This week been real nice. Reiner came back. Met the president of Indonesia. Didn't stub my toenail on the drawer again. Nice.
The constant beeps, along with the sound of muffled breaths. The surreal amount of machinery, and the freezing cold breezes of the air conditioner within the room.
A hand gently caresses the top of his head, dragging it along his scalp in a way that soothes him. Another hand pressing against his shoulder, softly messaging him.
His eyes would not look away. As he sat on the chair, his heart never felt so heavy. His sigh was shaky, so was the clenched fist pressed on his thigh.
He'd never seen such colours, never imagined such sensations. Calling the state of the woman as miserable would undermine it.
Tubes were running down her right arm, her face was covered with a mask. Keeping her heart beating up and down was a machine besides her bed, a portion of her brain barely functioning.
Her head was littered with threads, keeping them together from opening up. Her brain was kept alive, even though it was only responsible for a few basic functions.
He didn'trealizehow much he wanted to see her eyes again up until this moment.
"How long has it been?" He asks with a flagged tone, breaking the ice for the first time since they entered the room.
Her voice croaked. She's been trying to avoid that question earlier. All his attempts were diverted, even if it means having to be harsh at him. But in front of Yomikawa, even unconscious, she couldn't do it.
So much of this was done for the boy. To keep him out of the loop wouldn't sit well for her. Not with the woman, at least. Her lips were pursed, but she relented eventually.
"Two years." She finally answers. "Three in a few months."
The boy visibly flinched. Yoshikawa stopped with her words. She's said enough. She went back to caressing his long hair. She used to do the same back then, only his hair was a lot shorter.
He didn't seem to relax as much as he did earlier. 'Me and my damn mouth.' Yoshikawa berates herself. She was never that good with people except for a small few.
There was a creak coming from the side. The door opens for a certain doctor. The doctor was a familiar old man. He could vividly recall seeing the man.
"Doctor." Yoshikawa stood up, tugging at him to do the same. He did. Up here, he noticed how short the doctor was, they were practically the same height.
Not only that, he also noticed the striking similarities the doctor has to certain amphibian creatures with slimy skins. What was the name of the animal again? Ah, yes, it's the-
"Frog." He mused.
A slight tap from the back of his head and a panicked look from Yoshikawa was his way of knowing that he'd even said the damn words.
Although his voice was quiet, the room was already quieter. His unintentional words were already heard by all. There was no way to take it back. Saying anything else would've made it worse.
Much to the delight of the pair however, the doctor took it more lightly than what they'd imagined he would do. Chuckling and waving the comment off.
"So how's your head?" The doctor asks. It was now that the boyrealizedwho the doctor was. It was the same person whom he'd met on his first day of the hospital.
"It's fine." He replies rather quickly. Unable to find it in him to add any more than that. He couldn't trust himself with anything that has something to do with speaking to others. So much of him isn't the same since then. The best example would be how he speaks to others. He hated it. The influence he's gotten was nothing but another mark from that bastard.
The feelings within him boil. It was very much clear for the people present in the room, as the emotions were leaking all over his face.
"So…" Yoshikawa starts. "I suppose you have something to say?"
The doctor got serious, nodding his head. He took an iron stool while gesturing for the two to sit as well. They did as asked. The doctor then took in a small breath.
"I assume you have told him of the circumstances…?" He starts, referring to the albino. Yoshikawa shakes her head. The doctor pauses before humming in surprise. "Well, I guess we'll start from there." He states, rubbing his balding head.
"You see, boy, your guardian… she's…" There was heaviness in his voice. He was having a hard time trying to convey his words, as it had been much too painful for the others as well. The doctor recalls the woman's Anti-Skill subordinates. The saddened gazes and cries were painful for him to watch.
"Her brain has been severely damaged." He manages to just push them out. The boy's eyes were twitching, quivering even. But he seems to be taking it better than most. "We've been doing everything we can, but there's just no way of healing it."
"So then… what're you trying to suggest?" Hirano speaks with a quiet voice. Barely holding in the despair he's feeling. Yoshikawa's hands grasp his shoulder in a calming manner. "I swear, if you're saying that we should let her go, Iwoul-"
Again, the back of his head was hit by the same hand that was caressing him. Instinctively he threw a glare at the side, but pulled away after the man began speaking.
"No, I wouldn't allow such a thing." The doctor stated. His voice dripped with determination. "Even if the wounds were unable to be healed, there are still ways of going around it."
The two's eyes snapped right at the doctor, waiting for him to spill whatever it was that the old man was planning to do. "There's this… idea I've been thinking of."
"What is it…?"
"A substitution of some sort." Hirano tilted his head. "Her frontal lobe was damaged to the point of no return. Even if I managed to heal her, she would still not be conscious, as her motor functions are completely dead."
