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Takamine Hospital. It is the only hospital on the island of Tsukiyojima.
It was built on the spot of where the previous hospital had been, since it had been destroyed during the war.
It is a very useful facility, considering how otherwise there would only be small clinics on the island,
and many patients visit here.
A large garden encircles the grounds, with many beautiful flowers blooming, and the occasional bird or butterfly,
which soothe many patients' minds.
Surrounded by nature, a gentle atmosphere accompanies this place...That is this place: Takamine Hospital.
???: ...
This hospital is filled with a calm and gentle kindness, and a man in a dark suit stares up at the building.
???: ...
His expression is concealed by dark sunglasses, and the suit he wears is one usually worn to a funeral.
To some patients, he looks like the god of Death on the wind.
Nurse: Ah, Sanada-san, are you here to visit the little Miss today?
Keisuke: Ah, yes.
However, the female nurses who work at this hospital bow and smile at him as he passes by.
Patient: Sanada-san, you always work so hard. Hinako-chan is in her room.
Keisuke: Ah, thank you very much...
To the nurses...no, everyone is used to seeing him by now, since he visits the hospital so often.
He comes baring gifts in his arms as usual, and heads for the usual room.
???: Yes, come in.
After receiving permission to come inside, Sanada Keisuke steps foot into the room.
???: Ah, Sanada-san! You came again today?
When she sees that it was Keisuke who entered, the girl inside greets him with a smile.
She had been watching the window until now, and several birds fly away as Keisuke turns his eyes to hers and opens his mouth.
Keisuke: Ojou, are you feeling alright?
???: Nn. Hinako's body is good today.
The girl whom he called 'Ojou' answers Keisuke's question with a normal tone.
Takamine Hinako
Though they are not related by blood, Hinako looks to Keisuke as a father, while he looks after her like she was his daughter.
Keisuke had served Hinako's father before he passed away, and now visits Hinako in her room everyday.
Keisuke: ...Are you really? I remember the last time you went out to the garden you came down with a coughing fit within
five minutes.
Hinako: T-That was just by chance!
Hinako: However, today my body is just fine. Therefore, I want to go out to the garden with you, Sanada-san.
Hinkao: ...No good?
Keisuke: ...
As she looks up at him with that innocent look, he wants nothing more than to spoil her like usual.
Although you wouldn't think such a small whisper would have much of an effect on him, this was Keisuke's greatest weak point.
He took care of his employer's daughter as repayment of a debt he owed the man, but he could never turn Hinako down
when she asked for something so sweetly.
Keisuke: ...Please bear with it, Ojou. Even if your body is in good condition, if you overwork it a little, you'll hurt yourself.
However, Keisuke resolutely rejects her request.
Hinako: Ah...I see. I apologize for my selfishness.
Although she looks sad at first, Hinako's face turns into a smile as she sees Keisuke's concern.
She knows that Keisuke is extraordinarily worried about her condition taking a turn for the worse.
That is why she doesn't continue to ask.
But still, it would have been nice had he accepted her proposal. Than he'd be able to stay a little longer this time.
Keisuke: ...Ojou, here.
Hinako: ...? What's this?
Keisuke: This is my apology for not being able to take you out to the garden...and I bought something for you.
As he says so, Keisuke hands Hinako a wrapped package.
Hinako: Ah! Did you pick this out, Sanada-san?
Keisuke: ...Yes, I did.
It looks like something bought at a toy store, and it's wrapped with a lovely ribbon.
Though he looks so serious, Keisuke went out and seriously looked for and bought this for her.
As she imagines the scene, Hinako can't help but smile.
Keisuke: ...Ojou?
Hinako: Un, it's nothing...Thank you, Sanada-san. May I open it?
Keisuke: Yes, of course.
She can barely contain her joy, but she politely takes her time and unwraps the package carefully.
Hinako: Huh? What is this?
As she takes what is inside out of the package, Hinako's face becomes confused for a moment.
