Re: Precious Friendships (Shizune BE, Sisterhood plot) [Ch67@13/1/23: Stonewoman]
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 10:44 pm
Chapter 68: A Pile of MEMOries
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Walking past the four classrooms and the Director’s office into the Commons after greeting the receptionist, I can’t help but once again take a glance across the accountant table.
Shizune has officially resigned from Tanpopo Education Center, so the Director hired another girl to take her place. Due to the car accident, Shizune was unable to finish her assigned work before resignation, so the replacement girl had to help with that.
Now that Shizune, who introduced me into this place, has gone, I wonder whether I should continue teaching here or not.
“Good morning, Hisao.”
“Good morning!”
Well, at least I still have Alvin and Iwanako with me.
It all started two weeks ago, when I received a phone call from Hideaki. He told me about Shizune’s car accident. I immediately rushed to the hospital (fortunately school hasn’t started yet), and found my ex-girlfriend in a coma. My first response was to spread the news to all of Shizune’s friends and affiliates, including Misha (through e-mail), Emi, Lilly, Hanako, Miki, Akemi, the Kasshoku Student Council, and the current Yamaku Student Council. In the afternoon, I was asked to leave Shizune’s ward along with Hideaki and his father because the doctor had to perform a detailed diagnosis. We were unable to see her since, but decided to remain in the area to wait for an update from the doctor.
Our wait continued into the evening, when Mutou and the Nurse arrived; they had special authority due to the Nurse’s identity. When they finished their visit, we were informed that despite breaking her arms, several fingers, and her right leg, she has no serious damage on other parts of her body. Unfortunately, visiting time was over, so we were not allowed to see her until tomorrow. We had to leave.
We were finally allowed to enter Shizune’s ward the next day, but she was still in a coma in the morning. She eventually woke up in the afternoon and met her family members. Through Hideaki’s words, she made it clear that I was unwelcome in her ward. Despite this, I still chose to stay by her side, because she is my only lover. Later in the afternoon, she was transferred to a private hospital nearby.
For the next few days, I essentially took the role as Shizune’s secretary, communicating with her friends and scheduling their visits. On Wednesday, first Sakura and the Kasshoku Student Council came in the morning and took her room key. Then Aoi and Keiko took the time to come here all the way from Yamaku, their effort lit Shizune up considerably. Akemi came in the afternoon along with a few Sign Language club members. In the evening, Alvin and Iwanako visited; they were holding hands, which implies they are now a couple after the Hong Kong trip.
Misha came back on Thursday, and she went to see her best friend alone after Emi and Rin visited. She confided to me that her ex-hallmate kept staring at her without any emotions. Sakura and her friends came afterwards to set up Shizune’s laptop so that she can now communicate with words and study her notes. A disappointed Misha returned to America later that day.
On Friday, Lilly came to see her cousin. She was accompanied by her parents and Hanako, who took the time to visit despite studying for her Entrance Exams. Akira already flew back to Scotland after the New Year party, and hence was unavailable. Then, on Saturday night, Miki and Suzu came; Miki just came back from a trip to her father in the countryside, so she was unable to come earlier.
On Sunday, the Hakamichis visited in the morning. Afterwards, Rin took the time to draw a portrait for Shizune while I helped with mixing the colors. To be honest, Rin’s drawing was fantastic. Shizune also approved of her work, and promised to provide her a certificate once she is released from the hospital.
With so many of her affiliates visiting her during their busy periods, Shizune has been visibly moved by their efforts. The sheer amount of “get well soon” cards displayed on top of the patient’s cabinet, and all the signatures on her plasters, are strong displays of the preciousness of her friendships. With her laptop available, she has been showing her gratitude to every visitor. With the notable exception of me and Misha.
The number of visitors dropped by quite a bit the following week, due to school resuming and everybody being busy with their own missions. Despite my lover’s resent towards me, I still visit her every day in the evening, help her with whatever she needs, and keep talking encouraging words to her when the Hakamichis are not around. I’m determined to regain her heart through my persistent efforts.
I retrieve my notes from the locker, and prepare to face today’s classes and my naughty students.
“Good morning, Nakai.”
“Hi there, Ohara.”
Eiko Ohara, the economics teacher. I’ll have lunch with her today along with Alvin and Iwanako. After the latter two become a couple, it’s now getting awkward for me to have lunch with them without Shizune’s presence. So Ohara becomes the lunch partner substitute.
Alvin and Iwanako, who started dating officially since the New Year, had breakfast together nearby before coming to work, so they now always come early. Alvin sent me a message two weeks ago, wishing me a happy New Year (although I was far from being happy), and offered me assistance with whatever task I was occupied with. During their visit to the hospital, I confided to them that Shizune and I are currently in an argument that is yet to resolve. They initially planned to meet us in Kasshoku (which would be Iwanako’s first visit to my university), but after the argument and the accident, their plan was spoiled.
I enter Room 210 for my first class of the weekend. There are still ten minutes left. Perfect timing for a last-minute preparation.
Last Saturday, after visiting Shizune, Miki and Suzu had dinner with me in a nearby restaurant; the last time I saw Miki was a month ago, when we acted as a couple in order to rob money from Haru. Right after sitting down, Miki immediately displayed her sharp observation skills by hitting me right at the weak spot: She knew something wasn’t right between me and my ex-girlfriend. Realizing that it’s pointless to hide the truth, I confided to the duo about Misha spoiling our top secret and Shizune’s subsequent reactions. “What a tough break” was how Miki responded. She encouraged me to try my best, but will have to move on if it’s apparent that no progress could be made. She also gave me a piece of suggestion that…
“Knock knock knock”
The heavy knocks on the door is definitely not from that prankster. Definitely not.
It looks like my preparation time has been cut short. It’s Makoto trio time!
***********************
“So, Steamed Fish again, Iwa-chan?”
“Yup! You know me well!”
“How about you, Hisao?”
“Er… Fried Vermicelli in Singaporean Style, please.”
“And you, Eiko?”
“Let me see… Steamed diced pork with preserved vegetables.”
“Good. I’ll get the waiter.”
As Alvin calls for the waiter, Iwanako and I proceed to wash our utensils with the boiled water given. This is a common practice in Hong Kong, and, after the trip last month, we’ve gotten used to the habit already. Ohara, who is going on her own trip to Hong Kong with her family later, follows our practice.
“So, are you all visiting Hakamichi in the evening?”
“Yes, but we’ll only stay briefly. Iwa-chan has events with her family tonight.”