"A Schrodinger's cat." Yoshikawa murmurs.
The doctor nods. "Something like that." He then turned towards the woman. "She could be listening to us right now. So try to be there whenever you can." They nodded.
"So… this substitution idea of yours. How do we do it?" Hirano asks impatiently.
"As for that, it will take time. I need to gather some resources first."
"Such as?"
"Something. Just be patient, please."
Hirano's mouth opened to ask for more, but the feeling of a hand hovering just above his head made him think otherwise. He clicked his tongue and closed his mouth.
"How can we help? With the resources I mean." Yoshikawa interjects just as the doctor was about to excuse himself out of the room.
"You don't h-"
"No." Yoshikawa breaks firmly. Her hand clenches. "You don't seem to understand. I couldn't find it in me to just sit and watch while others do all the jobs. It's making me feel useless."
The doctor pauses for a second before sighing. "Well… there is something that you could help me with…"
"¥15,000,000…" Yoshikawa sighed the numbers out with such an exasperated tone that it would be laughable if it weren't for the circumstances.
Hirano bat an eye at her, hands limp as she forces her legs to move. He looked back at the road, pulling the bag on his shoulder as he continued to trudge forward.
The woman fell quiet after what felt like eternity. She looked terrible, to say the least. The dark circles under her eyes looked a whole lot darker than they were before. Even her skin is paler than what he could remember.
He blinked as a car zoomed past them, the lights from the car's headlights shining past them blinded by the headlights of the truck next to it.
He followed as Yoshikawa took a turn into a neighbourhood of some sort. The place is as quiet as a grave. Nobody was passing by, unlike the main street a while ago.
The night sky has been covered by stars, but even they are unable to fight the silent darkness. A breeze blows down and over the city, as if to comfort the pair.
Hirano noticed a black kitten lazily sitting on a rooftop. He glanced back at Yoshikawa as she walked up a flight of stairs, gesturing to him to follow.
A somewhat clean corridor greets them up ahead. Yoshikawa stops just before a plain-looking door. She pulls out a key, inserting it into the slot and turns the key. The lock pops open and the door swings inwards.
Darkness. And then there was light, lighting up the place slowly. The hallway was short, less than three metres in length. The living room was just ahead, and a door that leads to the bathroom a little further.
There was nothing remarkable about the living room. Just a couch, a coffee table and a television. A carpet and a plant pot for decors, along with a simple mirror. It's all just the basics. A kitchenette, with two lights hanging on the ceiling.
He settles the bag down the carpeted floor. There was an extra door just beside the kitchen entrance. He deduced that it was the bedroom. In a place this small, it should be safe to assume that that was the only one.
"I'll sleep on the couch." Hirano says to Yoshikawa, who doesn't seem to be protesting.
"You sure?" He nods. "Sorry..." She clears her throat, rubbing her arms for the inconveniences. She walks into her room while he tests the softness of the couch.
The couch was about his size, maybe a little longer. It was also rather comfortable, despite the dirty look it had given him, not like he mind though, he's slept on worse. In fact, it feels like it was made just for him.
Patting it, he stretches his legs out, his back in a curve as he bends forward and lays on his stomach. Just then Yoshikawa comes out of her room, a towel in hand.
"Here, I thought you might want to clean yourself." The woman says, putting the towel atop his laid head. "There's spare soap beneath the sink. Clean up as best as you can. You smell like shit." She trails off.
The boy rolled his eyes, picking himself up. He was pretty sure the smell came from the clothes, not him. He might want to burn the whole thing later. God knows what kinds of shit those thugs had done with these on.
The bathroom was the size of a closet. It was essentially a sink, a toilet and a bathtub. It reminded him of the isolation chamber. He shuddered slightly.
He pushed the thoughts aside, plunging his body onto the shallow cold water as it gradually rose to his chest. He allowed himself to drown in it for a bit, breathing slowly, deliberately.
The water slowly turns warm. He felt his tension melt away. His eyes slowly shut as he relaxed, an exhale matching the rise of water above him.
He hasn't felt the feeling of water washing him in ages. He couldn't recall ever feeling this relaxed in years. Even the warmth in there hasn't been this comforting.
He yawned, face scrunching as he let his body sink down just above his mouth. He could sleep just like this. But one thing hasn't really left his mind.
'It's good to be back.'
His eyes opened up a bit as his head started to assess everything. The past few years to be exact. Back then, he was only out for several months, and it changed him more than he'd realize to be possible. He wonders whether this one wouldn't last that long either. He hoped that it wasn't the case. His priority right now is to make sure Yomikawa opens her eyes again.
Until that happens, he will make sure that nothing will stop him from doing just that. He's broken one promise already.
A knock on the door breaks him out of his trance. "Turn the tap off, you're wasting water." He didn'trealizethe waters were spilling all over. He leaned over towards the tap. "And dinner's here."
