It's already 9:00 pm. So I left for home.
"Stay here tonight."
Gramps said that but I insisted on going home. So I am leisurely riding my cycle and going home.
I haven't taken the main road and going home through the small roads. But the day was nice. I woke up and went to school. But it was Sunday.
That was blunder. Then Selena talked to me. It was a fresh experience because most people would just ignore me. We talked a lot.
She is fun to talk to. But that's it for today. She won't have time to talk to me from tomorrow onwards. And she won't remember me probably!!
Gramps and I played shogi. But I suck. So I lost every single game. The lunch was delicious.
"Grandma, your food is the best."
"Don't call me grandma. Do I look old?" (Grandma)
"A young grandma. Happens rarely but does happen."
"You little….you are gonna make a lot of girls cry." (Grandma)
"That's your imagination. I don't see myself like that. I don't even talk to girls that much."
"But you talked to me." (Selena)
"It was you who talked to me. I just continued the conversation."
"Anyway, how are you doing?" (Gramps)
"Same as always. Today I woke up in my bed. Which I usually don't use."
"There you go again. Don't tell me you still sleep on the sofa?" (Gramps)
"Nope. I think a week ago, I woke up in the hallway. I somehow fell asleep in the hallway and woke up there in the morning."
I laughed at that. But grandma became very angry. Gramps was just laughing while Mary was scolding me with grandma.
Dinner was fun too. But I left. I could have stayed there if I wanted to but somehow, I felt like going home.
I turn a corner. My house is just another turn away. But then I kinda dozed off.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a car. Rushing straight at me.
I pulled the brake but there's no way I could have escaped the collision.
And the car ran over me. No, I wasn't run over but my bike was. I jumped from the bike at the last moment and rolled over the car before falling down.
The car didn't even stop. It sped up and ran away. I can't see the license plate because it was dark and my eyesight worsens at night.
I just dusted myself off and picked up my bike. It's completely crushed. I check my body for injuries. I don't have any visible injuries but my head hurts. Maybe I hit my head while falling down.
And my back hurts. So my landing wasn't perfect. It's not too severe so I can walk home.
I pick the bike up on my shoulder because the tire has become useless. And I walk home from there.
When I reach home, I look at my phone. It 9:40 pm. Almost 10. I open the door and put my bike in the garage. Then I proceed to open the house door.
I felt another glare. I look behind and find Mizuki looking at me from the window.
When I opened the door, I felt something wrong. So I closed it again and then don't remember anything.
Ehh…..! I don't remember. Where was I? And I lost consciousness.
***
I open my eyes. But I can't see clearly. My vision is blurry. Where am I? What happened?
"Akatsuki, are you awake?"
I heard a voice calling my name and asking me.
"Yeah. But where am I?"
"Don't panic. You are at the hospital. I am the doctor. Do you remember anything?" (Doctor)
"No. What happened? I remember that I opened my house door and then I blacked out. What happened back there?"
"An explosion. Your house blew up. It's a miracle that you are still alive." (Doctor)
"I see. That's good then."
"Aren't you being too light hearted. Your house exploded and you almost died. Be more concerned." (Doctor)
"How many days was I unconscious?"
"Two days. You regained consciousness just now." (Doctor)
"Two whole days. That's a lot."
"No, it's actually fast. You should have been unconscious for at least a week." (Doctor)
"But I can't see clearly."
"Your eyesight was damaged a bit. It will take some time before healing completely. I will inform your family."
He said that and I heard the door opening. So he left the room.
I try to move my arm. But I can't even feel it. Does my body exist? I can't feel any part of my body.
I close my eyes. I couldn't see anyway.
I am stay still. But I can't move. My body is probably numb due to the anesthesia.
"Akatsuki, are you okay?"
"Who is that?"
"It's me, gramps." (Gramps)
"Ohh, I thought who my family was. It's you gramps. I am not okay. I can't see and I can't move."
"What happened?" (Gramps)
"Dunno. I was just opening the door. Then I got this eerie feeling and I suddenly lost consciousness. I don't remember anything after that."
"You were caught up in an explosion. Your house totally blew up. You survived because you closed the door." (Gramps)
"Gramps, can you speak up. I am having trouble hearing you."
I can't hear him talk very well. I was concentrating but it's too low for me to pick up.
"I am talking as high as I can. The doctor did say that your eardrums are ruptured. You may have difficulty hearing." (Gramps)
"What!! This is too much. Gramps, I am gonna sleep again."
"Sleep well. You just barely survived. So you need a lot of rest." (Gramps)
He left after that I closed my eyes. I try to fall asleep and I think I fell asleep.
◇◇◇◇◇
Selena POV
I met a weird boy today. He was sleeping in his classroom on a weekend. When I woke him up, he said that everyone is going to be late. He didn't know it was weekend.
I told him it was the weekend and he just laughed. His name is Akatsuki. He is talkative. He talked to me about a lot of things.
He has a bit idiotic side to him as well. But I think he's a funny guy. Moreover he haa a good relationship with our homeroom teacher Ms, Mary.
But seeing their exchange I am really doubtful. Is it just a good relationship or something more. She invited him to eat at her place. From his reaction, I can see that he is used to it.
