After Ren sent his grandmother off, he went to Toshiro's office. His assistant who knew his identity as Toshiro's friend let him in. The man was attending to his regular patients so Ren needed to wait before he came back.
Ren didn't touch any of Toshiro's documents on the table even though he was intrigued if any of them have information about Tsubaki and Kouichi. He had just handed the samples to Toshiro so the results wouldn't be out yet.
The wait was a suffering to him.
"I've just got back from my round and now I need to see your face?" Toshiro's voice was booming from the door. He removed his doctor's gown as he walked inside the office.
"You said Tsubaki was fine, it is true?" Ren didn't bother to greet him. He directly asked the question he wanted to ask.
When Toshiro came to examine Tsubaki earlier, he told them that everything was fine. Ren already had a hunch that Tsubaki's memory was triggered because of what Aunt Ume had said. But he was still being careful. He needed to double-check with Toshiro.
"I'm a doctor specialized in nephrology, not neurology," said Toshiro as he poured himself a glass of drink. He downed the entire glass before he went to sit opposite Ren.
"So, where does the genius go? You couldn't answer my question even though it's in different field of your expertise?" asked Ren with narrowed eyes, looking at him in contempt.
"Well, as a genius, of course I still have information regarding neurology." Toshiro was quick to deny his friend's accusation. "You just want to torture me, aren't you? It's not like you didn't think of the talk between your dear wife and Madam Nagao might triggered something in her suppressed memory."
"I know, but I really want to know why does her entire memory regarding me disappear from her mind? Isn't ones tend to suppress their memory because of their traumatic experience regarding the subject?"
The first time he got to know of her amnesia, he couldn't believe himself. But the report was indeed true. Tsubaki's one year worth of memory vanished once she woke up from her coma after the accident.
She didn't even remember him who was supposed to be an important part of her life.
"Aren't you already know the answer?" This time Toshiro asked seriously. The playfulness from earlier had been replaced with a stern expression. "You're smart, Ren. I know you could think of one possibility that lead to her memory loss."
Ren pursed his lips. He was unable to meet Toshiro's eyes.
He knew. He had thought of it.
But to say it out loud, it would as if he sentenced himself to death.
"I'm going," said Ren after a period of silence. He abruptly stood up from his seat.
"I've submitted the samples. I'll contact you once the result is out," Toshiro reminded him before he stepped outside the room.
"Okay."
Ren didn't return to Tsubaki's ward immediately. He stood at a corner and watched the people outside taking a walk in the hospital garden. They were clearly enjoying their time.
Toshiro's words lingered inside his mind, making him depressed.
He had asked Akashi to check on everyone who was involved with the car accident, regardless they were still alive or not. The dots couldn't be connected yet as the pieces were still scattered.
"President Fuse?"
Ren was startled with the sudden greeting. Turning around to the direction of the voice, he saw an older man in casual clothes standing not far from him.
"President Souma," Ren greeted the man, slightly shock to meet him here. He bowed to the older man.
The older man had a kind-looking face. Two men in suits followed him from behind. Ren recognized one of them was his personal assistant.
"I never thought to come across you here," said President Souma, a small laugh escaped his lips. "Are you sick? I'm sorry for not being able to attend Matriarch Fuse's birthday celebration."
"It's not me, my wife is the one who's been hospitalized. About Grandma's celebration, you don't have to worry. Your brother said you were sick at that time?" Ren corrected the man kindly as he asked for his well-being.
"Ah! I've heard that you're married!" President Souma said as his eyes brightened. His mind didn't register the second half of what Ren had said. "That's good! That's good! You're supposed to get married already. Now I regret not attending the celebration."
Ren laughed, he always had a good impression upon this man. "I'll send the invitation to our wedding soon. You could see her then."
"I'll definitely attend your wedding! Aiya, I'm already old. I hope I could attend your wedding," said President Souma hopefully as he rubbed his back.
"You're always sick. I hope you'd take care of your body better," Ren sincerely reminded the older man.
President Souma sighed. He added in a low voice, "What is the good of being healthy if I couldn't meet my loved one?"
Ren blinked. "Excuse me?"
"No! Nothing!" President Souma shook his head. "I need to get going. I just came here to see my doctor. President Fuse, I hope I could get the wedding invitation from you soon."
"See you later, President Souma."
The older man waved at him as he gestured at his subordinates to follow him. Ren stared at the man's back. It might be his imagination but there was something sorrowful about the man when he was mumbling earlier.
His ears didn't play tricks on him, right?
President Souma and his subordinates disappeared from sight once they changed their way to the right hallway. Ren took another look before he turned around on his heels, going to the elevator. He had left Tsubaki with Aunt Ume and Kouichi for quite some time already.
Once he returned to the ward, he saw Kouichi laying his head on Tsubaki's laps while she was talking to Aunt Ume. The three of them turned their attention to the door as they heard steady footsteps approaching them.
"Ren!" Tsubaki's smile couldn't be hide once she saw her husband.
"Sorry for waiting long, Aunt Ume," Ren apologetically greeted Aunt Ume. He turned his attention Kouichi was still being cozy with Tsubaki. "And you, young man, how much longer do you plan to stick to my wife?"
"You're so stingy, Uncle Ren. You always pick on me whenever you're jealous." Without any shame, Kouichi rolled over and pressed his little face on Tsubaki's lap, earning a laugh from her.
Again with the Uncle Ren! He sighed inwardly.
Seeing the interaction between them, Ren had an inexplicable feeling.
It was as if watching a pair of mother and son.