“I see. Is she getting better?”
Alvin and his girlfriend look at me in unison. Of course. Despite being in an argument, I’m still the one who visit her every day. And Ohara doesn’t know our story.
“Yeah. Her arms seem to be healing faster that her leg. With a bit of luck, the plasters covering her arms could be removed in a couple of weeks.”
“That’s awesome! Are you visiting her every day?”
“Pretty much yes. On weekdays, I come to Tokyo after school.”
“So, how about your private tutorials and librarian duties?”
“Yeah, about that, I’ve suspended all my after-school activities in favor of Shizune and Student Council activities. I also quit the JUSC team, though I might re-join if Shizune is released.”
“Wow. That’s a huge sacrifice.”
Whether my actions should be called “sacrifice” or “stupidity” remains disputable until the revelation of the final result.
“It’s alright. I’m determined to fight together with her.”
“Hey Hisao, I’ve an idea. Do you think you can introduce me to the Student Council, so that I can be a volunteer? I’ve always wanted to join the Student Council, but I don’t want to be an official executive member. I hate the elections, meetings, and the like.”
“Hey! That’s the first time I’ve heard you showing interest in the Student Council!”
“C’mon, Iwa-chan! Can’t I have a dream of my own?”
“That would be great, dear. Shizune must be thrilled to get help from new members!”
“Sure, Alvin. I’ll ask her about it tonight.”
Although I’ll probably ask Sakura instead.
“So, Eiko, when are you leaving for Hong Kong?”
“Next week. I’m skipping next week’s tutorials. Tanaka will be substituting.”
“Ah! For the Chinese New Year, huh.”
“That’s right! A distant relative of mine lives there. Maybe I can pick up a few red packets from them!”
“Red packets? What are you talking about?”
“You don’t know, Hisao? You put money into them and give them to others. Just like the otoshi-dama in Japan. The tradition comes from China.”
“Ah! I see!”
“The practice is a bit different between Hong Kong and mainland China. In mainland China, parents only give red packets to their children, but the amount is usually quite large, usually several hundreds of Chinese dollars. In Hong Kong, married couples give red packets to every unmarried members of the family, even if they are grown-ups. In the working environment, people also distribute red packets to unmarried colleagues and subordinates. In some residential buildings, you’re supposed to give red packets to the reception guards; if you don’t do that, they’ll probably treat you poorly for the rest of the year.”
“Wow! So if you’re married, you’ll need to spend a lot of money?”
“Sort of, but usually for non-family members the nominal amount is just 20 dollars. And if you have a couple of kids, they’re going to earn you back quite a bit from your relatives. Take my family as an example. My dad is a big family of twelve siblings. Some of my uncles and aunts are quite “spendy” (I created that word); they spend money like water. When I was a child, every year my cousins and I received 100-dollar red packets from each of my uncles and aunts. We were able to acquire large amounts of cash, usually several thousands of Hong Kong dollars. It soon became apparent that giving us so much money wasn’t such a smart idea, as my cousins would simply waste all of them on food and toys instead of saving them.”
“Wow! That was quite a sum of money for kids!”
“True. There was another big problem: The uncles and aunts might put in different amounts of money into their red packets based on their financial situation over the year. Usually red packets aren’t named, so unless you can remember the decorations on the packet, you’ll unavoidably mix them up after the gathering is over. Now, in Chinese culture, it’s a customary practice to ‘return the favor’. Whatever amount of money your child has received, you should return the same amount to the other party. However, in order to do exactly that, you need to somehow perceive the value inside each packet. But you’re also not expected to open red packets in front of others. So, usually my mom would ask me to hand her my red packets ‘to keep it for me’, but then she would excuse herself in the restroom to secretly look at the content in order to return the packets with the right amount of money. Very complicated.”
“Isn’t that just trading money then?”
“Yup, that’s Chinese culture for you, Eiko. After all, red packets are just a gesture of good fortune. Anyway, eventually all the family members agreed to standardize all the red packets to 20 dollars each. That finally solved all the problems, but at the expense of the kids, because their income is now much lower.”
“That’s funny. So, what do people do besides distributing red packets?”
“In Hong Kong? There are different ways to spend your Chinese New Year, but typically the whole family gathers together for a dinner on New Year eve. On the next day, we visit the homes of our relatives one by one. The adults usually chat and eat, maybe play some mahjong or poker, while the children play whatever games they have. Some people may elect to visit the shopping mall to watch the New Year decorations. In my case, several cousins of mine are Japanese, and they only came back during the Chinese New Year holiday. They would bring back some video games or trading cards from Japan to play with me. We usually stayed in our grandmother’s home for the night, playing video games until deep into the midnight while the adults played mahjong in the living room.”
“That sounds fun!”
“But several years ago, my grandmother passed away. As my grandfather passed away much earlier, there was no longer an elderly in the family. You know, once the grandparents are not around, the hinging factor of the family is gone. And soon after, we don’t go to gatherings as frequently.”
“Why? I don’t understand.”
“One of the main points of a family gathering is for all the uncles and aunts to visit their parents after they have established a new family. With their parents gone, there’s no longer a strong incentive to attend family gatherings.”
“I see. But still, isn’t it great to be able to see your relatives once in a while?”
“Ideally it is. But nowadays there are so many more ways to spend your Chinese New Year holiday. You can go on a family trip, like what Eiko’s doing. Or a trip with friends. Some people elect to stay at home playing video games in order to take a break from busy work. On the other hand, gatherings without an elderly might turn into ugly accidents.”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Brothers and sisters arguing over heritage money. Or borrowing and returning money.”
“It’s all about money, huh. The adult world is scary indeed!”
“That’s why maybe it’s best to avoid these meetings, unless you have a deep friendship with your relatives.”
“By the way, Alvin, aren’t you an adult already?”
“You mean I’m 20? Yes. But in Hong Kong I was already an adult when I turned 18. I did join the adult ceremony last year though.”
“And how about you, Nakai?”
“I’ll turn 20 this April. I think Iwanako is turning adult too, right?”
“That’s right! I’m so excited to become an adult!”
“Steamed Fish. Fried Vermicelli in Singaporean Style. Steamed diced pork with preserved vegetables. Fried rice in Fujian style. Please enjoy.”
“Thank you.”
“They smell so nice! No wonder you three always have lunch here.”
“I hope Chinese cuisine suits you.”
“Uh huh. Definitely hope so, or else I’m gonna suffer throughout my trip. Let me try… Mmm!! Nice diced pork!”
