POV: Rion
Dinner…
Dinner??
With Ayase-san…??
I stood rooted beside Mom's bed. My legs felt like jelly, wobbling under me, and my eyes were glued to the door—the door Ayase-san practically fled through after saying… that.
Her face had been bright pink.
What does that mean?
What does that mean??
Does it mean—
My gaze snapped toward Mom.
Slowly—painfully slowly—she raised her thumb, a smug grin stretching across her face.
Something in me cracked.
I grabbed the bed railing with both hands, squeezing so hard it groaned. "Mother… I am in absolutely no condition for this…"
"You'll be fine," she said, waving a hand as if shooing away a fly. "Don't worry—"
"Don't worry?!" My voice cracked. "What if I say something stupid?? What if I take her somewhere awful?? What if she hates the food?? What if she thinks my clothes look weird?? What if she—what if she doesn't even like me—Agh—!!"
Mom suddenly slapped a hand over my mouth.
The grip was terrifyingly strong for someone hooked to half the machines in the room.
Her eyes sharpened into a death stare.
"You ungratefulchild," she hissed. "Did you see her face when she said that!?" Her fingers finally released me.
I sucked in air like I'd just escaped drowning. "B-But… you practically forced her to say it!"
"She said it on her own!" Mom jabbed a finger into my forehead. "I just handed her a lighter. She lit the spark."
I stared. I just stared—dumbfounded. Bewildered. Absolutely dumbfounded.
She lit the spark.
And then—somewhere deep in my chest—a firework went off.
"Then… does that mean…" My voice wobbled, barely holding itself together.
"Mm." Mom nodded, calm as ever. "It could be mutual." She lifted both hands in a casual shrug. "But who knows? You'll have to ask her yourself. Just to be sure."
Heat surged up my face so fast it made my vision blur. My hands started trembling—then the shaking spread, crawling down my arms, flooding through my whole body. My knees buckled and I dropped, burying my face in both hands.
It could be mutual??
Me?? And Ayase-san??
If it's mutual…
then—
Then is this a date???
Ow—
A soft thump landed on my head.
"Oi." Mom tossed a book at me like it was a reflex. "Don't get carried away. You've got a deadline, right?"
I rubbed the spot she hit. "Huh—How did you—"
"I'm your mother." She cut me off instantly. "Finish that before Risa-chan's shift ends. Don't you dare leave a girl waiting."
Right.
I have work to do.
I pushed myself upright and sank back into the chair. The laptop screen glared at me, my documents already waiting. I reached for the coffee can, cracked it open, letting the bitter smell drag me back into reality.
Then a thought slammed into me like a shock.
I'm going out with a nurse.
My mother is gravely ill… and I'm… going out for dinner with her caretaker.
A knot twisted in my stomach.
"Mom," I murmured, turning to her. "Is it… really okay for me to go out…?"
She looked at me—eyes tired but soft, warm in a way that made something in my chest tremble. "What are you saying, Rion?"
"I mean—who's watching you if both me and Ayase-san won't be around…?"
"I'll be fine," she said gently, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Stop worrying about me for a moment… while someone else is worrying about you."
Her words settled into the room—warm, heavy, almost too kind.
And something inside me… finally loosened. Just a little.
"…Alright," I muttered.
***
POV: Risa
The shift felt longer than usual.
Every injection, every monitor check, every note tapped into my tablet—I kept catching myself drifting back to the same thought.
Dinner.
With Rion.
By the time I finally clocked out, my hands were trembling. In the staff room, I peeled off my scrubs, folded them neatly, and changed into my casual clothes. I let my hair down and combed my fingers through it, smoothing out each strand until it behaved. Then I gave my cheeks a light pinch, just enough to keep myself present.
Why does it feel like I'm getting ready for a date?
It's not a date!
Definitely not...
Maybe…?
No. Stop. Stop that.
Still, the flutter wouldn't go away.
My thoughts tangled and tightened until even breathing felt like threading a needle.
Am I dragging him along?
Am I being a burden?
He hasn't eaten all day, but… doesn't he have work tonight?
He said he works at night…
Is it really okay for him to come with me?
But it was too late to back out now.
I already asked him out.
***
POV: Rion
The clock blinked 7:59 PM.
I stood in the hallway outside Mom's room, leaning against the wall, clutching an empty coffee can like it was a stress ball. I'd changed into the black turtleneck sweater I'd stuffed into my bag this morning—thank god. Even so, I still felt like a disaster.
Dinner.
With Ayase-san.
In public...
My knee bounced like it had a mind of its own.
What if she regrets asking me?
What if she only did it out of pity because I look half-dead?
What if I say something stupid—no, when I say something stupid—
What if—
The door beside me slid open.
I jolted so hard I nearly dropped the can.
Mom peeked out, holding onto the IV stand for balance. "Don't look so nervous," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You look like you're waiting for exam results."
"I am nervous."
"Well, stop it. You'll scare her away." She pointed at my face. "Smile."
I tried.
She grimaced. "Not like that."
"Moooom—" I hissed.
Before she could torment me further, footsteps echoed down the hall.
I turned.
Ayase-san.
Casual clothes.
A long skirt that didn't quite reach her ankles.
A beige sweater that was a little too baggy in a way that made it look… soft.
And her hair—slightly curled from being in a bun all day—brushed her shoulders with every step she took.
This is bad.
I already thought Ms. Ayase in her uniform was gorgeous.
But this? This is heaven and earth.
Does she come to work like this every day?
No way.
Suddenly I kind of wanted to work at this hospital.
My eyes lifted to hers. She looked… tired.
My breath hitched.
Am I troubling her?
Should I have stopped her back then?
Ahhh… I feel like such a jerk.
But then our eyes met—
And she smiled...
My heart did a full somersault.
"Rion," she called softly. "Sorry, did you wait long?"
"N-No, I—um—just got here..." My voice cracked like a dying radio.
She tried (and failed) to hide a laugh behind her hand.
Behind me, Mom gave a silent thumbs-up like the menace she is.
"Should we go?" Risa asked.
"...Yeah. Let's go."