At Yoshida Park St., the morning sun cast a warm glow on the quiet neighborhood, but Matsumoto's mind was elsewhere. It was 8:53 A.M., and he was strolling back from Mr. Taiga's house, his thoughts consumed by the events of the morning. He had just left Mr. Taiga's place after waking up and getting ready, but he couldn't shake off the concern that had been gnawing at him. Mr. Taiga's cough had been bothering him, and he was desperate to know what was happening to his coach.
As he walked, the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling filled the air, but Matsumoto's anxiety lingered. He pushed aside the negative thoughts and focused on the road ahead, his eyes scanning the familiar sights of the neighborhood. He reached Mr. Taiga's house block and knocked on the door, peeking through the gate. The eerie silence was unsettling, so he decided to enter the house. The kitchen was empty, and there was no one around. He went upstairs, checked Mr. Taiga's room, but it was empty too. The dojo where they usually practiced was also deserted, the usual bustle and energy replaced by an oppressive stillness.
Matsumoto's curiosity got the better of him, and he wondered why the door and gate were open. He went back downstairs, checking the living room, and that's when he spotted a pill on the table. He sat on the sofa, put down his things, and picked up the pill bottle. The label indicated that the medication was for someone with tuberculosis, to be taken three times a day.
Matsumoto's mind was racing. Were these pills for Mr. Taiga? He felt a surge of panic, thinking that his coach might be in the hospital. He grabbed his phone and checked his messages. Ah, he remembered that Okio and Tomoto were his friends on Messenger. He opened Tomoto's account and saw a message: "Matsumoto, come to Yoshida National Hospital, Mr. Taiga's here."
Matsumoto's heart sank. He quickly gathered his things, locked the doors, and rushed to the bus station. The thought of Mr. Taiga's condition made him anxious, and the sight of the hospital building looming ahead didn't help. He hurried inside, checked with the guard, and made his way to the nurse's counter.
"Good morning, miss. Do you have a patient named Mr. Taiga?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Yes, sir. He's in room 308. He's being checked by Dr. Santiago, a tuberculosis expert," the nurse replied, her expression sympathetic.
Matsumoto thanked her and rushed to the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest. He finally reached room 308 and found Okio and Tomoto looking worried and sad. He approached them, his anxiety reaching a fever pitch.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.
Okio and Tomoto exchanged a glance, and Matsumoto knew it wasn't going to be good news. Tomoto spoke up, his voice shaking. "We don't know much, Matsumoto. We got a call from the hospital early this morning saying Mr. Taiga was admitted with severe respiratory distress. We've been waiting here for hours, but the doctor hasn't come out to update us yet."
Matsumoto's grip on reality faltered, and he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He sank into a chair beside Okio and Tomoto, his mind reeling with worst-case scenarios. The three friends sat in silence, their anxiety and fear hanging in the air like a thick fog.
Matsumoto slept for a minute then he woked up hearing the sound of someone talking to each other as he opened his eyes he saw a doctor talking to Tomoto and Okio.
"Matsumoto you woked up now" Tomoto said whispered.
"Ummmm Mr. Taiga will be ok now but first he needs to rest first you can check him inside if you want" Dr. Santiago said happily.
"And here I almost forgot here's your check number you will show this to the guard if your going outside and getting inside and I need to go because I have another patient bye.Dr. Santiago leaves with a smile"
"Goodbye doc and thank you very much." Tomoto said.
"Very welcome" Dr. Santiago said smiling.
Then they camed inside the room then he sees Mr. Taigas chest breathing and his eyes closing.Then Matsumoto said.
"Ok so while Mr. Taiga is sleeping let's buy our food outside looks like your hungry."Matsumoto said.
"Sure." Tomoto and Okio said.
Then they got downstairs meeted the guard and they showed the check number and got outside. It was already night and Matsumoto didn't know the time because he was asleep then they checked a near place to buy something and eat
As they strolled through the hospital courtyard, Matsumoto's stomach growled with anticipation. He had been waiting for this moment for hours. Suddenly, he spotted a cozy little bakery across the way. "Hey, guys, look! A bread store!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening with excitement.
Tomoto and Okio followed his gaze and nodded in unison. "Let's go, Matsumoto!" Tomoto said, already tugging on his arm.
The trio pushed open the door and was immediately enveloped in the warm, yeasty aroma of freshly baked bread. Matsumoto's mouth watered as he scanned the shelves. He approached the counter and asked Tomoto and Okio if they wanted to buy anything. They nodded eagerly, and the three of them began to peruse the offerings.
Matsumoto settled on two cheese breads and a slice of precious strawberry cake, which cost a mere 22¥. He handed over the cash and took the change, beaming with satisfaction. As they left the store, Okio and Tomoto clutching their own purchases, Matsumoto felt a sense of contentment wash over him.
Back at the hospital, they returned to their seats and eagerly unwrapped their bread. Matsumoto took a bite of his cheese bread, and the gooey cheese oozing out of the soft bread made him groan with delight. Next, he tackled the strawberry cake, and the sweet syrup hit his taste buds like a symphony. He felt his worries melting away as he savored each morsel.
Just as they were settling in, a faint cough echoed from Mr. Taiga's room. They exchanged wide-eyed glances and rushed to the door. Matsumoto's heart skipped a beat as they pushed open the door to find Mr. Taiga sitting up in bed, looking a bit disoriented.
The three of them froze, then burst into tears, rushing to hug their beloved coach and surrogate father. Mr. Taiga's face lit up with joy, and he chuckled, "Hahaha, don't cry, guys. You look like lost babies!"
Tomoto sniffled, "Oh, Mr. Taiga, are you okay?"
Mr. Taiga nodded, wiping away Matsumoto's tears. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little condition. _cough_"
Okio piped up, "Matsumoto, can you please call the doctor?"
Matsumoto nodded and hastened out of the room, racing down the hall to find Dr. Santiago. He spotted the nurse's station and asked about the doctor's whereabouts.
The nurse smiled, "Oh, Dr. Santiago is in room 404. You can check there."
Matsumoto sprinted to the room, his heart pounding with urgency. He found Dr. Santiago consulting with a patient and waited anxiously until they finished. The doctor noticed Matsumoto's frantic expression and quickly excused himself.
"What do you need, Matsumoto?" Dr. Santiago asked, concern etched on his face.
"Mr. Taiga's awake!" Matsumoto blurted out.
Dr. Santiago's expression softened, and he nodded. "I'll come right over."
Together, they rushed back to Mr. Taiga's room, where Tomoto and Okio were hovering anxiously beside their coach's bed. Dr. Santiago examined Mr. Taiga, checking his heartbeat and reviewing his charts. As they waited for the diagnosis, Matsumoto couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were about to change forever... (To be continued)