A/N: Hey guys, Otaku here. Hey guys! So it has been almost a year it seems, I know that I it has been so long since I have posted this chapter. I decided to write this year because I have been busy for the whole school year and I need to focus studying for my future. Hope you guys forgive me especially for the grammars and words that have wrong spellings, English is not my mother tongue. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hibike! Euphonium/Sound! Euphonium characters used in the story. All rights are directed to their respected owners.

~~~~~~~ CHAPTER 10 ~~~~~~~

"It seems like I have caused you grief over something so petty." Kumiko said as she looks away from Reina after they shared a kiss with each other. Feeling down with what she had done to those who cared for her especially to the girl in front of her.

"What do you mean, Kumiko?" Reina asked as she was confused of the statement Kumiko has decided to tell her. Had she not been aware that Kumiko was feeling guilty of her reasons.

Reina held Kumiko's hand and brought it to her lips. She pressed her lips and looks at Kumiko sincerely. Kumiko sighs and begins to wonder if the decision she has made is right.

"I caused you pain with such a petty reason as rejecting me from high school, and now you are willing to come back to me no matter what. You are the reason of my determination and has made me this successful, but I know that there will be more pain ahead of us if we continue to be together like this. I know for sure that my being here beside you will without a doubt leave you in time. And I myself do not want to cause you grief." Kumiko replied with sadness in her voice as a teardrop falls from her face and guilt completely taking over her.

"I thought I have made myself clear, Kumiko. Why are you doubting yourself? I love you, Kumiko. And I know that it was wrong of me to reject you but I never once thought of giving up on you. This relationship has just started hasn't it? It is the the day we are officially dating. But you don't trust this relationship huh? You don't trust me enough to make you happy, am I rig-" Reina speaks as she was cut-off by a sudden kiss from Kumiko. She was caught off guard and her eyes were wide open from the shock but later then reciprocated the kiss.

Seconds later, the two separated as Kumiko moves away as she felt that she was lacking the air that she needs. Reina noticed that Kumiko was breathing heavily and her face looks like she was in pain. Immediately, Reina looks for the equipment that was used to deliver air into the nostrils. She then found the item and quickly gave it to Kumiko so that she can now breathe properly. Kumiko receives the item and breathes through it, relieved that she can now breathe properly. She glanced over Reina and sees that she has now a worried expression that looks like she could cry anytime soon. Kumiko smiled with a sorry look on her face.

"Sorry, Reina. I'm such an idiot for initiating something that I myself can't even do." Kumiko speaks up as she was guilty, smiling akwardly at the choice of her action only to embarass herself in front of her lover.

"No, its fine. I should never have said those words. I should know best than to have said anything without properly knowing you yet. It has been so long since the last time I have seen and meet you." Reina replied with a look of relief as she was horrified when her beloved was in pain.

She was not ready for Kumiko to leave her. It felt like it was choking her to death, a feeling like someone was clenching her heart to the point that it was like she was drowning in the water unable to move to save herself. It's like a feeling that she cannot live without Kumiko by her side. She was completely horrified and was now unable to speak.

"Reina?" Kumiko called but no response from the raven haired girl in front of her. She looks at Reina quite intensely as if trying to figure out what was on her mind. Reina looked like she was just staring into space spontaneously. "Reina? Hey, Reina. Hey." Kumiko called out once again and finally was able to get the attention of her beloved.

Reina snapped out of her conscience and she then looked at Kumiko. Kumiko's expression was rather worried and Reina knows that this is not the time to be worrying about that matter. She needs to spend her remaining time with Kumiko, that she needs to make her happy now that she finally made Kumiko accept her confessions that are rather forced. Kumiko is the only being that can make her happy, and she wants her to be happy too.

