"Are you okay?"
Honda didn't answer, didn't look. He was scared. What if he did answer, and in the moment he wasn't focused on Otogi's heartbeat, it stopped? Irrational fear or no, he wasn't willing to risk it. The voice persisted. "Sirs?"
Finally Honda offered a shaky and barely audible, "I'm okay. I'm fine, but he… He's alive. He's not awake." He was still holding Otogi's hand to his chest, like a scared child clinging to a stuffed toy for security. In any other situation he would have felt foolish. He still didn't even know what had happened, how bad the damage was. All he knew was that Otogi wasn't responding to anything, and there was a man asking if he was okay.
"Okay, there's an ambulance on the way. Can you leave the car?" Honda shook his head, eyes still closed tightly. "What's wrong?" The man's voice was filled with concern. Honda hadn't heard very many people who sounded like that when they were helping someone else. It was sort of soothing, and he calmed down a little.
"I'm afraid." His voice was soft, and he felt like he was five. He would have to be embarrassed later.
"It'll be okay," the voice soothed. "But we need you to get out so the paramedics will be able to help your friend." Honda shook his head again.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Still alive.
The man sighed, and his voice took on a different approach. "What's your name, son?" His voice wasn't harsh, but he wasn't addressing Honda like a child. It make Honda feel more his age, like he was being addressed by a father figure.
He finally opened his eyes and looked at the police officer that was leaning a little into the car, shining a flashlight in at Honda. His voice shook, but he managed, "Honda Hiroto."