"..."
What a truly effective method.
Seeing the series of actions executed by his simulated self, Chisato couldn't think of anything else to say except this one phrase.
[First-person perspective…]
In the corridor filled with the smell of disinfectant, Mr. Isshiki stood over Iroha, who had fallen to the ground, gritting his teeth and preparing to kick her again.
"Enough!"
Chisato slowly stood up. As he took a deep breath, his entire body trembled slightly.
"Don't do this, Uncle."
Mrs. Isshiki, perceptive as ever, noticed the cold change in the term of address Chisato used for her husband.
"This is no one's fault."
Chisato shook off Mrs. Isshiki's support and went to Iroha, who was lying on the ground.
He squatted down and slowly helped her up.
"It's just an unfortunate accident. Miri… it's good that she's okay."
Mr. Isshiki clenched his fists, his face filled with guilt.
He avoided looking at his swollen daughter and walked over, saying,
"Chisato, don't be so pessimistic."
"Listen to me. Medical technology is advanced. If this hospital isn't up to standard, we can go to another hospital."
"If that doesn't work, we'll take Miri to a major hospital abroad. There will be a solution."
Chisato gently shook his head.
Mr. Isshiki, unwilling to give up, was about to persuade him again when Mrs. Isshiki interrupted.
"Husband, stop talking. Let's check on Miri first."
"…Alright."
Still unconscious, Miri was wheeled out of the emergency room by the nurses and placed in a private room.
Her eyes were tightly shut, and her complexion was pale.
The nurse told Chisato,
"Your wife should wake up in about half an hour. For the time being, she'll need to stay in the hospital for observation."
After thanking the nurse, Chisato said nothing more. He simply sat by the bedside, holding his wife's hand.
Overwhelmed by immense sorrow and disappointment, he was unresponsive to any external stimuli.
Mrs. Isshiki continued to offer quiet comfort, but seeing Chisato's reaction and expression, she too found herself unable to continue offering false reassurances.
She stepped back to stand by Iroha, looking at her daughter, who had been spoiled since childhood.
She wanted to scold her but couldn't bring herself to do so when she saw the swelling on her face.
Mrs. Isshiki pressed her lips together, hardening her heart to avoid looking at her.
Compared to the current situation with Chisato and Miri, her daughter's minor injuries seemed insignificant.
She left the room to discuss quietly with her husband, who was pacing back and forth in the corridor.
Iroha looked at her sister-in-law on the bed and at Chisato, who was sitting beside her, looking like a lifeless piece of wood.
The immense guilt crushed her, making it hard for her to breathe.
Always sensitive to pain, she now felt no concern for her own bruised bottom and swollen cheeks.
She took a few steps forward, standing behind Chisato.
She felt she should say something at this moment but didn't know what to say.
She had heard every word the doctor said clearly.
The baby… would never be able to see this wonderful world with its own eyes again.
Her sister-in-law… who had happily shown off the little hats and socks she knitted, would never have the chance to use them.
Moreover, she would never be able to conceive again, losing the chance to become a mother forever.
Because of her foolishness, a happy family was destroyed.
What would her sister-in-law's reaction be when she woke up and learned these two pieces of bad news?
What about Chisato? Would he still be able to show that gentle and warm smile he used to have?
Iroha's lips quivered, and she dared not breathe. She stood there, lost in thought, as time ticked away.
A faint groan broke the nearly suffocating silence.
Chisato quickly leaned over and looked at his wife, who was slowly opening her eyes.
"Honey…"
Chisato held her hand tightly, placed a gentle kiss on it, and tried to force a smile.
"I'm here. How are you feeling now?"
"I'm in some pain… the baby! Right! How's the baby?"
As Miri's consciousness became clearer, she immediately asked about the one thing she, as a "mother," was most worried about.
"Don't be anxious, Miri. The baby is fine."
Chisato assumed the role of the "dutiful" husband, forcing a smile despite his inner pain, trying to comfort his wife with lies.
"No… that's not right. I can't feel the baby anymore! Honey, our baby isn't moving…"
"Calm down…"
"Honey, what happened to our baby!?"
Miri fell into despair, her eyes wide open, her hands gripping Chisato's clothes tightly.
"…"
Chisato kept his lips tightly sealed, leaning over and hugging Miri tightly.
His actions, reactions, and silence said it all.
"Ugh… why… I'd rather it be me… why did that innocent baby have to leave us…"
"Don't say that, Miri. We'll have another chance."
"What about my mother… She was so happy to hold her grandchild. How are we going to tell her… ugh…"
"It will get better. It will get better…"
"Ugh…"
Miri rested her chin on Chisato's shoulder, her expression vacant, tears streaming uncontrollably.
No matter how heart-wrenching her cries were, they couldn't fully convey a mother's pain of losing a child.
Iroha, seeing her sister-in-law's devastated face, felt guilt spreading throughout her body.
The world before her seemed to lose its color, covered by a grayish-white filter.
…
After taking medication to calm her emotions, Miri gradually fell asleep with Chisato's gentle soothing.
Chisato covered her with a blanket and, along with the others, quietly left the room.
The doctor, writing something in the medical record, sighed and said,
"From the way your wife was reacting earlier, she showed signs of emotional distress and lacked self-control, including some almost self-destructive behavior, like hitting her own face and pounding the wall."
"These are typical signs of mental trauma."
Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Isshiki grew even more worried.
Iroha stood by, dazed, having seen her sister-in-law's drastically different, frenzied state.
"Doctor, are you saying my wife needs psychological treatment?"
"No. Given the recent loss of the baby, her reaction is understandable."
"There's no need to take her to a psychologist, as that might cause unnecessary stress and could be counterproductive."
"As her family, what you need to do now is to stay by her side and offer support."
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