◯◯◯

◯◯◯

After the sweet scene that Mikey and Kiriko had. Shinobu forcefully drag the girl back inside of the Butterfly Estate while Mikey said that he will be leaving to tell the others that she is already awake. 

"The Decimo send out approval for your friends to visit you, Kiri-chan. Aren't you excited?" 

Just when the night came. Kiriko received a hologram call from the Decimo together with the other Guardians who asked if she is alright. Then the conversation turned into a mini-meeting regarding the attackers and why is she being targeted. She mentioned that one of them, the Vindice escapee, have a grudge against her brother and was trying to use her as bait to lure her brother. 

"Is it really alright for them to head here? Should I fetch them?" she asked restlessly knowing that the Toman along with the girls is coming. Why wouldn't she? The whole place is technically filled with Mafioso, and them just entering is already a problem. 

"You need to stop worrying, Kiri-chan. The Decimo approved by them entering the estate. The Cloud Members being confined in here won't do anything to them. Especially that they are their Vice-Commander's guests." Shinobu said trying to calm down the jittery girl sitting on her bed. 

Kiriko has a worried look plastered on her face, "But! I still can't help it, Shinobu-san! I should have been transferred to a normal hospital after I woke up!" she whined. 

"Transferring needs a lot of processes to perform. I thought you hate troublesome matters?" 

"Dealing with troublesome matters is much better than them being surrounded by danger." 

With surprised eyes, Shinobu glanced over the dark-haired girl mumbling something in the air. Or maybe mentally preparing herself to meet her newly-found friends. 

Hibari Kiriko is a lazy bum, a potato couch, she may be excellent when she is doing her work as a Vice-Commander. It doesn't change the fact that she will be lazy around when she has time. But Shinobu just heard her choose troublesome matters than lazying around just for her visitors. She couldn't help but smile warmly, knowing that Kiriko is no longer staying in her corner. Now, she is excited to meet these people who made the lazy bum be productive. 

Hmm... looks like those boys will be entertaining to observe with.

Just outside of the Butterfly Estate. The Toman members— Mikey, Draken, Mitsuya, Hakkai, and the Kawata Twins are present together with Takemitchi, Hinata, and Emma.

"Woah, this place is much bigger than ours, Mikey!" Emma said in surprise. Comparing the traditional house or rather be called a mansion in front of her from their house with a dojo in it.

"Are you sure that she is awake already, Mikey? You're not just hallucinating it?" Draken asked the silent blonde beside him who is staring in the entrance of the estate.

He was with Mikey yesterday but then Mikey said he is hungry and he has no choice but to buy his food alone because a certain Toman leader doesn't want to leave the place. Then when he came back with Mikey's favorite dorayaki, Mikey is now standing in front of the entrance talking to a very familiar girl, which Draken remembers as the person who accommodate their injured female friend when she was transferred.

They were surprised when Kusakabe-san, the man that happens to be the assistant and secretary of their purple-eyed friend's older brother told them that she will be transferred to a medical facility that is under their family. At first, they are alright with it but then they said that visitors that did not receive and approval or verification as part of their family are not allowed to have a visit inside of the facility.

It earned various reactions. Especially from the two girls who just arrived the hospital a few minutes after Kyoya leave the place.

Despite their complaints, the transfer was still processed either way. That is when Mikey decided to visit Kiriko even if he is has to be outside of the place.

"Yoh."

They heard a greet and saw the three identical faces wearing their casual clothes, identifying them by the colors highlighted on their shorts.

"Let's go," Ryuuji said and lead the way followed by Ouzou and Kota and the Toman gang.

They now entered and a wide garden welcomed them the moment they step inside. The triplets showed a document with an orange flame as verification to the guards assigned at the entrance. There are about twenty stationed guards in the entrance, wearing black suits and a gun placed on their belts. Of course, this sight did not get past the Toman. 

"Is that a gun?" 

"They're guards, Smiley. It's part of their uniform." 

"Do you think they really use their guns?" 

"The question is. Are those real guns?" 

"Shut up!" Draken scolded the trio; Smiley, Hakkai, and Angry. Hakkai point to himself and asked why is he being scolded as well. 

"Rings." the guard said and the triplets showed their Vongola rings all placed on the left hand over their middle finger. When the guard assured their verification. He then allowed the crowd to enter. 

"What did you show to them?" Emma asked curiously. She is watching the three very intently because she can't wait to see her friend and noticed that they lifted their hands in a fist and showed something in there. 

Ouzou lifted his left hand, "It's the ring." he answered. 

Emma and Hina looked at each other sharing the same confused look. 

"Ring?" 

"What's with the ring?" the two girls asked. 

"In our family. We are given a ring each as our identification as part of the family," he said that earned the attention of the two. They look closely in the ring that Ouzou showed them. 

"Ah! I remember that Kiriko-chan and Milim-chan also has one!" 

