"Soma-kun, it's you... You came."

A small Japanese woman walked up to him with tears in her eyes and opened her arms. He threw himself into them, swallowing the lump he felt forming in his throat.

"Kimiko oba-san."

"Soma... We haven't heard from you for so long. I'm glad you're here," a deeper male voice chimed in.

Soma raised his head.

"Mr. Desmond d'Arbois..." he said, returning the offered hug. "I've been longing to see you again, but not at this price, believe me. I tried to contact you, but..."

"Sir, Madam," the guard asked, his expression somewhat stiff. "Am I to understand that you do indeed know this young man?"

Seishi's parents turned around.

"Oh... Yes, of course. He's a relative; we'll have to get him a pass as soon as possible." The man rolled his eyes and walked away, grumbling. Soma turned his attention back to those he considered as his adoptive parents, anxious.

“I came as soon as I heard. Is he… How is he?”

Kimiko-san snuggled into her husband’s arms, turning her head away. He lowered his eyes.

“We just left the doctor’s office. Seishi was taken care of quickly, and his gunshot wound is being treated. Alas… he hasn’t regained consciousness. Right now, the only thing they can tell us is that he’s in a coma…”

Soma tightened his arms around himself, suddenly shivering.

“He… There is no way of knowing when he’ll wake up,” Seishi’s father continued. “If he ever wakes up…”

“Oh gods!” his wife sobbed. “Why him?”

A painful silence ensued.

“Do… you think I can… see him?” Soma finally breathed.

Kimiko-san straightened up.

“Oh, I hope so! We’re going to see the people in charge right away!”

Soma watched the couple as he led them through the halls. Kimiko-san, who, being of mixed race herself, was not among the smallest Japanese women, now looked tiny and hunched over. Even the kindness, a reflection of Sei's, permanently on her face could not erase the distress and despair. Seishi's father also looked defeated, aged. His shoulders had slumped, and Soma judged that he must look like his son's height instead of surpassing him in stature. At his temples, silver hairs now dotted the blond mane. Soma took a deep breath. And Sei... He hadn't seen him in over two years... Two years, Africa... and this attack...

The supervisor pulled him from his reverie.

Given the rather exceptional circumstances, the visit was fortunately granted after some negotiation (that was Sei's father's specialty, after all!).

When the door was opened for him, he stood in the doorway, suddenly unable to move. Sei's father's comforting hand on his shoulder gave him the minimum courage needed to cross the threshold. He entered the room under the gaze of the guard on duty. Only the machines brought the room to life, and this time, instead of managing them, it was Sei who depended on them. He slowly approached the bed.

At first glance, one could almost have judged him to be in better condition than in the photo before his departure. A more tanned complexion, a less hollow face... But the illusion did not last long, and while one could miss the deathly pallor masked by the tanned skin, the bandaged chest, the respiratory cord, the electrodes and IVs, and above all the total absence of movement and expression, quickly brought one back to the terrible reality.

He felt the tears flow down his face of their own accord, as if in time with the beeps of the machines. Only then did he realize what he had been told, but which had faded into the background for two days when only one thing had mattered: returning to Sei. Seishi had almost died; now he remained in a coma, and he might never regain consciousness again... A terrifying vertigo seized him.

"It's my fault," he gasped, before feeling himself fall into oblivion.

Soma regained consciousness a few minutes later, wondering where he was. Kimiko-san's face and the nurse at his side reminded him.

"What... What happened?" he asked, noticing he was half-slumped in an armchair in Sei's room.

"A little blackout!" the nurse replied. "Don't you think that's enough of your friend? Do you often suffer from fainting spells like this?"

Soma nodded, half guessing what this flood of French words could mean.

"Mmm... I'm on heart treatment... but it's true that I haven't slept or eaten much in two days..."

"You scared us, Soma-kun," Seishi's mother smiled, taking his hand. "Now that you're here, you will have to take it easy."

He smiled back.

"I'll try, Kimiko-san, I'll try..."

"Have you already dropped your things off somewhere?" Seishi's father chimed in. "You're always at home in our house."

Soma's face darkened and glanced briefly at Seishi.

"I... Thank you, Mr. Desmond d'Arbois, but... I've already booked a hotel room near my workplace. Actually, to come here, I accepted a position in France, so I'll have to consider a long-term stay."

The couple exchanged a glance but decided it was not time to delve further.

"In any case, I won't let you leave without offering you dinner tonight," Kimiko-san threatened firmly. "It won't be a big thing, but..."

"Thank you, Kimiko-san, I would be very happy."

The nurse had slipped away after checking on Seishi and had given them five more minutes. Soma got up and stood beside Seishi, allowing himself only to take his hand. It seemed so cold. He squeezed it convulsively. He would have liked to do so much more, but it was unthinkable under the circumstances. He let go of him regretfully, keeping his true thoughts deep in his heart, and followed Sei's parents outside.

The meal passed in an almost familial atmosphere for Soma. Finding himself in this flat with Sei's parents reminded him of so many happy days... Alas, the main light was now absent. However, they tried not to let their distress overwhelm them and to converse as serenely as possible. He explained how he had been able to return to France and what his current situation was, his hosts immediately assuring him once again that, if he needed anything, they were at his disposal. Then, he felt obliged to also clarify the circumstances of his departure from France, at the end of his MBA. Even if they tried to remain discreet, he could see that they were wondering about it. He simply said that it was necessary for the job he had been considering for a long time and that his family was also waiting for him there. Which, in a sense, was part of the truth. He diverted the conversation when Seishi's father, who knew his own, asked about him. His father was also a topic he preferred to avoid.

All this allowed him to learn, however, that the Desmond d'Arbois had stayed in Belgium for a year shortly after his departure from France. This explained why he had never been able to contact them during those first few months. They then came back to Seishi's departure, about two months after his own, as he had feared. It had been an unexpected shock for them. Even today, they were unable to understand the reasons, and no one seemed able to shed any light on it. Seishi had no apparent problems in his professional or private life. They could not believe that only a dedication to the humanitarian cause could be the cause of such an abrupt change in the middle of medical internship. With a lump in his throat, Soma had to deny any knowledge of anything to Kimiko-san, who knew that something terrible must have upset Sei and that he was no longer the same. She was sorry that Seishi had not wanted to confide in anyone, not even him or Camille, who were so close to him.

At the mention of Camille, Soma couldn't help but shudder. But what could he do? It certainly was not his place to speak on Sei's behalf, and it seemed, fortunately for him, that Sei's cousin had not taken the liberty of doing so either... Camille, the only one who knew the truth... much to his misfortune. Perhaps without her... if he had been able to... He shook off his thoughts; the "ifs" were now useless. He had thought he would die of rage when Sei's mother had confessed to him that she had tried everything in vain to reach him so that he could dissuade Sei from this madness. Too many twists of fate had befallen them, the past was too cruel, but deep down he knew who had triggered this curse. He took leave of his hosts as quickly as possible; this meeting becoming nothing more than torture in his eyes. And now he wanted nothing more than to be alone with his despair and guilt.

A taxi dropped him off at his hotel and he threw himself onto the bed, finally giving vent to his distress which carried him to a well-deserved sleep.