Hospital office.
"Hmm...."
The doctor was humming to himself as he flipped through Kagura Hikaru’s examination results.
Only after he had turned the final page did Kagura Hikaru’s stepmother, sitting opposite him, anxiously start to speak, "Doctor, what exactly is wrong with Mister Hikaru?"
Behind her, Ayakoji Chiyoko and a group of girls were also listening intently with nervous ears, waiting for the outcome.
"It appears to be selective amnesia, likely caused by a concussion. The patient’s cognition has regressed three years; he believes he is still in his second year of junior high," said the doctor, putting down the examination chart.
"Amnesia is one thing, but it’s not common to see it accompanied by delusional disorder. It could be a chain reaction caused by the concussion," he continued.
"Then, doctor, when can he return to normal?"
"That will require a lot of effort from you, the family members. Be patient and earnest, and let him interact with things that can stimulate his memory. For now, the recommendation is to stay in the hospital for a week of observation, then we’ll see about discharging based on his condition, but he will need to return regularly for medication and to change dressings."
"Alright."
"As for the delusional disorder, that might also stem from psychological issues... You mentioned earlier that the patient doesn’t laugh, right?"
"Yes, we are all his classmates, but we have never seen him smile," interjected Ayakoji Chiyoko.
"Not even once?"
"Not even once," confirmed Ayakoji Chiyoko with certainty.
The others nodded in agreement.
Only Ai Cheng Karen, standing in the corner, seemed hesitant.
She had seen Kagura Hikaru laugh, twice in fact, but it felt awkward to mention it now, so she chickened out.
The stepmother, gripping the bag on her lap tightly, also added, "Mister Hikaru is like this at home as well, never laughing or joking."
"Hmm... If it’s not his personality, then it must be due to excessive stress."
"How could that be...."
The doctor mused thoughtfully, "But now that the patient has regained his smile, maybe amnesia is to thank for that."
"What do you mean?"
"There’s a saying ’no worries, no burdens’." The doctor, twirling a ballpoint pen in his hand unconsciously, explained, "The three years of memories that the patient has forgotten might just be the source of his stress. Do you have any clue about this?"
Everyone exchanged looks.
The memories Kagura Hikaru lost were those of his entire high school period and the time in ninth grade, which is right after he broke up with Kiryu Hina.
No, more precisely, it was after Kohinata Motoyo confessed to Kagura Hikaru.
In his second year of junior high, Kohinata Motoyo confessed to him, which seemed to be a watershed moment. After that, his life started to unravel.
His father remarried the woman with whom he had an affair, his mother found a new boyfriend, he was pressured by a former close friend to secretly date her while still dating his girlfriend, broke up with his girlfriend over an infidelity before graduating junior high, encountered his ex-girlfriend again in high school and was forced into a mess of wrongdoings, Kohinata Motoyo returned to the country, and the issues with Ayakoji Chiyoko remained unresolved.
If looking back from the present, one could argue that the period during his second year of junior high, when he was still dating Kiryu Hina, represented Kagura Hikaru’s happiest times, the last happy times indeed.
No wonder he chose to restart from that point after losing his memory.
Up to here, it was somewhat understandable.
But why did Kagura Hikaru come to believe that he was currently dating Ayakoji Chiyoko, rather than Kiryu Hina? He even forgot about her, the very person he was with.
The doctor, observing the unspeakable expressions of the girls in the room, cautiously ventured, "Is it... a love triangle?"
At that, the atmosphere in the room grew even stranger.
Kohinata Motoyo tilted her head slightly, looking towards Kiryu Hina whose face had turned pale.
Kagura Hikaru had memories from middle school, but he had forgotten her, the one who occupied the largest part of his memory.
This might mean that Kagura Hikaru believed Ayakoji Chiyoko to be a better girlfriend than Kiryu Hina.
If Kohinata Motoyo could think of this, naturally, Kiryu Hina could think of it too.
She quietly left the office, leaned against the wall in the hallway, and stared blankly at the floor.
Before long, Kohinata Motoyo also came out and went up to her, "Hina..."
"Don’t say anything." Kiryu Hina sighed deeply as if she wanted to exhale all the air in her lungs, her complexion ashen, "... It’s because I was too harsh on him before, that’s why..."
"Don’t think like that, be more optimistic," Kohinata Motoyo consoled her, "Kagura’s amnesia means you can start over with him as strangers."
"I would rather he recovered now," said Kiryu Hina as she turned her head.
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At that moment, another person walked out of the office.
It was Ayakoji Chiyoko.
She and Kiryu Hina, who had turned her head, looked at each other. Approaching a few steps, with her arms crossed and a hint of mockery, Chiyoko said, "The two of you, whispering secrets?"
"It’s none of your business," Kiryu Hina said coldly.
"Anything related to Kagura is my business," Ayakoji Chiyoko scrutinized her from head to toe, "Take this opportunity to end your affair with Kagura Hikaru, and don’t approach him anymore."
"On what grounds?!"
"Since he’s forgotten you, that means you no longer hold any status in his heart, doesn’t it?"
"I think you’re wrong," Kohinata Motoyo said with a smile as she stepped between them, "Perhaps Kagura indeed doesn’t like Hina anymore, but the fact that he forgot her, whom he shouldn’t have, that’s a special treatment. His behavior only shows that he still can’t let go of Hina."
Ayakoji Chiyoko looked at her curiously, "You’re speaking for your love rival?"
"Not just a love rival, but also a friend."
Kohinata Motoyo said so, then slightly narrowed her eyes, staring at Ayakoji Chiyoko like a mother tiger, "Classmate Ayakoji, although you are mistaken by Kagura Hikaru for his lover now, I advise you not to harbor any delusions. Tell him the real truth and let us all help Kagura recover his memory."
"Of course, I wouldn’t resort to such tricks," Ayakoji Chiyoko nodded as if it were a matter of course.
Seeing that she didn’t seem to be lying, Kohinata Motoyo slowly returned to a gentle expression, "That’s good... Regardless of our relationship, our concern for Kagura is the same. At times like these, it’s better if we don’t fight among ourselves."
"...Hmph."
Ayakoji Chiyoko sat down on the hallway bench, legs crossed, her face turned to the other side, noncommittal.
Kohinata Motoyo, helpless, turned and shrugged at Kiryu Hina, but the latter seemed to be lost in her own world and didn’t look at her.
Kohinata Motoyo heaved a silent sigh.
She knew that the other was indulging in self-loathing again.
After being rejected by Kagura Hikaru several times, Kiryu Hina had become very depressed in this period, and her ex-boyfriend’s car accident and amnesia were a double blow.
Perhaps Ayakoji Chiyoko was right, Kiryu Hina could take this opportunity to let go of the past and completely sever ties with Kagura Hikaru.
There were no more debts between them, and even if they truly fell out, it wouldn’t be wrong; this might even be what Kagura Hikaru himself wished for, as long as Kiryu Hina could come to terms with it herself.
But, from Kohinata Motoyo’s perspective, she still hoped the two could reconcile and return to the relationship they had in middle school—or even go further.
However, with Ayakoji Chiyoko around, the process would undoubtedly not be smooth.
... Anyway, get well soon, Mister Hikaru. Your journey continues at freewebnovel