Chapter 31: Important Things
Evening.
The dark clouds outside the window gradually dispersed without anyone noticing.
The heavy rain had stopped.
The afterglow of the sunset shone through the window onto Tianyu’s face, distracting her from the documents in front of her.
“I wonder how the date with Senpai Tsukimi is going…”
Tianyu walked to the window and murmured as she watched the setting sun outside.
Then she noticed that at the end of the road in front of her, several cars were approaching.
Once Tianyu recognized the car in the lead, her pupils trembled, and she panickedly turned and ran downstairs.
That was the special car of the current head of the Tenjo clan.
Inside was, of course, Tianyu’s biological father—Tenjo Sougetsu.
“Why is Father suddenly coming back here!?”
Tianyu thought urgently as she rushed to the entrance, deftly directing others to prepare for a welcome.
The convoy stopped in front of the mansion.
A personal attendant quickly got out of the car first.
Then he ran to the other side to open the car door for the head of the clan sitting in the back seat.
A man in his sixties stepped out of the car, tall and robust, with a shiny “crossed wings” family emblem pinned to his chest, giving off an impression of steadiness and authority.
He was Tenjo Sougetsu, the current head of the Tenjo family.
Tenjo Sougetsu’s eyes were deep and spirited, reflecting a faint red in the sunset. His nose was high-bridged, his facial features well-defined, and there was an aura of unyielding authority between his brows.
Although he was approaching old age, his appearance was still well-maintained, with only a few silver strands visible at his temples.
At the moment the man got out of the car, everyone present instinctively bowed and greeted him.
Even his daughter, Tianyu, was no exception.
Tenjo Sougetsu, true to his name, gave the impression of an unshakable mountain, steady and immovable, his very presence symbolizing the nobility and power of the Tenjo family.
“Father, why did you suddenly come here…” After Sougetsu approached, Tianyu couldn’t help but lower her head and respectfully ask.
What she received in response was unexpected.
“Of course it’s to see you.”
Tianyu suddenly looked up, her face filled with disbelief as she gazed at her father.
She didn’t even know how long it had been since she heard such words from him.
In the glow of the setting sun, the mutual gaze shared between father and daughter intensified with a hint of crimson.
…
…
Starlight, remnants of stars that emerged after the starlike pupils condense or shatter.
The more brilliant the starlight in one’s eyes, the higher the content of that starlight, indicating a departure from “self.”
…
…
In the hospital of Qinglan City.
Given Nagina’s condition,
she could have been transferred to a hospital closer to home in Chuanye City on the first night.
However, since she had not regained consciousness, her parents were concerned that the movement during the transfer might negatively impact her health.
Thus, they insisted on keeping her in the hospital room in Qinglan City.
Nagina was in a coma for a full three days.
It was only today, Tuesday evening, that she regained consciousness.
At the moment Nagina opened her eyes, she just happened to see Kanade, who had come to visit her after school today.
Memory loss, also referred to as “amnesia” or “memory impairment.”
In medical terms, it usually refers to an individual’s inability to properly store, recall, or recognize previously stored memory information.
The doctor thought it could not be more fitting to describe this patient named “Hoshimiya Nagina” with this symptom.
After Nagina woke up,
he hurried to her hospital room to conduct an examination.
After confirming that her vital signs were normal,
he noticed signs of possible memory loss and proceeded to evaluate her memory and cognition.
After concluding that the patient likely showed signs of long-term memory loss,
the doctor discussed with the patient’s family and decided to conduct neuroimaging tests to rule out any potential brain injuries.
Ultimately, all reports concluded that—
the patient had indeed lost her memory but was otherwise in excellent health, with no signs of injury.
Although the patient’s family expressed great surprise at this, the doctor thought “amnesia” was not strange.
Such symptoms are generally caused by brain injuries, neurological diseases, psychiatric trauma, and other reasons.
Patients involved in car accidents typically display some level of the aforementioned conditions.
Thus, it is perfectly normal for there to be a temporary memory lapse.
In this case, it was likely due to the mental shock from the incident.
In the consultation room,
the doctor faced the family members of the patient.
