The group stood in a fragile stillness outside the station, the air thick with emotion and exhaustion.
"I'll drive him," Venzel said suddenly, stepping forward.
His voice cut gently through the moment, calm but firm.
Ryu turned to him, one brow lifting. "You sure, Venz?"
Venzel nodded. "Yeah. The car's right here, and I know the way."
His eyes flicked to Renji, who was now half-sleeping on Aoki's shoulder. "He might be more comfortable without too many people crowding him."
Aoki looked at Venzel for a long moment, then gave a single, approving nod and carefully helped Renji toward the car.
"I'll ride in the back with him," Ryu offered, placing a hand on his son's shoulder.
"In case he needs help."
Venzel agreed with a quiet "Alright," and opened the door for them.
Tsuki stepped toward him and placed a hand briefly on his arm.
"Drive safe," she said, her voice low but full of trust.
Soho glanced at her son once more before turning back to Tsuki and leaning into her embrace again.
"Thank you… all of you," she whispered.
Aoki placed a hand on his wife's back and gently guided her toward their own car.
"We'll follow behind," he said, then added with a faint smile to Venzel, "And don't drive like your old man."
Venzel chuckled faintly. "No promises."
Thirty minutes later:
Brightwell General Hospital, Emergency Admissions Wing.
The fluorescent lights in the hospital hallway hummed above them, too bright, too clean.
It smelled of antiseptic and quiet worry.
Venzel sat on one of the waiting benches just outside the treatment room.
His hands rested on his knees, fingers interlaced tightly.
Despite the calm, he couldn't relax.
His leg bounced unconsciously.
Ryu stood nearby, watching through the narrow window into the room where Renji lay on a bed, hooked up to fluids.
The boy had finally drifted off into a deep sleep, sedated, stable.
"He's lucky," a nurse had told them earlier.
"If he'd stayed unconscious much longer, it could've done real damage."
Lucky, Venzel repeated in his head. Doesn't feel like luck.
He rubbed his eyes and leaned back, exhaling slowly.
"You okay, kid?" Ryu asked, sitting down beside him now that Renji was resting.
"Yeah," Venzel murmured. "Just… didn't expect the day to turn out like this."
Ryu nodded, his voice low. "No one ever does. But you stepped up today. I'm proud of you."
Venzel blinked, surprised by the praise.
"Really?"
"Really. Not everyone your age would handle it like you did."
He paused, then added with a small smile, "You've got your mom's heart and your dad's spine. That's a good combination."
Venzel looked down, slightly embarrassed but quietly pleased.
"…Thanks, Uncle."
They sat in silence for a few moments.
The hallway was quiet, save for the occasional squeak of a nurse's shoes or the low murmur of voices behind closed doors.
Venzel's eyes drifted back to the room, to Renji's pale face under the soft hospital light.
Just then, the soft click of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Venzel looked up and froze.
There, striding toward him in crisp, clean medical attire, a stethoscope slung casually around her neck, was Kana.
Her hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, and her white coat flared slightly with each step.
She looked like she belonged here, confident, radiant, and entirely out of place in his current whirlwind of emotions.
"Venzel?" she called out, blinking in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Venzel blinked as the familiar figure approached.
For a second, he thought he was imagining it.
"Kana?" he asked, standing. "What are you doing here?"
It was a genuine question, one laced with disbelief.
Kana giggled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Hehe, I pulled a few strings, with some help from my parents and got myself assigned here for the night."
She beamed proudly. "I'm shadowing a few senior doctors. Gonna spy on the pros, steal all their secrets, and bring them back to my little clinic."
Venzel chuckled softly, the corner of his mouth lifting. "I'm happy for you. That's… actually really cool."
She gave him a playful wink, but then her expression shifted to one of concern.
"But seriously, why are you in the hospital? Don't tell me you came here just to see me."
Her teasing tone faded as she looked him over more carefully.
Venzel shook his head slowly. "No… my cousin had an accident."
Kana's eyes widened. "What happened?"
He gestured toward the nearby room, lowering his voice. "Renji. He ran away from home. We found him unconscious earlier… turned out it was a drug overdose.
We brought him here as soon as the police cleared it."
Kana's smile vanished. Her gaze snapped toward the window of the treatment room.
Without a word, she stepped forward, peering inside.
The sight of Renji, pale, hooked up to IVs, breathing shallowly hit her like a quiet punch to the gut.
Her lips parted, a soft breath escaping. "Oh no… he's so young…"
She stood still for a moment, the soft light of the hospital room reflecting in her eyes.
Then she turned back to Venzel, her face gentle, brows drawn with real worry.
"He's going to be fine," Kana said softly,"Once he's out, you should keep an eye on him."
She tilted her head, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "Well, if his parents can't keep him in line… why don't you just put a leash on him and make him work on your farm?
Free labor and you'd be doing his parents a favor by keeping him in check. It's a win-win, if you ask me," she added with a chuckle, clearly pleased with her own clever idea.
Venzel raised an eyebrow, just as a low, pointed ahem sounded from behind them.
Kana blinked and turned around, confused.
Standing there was a middle-aged man, arms crossed, one brow arched, the corners of his mouth twitching with barely-contained amusement.
Venzel stifled a laugh, then grinned. "That would be the parent you were talking about, dear."
Kana's face flushed instantly. "Oh—ah…"
she fumbled, retreating slightly behind Venzel's shoulder like a child caught mid-prank.
Ryu let out a hearty chuckle, clearly enjoying the moment.
"A leash, huh?" he said with a smirk. "Not a bad idea, actually."