The hospital room was a special room, so it was quite luxuriously decorated.
The bed is large, there's a room for the attendant next door, and there's a bathroom and a kitchen, so it feels more like a hotel suite than a hospital room.
"This hospital not only has excellent safety management but also thorough security measures. You can be rest assured when you come to stay here."
The light said to me as I lay on the bed.
"I'm sorry to have to prepare such a fancy private room for an injury that only required ten stitches."
I answered.
"You could be discharged now."
"What are you talking about, brother?"
Shiori shouted as he peeled the apple with a crunching sound.
"It's a serious injury and will take a month to heal. The doctor said that light exercise would be fine. But what if the stitches reopen?!"
"No, so it's okay now..."
"No, you can't. It's all my fault that this happened, so I won't leave your side until the stitches are removed!"
Shiori's eyes were red with anger. He seems to be feeling much better now, but at first he was so depressed he looked more seriously ill than I was in the hospital.
"Yes, yes, thank you very much. And where is your mother?"
"Your mother-in-law will be coming to visit you later."
"Hmm."
"I'm planning to talk to my mother-in-law when she arrives."
"With my mother? What?"
"I'd like to apologize for many things. Of course I'm sorry to my brother, but I'm also sorry to my mother-in-law. I don't think that this will erase my sins, though."
"I see."
Shiori shouldn't feel guilty because of my scars. That's what I wanted to say, but I stopped myself. Shiori is at least becoming more positive than before. There's no need for me to say anything more.
"Even so, you'll be discharged in no time. I hate studying, so I don't want to go to school."
"Oh my brother."
"That's right, Susumu. You're more stupid than most people. If you fall behind any more, we won't be able to graduate together."
Teruaki spat venom with a grin.
I looked at the light.
"By the way, about the lighting. I have one question."
"What is it? Ask me anything, my best friend."
"How did you know about that place? Honoka is your childhood friend, but you didn't know about that abandoned factory, did you? It's a place that even the locals rarely go into."
"Oh, that's it. The answer is simple."
"What do you mean?"
"While I was searching for Miss Shiori, I happened to come across Miss Honoka. I thought about calling out to her, but something seemed strange about her. I followed her and ended up at that abandoned factory."
"I see. Well, I have one more question."
"What is it?"
"It was when you came in. I thought the timing was awfully good, but you couldn't have been..."
"Oh, did you notice?"
Lighting laughed, scratching his head.
"Sorry, sorry. The truth is, I arrived about ten minutes early. I was peeking inside when I came across that scene. If I had gone in a little earlier, maybe things wouldn't have turned out like that. Well, I got to hear Susumu's once-in-a-lifetime speech, so I guess it's all good."
"Oh, I see."
At the time, I had felt something was off about Teruaki's strangely calm attitude, but now it all made sense.
As soon as I understood what was going on, I suddenly felt like strangling the light.
"Hiro, you can do it."
"Yes, brother!"
As soon as I gave the signal, Shiori instantly went behind the light and put me in a chokehold.
"Guh..."
"If only you hadn't been peeking! My brother might not have had to suffer such an injury!"
"That's why I'm apologizing~kyu~"
As expected, his face was turning pale, so I urged Shiori to release his arms.
I mean, what exactly is "kyu"?
"Susumu"
Suddenly, the lightning muttered.
"What?"
"Sorry."
The light suddenly bowed to me.
"Your wound is deep. We did our best, but it looks like there will be some stitches left."
"Oh, that's it. But it's not your fault..."
"No. As you all say, it's all my fault. I could have predicted this would happen. I was just watching out of curiosity to see how you would resolve the situation. If I had stepped in a few minutes sooner, this wouldn't have happened... I can't help it if you all hate me."
"The lighting, that's the difference."
When I said that, the light looked up.
"It's the opposite. Thanks to you being there, neither I nor Shiori ever got into any serious trouble. I may be grateful, but I have no resentment towards you."
"Susumu..."
"So, please go back to your usual self. If you keep acting like that, it'll just upset me."
"...Do you want to blame them or not? Which is it?"
The lighting made him laugh. He looked like he was crying a little.
"Neither really. I mean, you're such a nuisance to me most of the time, so I think you should do something nice for me sometimes."
"How awful. I'm a genius, but when have I ever caused you any trouble?"
Teruaki said with an embarrassed smile. This time, it was a normal smile.
"Brother... I... I..."
Instead, Shiori was looking at me with a face that looked like it was about to cry.
"Don't cry, Shiori. I've told you that many times before."
When I called out to him, Shiori's shoulders shook violently as if he was trying to hold back tears.
"What you did was certainly wrong, but it's over now. There's no point in regretting it forever. Be more cheerful."
"B-but, your brother's wounds--"
"I'll stay. But this is my fault too. So you don't have to feel responsible. If you care about me, then you should get back on your feet and smile again like before. Okay?"
"Y-yes..."
When I said that much, Shiori finally showed me a small smile.
It looks like he's okay now. I gently stroked Shiori's head.
"Lighting. Have you checked what I asked you to do the other day?"
"ah"
When I asked, Teruaki answered immediately.
"It wasn't that hard to find the place."
"I see. Then I'll have to go with him as soon as I get out of the hospital."
When I said that, Shiori looked up and asked.
"Brother, who is that guy?"
I answered.
"There's one more person I want to help."
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