Autumn came quietly.

The leaves around both the universities were gradually turning into golden and crimson hues.

For almost all the students, it was nothing but cool climate and mid-term exams.

For Yui...

It was nothing but longer days.

Medicine studies had become more rigorous with each passing month.

The observation periods had begun.

Laboratory hours had increased.

Projects had multiplied.

On some days, she had to leave the place even before the sunrise.

On some days, she used to leave the university after sunset.

---

Once, Yui happened to see the clock hanging in the hospital corridor.

9:47 PM.

"... Already?"

She rubbed her tired eyes.

The whole day had passed in front of her without any realization.

Around her, several classmates appeared exhausted.

One student had fallen asleep on his books.

Another student was quietly drinking his third can of coffee of the day.

No one complained anything.

Everyone was just struggling to survive.

---

Professor Takeda put down his folder.

"That’s all for today."

Almost all of the students sighed with relief.

"Please try to go through today’s cases before tomorrow morning."

Collective groan filled up the room.

The professor chuckled.

"I take it as a motivation."

---

Yui packed her notebook into her bag.

Each movement seemed a bit slower than usual.

Her shoulders hurt.

Her legs were tired.

She quietly moved toward the hospital exit door.

---

Outside...

The city was completely dark.

The street lights were on the sidewalks.

Even the evening breeze smelled the arrival of winter.

Yui stepped outside from the automatic doors.

Then she stopped.

---

"... Kuro?"

He was sitting on a bench near the entrance, studying a psychology textbook.

A bag from the convenience store was lying beside him.

He looked toward her as he heard her name.

"Oh."

He smiled.

"You’re done."

---

Yui blinked.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had my classes early."

"So..."

"I was waiting."

---

She stared at him for several seconds.

"... You’ve been waiting?"

"For almost an hour."

"You could’ve left to your home."

"I could have."

"... Then why didn’t you?"

Kuro closed his book.

"Because going home after a fourteen-hour day alone seems miserable."

---

Yui did not know what to say.

Instead...

She smiled.

A small but grateful smile.

---

They both started moving towards the train station.

Neither of them rushed.

After running throughout the hospitals all day long...

Walking slowly seemed to be quite refreshing.

---

Kuro gave her a can of warm milk tea.

"You remembered."

"You always buy this when you’re feeling tired."

Yui took the can in both her hands.

The heat spread through her fingers.

"... Thank you."

---

The journey was quiet.

Not awkward.

Completely comfortable.

The kind of silence which could exist only between those people who understand each other.

---

After some time, Yui said,

"Today..."

"Hm?"

"I made a mistake."

Kuro looked toward her.

"It was nothing serious."

"But during practice..."

"I had forgotten one of the examination procedures."

She laughed bitterly.

"The professor corrected me immediately."

"I couldn’t get rid of my thoughts after that."

---

Kuro listened to her.

Without disturbing her.

As always.

---

"I know that everyone makes mistakes."

"I know that making mistakes is a part of learning."

"But..."

She tightened her grip on the warm can.

"What if I make a mistake during the practice?"

"What if next time..."

"It is no longer practice?"

---

The fear in her voice was quite genuine.

---

Kuro thought for a while.

Then asked her quietly,

"What kind of doctor do you want to become?"

---

Yui blinked.

"I..."

She looked ahead.

"A doctor who will make people feel safe."

---

Kuro nodded.

"I think that you will become such a doctor."

---

"... Just like that?"

---

"Just like that."

---

"You didn’t even give the reason."

---

"Because someone who is worried about hurting others..."

He smiled gently.

"... Usually works more than any other person not to."

---

Yui stopped walking.

The words settled in her heart silently.

She had not expected any encouragement.

She had not expected any advice.

Just...

Understanding.

---

"... You’re unfair."

---

"I’ve heard it before."

---

"You always know what to say."

---

"I don’t."

---

"You just make me think."

---

They both started moving.

---

Since that evening...

Something changed.

---

Each time Yui finished a late shift...

She looked unconsciously toward the entrance of the hospital.

---

Sometimes...

Kuro was not there.

He also had his lectures, research and assignments to complete.

---

But surprisingly...

He was there quite often.

---

Sometimes studying.

Sometimes drinking coffee.

Sometimes just observing the busy students.

---

Each and every time...

He greeted her exactly in the same manner.

---

"You’re done."

---

Nothing dramatic.

Nothing romantic.

Just two simple words.

---

But somehow...

Those words became the best part of her day.

---

Weeks went by.

The hospital staff members started recognizing him.

---

Once, two second-year medical students were passing by Kuro.

"... He is here again."

"The psychology guy?"

"Yeah."

"He always waits for someone."

"I have never seen him miss a Friday."

---

Another student laughed.

"I thought that he worked here."

---

Gradually...

More people recognized him.

---

Some greeted him politely.

Some only nodded.

Even the security guard was started to ask,

"Waiting for your friend again?"

