Chapter 60: Relationship

Akikawa Kyousuke was sent to the hospital.

Upon arriving, the doctors and nurses from the emergency department quickly came to attend to the injured.

In Japan, ambulances are not affiliated with hospitals but with the fire department.

Therefore, the emergency personnel from the fire truck also needed to inform the hospital doctors in detail about Akikawa Kyousuke's injuries.

The doctors performed a CT scan of Akikawa's head to assess the condition of his brain and skull.

After a long wait, Itakura Misaki finally met the doctor who treated Akikawa Kyousuke.

She followed the doctor to the office to listen to the examination report.

"Although the injured Akikawa suffered multiple blows to the head, his overall condition is much better than expected."

"Very well."

Hearing the doctor's first words, Itakura Misaki breathed a sigh of relief.

"Next, let's talk about the specific situation."

"A subcutaneous hemorrhage and a mild cerebral contusion were detected in Akikawa's head, but there was no intracranial bleeding or skull fracture."

"What does that mean?"

After hearing the term "cerebral contusion," Misaki Itakura suddenly became nervous.

"It means the patient's injuries do not require surgical intervention."

"So that's it."

Upon hearing this, Itakura Misaki sighed in relief again.

But then she remembered Akikawa Kyousuke's eyes, which had seemed to be filled with blood, so she quickly asked:

"Doctor, how are Mr. Akikawa's eyes?"

If Akikawa Kyousuke's vision was affected, it would be a lifelong disability!

"That's nothing to worry about," the doctor said.

"Subconjunctival hemorrhage is usually caused by the rupture of small blood vessels on the surface of the eye, and although it may look alarming, it is typically self-limiting."

"Self-limiting?"

Itakura Misaki repeated the unfamiliar term.

"Self-limiting means it will heal on its own without special treatment.

With artificial tears or antibiotic eye drops, it will recover on its own in about 1 to 2 weeks."

"Great!"

"Of course, the injured has several bruises and lacerations on his forehead, and stitches are unavoidable."

"In addition, during the patient's hospitalization, we need to watch for any headaches.

If symptoms are severe, another CT or MRI scan may be needed."

"In general, it could be said the patient was quite lucky. Everything looks severe, but the injuries are not very serious."

"There's no need to worry, Ms. Itakura."

"All right, thank you, doctor."

After thanking him, Misaki Itakura prepared to leave.

But suddenly, she remembered something and turned back to ask:

"Excuse me, doctor, did the attacker actually intend to kill Mr. Akikawa?"

"I believe so," the doctor nodded.

"Though the injuries are minor, ordinary impulsive blows wouldn't cause such injuries. Furthermore, the patient's head clearly received more than one blow."

Misaki Itakura thanked the doctor and left the office.

Finally feeling relieved, Itakura Misaki suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion welling up inside her.

Although this was not the first time something like this happened to people around her, it was the first time it was so close.

Just as Misaki Itakura was about to enter Akikawa Kyousuke's room to check on his condition, she suddenly heard footsteps not far away.

Misaki Itakura turned her head with indifference.

When she saw the woman with long brown hair walking quickly toward her, Itakura Misaki's somewhat depressed spirit instantly lifted.

"Miss Yoko!"

Misaki Itakura called out excitedly.

Okino Yoko placed her index finger to her lips, and Itakura Misaki quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

"How is he doing?"

"The doctor said it's not very serious," Misaki replied, telling Okino Yoko everything she had just heard from the doctor about Akikawa Kyousuke.

After listening, Okino Yoko also visibly relaxed.

She then patted Misaki Itakura on the shoulder and whispered in her ear:

"Officer Chiba wants to question you. They're waiting over there."

Hearing this, Itakura Misaki looked in the direction Okino Yoko indicated.

Indeed, not far from Okino Yoko stood the police officer, Detective Mouri Kogoro, the "handsome" detective she had met recently, and the elementary school student who had somehow appeared at the crime scene.

After all, Misaki Itakura was still an ordinary person.

Facing the criminal police, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

Noticing her nervousness, Okino Yoko extended her long fingers and gently held Misaki Itakura's hand.

A gentle smile appeared on her flawless cheeks.

"Don't be afraid. Officer Chiba and Mr. Mori are very good people. Ms. Itakura just needs to tell them what she knows."

"Oh, all right. Miss Yoko, will you come too?"

Looking at Okino Yoko's smile, Itakura Misaki's somewhat nervous heart filled with courage.

Perhaps this was the power of idols.

A single word could fill Misaki Itakura with energy.

"They already asked me. Ms. Itakura can go alone. I'm going to see Sora."

"Okay!"

Itakura Misaki nodded heavily.

"Miss Yoko is such a kind person. She's been through a lot today, but she still made a special trip to the hospital to visit Kouu…"

Before she could finish sighing in her mind, the name Okino Yoko had just called Akikawa Kyousuke suddenly caught Misaki Itakura's attention.

"Did Miss Yoko just call Mr. Akikawa 'Kou'?"

"Come to think of it, when we were at the Imperial Theater, Miss Yoko seemed to call Mr. Akikawa 'Kou'…"

Realizing something was off, Misaki Itakura quickly turned her head to look at Okino Yoko.

She saw Okino Yoko gently pushing open the door and entering Akikawa Kyousuke's room.

And this time, Okino Yoko's usual warm smile that could brighten anyone's heart was gone.

Itakura Misaki clearly saw a deep look of loneliness on Okino Yoko's beautiful cheeks that no one could envy.

"Speaking of which, the few times I've seen Miss Yoko showing emotional fluctuations, Mr. Akikawa seemed to be present…

Also, Mr. Akikawa is obviously very familiar with Miss Yoko, yet he pretends not to be…"

Reflecting on what she had noticed today, Itakura Misaki concluded that Okino Yoko seemed to care about Akikawa Kyousuke more than anyone else.

A bold idea uncontrollably surfaced in Itakura Misaki's mind.

"Oh my god, are these two secretly dating?"

Misaki Itakura covered her open mouth, very surprised by what she had discovered.

Too shocked, she became a bit distracted while answering Chiba Kazushi's questions.

After venting all her frustration with Nishihara Koichi's actions during this time to Chiba Kazunobu and the detectives, she hurried back to Akikawa Kyousuke's room.

The hospital hallways were quiet and peaceful.

However, at that moment, Itakura Misaki's mind was filled with noisy voices as if a debate was taking place.

"No… impossible? Does Miss Yoko like this kind of thing…?"

"Also… it's not that Mr. Akikawa is bad… but… Mr. Akikawa has a really bad temper, and he doesn't seem like a normal person!!"

"No wonder Miss Yoko was so surprised when she saw Mr. Akikawa on the day she finished training… Looks like Miss Yoko didn't know Mr. Akikawa would join her company as an artist!!"

With random thoughts still swirling in her mind, Itakura Misaki returned to Akikawa Kyousuke's door.

Just before she raised her fist, preparing to knock, her lifted hand suddenly stopped in midair.

At that moment, from Akikawa Kyousuke's room, Misaki Itakura heard something she had never heard before—the pained cry of idol Okino Yoko.

(End of chapter)