“Well, even if you’re not used to Chinese food, you can still go to a Japanese restaurant in Hong Kong. You can go to Yoshinoya at the very least.”
“Nah, I’m fine.”
“Alvin, don’t do that again, okay?”
“Do what… Oh!! Nah, I’m good, I’m good. I won’t mishandle my chopsticks again.”
“Great! Hey, you look a bit down, Hisao. Do you not like your food?”
Iwanako is such a caring girl. Congratulate Alvin for getting this girlfriend.
Since Shizune’s accident, Iwanako has been trying to cheer me up as much as possible. Unfortunately, given the situation, it’s not easy to wipe all the negative feelings away. I’ve been spending every bit of my positive energy on Shizune, and I always get negative energy back. There’s obviously not much happiness left for me. My parents also notice my swinging mood. I haven’t told them about everything, but they must have gotten somewhat suspicious. Perhaps Miki was right: It’s time to move on.
But I’ll hold on at least until the end of the month.
“The food is fine. I’m just tired after Mitsugu and everything.”
“Aren’t you thinking about Hakamichi?”
“If I say I’m not, I would be lying. But you guys are right. I shouldn’t be too worried about her. I’ve got to take care of myself first.”
“That’s the spirit, Hisao. How’s the food?”
“Great, as always.”
While my three colleagues continue talking about Hong Kong, I elect to consume my food in relative silence, putting my thought on the evening trip.
Several times I’ve thought about giving up, but I feel like this is the responsibility I need to take. At least until my conscience feels better.
Is there anything I can do to make progress?
***********************
“Twelfth floor. Please mind the doors.”
The strong smell of sterilized equipment in the hospital always reminds me of my own experience. Having stayed in a hospital for several months due to my disability, I naturally hate repeatedly entering and exiting this life-changing building of mine. But, for Shizune’s sake, I need to put down my own feelings.
Love is sacrifice. I experience this statement first-hand in these couple of weeks.
When the three of us step into Shizune’s ward, her mother comes over to greet us; it looks like she just fed her daughter dinner. The energetic girl in our group reveals her goods from behind her back, presenting a basket with her lone hand.
“Shizune! Bought you fruit!”
Still unable to move around, my ex-girlfriend smiles to greet our Tokyo-based ex-classmates while continuing to neglect my existence.
How can she be this stubborn!
“Lemme see your computer. Y’know, even if you could use your fingers, we can’t interpret sign language anyway.”
The host of the ward slowly moves the computer table to the side with her head, then prepares to type in something. The two friends of mine reach over to Shizune’s bed so that they can communicate.
It’s of my best interest not to join their party.
After work was over, my lovebird colleagues briefly visited Shizune while I had dinner with Miki and Suzu. It’s a great way for me to relax and chat relatively freely, now that they already know my story with Shizune. I remember my first meeting with Miki on the Yamaku trackfield: Didn’t know what to do after my first fallout with Shizune, a helpless me sought the one-handed girl for help. Miki gave off a different vibe from the other girls; talking to her felt more like talking to a guy than a woman. Since then, we’ve been through so many events. She still gives off a different vibe from other girls, and talking to her is still enjoyable. Yet there’s a noticeable difference from a couple of years ago: She is now a maturing woman. All the events that occurred, her sales experience in the boutique, and living in the big city all contributed to her personality change. I find myself appreciating her more than ever.
I can’t help but wonder, when she told me to move on if it’s clear that my effort is going to be futile, is she implying something else.
From my bag I carefully take out a piece of memo. I approach Shizune’s patient desk. On top of it are all sorts of cards sent by her friends, and among them, there’s a bookstand with a pile of memos clipped onto it. I meticulously remove the clip, add my piece of memo onto the pile, then clip the whole pile back onto the bookstand.
This is Miki’s suggestion. She told me to write Shizune a memory of the two of us every day, and clip all the memos on the bookstand so that she can read. Maybe she will change her mind after reading all these.
And that’s why we have a pile of MEMOries on the desk.
I really hope Shizune will read these memos. But if she doesn’t, then… maybe we can start thinking about Miki.
“Mr. Nakai, may I have a word with you?”
I forgot there’s another person in the room.
“Definitely, Mrs. Hakamichi.”
“I believe it is more appropriate to have the discussion outside of the ward.”
“Yes, please.”
Mrs. Hakamichi leads me out of Shizune’s sight and invites me to sit down next to her in the waiting area for our first ever private discussion. The woman accompanying me could become my mother-in-law or little more than a stranger, depending on how the proceedings go.
“First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to you on behalf of my daughter. I happen to know a little bit between you and my daughter, and I would like to thank you for taking care of my girl, whether in school or in the hospital. She is most fortunate to have such an amiable friend.”
Formal greeting, formal reply.
“Thank you. I am most grateful for having this friend of mine who always encourages me to work hard to achieve my dreams. She is a precious friend.”
“I do not know how to say about my daughter, but I feel the need to apologize to you on her behalf. I understand that you two are probably in an argument that is yet to be resolved, but her neglecting behavior is downright unacceptable. I briefly talked to her about this, but she has been avoiding the topic so far.”
“I am deeply sorry for all the trouble. I am fully responsible for what occurred between the two of us.”
“Since the two of you are going to become adults in a few months, it is probably of everybody’s best interest for me to step aside and leave the resolution to the two of you. That said, the reason I am having this discussion with you is that I would like to tell you something that you may find useful.”
“Yes, madam.”
“When I was with her this afternoon, she asked me to flip the pages of the memos for her.”
Really? That changes things a lot.
“Is that true? I never expected that.”
“This daughter of mine… She is certainly stubborn, like her father. There is very little room for argument against that. But she definitely is not heartless. She still remembers you, and I am certain she has taken all you have done to her into account. If you find her response towards you particularly dejecting, perhaps the news I just informed you could be a sign of encouragement.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hakamichi. This is certainly an encouraging news.”
My potential mother-in-law looks into distance towards her daughter’s ward.
“Time is the best healer. Perhaps we should let time do the job. This probably applies to me as well.”
I once heard Shizune talk about her parents’ situation. Despite being curious about Mrs. Hakamichi and her husband (or ex-husband), I dare not ask anything. If I indeed become her son-in-law, I’ll eventually get to know everything; if Shizune and I decide to part ways, her family matters are no business of mine. Unless I marry Lilly, which is not too probable as things stand.
“Yes, madam.”
