Chapter 25 (1/2)

The first floor of the hospital that Ma in was an outpatient ward reception desk, and it was lined with benches of the faded color that was specific to public institutions When I visited the hospital one day, I saw Ritsu-san sitting there As I approached to greet her, I noticed that soe about her

Her face looked as if she was about to die

The skin of her face was ashen, and her expression was stiff When I looked closely, I saw that she was tres; her entire body was tre the “hello” that I had been planning to greet her with, I called out to her with, “Are you alright?” instead

Ritsu turned her face, which looked as if she was having a feverish nightmare, towards me “… Are you here to visit Mamizu today as well?”

“Did so my anxiety

“I can’t be like this, can I?” Ritsu-san said

Unable to respond with either “That’s right,” or “That’s not true at all,” I rethat she had placed next to her

“I’ive this to Mamizu?”

You can give it to her yourself, I thought for a

“It seeht now” Ritsu-san stood up “Well then, I’ towards the exit with faltering footsteps

I blankly watched her leave and then headed towards Mamizu’s hospital roo Ritsu-san’s words I thought about the ine that they ood

As I entered the room, Mamizu’s eyes met mine immediately

“I thought you ht not come anymore,” she said

The light strea in from thefaintly illuminated her contours

She has a pretty face, I thought blankly If Mamizu wasn’t ill, I wonder what kind of life she would live I’m sure she would always be surrounded by people, and have a far brighter personality than she does now And maybe she wouldn’t have even talked to me

“Why?” I asked, sitting down on the stool next to the bed and crossing s

“I thought you ry”

“About what?”

“I said that we’d go somewhere, but it didn’t turn out that way”