The next day, Jun sat up on the bed, the small blue notebook Rin had dropped the other day resting lightly in his hands. His fingers lingered on its cover, pressing gently against the smooth surface.
He let his hands fall to his lap and sank back into the mattress, the fabric cool against his skin. A quiet sigh escaped him, carrying the weight of thought across the room.
It has already been one whole day since she dropped it… Jun's gaze rested on the ceiling. One hand swung slowly off the edge of the bed, brushing lightly against the blanket. His fingers shifted against the fabric as he stayed still, quiet filling the room.
I wonder what she is thinking… Jun's fingers lifted the notebook into the air, holding it carefully. His hand paused as he felt the weight of the cover.
Could it be… a diary? Or is it a storybook? He drew in a slow breath, chest rising gently.
He shifted slightly on the bed, the mattress pressing against his back. He hesitated before opening it, his mind tightening as he remembered her cold purple eyes staring at him. His fingers tensed on the notebook, and a small shiver ran through his arm at the thought of her striking him.
No… I cannot do it. Jun shook his head, his shoulders moving slightly with the motion. His fingers pressed lightly against the notebook, resisting the urge to open it. As much as he felt curious, he knew he should not invade her privacy. It is… not right.
He slid the notebook carefully into his shirt pocket, the fabric shifting softly against its edges.
Jun's thoughts drifted back to yesterday, to the time he spent playing with Honoka. His fingers tapped lightly against his shirt pocket, feeling the notebook pressed against him.
As he remembered, the memory unfolded slowly. They continued playing catch, the ball thudding softly between them. Jun noticed that Honoka was not quite like herself. Her gaze kept drifting toward the path where Rin had disappeared, and she missed catches she would normally have made easily. Her small frown and the way her shoulders tensed made the moment stick in Jun's mind.
"Honoka… are you… okay?" Jun's voice was low, even, his gaze steady on her face. His posture remained calm, shoulders relaxed.
Honoka jumped a little at his voice. She hugged the ball closer to her chest, fingers gripping it tightly.
"Oh… Jun… I'm okay." Her small shoulders rose and fell as she forced a tiny smile.
She drew in a quiet breath, pressing the ball a little harder.
"It's… it's that girl…" Her voice wavered. "She… she's the one the nurses were talking about."
"What do you mean…?" Jun's hands hung loosely at his sides. His gaze stayed on her, head tilting slightly.
"They… they were saying… many mean things about her." Honoka held the ball loosely at her side, her small frame hunched slightly. Strands of her black hair fell over her forehead as she lowered her eyes, voice trembling a little. "That she's dangerous… and that she fights with other patients… and even hurts the nurses and staff. So… when I see her… I… get scared."
She drew in a quiet breath, small shoulders rising slightly. Her blue eyes lifted toward Jun, hesitating for a moment.
"But… I don't want to believe… because she… she looks lonely."
Jun's thoughts slowly returned to the present. His fingers tightened lightly on the notebook in his shirt pocket.
If that is really how she is… then I am in big trouble if she thinks I read her book. He pressed his face into the pillow, the fabric cool against his cheek. Maybe I should just give the book to a staff member… before this becomes a mess.
A soft groan escaped him as he buried his face deeper into the pillow, shoulders tensing slightly.
The door clicked open, and Nurse Shiraishi stepped inside with her clipboard. Her quiet footsteps moved across the floor in a steady pace.
Jun pushed himself upright, feeling the familiar pull in his muscles but no real strain. He sat at the edge of the bed, feet touching the floor, his eyes following her movements as she approached.
Nurse Shiraishi stepped closer, raising the penlight toward Jun's eyes.
"Jun, look at the light." Her voice stayed calm as she watched his pupils, the small movements reflecting in the lens.
"Mm. Your eyes react well. No strange dilation." She straightened, shifting her grip on the clipboard before making a quick note with her pen, the faint scratch of writing reaching his ears. Her tone lowered slightly.
"Yesterday, before you slept, I gave you a few phrases to remember. Do you recall them?"
Jun hesitated, his gaze drifting away from her face. A faint heat rose across his cheeks. His lips moved in a small mutter, barely above a whisper.
"As if… I would say that out loud…"
Her eyebrow lifted a little as she looked at him.
"Then… am I to assume you have forgotten?"
Jun drew in a slow breath, his chest rising once before he forced the words out. His voice trembled.
"I… love you, Miss Shiraishi."
Nurse Shiraishi gave a small nod.
"Very good. Next…" Her voice stayed even as she flipped to a new page on her clipboard, the paper shifting softly under her fingers.
This is the worst… Jun lowered his eyes, the corners of his mouth tightening as the thought echoed in his head.
He lifted his head a little, voice slipping out before he could stop it.
"Nurse Shiraishi is… the best."
Shiraishi's hand rose to cover her mouth, her fingers brushing lightly against her cheek. A quiet chuckle escaped her.
"I… I cannot believe you said that out loud." Her eyes stayed on Jun, calm but with a small, hidden warmth.
Jun's shoulders tensed slightly, his voice low and hesitant.
"Why… why are you always doing this? It is… harassment… I will… sue…"
Her face returned to its usual calm, unreadable expression. No emotion flickered in her eyes.