The thing that Keisuke picked out had moving eyes and could bare it's fangs. It was an unusual stuffed animal, to say the least.
Keisuke: It seems that monster is from a video game popular among children...Do you not like it?
Since she's been confined to this room, Hinako knows nothing about anime or video games...
And it's not exactly a cute present to give to a girl.
Since she didn't look very happy to receive it, Keisuke begins to think he made a mistake in selecting it.
However...
Hinako: Un, it's not like that at all. Thank you, Sanada-san. Hinako is very happy.
Hinako: Eheehee...What an amazing mouth. It's like he'll eat Hinako all up.
When Hinako hugs the stuffed animal with a carefree smile, Keisuke feels relieved.
Keisuke: I see...I'm glad you are pleased by such a small thing.
Hinako: Eh?
However, when she hears Keisuke's words, Hinako puffs out her cheeks.
Hinako: Don't say such a thing! Since Sanada-san tried so hard picking him out, Hinako feels sorry for this guy when you say
he's 'a small thing'.
Keisuke: ...
Hinako: Because Sanada-san picked it out and thought of Hinako when doing so...therefore, he's already a friend.
Hinako: Since friends are important, it's bad to say such a mean thing about him...
therefore, please don't say he's a small thing, ok?
Keisuke: ...I understand, Ojou. I will do so.
Hinako: Nn! Thank you, Sanada-san!
As she tells Keisuke off, Hinako smiles as radiantly as the sun, and sets her new friend on the windowsill.
Hinako: Ah...
However, Hinako than notices that she had said that really loudly and she blushes as she looks downward.
Hinako: I-I'm sorry, I was just so happy... Hinako, said such a rude thing...
Keisuke: No. Ojou was just correcting my careless words. Those words were not rude.
Hinako: I-Is that so? Than, everything is well...
Hinako laughs a little bit in embarrassment before falling silent.
Hinako: ...
Keisuke: ...
Hinako is unsure of what to say, and Keisuke decides to wait for her to speak.
And for a while the room is engulfed with an awkward silence...However, it is a calming silence.
...One minute, than another passes.
Hinako: ...You know what?
Keisuke: Yes.
And the first to break that awkward silence is Hinako.
Hinako: Um...Thank you, for always coming to visit me...
It is hard for her to move her lips, and the voice of Hinako that squeezes through is very small.
Hinako: You know...Hinako...loves Sanada-san very much.
Hinako: Whenever you come to visit, Sanada-san, my heart warms, like I can feel your warmth.
Hinako: I'm always able to sleep easily after you come, Sanada-san. You've always been there for me, Sanada-san...
Keisuke: ...Ojou.
Although he was the only who brought her a present, she is presenting her feelings to him...
he was not expecting this kind of 'confession' at all.
She had been hospitalized at an early age, without knowing love, but she's growing up,feelings for
and coming to hold special someone for the first time.
Is this love? She isn't sure, as her feelings are still swimming around inside of her, but she does feel something for this man.
That's why she conveyed her honest feelings. For Hinako, this large of a confession could be called a once in a lifetime one.
Keisuke: Nn, Ojou...I like you very much as well.
Hinako: (Gasp)
Hinako needs a second to take in Keisuke's words.
She is sure that Keisuke doesn't think of her the same way she thinks about him, but she tries to smile like a sunflower would.
However...
Keisuke: You are your father's keepsake. However, disregarding that, I would still think of you as important, Ojou.
Keisuke: But I've already become a father for you, Ojou...I would be honored if you were to think of yourself as a Sanada.
Hinako: Aaa...
However, Keisuke is too chivalrous, and apparently did not see exactly what Hinako was trying to say.
Hinako: ...Yes. I see, that's how it is...
Of course she shouldn't have expected Keisuke to have special feelings for her, and she already vaguely knew that he didn't.
She already knew that this love wouldn't come true...She had already decided it somewhere in her mind.