"I-I am sorry, my love. I was in a daze just now. Sorry for not being completely focus." Reina replied. Now determined to spend the rest of Kumiko's life with her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~NEXT DAY~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Do you want something love? I'll head out a bit to buy something." Reina asked while preparing her bag so that she can buy the essentials and things she needed as she was the one who is taking care of Kumiko. She then sat at the side of Kumiko's bed waiting for a reply.

"Hmm... Can I have pudding?" Kumiko asked as if she was a little kid. Giggling and wondering if Reina accepts her request.

"Ok then. Is that all you need?" Reina replied smiling at how cute Kumiko is acting towards her.

"Yeah, that's all. Thanks, love." Kumiko said grinning. Happy with everything that has been happening at that moment.

"You're welcome. Ok then. I'll head out now. Don't do anything reckless and just rest, okay?" Reina replied and gave Kumiko a peck on her lips.

"Yeah. Be safe, okay? Love you!" Kumiko said as she smiled at Reina's gesture.

"Mmm. Love you too!" Reina said as she now headed out of the room. She walks in the hallway and noticed that the staff of the hospital room kept glancing at her as she was headed outside of the facility. 'Oh. It seems like I forgot that I am a celebrity. Goodness. It seems like I am gonna have to be careful then.'

-KUMIKO'S POV-

Reina has now closed the door and Kumiko seems to be disoriented. She does not know what she's gonna do since she was now bored without Reina around.

"Hmm. What to do?" Kumiko asked herself as she was wondering what to do to keep herself from being bored.

The sound of the door opening startled Kumiko's thoughts and she quickly glanced at the door to see who. It was a doctor.

"Good morning, Oumae-san. Have you been well?" The doctor asked as he went to Kumiko's bed slowly upon checking her if there was anything wrong.

"Good morning too, doc. I have been well. Thank you for checking up with me. So, am I able to guess that what you came here for is to deliver me some bad news? Perhaps about my illness?" Kumiko replied as she knew that this day would definitely have come.

"Oh. Then it seems that this will be easier to explain to you. I must say, ma'am. You are definitely a brave woman. Then, shall I start?" The doctor said as he wondered what could have made Kumiko brave. To have made her accept that this is what she's gonna have to go through.

"Please, go ahead." Kumiko replied. Ready to accept her fate. She's gonna have to decide what to do next after when she's heard the news.

"Then, if I must. Oumae-san, as you have known that you have a Leukemia cancer. You know that this type of cancer has a low chance of survival. To say the least, your cancer cells are moving quite slowly but that does not guarantee you a time of your life. So, the worst part of this news is that you have only a week to live starting tomorrow. Your cancer must have started two years ago and is now showing signs of your blood deteriorating. Your body cannot continue to support you because it needs blood that are not contaminated with the cancer cells in your body. It was a miracle for you to live for this long and I hope that you have made your life have meaning and without regrets. Sorry to inform you and I hope that you would make your remaining time here on earth worthy. Please say your goodbye to all those who are inportant to you. Have a good day, ma'am. Thank you for your time." The doctor explained. He was a bit sad for the loss of those who loved her. It seemed that Kumiko was a bit speechless. Then she came back to reality.

"Oh. Excuse me for my manners. Umm... Thank you doctor."Kumiko said as she was dumbfounded at how short the remaining time for her to spend with Reina will be.

"Then I'll take my leave. Excuse me." The doctor replied as he slowly turned his back to Kumiko and walk towards the door to exit Kumiko's room. He opens the door then glanced back at Kumiko for a few seconds and took his leave closing the door behind him.

Kumiko stayed in a daze. She was in complete shock as she thought that she has accepted her illness already. Little did she know that she has a week left to spend with Reina. She was confused with what she was gonna say. Thinking about what the doctor said, she has decided to keep it a secret from Reina as she know that her beloved will be sad and in pain when the time comes. She would rather spend the rest of the week with Reina without the nuisance of the sad news in her head. To spend time with Reina genuinely.

The door opened in her room, loud enough to break her out of her thoughts. She was startled and as she looks at the direction of the door, she sighed in relief seeing the person in front of her.