"Why do you ask?" Her voice stayed even, soft but steady. "It is because this work is always very busy… and boring. I hardly have time for myself. So… I try to make it worthwhile."
Jun let out a slow sigh, shoulders drooping as he slouched forward on the bed. His hands rested lightly on his thighs, fingers brushing against the fabric.
"Since your memory retention is functioning." She clicked the pen closed, the soft snap echoing in the quiet room. Her gaze returned briefly to the notes on her clipboard before lifting to meet his eyes.
"Doctor Kurosawa will proceed with your transfer to ward 2-B tomorrow. Please… take the time to go outside a little, push yourself… and interact with others. It will help you adjust."
Jun nodded slowly, shoulders rising slightly with the movement. His voice came low, careful.
"I… I will."
"Well then… excuse me." Shiraishi bent slightly at the waist in a careful bow. The soft click of the door followed as she closed it behind her, her steps fading down the corridor.
Jun stayed in his room for another hour, shifting restlessly under the blanket, turning from side to side. The fabric moved softly against his skin with each motion.
He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, feet touching the cool floor.
Maybe… I should go for a walk, he thought, fingers brushing lightly against the blanket as he stood.
Jun bent slightly, sliding his feet into the scuffs, the soft fabric pressing against his skin. He stood, muscles adjusting to the movement. He stepped into the corridor, the soft drag of his scuffs against the tile marking a slow, steady rhythm. His mind raced, too restless for his room.
The main hallway was loud. The intercom buzzed, porters pushed patients in wheelchairs and emergency beds, and nurses moved quickly, their footsteps echoing. Jun's gaze stayed low, shoulders tense, as he weaved carefully through the busy corridor, heading toward the exit.
Jun stepped up to the front desk, hands fidgeting slightly at his sides.
"Excuse me… I am Jun Hashimoto… room 3-C. I… I would like to take a walk outside."
The receptionist glanced at her monitor, then nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Hashimoto. Please… go ahead, and take care."
Jun bowed slightly, voice low.
"Thank you."
Her pen scratched softly on the desk as she returned to her work, eyes flicking up briefly to watch him move away.
Jun stopped just as he passed through the automatic door. His fingers pressed lightly into his pocket, resting against the notebook inside.
Ah… that is right. Honoka asked me to play today… He lowered his gaze for a moment. I will apologize to her tomorrow. For now… I need to be alone.
Jun walked slowly, following the path past the main entrance into the quieter, older sections of the grounds. The sunlight touched his shoulders, and a cool breeze brushed against his face.
I know… Shiraishi said I should meet people, but… He stopped for a moment, tilting his head slightly as he scanned the empty path ahead. I honestly… do not remember how… He exhaled softly, shoulders dropping a little.
As he rounded a large flower bed, Jun noticed a simple, weathered wooden bench tucked to the side of the path, partially shaded by an old oak tree.
A girl sat alone on the bench. Her light, ash-orange hair fell around her shoulders, and a sweater covered her gown. She leaned forward slightly, green eyes fixed on the drawing pad in her lap. Her hands moved quickly, pressing the pencil across the page with steady, silent motions. She made no sound, her focus complete and uninterrupted.
Jun paused, watching her intense focus.
I wonder… what is she drawing…
He stepped slowly on the gravel path, the small stones crunching softly under his feet.
As he came closer, his eyes widened. On the page was a single flower, its petals layered and delicate, each one shaded with care. The stem was slender and slightly curved, leaves veined with tiny, precise lines. Even the small folds at the edges of the petals were captured, and the center of the flower held tiny dots that gave it depth and life.
This… is beautiful…
The girl sensed someone behind her. Jun's shadow fell across the page, and she froze.
Her head lifted slowly, green eyes widening as they met his. A small squeak slipped from her lips. She pulled her arms closer to her chest and ducked her head down toward the pad, pressing her forehead lightly against it. Her body trembled slightly, as if even his quiet gaze had startled her.
She lifted her head once more, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, though her shoulders still trembled slightly. Her green eyes flicked toward Jun, then quickly down at the pad in her hands. She gathered her drawing pad and a few pencils, pressing them firmly against her chest. Her fingers tightened around the items, as if holding them could keep her steady.
She started running down the gravel path, the soft scrape of her shoes marking her hurried steps. Her sweater shifted slightly with each stride, and the wind lifted a few strands of her ash-orange hair across her face.
A few steps later, her foot caught on a small stone. She stumbled forward, arms flailing for balance, and let out a startled squeak. She fell onto her hands and knees, the pad sliding slightly on the gravel, and a few pencils scattered. Her body pressed against the ground for a moment, shoulders trembling, forehead almost brushing the stones.
She froze, glancing up at Jun, wide eyes full of nervousness. Then she shifted carefully to a sitting position, gathering the scattered pencils and pad, pressing them to her chest once more.
After a brief pause, she scrambled to her feet. She glanced back at Jun again, lips parting as if to say something but no sound came. Clutching the pad and pencils, she hurried away, her steps moving quickly along the gravel path until she disappeared from view.
Did I… startle her…? I did not mean to…
He walked slowly, shoulders relaxed but head slightly lowered.
I only looked… yet… she seemed so… scared…
He glanced briefly toward the bench, then shifted his gaze forward.
Her drawing… it is… good…
Jun turned fully and continued his walk, keeping to himself, the quiet path stretching ahead.