Chapter 24: Life and Death Separated by a Haze
"All done."
The documents on the list were essentially all important files requiring his signature.
Afterward, Haruka arranged a few directions for future development, bringing the meeting to a close.
The processing time was short and fast, unlike a president buried in affairs.
In fact, the current company was basically under Ai Hayasaka's control.
Not only had it not declined, but it even showed signs of rising.
The current Haruka was only responsible for controlling the general direction.
If this were any other company, such a situation would only imply one thing: the president had been turned into a figurehead.
But between Ai Hayasaka and Haruka, it was as if this issue didn't exist.
Their attitudes remained business as usual.
Click.
The door closed.
From behind the door, Shoko's voice could be faintly heard.
"...Haruka, go to, the company, okay? I won't..."
***
[Time ticked by, drop by drop.]
[Another three months passed.]
[During these three months, Shoko's condition deteriorated further. Her hearing had completely weakened; her left ear was totally deaf, and her right ear could only hear within a distance of three to five meters.]
[Now, when getting up in the morning or going out shopping, you have to be with her, paying extra attention. For this reason, you once again reduced the frequency of your visits to the company.]
[Vehicles approaching from behind, pedestrians, animals—all are sources of danger.]
[With the slightest carelessness, Shoko could suffer harm.]
[However, in reality, after you accompanied her on the first day, Shoko rejected the idea of going out subsequently. She didn't want to need someone to take care of her every time she stepped outside—especially if that person was you.]
[You two could only stay inside the apartment. Although there were various forms of entertainment, a trace of gloom was inevitable.]
[In this environment, Shoko suddenly started folding paper cranes. She said that folding one thousand paper cranes could bring blessings to a person. You did not stop her.]
[And today was Shoko's last day at the sign language class.]
Accompanied by Haruka, Shoko arrived at the building.
This small building where she realized her personal value.
She stood there for a long time.
Finally, the moment before entering the door, Shoko let go of Haruka's hand.
Haruka didn't try to grab it back.
He knew Shoko wanted to maintain her strongest front before her students.
What he needed to do now was let go, sit down, and listen quietly.
In the spacious and bright classroom.
Children sat one after another, dressed neatly, their expressions serious.
The moment Shoko walked in, all the students broke into synchronized applause.
It was incomparably enthusiastic.
Just like their gratitude toward Shoko.
Shoko stood on the podium, looking at these cute students.
To others, they might be annoying anomalies or monsters, but in her eyes, they were her.
A teacher.
One who propagates the doctrine, imparts professional knowledge, and resolves doubts.
But what about for the teacher herself?
Everyone has their own answer.
But at the very least, for Shoko personally:
Teaching them was like teaching her past self. Moreover, she had experienced several shifts in her dreams.
To be able to make friends with people normally... To become a musician who made others listen seriously to her voice... To become a teacher so that other deaf-mute children could have a happy childhood...
Fortunately.
Because of Haruka's existence, all three of these dreams seemed to have been partially realized.
"We... today... have... the... last... class..."
"But... there are... some words... I want... to say... to... you."
"We... are all... incomplete..."
"This... world... was not... gentle... when... we... were born."
"But... we... must not... feel inferior... because... in this... world... there is always... the right... person... waiting... for... us."
"..."
Shoko said a lot more. She spoke very slowly, sometimes even incoherently.
But she was very serious, writing word after word on the blackboard.
Recounting the story of her journey.
And below the podium.
Were children who should have been ignorant, yet at this moment, their eyes were filled with hot tears, feeling the same empathy.
Watching this scene, Haruka felt both sad and happy.
Because he felt that Shoko had finally walked out of the shadow of deafness.
Finally.
This last class ended.
***
[Returning home.]
[You began living a life of just the two of you with Shoko.]
[In Shoko's world, life is a silent movie. You are the only color in her gray and white world.]
[She seems to have become a gentle wife.]
[Every day, she meticulously prepares the meals you love.]
[When you are tired, she gently gives you a knee pillow, then softly massages your temples.]
[Watching you speak is her only hobby, although she can hear nothing now.]
[Time for the two of you seems to have slowed down.]
[Your life together isn't completely without issues. For example, it feels like you've returned to your student days, only the roles have reversed.]
[You need a communication notebook to tell Shoko exactly what you are saying.]
[However, what you don't know is the melancholy revealed on her face when she watches you going out less and less, leaving the office work entirely to Ai Hayasaka.]
[Another three months passed in this life that resembled a silent world.]
[Haruka hasn't gone out for a month. Today, because Yuzuru isn't around, you have to go out personally to buy groceries.]
[Before the door, Shoko stood prettily in front of you wearing a beautiful long dress. Her lovely face leaned in, wearing that smile that seemed as eternal as ever.]
[She tied your tie for you, patted the dust off your shoulders, and gave you a soft kiss full of love.]
[Before you left, she said she wanted a relatively obscure CD from a group called 'Kessoku Band.']
[She made you promise that after you returned, you would go out together to support the first live concert of Youko Touma-san's daughter.]
[You went out.]
[You didn't know that this time, it was a farewell forever.]
[After you left, Shoko prepared lunch. After tasting a small bite, she revealed a satisfied smile.]
[Then, she finished writing letter after letter.]
[She placed a glass jar filled with paper cranes on the table.]
[Looking at this home she shared with you.]
[Shoko's face was covered in tears.]
[She wanted to live. She wanted to live like a normal person. Unfortunately, the world wouldn't give her a single chance.]
[She walked into the bathroom, where a small knife had been placed.]
[Crimson blood flowed from her wrist, merging with the water.]
...
"This CD really is obscure enough. It was released a few years ago. Kessoku Band... why does this cover look so familiar?"
Haruka looked at the CD. Hitori Gotoh and the other girls on the cover looked a bit strange.
But that wasn't important.
It was just because Shoko liked it.
Haruka quickened his pace toward home.
When he arrived home.
Shoko's figure was nowhere to be seen in the living room. There was only the food, the stack of letters, and the jar of paper cranes that had been accumulated over three months.
Haruka's heart gave a violent jump, and an ominous premonition surged into his mind.
No.
Impossible.
Wasn't she very strong?
Haven't I been with her all this time?
There's no reason!
Haruka thought this, but his feet were already running.
However...
Clatter!
The CD rolled across the floor.
Haruka stared blankly into the bathroom.
At her pale, lifeless form.
-----
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