Chapter 2 "Unable to speak"

At the hospital, Chiyori got her wounds treated. No matter who spoke to her, she would just stare at them silently.

"It's a PTSD symptom, getting therapy and treatment can help her condition..." said Dr.Hashimura a professional psychiatrist. "Ken, how did you find this child? She's supposed to be a 12-year-old but she only weighs as heavy as a 6-year old," questioned Hashimura Gin.

Nakamura Ken was a detective working under the police department, he was able to contact Hashimura Gin for help as they were close friends since high school.

"This morning Kotaro came home telling us about how he met a girl with bruises all over her arm..." sighed Nakamura Ken.

Earlier that day.

Startled by the loud sound of glass shattering, Chiyori got up from her bed to inspect where the sound came from. Pieces of broken glass all over the floor and a tattered and dirty baseball was found on the ground by the broken windowpane.

"Ding dong".

The sound of a doorbell, followed by the voice of a boy could be heard coming from outside.

"E-Excuse me! Is anyone home? I-I'm sorry about your window..", the boy said nervously.

Chiyori picked up the ball and walked out of the room and into the entranceway. She turned the lock and opened the door.

"Ball..." murmured Chiyori as she hid behind the door with the ball in hand.

Behind the door was a sickly thin girl looking disheveled, she stuck out her hand that held the baseball.

The boy was frightened at the sudden appearance of a little girl that looked like a ghost. He reached out to grab the ball and realized the bruises on her arm, "thank you very mu..." before he could finish speaking, the door had shut closed before him.

"Zashiki-Warashi?!" the boy thought to himself, feeling uneasy he quickly left for home.

As the door to the Nakamura family's entrance slid shut, the voice of a woman can be heard from the kitchen. "Kotaro? Is that you? Didn't you say you have baseball practice?" asked Kotaro's mother. Still feeling unsettled about the little girl he saw earlier on, Kotaro sat at the dining table. "Mom, earlier I saw this little girl...". As Kotaro was explaining, his father Nakamura Ken had overheard their conversation.

That evening at Meijiro Hospital.

"Nakamura-san, visiting hours are over. Please come again tomorrow, the patient needs rest." said a female nurse in charge of caring for Chiyori.

"I understand, thank you for your hard work." Nakamura Ken nodded and bowed before leaving the hospital.

That night Nakamura Ken went home feeling dejected of not being able to help Chiyori.

"I'm home..." sliding the door shut behind him as he entered his house.

"Dear, welcome home. How's the child?" questioned Nakamura Aiko as she helped him remove his coat. "She's not able to speak at all, it's hard to get any information..." replied Nakamura Ken.

"She spoke to Kotaro this morning, didn't she? Maybe she's uncomfortable speaking to adults, why don't you take Kotaro with you to the hospital tomorrow." Nakamura Aiko said as she took the coat to the laundry room.

"Okay, maybe she'll be more comfortable talking to someone her age.." Nakamura Ken agreed with his wife's suggestion.

The next day at the hospital, Kotaro walked into the ward with his father. Chiyori looked up to see that boy from yesterday walking towards her bed. "Ball..." she murmured in a very soft voice. Nakamura Ken surprised that the girl had finally spoken, he nudges his son to speak to her.

"H-Hello... do you remember me? I accidentally broke your window yesterday..." feeling awkward, he scratched the back of his head. Chiyori stared at the boy with a blank look on her face. "What's your name?" he asked. The room was silent for a couple of moments before a soft but sweet voice of a little girl could be heard. "Hase Chiyori...".