Hinako: Muuu...
However, while he may think that she may just be confused because she's still so young,
she wishes he could understand her feelings a little bit better.
Keisuke: ...Ojou?
Hinako: I-It's a bit different for me, you know? U-Um...Hinako doesn't like Sanada-san like a father.
Keisuke: ...?
Hinako: U-Um...Well, uuuu~ I love you a different way than that...
Keisuke: Either way, you're still special to me, Ojou.
Hinako: Jeez, I don't think of you that way! While you are special to me as well, Sanada-san, you're a different kind of special.
Keisuke: A-Ah?
Hinako: Sanada-san doesn't understand how girl's think...and Hinako even told him with as much courage as she could muster...
Keisuke: Please forgive me, Ojou...I'll try my hardest to do so.
Even though he says he'll try to understand, Keisuke still doesn't have a clue.
Never in his lifetime has it helped him to understand how a girl thinks.
Apparently, Hinako wants to change their father-daughter relationship, and while he may be able to stave this talk off for now,
it will surely come up again in the future.
Nurse: Ok, please remember to be quiet in the hospital.
Hinako: (Surprised cry)
At the sudden appearance of the nurse, Hinako hides under her blanket.
Nurse: I did knock, you know...I didn't hear anyone answer, so I figured it was alright to enter.
Keisuke: ...
To Keisuke, it wasn't a big deal, and he straightened up and bowed to the nurse in an apologetic manner.
Nurse: Hinako-chan, it's time for your daily checkup. If you don't come out from under that blanket, we can't do it.
Hinako: Hauuuu~~~~~!
Blushing furiously, Hinako quietly pokes her head out from underneath the blanket.
Hinako: U-Um...Were you, listening just now?
Nurse: Eh? Was it something important?
Hinako: N-No, nothing! It's nothing, really!
Nurse: Sanada-san, I know you don't know what girl's really think...But you shouldn't tell Hinako-chan bad things.
Keisuke: Hah?
Hinako: Au~~~~~~~~~!
Hinako blushes an even deeper shade of red, and ducks under the blanket again.
The nurse, while pretending not to know, hums softly to herself as she clears the remains of Hinako's lunch away.
Nurse: Ah? Hinako-chan, you ate everything today.
The nurse is glad to see the dishes empty for once.
Hinako: Eheehee...I also ate the green pepper, see?
As if looking for praise, Hinako demurely peeks out from under the blanket up at Keisuke's face.
Nurse: Nn, great job. Perhaps you're body is in better condition than I thought.
Hinako: If I can continue to eat green peppers, I'll get better like you said, right?
Nurse: Yes you will. Therefore, even if you don't like it, work hard and make sure you eat everything.
Hinako: ...Nn.
At least Hinako seems back to normal, as she pokes her head out from under the blanket again.
Hinako: If Hinako gets better, I'll be able to go out again.
Hinako: I want to be able to say thank you to the small birds that always seem to cheer for me.
Nurse: Well, that's wonderful...but don't get careless, ok? If you're condition gets worse, it'll be impossible for you to go outside.
The nurse quickly reminds Hinako of that fact.
However, she does so reluctantly.
...Because, she doesn't need a reminder of just how unlikely Hinako is expected to continue living.
Keisuke: ...
Hinako: Say, Sanada-san. If my body's condition continues to stay well...next Sunday, I want to go to the sea.
Keisuke: ...The sea?
Hinako: Nn! Hinako wants to see the real 'sea' at least once.
Hinako: It's ok, right? Sanada-san, you said if I ate everything, even the green pepper...I'd definitely get better.
Keisuke: ...
They all know just how delicate Hinako's constitution is.
She was born with a debilitating illness, and it would be correct to say that this hospital is Hinako's home, even though she's a patient.
Unlike the other patients in this hospital, even though they might be a little sick, they can still go outside alot.
However, the number of days Hinako has been able to go outside can be counted on one hand.