Opening her eyes, she yawned and stretched. "Good morning, Yui." Mio said. Surprised at the voice, Yui looked around.

"Everyone. What are you all doing here?" she asked, sitting up.

"What else? Ui told us that you were doing better, so we came to see you." Ritsu explained, ruffling the brunette's hair. Yui smiled, then spotted Azusa.

"Azu-nyan, I mean... Azusa."

"Hi Yui-sempai. How are you feeling?" the kouhai asked.

"Better than yesterday at least. I wasn't expecting you to be here. Did you come to get your injuries checked out?"

"Actually Yui-sempai, I wanted to talk to you about something." She pushed herself up and hopped over to her friend's side. "Listen sempai, about what you said to my mom..."

"I meant every word, Azusa. The reason you got into your accident was because of my stupidity. When we were apart for all that time, I realized that I had been treating you badly, what with the constant hugging, the annoying behavior, your nickname, and I made up my mind. When I told your mom that I was willing to change if it meant getting you back, I was being serious. From now on, I promise to start treating you like a normal person instead of some plaything."

"I DON'T WANT THAT!" Azusa shouted suddenly. Startled, the girls all looked at her.

"Azusa?" Mio asked.

Blushing at her outburst, Azusa dropped her voice. "I'm sorry."

"What did you mean by that, Azusa-chan?" Mugi asked.

Leaning her crutches against the bed, Azusa grasped Yui's hands and looked squarely into her eyes. "Yui-sempai, I don't want you to change. I want you to keep being how you are with me."

"But Azusa..."

"Sempai, please listen." Yui shut her mouth. "While you were gone, it was the loneliest I had ever been in my life. I missed talking to you, I missed having tea and cake with you..." She blinked away tears, "I missed the way you always treated me. At first I thought that I would be fine without it. But as time went on, I felt myself constantly pining for the attention. Yui-sempai... I'm asking you to stay the way you are. I spoke with my parents about everything, and they were surprised, but when they realized that I was being serious, they both agreed to my decision."

"..." The seniors and Ui could not believe what they were hearing. Even though Yui's behavior had caused Azusa such trouble, she was asking for it to continue.

"When you said you were being serious, how serious did you mean?" Ritsu asked.

"I went so far as to bow to them the way Yui-sempai did to my mom, which is not easy to do with a busted leg." Stunned, everyone exchanged glances.

Then Yui spoke up. "Azusa. Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?"

Azusa nodded. "I want it even more than a full recovery from my injuries. I ask only that you tone things down when we're in public. When we're by ourselves, such as during club time, then go nuts. Please."

After a moment of silence, Yui asked, "I'll ask one more time, Azusa. Is this truly what you want? No second thoughts?" In response to this final question, Azusa released Yui's hands and hopped back. Then, to everyone's astonishment, she dropped to her knees.

Trying her hardest to bear the pain, she got down on her hands. "Please Yui-sempai... please... do this one thing for me..." Panting, she held the position. The seniors and Ui were stunned at what they were seeing.

Yui wasted no time in giving her answer. "Okay Azu-nyan, if that's what you really want, then I'll do it."

"Th... thank you..." Azusa gritted her teeth.

"Azusa, please get up. You're gonna hurt yourself even more." Mio pleaded, hurrying to her side. Azusa pushed herself up, and with Mio's help, got back to her feet, looking a bit green.

"I guess I shouldn't have done that."

Looking around, Ui spotted an empty bed. "Mio-chan, let's lie her down." Nodding, they helped their friend to the bed. Lying down, Azusa held her arm over her eyes, looking sickly. "Azusa-chan, just breathe deeply." Ui instructed. Obeying, the twin-tailed guitarist did not move, willing the nausea and pain to leave. Ritsu found an empty trash can and stood nearby. After a few agonizing moments, Azusa began to feel better.

"Are you okay, Azu-nyan?" Yui asked, concerned for her friend. Looking up, the kouhai chuckled.

"Remind me never to do that again. I actually threw up from the pain last time." she said with a smile. The others all giggled. At last, things were starting to return to normal. Later that day, Yui was declared well enough to return home and discharged. She was prescribed antibiotics and instructed to look after her cuts until they had healed more. That evening, the Light Music Club held a small celebration to welcome their return to full strength. Sawako mysteriously showed up in her usual fashion, Jun and Nodoka came by, and the evening was filled with joy, laughter and cheers.

THE END