Chapter 17: Flood
"ICU…? Are you saying he's hospitalized?" Kagami couldn't help but ask apprehensively.
"He didn't eat anything for several days which made him weak." Miyuki explained, sobbing. "He was all grumpy towards me, complaining about the incident last Sunday. At first, he was in his ward slowly recovering from fatigue. But then he started growing weary again abnormally. The doctor had to put him in an ICU for observation. Kagami-san, I can't take this anymore! You're the only one who can talk some sense to my cousin. Please, save my cousin!"
It happened almost exactly what her mother had told her in the story. Others would call it a mere coincidence; but for Kagami, it was more than a coincidence—the past has returned from the dead to wreak havoc on her life. Who would've known that a single, painful slap could yield disastrous results? Who would've known that one person was capable enough of getting all the lines tangled up? Who would've known that the person responsible, of all people, was the one who created everything from square one? How would she answer? Hajime [Takashi has no more will to live. He had tried everything in his power to ask Kagami's hand in the name of love; but he failed. She could either reply with a simple yes or no. Then again either one would yield life-changing results. Destiny is asking her a question that can spell life or death for him depending on her response. She was holding a line of fate from the top of the cliff with Hajime dangling for his life at the other end of the line. Say yes and she pulls him out; say no and she'll let go, sending him into a plunge of demise. Kagami had faced several of these questions in the past; none of them could be even compared to this one.
"Miyuki…"
"Kagami-san, what is it?"
"Tell him this…"
"Okay."
"I don't want to see his pathetic face ever again."
Miyuki gasped in shock as she heard those alarming words. She had never thought that her best friend would eventually abandon her especially now when the affected ones are in a state of crisis. Her jaw shook slightly and her feet trembled so violently; she couldn't keep standing for long. Tears flood her eyes as soon as she heard the terrible statement that sealed Hajime's fate for sure.
"Kagami-san…how could you…?" Miyuki immediately hung up but not in a forceful manner. Kagami returned to her mother waiting in the kitchen, saying that it was a friend of hers asking on how to dump a boy. Her mother refused to believe her explanation.
"Why did you do that?" She asked worryingly.
"I won't be held responsible if he dies. It's his doing anyway." Kagami attested.
"You may be right. But in the end you'll feel guilty about it."
"No I won't, mother."
"Yes, you will. I can see it in your eyes. You want to go there but you simply can't because of the foolishness he has done to hurt you."
"Maybe it's for the best. He'll learn not to mess with a girl's fragile heart."
"Kagami," Her mother placed her arms on top of her shoulders. "I know you have every right to be angry at someone for taking you for a fool. But a fool or not, you should learn to forgive and forget. If you do that, every problematic detail will be laid to rest. Do you understand?"
"Then what should I do?" Kagami became under pressure…intense pressure.
"Make a choice."
It was a choice that she would have to make without the assistance of time since time was running out; and obviously there was none left to waste for thinking about it. At that time, Kagami thought of nothing but anger towards him: the one who took her for a complete fool; but amidst of all that anger building up inside of her, a part of it was still full of regret. She may never get the chance to talk to him ever again for his life is hanging on the balance.
Meanwhile, Miyuki hurried back to the hospital to check on her cousin's condition inside the proximity of the Intensive Care Unit. There was more medical equipment than before in the ward. He was already wearing a respirator which pumped up and down for a fresh supply of breathable oxygen. While she watched her brother from the glass pane, a doctor from the room came out and talked to her.
"Takara-san, I presume?" He asked honorably.
"Um, yes, that's me."
"I'm Dr. Tachibana, Hajime-san's doctor. I believe I have terrible news."
"What's the matter?"
"His body systems are beginning to shut down because of his refusal to take anything. If this continues, he's not going to make it."
"Isn't there anything you can do? I don't want him to…to…"
"Well, there is a way but it's too risky even for his state of health."
"Please, tell me."
