Chapter 2 .5 (1/2)

The first floor of the hospital that Mamizu was staying 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 something was strange 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 trembling. Not just her fingers or her legs; her entire body was trembling. It was a saddening sight. Retracting 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 something happen?” I asked, suppressing 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 remained silent. During my silence, Ritsu-san held out a paper bag that she had placed next to her.

“I’m sorry, but can you give this to Mamizu?”

You can give it to her yourself, I thought for a moment, but then I took it without saying anything.

“It seems like it’s best for me to not see her right now.” Ritsu-san stood up. “Well then, I’m counting on you,” she said as she began walking towards the exit with faltering footsteps.

I blankly watched her leave and then headed towards Mamizu’s hospital room. I spent the entire elevator ride pondering Ritsu-san’s words. I thought about the meaning behind them, numerous times. I couldn’t imagine that they meant anything good.

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

“I thought you might not come anymore,” she said.

The light streaming in from the window faintly 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 my legs.

“I thought you might be angry.”

“About what?”

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