Chapter Fourteen
Genrou slipped into his office and scanned the table critically, before leaning forward and plucking the top file of the stack. He had pushed Houjun to the back of his head. He hated being at a loss in anything, and this was at best a loss.
An intercom beeped on the wall.
"Paging, Doctor, room 5216."
He moved to the door and opened it, tucking the file under his arm and hurrying along the corridor, searching for the corresponding number and name. Hikou Yutake…Hikou Yutake… Less than two minutes after the door had last opened, his own fingers touched the cool metal bar as he pushed against it, smiling and nodding to the two nurses who were already there to help.
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She didn't know how to start, so she sat down on one of the plastic, orange chairs that adorned the wall as Houjun slipped a few coins into the dispenser and chose a drink. As he walked back, two cups of steaming coffee balanced carefully in his hands, she made up her mind.
"Houjun—"
"Here, could you take one cup first? It's really hot."
She accepted the proffered drink and bit her lip. Houjun settled into the chair next to hers, closing his eyes with an exhalation as he sipped the thick black liquid. Now that she had been interrupted, her resolve seemed to have evaporated along with the steam rising from the cup.
"You were saying?"
She nearly spilled her coffee.
"Ah—well…"
He looked quizzically at her.
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Genrou frowned as he surveyed the half-conscious man before him, writing something rapidly on the paper and then passing the clipboard to the waiting nurse. When he realized the patient's gaze was focused on him, he quickly rearranged his features into a smile.
"Hello, Mr. Yutake. How are you feeling this morning?"
"Great." The hoarse croak turned Genrou's smile into a genuine one. Joking this early…well at least he's keeping his spirits up.
"Doctor, how am I doing?"
He blinked. The patient's eyes were fixed on his face. Sighing inwardly, he gestured to the drips that one of the nurses was fastening to the stand next to the bed. "You're a sick man, Mr. Yutake—"
"Hikou."
"Right," he continued smoothly, "—you're a sick man, Hikou. But I'm going to try my best to make you well and keep you alive, you hear?" A half-smile answered him, and he felt strangely gratified even though the noted symptoms were truly alarming. The leukemia was at a bad stage. Genrou turned away and nodded to the nurse, who pulled open the curtains and stepped aside to let him leave.
He could only try to make it less painful.
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"I just wanted to say I'm sorry," she rushed out. Houjun raised an eyebrow, and downed the rest of the coffee.
His reply was so soft she could barely catch it. "What for?"
She closed her eyes. It was all her fault.
"You were right about me," she said instead, opening her eyes and turning slightly to look at him, her cheeks pink.
He didn't look at her, but acknowledged her words with a short nod. They fell silent for a moment.
"Don't worry about it."
She felt a warm hand touch slightly on her own, before withdrawing.