HanTsuki:Volume 2 Chapter 2

Thirty minutes before, the hallway was still crowded with yelling patients who are waiting for diagnosis. But now, it is so quiet that one can even hear a needle dropping on the ground. Five thirty-seven in the afternoon--diagnostic time ends. The patient who are here to see the doctor all returned. Benches in tea color are nicely ordered in the empty hallway. On the benches, silent piled up like dust. Even so, this somewhere in this space still keeping the thick traces of human, maybe something like wishes . All kinds of patient, and their family too, came to the hospital. From this long term hospitalization, I started to realize that they have a much more stronger wishes than normal people. They release it unconsciously.

Right, this is normal.

Being ill, is very painful. Though my sickness is not too severe, I had some time when I feel limp for the whole body -- which is a terrible experience, At that time, I can't even move a finger, and I feel so painful. There are no one who can bear this much pain. The pain will seize everything from you, including life and soul.

That residue of the trace is now floating in the air.

"fuu...."

I take a seat in front of the waiting room, where the television lies. At this point of time, no elderly will come to here, therefore, I got the right to change the channel. However, there is a problem. It is now five thirty. Speaking of the programme at five thirty--

The reported in a short jacket was smiling wholeheartedly.

"Today, we are introducing the fishing habour which is one of the greatest trading country-wise in Chiba ken."

The voice is so sharp.

In the background, there is a dude pulling the fishing net.

"Hey, by coincidence, there is a fisherman. Let's interview him."

Next--

A big crowd of kids is surrounding a big brother and a big sister.

The kids are dressing like bees.

"Hey, let's sing with the big brother, shall we? We--- are--"

The big brother and sister are bouncing.

The kids dress like bees are also bouncing.

Next--

A news reporter in gray suit appears.

He bears a serious face.

"--The councilor was arrested because of suspicion on taking bribery. He received 37 millions yen from a construction company of the voting region which included an imported luxurious car --"

How nice, luxurious car.

Is it Benz?

Or is it BMW?

He actually got 37 millions?!

Next--

A row of nearly naked man sits shoulder to shoulder.

Hair wor in bun.

Fundoshi.

The female reporter suddenly appeared beside them.

"It is unusually nutritious to put komatsuna in the mixed hot pot--"

The sumo wrestlers said in a soft voice:

"Yes-!"

Back looking at the female reporter.

"All of you became strong after you start eating it, right?"

"Yes--!"

"Komatsuna gives you infinite power!"

"Yes--"

"Komatsuna!"

"Komatsuna!"

"Yes-!"

"Ko-ma-tsu-na--!!"

sigh, soo boring.

At around five thirty afternoon, we got all these dull programme only. Anyway, I can only turn off the sound, lying on a bench. The ceiling is flashing with the lights from the TV. The colour of pale red, pale blue are dancing. Some may say, if you don't watch the TV, just turn it off. However, a nameless loneliness seizes me when this thought come to me. If so, I rather watch the dancing light on the ceiling.

When I lie down, I feel a sense of tire. Because I was locked on the roof the other day, my flu was not recovered. I still got a fever now.

Rika is still mad at me.

In this situation, I really don't know how to apologize.

I deeply know I have no right to see her anymore. These days, I have been avoiding her. Avoid? No, escape is more accurate.

Ah, what should I do...

The flashing light on the ceiling is still dancing. In the TV, the original idol, now program host is talking something to the mic, showing a whole face of smile, but the eyes bears no happiness--

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

At the same time, someone stick his head over.

"Dead?"

It's Yamanishi.

I sit up slowly.

"I heard that your fame has grown lately?"

"Y,yes..."

"Had a big fight with those guys at Toko?"

"Y,yes..."

"What about that MD? I remember the songs that I put in it are all really nice?"

"Really nice! you will be encouraged after listening to them."

Wham wham -- I knock on the chair.

"Sit."

"W-what?"

"Sit down first."

Yamanishi bent over -- at the same time, I headlock him. I hold his arm and feet after he lied on the ground. That then finish a Demonic Death Trap DDT, a finishing move of Junji Hirata.

"Ouch, Ouch--!!"