~~~~~~~~~~REINA'S POV~~~~~~~~~~

Reina was walking as she searched for a nearby convenience store. Luckily, there was a nearby store in front of the hospital.

"Hmm. How convenient!" Reina said to herself. She then walked inside to buy her necessities or things she needed, most especially the requested pudding. She was immediately done because she has thought of what she was going to buy ahead of time and there were no customers lining for the cashier making it convenient for her. As she received her change, she exited the store and crossed the road to enter the gates of the hospital. Minutes later, she reached Kumiko's door and was about to knock. But, she heard voices inside the room and decided to lean her ear.

"- you have only a week to live starting tomorrow." A voice said. Reina knew that it was a doctor who was speaking to Kumiko. She backed away from the door and immediately ran to a comfort room holding her paper bag. Went inside to one of the cubicle and locked herself inside. She was crying. She thought that she has more time to spend with Kumiko, but it seems like she has only a week. It was so frustrating and the feeling of her heart clenching came back and she was sobbing rather loudly. She didn't mind if people heard her. She was not in a state to mind other people's business nor to hers. This is her future. It was so painful that it was over-bearing. It's like she couldn't breathe and she brought her hand in her chest. She tried to calm down and wiped her tears using her handkerchief. Then, she decided to open the lock on her cubicle and went to the sink to wash her face since it seemed like she was not presentable to Kumiko.

She thought that her pain is not bearable. It was so painful for her to hear those words. But then she thought of Kumiko. She wondered if Kumiko felt much more pain than her as it was her lover that is suffering from the illness and not her. Reina was considering Kumiko's feelings much more. She then wiped her face dry and checked if she was presentable.

"I'm back!" Reina said happily. She then walks towards Kumiko's bed and settled the paper bag that she was carrying with her at the floor.

"Welcome back!" Kumiko replied smiling, feeling happy and relieved at the same time.

After putting the paper bag away, Reina walks towards Kumiko and gave her lover a long sweet kiss. "How are you, love?" Reina then asked to check on Kumiko as she was worried if something might have happened during her time away.

"I'm fine, love. It seems like you came back so early?" Kumiko wondered.

"Umm. The place was just near here. And I cannot take so much time away from you." Reina said giggling as she teased Kumiko happily.

"Oh. Teasing aren't we?" Kumiko said as she giggled with happiness. She noticed that Reina's eyes looked like she was crying earlier.
"Are you crying, love?" Kumiko added as she asked her lover if she was in any pain right now.

"Um. Oh yeah! I had a dust inside my eyes earlier when I was out buying some stuff." Reina lied as she was worried that Kumiko might ask her what was wrong. She has a fake smile on her, but felt guilty for lying to her beloved.

"Reina?" Kumiko asked as she was wondering what was wrong with her. She cupped Reina's cheek to get her attention.

"Ah. Sorry, Kumiko. Oh! I forgot! Here is your requested pudding." Reina said as she went rummaging in her paper bag and gave Kumiko her pudding. She smiled as she saw Kumiko's reaction, her angel smile shines brightly as if the heaven has blessed her.

"Waa... Thank you so much, love." Kumiko said thankfully. Happy that her beloved is now back to normal.

"Oh. I brought you some soup as well. Thought you might not like the food in here." Reina said as she was thoughtful of her beloved. She does not want Kumiko to worry over her so she has to keep her thoughts in check.

"Thanks, love. Oh! Do you want to watch some TV?" Kumiko replied. She was now wondering what the media has been saying about her.

"Sure. I'll turn on the TV then." Reina replied as she went to get the remote on top of the table beside the bed. She returned to Kumikos' side and turned the TV on.

"Oumae, Kumiko-san's condition has not been answered as of yet. But, there was a photo taken sent by a stranger in our webpage. This is a photo of Oumae, Kumiko-san and Kousaka, Reina-san kissing inside one of the room in the hospital. It seems like the photo was taken from a window. What could their relationship be? Are they dating? Friends? And what could be the condition of the prodigy? This has bee-" The newscaster reported as it was cut-off by Reina turning the TV off.

The two looked at each other. They were found out by the public. They were in complete shock as to how they were found just as they became lovers. This is what Kumiko was also afraid for. She didn't want to ruin Reina's life just because of her. She does not care if she herself is destroyed since she wasn't gonna live anyway.

The door to Kumiko's room opened, revealing a 'Jade' colored eyes with silky long hair. It was no other than Aihara, Jade.

"Kumiko. We have a problem." Jade stated while staring and worried for the both of them.

END

What will await for them? Find out in the next chapter!