THE FLUORESCENT LIGHTS of the hospital cafeteria cast a sterile glow as the young prodigy made his way to the stainless steel trays and vending machines.

his arms, already laden with lunch and a mini bouquet for his beloved girlfriend.

a trio of familiar heads, nestled around a table, snagged his attention.

"i miss y/n," sighed a brunette girl, her voice lost in the rhythmic crunch of her lunch.

"me too," echoed a black-haired boy, his gaze fixed on his milk carton.

"and most of all, i miss her mochi!" exclaimed a white-haired boy, flinging his arms up in a joyous gesture, "they're the best!"

the words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken longing.

"i hope we see her again," the brunette repeated, her voice imbued with a wistful sigh.

"yeah," parroted the boys, their voices blending like a melancholic chorus.

a frustrated huff escaped the girl. "ugh, can you two stop copying me?" she pouted, her glare aimed at the boys.

just as the black-haired boy opened his mouth to speak, a warm voice cut through the air.

"did i hear someone missing my girlfriend?" sae stood beside them, a small smile playing on his lips.

"SAE!" the trio erupted in unison, a whirlwind of small arms engulfing his legs.

"we missed you!" satoru, the white-haired boy, pressed his cheeks against sae's leg.

his outburst drawing curious stares and hushed whispers from others in the cafeteria.

"easy there, kids," sae chuckled, patting their heads, "we wouldn't want to cause a scene."

he ushered them back to the table, their excitement bubbling over with a barrage of questions.

"why are you here, sae-nii?" Suguru, the black-haired boy, questioned, his brow furrowed.

"n/n got discharged a few days ago, right?" ieri, the brunette, added, her eyes wide with curiosity.

sae opened his mouth to reply, but satoru's dramatic gasp cut him short.

"what if sae-nii is seeing someone else?!" his eyes wide with mock horror.

suguru and ieri gasped in unison, joining the theatrical performance.

sae rolled his eyes playfully, "no," he assured them, then sighed at satoru's antics.

"y/n's back here in the hospital," he explained.

the revelation sobered them instantly. "can we see her?" satoru asked, his voice regaining its usual enthusiasm.

vigorous nods and excited murmurs followed.

sae, unable to resist their eagerness, led them through the sterile corridors, his heart swelling with anticipation for the reunion.

ᨓ

their plans to stay on the balcony at the afternoon had been pushed away by the hospital's noise and activity.

that afternoon, then, passed in the comfortable confines of y/n's room.

laughters and imaginations blossoms even within the sterile walls.

satoru perched atop a chair, his eyes wide with the thrill of exploration, "hospital escapades!"

"let's conquer the balcony and build a castle fit for a dragon!"

suguru tilted his head thoughtfully. "but what if the castle needs a lake? can we fill the flower pots with water?"

ieri her eyes sparkling with mischief, chimed in, "and i can be the badass princess on a tower!"

y/n and sae exchanged a smile, their hearts swelling at the infectious enthusiasm.

"ah, but a princess still needs a brave knight to rescue her," y/n teased, her voice laced with playful challenge.

"but i'm badass, i don't need no pri–"

"fear not, damsels in distress! the strongest satoru is here!" satoru puffed out his chest, chin held high.

"shut up!"

suguru scampered around the room, gathering pillows and blankets as makeshift building blocks.

"then i can be a wizard!"

a variety of stories and laughter filled the day.

the room's sterilizing walls opened out into a massive battleground where satoru battled sae's fantasy dragon (a draped bedsheet) with a rolled-up magazine.

suguru created imaginary animals on the whiteboard with a flourish of crayons.

and, ieri ruled her kingdom with a twig scepter while sat atop a stack of pillows.

as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, a new plan hatched in satoru's mind.

"tonight," he declared, his voice hushed with excitement, "we dance under the stars!"

suguru's eyes widened with wonder. "a balcony waltz, bathed in moonlight?"

ieri, her tiny hand clasped in y/n's, giggled, "and can i dance with you n/n?"

y/n and sae exchanged a look. "a nocturnal dance party, huh?" y/n asked, letting out some small laughs. "yeah i don't see why not."

satoru puffed out his chest, a valiant knight ready to face any challenge. "we shall conquer the night with our dance moves!"

suguru whispered, "a dance battle!"

ieri's eyes sparkling like constellations, declared, "and i'll be the dancing queen!"

