Chapter 4

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Chapter 4: I Embraced You

[Fuuka’s POV]

Nearly six months have passed since then, and the season has turned to autumn.

After school, I got off the train I take daily to commute and headed to the hospital.

I had transferred to a high school affiliated with the university I could commute to from my uncle’s house, passed the transfer exam without issue, and my new life was losing it’s novelty, becoming something familiar.

Even so, Yumemi hasn’t been able to leave the hospital yet.

“Oh, you came again today. Your sister will be so happy,” said a kind-looking middle-aged nurse.

“Did you come after school today?”

The nurse, noticing my school blazer, looked impressed. It must be because the uniform belongs to a prestigious school in this area.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Oh, you’re really admirable. You must care so much for your sister. As expected of someone so capable.”

She probably said this out of kindness.

“……”

I didn’t know how to respond, so I gave a small nod. Turning my back to the nurse, I walked down the corridor and pressed the button for the third floor on the elevator.

Room 305. Yume’s hospital room.

Even though her condition had stabilized, she remained in a private room as part of her mental care after losing both parents and having her own life endangered.

“……”

I knocked softly and opened the door. Yume was sitting up in bed, gazing out the window where the crimson light of the setting sun streamed in.

“……Yumemi.”

When I called her name, she slowly turned and looked at me. She had always had downcast, dark eyes. But now, her right eye had lost its color and was clouded.

Due to the severe head injury, Yume lost the sight in her right eye.

“What were you doing?”

I closed the door and walked to the bed, sitting in the chair beside it.

“Were you bored? ……Of course you were.”

It must be frustrating since she can’t even go for a walk alone. I reached out and touched Yumemi’s foot through the blanket. She flinched, her shoulder jerking in response since her legs couldn’t move.

Yumemi’s legs remained paralyzed and she couldn’t move them as she wished.

Rehabilitation wouldn’t help much, I was told.

“I wish there was something good to pass the time.”

With only one eye, reading is limited, and there aren’t many interesting programs on TV all day long.

“For now, here.”

I took some gifts from my bag and handed them to her. Three novels and two manga.

“……Th…a…nk.”

Yumemi accepted them, parting her lips to speak, but couldn’t form the words. It wasn’t aphasia: she hadn’t forgotten the words.

She just couldn’t speak well anymore.

So, I understood what Yumemi wanted to say. And because of that, I didn’t know how to respond.

“……”

That day, I just looked down, sitting in the chair until visiting hours ended. Yumemi barely made a sound, but I could tell she glanced at me occasionally.

When I was in elementary school.

I was eating tangerines at the kotatsu. Yumemi was sitting on our father’s lap, and I sat in front of them. Mother was doing the dishes, so it was just the three of us in the living room.

“Oh, this is the last one.”

There was one tangerine left in the basket. Father picked it up and placed it in front of me.

“This is for you, Fuuka.”

I was happy. Not because I could eat the tangerine, but because being given the last one felt like proof that I was cherished. It might sound exaggerated, but I was truly happy.

“Th…Thank…”

I tried to say thank you.

But,

“Yumemi.”

Father wasn’t looking at me or listening to me.

“You’ll share mine with me.”

He said, peeling the tangerine and feeding it to Yume.

I was unbearably jealous.

But that was a common occurrence. Every time, it hurts my chest. I wished I could be Yumemi.

So, one day, I intentionally got a bad score on a test.

If they saw this, I thought, Father and Mother wouldn’t see me as different from them. They might pat my head like they did Yumemi. The thought made my heart race with anticipation, and a smile appeared on my face.

I held the test paper, marked with the lowest score, close to my chest like a treasure, and rushed home.

But…

My action only hurt Father deeply.

“What’s this supposed to be?”

Father tore the test paper to shreds and threw it to the floor.

That was the first and last time Father yelled at me. Mother, though passive, tried to calm him down. But she didn’t ask why I did such a thing. Yumemi just stared at me silently from the corner of the room.

When our eyes met, she looked away.

On the train.

I must have fallen asleep. I woke up drenched in a cold sweat. I had missed the station where I was supposed to get off to visit the hospital. Holding my head, I sighed. A throbbing pain pulsed from deep within my skull.

“Yumemi…”

I didn’t want to see her face…I couldn’t bear to see her now. So, I decided to go straight to my uncle’s house instead of stopping by the hospital.

When I got home, I took a shower. I dried my hair, changed clothes, and did my homework. After finishing my homework, I reviewed and prepared for the next day. If I was taken in because I was exceptional, I had to stay exceptional. I couldn’t afford to let my grades slip. Not that I thought it would happen, but still.

I was different from Father and Mother because I was exceptional.

“…Hah.”

I sighed.

How many times has it been today? Apparently, my decision on the train was wrong.

— I wonder how Yumemi is doing now.

I looked at the clock. Visiting hours at the hospital ended at eight. If I hurried, I might still make it.

“…I guess I have no choice.”

I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I left things like this. I grabbed my wallet and phone, slipped on my sneakers, and left the house.

“…Unlucky.”

It was raining when I got off the train. Not a drizzle, but a heavy downpour. I thought about buying an umbrella and looked toward the kiosk. A line had formed with others who had the same idea.

“……”

I turned away from the kiosk and started walking. For some reason, I felt I had to. The rain pelting my body felt like hands urging me to hurry.

I quickened my pace, eventually breaking into a run, heading to the hospital.

By the time I arrived at the hospital, I was soaked to the skin. A concerned receptionist brought me a towel. I thanked her, wiping my head and body. She offered to dry my jacket, so I handed it over. Even then, I felt anxious. I couldn’t run in the hospital, so I walked quickly to Yumemi’s room.

In front of the door, I took a deep breath, raising my hand to knock as usual.

But…

There was a loud thud from inside, and I froze momentarily in surprise before hurriedly opening the door.

“Yumemi!”

Yumemi had fallen from the bed and was lying face down.

“What are you doing!”

I rushed over and lifted her up. I felt the blood drain from my face. What if she hit her head badly? What if something happened to her too?

If I lost Yumemi too —

“O…ne…”

Yume looked at me. Her clouded right eye and dark left eye were brimming with tears.

“O…ne…chan…”

Yumemi called out to me with a voice that struggled to form words.

“What, Yumemi…”

Yume clung to my arm weakly, yet with all of her might.

Tears streamed down her face.

It was the first time I had seen Yume cry.

“D…on’t…go.”

Her red cheeks were scrunched up, looking more like a child than a middle schooler.

“D…on’t…leave!”

I understood immediately what she meant.

‘Don’t leave me.’

That day.

“……!”

I saw myself in her.

In the next moment, I hugged Yumemi tightly.

“I won’t leave you.”

I wrapped my arms around her frail shoulders and delicate back, holding her with all my strength.

“I won’t leave you!”

My voice trembled. My vision blurred. So, I closed my eyes. Now.

“I won’t leave you…”

I didn’t need anything but this warmth.

“Stay with me.”

Later, I would think about it.

At that moment, the one I embraced wasn’t Yumemi.

It was myself.