Zoya commanded the nurse, "Go and admit Ema to the ICU immediately; her condition is deteriorating rapidly."
As Zoya turned to leave, Kuro suddenly grabbed her hand and shouted, "Have you lost your mind? I told you, you aren't going to the gang war."
"Your wedding is next week," Kuro continued, his voice trembling. "After so many years, there is finally a reason to celebrate, and I'm terrified of losing you."
Zoya shrugged off his hand and retorted, "You're acting as if I'm going to die. Ema won't be able to handle everyone alone; her health is failing."
She added firmly, "And perhaps you've forgotten—I hold the title of 'Best Fighter.' I earned that for a reason."
Kuro snapped back, "I said you aren't going, and that's final! You are our friend, and we won't watch you walk into danger."
"We will handle the fight ourselves," he insisted. "I am not alone, and neither is Ema. She has Haiku, Haruto, Angel, and Monster. We would give our lives for her. Don't you trust us?"
Zoya sighed, "It's not about trust. I just want to be useful to her one last time. Besides, after this, I'm leaving Japan for India anyway."
"Now release my hand," she demanded. "Ema is in the ICU, and I need to check on her."
Suddenly, a nurse rushed over, panicked, screaming that Ema was having a panic attack and coughing up blood uncontrollably.
They all raced to the room. Zoya locked the ICU door behind her.
The monitor showed Ema's breathing slowing to a halt. Zoya froze in fear; this was her first case of this magnitude, made worse because the patient was her dear friend.
Tears streamed down Zoya's face as her hands began to shake. She looked at them and thought, Why am I trembling? I can save Ema. I have the strength to do this.
Outside the ICU, Angel and Haiku sat with their heads in their hands, while Monster and Kuro tried to offer words of encouragement.
Haruto arrived shortly after with the specific medications Zoya had requested.
After some time, Zoya emerged and announced, "She is stable now, but I don't think she can participate in the fight. We need to postpone it."
Haiku and the others disagreed, "We can't do that. Zoya, we actually think you should be the one to go in her place now."
Kuro exploded, "Are you all crazy? I've told you a hundred times, her wedding is next week! What if something happens?"
The scene shifted to school the next day. Haiku asked Ema if she had taken her medicine.
When Ema said no, Haiku lightly smacked her head. "Do you keep your brains in your knees? What if you have another attack? Stop taking your health so lightly!"
Ema teased, "Nothing will happen to me. Even if I die, I know you'll show up in the afterlife to give me a reason to live again."
"Stop talking nonsense," Haiku grumbled.
The scene jumped to the 11th. Ema entered the battlefield, but per Haiku's orders, she remained on the sidelines without fighting.
Tosumi's gang suddenly arrived. A surprised Zoya asked, "When did you two become friends?" Kuro simply replied, "We just did."
Then, Oka's gang made their entrance. Sitting on her bike, Ema grew suspicious.
He was supposed to bring another gang with him, she thought. Why is he alone? Something is very wrong here.
In the distance, Haiku appeared on Oka's side, gesturing to her, though he seemed unaware of who exactly was in their ranks.
Author note
The tension is reaching a breaking point! In this chapter, we see a much more vulnerable side of Ema, and the stakes have never been higher. With a major gang war looming on the 11th and Zoya's wedding just a week away, the emotional conflict between the characters is just as intense as the physical threat they face.