Chapter 20: Meeting
Translator: Soafp
[Nao PoV]
When we arrived at the hospital, we approached the receptionist’s desk promptly.
Upon checking in, I learned that Dad’s name was on the block list, preventing him from seeing Onii-chan.
It served him right, a consequence of his own actions and neglect. After all, he had contributed to pushing Onii-chan to such a desperate act. The thought of it ignited a simmering anger within me.
With the room number in hand, I hurried toward Onii-chan’s location, my heart racing with anticipation and worry.
As I approached the room, a rush of emotions flooded over me. Anxiety mingled with hope, and beneath it all, a deep-seated fear gnawed at my insides. What would I find when I entered that room? Would Onii-chan be okay? Would he even want to see me?
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The sight that greeted me stole the air from my lungs.
Onii-chan lay on the hospital bed, surrounded by machines and monitors, his face pale and drawn. It was a stark contrast to the vibrant, lively brother I knew. My heart clenched at the sight, and for a moment, I struggled to hold back tears.
But he lay there, unconscious and still, his chest rising and falling rhythmically with the help of the machines. It was a sobering reminder of the gravity of his condition, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
I approached his bedside quietly, my hand reaching out to brush against his limp fingers.
“Onii-chan. I’m here. Please… wake up.”
I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion.
But there was no response, only the steady beep of the heart monitor filling the room with its monotonous rhythm.
As I sat by Onii-chan’s bedside, memories flooded my mind, each one a bittersweet reminder of the times we shared together. With a shaky voice, I began to speak, recounting our adventures and the laughter we had shared.
“Do you remember, Onii-chan? All those times we went to the park and played until the sun went down? Or the time we built that blanket fort in the living room and pretended we were adventurers exploring uncharted lands?”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I delved deeper into our shared memories, recalling the inside jokes and silly antics that had filled our days with joy.
“And what about that time we stayed up late watching scary movies, huddled together under the blankets, too scared to even go to the bathroom alone? Or the time we baked cookies and ended up making a mess of the kitchen?”
I laughed softly, the sound tinged with sadness.
The memories came flooding back, each one a precious treasure that I clung to desperately, hoping against hope that they would reach Onii-chan and bring him back to me.
“But most of all, Onii-chan. I miss you. I miss your smile, your laughter, your warmth….”
My voice breaking with emotion. But there was still no response, only the relentless beeping of the heart monitor echoing in the silent room. Despair threatened to overwhelm me, but I refused to give up hope.
“I’ll be here, Onii-chan. I’ll be here waiting for you, no matter how long it takes. Just come back to me…..please.”
As tears streamed down my cheeks, I couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions that threatened to consume me.
The weight of Onii-chan’s absence pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket, suffusing every fiber of my being with a profound sense of loss.
Without him by my side, the world felt emptier, colder, devoid of the warmth and light that he had always brought into my life.
The laughter and joy we had shared now felt like distant echoes, haunting reminders of a happier time that was slipping further and further away with each passing moment.
“I am sorry, Onii-chan… You were always there for me when I needed help.”
My voice trembled with emotion as tears kept steaming down my cheeks.
“But now, you needed help and I couldn’t even be there…”
The weight of my own inadequacy pressed down on me, suffocating me with its suffocating grip. I felt powerless, consumed by a sense of helplessness that threatened to overwhelm me entirely.
“I failed you, Onii-chan… I’m so sorry…”
As I made my way to the lobby, a sense of heaviness weighed upon my shoulders, each step a silent testament to the burden of uncertainty that now rested upon our family.
Dad was waiting for me, his expression etched with concern as he approached.
“And how is he?”
“He is unconscious. But he’s looking… really bad.”
“…”
Dad’s face fell, his features etched with concern and sorrow. We stood there in the lobby, the weight of the situation heavy upon us.
After a moment of silence, Dad turned and began to walk toward the exit door. I followed silently, the echoes of our footsteps reverberating in the empty hallway.
[Kenji Pov]
School is finally over, but the weight of yesterday’s events still hung heavy on my mind. The thought that a small difference in timing could have changed everything tormented me as I packed up my bag and prepared to leave the classroom.
