Chapter 22
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“There don't seem to be any problems overall, but you said you drank a lot of water... I'm worried about edema. Let's have you stay hospitalized for a day and monitor your condition.”
The doctor's assessment after completing all the tests.
Midori, who had been standing behind Miyuki, answered.
“Yes.”
“Please go to the admission and discharge desk and fill out the paperwork. They'll direct you to your room.”
“Thank you...”
Miyuki slowly bowed her head, then trudged out of the examination room.
Wataru, Kana, and Tetsuya were waiting outside for her.
After looking them over, Miyuki asked Wataru,
“Dad... where's Matsuda-kun?”
“He didn't bring a change of clothes or shoes, so he went to a clothing store on the street to buy some.”
“Really...? Did you give him money...?”
“I did, but he stubbornly refused to take it.”
“You should've given it to him anyway... Is he coming here after buying clothes...?”
“He didn't say anything like that...? I told him the name of the hospital, so he'll probably come.”
Now that the chaos had passed, Miyuki remembered clearly what she had done at the beach.
Not only had she grabbed Matsuda's head and pulled him underwater when he came to save her, she had also tried to grab him when he attempted to rescue her from behind.
He'd hit her forehead twice after that... He must have been pretty angry.
But what could she do?
At the time, Matsuda approaching her had looked like a relief pitcher with an ERA under 1.0.
On top of that, even on the boat the lifeguards had pulled her onto, she'd instinctively reached for Matsuda because she needed something to grab, only to vomit water on him.
She felt terribly sorry, embarrassed, and grateful.
“What about my contact information? You gave it to him, right...?”
Wataru nodded.
“I wrote it down on paper and gave it to him.”
“Paper...?”
“Matsuda apparently lost his phone. He said he thought he'd dropped it in the sea.”
Miyuki squeezed her eyes shut.
Not only did she owe him her life, but now she owed him a phone too...
She couldn't bear to face Matsuda.
“Miyuki, what did the doctor say?”
Tetsuya asked as he stepped forward.
Miyuki looked at him with unfocused eyes and answered.
“There aren't any problems, but they said it would be best to stay hospitalized for a day and monitor my condition...”
“That's such a relief... I was really worried.”
“Thank you... Aren't you supposed to be spending your vacation with your family, Tetsuya-kun?”
“How could I spend my vacation when you ended up like this? My mom and dad were worried too.”
“Yeah... I'll contact them later.”
“You don't have to. Just take care of yourself.”
She was completely drained and no longer had the strength to talk.
It seemed she'd used up all her energy flailing around.
After thanking Tetsuya, Miyuki completed the admission procedures with her family and was assigned a room.
“They said even family members can't enter the room. We'll be in the lounge, so tell us right away if you need anything. Okay?”
After showering and changing into a hospital gown, Miyuki assured Midori that she understood.
Following the nurse's kind instructions, she lay comfortably on the bed and looked around.
It was a four-bed room, but there was no one else there.
Being alone in such a quiet place left her with a lot to think about.
Kana had said Matsuda rescued her incredibly quickly.
Judging by the circumstances, it seemed he'd rushed over the moment she fell into the water...
If so, had he been watching her the whole time?
Or had it been a coincidence, almost like fate?
‘I want to ask him...’
Like at the bookstore...
No, Matsuda's desperate expression had been even more intense than it was at the bookstore, and it kept flashing before her eyes.
When would Matsuda come?
He hadn't lost the piece of paper with her contact information on it, had he?
Besides, Matsuda was an idiot, so there was even a chance he'd forgotten the hospital's name.
Burdened by all sorts of worries, Miyuki stared blankly at the ceiling when
Brrrr-!
her phone began to vibrate, and she looked at the screen.
When she saw Wataru's text in the center of the screen, she bolted upright.
[Matsuda's here.]
**
“I really can't thank you enough... If it weren't for you, Miyuki would have...”
No, Mother-in-law. I've heard that same story dozens of times already, so I'm getting a little bored.
But I do love how tightly you're holding my hand.
Your hands are so warm. Can I suck your tits just once?
“Let's go look for a phone first. We'll buy you a new one.”
“I'm fine.”
“How could you be fine...! Of course we should buy you one...”
“That's not what I mean... I just bought a new one. I was planning to replace it anyway, so please don't worry about it.”
They'd gone this far, so they probably couldn't say anything more.
If you're really that grateful, invite me over to your house later instead of buying me a phone.
After exchanging a few words with Wataru about Miyuki's condition, I approached Tetsuya, who was standing awkwardly, and lightly tapped him on the back.
“Oh, Miura. Didn't notice you until now.”
“Hey, Matsuda.”
“I heard you came here on vacation with your family?”
“I was worried about Miyuki... I do need to go soon. I saw you rescue Miyuki. That was seriously amazing.”
You're an uninvited guest, you know.
Wouldn't it be polite for you to disappear already?
“If you saw us, you could've at least lent a hand.”
“Sorry... When I spotted you two, the lifeguards were already approaching in a boat...”
“I'm kidding, man. Your haircut looks pretty good today. Keep it that way.”
“Th-thanks...”
After subtly needling Tetsuya, I waved with one hand when Miyuki came around the corner in a hospital gown.
“There you are.”
She didn't say anything.
She simply walked over, stopped in front of me, and stared at me.
Miyuki's lips had lost their color, making her look delicate.
She looked like a sickly beauty. A mating press would be perfect at a time like this.
I lightly scratched at my temple, pretending to feel awkward for no reason.
Then I chided Miyuki in a joking tone.
“I told you to stretch, didn't I? Listen to me from now on.”
Miyuki, whose expression had grown complicated, let out a hollow laugh.
That dazed smile, as if a screw had come loose somewhere... I loved it.
“Okay... Thank you for saving me, Matsuda-kun.”
