2 HOURS EARLIER
I wake up as usual at 8.30 a.m. on a Saturday morning as I always do. Doing the usual things that I do in the morning I brushed my teeth, headed to the kitchen to prepare a light breakfast before taking a warm bath. As I finished all these things, I looked at the clock hung on the wall and saw that it was 8.50 a.m., on time as usual. I walk into my room to change into some casual clothing that won't make me stand out too much. As I was done with all the morning duties I had, it was already 9 a.m.
'This should be around the time when…'
When he had that thought, a phone ringtone started ringing from his pocket. When he took out his phone and looked at the screen, it read…
'INCOMING CALL: Saki Chihaya'
As he thought about hanging up the call, he decided against it and answered. Then came the usual questions that Chihaya would ask him on every Saturday.
"What is it?"
"Keiii-chiinnn~ Let's go shopping today!"
"Haah… Why do you keep asking me out every Saturday even though you know I would refuse every time?" Kei let out a sigh.
"Because there is the slight possibility of you saying yes! Heheh~ Well, you can't blame a girl for trying, can you?"
"In any case, I have to turn down your invitation."
As I hung up the phone, I could hear Chihaya's voice yelling trying to ask me to stay on the line. On any other day, I might've considered saying yes, but today was not a day to be spent with others. Not even that cute neighbour of mine.
When I left my apartment, I headed straight for the train station. I can't help but think that someone is watching me, but maybe I'm just being paranoid. I never did like the attention that I had in the first place, whether it was good or bad, it still bothered me nonetheless.
When I got into the train, I put on my earphones to drown out the noise coming from the other passengers. These earphones also served as a sign to others that I didn't want to be bothered. It's not that I'm being arrogant or anything. It's just that, based on past experiences, I would get a few people coming up to me asking for my number or asking me to hang out with them.
If the train moves on time and on schedule, it would be about a 15 to 20-minute train ride to Shibuya. That should give me some time for a short nap. I don't usually nap on the train, but since I was out late last night, I can't help but feel slightly tired. As I looked out of the train window, I couldn't help but think out loud.
"Life's really not been as peaceful as I wanted it lately, huh?"
As I thought out loud while looking out of the train, I slowly dozed off. When the train announcer announced that we have arrived at Shibuya, I immediately woke up. When I exited the train station, I walked towards the shopping district as usual. The destination I wanted to go to was not the shopping district, but something else that I needed to pass the shopping district to get to.
I wasn't fond of large crowds, but since the other ways of getting to my destination involved a meaninglessly long walk, I thought that going through a crowd would be a small price to pay. Even now, I still felt that someone was watching me, but I chose not to give it any thought since I was in a busy and crowded shopping district to begin with. When I was passing through the shopping district however, I came across a flower shop which I thought about for a minute before going in. When I came out, I was now holding a bouquet of lavenders.
When I finally made it through the shopping district, I took a short breather since it was so hot and stuffy in there. It kind of made me regret wearing a hoodie to begin with. But thinking that it was nearing winter, I thought it would be better to just bear with a little heat. When I finally reached my intended destination, I couldn't help but feel a little depressed looking at the sign that read.
'SHIBUYA HOSPITAL'
When I entered the building, I immediately made my way to the front desk before talking to the clerk.
"I'm here to visit."
"Ah, Amane-san. Please, go ahead but please be quiet."
"Please excuse me."
I made my way towards the elevator. I figured that my feelings of people following me were probably just paranoia since I still feel it even now at a hospital of all places. When I exited the elevator on the fifth floor, I immediately made my way down the long hallway. Coming here for so many times now, I've probably gotten used to the whole layout of the hospital.
"Please excuse me, I'm coming in." I said after I knocked on the door.
In the room that I had just entered, there was only a single bed as this was a private suite within the hospital. When I walked towards the bed, there lay a single patient on the lone bed in the room. There were wires everywhere and there was a ventilator in her mouth along with breathing tubes attached to her nose.
I put the bouquet of lavenders in the empty vase next to her bed. I assumed the old bouquets had dried out or wilted and was taken away by the cleaning staff. When I was done putting all the things down, I proceeded to sit down on the sofa beside her bed as I held her motionless hand.
"Hi mom… I've come to visit…" Kei said as he gave a tired smile.
The woman's name was Amane Mayuri, the mother of Amane Kei.