The Spring Girl
Chapter 2: Infirmière's Secret Hospital
I saw a light-brown wood ceiling as I woke up in a bed. My vision was blurry, but then it adjusted itself.
A desk with various medical supplies and books caught my eyes. It was followed by a nearby chair, and a few windows. The bed I was laying on seemed to be completely white; including the pillow, blanket, and the cushioning.
Sitting up, I spotted a door right next to me. It opened.
"Oh, you're awake." said a feminine voice.
"..."
"It doesn't seem that you remember what happened. You were getting attacked by wolves, remember? I think you fainted, but I managed to fend them off while I carried you to my secret hospital."
The woman in front of me was noticeably in a nurse's outfit. Instead of being white, it was dark purple, and her hat had a red medical cross on it.
She looked as if she was in her early 20's.
"...Thanks for saving me." I said tiredly. Pain started to come to my arm, and I winced, grasping it.
"Oh? Did I not give you enough medicine?" She sounded as if she was teasing me, but she also sounded serious at the same time.
The mysterious woman brandished a small needle, and injected me in it. I gasped quietly at the sudden pain, but then it went away almost immediately, as if the medicine she was using was far advanced the regular medical knowledge in Japan.
"...Who... ARE you?" I stared at her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't probably introduce myself. My name is Infirmière. I am a nurse who has studied for 5 years."
"I see... … i'll just call you Miere, if that's fine with you."
"Now tell me, kid. Just how old are you?" She stared down at me, ignoring my decision.
"...I am 13 years old, my name is Haruko Yukionna, and I have a tendency to wander in Aokigahara."
"I asked for your age, not your life story. But I can tell you do. You almost got yourself killed."
She suddenly got closer to me.
Not expecting it, I flinched.
"Don't do that again."
I didn't even know this lady, but she was showing concern for me anyway.
"..."
"Now. What's the purpose of wandering around in a forest that's known for suicide?"
She took a seat next to my bedside, facing me. I noticed that when she sat down, the wooden chair creaked. Miere didn't seem to be fat, so I assumed that the chair must have been old or used for a long time.
"I don't know. I just feel calm whenever I roam through it."
I spoke in a quiet, but audible voice.
"Uh-huh. How are you calm when you almost got yourself murdered?"
My shoulders shrugged.
Miere shook her head. "I don't get you, child. Yet, you interest me."
She unpinned a sign from her wall, and shoved it in my face. I gasped almost immediately:
MISSING
HARUKO YUKIONNA
If you have seen this child, please contact this number: 295-169-9291
Reward: 10,000 yen.
"Just how long have I been asleep...?"
"2 days."
"..."
"You haven't woken up for 2 days." She looked at me with slight sympathy.
At that, I noticed that I have not eaten for 2 days. My stomach started to grumble wildly at the realization, and I also felt really thirsty.
"U-um... may I-"
Before I could even finish, Miere pulled out a bowl of Fried Rice with chopsticks on the side, and she handed me a cup of milk.
"But how did yo-"
"I am a Nurse. I knew you would be hungry, so I prepared a little meal before-hand."
"Well...thank you."
I did not want to speak anymore. Scarfing it down in under 10 minutes, I wiped my mouth and then chugged my glass of milk. I was still slightly hungry, but now I could last longer.
"...For a girl, you eat like a pig."
"Only when i'm hungry."
She turned around in her chair, and sighed while staring out at the window. The moon was full, gleaming down through it, illuminating the lantern-lit room.
"I wonder how worried your parents are."
I glared at her. "Don't remind me of my parents. All they do is argue and bring my already brought-down spirits down even further."
"Hmph... so you've experienced that too, huh?" She side-glanced over her shoulder.
"I experience it all the time."
"A child as great as you should not experience such negativity."
Looking slightly concerned, she turned back to me.
"I would like to join you."
"Huh?"
"I would like to assist you in running away from your negative parents, and I would like to take you under my wing."
"..."
"What do you say?"
I felt reluctant at first, but then thought about it. I held out my hand, and she shook it.
"Deal."
Miere smiled. "Then I shall do so."
I got out of my bed and stretched, and then asked "How old are you?"
"I would be 22."
"Huh. You look like you are 18, though."
She chuckled. "Why, thank you."
We both smiled slightly, but then they turned into frowns quickly, followed by widened eyes.
Suddenly, a huge rumbling was heard outside. Miere quickly ran out and stared.
Following her outside, I looked at her face.
It was stunned with pure fear.
I looked over to where her glance was, and I saw it.
Mount Fuji.
Mount Fuji was erupting.
