A/N: Finally got my wits back. Though I seem to lose them again halfway making this fic. So I'm apologizing this early if it seems to be lame...OTL

Akihiko frequently visits Minako's room in Tatsumi Hospital for the next couple of months, sometimes with bunches of flowers to liven up her rather dull room. And he'll just sit there, talking to her as if she's awake. This became his habit over the next few years, holding on to a faint light of hope that she'll wake up.

Several years had passed, everyone had moved on in their lives. As for Akihiko, he is now Ryou Kanzato's informant for the Ayanagi Police. But he is still, in Shinji's terms, cannot let go of the past. During the seventh year of Minako's coma, Akihiko came over to her room yet again, with bunches of roses and a lovely ring box.

"I've heard from Takeba you like red roses." Akihiko said. "Sorry if I've been bringing white roses for the past few years."

Akihiko placed the roses into a vase. "Hey, don't look at me like that. I didn't know you were THAT close with Takeba."

Akihiko sat down on her bed and reached out for her hand. Her hand is still the small wonder Akihiko really likes about her. Despite of all the battles and tennis practices, her hands are still soft.

"Remember my promise to you seven Christmases ago?" Akihiko said as he opened the ring box he has earlier. "Here's something for you to put in the music box. Sorry it took me a while to give one. I have no idea what you like apart from stuff toys..."

Akihiko slid a silver ring on her finger. "Come now, don't give me that face." He chided her. "As far as Junpei had told me, buying a single ring is bad for someone who's in a relationship, so I also have one...even if it's quite a hindrance when I train..."
Akihiko reached out and stroke her cheek as he chuckled. "Not that I'm complaining though..."

He watched her breathe her carefree breath. He always remember her cheerful smile, her cute pout and her anger when she found him peeping, alongside Junpei and Ryoji, at the hot spring. Though all of that misunderstanding were cleared up, with a really harsh punishment he doesn't want to remember...

"I want to hear your voice, Minako..." Akihiko whispered. "When are you going to wake up?" He leaned down and kissed her forehead, just as the door opened. He looked up and saw Mitsuru.

"What a rather touching scene, Akihiko." she said.

"W-Well, what's wrong with that? I AM her boyfriend..." Akihiko replied, flustered.

Mitsuru noticed the ring box that is neglected on the bed side table.

"I see she has recieved an engagement ring from you. With a matching bunch of red roses. How romantic of you."

"W-What? It's not an engagement ring...It's just...a simple gift...I heard that women likes to recieve such gifts from their boyfriends so..."

Akihiko saw that Mitsuru is about to say something yet again, so he decided to change the subject.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just checking up on her. It's all thanks to her that I am this kind of person right now. If it wasn't for her influence, the Kirijo Group would have fallen by now."

Mitsuru looked at her watch. "It's best for me to get going now. I still have a meeting..."

"Yeah, sure. Take care."

On December 31st, Akihiko recieved a call from the hospital, saying that Minako Arisato has finally regained consciousness. Various emotions welled up inside him, and he left office really early, with a promise of an explanation to his friend, Ryou Kanzato, who seems rather displeased with his sudden slacker attitude. When he finally reached the hospital, he found the former members of SEES, now all grown up, standing outside her room. Even Koromaru was allowed into the hospital.

"She's okay, Senpai." Yukari said as Akihiko tries to catch his breath from his run. "Mitsuru-senpai and the doctor are finishing up checking on her."

Akihiko opened the door and found Minako, awake, sitting on her bed with a tired smile. When she turned her head to look at him, Akihiko was relieved to see her bright crimson eyes looking into his again. He rushed to her side. He saw, from the corner of his eyes, Mitsuru and the Doctor leaving quietly, though he doesn't care much. He just can't believe she's finally awake...

"Um, Aki...?" she said timidly, her voice puny compared to her loud and cheerful one before her comatose. Akihiko looked at her, with her long disshiveled hair and somewhat pale face. He hugged her tightly, not wanting her to see the tears coming out of his eyes.

"I'm so happy..." Akihiko whispered to her ear.

"I'm happy too, Senpai. But..."

"But what?" Akihiko looked at her. She's looking at her hand.

"I don't remember having this ring before. I know for sure this isn't the one Ryoji-kun gave me as a sign of friendship..."

"Oh that...well..." Akihiko said, flustered. He's glad for the fact that she wasn't awake when he told her those chummy stuff some days ago. She would be making fun of him by this time.

"Senpai...that ring on your finger."

Akihiko reddened. Because of the sudden turn of events, he had forgotten his plan when she wakes up. As a consolation to himself, he promised inwardly that he'd clobber Junpei for suggesting to give the ring while she's still asleep, for "a good and romantic surprise when she wakes up".

"Yeah, well...about it..." Akihiko tried to find the right words but failed considerably when he found her smiling up at him.

"When did we get engaged?"

"WHAT!" Junpei yelled, slamming the door open. "YOU'RE ENGAGED ALREADY? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?"

"Stupei!" Yukari said angrily.

"What?" Junpei rounded on Yukari. "I just can't believe our Senpai is a slick operator, asking Minako-tan's hand in marriage just when she woke up."

Minako and Akihiko reddened. True, Akihiko had indirectly asked Minako's hand in marriage and Minako indirectly answered yes to it. In fact, he had asked her hand in marriage, not accepting "No" as an answer, when he had slid the ring onto her finger.