With nothing else to add, the two of us sit outside the ward in silence, waiting for the three girls inside to finish their chat. As visitors leave one by one, the hospital soon gets quiet. All we can hear are the nurses talking to each other. When technical terms like ECG come into my ears, I can’t help but once again recall my own stay in the hospital, the several months of hell that re-defined my life.
I hate hospitals. I’m only here because I sacrifice for love.
It’s already been two years since my condition activated during that fateful accident in the snowfield, yet the topic of arrhythmia is still sensitive to me. I never told my schoolmates about my disability except my ex-Yamaku schoolmates and Alvin. If Mrs. Hakamichi asks me about my condition, I don’t know how I should respond.
“Mr. Nakai, there is something else I would like to discuss with you, but I am not exactly sure how to deliver it.”
There it is! Is she bringing up my condition?
When Shizune and I renewed our friendship after our first argument, she told me she would reconsider our status due to the revelation of my heart condition. I won’t be surprised if her mother follows the same mindset.
“From what I have seen so far, you have come to visit my daughter every day since her accident. You are indeed a responsible friend of hers.”
She pauses. I can see where this is going. She’s going to ask me to part ways with Shizune so that she can introduce a proper marriage for her daughter.
“You have paid extraordinary amount of effort for this. Based on what I have heard from my two children, you were engaged in various after-school activities before the accident in order to assist your family’s finance. In order to come to the hospital every evening, you must have forfeited these opportunities just to meet my quick-tempered daughter.”
Never expected her to deliver a speech like this, although from this point she could still head towards the direction I anticipated.
So it turns out that the silence just now wasn’t because she had nothing else to say, but because she wasn’t sure how to phrase it.
“In view of this, I believe it is appropriate for me, on behalf of the Hakamichi family, to offer a certain amount of compensation…”
What? Now this comes from absolutely nowhere!
I immediately stand up and hurry to reject.
“Huh! No, no…”
She gets up along with me, trying to insist her offer.
“It is alright. You thoroughly deserve it. But since we never really talked to each other, I am unsure about the form of compensation…”
“Mrs. Hakamichi, I… Well, I do not come for money. It is true that the financial status of my family does leave a lot to be desired, but we are not in dire straits… I like Shizune, this is the reason I come. Sorry, Mrs. Hakamichi, I do not know what I am saying, but I cannot afford to accept your offer…”
“Mr. Nakai, there is no need to be courteous. Just as you willfully visit my daughter, I am also giving you this offer of my own free will. Please do accept.”
It seems like she is insisting to the end, and it’s probably impolite for me to reject again. But when I get myself ready to accept the gift she’s offering, I think twice.
This gift could mean something else.
The more I think of it, the more skeptical I become.
There is something I need to make sure before I can accept. This is going to be a bold challenge, maybe even rude, but I cannot be a coward in this situation.
“Mrs. Hakamichi, uhm… First of all, I am deeply grateful for your kind offer. However, there is something I would like to ask about this offer.”
My lover’s mother raises an eyebrow. Is she anticipating my challenge, or is she not expecting my question?
“And that is?”
“I would like to ask if there are any strings attached to this offer.”
Or, are you going to bribe me some money in exchange for leaving her daughter alone?
“Uh…”
The woman with short dark blue hair, dark blue eyes, and a pointed face pauses, ponders briefly, then claps her hands together in enlightenment.
“Ah! Strings attached! I get it! That makes so much sense, Mr. Nakai. It looks like my daughter has her mindset rubbed onto you! Of course! How can I expect less from my daughter’s close friend?”
I await as she regains her composure.
“Alright, Mr. Nakai. Let us make things clear. Both my h-, ahem, daughter’s father and I know how much your presence has positively affected my daughter. Even though Mr. Hakamichi has been verbally regarding you as a delinquent, I am confident that he appreciates your effort. Therefore, you are always welcome in the Hakamichi family, if my daughter allows. Does that answer your question, Mr. Nakai?”
Wow, that is a perfect demonstration of seeing right through my loaded question. Shizune’s mother is certainly no slouch.
Welcome to the adult world, Hisao. You will be joining the party in a few months.
“Yes, madam. Thank you for your… acceptance. That said, I am unsure whether to take your offer now, because I just received another precious offer from you.”
My potential family member giggles, which does well to soften the atmosphere.
“Haha… Nicely said, Mr. Nakai. Alright then. I know what offer I am providing. I will help you. As much as possible.”
“You mean…”
The middle-aged woman gives me a playful wink.
“No offer is better than my precious beautiful daughter, am I right?”
“You surely are proud of your daughter.”
“Why not? I am not selling her low.”
Come to think of it, if I don’t get myself a decent job after graduation, how am I supposed to blend myself into the famous Hakamichi family, even if I get accepted?
“Well… is a JUSC champion going to be enough?”
The woman who looks so much alike her daughter giggles again.
“Haha… Well said, Mr. Nakai. No worries. That topic will be for another day anyway. Now the priority goes to my daughter.”
Let’s grab the chance to please her even more.
“And her recovery.”
“Wow! Really well said! Don’t you really care for my daughter? How can I not help you out? Tell you what? I am asking her brother for help too.”
That’s even better. Maybe there’s hope after all.
When you’re in trouble, it’s not a shame to ask your friends for help. This is one of the major lessons I’ve learned in the two years after the hospital stay. Now I discover that the term “friends” is not necessarily limited by age.
“I am most grateful for the offer.”
“There is no guarantee of success, but I am doing what I think is the best for all of us. Please do not disappoint, Mr. Nakai.”
It appears to me that if I do get married with Shizune, I’ll be able to maintain a decent relationship with at least one of her parents. As for the other… well, I’ll think about it when I do get there.
“Yes, madam. I will try my best.”
“Sup? Oh, did I interfere? S’ry.”
“No, Miki. You’re done?”
“Almost. I’m bringing Suzu out ‘cause I need some private time with the President.”
This explosive statement is so shocking even Mrs. Hakamichi flinches.
“What? You… private time with… Shizune?”
“Yup. Girl talk. Take care of Suzu, will ya?”
“Uh… uh… okay…”
“See ya!”
My potential mother-in-law, Suzu, and I all share a puzzled look, none of us having the slightest idea what’s going on.
“Suzu, what happened?”
The sleepy girl responds with a shrug.
“No clue.”
There’s nothing we can do but wait outside the ward.
I have a feeling things are getting even more complicated from now on. But at least I think I’ll continue what I’m doing until Shizune is released from the hospital: A memo a day, and hope that my friends can turn the tide for me.
