Strangers in a Waiting Room
4. Friends are Easier to Talk to than Associates

In retrospect, bringing homework was probably a smart idea. With the two visitors per patient rule, waits were a given. And while Takuya was well used to talking to Koji and knew which buttons to push when and which not too, Koji's brother who'd appeared out of the blue was an entirely different matter.

So there was an uncomfortable silence that was only punctured by people wandering past – and why weren't there anyone else in the floor longue? – and the turning of pages.

But silences made Takuya say things – sometimes not altogether thought out – and he finally gave up trying to piece an unseen puzzle together. 'So…Koji said his mother was dead?'

'Yes.' Koichi didn't look up from his book, and his tone was surprisingly cool. 'That would be our father's fault.'

Yep, Takuya said to himself. Foot in mouth.

He peddled mentally. 'Koji will be happy. He's always missed his birthmother. Pined, really.'

Koichi said nothing. Takuya once again saw the expression that suggested he very much wanted to.

'You should say what's on your mind,' Takuya recommended. That approach had failed with Koji, but…who knew. Might work here. 'I've probably said worse already. Foot in mouth sort of guy, you know.'

Koichi shook his head. 'It was…wrong.'

'Wrong like thinking he'll take your mother away?' Takuya asked curiously. It was the first thing that popped into his head, and he thought the idea wasn't totally outlandish. 'If she's not dead and you exist, I suppose you live with her?'

In retrospect, he probably could have worded that better, but it accomplished what he meant it to anyhow. Koichi lowered his pen – and Takuya wondered belatedly why it wasn't a pencil instead – and looked at him again.

And his expression was surprised and maybe a little ashamed too. 'Something like that,' he admitted. 'But it's unfair; I know.'

Takuya shrugged. 'Nothing wrong with thinking that though,' he said. 'I thought the same when my little brother was born, but the kid grew on me.' He changed the track of the conversation there. 'When did you find out?'

'Yesterday.' Then Koichi's brow furrowed. 'Did you – oh, yesterday.'

Takuya didn't manage to follow that, and he said as much.

'I wasn't sure what you were asking about,' Koichi said apologetically. 'But it's the same answer either way.'

When he'd found out about Koji and when he'd found out Koji was in the hospital.

And, Takuya noted from that answer, he'd been in much the same bout as Koji.

He wondered what would happen now.

'Well…' he said, feeling awkward all of a sudden. And he didn't normally do that. 'Talking's…good.'

His lips flickered into what might have been a smile. 'You're Koji's friend.'

Takuya wasn't sure if it was a question or a comment. He picked the tone easily though. Not quite the "You're not my friend" Koji used to try until he gave in and admitted Takuya was, but similar nonetheless.

And it occurred to him he hadn't introduced himself. He'd missed a good opportunity too.

Well, there was a good opportunity again. 'I'm Takuya Kanbara.'