"you guys really are something else, huh?" sae declared, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

"queens of the balcony dance party, for sure!"

y/n with a mischievous glint in her eyes, high-fived ieri, who squealed with delight.

the prospect of an evening adventure sent a frisson of excitement through the room.

"after dinner, right?" sae asked, his brows raised. "the balcony sounds pretty deserted by then."

satoru, however, had momentarily lost his enthusiasm.

a rogue tissue roll, misconstrued as dragon feet, now stubbornly stucked in his ankle.

tears welled up in his eyes, his voice quivering. "but, but, how can i be the strongest knight with one leg?!" his pout rivaling any cartoon villain.

suguru and ieri, unable to resist the absurdity of the situation, burst into giggles, doubling over with laughter.

"dumbass" ieri giggled, wiping tears from her eyes.

suguru, his laughter subsiding, tilted his head. "how on earth did that even get stuck there?"

sae then knelt before satoru. with a sigh, he began patiently peeling the tissue roll apart.

"remember," sae said, his voice gentle, "true strength comes from within, not from fancy dragon feet."

satoru sniffled, considering sae's words. a small smile tugged at his lips.

"so, even without dragon feet, i can still be a brave knight?" he asked, hope peeking through his watery eyes.

Sae handed him the liberated tissue roll. "the bravest and strongest, no doubt."

and so, with the promise of a starlit dance party and satoru's renewed courage, the afternoon settled into a comfortable hum of anticipation.

the tissue roll was repurposed as a mighty battle-axe, and laughter once again filled the room, chasing away any lingering shadows of doubt.

after all, amidst the sterile walls, their little corner of the hospital bloomed with a vibrant kind of magic.

the magic of shared dreams, unwavering friendship, and the kind of bravery that could turn even a stuck tissue roll into a legendary weapon.

ᨓ

after a delicious dinner, the young couple and the three kids found themselves drawn to the hospital's balcony.

sae, ever the rich ass mf, proposed with a twinkle in his eye that they "claim" the space for their own private stargazing party.

the administrator, recognizing sae's genuine warmth and the children's infectious enthusiasm, readily agreed.

after all, a little laughter and wonder under the open sky was perhaps the best medicine anyone could ask for.

"whoa! look at all the stars!" ieri exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder as she tilted her head back.

suguru rubbed his arms against the cool air. "yeah, it's pretty, but it's also freezing as hell."

y/n and sae exchanged a knowing smile, their memories of their own balcony moments dancing in their hearts.

they settled on a nearby bench, the worn wooden slats holding the warmth of countless conversations shared under the stars.

oh how sae remembered the time when both of them mocked each other and how y/n said she had missed him all this time too.

satoru, his eyes alight with mischief, suddenly let out a loud, primal howl that echoed across the quiet rooftop.

y/n burst into laughter, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

"satoru," she teased, "you sound like a wolf who just discovered karaoke."

suguru rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "more like a lost puppy," he quipped.

ieri, giggling into her hands, shook her head. "such a weirdo."

satoru who was unfazed by their reactions, grinned impishly.

"hey i'm just warming up for our big balcony dance party! who's ready to boogie with the stars?"

a chorus of excited shouts filled the air.

the balcony, once a quiet haven, transformed into a kaleidoscope of movement.

satoru, a self-proclaimed moon knight, leaped and pirouetted, his laughter echoing through the night.

suguru who was inspired by the constellations above, traced imaginary patterns in the air with his outstretched arms.

ieri, a miniature fairy queen, danced with the fireflies that dotted the twilight, her leaf crown shimmering in the moonlight.

and y/n and sae, their silhouettes swaying against the backdrop of the city lights, moved in a language only they understood.

a waltz of shared memories, whispered promises, and the quiet joy of being together under the vast expanse of the night sky.

hand in hand, they faced the future, their hearts forever entwined in an everlasting dance.