"It is all your fault. You made me so unlucky, you know?!"

"I am dying, dead --!!"

"You are so noisy, go die!"

"Woahhhh--!!"

"Humph!"

Although I desperately holding Yamanishi's shoulder and wrist, I start to pant with the stamina drained. Seems like Demonic Death Trap really take a lot of effort. Also, Yamanishi is looking at me with tears, therefore, I let go of him.

"You are so cruel, Ezaki... I am nearly killed..."

Yamanishi said, after clearing his voice.

I spit out a sentence.

"Go die."

"Wow, you are really cruel."

I really did thought a bit of killing him.

After some thoughts, it is way too ugly. So I did not kill him in the end.

Ah, why is it so ugly.

What am I angry at?

Not Yamanishi.

Because of this guy, my collection was exposed, hated by Rika. However, I really hit him hard. This should make up for it.

Don't tell me I am angry at myself?

We both remained silent. Yamanishi seems to be really painful as he rub his neck quite a lot. Aimlessly, I peeked at the TV. Of no reason, a power ranger show from a theme park was shown. The red ranger on one hand defending, on the other hand defeating many enemy underlings. Those rangers in blue, yellow, black and pink are also active on stage. Nevertheless, when the great enemy--monster appeared, the tide was turned. Those rangers are of no match to it. At this time, the camera turned to the audience. I thought it will be full of little kids, to my surprise, most of them are young mothers.

"They changed to be the hero of the idling house wives."

Yamanishi said.

"Normally heroes are acted by handsome guys."

My tone was filled with mockery.

"Seems like so."

"I went there once, to the so-called ranger show. When I was a pre-schooler, I was so excited about it. At that time, I thought they are the real heroes as they are acting so brilliantly. In the midst of the show, just like what we just seen, the rangers are in a pitch. The monster was so strong that the rangers had a hard time defeating it. At that time, host shouted."

Yamanishi went silent again.

Seems like he is waiting for me to ask him.

Mindlessly, I responded to Yamanishi's expectation.

"What did he shout?"

Yamanishi stand up and shout like a host.

"Everyone! Please root for them! That then your courage will be transmitted to the rangers! Alright, Count from 3, everyone! 3, 2, 1! Ganbatte! Ganbatte! This is way too soft, your courage is not transmitted to the rangers! Now, once more! Ganbatte!!"

He clenched his fist, eagerly swinging it upward.

Yamanishi smiled wistfully.

"After we shouted at the top of our lungs, the warriors immediately perked up and became so strong that they easily defeated the monsters. In hindsight, it was all a trick for children. But I was still in kindergarten at that time, but I believed that my own strength saved the warrior, and even wrote it down in my summer diary."

I pretended to observe Yamanishi's face nonchalantly.

There was a newly formed pimple on his right cheek. Yamanishi's body was prone to acne. He squinted his eyes from time to time because, even though he was nearsighted, he stubbornly refused to wear glasses, thinking that they were uncool. When he squinted, his appearance looked fierce, but he seemed unaware that it made him look even worse. Well, he wasn't exactly a handsome guy. His intelligence wasn't great either. I don't remember exactly when it was, but there was once during class, the teacher asked him, "Invention is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. Whose quote is this?" He puffed out his chest and answered loudly, "Prince Shotoku!" Since then, Yamanishi's nickname became "Prince Shotoku." Even now, his friends still call him "Prince."

Anyway, Yamanishi is a real idiot.

But even such an idiot has a cute childhood.

'Go for it--!!!'

There have been times when he yelled at the top of his lungs.

I kicked Yamanishi behind his knee. 'Ouch!' He cried out in pain and fell onto the bench.

'What are you doing?'

'You're making too much noise. It's irritating to hear you talk in plain language and immerse yourself in your own memories.'

'Because you don't look very spirited, I wanted to comfort you... You really are dull.'

'Is that what you call comforting me?!'

We fell into silence again. Akiko quickly passed through the hallway, saw me, made a gun gesture with her right hand, said "bang," and left. I pretended to be in pain, holding my chest, lying on the bench. Yamanishi, who likes women, excitedly asked me who she was. She was really beautiful. I just lay on the chair, solemnly saying it would be best not to get involved with her.