"But they aren't identical at all?" Hina said, "It is different for each person." Ouzou only answered and decided to cut the conversation about the rings in there. The two girls sensed that he has no intention to further continue the topic and decided to change it. 

"Where is Milim-chan? I haven't seen her since three days ago." Emma asked him. This question also caught the attention of the boys behind them that are busying themselves in the interior of the place. 

The last time they saw the pink-headed girl is the date of the incident. When she kneeled to apologize in front of Kiriko's older brother. After that, they did not see even the end of the girl's rosy hair. 

"Milim is... doing something important..." Kota answered a bit unsure. 

Emma slumped, "I hope we could all visit Kiriko-chan. She will definitely like it." 

Hina gently pats her back, "In exchange for that. Let's all have a hangout when she recovers!" Emma's mood brightens because of Hinata's suggestion, "You are right, Hina-chan! Her hangout with us is already overdue." 

Their talk was stopped when they heard Ryuuji call someone. 

"Shinobu-san! Did you come from Kiriko-chan's room?" he asked and of course, the ones following him--- meaning the Toman boys and the two girls became interested in their conversation after hearing the name of their friend. The boys recognized the woman as the one from the hospital. 

Shinobu noticed the stares pointing to her and she responded with her warm smile. She also noticed the familiar half-tied blonde who is obviously eager to enter the room where her patient is being placed. 

"Guard Kiri-chan. I barely stop her from moving too much," she said to Ryuuji who sighed but nodded. She turns her eyes to the people behind the triplets, "You all must be Kiri-chan's friends here in Japan." 

"Y-Yes! Ma'am!" Emma almost saluted when the woman turned her attention to them. Is everyone around Kiriko-chan is a looker? This woman is so beautiful! she thought while trying to hide her blushing. 

Shinobu smiled at them and introduced herself, "I believe I still haven't introduced myself. I am sorry, I had a lot of things on my hands at that time. I am Kocho Shinobu and the chief physician in this medical facility." 

They almost drop their jaws, "Chief Physician?!" Takemitchi almost shouted but realized halfway that he is in a hospital still. 

"Aren't you too young for that?" Draken asked minding a polite tone. Shinobu giggled, "You flatter me. I am already 23." she said. 

"That is still young for a chief physician..." Mitsuya commented, "You must be a genius then." he added and Shinobu simply smiled. 

"Come along and I'll lead you to Kiri-chan's room." she ignored the statement and lead the group. The topic also dispersed knowing that they are now heading towards the room. She stopped on the side, with only one door in it. 

"This is Kiri-chan's room. Ryuuji-kun, I expect you to guard Kiri-chan well," she said to the second triplet knowing that he is much responsible among the three of them. Ryuuji nodded and Shinobu excused herself to do her rounds. Kota did not waste any more of their time and opened the door. 

"Kiriko?" Kota called when the room that greeted them is empty. They entered and scan the room, looking for a certain purple-eyed girl who happens to be missing inside of her room. 

"Ouzou-kun! Call the guards!" Ryuuji said to his youngest triplet who is about to storm outside when they heard her voice. 

"Why call the guards? I'm right here, guys." they turn their heads in the direction of the voice and see Kiriko coming from another door which happens to be the bathroom. Her head is wet and she is drying it with a towel. 

"Kiriko-chan!" Hina and Emma rushed towards the girl. 

"Why are you standing?!"

"You are a patient for fuck's sake! Just rest!"

The two; Hina and Emma dragged back the girl to her bed.

"Sit down!"

"Lay down!"

"Which one?" Kiriko is getting confused because of the panicky state of the two.

"Calm down?" In this situation, Kiriko is unsure what to do. Hina and Emma stand beside her bed, with her sitting and leaning her back gently on the bedframe. The two are refraining to release the tears they've been holding up since they caught Kiriko in such a state.

"Idiot." Emma started to say, she couldn't hold her tears anymore as they started to fall down, trailing over her cheeks as she tried to bite the insides of her tongue to prevent herself from sobbing too loud, "I thought the one who will be awarded a most idiot trophy would be Mikey. But I didn't expect that you will be competing with him when it comes to idiocy."

She let out her tears, "You don't know... how scared I was..." her voice cracked, "You don't know how you looked like in our view. You have a knife impaled on your back. THE MAN WAS ABOUT TO PIERCE YOUR THROAT IF MILIM-CHAN DIDN'T INTERVENE! YOU COULD HAVE—"

Emma is having a hard time breathing while Hina is silently crying beside her and calming down her friend. Kiriko felt guilty.

At that time, the only thing that is running on her mind is to defeat the man who attacked her to prevent further damages and attraction of the other people. She is facing a Yllona higher-up and a Vindice escapee. That is why she forgot that she has other eyes that saw her situation while she is standing not as Hibari Kiriko— but as the Cloud Division's Vice-Commander and Lead Captain of the Cloud Corps.