Chapter 69: Over the Hurdles
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Walking past the four classrooms and the Director’s office into the Commons after greeting the receptionist, I can’t help but once again take a glance across the accountant table.
Shizune has officially resigned from Tanpopo Education Center, so the Director hired another girl to take her place. Due to the car accident, Shizune was unable to finish her assigned work before resignation, so the replacement girl had to help with that.
Now that Shizune, who introduced me into this place, has gone, I wonder whether I should continue teaching here or not.
“Good morning, Hisao.”
“Good morning!”
Well, at least I still have Alvin and Iwanako with me.
It all started two weeks ago, when I received a phone call from Hideaki. He told me about Shizune’s car accident. I immediately rushed to the hospital (fortunately school hasn’t started yet), and found my ex-girlfriend in a coma. My first response was to spread the news to all of Shizune’s friends and affiliates, including Misha (through e-mail), Emi, Lilly, Hanako, Miki, Akemi, the Kasshoku Student Council, and the current Yamaku Student Council. In the afternoon, I was asked to leave Shizune’s ward along with Hideaki and his father because the doctor had to perform a detailed diagnosis. We were unable to see her since, but decided to remain in the area to wait for an update from the doctor.
Our wait continued into the evening, when Mutou and the Nurse arrived; they had special authority due to the Nurse’s identity. When they finished their visit, we were informed that despite breaking her arms, several fingers, and her right leg, she has no serious damage on other parts of her body. Unfortunately, visiting time was over, so we were not allowed to see her until tomorrow. We had to leave.
We were finally allowed to enter Shizune’s ward the next day, but she was still in a coma in the morning. She eventually woke up in the afternoon and met her family members. Through Hideaki’s words, she made it clear that I was unwelcome in her ward. Despite this, I still chose to stay by her side, because she is my only lover. Later in the afternoon, she was transferred to a private hospital nearby.
For the next few days, I essentially took the role as Shizune’s secretary, communicating with her friends and scheduling their visits. On Wednesday, first Sakura and the Kasshoku Student Council came in the morning and took her room key. Then Aoi and Keiko took the time to come here all the way from Yamaku, their effort lit Shizune up considerably. Akemi came in the afternoon along with a few Sign Language club members. In the evening, Alvin and Iwanako visited; they were holding hands, which implies they are now a couple after the Hong Kong trip.
Misha came back on Thursday, and she went to see her best friend alone after Emi and Rin visited. She confided to me that her ex-hallmate kept staring at her without any emotions. Sakura and her friends came afterwards to set up Shizune’s laptop so that she can now communicate with words and study her notes. A disappointed Misha returned to America later that day.
On Friday, Lilly came to see her cousin. She was accompanied by her parents and Hanako, who took the time to visit despite studying for her Entrance Exams. Akira already flew back to Scotland after the New Year party, and hence was unavailable. Then, on Saturday night, Miki and Suzu came; Miki just came back from a trip to her father in the countryside, so she was unable to come earlier.
On Sunday, the Hakamichis visited in the morning. Afterwards, Rin took the time to draw a portrait for Shizune while I helped with mixing the colors. To be honest, Rin’s drawing was fantastic. Shizune also approved of her work, and promised to provide her a certificate once she is released from the hospital.
With so many of her affiliates visiting her during their busy periods, Shizune has been visibly moved by their efforts. The sheer amount of “get well soon” cards displayed on top of the patient’s cabinet, and all the signatures on her plasters, are strong displays of the preciousness of her friendships. With her laptop available, she has been showing her gratitude to every visitor. With the notable exception of me and Misha.
The number of visitors dropped by quite a bit the following week, due to school resuming and everybody being busy with their own missions. Despite my lover’s resent towards me, I still visit her every day in the evening, help her with whatever she needs, and keep talking encouraging words to her when the Hakamichis are not around. I’m determined to regain her heart through my persistent efforts.
I retrieve my notes from the locker, and prepare to face today’s classes and my naughty students.
“Good morning, Nakai.”
“Hi there, Ohara.”
Eiko Ohara, the economics teacher. I’ll have lunch with her today along with Alvin and Iwanako. After the latter two become a couple, it’s now getting awkward for me to have lunch with them without Shizune’s presence. So Ohara becomes the lunch partner substitute.
Alvin and Iwanako, who started dating officially since the New Year, had breakfast together nearby before coming to work, so they now always come early. Alvin sent me a message two weeks ago, wishing me a happy New Year (although I was far from being happy), and offered me assistance with whatever task I was occupied with. During their visit to the hospital, I confided to them that Shizune and I are currently in an argument that is yet to resolve. They initially planned to meet us in Kasshoku (which would be Iwanako’s first visit to my university), but after the argument and the accident, their plan was spoiled.
I enter Room 210 for my first class of the weekend. There are still ten minutes left. Perfect timing for a last-minute preparation.
Last Saturday, after visiting Shizune, Miki and Suzu had dinner with me in a nearby restaurant; the last time I saw Miki was a month ago, when we acted as a couple in order to rob money from Haru. Right after sitting down, Miki immediately displayed her sharp observation skills by hitting me right at the weak spot: She knew something wasn’t right between me and my ex-girlfriend. Realizing that it’s pointless to hide the truth, I confided to the duo about Misha spoiling our top secret and Shizune’s subsequent reactions. “What a tough break” was how Miki responded. She encouraged me to try my best, but will have to move on if it’s apparent that no progress could be made. She also gave me a piece of suggestion that…
“Knock knock knock”
The heavy knocks on the door is definitely not from that prankster. Definitely not.
It looks like my preparation time has been cut short. It’s Makoto trio time!
***********************
“So, Steamed Fish again, Iwa-chan?”
“Yup! You know me well!”
“How about you, Hisao?”
“Er… Fried Vermicelli in Singaporean Style, please.”
“And you, Eiko?”
“Let me see… Steamed diced pork with preserved vegetables.”
“Good. I’ll get the waiter.”
As Alvin calls for the waiter, Iwanako and I proceed to wash our utensils with the boiled water given. This is a common practice in Hong Kong, and, after the trip last month, we’ve gotten used to the habit already. Ohara, who is going on her own trip to Hong Kong with her family later, follows our practice.
“So, are you all visiting Hakamichi in the evening?”
“Yes, but we’ll only stay briefly. Iwa-chan has events with her family tonight.”
“I see. Is she getting better?”