'Then, I'll go back now.'

Shortly after, Yamanishi stood up.

"What are you here for?"

"Just passing time."

"I was going to say..."

Just as I was about to speak, a look of confusion came over Yamanishi's face. It disappeared and reappeared... Finally, he spoke weakly:

"I got dumped by a girl. I don't want to go home. I just want to talk to someone, anyone."

"Oh, so you had a girlfriend?"

"No. I confessed to her and she rejected me."

"I see."

He had been dumped.

"Oh well."

"Go find the next one. There are plenty of women out there."

"Right."

As Yamanishi walked away, he waved his hands lightly.

"I'll be going now."

"Okay, cheer up."

"You too. Can you guys make up?"

"Forget it. She's still really mad."

"If you're still like this after three days, I'll go beg her on my knees," he said.

"No need. You'll only make things worse," I replied.

"Her name is Rika, right? She's really cute."

When he called her cute, I suddenly felt proud. Yeah, Rika was definitely cute. People like her were hard to come by. Then I remembered her bad temper and all her faults, and felt like protesting to Yamanishi, who didn't know the full story. I listed out all her spoiled and mischievous behavior...

"Ezaki, I envy you."

As he said this, Yamanishi walked away without turning his head.

Because of Yamanishi, I've encountered a lot of bad luck... But we still keep in touch, which means I've already forgiven him. He's carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders, just like everyone else.

Not only me.

Closing my eyes, I listened carefully and heard a voice.

Go, go, go!

The shouting echoed in the empty hallway.

Of course, it was an illusion. When I opened my eyes, the silent hallway and the lonely world stretched out before me. Ah, I understand. So, it's true. I don't know who it is, but someone is shouting for me, for Yamanishi, and even for Rika. "Go!" Until their throats are hoarse.

We have to fight the monster.

The monster called "Reality," absurd and unmatched.

Of course, supporting alone would be meaningless. First, we must fight. That's a given. Even if our chances of winning are slim and we may return empty-handed, we still have to face it. Running away from the fight will let even the slightest chance of victory slip away. That's what we call winning or losing.

Speaking of winning or losing...what comes to mind is the sports festival in the third grade of elementary school.

At that time, like a miracle, I ran incredibly fast. Although I'm very ordinary now, and even very slow, I was like a god of racing in the second grade of elementary school. My grades were not good, and my ball skills were poor, but I had an astonishingly fast running speed for some reason.

For this reason, I was arranged to be the last relay runner in the class relay race.

On the day of the sports festival, it was a clear day. As the final event, the relay race began. I, with a red cloth hanging diagonally across my chest, nervously watched my classmates running. Leading the way was Taketa, who ran at a similar speed to me, so our class had already taken a commanding lead over the other classes. He handed the baton over to the next runner with an absolute advantage. The one who received the baton was Yumizuki, who was popular among the girls. Typically, guys like him would be disliked by other boys, but he had a very easygoing personality, making it easy for guys to approach him as well. Yumizuki did not run very fast, and it did not matter if he was popular with girls or liked by boys in the relay race. As a result, we lost the lead that Taketa had built up and were even the last ones at the end. The third runner, Ryo, desperately pushed forward, and although the gap gradually narrowed, he was still the last one. Ah, I thought it was embarrassing. No matter how hard we tried, we had no hope of getting first place...But when I saw Ryo running towards me, I was once again filled with fighting spirit. His running posture was like that of a monkey, showing that he was struggling and exerting himself. Perhaps his enthusiasm infected me.

Unconsciously, I started to run. Perfect cooperation. While I was accelerating, I received the baton from Ryo's hand and moved it from my right hand to my left hand while running. The heat from Ryo's hand remained on the baton, transmitted to my palm, and I ran even faster.

I overtook the first runner from class 3 in just a moment. Then, slightly ahead, was the second runner from class 2. We ran side by side...

跑在我前面的，只有一個人了。

(translation in progress)

Back to Chapter 1 : The Armageddon of Yuichi's Collection I

Return to Main Page

Forward to Chapter 3 : The Armageddon of Yuichi's Collection III