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Chapter 17: Delusional
Today is a wonderful day for Hiroki. The nurses told him that icy cold morning that the doctors will release him in three days from now. During the last few days in the hospital he has gone to therapy and rehabilitation center. The doctors see's so much improvement that as long as he is with Nowaki's consent, Hiroki is walking out of that wheel chair in maybe less than 2 years. Hiroki is strolling around the white Clorox scented hospital. He has made a friend with nurse the other day that seems to know her own share of Japanese literature. He is surprise at how she knows his favorite novel.
"Well I got a secret. I was a student in your class when you used to teach in Mitsuhashi. It was your first year being a Professor. You always look so down and depressed but once you stand in front of the crowd of students there was life coming out of your voice." The nurse confessed happily
"Wow, from the sounds of it, I have taught you well." Hiroki boasted
"So are you planning to go back and work there?" she asks
"Sadly I am in no state to do so. I am planning to make my income in being a columnist for the Tokyo newspaper. I have recently put in my application and my samples. My ex coworker is coming by today to tell me the news if I am granted with this job or not."
"Kamijou sensei as a columnist? Oh my, sounds a bit unbelievable. I am sure you will be hired to this job on how excellent you write and spot errors."
Hiroki was not too fond of the idea writing three columns a week and neither was Nowaki. When he told Nowaki about the job, the doctor immediately refuses for Hiroki working when he is still ill.
"Kusama, I can think correctly. Also I will be able to help pay for the bills once I leave this hospital and live at your apartment until I can get back onto my feet." Hiroki confronted
"Yes, but I am just worried you might be stressed out with this type of work."
The two argue back and forth with this subject until Hiroki won this battle. Nowaki agreed to let Hiroki pay part of the bills even though Nowaki has more than enough money to support him.
Hiroki looks at up at the young nurse wondering why she never pursues in a career in Japanese literature. She is such an intelligent lady and could be doing something more than mopping patients vomit.
"I hope so. It is nice talking to you. I must be going, don't want to be late for therapy."
The two wave goodbye to each other as they each head off to their own duties. Hiroki enters an office waiting for the therapist to come in. Today he was supposed to get a different therapist due to that last one pissing him off too much. A tall man blonde man with a scar under the corner of his right eye came in the room following up ten minutes after Hiroki enters.
"Excuse me for my lateness. I had an emergency at the school earlier today with my child. Sorry, mind my rudeness for not introducing myself. I am Dr. Akita. You must be Kamijou Hiroki am I correct?"
As chatty as the man is Hiroki did not mind due to his words having something important to state out. Hiroki raise his hand and gave a good firm grip handshake with the doctor.
"Yes, nice to meet you."
The therapist let go of his hand and grab his folder which lay on his desk. He scans through what appears to be Hiroki's profile. He closes the folder and took a seat in his chair behind the desk.
"So, how have you been? Is everything been going alright with you. Must be a scary feeling am I right?"
"Not really" Hiroki lied
The therapist grabs a pen and begins writing in his notepad. He continues on with this conversation.
"I see, you going to be released soon. Exciting isn't it?"
"I guess…" Hiroki lied once again.
"So what do you think about today?"
"I'm amazed at how much has changed in 10 years. From floppy disk to little chips you stick in touchable cell phones."
"Haha, well that is technology for you. How does it feel in this time period?"
"You know those movies back in the 1990's where a person is time traveling to what there would be flying cars, funky space suits and odd gizmos. I feel like that person."
The therapist chuckled at Hiroki's comment as he wrote down whatever it was he was writing down. They continue on with this conversation until Hiroki's hour is up. They wave goodbye and Hiroki went back to his room. He reads the newspaper until the doctors came in to do some more test.
He waits for the results in the waiting room. During this waiting period Miyagi calls him in his brand new "smart phone" which Nowaki bought for him to keep contact with certain people such as Miyagi and Akihiko. At first Hiroki is amazed at such piece of technology was given to him but after a while he finds out it works the same way just like any regular cell phone only without buttons. He answers to what sounds like a joyful Miyagi.
"Hey honey, guess what. You got the job!" Miyagi announce rather flirtatious.
"That is great. When do I start and did the boss give me a topic?"
"Right now. No topic but your draft is to send by Thursday next week and be ready to print by Saturday."
A doctor with a mutual look on his face called out Hiroki's name.
"Okay, I have to go. My test results are in. Bye"
"Bye sweetheart!"
The phone call ended and Hiroki strolls over to the doctor's office. He wheeled over in front of the doctor's desk and waits to hear his outcomes. The doctor took a bit of time to get to his seat. He closes the door slowly and quietly. Then he went to go fiddle with files in his cabinet, went to his desk and idle in his laptop until ten minutes passed by. He shuts the laptop and looks at Hiroki straight into the eye.
"I have some bad news Kamijou-san." The greying haired doctor finally said
Hiroki closes his honey coated eyes for a moment to take in those words while nodding his head. He then opens them a sign he's ready to hear the news. The doctor opens the files he was holding the hold time and shows Hiroki the x-rays they had taken of his head.
"You see here" the doctor pointed out in the bottom part of the brain "this area is where you have been hit the worse. This is the area where your brain stores memories. I am surprise you remember things such as your name and such."
"Okay, so what does that mean?" Hiroki asks trying to get to the point
"Well, while memory loss is temporarily for some people. For your case I am afraid you may never retrieve your lost memories." The doctor finally admits
Hiroki sat in his wheel chair trying to convert what the doctor's words means to him. For him to never remember the past 10 plus years of his life is devastating for him. He has just missed a huge chunk of his youth life in which he never remembers.
"So you are saying there is no chance for me to recover my memory loss?"
"I am not saying that is totally impossible but in those conditions, it would be a Christmas miracle for you to gain back your memories. Familiar surroundings such as your apartment, work area, or maybe a certain place that held your special memory may trigger your brain to recover the lost information. If that does not happen then I do not know what I can do to help."
Hiroki thank the doctor for his time and he rolled himself back to his room where he lay in his bed silent all night. The feeling inside him was a dull painful feeling. He does not know if he'd be sad or angry about this situation. Right now he feels mutual. The chance for him to obtain his memories once more may never come true. For now he's stuck in a frustrating path trying to fill in the 10 year gap of mystery. He looks up at the blank white ceiling, whispering his wish for Akihiko to come and to listen to his cries. Akihiko has not come and visit for the past 5 days. He has called him several times but most of the time he never picks up his phone. It stresses him to no end wondering if something bad happen to Akihiko. He then figured his best friend must be finishing a manuscript or out-of-town for some work purposes. It was just three more days. Just three more days, until he can see what changes the world has done while he was gone.
Note: I barely realized how much things has changed in just 10 years. From Nokia unbreakable phones to smart "very" breakable phones.