Shinanomachi, Shinjuku Ward. Keio University Hospital.
Inside a private care ward, Tsushima Kagami lay on a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV drip. An oxygen tube was inserted into his nose, and patches for an ECG monitor covered his chest. The monitor on the bedside cabinet emitted a rhythmic beep-beep sound that echoed through the room.
"Open your mouth."
Yukinoshita Shizuku sat at the head of the bed, holding a bowl of vegetable porridge. She scooped up a spoonful, blew on it until she felt it was no longer too hot, and then held the spoon up to Tsushima Kagami's lips. Her slightly hoarse voice prompted Kagami, who was staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Ahh."
Tsushima Kagami opened his mouth while still gazing at the unfamiliar ceiling, swallowing the porridge Shizuku offered him.
"Shizuku."
"Hmm?"
After Kagami swallowed the porridge, she scooped up another small spoonful and began to blow on it slowly, looking at him as he called her na.
"I want to eat a fried chicken cutlet."
"No."
"The doctor said you need a light diet for the next few days."
"Open up."
After speaking, Shizuku brought the cooled vegetable porridge to Kagami's lips again.
"Ahh."
Tsushima Kagami once again gulped down the porridge.
"Shizuku."
"Hmm?"
"I'm really fine. If you don't believe , let get out of bed and walk a few steps to show you."
Just as Kagami tried to sit up from his lying position, Shizuku pushed him back down with one hand.
"The doctor said that although the previous examinations didn't find any major issues, the possibility of a latent period for internal bleeding cannot be ruled out. So, you have to stay in the hospital for observation for a few days."
Tsushima Kagami tilted his head to the side, looking out at the night sky through the window.
In response, Yukinoshita Shizuku set the bowl of porridge aside, gently held Kagami's head with both hands, and turned it back to face forward.
"You shouldn't move around recklessly."
Tsushima Kagami sighed helplessly.
Back when the ambulance had arrived at the scene in a tily manner, he was already able to move normally. He had intended to get up and be a bystander eating popcorn, but Shizuku, crying the whole ti, had forcibly pressed him onto the stretcher. He was then sent to the hospital along with the Ijichi mother and daughter.
After a full round of examinations confird there was nothing serious, Shizuku finally stopped crying so intensely. However, the attending physician, fearing the potential for delayed internal bleeding, ordered him to stay for observation for a few days.
And so, Tsushima Kagami was pinned to the hospital bed.
Observation was one thing, but who knew Shizuku would be so blindly worried that a single movent would cause internal bleeding? She insisted he lie there like a corpse; aside from his eyeballs turning, she wouldn't let him move a muscle!
This care was a bit too extre!
Just then, the door was pushed open.
Mrs. Yukinoshita walked in from outside, wearing a sharp won's suit.
Today, Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't have her hair pinned up in the familiar style; instead, her hair was let down over her shoulders. Upon entering and seeing Tsushima Kagami lying on the hospital bed, the slightly exhausted look on her face was replaced by worry.
"How is Kagami?"
After entering, Mrs. Yukinoshita took off her coat and placed it, along with her handbag, on the back of a nearby chair. She walked to the bedside and asked Yukinoshita Shizuku.
"The doctor said there's nothing serious, but they can't rule out the possibility of internal bleeding later, so he needs to stay for observation for a few days."
Shizuku stood up, poured a glass of hot water for her mother, and handed it to her.
"Mother, why did you co?"
Tsushima Kagami, who had wanted to use the opportunity to sit up, was once again pushed back down by Shizuku's hand.
"I called Mother right after making the ergency call at the scene."
After speaking, Mrs. Yukinoshita sat in the seat Shizuku had occupied earlier. She reached out and touched Kagami's left hand, which was connected to the IV drip.
His hand was cold, so she began to gently rub it for him.
Tsushima Kagami looked at Mrs. Yukinoshita with a smile.
"Mother, I'm really fine."
"Can you let go out for a walk?"
Seeing that Tsushima Kagami's complexion was rosy and he could still smile—indeed looking as if nothing was wrong—Mrs. Yukinoshita finally breathed a sigh of relief. She then returned to her usual serious expression.
"Since the doctor said there is still a possibility of internal bleeding, you shouldn't move around."
"Just lie there for a few more days."
"Also."
"Although saving people is a good thing, please think more about your own safety."
