Chereads / I Hope the next Spring Will be Better / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Retrieving Memories

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Retrieving Memories

I woke up in the blinding light of the sun passing through the gaps of the curtains of my room. The mornings are getting chilly even with the help of the sun.

I went out of my room and ate the breakfast uncle made. My whole body felt light after sleeping that much. I stretched for twenty minutes after finishing my breakfast.

Thinking about the message I sent last night, I was looking up on meeting with him again. As I merrily walked around, I saw the portraits of my parents that I usually don't notice. I kneeled down, rang the chime and prayed to them. I haven't done this thing before but my body moves as if I was certain at what I'm doing.

As I'm getting ready out for school, I greeted my uncle "Take care" as he goes out for work.

"Iroha…"

My uncle looked at me, filled with hope. He doesn't have a wife or children so I'm his only family since my parents has left this world.

"Uhm, I'll take care."

He said as the door got shut.

While I'm on my way to school, I stared at the flowing scenery of the environment around me, it had gave me more color before I met him. Everything had became different around me, it gave me another reason to carry on to this burden I'm carrying and onto the burden I'll carry once I got my memories back.

Incidentally, I bumped a person as I stared blankly on such beautiful scenery.

"I'm sorry."

I said as I lowered my head.

"No, it's okay."

I heard a girl's voice from that person. As I looked up, I saw a pretty young girl that looked like she's around my age. She's wearing the same uniform as me so probably she's from my school.

"That voice, is it…. is it you Iroha-nee"

She stared at me.

"Gosh you're back! How's America?"

It was a sudden question from a girl whom I've never seen before. Looking at the scenery already calmed me down so I responded to her quite straightforwardly.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

"Oh, so it's true... I heard from nii-san that you've lost your memories a while back in America."

"Nii-san?"

"Hiiro-nii-san!"

"Oh."

She was as lively as him. I guess the personality also runs in the family.

"Erm, how was America?"

I don't have even a single bit of information about the country I stayed before that accident happened. I just stared blankly on the distance as she continued to walk in sync of mine.

"What is your name again?"

Having a normal conversation with a total stranger to me wasn't that bad, though I still can't answer blatantly as him.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Name's Mizuki, Takasu Mizuki. I'm a first year student."

"Uhm, nice to meat you, Takasu-san."

"Call me by my first name, just like you call me before."

"Excuse me, how did I call you before?"

"It's Mizu-chan."

Her smile widened as we continued on walking.

These past days had became normal for me. Since before, the normal to me was either playing game or just locking up myself on my own room without even talking to someone, not even my uncle.

Just as the school gate becomes visible to our view, I saw him walking towards the gate. I tried to shout his name but my words won't come out as I ordered it.

The girl who was walking merrily beside a gloomy, new girl, ran towards his brother and greeted him. My curiosity sparked as they came from a different direction. I approached them and asked, though this time, my words flowed on it's own just like a kite going the same direction of the wind.

"Good morning, Hiiro-kun."

"Good morning, Iroha!"

"Uhm, don't you live in the same house? I saw Mizu-chan from my direction."

While thinking about things like that, it suddenly dawned upon me that I was practically tempting fate to get along with him.

"Well, she always wait for you at mornings but when she sees you, she couldn't get near to you."

I got flustered hearing something like that. Knowing that someone is waiting for my return made me happy, though not remembering anything, I'm pretty sure they have been my precious friends before. I'll never let go of this anymore, I'll go on, no matter what it takes.

"Then, let's grab something to eat after class, the three of us."

My mouth shifted upwards as I understand more of this feeling. Is this happiness?

Just as I look up, I saw his face filled with tears as he said these words.

"Y-you smiled…"

"What?"

"You smiled!"

He shouted aloud at the school grounds, not giving a care to those students that might hear him.

"Uhm! Let's grab something to eat later!"

Even though it's still morning and probably just eaten breakfast, food is already on their mind.

We already reached the shoe locker as we have that completely normal conversation. We parted ways with Mizu-chan after exchanging the loafers with inside shoes since her room is on the other side of the building.

I walked alongside with him on the school halls, the smile on his face didn't faded. It felt like something like this had happened before. Before I knew it, my world is spinning, I lost my balance as I fell to the floor. I saw flashes of images of me being with him, these are probably the memories I lost.

