Free Web NovelChapter 143: Red-Haired Troubles
"The name’s Rea, Matsunaga Rea." Rea introduced herself. Instead of extending her hand for a handshake, she gave him a business card.
"Tokitawa News Statio— you were the one who interviewed us back then," Hajime exclaimed. He was too fixated on the situation at hand that he didn’t even recognize the red-haired lady, granted that red hair is particularly rare for women in Japan.
"Yes... and judging from your panic... did your sister already wake up from her coma?" Rea asked, immediately pulling out a voice recorder from her pocket. Upon realizing what she had done, she apologetically bowed down to Hajime. "I’m sorry, force of habit."
"No, it’s all right." Hajime shook his palms in the air as if Rea didn’t do anything wrong. "I should be the one apologizing. I took your cab without warning, and now we’re heading to the Mikadzuki General Hospital."
"Don’t worry about it. I was heading to that place anyways. I smell a scoop, though. Is it all right if I accompany you to your sister? You don’t have to worry about the fare."
Hajime contemplated the offer for a couple of seconds before he nodded his head in response. "Sure... but please don’t go inside her room. I need to know what happened first before anything else." Hajime’s voice was shaking. The nearer they got to the Mikadzuki General Hospital, the more panicked he got. It wasn’t just his voice that faltered; even his entire body was anxiously shaking.
"I understand. Sure. I will stay back until everything’s taken cared of. It would be bad if I didn’t give you your due privacy." Rea responded, nodding her head as she patted Hajime on the shoulder, trying to calm him down before they got to the hospital.
A couple of minutes later, the cab arrived at the foot of the Mikadzuki General Hospital. With a swift thank you from the driver, Hajime proceeded to head outside. Before he could completely get out, though, he overheard the driver refusing Rea’s payment. "I wish that you hear good news once you enter the hospital. And kid, you don’t have to wear such a constipated expression; I’m sure things will start looking up from here."
With a wave of his hand, the cab driver excused himself and drove off, all the while wearing a gentle smile on his face. Hajime thankfully bowed at the leaving cab, but Rea immediately grabbed him by the arm and dragged him inside the hospital.
"Hurry, you have a sister to visit," Rea uttered.
...
Meanwhile,
Since it was still early in the morning, Megumi decided to visit Akiko. Just like any other day, she decided to spend all morning beside Akiko. She had gotten permission from Hajime, and ever since, she never missed a day visiting her, accompanying her while she was still in a coma.
"Well then, I’ll come to pick you up at the same time," Franz said, slightly bowing his head before driving off.
"Sure, thanks, Franz-san." Megumi bowed in response as well before slinging the bag on her shoulder and heading up to the entrance of the hospital.
"Megumi?" Someone called from behind her.
It was none other than Natsumi, who was also visiting Akiko on her day off. Today was the only day of the week she got to have time off from her part-time job, and yet Megumi just so happened to be going to the same place as her.
"And what are you doing here?" Natsumi asked. As it turned out, she also had an oversized bag, and she slung it on her shoulder as she walked up to Megumi.
"Ah, Natsumi. You’re also visiting Akiko, aren’t you?" Megumi asked. She had no idea why Natsumi was pretentiously acting hostile when they’d already become good friends.
"Yes. I brought tangerines and a couple of other things, just in case a few more people visit her." Natsumi responded, indirectly telling Megumi that she brought more stuff than she did.
"That’s funny, I also brought a couple of things with me... and some expensive snacks too, just in case Hajime comes by during his lunch break."
"Oh, it looks like the two good friends are here. Are the two of you visiting Hajime... or Akiko?" A voice spoke behind their back, teasing the two of them. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
It was a familiar voice. When they turned around, they realized that the voice belonged to Fuuka, Akamine Fuuka. Beside her was her older sister, Akamine-sensei; apparently, the two of them were going to visit Akiko as well. Akamine-sensei smiled as she saw Megumi and Natsumi bickering at each other like usual. She couldn’t help but think back to when the two of them were unapproachable in school. All of that changed when Hajime got involved with their lives.
"Ah, good morning, Akamine-sensei." Megumi and Natsumi simultaneously greeted. They then proceeded to glare at each other before nudging at each other’s sides.
"Drop the formalities; we’re all here to visit Akiko, right? Why don’t we head in?" Akamine-sensei offered as she took the lead.
"Is today some sort of celebration or what? Why are we all here?" Fuuka asked the obvious question as she shook her head. The situation was too much of a coincidence, to begin with.
Suddenly, a cab sped through the highway and stopped short in front of the hospital. Hajime then came out of it, bowing his head down and thanking the driver. A woman was with him, red-haired, and she had a very good figure, wearing a tight skirt and a blouse that hugged her above-average-sized bosom.
"Hurry, you have a sister to visit," Rea uttered, grabbing Hajime by the hand and dragging him into the hospital.
For a couple of seconds, the four of them watched as Hajime was taken into the hospital. Their mouths hung open as they realized what was going on. There was another girl with Hajime, and they seemed to be intimate with each other, even visiting his younger sister together.
"Um, Megumi... isn’t that..." Akamine-sensei’s voice trailed off as her head tilted to Megumi.
It wasn’t just Megumi who was fuming, even Natsumi joined in on her rage, and the two of them flounced as they headed inside the hospital.
"Wait up!" Fuuka chimed in. Deep within, she felt like this would be a great scene to watch. After all, they don’t recognize the lady that accompanied Hajime.