"We recently have developed a very rare medicine stored in the lab that could compensate for the lack of food nutrients in his body for the duration of a whole day. That will buy him some time to ingest solid food for his recovery. However…"
"However…?"
"The medicine is so strong, that it could damage his organs if he doesn't eat anything within 24 hours. If the medicine spreads all over his body without any solid food to break down, he may not make it. The decision is up to you, Takara-san. For the time being, the life support system will buy you some time to think."
The doctor excused himself and left the premises. Miyuki knew that the medicine the doctor mentioned to her was the only way for Hajime to cheat death. Of course, she wanted to say yes and carry on with the injection of the medicine. But that decision, without Hajime complying with it, could yield disastrous results. The life support system attached to him can buy her some time but for how long? It may be the only thing that's keeping him alive. More importantly, his will to live is fading because of Kagami. With her refusal to talk some sense into him, he really believes that he doesn't have the strength to go on anymore.
It's very sudden that he turned from this critical state of health. In fact, moments ago, he was overjoyed after thinking of another way to clear his name and leave Kagami with a good impression of him by watching a documentary about rainbows. Practically, it would be impossible for him to lose the will to live after thinking of a great idea; unless a negative force completely demoralized him.
The force that completely demoralized him was another typhoon.
The weather observatory in Hachijo Island has detected a mass of swirling clouds forming over the Pacific near Iwo Jima. Projecting its trajectory, it's going to hit the Japanese mainland in approximately three days, bringing massive amounts of rain and winds reaching up to 160 km/h. Chances of a break in the weather are likely impossible due to the incoming typhoon. The public is advised to prepare emergency rations and necessary equipment for the incoming typhoon which will remain in Japan's area of responsibility in a couple of days. More updates on the storm will continue.
Regardless of the lethal effects of the only vial that could spare her cousin, Miyuki hurryingly followed Dr. Tachibana and made an ultimate decision—the most ultimate decision she has ever made in her entire lifetime: she allowed the incorporation of the remedy.
As Hajime fought for his very survival, Kagami fought for her very fate.
"Mother, I…I simply can't."
"Don't be discouraged by what others think. Only you can make the most discreet impression."
The rain intensified as the middle of the afternoon approached. More rainclouds formed up above the town. The azure sky was eventually covered by a mass of grey clouds bringing more rain than the past few days. They don't have thunderstorms with them but the relentless torrent was enough to scare the townspeople. The riverbanks sank underneath the force of the gushing rapids as it rose up until it terrified the nearby population. Emergency crewmen poured in tons of sandbags and lined up the riverbanks to stop the overflowing of the river. They all have the impression that the temporary barrier won't hold unless the rain stops. Proper officials called for a mass evacuation of the area around the river as the downpour gradually transformed into a rainstorm.
The Hiiragi family was one of the first to respond to the alarm.
"Take whatever you can carry." The head of the family yelled. "Seek higher ground in the temple grounds."
As the rest of the family members gathered their most important stuff, which included books; clothes; canned goods; cell phones etc., mother and Kagami stood in front of the door outside. On the other side of that door was the road to the hospital which was only a train ride away. Outside the house was a call for help—outside was a repentant soul waiting to be saved by the voice of his love. However she couldn't face him for her statement to Miyuki was very absolute. Every second spent on doubting was every minute of Hajime's life being taken away by cruel fate. A quick reaction wasn't optional but rather a necessity.
Then in a stunning turn of events, she put up a determined face—an expression that rent asunder the doubts and atrocities that clouded her mind after the crisis—no, not only after the crisis but from the day she was brought in the world of the living.
"Go to him, Kagami." Her mother whispered. "Settle your misunderstanding once and for all."
Without hesitation, she ran outside and made tracks towards the train station. She was so in a hurry, she forgot to wear any protection against the rain and the cold temperatures. In a matter of minutes after she went outside, Kagami was drenched in the rain.
"I don't care what happens to me. Please, let me make it to Hajime-senpai! Please…!"
TO BE CONTINUED