60 3.17- The Visitation...

Time ticked by slowly and I was stirred into attention as my alarm went off at exactly 7 am. I reached in my pocket and retrieved my phone and snoozed the alarm. I subconsciously stared at the phone's wallpaper and cherished the moment I had with Akira for the past week.

I called the landlord of the dormitory and explained why I hadn't returned home and narrated on the whole incident. He asked if I need anything from my room but I do not want to trouble him with small matters at all so I declined his offer to get some necessities from my locker.

I reminded the landlord to inform his wife as well and he told me he'd come to the hospital after all the students had left for school. I thanked him for his concern.

I flipped back my phone and looked back at Akira who was in a deep sleep and waiting for her Prince Charming to kiss her and awake from the terrible curse. I stroked her head once more and ran my thumb on her thick eyebrow... Hoping for a minuscule twitch on her face... And my tears involuntarily flowed from the corner of my eye and left a trail down to my lips.

I called the School's Head of Department and introduced myself to the recipient and told her that I would be taking a leave of absence. I related to her the reason for the sudden leave of absence and I can feel the recipient was utterly shocked and lost for words.

I narrated the whole incident and she assured me that she will inform the Principal as well as the teacher in charge of Akira's class. She later told me that arrangements for well-wishers would be made soon after school's hours today.

I thanked her and hung up the phone and as I stroked Akira's forehead, I whispered that her friends from school would come by after school. I smiled for her and kissed the part of the forehead that was not being covered by the bandage.

Time ticked by and doctors made their rounds while I moved away giving them the space needed to examine their patients. After their examinations and assessment, they came to me and asked who I am to Akira and told her that I was a "very close friend" with her. The doctors told me to go home and freshen up since they received news from the nurses that I had come in right after the ambulance brought Akira to the emergency department yesterday afternoon and had not left since.

I told them I would leave in a bit and left my mobile number to the nurses stationed there in case Akira showed any progress. I explained to them that I'm going to get some clothes as well as toiletries nearby.

When I left the solitary observation room and went to the lift lobby, I can't help to overhear the nurses saying that, "It's a pity for the young man to wait for a bud of a rose, but in the end failed to bloom and withered in the progress."

Their words stung at my heart like a broad-edged tip arrow that had pierced through it. I went inside the lift and descended to the ground level and look for convenience shops that sell toiletries and such.

I returned to where Akira was and bowed slightly at the nurses on duty there. I walked up and peered through the door as I opened it up; half expecting Akira to be sitting at the bed and smilingly greeted me.

It was already past 10 am and I went into the bathroom which was attached to the room and took a quick shower. I had bought some disposable briefs, a small face towel, and some pairs of tanktop set with matching coloured shorts, a pair of Japanese flip-flops and toiletries.

The hot shower was very welcoming and refreshing as it helped to wash away my last night's sorrows. I changed and placed my soiled clothes into a paper bag and decided to head down to the self-service laundrette later.

I placed my toiletries set in the bathroom and slipped my barefoot with the Japanese flip-flops that I had bought earlier. The paper bag filled with my soiled clothes was placed on the floor near the bathroom door.

I sat next to Akira on the bedside and held her hand... Mine was cold from the shower and into her warm yet unresponsive hand. The door creaked open behind me and the dormitory's landlord and his wife entered. I stood up and bowed at them and the landlord came up to me and embraced me.

"Shiro-San, always be strong in both faith and health. Akira will need to see you strong and healthy as the first time she has seen you. You need to pray for God's miracles to pull Akira out from her coma. The doctors had told me and it would be a miracle if Akira would pull through... Don't worry, Aki-Sama and Chomi-sama will be here when you need us. Just give a ring... "

"Thank you so much Aki-sama; Chomi-san. Thank you for visiting Akira, it would mean so much to her. I also wish you to pray together for Akira's recovery. You should know how much I care about her and all I wanted now was her to open up her eyes and be well...I love her so much and I would not leave her side... Aki-sama; Choi-sama... "

Tears began jerking my eyes once more as I deeply bowed to both the landlord and his wife. I truly meant what I said and they both knew how sincere I was when declaring to them.

They took out a small cloth bundle and presented me their homemade bento. Their thoughtfulness struck a chord within me as they somehow knew I had neither taken any meals since last night till just. They told me to eat while they attended to Akira.

I thanked and bowed deeply to them and took the bento to the side. I was in no mood to eat but it is customary to have one's meals when someone brought over to you out of concern and pity. I opened up the bundle and the opened the bento box and the sight and smell of it salivate me as I quietly wolf it down while it was still warm. Its a simple rice meal with several dishes but it's more than enough as I stuffed them down my face. I didn't know I was that hungry.

Not a morsel of food was left when I handed the empty bento box to them. I thanked them again and told them to make a fuss about me the next time. I explained that the hospital has a 24-hour vending machine that serves hot bento meals and beverages.

After staying for the next half hour, the landlord and landlady excused themselves as they need to attend to their dormitories since they can't afford to leave them unattended for so long. I thanked them again and held both of their hands and told them I will call them when the need arises.

They soon left me in the ward alone accompanied by the steady beeps from the ECG machine that was kept switched on beside Akira's bed. I sat down on the chair alongside her and took out the heart-shaped origami that I had replaced them in my shorts pocket. I took a piece of thread from one of the sutures pack and hung it at the glass window and it twirl when a gust of air-con breeze blew on it.

A few hours passed and there was a knock on the door. I called out for them to come in and the Principal and Vice-Principal of Asahigaoka's entered.

"How is Akira-chan's doing...? Has she made any progress? How long have you been here and have you eaten yet? Akira-chan's next of kin had been notified, hasn't she? Will she be here so we could straighten some matters pertaining Akira-chan now as part of her guardian?"

All sort of questions were aimed at me and I answered them one by one without skipping a beat. I rest assured to both the Principal and Vice-Principal that I would be here and not leave Akira by my side.

"How about your school...? Akira-chan is in this kind of condition, we don't want you to neglect your other responsibilities, Shiro-kun. Forget about the Juku and the ECA, we would like to have you back in school latest by Wednesday or Thursday. Pick yourself up, young man...! If you do care about Akira-Chan, go to school and spend time after school with her. We both are sure Akira-Chan would want you to do so, are we right to say that? "

I hung my head down, it's not that I am ashamed of not going to school but I felt embarrassed to have people whom I had to relate with, suddenly showed their care and concern towards me.

I looked up, tear-stained and I nodded in agreement with what the Principal and Vice-Principal had suggested and I bowed my head low and thanked them.

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"Your wish is my command" or "Anata no kibō wa Watashi no meireidesu"

Soon afterwards Akira's classmates entered the ward in threes and brought with them some get-well-soon multicoloured helium balloons, fruit and flower baskets, a miniature bonsai plant and even 2 Ikebanas that they arranged themselves at the florist nearby. The atmosphere of multitude burst of colours brought life to the otherwise dull solitary room.