Chapter 145

Aoi's Day

At school, my exhaustion was apparent throughout the day and I fell asleep in several classes.

I heard the mathematics teacher hit me with a math textbook but I didn’t budge.

In english, with eyes glazed over with a veil of sleep,

I was stuttering as I read out a section of the book we were looking at.

My last class was Phys Ed,

but of course it was my excuse to sit out this time,

complaining of numerous problems.

But as it got closer to the birthday party at the hospital I was more and more awake.

I was excited for Aoi.

But I could only hope against all hope she would wake up in time to see it.

Chapter 146

Aoi's Day

I raced to the bike racks as soon as I got out of school.

The cool October breeze wafted by me.

I passed by the usual scenery I did everyday.

The narrow suburban roads,

the train station,

the river nearby,

the students in uniform returning home

or heading to the urban core of the neighbourhood.

We knew the place like the back of our hands.

The sky was the only thing that always changed.

Today, the sky was a light grey, in preparation for autumn.

Come to think of it, Aoi was turning 16.

Her birthday is in October. How come time passed by so fast?

Chapter 147

Aoi's Day

I pedaled furiously, so I hit home within minutes.

Without parking my bike properly,

it clattered on the ground and squeaked in protest.

I paused as it seemed to call for attention.

For the first time in a long time, I was returning to my normal self.

I laughed at myself for caring so much for an inanimate object,

and picked up my bike, leaning it carefully against the wall, before heading inside.

“Tadaima.”

*~Tadaima – I’m home, I'm back

Chapter 148

Aoi's Day

“Okaerinasai!” I heard my mother’s voice.

“The cake!” Were my breathless first words.

*Okaerinasai – Welcome home or Welcome back

Chapter 149

Aoi's Day

I rushed in and found it resting quietly on the table, waiting for me.

“Relax, Sei-chan.”

For a moment, it felt like I was just having a normal day.

I was as tense as someone getting ready for a date

I breathed out in exasperation. “It takes me thirty minutes to walk to the hospital, Okaa-san.”

She smiled at me.

“What?”

“I’ll drive you there.”

*Okaa-san – Mom

Chapter 150

Aoi's Day

It took a while to load the cake and various things into the small car.

As usual, a typical Japanese family car meant a four door contraption of miniscule proportions.

There was barely space for legs and even less in the trunk.

With the cake on my lap, I could barely move.

“Alright, here we go.” My mom cranked the key in the ignition and the car sputtered to life.

Chapter 151

Aoi's Day

My mother’s driving skills were beyond extraordinary.

It was mad.

I usually refrain from sitting in her car, since there is always the option of going by bicycle, by bus or by train.

All of which I would much rather take.

Chapter 152

Aoi's Day

We sped and swerved through the narrow single lane streets like a jet,

tiny houses and tiny cars flashing by. I prayed we wouldn’t hit an innocent pedestrian.

But I could swear this was the typical way a Japanese driver navigates.

Because, the buses were even worse.

Chapter 153

Aoi's Day

We nearly hit the hospital as we pulled up at the drop off.

“Thanks mom.”

“The least I could do. Are you sure you don’t want me to join you all?”

“Daijoubu datte!”

I scrambled to get out of the tiny vehicle and pulled things out one by one.

The cake, I hoped, was still unscathed from the drive.

*~Daijoubu datte – I’m telling you it’s alright!

Chapter 154

Aoi's Day

With the cake in hand, I turned to face the hospital. I couldn’t suppress a sigh though.

If Aoi was awake, how would we be celebrating today?

Why couldn’t she enjoy her birthday like everybody else?

She doesn’t deserve this.

I tried to smile. I knew she would want me to smile.

She would want me by her side.

Chapter 155

Aoi's Day

As usual, the hospital was quiet.

Patients slowly wandered through the halls, like lost spirits.

There were exchanges of brief and polite nods,

little reminders that there was still a kind of humanity and soul.

Without these slight gestures, I might as well have been in purgatory.

The cake in my arms felt like I was on a procession down the long halls.

Eventually I got to her room. The same as usual. It never changed.

I paused at the door with my palms pressed up against it,

wondering if I would walk in to see Aoi smiling at me to tell me it was just a long dream.

A long and nasty dream.

Chapter 156

Aoi's Day

With as much determination and desperation as I could muster, I prayed with all my heart.

The door will open and she would jump into my arms.

I tried to picture it, but reality was too daunting. I breathed out.

Please, God, let me believe in you.

Let me see your miracles.

It’s her birthday after all isn’t it?

The door silently slid open.

Chapter 157

Aoi's Day

I jumped out of my skin because I wasn’t the one that opened it.

“Aoi?!”