He responds back with a loud grumble. He washed himself the best he could, scrubbing all over while thinking what could be the food for dinner, and what would tomorrow bring.
He could probably do…
He stopped moving.
What should he do for tomorrow? Nothing came to mind. He blinks several times. He's out now, and he knew there were several things he wished to do. But how?
…
"What can I do?"
8
He didn't know how long he's been awake for. All these times he has been staring at the ceiling, lacking even a bit of lighting. The silhouette of a lamp is the only thing his eyes gaze upon.
He would occasionally yawn, but his eyes wouldn't close. Maybe he was afraid that he was gonna wake up in that place again. Maybe he's just not that tired. Truly, even he does not know. He hasn't known himself in ages.
Dawn was creeping closer. He stared into nothingness, lost in thought and thoughtlessness. He's dreamt of this moment, hasn't he? Well here it is. So why is he so... So... unsure?
He got up into a sitting position. He sat there in the dark, for what must have been hours. He could hear the start of the day's sunrise. He looked at the clock on the wall.
6:51. Somehow, the clock doesn't feel like it's moving at all. A short exhale escaped his mouth. He traversed through the darkness of the place and turned the lights on, heading for the kitchenette right after.
He wet his parched mouth with a glass of water. The coldness of it refreshed him. He washed his face while he was at it. He missed the particularly chilly air of the morning breeze. He used to hate it. He'd rethink that whole impression, given the amount of time without it.
He stood by the sink for a moment. He'd been bored to death with just watching the same ceiling for the past few hours. He might as well go out for a while.
He held in a yawn as he put on his shoes. Stolen shoes to be exact. Not that it has to be pointed out or anything but yes.
He left the door unlocked. He'd doubt anyone would try to rob a place this early in the morning. Besides, no one would know if the door wasn't locked.
He allowed the breeze to pass through and he didn't feel as alive as he thought he was going to be. Instead, he shivers rather than the expected pleasantry.
The sky outside was barely visible as he walked along the road. The sun was barely peeking through the skyscrapers, leaving them to be silhouettes against the strong pink hue of the sunrise.
The neighbourhood around the place he lives in wasbarrenat the time of this, not a soul in sight. His footsteps echoed in the otherwise silent air.
Soon enough, he stopped by a vending machine. He can only look at it in silence, disappointed. He has no money, unfortunately. And he didn't really want to steal from Yoshikawa. The ever watchful eyes of the CCTV a few metres up was the only thing stopping him from committing a crime right here and right now.
He sighed. He was going to have to go get some money. Not only for himself but also for the blue haired woman. He didn't know where and how he'd be getting the money. He could try doing some part-times, maybe? He'll have to see.
He heard distant footsteps, loud in its manner of travel. He turned to see just in time for a certain black haired woman to emerge. Still clad in her green T-shirt from last night. The woman was sweating pretty hard for a temperature this cold.
She looks very much relieved upon seeing him. "There... You are..." She heaved through her panting. She regained her composure after a few moments. "I thought that you..."
She didn't have to finish her words for him to understand. He hummed in response to the concern. "I'm fine." He states. "Just bored." He adds in.
She nods. She followed right behind as he went down the path she'd come from. They were quiet in their walk, even as the city grew brighter and livelier from afar. Several people that pass them greet the woman.
It didn't take long after that before they reached the apartment complex. By the flight of stairs, he recalls the last thing he'd thought of a while ago.
"I don't suppose you just so happen to know a place where they wouldn't mind hiring someone my age?" He asks, stopping his ascent on the stairs, looking down towards the older woman.
She didn't try to stop for a second to contemplate, she immediately just shook her head. "I don't think anyone's gonna hire a minor that isn't the... No, I don't think so."
"You sure?" She nodded. "Have you tried actually thinking about it?"
She rolls her eyes. "The only real way you could be earning some money is through the monthly allowance."
His head jerked a bit, before he looked away inrealization. He'd forgotten about that. It's been so long since after all. He rubbed the back of his head.
"What were the requirements again?" He asks after a while.
"You need to be affiliated with a school."
"And to enter a school you need an ID card."
"Exactly." Yoshikawa nods. "You're old enough to be a middle schooler. But seeing that you haven't passed elementary school... So… you'll need to go through it again for a year."
His eyes twitched. He didn't know why, but hearing that he'll have to attend another class but this time with people that are younger than him feels quite infuriating. There's something about being in a room full of people with a superiority complex that irked him somehow.
But for the money… he'll do it, he supposes.
Talkabout money, he could vividly remember a certain blond haired girl.
He exhales slightly. "So what do I need again for the ID card?"
Yoshikawa grinned. "Go eat first. I'll take you there. Still got a few hours before work anyway."
New Shit Next Week!