"Ara…!
You came to visit Mom today?
Why didn't you give me a heads-up?!"
Shiori's voice was a mix of surprise, joy, and a teasing reproach.
Chihiro paused for a beat.
Her gaze lingered on her mother's face, then slowly shifted to the man sitting beside the hospital bed.
Rei.
She bit her lip lightly, as if organizing her thoughts, before speaking.
"I didn't know when you arrived."
Her tone was neither loud nor harsh.
Simply cold.
"And… I'm not sure what your purpose is in coming here either."
Chihiro paused briefly, then bowed her head slightly.
"Even so, I still thank you for bringing a gift to visit my mother."
She lifted her gaze, her eyes now firm and resolute.
"Now… please leave."
Shiori looked back and forth between them, a little flustered.
"Uh… aren't you two old classmates?"
Chihiro turned to her mother immediately.
"I'll explain everything later, okay?"
Her voice softened considerably.
Rei had been silent the whole time.
He stood up, adjusted his collar, and bowed politely.
"I apologize for suddenly coming and disturbing your family.
I'll take my leave now."
Shiori watched him for a moment, then smiled warmly.
"Mm… thank you for visiting.
Take care on your way home."
"Yes, ma'am," Rei replied, turning to leave.
As he reached the door, he paused—just for a fleeting moment—standing right beside Chihiro.
He said nothing.
Then he left.
The door closed.
---
Outside in the corridor, Rei's phone vibrated.
"Hello? …Is something wrong?"
He listened for a moment.
"I understand. I'll be there immediately."
The call ended, and another voice spoke up.
"Where have you been? I've been calling nonstop."
"Nothing," Rei replied calmly.
"Just dealing with some personal matters."
---
Inside the hospital room, once sure Rei had left, Chihiro let out a small sigh.
She sat down beside the bed.
"I'm sorry for putting you in an awkward position…"
Her voice grew quieter.
"It's just… I—"
She faltered.
Shiori reached out and held her daughter's hand.
"It's alright.
I know you're decisive, and that you think things through."
She smiled gently.
"So I'm sure you have your reasons, right?"
Chihiro nodded faintly.
"If you're not ready to talk, that's fine too."
Hearing this, the tension in Chihiro's chest finally eased.
She smiled—softly and genuinely.
---
POV Naomi
Naomi was walking down the street, phone in hand, looking completely relaxed.
Noticing the time, she suddenly realized it was nearly eleven in the morning.
"I should find somewhere to eat…"
She paused mid-step.
"Huh?"
Looking closer, her eyes widened.
"Isn't that… Takahashi-senpai?"
She called out loudly.
In the crowded street, Takahashi turned around.
"Naomi-chan."
Naomi ran over and bowed lightly.
"Fancy seeing you here~ Senpai, walking alone?
I thought you'd usually be at the office handling work at this hour."
"Just taking a walk occasionally," he said awkwardly.
"Picking up a few personal items."
Naomi nodded.
"Sounds reasonable."
Her eyes landed on the bag he was carrying.
"What do you have there?"
"Oh… just some personal things," Takahashi quickly hid it behind his back.
"Don't worry about it."
Naomi didn't press further.
"Have you had lunch yet?
If not, want to eat with me?"
Takahashi glanced at the time.
"Almost eleven, huh.
Sure, let's go eat."
Naomi's face lit up.
"Let's go! I know a great place!"
As she led the way, Takahashi paused briefly and sent a text.
> Message me when you're back, so I know you're okay.
He whispered softly:
"Chihiro-san…"
---
Back at Aoyama General Hospital
Shiori slowly took a bite of the apple Chihiro had just peeled.
"Mm…"
She chewed slowly, squinting slightly.
"So good."
Chihiro looked slightly surprised.
"It's just a normal apple, Mom…"
"Normal, huh?" Shiori shook her head, smiling softly.
"You've always been careful choosing things. Ever since you were little."
She took another bite, voice full of joy.
"You really are capable.
Knowing how to choose, knowing how to take care of others…"
Then, as if remembering something, Shiori leaned on the bed, giggling.
"Now I can rest easy letting you get married."
"Mom!" Chihiro's face turned red immediately.
"Stop teasing me."
"I'm not teasing," Shiori said, pretending to be serious.
"You're twenty-six now. Not a child anymore."
She exhaled lightly.
"Living alone all the time isn't good.
Having someone next to you—even just to chat—is different."
Those words made Chihiro pause.
Old images flashed in her mind—
coming home alone at night,
simple meals,
and the familiar silence she had grown used to—but never truly liked.
She smiled faintly.
"I know…"
Chihiro carefully peeled another piece of apple.
"When I've settled my work…
I'll find a boyfriend and bring him home for you, okay?"
Shiori looked at her daughter for a long moment.
Then suddenly, she hugged her tightly.
"That's my good girl."
Her voice softened completely.
"As long as you live well, I don't need anything else."
Chihiro froze for a moment, then nodded gently.
"…Yes."
Shiori seemed to remember something, tilting her head.