Alvin and his girlfriend look at me in unison. Of course. Despite being in an argument, I’m still the one who visit her every day. And Ohara doesn’t know our story.
“Yeah. Her arms seem to be healing faster that her leg. With a bit of luck, the plasters covering her arms could be removed in a couple of weeks.”
“That’s awesome! Are you visiting her every day?”
“Pretty much yes. On weekdays, I come to Tokyo after school.”
“So, how about your private tutorials and librarian duties?”
“Yeah, about that, I’ve suspended all my after-school activities in favor of Shizune and Student Council activities. I also quit the JUSC team, though I might re-join if Shizune is released.”
“Wow. That’s a huge sacrifice.”
Whether my actions should be called “sacrifice” or “stupidity” remains disputable until the revelation of the final result.
“It’s alright. I’m determined to fight together with her.”
“Hey Hisao, I’ve an idea. Do you think you can introduce me to the Student Council, so that I can be a volunteer? I’ve always wanted to join the Student Council, but I don’t want to be an official executive member. I hate the elections, meetings, and the like.”
“Hey! That’s the first time I’ve heard you showing interest in the Student Council!”
“C’mon, Iwa-chan! Can’t I have a dream of my own?”
“That would be great, dear. Shizune must be thrilled to get help from new members!”
“Sure, Alvin. I’ll ask her about it tonight.”
Although I’ll probably ask Sakura instead.
“So, Eiko, when are you leaving for Hong Kong?”
“Next week. I’m skipping next week’s tutorials. Tanaka will be substituting.”
“Ah! For the Chinese New Year, huh.”
“That’s right! A distant relative of mine lives there. Maybe I can pick up a few red packets from them!”
“Red packets? What are you talking about?”
“You don’t know, Hisao? You put money into them and give them to others. Just like the otoshi-dama in Japan. The tradition comes from China.”
“Ah! I see!”
“The practice is a bit different between Hong Kong and mainland China. In mainland China, parents only give red packets to their children, but the amount is usually quite large, usually several hundreds of Chinese dollars. In Hong Kong, married couples give red packets to every unmarried members of the family, even if they are grown-ups. In the working environment, people also distribute red packets to unmarried colleagues and subordinates. In some residential buildings, you’re supposed to give red packets to the reception guards; if you don’t do that, they’ll probably treat you poorly for the rest of the year.”
“Wow! So if you’re married, you’ll need to spend a lot of money?”
“Sort of, but usually for non-family members the nominal amount is just 20 dollars. And if you have a couple of kids, they’re going to earn you back quite a bit from your relatives. Take my family as an example. My dad is a big family of twelve siblings. Some of my uncles and aunts are quite “spendy” (I created that word); they spend money like water. When I was a child, every year my cousins and I received 100-dollar red packets from each of my uncles and aunts. We were able to acquire large amounts of cash, usually several thousands of Hong Kong dollars. It soon became apparent that giving us so much money wasn’t such a smart idea, as my cousins would simply waste all of them on food and toys instead of saving them.”
“Wow! That was quite a sum of money for kids!”
“True. There was another big problem: The uncles and aunts might put in different amounts of money into their red packets based on their financial situation over the year. Usually red packets aren’t named, so unless you can remember the decorations on the packet, you’ll unavoidably mix them up after the gathering is over. Now, in Chinese culture, it’s a customary practice to ‘return the favor’. Whatever amount of money your child has received, you should return the same amount to the other party. However, in order to do exactly that, you need to somehow perceive the value inside each packet. But you’re also not expected to open red packets in front of others. So, usually my mom would ask me to hand her my red packets ‘to keep it for me’, but then she would excuse herself in the restroom to secretly look at the content in order to return the packets with the right amount of money. Very complicated.”
“Isn’t that just trading money then?”
“Yup, that’s Chinese culture for you, Eiko. After all, red packets are just a gesture of good fortune. Anyway, eventually all the family members agreed to standardize all the red packets to 20 dollars each. That finally solved all the problems, but at the expense of the kids, because their income is now much lower.”
“That’s funny. So, what do people do besides distributing red packets?”
“In Hong Kong? There are different ways to spend your Chinese New Year, but typically the whole family gathers together for a dinner on New Year eve. On the next day, we visit the homes of our relatives one by one. The adults usually chat and eat, maybe play some mahjong or poker, while the children play whatever games they have. Some people may elect to visit the shopping mall to watch the New Year decorations. In my case, several cousins of mine are Japanese, and they only came back during the Chinese New Year holiday. They would bring back some video games or trading cards from Japan to play with me. We usually stayed in our grandmother’s home for the night, playing video games until deep into the midnight while the adults played mahjong in the living room.”
“That sounds fun!”
“But several years ago, my grandmother passed away. As my grandfather passed away much earlier, there was no longer an elderly in the family. You know, once the grandparents are not around, the hinging factor of the family is gone. And soon after, we don’t go to gatherings as frequently.”
“Why? I don’t understand.”
“One of the main points of a family gathering is for all the uncles and aunts to visit their parents after they have established a new family. With their parents gone, there’s no longer a strong incentive to attend family gatherings.”
“I see. But still, isn’t it great to be able to see your relatives once in a while?”
“Ideally it is. But nowadays there are so many more ways to spend your Chinese New Year holiday. You can go on a family trip, like what Eiko’s doing. Or a trip with friends. Some people elect to stay at home playing video games in order to take a break from busy work. On the other hand, gatherings without an elderly might turn into ugly accidents.”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Brothers and sisters arguing over heritage money. Or borrowing and returning money.”
“It’s all about money, huh. The adult world is scary indeed!”
“That’s why maybe it’s best to avoid these meetings, unless you have a deep friendship with your relatives.”
“By the way, Alvin, aren’t you an adult already?”
“You mean I’m 20? Yes. But in Hong Kong I was already an adult when I turned 18. I did join the adult ceremony last year though.”
“And how about you, Nakai?”
“I’ll turn 20 this April. I think Iwanako is turning adult too, right?”
“That’s right! I’m so excited to become an adult!”
“Steamed Fish. Fried Vermicelli in Singaporean Style. Steamed diced pork with preserved vegetables. Fried rice in Fujian style. Please enjoy.”
“Thank you.”
“They smell so nice! No wonder you three always have lunch here.”
“I hope Chinese cuisine suits you.”
“Uh huh. Definitely hope so, or else I’m gonna suffer throughout my trip. Let me try… Mmm!! Nice diced pork!”
