It all began on mid September, just as the summer wind starts to transit into the cold of the winter. I was also told not to use my wheelchair anymore but to walk independently.
That day, I took a brake from school. I frequently visit to the hospital for my checkups for the accident I had. I never told anyone of having a break to the hospital except my uncle who created the reservation for my checkup. I was supposed to show up late to school, but the long waiting times had tired me deep into my bones. I sat on the chair provided on the hospital's lobby.
While waiting on the lobby, I saw a forgotten logbook on a seat. I wondered who abandoned such lonely logbook. As my curiosity sparked, I checked out the logbook. I don't have any interest in books but it caught my eye
The book was guarded by a dust jacket, probably bought from a bookshop near the school. When I removed the jacket, a trivial title has been revealed. Inscribe upon it were the words "My Love for Her" handwritten by a ballpoint pen. Out of curiosity, I checked the very first page of it.
They had been carefully handwritten with a ballpoint pen.
"June 11, 20xx
"Ah, this is my very first writing this. I want to write everything what will she miss once she moves to America. It's the day, you're going far away now, aren't you? Having accepted the fact that she'll leave me now, I am writing this to let you know how I will feel these years you'd be gone, Iroha."
I was met with a little surprise when I saw my name written on it, who could possibly write this?
I closed the book as I seated down. I heard a man's voice coming from my side.
"erm…."
I tilted my head in response to the voice. To my surprise, I recognized the face of the voice's owner. I hid my emotions as I suspected him of following me here.
Having been approached by him, I put on an attentive look.
"What a coincidence! That belongs to me, Iroha."
He wore that plain wide smile on his face as usual.
"Anyways, why are you here in the hospital?"
I still don't know how will I reply to that.
"Just a checkup for my head injury, you?"
"Oh,I had an appendectomy a while back."
I observed his expressions, trying to read his true emotions. His smile widened as he sat beside me.
"Can I have my book back?"
He extended his arm to me, looking like he were waiting at my response.
"Have you read it? The 'My Love for Her'."
He said that, seemingly not bothered, acting as though he were introducing a widely known novel to me.
"I was surprised. Thinking I had lost it, but the very last person I want to show it to found it. Isn't it funny?"
His deep engraved smile didn't lose it's emotion.
"What do you mean the very last?"
I asked him as if I am asking for a forbidden question.
"You know what? I wanted to show you this once you got back. Once the Iroha I know got back, even with that, I still want to show it to you."
Tears started to form on his eyelids but the smile on his face still hasn't faded.
Immediately after that, he took the book, stood up and and started walking out of the hospital without saying another word. I turned to his direction and stared at him as the tears also started to form under my eyelids.
The hospital is also getting busy, scrambled sounds all over the way as the reception calls my name for my appointment. Without further ado, I went in to the doctor's office without turning back again.
As I went in to the doctor's office, the doctor began to check me up. They haven't found any abnormalities in my head, but there's this chance that I might not get back my past memories again. After hearing that, my heart wasn't put on ease, I don't want to regain memories that might hurt me unintentionally but having heard that didn't made me happy at all.
Contrary to my expectation, he called out to my name on the very next morning just as we passed by each other in the hallway.
"Hey, Iroha!"
He started walking in sync of mine as I try to put a distance between us. No matter how I pushed him back, he still would come nearer to me.
"Could you please doing all of this? You're only putting yourself in a tough spot by doing all of that."
I stopped walking and looked to his eyes.
He stared at me with a strong gaze before breaking into a smile, looking as if he had been smiling.
"I was never in a tough spot."
He got near to me and pinned me on the wall of the hall. What is this called? Kabe-don?
"Normal guys would assault you looking helpless like that."
I was surprised that he managed to keep his cool during that. While I was stirring up my insides.
"Uhm…"
Cutting past the words I had planned to say, he grabbed me by my wrist onto the way to school while screaming.
"This is bad! We'll be late for class."
Just like as a boat coming with the current, I was incredibly flustered when he held my hand.