Hina started to speak as well, "We were so worried, Kiriko-chan. When the girl leads us away from the scene. Then we tried to ask her about you but she said that she couldn't give any information without your consent. We were so restless until we receive the call from Draken-kun about what happened. That you and Baji—"

Suddenly the mood became heavy the moment Hinata accidentally mentioned a certain long black-haired man's name. Kiriko noticed the sudden switch in the mood.

"What about Baji?" she asked, curious about the man she last saw being a sacrificial idiot who stabbed himself. Silence engulfed the whole room. Like they are waiting for someone to answer her question. Draken cuts the silence.

"Baji is gone."

"Draken!" Mitsuya almost shouted. Surprised that he bluntly release the news in front of her.

"What do you mean by gone, Draken?" she asked  the braided blonde who ignored Mitsuya's reaction and continue to say, "He died... three days ago."

Kiriko doesn't know how or what to react. That is why she chose to be silent.

"Kiriko-chan...?" Emma called her name when she notice she fell silent. Kiriko lifted her gaze and said, "Sorry, I honestly don't know what or how to react right now." she truthfully said to them.

"Yeah, it is still not being processed to us as well," Mitsuya said. Before the mood gets any sullen. Emma changed the topic.

"Ah! Kiriko-chan! When will you get discharged?"

"Shinobu-san said that I'm allowed to go in a week," she answered sensing her attempt to dissipate the sullen mood.

She claps her hand, "Then let's plan our hangout in that day!" she put her hands on her hips, "Your hangouts are way too overdue now, missy."

Kiriko chuckled, "Sorry, a lot of stuff happened." her eyes landed on certain blonde hiding from Draken's tall figure. Emma notice her stare and trace it and saw her brother hiding.

"Hey! Mikey! You're the most excited among of us and now you're hiding?!" the eyes turn now to the Toman leader who flinched on Emma's sudden call. He looked at his sister and sent a glare which Emma responded with a glare as well. Then his eyes spotted Kiriko then he felt his ears burning and hide again on Draken's tall figure like a shy cat.

"HAH?! WHAT IS WITH THAT ACTION, MIKEY?!" Emma exclaimed seeing the way her brother is acting.

Kiriko let out a giggle seeing Emma trying to make her brother show himself to her. Kiriko noticed Shinobu's figure just outside the room and gesturing for something which she instantly understood. Shinobu then left after she relayed the message. 

Mikey is now standing beside her bed who received a lot of forcing from Emma. 

"Mikey," Kiriko called his name. Mikey then suddenly felt a rush of steam from his chest towards his face, making him look reddish and instantly hide again on Draken with Emma yelling about him hiding. 

Kiriko doesn't know why Mikey is acting like this, but she is liking to see this side of Mikey. 

Meanwhile, the reason for Mikey's actions--- I kissed her wrist... I KISSED HER WRIST! I FREAKING KISSED HER WRIST! Does she despise me? Emma said that kissing a girl, I must gain permission first. But I kissed her wrist without her permission... DOES THAT MEAN SHE HATES ME NOW?! 

Mikey forgot his embarrassment from yesterday when he reached a conclusion of Kiriko hating her from accidentally brushing his lips on her wrist. He rushed towards the girl, "Kiricchi! I am sorry!" he almost jump to the girl if Draken did not grab his collar, "Hey! Mikey! Your Kiricchi is injured!" 

"But Kiricchi is upset at me!" 

"She is not!--- and why would she be upset to you?!" 

"I KISSED HER WRIST WITHOUT HER PERMISSION! SHE HATES ME NOW! I STOLE HER FIRST KISS!" 

Silence... until Emma grab her brother from Draken's hold. 

"What did you say?" her eyes are burning in fire, "You stole her what?!" 

Kiriko then realized what Mikey just meant, "It's only a brush, Mikey." she innocently said. Emma got curious. 

"Kiriko-chan, what does that mean?" her question, of course, is the same question that is running on their minds this includes Mitsuya, the Kawata twins, Hakkai, and Draken curious about the reason of their childish leader. 

Kiriko blinks and said, "He kissed my wrist yesterday." she then remembered how gentle and soft his lips brushed against her skin, and without her noticing her face started to get red that did not go unnoticed from the eyes of the people present inside the room. While Mikey keeps on apologizing to Kiriko saying that he will ask permission next time. 

"He is planning to do it again..." Mitsuya whispered while listening to Mikey. Hakkai beside him hummed and nodded while the Kawata twins are surprised but amused, "Then, that girl is our president's wifey now?" 

Smiley asked Mitsuya who sighed then have a glance again over the scene in front of them. 

"Possibly," he answered and smiled a bit. At least Mikey is happy... 

卍

𝙊𝙠𝙖𝙮, 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙮. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙝𝙖.

𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩. 𝙃𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙀𝙢𝙢𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙀𝙢𝙢𝙖 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙮. 𝙎𝙤, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙮. 𝙄 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚 '𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙝, 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩? 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩!