Chapter 4: Mother 1

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Translator: Soafp

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June 7. Friday. 3:50 PM. I am sixteen years old.

I take the very fast Keio Line express with its pink and navy stripes to Inada-Noborito, then transfer to the yellow Nambu Line and the orange Musashino Line to get to Nishi-Kokubunji.

Exiting towards the “Nishikoku Mine” side and walking for fifteen minutes, the humid air clings to me in the midst of the rainy season.

Even though I’m in a short-sleeved summer uniform, carrying my school bag on my shoulder makes me sweat. Still, I spend an hour each way commuting to Tama General Medical Center where my mother is hospitalized.

Visiting every day isn’t cheap, but I didn't want to ask my father or my hated aunt for money. So, I started a part-time job.

With my first paycheck, I bought a pink commuter pass for 17,000 yen labeled “Minami-Osawa – Nishi-Kokubunji.” It was worth it for my beloved mother. Working for the cost of the pass didn't bother me.

The Tama General Medical Center itself is like a small city, far from the station and visible from a distance. Many large hospital buildings are connected, working together to desperately save fading lives.

The entrance is also incredibly spacious, with an atrium that extends to the second floor. I fill out the visitor's form as usual, head to the building housing the psychiatric ward, and call the elevator.

Ding. It arrives quickly. I exchange places with nurses and visitors exiting, then stand by the buttons and press the one for the sixth floor.

Shortly, the elevator reaches the sixth floor, and the doors open. I turn right and walk to the third door. …Room 603. Standing in front of the door marked “Yoko Aoi,” I knock. I'm coming in, I say as I slide the door open.

“Kai-chan!”

As soon as my mother sees me, she cries out from her bed.

“Where have you been until this late?”

Poor thing. She's become so emaciated, her hair all messy. The mother I've known since I was little had a fuller figure and was much more beautiful.

I respond to her words with a smile.

“Sorry, I was at school. I had fun.”

I notice she hasn't touched her three o'clock snack—a sugar-coated round donut.

“Mom, I'm hungry. Let's eat together?”

I sit in the chair by her pillow and tear the donut in half.

My mother looks down and smiles bashfully.

“I couldn't eat because I was worried that you, Kai-chan, had gone somewhere.”

“It's okay. I'm not going anywhere. …See? Don't worry.”

I smiled like Kai-chan.