Meaning he goes to her place often. He even knows her parents. Ms. Mary told him to take me there.
I have no problem with that. But he started lecturing me about this and that. When he gave me a lecture, he sounded like my dad.
I told him that I will be careful. But I am not a frivolous girl in the first place. I just thought, he'd be a easy person to talk to.
We talked about a lot of things on our way. And we reached his home. It's a pretty common house. I can see that most of the neighborhood houses are almost the same.
When he was unlocking the door, he suddenly looked behind. His face became stiff. I wonder what he saw. So I looked behind as well and saw a girl.
She is beautiful. Long black hair reaching down to her waist, tied in ponytail. Her face is small but well defined. Her eyes are big and black and her eyelashes are long. She is fair and her figure is nice. She is definitely a beauty.
Seeing a beauty like her, you would normally be happy and relaxed but Akatsuki became stiff and anxious.
"Ahh…Mizuki. Hello!!"
Akatsuki gave a wry smile and tried to greet her. But she just turned away and entered her house. Are they on bad terms?
Then Akatsuki sighed. Apparently she is his childhood friend. But they fell apart and now she doesn't even talk to him.
But I feel that something is different. She is doing something else.
I enter his house. It's lonely. I get that feeling. This house is lonely. He laughed and said to me to make myself at home.
He led me to the living room and I took a seat on the sofa. He left to change.
I look around. A very normal living room and a kitchen. But this place is very clean. Akatsuki said that his parents had died 5 years ago.
So he still cleans the place. And a photo frame caught my eye. I walk to the photo to get a better look.
I see a beautiful woman. She is beautiful and a man who is handsome. A beautiful couple and in the middle, there's a boy. Compared to them, the boy is really plain. But I think he looks familiar.
Then Akatsuki entered the living room.
"Is that you in the middle?"
"Yeah. My middle school entrance ceremony. That was the last photo we took together." (Akatsuki)
"Your mother sure is beautiful."
"Yeah. Sometimes I think, whether I really am her son or not. My parents were handsome but I on the other hand turned out pretty lame. I guess, you always don't take after your parents." (Akatsuki)
So they are his parents. Normally you wouldn't see them as parents and child. But the woman clearly has love and affection in this photo. She is looking very loving in this photo.
I can tell that she must really care for Akatsuki.
We left his place. When locking the door, I noticed that girl again. She is staring at us from her window. He said that her name is Mizuki.
We are in the same class. Maybe I will talk to her tomorrow. And we left for Ms. Mary's place.
I am staying at her house for the time being. Akatsuki knew them for a long time. So he is taking me there. It sure is fun. Before, I wouldn't talk to a guy because they all had ulterior motives.
However, I don't get that feeling from Akatsuki. However, when I looked into his eyes, I saw nothing. His eyes were kinda dead. Like they had given up.
He talked about his parents's death. He was talking so casually but I couldn't figure it out. How can he talk so casually about his parents's death? And before long, we reached the house.
It is a big and traditional house. I love these houses. They give off an antique feeling.
Akatsuki talked to Ms. Mary's father like he knew him since long ago. And her father also looked pleased seeing Akatsuki.
And we had a fun lunch and dinner. Akatsuki left at around 9:00 pm. Although they told him to stay the night, he didn't.
After he left, we also prepared to sleep. There are a lot of rooms in this house. But I am staying with Ms. Mary for the time being.
We lay out our futons and prepare to sleep.
"Ms. Mary, what was Akatsuki talking about in the classroom?"
I ask her because I was curious.
"Ohh..that. It was about his proposal." (Mary)
"Proposal? What did he propose to you?"
"When he was in his first year, dad jokingly asked him to marry me. And so he proposed to me. But how can I marry him? I am 10 years older than him." (Mary)
"But he sure is straightforward. He directly asked you to marry him. I don't think I could have refused the proposal."
"Ohhh…you already fell for him!!" (Mary)
"Don't tease me."
I pout. But I wonder. Ever since I met him, I have been getting this weird feeling.
"If you have him in your sight then you better be quick." (Mary)
"What do you mean? I don't have my sights on him."
"He doesn't know it but there are quite a few girls who have their sights on him. The way he acts is always indifferent and straight. So many girls have fallen for him. But no one comes out and asks him out." (Mary)
"Is there a reason?"
"It would be Mizuki. She is thoroughly using her position as his childhood friend to keep others away." (Mary)
"Mizuki…ahh. That girl who lives in front of him."
I remember. That beautiful black haired girl who was sulking when she saw me with him.
"I actually saw her. But doesn't she hate him? Akatsuki said that."
"That's why he's an idiot. He can also be a bit too indifferent. So he probably doesn't notice it. The way she acts is basically because she is too embarrassed." (Mary)
"Huuhhh…"
I guess everyone has their problems. That's when I heard a loud sound.
"What was that?"
"I don't know. But it sounds like an explosion. Did something explode?" (Mary)
We both go outside to see. Her parents are already there. We stand in the garden.
We can see smoke. It's coming from the south. If I remember correctly, Akatsuki lives in that direction.
I take out my phone to check on him. Is he okay? I exchanged our contacts with each other. So I should call him.
But when I unlocked my phone, I was stunned and I probably screamed in a weird manner.