The room was dim, its walls pale and sterile. A thin strip of afternoon sunlight slipped through the half-closed blinds, falling across the bed in uneven bars. The soft, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence.
The door slid open with a low hiss. A nurse stepped inside, pushing a small cart with a bucket of water balanced on top. The metal frame rattled softly with each step.
"Another day," she muttered.
"Poor kid's been unconscious for months..." She looked down at Jun. "Just lying here while the world keeps moving."
She bent over Jun's bed and dipped the cloth into the water, then wrung it out carefully between her hands. Her fingers tightened around the fabric as she adjusted her grip, her nails scraping lightly against its rough edge.
Then she froze.
Jun's fingers twitched.
The nurse took a step back.
"No way..." she whispered. "Did he just move?"
The damp cloth slipped from her hand. It dropped into the bucket with a wet splash, sending water over the rim and onto the floor.
Jun's eyes opened.
At first, they were wide and unfocused. His gaze moved across the ceiling, then slowly toward the dim walls around him. The hospital light above his head made him wince. His eyelids fluttered as he tried to adjust to the brightness.
His lips parted.
A dry rasp escaped his throat.
"W...where...?"
The nurse stumbled backward.
"You're... awake?" she said.
The nurse bolted toward the door, her shoes squeaking against the floor.
"Doctor Kurosawa! Doctor Kurosawa!" she called. "I need you—right now! It's urgent!"
"Ahh!"
Jun winced.
A sharp ringing filled his ears. He pressed his palms weakly against the sides of his head, his fingers trembling.
Alone, Jun lay still for a moment, listening as Minami's footsteps faded down the hall.
Slowly, he tried to move his hand.
His fingers twitched first.
Then his hand lifted an inch above the blanket, trembling with the effort.
He held it there for a moment before it dropped back down.
Jun stared at it.
Why can't I move right...?
Where am I? Am I in a hospital bed? How long have I been here?
Images flickered across Jun's vision—brief flashes of unfamiliar faces. A girl's tearful expression appeared for only a moment before disappearing again.
Who was that in my dream...?
Jun raised a trembling hand and touched his lips.
Why do I feel this way...?
He lowered his hand slowly.
I can't remember... I don't understand.
The door burst open again.
A man in a white coat strode into the room. Minami followed close behind, still glancing nervously over her shoulder.
"See, Doctor Kurosawa! I told you! He's awake!" The nurse said.
"Calm down, Minami," Kurosawa said. "I'm here."
His hair was streaked with gray and slightly disheveled at the sides. His glasses had slipped down his nose as he hurried in.
"Jun, so, you're finally awake."
A small smile crossed his face.
"That's good news. Now, I need to check your condition."
Jun flinched as the doctor brought a penlight close to his eyes. The narrow beam passed across his pupils, forcing them to contract sharply.
"Eyes reactive... good," the doctor muttered.
Kurosawa carefully lifted Jun's eyelid with a gloved hand.
"Can you follow the light?"
Jun's gaze wavered. Slowly, he moved his eyes in the direction indicated.
"Ears?" Kurosawa asked.
He tapped a tuning fork against his palm, then held it near Jun's ear.
Jun flinched and instinctively pressed his palms against his ears.
"It's... too loud."
Kurosawa exchanged a brief glance with Minami.
He sighed and set the tuning fork aside. Then he took out his stethoscope and placed it against Jun's chest.
Jun lay still as Kurosawa listened to his heartbeat.
After a moment, Kurosawa straightened and adjusted his glasses. His hands fell to his sides, and his expression softened.
"How... long... have I been here?" Jun asked, his voice strained.
"You've been unconscious for a little over four months," Kurosawa said. "You were in a coma. I was the doctor assigned to your care."
"...Four... months?"
"You were struck in the head during baseball practice. You suffered severe head trauma." Kurosawa paused. "Considering the impact, it's a miracle you're awake."
Jun's chest rose and fell rapidly, each breath shallow and uneven. His fingers flexed and unflexed against the white blanket.
"I... I don't remember..." Jun whispered, his voice trembling.
"Don't force it," Kurosawa said.
"Memory loss after a coma this long isn't unusual. Your brain has been through a lot. It may take some time for your memories to come back."
The monitor's beeping quickened.
Jun stared at the ceiling, his breathing growing faster.
Who am I?
Who am I?
Who am I?
The thought repeated faster and faster, each repetition making it harder to think.
"Jun—" the doctor started.
"AHH!"
The scream tore out of Jun before he could stop it.
"Jun. Jun, look at me," Kurosawa said. His voice stayed calm and steady. "You're safe. You're here. Breathe with me."
"Ah—AHH!"
Jun screamed again, the second cry shorter than the first. His voice was already giving out. His hands clawed at the blanket as the monitor's beeping grew faster and louder.
"In," Kurosawa said. "And out. Stay with me."
Jun struggled to catch his breath.
Slowly, the frantic beeping began to settle.
His next breath came ragged but whole. His fingers loosened against the fabric.
"...Who am I?" he whispered.
A tear slipped down his cheek.
Minami covered her mouth, her eyes glistening as she watched him.
"You're Jun Hashimoto," Kurosawa said. "That much is certain."
He gave Jun a reassuring look.
"You've been given a second chance at life. Your memories may be hazy right now, but that's okay."
Kurosawa rested a hand on Jun's shoulder.
"For now... just rest. We'll take this one step at a time, okay?"
Jun slowly nodded.
"Good," Kurosawa said.
He turned toward the door.
"Nurse Minami, I trust you'll take care of him until Shiraishi arrives."
"I'll need to update his medical records, so I'll leave the rest to you."
"Yes, Doctor."
Minami bowed.
She turned back to Jun.
For a moment, she simply stood there, watching him.
"How are you feeling?"
Jun stared at the ceiling.
"I... don't know."
Minami gave him a small, understanding smile.
"That's okay."
She stopped beside the blinds.
"You know," she said quietly, "I know a little bit about you."
Jun turned his head toward her.
"How?"
Minami glanced back at him.
"You talked a lot while you were asleep."
Jun's eyes widened slightly.
"I did?"
She nodded.
"Sometimes."
"What was I saying?"
Minami's smile slowly faded.
For a few seconds, she said nothing.
"It was...someone's name."
Jun's brow furrowed.
"Whose?"
Minami turned toward the door.
She opened it.
"I'm sorry, but it's not my place to tell you that."
"Wait."
She stopped.
"Please."
"...Get some rest, Jun."
"I'll be back with a clean cloth and some more water. Please bear with me."
She moved carefully, watching her step as she crossed the wet floor near the bucket.
The door slid shut.
Jun stared at the ceiling.
The sunlight had shifted slightly, forming a thin line across his face.
For a moment, he heard a girl's laughter.
It was soft and familiar. Jun's eyes narrowed.
A girl stood somewhere in the back of his mind, but her face was blank. He couldn't see her features no matter how hard he tried.
Who are you...?
The image disappeared.
Jun covered his eyes with one hand.
Why do I feel so empty...?
He closed his eyes, but the feeling remained.