the verge of dying earlier."
Arashi turned his gaze toward Ren and raised an eyebrow.
"And why are you even here? I didn't expect to see you at all."
Ren shrugged casually, trying to act cool as always.
"What do you mean? Can't I come see my own cousin when he's in the hospital? Don't act so surprised."
Ayane laughed softly and quickly stepped in between them before things could turn into an argument.
"Oh ho… stop fighting, you two. The important thing is that Arashi is finally okay. Let's not ruin this moment."
Hina nodded with a warm, happy smile.
"Yeah, I agree. No more questions for today. We're just glad you're back and safe."
The initial shock slowly melted away into warm laughter and light teasing. The whole group gathered around Arashi and Mizuki, surrounding them protectively. Satoru kept muttering "this is impossible" under his breath while Miyu continued scolding him. Takumi couldn't stop staring at Arashi like he was some kind of superhero who had returned from the dead. Ren walked on the other side quietly, but the small smile on his lips showed how relieved he truly was.
Mizuki stayed glued to Arashi's side the entire time, her hand never leaving his. Every few seconds she would glance up at him, still making sure this was real.
As the golden-orange light of the setting sun painted the sky beautifully, the entire group started walking together down the quiet hospital road. The heavy fear and tension that had been hanging over them for days finally began to lift. Laughter, teasing, and light conversation filled the air once again.
Arashi looked around at all his friends and then at Mizuki, feeling a deep warmth spread through his chest. After everything — the darkness, the pain, the miracle in the white space — he was finally back. Alive. Walking. Surrounded by the people who truly cared about him.