It was already afternoon, when Hatori finally had five minutes just to himself. He had been busy, treating Akito. Around this time of year he always got sick because of the cold. Not that Hatori wasn't thankful, for having to work hard. Especially not today … It didn't give him time to think. Like about this strange but cute girl he had met yesterday …
"Stop it!", Hatori shook his head, as if to drive the unwelcome thoughts away. "Forget her!" Forgetting … this single word seemed to mark his whole life. But what, if this once he did not want to forget? He could still remember Kari's beautiful smile. Shy and barely visible, but beautiful …
"Hari!" The cheerful voice of Momiji Soma pulled him out of his thoughts. "What is it?" Hatori looked to the door, as Momiji entered the practice. He was grinning and giggling like a little schoolboy. "The postman just brought the mail", he told Hatori and reached into his pockets. "This was sent to you." Before Hatori had time to wonder what it might be, Momiji pulled out a small box of what appeared to be chocolate.
"What …?!" Staring wide-eyed at the box of chocolates, Hatori watched as Momiji put it on the desk. "And it just came with the mail?", he asked, taking the box into his hands, as if to make sure it really was here. "Yes", Momiji nodded. "And this note was attached to it:" He gave Hatori a small letter, where he could read, in nice and clear handwriting:
"Dear Hatori – san
I do hope that I am not too blunt by sending you chocolate. Yesterday, you didn't let me pay for treating my twisted ankle and I really wanted to say thank you for everything you did. So, here I am: Thank you, Hatori-san. You were very kind to me. And I know already now, that I will certainly think of you, next time I see snow (or a medical practice …).
Take care
Kari Aino
PS: These chocolates are my personal favorites so I do hope you'll like them."
Hatori had to smile, as he looked at the note. Kari …
"Let me see", Momiji said curiously, bringing him back to reality. "It is a loveletter, isn't it?" Hatori took the letter out of his reach. "You should not read other people's letters", he said, but you could hear that he wasn't really angry with Momiji but rather amused. "And how would you know that it was a loveletter?" Momiji giggled. "Well, whoever sent you this chocolate, she must really like you", he noted. "After all, sweets are symbols of love." Hatori chuckled. "Aren't you too young to know all this?" "No!", Momiji replied promptly. "You are never too young for love!", he said, sounding strong and firm. Hatori sighed. "Let me guess … Shigure told you this?" "No", came the answer. "It was Aya, actually." "Of course …"
Hatori still held the note in his hands. The last time, he had gotten loveletters and chocolate, he had been at school ... When the girls started to realise, that he was not interested in sweets or love confessions, the boxes of cocolates and the loveletters disappeared. Until now … This was different.
Of course, this also wasn't exactly a loveletter. "What are you going to do?", Momiji wanted to know. "Will you see her again?" Hatori put the box back on the desk. "I don't know", he answered and sighed. "But you want to", Momiji knew. "This is not about what I want", Hatori replied. "It is … complicated, you know that." Momiji had listened silently. "Well, I just know one thing", he finally said, smiling. "If I would meet a nice girl that I really like and who obviously likes me back, I would try to spend as much time with her as possible." Hatori looked at the box of chocolates and the note where he could still see Kari's handwriting. See her again …
He only noticed that Momiji was leaving, when the boy had already reached the door. "Momiji?" He paused. "Yes?" Although Momiji could already imagine, what Hatori wanted to ask him … "You are not going to tell anyone about this, are you?" He shook his head. "No", Momiji promised. "Good …"