As those images slowly lost it's shape, I slowly regained my consciousness. This feeling of a downward motion acting upon my body as I feel something soft on my back, I was certain I'm laying down on a bed.

The moment I opened my eyes, I was in a white painted room filled with medical appliances. I felt a warm touch on my left hand. When I looked at it, it was him, sleeping sound on my side. I can't remember clearly what happened that time.

I took a step out of the cranky bed I'm laying in. Only then, I realized I am in a hospital room. Though still feeling weak, I managed to stand up and look outside the window. If I'm not mistaken, It's the same hospital I took a checkup last time.

"Iroha?"

His voice broke the deafening silence of the room. Mixed emotions are written on her face.

"Iroha!"

He rushed onto me and hugged me. In response, I hugged him back. I felt his grip getting tighter as I felt droplets of water on my back.

"Y-you came b-back!"

"Uhm, I'm back."

Confused at what's happening, I asked him.

"What happened at here?"

It was rare of me to be asking such things regarding of the consequences, but these past days of being with him, I've changed drastically. He didn't responded and just hugged me for the meantime.

"Let me have this one."

I felt comfort in his arms, his wide, thick arms that surrounds me. Seemingly like he's hugging me to refrain me from seeing his crying face.

He loosen his grip and lost hold of me. With a bittersweet smile, he said "Welcome back Iroha."

I shook my head slightly and replied; "I'm back".

Though not remembering anything, I can surely say that I loved him and I'll love him now.

"I'll call the doctor. I'll be back."

I, once again, laid down onto my bed as the door closed. Unbearable silence has covered the whole room. I'm feeling a little bit weak since I probably passed out for days, having realized that, I checked my phone that was surprisingly on the table next to my bed.

As I opened it, unread messages from Mizu-chan have showed up. It's contents were; "Hope you become better (laughing emoticon), I miss youuuuuu(kiss emoticon) and such. Short messages from someone who I just met felt so warm. I checked the date and it looks like I've been out of touch for three days, no wonder I feel slightly weak.

Before I knew it, the door opened revealing the young man in white robe who checked me up before along with Hiiro and my uncle whose face is drenched in sweat.

I felt anxious at what happened to me, having in sleep for three days hasn't happened to me before without having any external trauma.

I sat on my bed as the doctor checked my movement, breath, and heart rate. Luckily no abnormalities are found in me. I felt an ease in my mind after hearing that.

"Do you remember something of your past?"

It was an unexpected question from the doctor. All of these past checkups, he hadn't asked me about that. After hearing that, it suddenly dawned upon me those set of images that appeared in front of me after I lost my consciousness on the school.

"Uhm, I had flashes of images that looks like my past."

I saw the sight of relieve on the face of the doctor.

"I see…"

After receiving his physical tests of me, the doctor hastily left the room after the phone on his pocket rang. I had thought that someone with greater emergency has arrived so I hadn't got the chance to ask more of it.

Just as the door shut, the tears of my beloved uncle has overflowed on his eyes as if I got in another fatal accident. Asking how I felt, he opened his bag full of oranges. He opened one and gave it to me. I took a look outside of the window and saw the wide view of the hospital spread into the distance- a scene I had never seen before.

I took the orange an silently ate it one wedge at a time, it was unexpectedly sweet and succulent.

"It's delicious!"

My voice has raised up in excitement, I probably caught Hiiro's virus by now.

I had caught a glimpse of a gentle smile drawing onto my uncle's face after released an unexpected tone of voice.

Hiiro also took an orange and ate it with me. I wish times like this would never end.

Just after finishing almost all of the oranges that my uncle brought, I regained my strength and was told that I was ready to be discharged today.

Thinking about that, I'm now here along with Hiiro, sitting in uncle's car. I took a look out of the window and saw such a pleasing view. It's the sky that was slowly getting devoured by the dark cold night. I stared deeply as I thank them for everything that they've done to me.

"Thank you, uncle and Hiiro. For doing all of this for me."

I said silently as I fight my tiredness.

"You're welcome."

Both of them said as I peacefully slept on the car's seat.

End