While thinking about that, I am now here in the front of the station.Wearing my casual clothes, waiting for him. I was not planning on coming but I feel bad for him if I don't show up, or to be exact, I really wanted to be with him.
I had arrived in the station earlier than the agreed time, as time passes, I saw him in the distance, exactly on time. Looking at him, he was kinda surprised of me going here. My heart beats faster the more I looked into him.
He walked over with that surprise look written all over his face.
"You came…"
His eyes have overflowed in tears, might have been the joy.
"I'm here."
I said in response to him.
"Should we go to an Amusement park?"
He wiped his tears and gave off a wide smile on his face, as if he wasn't crying in the first place.
Just as we passed through the ticket gate, a crowd of people was clustered inside the train. As I looked to the boy beside me, he didn't look a little bit daunted by these people. As expected for someone who is popular to people.
At last, we arrived at the amusement park in the next city. We entered to the crowd packed gate of the amusement park. As expected, it has more people than to that of the train station. Somehow, I lost sight of him to this thick crowd. I was slowly getting scared of this many people. This wide road filled with countless people scared me, not knowing anything of this.
"Hey, Iroha."
A voice came from my back, it was him. As I turn back, I saw his undaunted smile while holding two cones of ice creams. I was flustered at first.
"Here."
He reached his hand giving me a cone. As response, I picked it up and asked for the price.
"uhm… How much is this?"
I said as I reached out for my wallet that is inside my bag.
"Don't mind it!"
He gave off another smile.
We sat on the bench that is on the side of the road of the amusement park. I stared on the pack of people having so much fun while I was just sitting here, eating my ice cream with a straight face. I still haven't got fun for the meantime of staying here.
Just as we finished the ice cream on our hands, he stood up and stretched up his back as if he was an old man.Out of nowhere, he shouted without any hesitation not thinking of this thick crowd.
"Thank you for coming, Irohaaaaa!"
I looked down, feeling ashamed for what he did.
"Going on an amusement park would be useless if we don't get in all of the rides right?"
I tilted my head up to his direction and saw his face close up. My heart pounds as if there's a drum in it.
"uhm."
I shook my head slightly for a positive response. Words aren't coming out of my mouth as I try it.
"Yes!"
His responses were all unpredictable.
He held my hand as we walked through the first ride we'll go through, the roller coaster. Having heard of the name, I got scared as I hear those unlikely screams coming towards it. As I looked up to him, he looked more scared than me. A gentle laugh came out of my mouth.
Empty seats are now on the front, ready for us to take off. As he held my hand, I felt his fear through his trembling hands.
"L-let's go…"
He looked at me with a scared look. Though I'm also scared, the thought of him being with me dissipated my fear.
As the coaster goes up, he looks extremely fine and even said something
"This isn't half baAAAAAAAAAD!"
Cutting through what he's saying, the coaster's downfall made him scream like a lady. I kept my straight face.
As the coaster got on it's ending point, he told me to try more rides with him.
Thinking about how much fun I had, we're now alone in this tall ferries wheel as the sun goes over the horizon. The lovely sight passes through the windows as the tired Hiro stares at my face. I hadn't noticed but a wide smile has been written all over my face.
"You look gorgeous when you smile…."
"... it feels like I'm seeing the old you again."
His words have been etched into my heart. I silently sit on this seat of this high ferries wheel. As the ferries wheel reached it's peak, I felt a warm touch wrapped along my body. It was him, hugging me tight.
"What are you…"
"Thank you for being with me, I had a lot of fun."
His words felt like it was mixed with sorrow. He loosen his hug and let go of me, as I looked onto his face, it was a mix of happiness and sadness. Two emotions that contradicts each other was written on his face.
I have made my decision, I will tell it now.
"Thank you too, for giving me this so much fun…"
I won't run away again.
"I want to regain my memories back. Even if I don't, I want to make new fun memories again."
"Iroha…"
His face was filled with hope, so am I. I will never run away again from my past. I will accept it even if it gives me pain.