Kuro used to answer in the same calm manner.

"Yes."

---

In the hospital...

Yui was suddenly famous for something different.

---

Whenever the practical session used to end...

She used to glance toward the entrance door before leaving.

---

Her classmates used to notice this.

---

"Looking for someone?"

one of them teased.

---

"N-No."

---

"You looked immediately."

---

"I was only checking the weather."

---

"The entrance is indoor."

---

"..."

---

Yui sighed.

"I fell into that trap."

---

Still...

She could not ignore it anymore.

---

Each and every tough day...

Each and every exhausting lecture...

Each and every stressing practice...

---

She found herself thinking,

"I wonder whether Kuro is outside."

---

She did not plan it.

She started to do it automatically.

---

She had started to depend upon his presence.

Not because he solves her problems.

Because with him...

She does not need to carry her problems alone.

---

One rainy evening...

The hospital doors opened once again.

---

Yui stepped outside carrying her umbrella.

---

He was there.

Standing under the awning.

Carrying another umbrella.

---

"... You’ve brought one?"

"You forgot yours."

She looked downward.

"... I did."

---

Without saying a word...

They started walking together in the sound of raining.

---

When they reached halfway to the station...

A happy voice called out to them.

---

"Excuse me!"

---

They turned around.

A young nurse ran toward them.

She had seen Kuro waiting outside the hospital countless times.

---

She smiled in a mischievous manner.

---

"I’ve wondered for weeks..."

---

Yui tilted her head.

"Yes?"

---

The nurse looked between them.

Then smiled.

---

"So..."

---

"Are you two already a couple?"

---

Silence.

---

Yui’s face suddenly turned red.

---

"W-W-WHAT?!"

---

The nurse laughed.

"I knew it!"

---

"N-No!"

---

"So not yet?"

---

"That’s not—"

---

"You two look really cute together."

---

Yui could not even speak properly now.

---

"I-I-I..."

---

Beside her...

Kuro was standing quietly.

Watching her panic.

---

"... You’re laughing."

Yui complained.

---

"A little."

---

"You should help me!"

---

"I don’t think that I can."

---

The nurse waved cheerfully and then returned to the hospital.

---

"Good luck, you two!"

---

The doors closed behind her.

---

Yui covered her face with both her hands.

---

"I can never come back here."

---

"You study here."

---

"... Right."

---

Kuro smiled gently.

---

As they both kept on walking through the rain...

Neither of them realized...

That despite all her embarrassment...

Yui did not leave the side of Kuro.

And for the first time...

The question which the nurse asked them started hovering in their hearts.

A few days later, Kuro’s last lecture ended a lot sooner than usual.

He checked his watch.

6:10 PM.

Yui’s clinical training normally ended around eight.

"...I have time."

He visited the nearest convenience store without giving it much thought.

Two rice balls, two bottles of tea, and a chocolate bar were purchased.

He recalled one of Yui’s mentions about liking to eat something sweet after tough practical exams.

It was not an important memory.

But some way he managed to remember it.

---

By the time he arrived to the hospital entrance, the night had fallen.

The security guard greeted him with a wide smile when he saw him.

"Evening."

"Good evening."

"Were you waiting for the medical student again?"

Kuro nodded politely.

"Yes."

The guard chuckled.

"She’s a lucky one."

Kuro was a little bit puzzled.

"I just do not want her walking home alone after such a long day."

---

Almost an hour later, the automatic door opened up.

Several medical students came out of it.

One of them pointed at Kuro.

"...He’s here again."

"The waiting one?"

"Yeah."

Another one laughed.

"I wish someone waited for me after anatomy lab."

Yui could hear them while she was leaving.

She looked in the direction where they were pointing.

There he was.

Just like before.

With the bag from the convenient store.

Before she realized...

She was already smiling.

One of her classmates immediately noticed it.

"You smiled."

"I did not."

"You definitely did."

"I just..."

She was desperately trying to think of an excuse.

"...was happy to finish the class."

"She started smiling before seeing us."

"..."

All of her classmates started laughing as she tried to cover her face.

---

When other students finally left, she went to Kuro.

"You’ve got yourself a reputation now."

"Hm?"

"They call you ’the waiting guy.’"

"...That’s quite an impressive nickname."

"I know."

She took the offered drink.

"...You did not have to come."

"I know."

"But you did."

"I did."

Neither of them said anything for a while.

Then Yui looked at him with a kind smile.

"...Thank you."

These two words meant a lot more than before.

It was no longer about a meal he provided for her.

Or that he was waiting.

These were words about gratitude because of having something constant in her days.

---

While they were walking towards the station, Yui realized something surprising even for her.

The hospital remained tough.

Classes remained difficult.

Nothing became easier for her.

The only thing that had changed...

Was the fact that at the end of the day, someone was probably going to wait for her with a smile and a simple,

"You’re done."

And somehow...

It was enough to make all the hard days feel easier.