Chapter 2:
Until the Time Comes
One week later, three weeks before the day…
Hospital wards always had a distinctive scent. Not as pungent as the men’s dorm but sweeter than a person’s natural body odor—the kind of smell that makes you sleepy. It felt like burrowing into a futon someone else had just vacated.
It was three o’clock in the afternoon, the middle of visiting hours. Kuon walked alone down a corridor on the sixth floor of the Jogen 3rd Municipal Hospital past patients and nurses alike. There were large rooms on either side with the occasional door standing open. He glanced in one, and his eyes met those of a random old lady. He quickly averted his eyes and moved on. This was where these patients lived. He shouldn’t stare.
He arrived at the room he’d been directed to and found the door closed. There were six name tags on the door. Her name was on the top right, indicating the bed in the back on that side.
His master had given him a fruit basket that screamed “hospital visit.” Holding the basket awkwardly, he slid the door open. The beds at the front on either side had curtains drawn, the middle beds were vacant, and the bed in the back on the left had an old lady chatting with a woman who looked to be her daughter, facing a TV window together. In the bed to the right was Hanabi, engrossed in a book. Kuon immediately knew which book it was. “Um…”
“Yes?” She looked up and saw him. She blinked a few times and then stammered, “K-K-K-K-K-K…!” She pointed at him. It almost sounded like she was laughing, but she was just super surprised. “Kuon-kun!”
The “Kuo” part was particularly loud and the rest almost a whisper. Kuon thought it was adorable.
She hid the book behind her and then frowned, “Wh-why are you here? I said not to come…”
His master had specifically warned him not to say that she’d sent him. He showed her the fruit basket, feeling a little awkward. “Um…well…just thought you could use some company.”
“Thanks. So the headmaster told you to come, then?”
“Yeah… Oh…”
“You’re too honest for your own good, Kuon-kun,” she said reproachfully, but then she giggled. She was in her pajamas and her usual ponytail was down, so she looked like she’d just woken up. She was in the hospital, so of course she looked like that, but given how she usually maintained that gallant older girl vibe, seeing her hanging out in pajamas was a real turn-on for Kuon. He wanted to hop into bed with her.
“What are you looking at?”
“I want to curl up alongside your pajamas, Senpai. Oh…”
“See? Eyes up here. And you oughta call ahead before you come see a girl in a hospital.”
“Sorry.” He bobbed his head. Every time he apologized, he got scolded for not meaning it, but he’d learned that if he bowed his head, he was less likely to cause misunderstandings.
“Fine.” Hanabi nodded, satisfied. Case in point.
Then she glanced behind him and bowed her head. He turned to look, and the elderly patient and her daughter were both looking their way, whispering to each other. “I knew it was her! Who is she?” “The one from the TV.”
Kuon managed a strained smile and said, “Hey,” as he closed the curtains.
Hanabi made a sulky face while clearly not being the least bit upset. “Aw, it’s your fault they figured it out.”
“Sorry.”
“No use.”
“How can I get you to forgive me?” he asked.
“Well… Oh, bring the fruit closer. Wow, she gave you a good one! That must weigh a ton. You can use this chair. Rin broke that one the other day…”
Hanabi laughed at the thought. She seemed in good spirits and pleased to see him. He hoped his coming here had brightened her day. Hanabi rummaged through the basket. “I love melon,” she said. Or maybe it was the melon, then. “You can’t just show up all sudden, Kuon-kun! My hair’s a fright! I’m so ashamed.”
“Sorry.”
“But I’m glad you came.”
She grinned at him. This isn’t fair, Kuon thought. How many times was she going to make me fall in love with her?
“Wanna get in bed with me?”
“Yes—er, no! I’m really sorry!” She giggled at his fluster. He was glad to see her well. But after a brief silence, he asked, “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine now. Sorry I worried you.” She grimaced. Kuon tried not to look at the bandages on her left arm. “You had to save me again.”
“No, I…”
Five days earlier, Hanabi had been injured in the battle for the Fukuoka Gate. She was sent to an Imperial military hospital and then transferred here. Military hospitals were always full, so patients in good condition were soon sent to civilian facilities. The fact that Hanabi was here after less than a week proved it wasn’t a serious injury.
Kuon thought back to what had happened…