"As well as Shizuku and ."
"I understand. I made you and Shizuku worry; I am truly sorry."
Hearing this, Mrs. Yukinoshita sighed as well, her voice softening a bit.
"There is no need for apologies between family, but we really do worry."
"Look, Shizuku's voice has gone hoarse."
Standing to the side, Yukinoshita Shizuku noticed her mother and Kagami looking at her and unconsciously turned her head away.
Seeing Shizuku's eyes—originally clear, but now swollen, red, and bloodshot from crying—Tsushima Kagami mimicked Mrs. Yukinoshita and let out a deep sigh.
"Mother, take Shizuku back to rest."
"She's very tired, and you must be tired too, Mother, having rushed here overnight."
"I will stay here to nurse him."
The mont Kagami spoke, Shizuku turned her head back and spoke hurriedly in her hoarse voice.
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at Tsushima Kagami again.
Tsushima Kagami smiled and spoke once more.
"Please bring breakfast tomorrow morning, Mother."
"It's been a long ti since I've eaten breakfast made by you, Mother."
Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled slightly. She tucked his hand under the quilt, then stood up to grab her coat and handbag before looking at Yukinoshita Shizuku.
"Co ho with to rest."
"But..."
Shizuku looked at Kagami, wanting to say sothing more.
"Do you not understand?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita's stern voice rang out again.
"Yes."
After replying, Shizuku looked at Tsushima Kagami, who was making silly faces at her. She frowned, stomped her foot, and finally followed Mrs. Yukinoshita out of the ward.
Watching the Yukinoshita mother and daughter finally leave, Tsushima Kagami flipped over and sat up. He tore off all the patches on his body, which scared the nurses at the station into running over to check the situation. After much persuasion, he finally got the doctor to agree to remove the monitor.
Just as Tsushima Kagami was preparing to go out for a stroll, the door was pushed open again.
This ti, Tsukuyomi Komoe and Douraku Utage walked in.
"Moe-sensei, Douraku-sensei, how is Mrs. Ijichi's side doing?"
Because all three mbers of the Ijichi family had been admitted to the hospital together, and there were no other family mbers to care for them, the two teachers—who had originally co to persuade them to return to school—had stayed behind to look after the Ijichi trio.
Seeing Tsukuyomi Komoe and Douraku Utage coming over now, Tsushima Kagami took the chance to ask about the situation there.
"Little Nijika and Seika are mostly fine."
"Little Nijika just has so minor scrapes."
"Seika fainted because the shock was too great; she'll wake up a bit later."
"Mrs. Ijichi, however, has a mild concussion, a dislocated right hand, and slight internal rupture."
"But the doctor said she was brought in just in ti, so her life isn't in danger."
After Tsukuyomi Komoe finished speaking, she patted her chest with a look of lingering fear.
Tsushima Kagami nodded.
The situation had been urgent. Although he had controlled his strength and angle, he had still roughly thrown Mrs. Ijichi out of the way. She was bound to suffer so injuries upon landing, but it was certainly better than being struck dead by a car.
Douraku Utage, who had witnessed the entire accident, also spoke with lingering trepidation.
"Thanks to you, Kagami-kun. Before I could even react, I saw you had already rushed to Mrs. Ijichi's side."
"It was like watching a slow-motion replay. Watching you get hit fra by fra... do you know how terrifying that was?"
After speaking, Douraku Utage walked up to Tsushima Kagami and punched him lightly on the thigh.
"Don't be so reckless next ti. Although we were lucky and everyone is happy this ti..."
"If we hadn't been so lucky, we might have had one more casualty."
"Oh my, why did you get out of bed on your own?"
"Where is Yukinoshita-san?"
Tsukuyomi Komoe and Douraku Utage finally snapped out of it and noticed that Tsushima Kagami, who was supposed to be monitored in bed, had removed the IV drip and the monitor, and was standing at the door looking like he was about to leave.
"Ah, Mother ca by earlier. I asked her to take Shizuku back to rest."
"As for removing the monitor, I already spoke to the doctor. There's no problem."
"I'm just going to wander around the hallway outside; nothing will happen."
As Tsushima Kagami prepared to head out, Tsukuyomi Komoe and Douraku Utage worriedly attempted to support him. However, due to their height, they ended up becoming two ornants, each hanging off one of Tsushima Kagami's legs like koalas.
____
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