The dripping, by now, had stopped. The puddle that formed below began to darken, filling in the gaps of the tiled floor. The cool breeze seeping through the closed door passed through two pairs of feet, and one pair of paws.

The rabbit, and the two humans.

Itogaya: "Then, we should start as such."

Itogaya: "Can you, once again, raise your right... paw, to confirm you understand what I am saying?"

And like it did before, the rabbit raised its right paw slowly, whilst continuously throwing its pupils back and forth, against the two humans.

Itogaya: "...Ok."

Letting out a sigh, though not one of relief, Itogaya-san accepted the challenge in front of him.

The rabbit hadn't yet settled, having its legs in a position where it could quickly escape through the upper window, though not without further injuring itself. It understood too, that neither party could afford to shed more blood.

But... if the rabbit, for even a moment, thought it could take both humans down without so much as a scratch...

Itogaya: "I can treat your wounds, in exchange for some of the supplies you took from the reception."

Itogaya: "But first, I need to determine your wounds. Can you present them to me?"

The rabbit blinked, and began to stand; albeit slowly. It began pointing at the affected areas on its body, which included its right eye and arm (courtesy of Daikubara-san), and waist.

While it did so, Konsako-san looked nervously towards Itogaya-san. Although it was his idea, he couldn't help but grow anxious... though it was understandable, considering their previous altercation.

Itogaya: "Can I inspect your body?"

In an instant, the rabbit shot back down. The fast movement forced it into a coughing fit, but not once did it remove its eyes from the two.

Itogaya: "...Then I can't help you."

Forcing blood out of its mouth, the rabbit began to clench its fist, as it stared tirelessly into the doctor's eyes.

Konsako Akihi: "Wait, how about you... just have it follow your movements?"

Itogaya: "What?"

Konsako Akihi: "If you raise your right arm, it raises its own. That way, you can properly inspect the injuries without invading its space."

The doctor wasn't used to patients putting up such a fight, but he had no choice other than to adapt.

In the following minutes, he began to inspect the rabbit's wounds from a distance, by having it follow along to his movements. The pulling of the eyelids, the moving of the arms' joints, and the showcasing of its waist injury.

He squinted again and again, furrowing his eyebrows as he stared at the rabbit's wounds.

And, after that time passed... he sat down once more, closed his eyes and...

Konsako Akihi: "Itogaya-sensei?"

Itogaya: "Hyphema in the right eye, infection likely."

Itogaya: "Right arm, fractured bone; with how the joint is moving, it's likely the humerus that's suffered the blow."

Itogaya: "Puncture wound to the internal oblique muscle, likely reached the small intestine. Infection undeniable."

He then stood up, and began searching the staff room top to bottom.

Itogaya: "Konsako-kun, to your right. Toss it to me."

Konsako Akihi: "Oh, sure."

He caught the packet and began to read the details.

Itogaya: "Rabbit, can you read?"

It slowly raised its right paw.

Itogaya: "Follow the instructions on the back. This is for your eye."

He tossed it to the rabbit who quickly caught it.

Itogaya: "You need a splint for your arm. You can use a table leg."

Itogaya: "As for your waist, you would benefit most from resting for the next... however long."

Itogaya: "Find someplace safe, that won't require you to move around too much. Prop your legs up on something so they're above your chest. You'll need that blood flow."

Itogaya: "Keep the wound clean and redress it every so often. You're suffering internal bleeding, but the puncture to your intestine is likely minute. It should heal by itself given time."

Before speaking his next word, Itogaya-san's eyes grew in concern for the quickest second, before falling back down.

Itogaya: "As for infections, they won't settle in until later. For now, don't eat, don't drink. And keep pressure on the wound, that way you only have to worry about internal bleeding."

Itogaya: "Oh, and take these antibiotics."

The doctor continued, likely to find out what the rabbit could and couldn't understand.

And as his diagnosis came to a close, Konsako-san moved towards Itogaya-san, so the rabbit could quickly leave through the staff door. In seconds, it was gone, the pitter patter of its footsteps fading into the town's fog.

The two had no words to share. They collected from the room what they needed, and made their way to the apartment.

The altercation was less than conceivable, and yet... it pumped the blood through Konsako-san's body even faster.

For a reason he couldn't understand... he was excited.

...

Itogaya: "We don't need the ten minutes."

The doctor grinned, pushing the door open.

Ishimasu Kanana: "Sensei!"

Kuro: "..."

Itogaya: "We're alive."

Itogaya: "Sorry you had to wait, Kobayashi-kun."

Kobayashi Amano: "...You better be."

The doctor approached me, my right arm raised above my head for some time to keep my blood flowing properly.

Itogaya: "I'll discuss everything I need to, in the next few moments... but for now, I'll have to ask the rest of you to leave me alone with Kobayashi-kun."

Konsako Akihi: "Why?"

Itogaya: "I'll explain later, but... don't drink from the taps. If you need to wash your hands, use the water bottles from the store."

Itogaya: "Understand?"

Konsako Akihi: "We'll wait outside."

Itogaya: "Thank you."

...

The three stood outside the apartment, with Kuro-san watching the stairs closely.

Ishimasu Kanana: "I'm happy you're okay."

Ishimasu Kanana: "When you talked about the rabbit, I thought you were going crazy... but it worked, didn't it?"

Konsako Akihi: "It worked, thanks to Itogaya-sensei. I didn't do anything."

Ishimasu Kanana: "But you knew it could work... how?"

Konsako Akihi: "I didn't... I didn't, but... it just came to me. I've seen a lot of blood being spilt today, but it only occurred to me then, that maybe it wasn't our only option."

Ishimasu Kanana: "You're really helpful."

Ishimas Kanana: "...Unlike me."

And expecting to once again be met with silence, the girl held back her tears, as if she wasn't allowed to share them.

...But, a gentle hand placed itself on her shoulder.

Konsako Akihi: "No one should be hurt. No matter what, no one should have to bleed."

Konsako Akihi: "And if there's a choice... a choice that can keep that from happening, I want to make it."

Ishimasu Kanana: "Even if you hurt yourself?"

Konsako Akihi: "I'd like to avoid that, definitely. But sometimes there isn't a choice."

Konsako Akihi: "You can make choices too, Ishimasu-chan. So that means you can be helpful."

Ishimasu Kanana: "But your choices are always more important than mine, cus' I never get a say in anything."

Konsako Akihi: "They're not more important. You're just agreeing with those choices, even if you don't like them."

Konsako Akihi: "We can't force you to do anything, but you understand what we're doing is best for you too, that's why you're agreeing, isn't it?"

She pouted.

Konsako Akihi: "You don't want to worry anyone, huh?"

He walked towards the complex's window, as the night sky stayed put, and began to rest his palm against the cold glass.

Konsako Akihi: "But no amount of worry can compare to the pain you feel through loss."

Konsako Akihi: "So I'll choose to worry about you everyday, instead of wishing I could."

The mask he wore was no longer on, as he painted his face with a big smile, his blue eyes hiding behind closed eyelids.

And, the girl began to share her tears.

...Although this sky doesn't change, we can.