kscans

Chapter 10 - The Graduation Ceremony and the Promise of a Flower Crown

After that incident, the bond between the two girls may have grown even stronger.

They were still young, but perhaps because they were young, they thought of each other single-mindedly, trying to be beings who could complement one another.

"I wanna see my dad..."

After receiving the music box, Akina had started to occasionally voice her longing for her father.

Those occasional words seemed to acknowledge that her wish would never come true, as if she had already given up on seeing him, and it pained Tsukie's heart. She wondered what Akina must feel every day as she watched Tsukie go home with her own father.

Of course, Akina never said anything, but Tsukie couldn't help but feel guilty, as if she were flaunting the happiness of having both parents.

Besides, around that time, it felt as though Akina was losing some of her energy. Even when they danced on the staircase landing while listening to the music box, she would quickly get tired and have to sit down. She didn't go out much and spent more and more time in her hospital bed.

But staying in her room was more convenient for Tsukie as well. Ever since the incident, the other children in the hospital seemed to have been told not to play with such a violent girl, and they kept their distance and no longer spoke to her.

Even baby Hinako was looked at with suspicion, and their mother complained that she couldn't face anyone.

But Tsukie didn't think she had done anything wrong, not one bit, so she just ignored them.

The two fat middle-aged women, playing the victims, were united in their story that they "hadn't said anything bad." As usual, they were apparently spreading a version of events that was convenient for them.

"She's just a child, she must have misunderstood something."
"We're not angry anymore."

They would say such insincere things, but when no one was around, they would glare at Tsukie with the face of a demon hag.

She also heard one of them whisper, "The beast-possession must have spread to her."

Looking at those women, Tsukie thought for the first time in her life, I hope you die.

But she knew that any more rampaging on her part would only make things worse for Akina, so she clenched her fists in her pockets and endured. The fact that she was just a child was frustrating, sad, and maddening.

Rotten adults never change their ways.

The only time they might ever repent is if they find themselves in the same situation. But even then, people like that would surely just blame someone else and complain.

Perhaps that was all the more reason why Tsukie wanted to grant Akina's wish.

On March 19th, Tsukie graduated from kindergarten. When she visited the hospital in her uniform and beret, she gave her hat to Akina, who had never been able to attend. Akina was overjoyed, trying it on at a jaunty angle and tracing the school emblem with fascination.

Akina asked for a commemorative photo, and they took one in the hallway, with Tsukie in her uniform and Akina in the cap. The spring-like sunlight streamed in through the window, softly illuminating the two girls.

That evening, in Akina's room, Tsukie waited for her to return from the treatment room. The bandages on her left hand were finally coming off. Akina returned to the room, her cheeks slightly flushed, her slippers padding softly on the floor. Tsukie could always recognize Akina's footsteps.

"How was it?"

"Uh-huh. It feels weird. But it moves."

Tsukie's face lit up in a wide smile.

"Really? I'm so glad!"

"I wonder if I can play cat's cradle with you now, Tsukie-chan."

"You'll be able to do origami, too, and play the piano."

Akina laughed, saying, "I don't know about the piano," but she looked happy.

"When you get out of the hospital, I'll teach you, so it'll be fine."

Tsukie puffed out her chest proudly, even though she herself had only gotten through the first few pages of her red Beyer piano book. Akina's mother hadn't come back yet; maybe she was listening to some instructions.

The children, unconcerned with such things, talked excitedly about one fun plan after another. Let's go on a picnic with bentos when it gets warmer. I hope we can be in the same class in elementary school. When the dandelions bloom, let's make flower crowns together.

With each childish, innocent promise, the two of them would get excited, picturing themselves carrying it out. Their happiest moments were when they talked like this, with the music box playing.

But sometimes, Akina would gaze at the music box with a sad expression. At those times, she was surely thinking of her father. She had said her parents divorced because of her illness. Tsukie wondered how a father and mother could not work together to care for their sick child, but she knew, even as a child, that she shouldn't say that.

More than anything, she knew that Akina blamed herself for her parents' separation.

"Let's go. The two of us together."

Taking Akina's hand, still scarred and tight from where the bandages had just been removed, Tsukie made a proposal.

"Huh? Where?"

"To see your dad, Akina-chan."

"But it's far, isn't it?"

"Will we get lost?"

"No. The transfer is easy."

"Then we can go. You're getting out of the hospital soon, right?"

"Yeah. But if I tell Mom, she'll say no. I've asked so many times, but she won't take me."

"Then it'll be a great secret adventure."

"A secret?"

"You want to see your dad, don't you?"

"I do... I want to see him and have him hug me tight."

"Then let's go. If your mom won't take you, let's go together."

And so the little girls began to plan their great adventure, just the two of them. When Akina was discharged, they would take the train together to see her dad. As long as they knew the destination, the station staff would help them, so it would be fine.

If they went together, there was nothing to be afraid of. The little girls pressed their foreheads together and giggled.