幼馴染（Osananajimi-Childhood friend）

Episode 10: Time is Ruthless

　After school, I would go to the hospital to visit Kyoko, but some days I could visit her and some days I could not. It depends on Kyoko's condition, so I can only find out when I go to the hospital.

　In the beginning, I was able to visit her every day, but then the number of days I could not visit her increased to once or twice a week, then two or three times a week, and it has been a month since Kyoko was hospitalized.

　The closest shrine to my house was a large one, so I went there once and bought a good luck charm.

　I went to visit her with the charm and went into her hospital room.

　Whenever I came to visit her, Kyoko's mother always made the time to leave just the two of us.

　The IV tube and the oxygen tube. The sound of oxygen flowing out of the tubes into Kyoko's nose could be heard in the quiet room.

"Kyoko, I went to the Suitengu Shrine to get a good luck charm.

"Oh, a good luck charm at Suitengu?

"Yes. Yes, at the nearby Suitengu Shrine. Here it is.

"Let me see.

　I handed Kyoko the talisman I had bought.

"Um, Yusuke?　It looks like this amulet is for safe delivery.

"What?　Safe delivery?

"But since Yusuke took care of it, I'll take it gratefully. Thank you.

"Well, that was a bad idea. I'll check it out and get the real one next time.

"You don't have to do that anymore. By the way, Yusuke, you know that I've wanted to get a dog since I was little.　If I ever get a dog, I'm going to name it Nico.

"Nico?

"Yes, Nico. He's always smiling.

"Do dogs smile?

"Well, that's okay. As long as I think he's smiling.

"Maybe he does.

"But I couldn't keep him in my apartment, so I had to put up with him for a long time. So I decided to get a dog outside. Yusuke didn't know that, did he?

"I didn't know that at all. Where did you get the dog?

"That dog, you know, he listens to everything I say.

"Hmm.

"I wanted to get a real dog, but that one was so cute.

"Hmm.

"That dog, ......, no, I'm not getting that dog. Instead, Yusuke, show me your happy smiling face.

　It had been two months since Kyoko had been hospitalized. During that time, I found a good luck charm to cure her illness and gave it to Kyoko. "Thank you," she said and accepted it.

　As for the student council, black-rimmed-glasses, who had been the vice president, officially took over from Kyoko as the student council president. In the beginning, black-rimmed-glasses asked me about Kyoko incessantly, but now they don't say anything when we meet each other by chance. I quit the student council.

　I quit the student council, and Kyoko became more and more gaunt every day.

　It is now the second half of June, and it has been raining since this morning.

"Yusuke, the medicine seems to be strong lately, and it's really painful.

　For the first time, Kyoko, who had never whined before, told me she was having a hard time.

"So, Yusuke, you don't have to come here anymore. Thank you for everything.

　Kyoko told me in a weak voice.

"It's okay if I want to come, right?

"I'm not going to let Yusuke see me looking any worse than I already do, now that I'm so skinny and ugly. Do you understand?

　Of course, I understand what Kyoko is saying, and I don't want to see Kyoko get any worse. But I want to be with her as much as possible.

"Okay, I get it. Kyoko, I don't want to be irresponsible and tell you to hang in there, but if you ever want to see my face, just tell your mom to call me.

"Yes, I will. Okay, Yusuke.

"Bye, Kyoko.

　With that, I left the hospital room. I couldn't see the tears running down Kyoko's cheeks.

　I left the hospital and walked along the sidewalk without an umbrella, thinking that I would walk home today in the light rain.

"You idiot!

　As I was about to cross the street, a truck drove past in front of me. I saw that the traffic light was red. I rushed backwards.

　The rain was soaking my shirt and I was getting cold. I hurriedly took out my umbrella and ran towards home.

afterword

nico-niko: smile happily