“I heard from your dad that you have to stay hospitalized for a day. Get plenty of rest. I'm heading out.”
“Huh...? Leaving? Where are you going...?”
“I have to get home before the trains stop running.”
I'm not going anywhere. I'll eat dinner with you and your family.
So hurry up and stop me.
“What are you talking about...! If I just let you leave like this, what would that make me...! When it's time to go home, we'll take my dad's car... He said he'd give you a ride... For now, let's eat together...”
“The hospital didn't feed you?”
“I was just admitted. What are you talking about...? Let's go to the cafeteria.”
“Are you sure you can move around? You look like you're in pain.”
“I'm just completely exhausted... I'm fine... I only need to stay in the hospital, so let's go quickly... I haven't eaten anything, so I'm hungry...”
Miyuki tugged at my sleeve.
She really didn't seem willing to let me leave.
I glanced at Wataru, and when he gave me a small nod with a smile, I said,
“All right.”
“Do you want to come too, Tetsuya-kun...?”
Miyuki asked Tetsuya, who had been standing there awkwardly the entire time.
Before he could say anything, I cut in.
“Miura said he had to go be with his family.”
“Really...? Then goodbye, Tetsuya-kun. I'll contact you later.”
Tetsuya flinched, then stammered out a reply.
“O-oh, right... Get plenty of rest... Make sure you contact me.”
“Yeah.”
Miyuki weakly waved at Tetsuya, then told me to follow her and headed for the elevator.
Tetsuya, see? That's what you get for blabbing.
If you hadn't brought up your family, you could have gotten in the way of Miyuki and me...
This is why people shouldn't be too honest.
You keep kicking lousy shots even when the goal is right in front of you, you know?
**
“But shouldn't you be eating hospital food?”
“No... The doctor said I could eat a regular meal.”
“Even so, eat something bland. After enthusiastically drinking seawater, are you really trying to fill your stomach with grease too?”
I pushed Miyuki's arm away as she was about to press the tempura option on the kiosk, then selected the daily home-style meal option.
Then I placed the number ticket in Miyuki's hand.
Should I push things a little further? I think it'll be fine.
I was nervous inside, but pretended to be calm as I gently stroked the back of Miyuki's head.
“From now on, eat things like this even when I'm not around. Don't just eat greasy food because there aren't any adults around. Got it?”
At my blatantly patronizing tone, Miyuki's lips formed an exaggerated pout.
But that was only her expression; she didn't say anything else.
It meant that aside from my teasing, she wasn't bothered by anything else I did.
My saving her had really paid off.
I cheered inwardly and pointed to an empty seat in the corner.
“Wait over there. Don't go anywhere else.”
“What are you going to eat, Matsuda-kun...?”
“Pork cutlet.”
“No... Have the home-style meal.”
“Why should I?”
“Because you always eat nothing but unhealthy food... At least eat something healthy here.”
Saying that, Miyuki pressed the home-style meal button herself and took a number ticket.
Then she went to stand at the very back of the line and beckoned me over.
She seemed almost like a wife worrying about her husband's health, but was that just my imagination?
I happily stood behind Miyuki.
Of course, I didn't forget to grumble on the outside.
Once we received our food, we sat down at the empty spot I'd pointed out earlier and ate.
Miyuki didn't touch any of the side dishes, merely picking at her rice.
She looked deep in thought. After scooping up a large spoonful of rice and shoving it into my mouth, I said,
“What are you doing? You've lost your appetite?”
“It's not that... Matsuda-kun.”
“Why?”
“I'm sorry I caused you to lose your phone...”
“Your parents said the exact same thing. I'm telling you this for the first and last time: don't worry about it. I was going to replace it anyway.”
“And thank you for saving me...”
Miyuki placed her hands on her lap and bowed to me.
I gave a hollow laugh and held out my new phone.
“Didn't you thank me for that already? Enough. Just enter your number.”
“Oh, okay...”
Miyuki carefully tapped the keypad, then handed my phone back to me.
After saving her number and starting to eat again, she hesitated, then said,
“Matsuda-kun.”
“What now?”
“Do I have a bruise on my forehead?”
“No.”
“Look closely. There has to be a bruise...?”
“Bring your head over here, then.”
She leaned her head forward and showed me her forehead.
Her bangs were in the way, so I couldn't check properly.
This little minx... She wanted me to move her bangs out of the way, didn't she?
Fine, I'll do what you want.
I naturally swept her bangs up with my hand and carefully examined her forehead.
Then I shrugged as if it were nothing.
“No bruise.”
“Really...?”
“Too bad, huh? You could've pressed charges for assault, but now the evidence is gone?”
“.... Not funny.”
“That's a shame.”
Miyuki let out a weak laugh, fiddled with her phone, and sent me a picture.
It was none other than a photo of the two of us we'd taken on our way home after eating together last time.
The one where our heads were pressed so close together they were almost touching.
“I'd like you to save it.”
“Okay. I'll do it when I get back.”
“.....”
I casually put my phone away and was about to start eating again, but when Miyuki just kept staring at me, I furrowed my brows slightly.
“You want me to save it now?”
“Yeah, now.”
She wanted the first commemorative photo on her new phone to be a picture of the two of us.
That's why she was hounding me to save it right now.
I'd done everything I could during summer vacation and wrapped it up with this event.
I needed to get a lot out of today.
And Miyuki was lavishly rewarding me for harboring such hopes.
Not only had she allowed me to touch the back of her head and her forehead, completely unlike her usual self, she'd even shown a possessive side and forced me to make ours the first photo...
The scales in Miyuki's heart, with me and Tetsuya balanced on either side.
I could almost see them tipping more heavily toward my side.
Wanting anything more than this would be greed.
Miyuki had shown more than enough courage.