“Well, even if you’re not used to Chinese food, you can still go to a Japanese restaurant in Hong Kong. You can go to Yoshinoya at the very least.”
“Nah, I’m fine.”
“Alvin, don’t do that again, okay?”
“Do what… Oh!! Nah, I’m good, I’m good. I won’t mishandle my chopsticks again.”
“Great! Hey, you look a bit down, Hisao. Do you not like your food?”
Iwanako is such a caring girl. Congratulate Alvin for getting this girlfriend.
Since Shizune’s accident, Iwanako has been trying to cheer me up as much as possible. Unfortunately, given the situation, it’s not easy to wipe all the negative feelings away. I’ve been spending every bit of my positive energy on Shizune, and I always get negative energy back. There’s obviously not much happiness left for me. My parents also notice my swinging mood. I haven’t told them about everything, but they must have gotten somewhat suspicious. Perhaps Miki was right: It’s time to move on.
But I’ll hold on at least until the end of the month.
“The food is fine. I’m just tired after Mitsugu and everything.”
“Aren’t you thinking about Hakamichi?”
“If I say I’m not, I would be lying. But you guys are right. I shouldn’t be too worried about her. I’ve got to take care of myself first.”
“That’s the spirit, Hisao. How’s the food?”
“Great, as always.”
While my three colleagues continue talking about Hong Kong, I elect to consume my food in relative silence, putting my thought on the evening trip.
Several times I’ve thought about giving up, but I feel like this is the responsibility I need to take. At least until my conscience feels better.
Is there anything I can do to make progress?
***********************
“Twelfth floor. Please mind the doors.”
The strong smell of sterilized equipment in the hospital always reminds me of my own experience. Having stayed in a hospital for several months due to my disability, I naturally hate repeatedly entering and exiting this life-changing building of mine. But, for Shizune’s sake, I need to put down my own feelings.
Love is sacrifice. I experience this statement first-hand in these couple of weeks.
When the three of us step into Shizune’s ward, her mother comes over to greet us; it looks like she just fed her daughter dinner. The energetic girl in our group reveals her goods from behind her back, presenting a basket with her lone hand.
“Shizune! Bought you fruit!”
Still unable to move around, my ex-girlfriend smiles to greet our Tokyo-based ex-classmates while continuing to neglect my existence.
How can she be this stubborn!
“Lemme see your computer. Y’know, even if you could use your fingers, we can’t interpret sign language anyway.”
The host of the ward slowly moves the computer table to the side with her head, then prepares to type in something. The two friends of mine reach over to Shizune’s bed so that they can communicate.
It’s of my best interest not to join their party.
After work was over, my lovebird colleagues briefly visited Shizune while I had dinner with Miki and Suzu. It’s a great way for me to relax and chat relatively freely, now that they already know my story with Shizune. I remember my first meeting with Miki on the Yamaku trackfield: Didn’t know what to do after my first fallout with Shizune, a helpless me sought the one-handed girl for help. Miki gave off a different vibe from the other girls; talking to her felt more like talking to a guy than a woman. Since then, we’ve been through so many events. She still gives off a different vibe from other girls, and talking to her is still enjoyable. Yet there’s a noticeable difference from a couple of years ago: She is now a maturing woman. All the events that occurred, her sales experience in the boutique, and living in the big city all contributed to her personality change. I find myself appreciating her more than ever.
I can’t help but wonder, when she told me to move on if it’s clear that my effort is going to be futile, is she implying something else.
From my bag I carefully take out a piece of memo. I approach Shizune’s patient desk. On top of it are all sorts of cards sent by her friends, and among them, there’s a bookstand with a pile of memos clipped onto it. I meticulously remove the clip, add my piece of memo onto the pile, then clip the whole pile back onto the bookstand.
This is Miki’s suggestion. She told me to write Shizune a memory of the two of us every day, and clip all the memos on the bookstand so that she can read. Maybe she will change her mind after reading all these.
And that’s why we have a pile of MEMOries on the desk.
I really hope Shizune will read these memos. But if she doesn’t, then… maybe we can start thinking about Miki.
“Mr. Nakai, may I have a word with you?”
I forgot there’s another person in the room.
“Definitely, Mrs. Hakamichi.”
“I believe it is more appropriate to have the discussion outside of the ward.”
“Yes, please.”
Mrs. Hakamichi leads me out of Shizune’s sight and invites me to sit down next to her in the waiting area for our first ever private discussion. The woman accompanying me could become my mother-in-law or little more than a stranger, depending on how the proceedings go.
“First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to you on behalf of my daughter. I happen to know a little bit between you and my daughter, and I would like to thank you for taking care of my girl, whether in school or in the hospital. She is most fortunate to have such an amiable friend.”
Formal greeting, formal reply.
“Thank you. I am most grateful for having this friend of mine who always encourages me to work hard to achieve my dreams. She is a precious friend.”
“I do not know how to say about my daughter, but I feel the need to apologize to you on her behalf. I understand that you two are probably in an argument that is yet to be resolved, but her neglecting behavior is downright unacceptable. I briefly talked to her about this, but she has been avoiding the topic so far.”
“I am deeply sorry for all the trouble. I am fully responsible for what occurred between the two of us.”
“Since the two of you are going to become adults in a few months, it is probably of everybody’s best interest for me to step aside and leave the resolution to the two of you. That said, the reason I am having this discussion with you is that I would like to tell you something that you may find useful.”
“Yes, madam.”
“When I was with her this afternoon, she asked me to flip the pages of the memos for her.”
Really? That changes things a lot.
“Is that true? I never expected that.”
“This daughter of mine… She is certainly stubborn, like her father. There is very little room for argument against that. But she definitely is not heartless. She still remembers you, and I am certain she has taken all you have done to her into account. If you find her response towards you particularly dejecting, perhaps the news I just informed you could be a sign of encouragement.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hakamichi. This is certainly an encouraging news.”
My potential mother-in-law looks into distance towards her daughter’s ward.
“Time is the best healer. Perhaps we should let time do the job. This probably applies to me as well.”
I once heard Shizune talk about her parents’ situation. Despite being curious about Mrs. Hakamichi and her husband (or ex-husband), I dare not ask anything. If I indeed become her son-in-law, I’ll eventually get to know everything; if Shizune and I decide to part ways, her family matters are no business of mine. Unless I marry Lilly, which is not too probable as things stand.
“Yes, madam.”