With each step towards the school gate, the events of yesterday replayed in my mind like a relentless loop. What if I had arrived just a little earlier? Could I have prevented what happened to Ryota? The questions gnawed at me, refusing to let go.
Just as I reached the gate, my phone vibrated in my pocket, interrupting my thoughts.
[Do you have time now? I want to talk to you]
It was a message from Nao, Ryota’s sister. We had worked together, combining our efforts to gather evidence against Yuto. Without her assistance, I wouldn’t have made nearly as much progress in uncovering the truth.
I wonder what she wants to talk about.
[Sure, where do you want to meet up?]
[Lets meet up at the nearby family restaurant]
[Where all the students go?]
[Yes]
[Alright, I’ll see you there]
[See you soon]
I put my phone in my pocket and headed to the restaurant.
The walk there felt unusually lonely, devoid of Ryota’s presence.
In the past weeks, without him by my side, every step seemed heavier, every moment emptier.
I realized now how much I had taken our friendship for granted, how much I had relied on his unwavering support and companionship without fully appreciating it.
As I pushed open the door to the restaurant, a wave of familiar smells and sounds washed over me, momentarily distracting me from my thoughts.
I scanned the room until my eyes landed on Nao, who was sitting at a table near the back, with a drink on table.
With a heavy sigh, I made my way over to her, the weight of the past weeks pressing down on my shoulders. Nao looked up as I approached, her expression a mix of relief and concern.
“Kenji-kun….”
She said quietly, gesturing for me to take a seat opposite her.
I settled into the chair, my gaze meeting hers, and noticed the telltale signs of tears glistening in her eyes.
I could already tell that she knew about what happened to Ryota.
“Kenji-kun…I—“
“You have heard about Ryota jumping off the building, right?”
Her eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she seemed at a loss for words.
“How… how did you know?”
I couldn’t bring myself to meet her gaze as I spoke.
“Because I was there when it happened. I still remember every detail that happened yesterday.”
The memory of that day remains etched into my mind like a scar, each detail vivid and haunting.
“What happened on that day…”
“Tears streamed down Ryota’s face. Mingling with the wind as it whipped around us. But despite my best efforts, I couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness that consumed me.”
I can feel Nao’s eyes on me as I continue,
“His weight pressed against me. Every fiber of my being screamed for me to hold on tighter, to pull him back from the edge and keep him safe.
But no matter how desperately I clung to him it felt as if I were holding onto a ghost, a fleeting shadow slipping through my fingers.
And as I watched him slip further away, my heart shattered into a million pieces, the weight of his body in my arms becoming unbearable.
In that moment, time seemed to stand still, the world around us fading into oblivion as we teetered on the edge of despair.
And as Ryota slipped from my grasp and disappeared into the abyss, he had a smile on his face. Like it was finally over…
If only I had been a few seconds earlier, I could have saved him.”
I lament, the weight of regret heavy in my voice.
“After that, he was rushed to the hospital and, well, you know the rest.”
Silence hung in the air between us, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere on the other side of the restaurant.
After a few moments, Nao broke the silence.
“Aaah, it’s all Nii-san’s fault. If he hadn’t planted the switchblade, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“At least he got caught for his act,” I offered, trying to find some semblance of justice in the situation.
“But there’s more to this case. When my father found out that Nii-san was arrested, his reaction was… off. He seemed more concerned about Nii-san’s arrest than Onii-chan’s, his own blood son.”
“What? Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. But I’m still trying to find out.”
“If you need my help, you can always count on me.”
“Then, I’ll be in your care.”
“Likewise.”
We shook hands, a silent vow of mutual support passing between us.
Nao took a sip of her drink before turning her attention back to me.
“Why are you doing so much for Onii-chan?”
she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
“It’s a long story.”
“That is fine. I would like to hear more stories of Onii-chan.”
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before beginning to recount the story of my friendship with Ryota.
“It all started when we were kids.”
Alucard90
April 22, 2024 at 12:04 amThanks for the chapter.
MangHose
April 22, 2024 at 2:09 pmTrue homie.