"Oh… by the way,
you said you found an office job before, right?"
Chihiro nodded while eating a piece of apple.
"Yes.
It's going well!"
Shiori's voice brightened.
"How's your first days at work?"
She paused briefly, then asked in a slightly lower tone:
"Not being bullied, right?"
Chihiro chuckled lightly.
"No way.
Everyone at the company has been very nice to me."
"They guide me and help me out, so it's fine."
Hearing this, Shiori exhaled in relief.
"Then I can rest easy."
She smiled, her eyes soft.
"As long as you're not treated unfairly at work."
"And don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
"Yes…" Chihiro replied softly, the corner of her lips curving upward slightly.
---
Before leaving, Chihiro held her mother's hand.
"Make sure to rest well, Mom.
Tell me if anything happens.
Don't hide it anymore… I worry too much."
Shiori nodded, waving her daughter off.
---
After leaving the hospital, Chihiro opened her phone and saw a message from Takahashi.
"…I told you not to act like a boyfriend."
She whispered.
I'm on my way home. Just visited Mom.
---
At the Restaurant
After the meal, Naomi ordered two more seven-layer parfaits.
"So pretty…"
Her eyes sparkled.
"And so delicious…"
Takahashi smiled, just as his phone vibrated.
> I'm on my way home. Just visited Mom.
"Your mom…?"
"It seems she never talked about her mother…"
A fleeting unease crossed his heart.
"You okay?" Naomi asked.
"Eat quickly before the ice cream melts."
"Ah, right.
It's really good."
Naomi smiled, but her eyes no longer shone as brightly.
Her hand tightened around the spoon.
She wasn't upset about the melting ice cream.
It was because his gaze had drifted away from her at some point.
---
Back at home, Chihiro stood still for a moment after closing the door.
She took out a carefully wrapped box from her bag.
Inside was a mug—identical to Takahashi's.
She placed it on the bathroom shelf.
"Meow~"
"Kuro?"
Chihiro smiled.
"You're hungry, huh?"
The cat rubbed against her legs.
Chihiro picked it up.
"All right, all right… let's eat."
The room fell quiet.
---
Scene Shift
As the sun began to set, the sky turned a pale orange with hints of deep purple, as if the long day was slowly closing its eyes.
Rei stood silently on the beach, eyes fixed on the horizon where the sun was about to disappear.
The sea breeze brushed gently, carrying the familiar salty scent—but in his chest, something felt heavier than the air itself.
After watching the sunset for a while, Rei started walking along the sand.
Each step left a faint footprint, quickly erased by the waves—like the things he had tried to hold onto all this time.
Old memories suddenly surged back.
On this very beach, he had once carried Chihiro on his back, walking slowly under the afternoon sun.
"I told you I can walk by myself," she said, playful and stubborn.
"No way, with your foot injured, you can't walk on the sand!" he replied, unable to hide his worry.
She puffed her cheeks and turned away. "I'm not a child."
But shortly after, her small hands wrapped tightly around his neck again, warmth pressing against his back.
"Rei-kun!"
"What is it?" His voice remained calm.
"I love you!" "Hehe!"
Back then, Rei simply smiled, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"All you ever do is say that."
The memory stopped there.
Rei exhaled lightly, unconsciously clenching his hand.
Things he thought would last forever had existed only for a brief moment in life.
At that moment, footsteps approached.
Hiroshi stood beside him, hands in his pockets, staring at the sea.
"What are you doing here?"
He glanced at Rei. "Got something on your mind?"
Rei was silent for a long while.
The waves hit the shore over and over, urging him to say something.
"Hey, Hiroshi-kun…" Rei finally spoke.
"What is it?"
"Should I keep going?" His voice was low, carrying hesitation he didn't want to admit.
Hiroshi sighed. "Haizz…
That again. Honestly, you've made me curious about that girl."
He fell silent for a moment, then shrugged. "But never mind."
"Answer honestly."
"Mm…" Rei nodded slightly.
"If it were me… I would give up."
Rei's expression darkened at the reply.
Something in his heart felt even heavier.
But immediately after—
"If I see her happy."
Those words made Rei open his eyes wide, turning fully to Hiroshi.
"Isn't that right?" Hiroshi continued calmly.
"Who doesn't want the person they love to be happy?"
The words cut lightly but deeply.
In that instant, all childhood memories rushed back—Chihiro's smile, her voice, her eyes that had only ever looked at him.
Rei smiled faintly.
A smile light, yet full of pain.
He turned back to the sunset, now a thin line of light.
"Maybe… you're right."
"I also want her to be happy."
Rei bit his lip, as if loosening even a little would let all his emotions pour out.
Hiroshi turned, lighting a cigarette. "Then finish this quickly."
He walked away, leaving Rei alone on the vast beach.
Before disappearing completely, Hiroshi's voice floated back, soft as a breeze.
"You deserve happiness too, Rei-kun."
Rei said nothing.
He stood there silently, watching the sunset fade completely, letting go of what he could not keep, slowly leaving it behind in his heart.
END
---