With nothing else to add, the two of us sit outside the ward in silence, waiting for the three girls inside to finish their chat. As visitors leave one by one, the hospital soon gets quiet. All we can hear are the nurses talking to each other. When technical terms like ECG come into my ears, I can’t help but once again recall my own stay in the hospital, the several months of hell that re-defined my life.
I hate hospitals. I’m only here because I sacrifice for love.
It’s already been two years since my condition activated during that fateful accident in the snowfield, yet the topic of arrhythmia is still sensitive to me. I never told my schoolmates about my disability except my ex-Yamaku schoolmates and Alvin. If Mrs. Hakamichi asks me about my condition, I don’t know how I should respond.
“Mr. Nakai, there is something else I would like to discuss with you, but I am not exactly sure how to deliver it.”
There it is! Is she bringing up my condition?
When Shizune and I renewed our friendship after our first argument, she told me she would reconsider our status due to the revelation of my heart condition. I won’t be surprised if her mother follows the same mindset.
“From what I have seen so far, you have come to visit my daughter every day since her accident. You are indeed a responsible friend of hers.”
She pauses. I can see where this is going. She’s going to ask me to part ways with Shizune so that she can introduce a proper marriage for her daughter.
“You have paid extraordinary amount of effort for this. Based on what I have heard from my two children, you were engaged in various after-school activities before the accident in order to assist your family’s finance. In order to come to the hospital every evening, you must have forfeited these opportunities just to meet my quick-tempered daughter.”
Never expected her to deliver a speech like this, although from this point she could still head towards the direction I anticipated.
So it turns out that the silence just now wasn’t because she had nothing else to say, but because she wasn’t sure how to phrase it.
“In view of this, I believe it is appropriate for me, on behalf of the Hakamichi family, to offer a certain amount of compensation…”
What? Now this comes from absolutely nowhere!
I immediately stand up and hurry to reject.
“Huh! No, no…”
She gets up along with me, trying to insist her offer.
“It is alright. You thoroughly deserve it. But since we never really talked to each other, I am unsure about the form of compensation…”
“Mrs. Hakamichi, I… Well, I do not come for money. It is true that the financial status of my family does leave a lot to be desired, but we are not in dire straits… I like Shizune, this is the reason I come. Sorry, Mrs. Hakamichi, I do not know what I am saying, but I cannot afford to accept your offer…”
“Mr. Nakai, there is no need to be courteous. Just as you willfully visit my daughter, I am also giving you this offer of my own free will. Please do accept.”
It seems like she is insisting to the end, and it’s probably impolite for me to reject again. But when I get myself ready to accept the gift she’s offering, I think twice.
This gift could mean something else.
The more I think of it, the more skeptical I become.
There is something I need to make sure before I can accept. This is going to be a bold challenge, maybe even rude, but I cannot be a coward in this situation.
“Mrs. Hakamichi, uhm… First of all, I am deeply grateful for your kind offer. However, there is something I would like to ask about this offer.”
My lover’s mother raises an eyebrow. Is she anticipating my challenge, or is she not expecting my question?
“And that is?”
“I would like to ask if there are any strings attached to this offer.”
Or, are you going to bribe me some money in exchange for leaving her daughter alone?
“Uh…”
The woman with short dark blue hair, dark blue eyes, and a pointed face pauses, ponders briefly, then claps her hands together in enlightenment.
“Ah! Strings attached! I get it! That makes so much sense, Mr. Nakai. It looks like my daughter has her mindset rubbed onto you! Of course! How can I expect less from my daughter’s close friend?”
I await as she regains her composure.
“Alright, Mr. Nakai. Let us make things clear. Both my h-, ahem, daughter’s father and I know how much your presence has positively affected my daughter. Even though Mr. Hakamichi has been verbally regarding you as a delinquent, I am confident that he appreciates your effort. Therefore, you are always welcome in the Hakamichi family, if my daughter allows. Does that answer your question, Mr. Nakai?”
Wow, that is a perfect demonstration of seeing right through my loaded question. Shizune’s mother is certainly no slouch.
Welcome to the adult world, Hisao. You will be joining the party in a few months.
“Yes, madam. Thank you for your… acceptance. That said, I am unsure whether to take your offer now, because I just received another precious offer from you.”
My potential family member giggles, which does well to soften the atmosphere.
“Haha… Nicely said, Mr. Nakai. Alright then. I know what offer I am providing. I will help you. As much as possible.”
“You mean…”
The middle-aged woman gives me a playful wink.
“No offer is better than my precious beautiful daughter, am I right?”
“You surely are proud of your daughter.”
“Why not? I am not selling her low.”
Come to think of it, if I don’t get myself a decent job after graduation, how am I supposed to blend myself into the famous Hakamichi family, even if I get accepted?
“Well… is a JUSC champion going to be enough?”
The woman who looks so much alike her daughter giggles again.
“Haha… Well said, Mr. Nakai. No worries. That topic will be for another day anyway. Now the priority goes to my daughter.”
Let’s grab the chance to please her even more.
“And her recovery.”
“Wow! Really well said! Don’t you really care for my daughter? How can I not help you out? Tell you what? I am asking her brother for help too.”
That’s even better. Maybe there’s hope after all.
When you’re in trouble, it’s not a shame to ask your friends for help. This is one of the major lessons I’ve learned in the two years after the hospital stay. Now I discover that the term “friends” is not necessarily limited by age.
“I am most grateful for the offer.”
“There is no guarantee of success, but I am doing what I think is the best for all of us. Please do not disappoint, Mr. Nakai.”
It appears to me that if I do get married with Shizune, I’ll be able to maintain a decent relationship with at least one of her parents. As for the other… well, I’ll think about it when I do get there.
“Yes, madam. I will try my best.”
“Sup? Oh, did I interfere? S’ry.”
“No, Miki. You’re done?”
“Almost. I’m bringing Suzu out ‘cause I need some private time with the President.”
This explosive statement is so shocking even Mrs. Hakamichi flinches.
“What? You… private time with… Shizune?”
“Yup. Girl talk. Take care of Suzu, will ya?”
“Uh… uh… okay…”
“See ya!”
My potential mother-in-law, Suzu, and I all share a puzzled look, none of us having the slightest idea what’s going on.
“Suzu, what happened?”
The sleepy girl responds with a shrug.
“No clue.”
There’s nothing we can do but wait outside the ward.
I have a feeling things are getting even more complicated from now on. But at least I think I’ll continue what I’m doing until Shizune is released from the hospital: A memo a day, and hope that my friends can turn the tide for me.
Chapter 69: Over the Hurdles