He explained the patient’s current condition.
The hospital had conducted many comprehensive examinations on her.
The examination reports indicated that her health was excellent.
Therefore, there was really no need to waste money on further testing.
Currently, while the patient exhibited symptoms of memory loss, her arithmetic, logic, and thinking abilities were completely intact, and her emotions were very stable.
Rather, she seemed overly stable; during her examination, he accidentally felt as if he himself was the patient… Of course, that was a thought he kept to himself.
He suggested that they take the patient home to rest, as a familiar environment would aid her memory recovery.
If, after some time, her condition did not improve, they could seek consultations from specialized hospitals regarding treatment options.
However, he believed that the family members really did not need to worry.
Because the patient was in excellent health both physically and mentally.
This was likely just a temporary memory loss brought on by the mental shock encountered at the site of the accident.
As time passed, her memories should gradually return.
…
…
In the white hospital room.
Only Nagina and Kanade were present.
Nagina’s parents were in the consultation room next door talking to the doctor, while Renji stood guard outside in the corridor.
Sitting on the hospital bed, Nagina’s eyes, adorned with brilliant starlight, were continuously scanning the black-haired boy sitting in the chair directly opposite her.
He was the first person she saw upon waking and referred to her as “Little Nagina.”
He must be someone very close to her.
But she seemed to have lost her memory, and she could not recall his identity at all.
“I’m…sorry?” Nagina tilted her head, breaking the silence between them.
Her dark hair flowed like a waterfall over her shoulders, making her feel a little itchy on her neck.
“No…Little Nagina doesn’t need to apologize, the one who should apologize…is me.” Kanade kept his head down, not daring to look at Nagina’s face.
His tone was also downcast and his voice hoarse.
“Is that so? By the way, my next question may seem a bit rude, and if I offend you in any way, I apologize in advance…” Nagina clasped her hands together.
“It’s fine…as long as it’s something I can answer…” Kanade’s gaze remained fixed on the floor of the hospital room.
“Then, my name is Hoshimiya…Nagina, right? That’s why you call me Little Nagina.”
“Yes.”
After waking up, Nagina could not remember who she was and had lost all memories of her past.
Every time she tried to search for memories in her mind,
it was as if something was blocking her in the vast darkness, preventing her from finding her existence.
However, her memories regarding common knowledge and intellect seemed to remain entirely intact and clear.
She now felt like a blank slate, facing the outside world with her purest self.
Conversely, the goodwill or malice directed at her from the outside world would be unconditionally and completely accepted.
Nagina felt no emotional unease regarding her lost memory.
On the contrary, she felt fresh and curious about everything around her.
But if she had to say something, there was still one thing that made her feel uneasy—
“What about your name? What did I call you before?”
“…..Tsukimi Kanade.” Regarding the latter question, Kanade did not answer.
“…..So what is our relationship?”
Nagina seemed a bit concerned about his response.
However, after a brief pause, she continued the conversation as if she hadn’t noticed.
“……Are we very close?”
Nagina’s innocent and naïve words pierced Kanade’s heart like sharp knives, making it hard for him to breathe.
Yet he could not show any expression that would make her uneasy.
In the end, Kanade could only force a rigid smile.
“……Classmates.”
“That’s a lie.” This time, Nagina did not seem willing to give him an easy way out, replying bluntly.
“Because that doctor just now told me that you come to visit me every day…”
“Even classmates who are very close wouldn’t come every day, right?”
“……I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize, as I don’t know if my questions were too rude…” Nagina spoke with a hint of guilt.
Nagina’s words filled with regret made Kanade feel increasingly tormented.
Finally, he bit his lip, seeming to gather courage to face something, and slowly said:
“Actually, we are… childhood friends…”
“So that’s how it is… Then you must know a lot about my past, right?”
Upon hearing this, Nagina finally voiced her true concern—
“Actually, since waking up, there’s one thing I’ve been very curious about and would like to ask if you know…”
“—It should be something I always carry with me…”
At this, Kanade couldn’t help but look up.
In his dim and lifeless eyes, Nagina’s frail figure was reflected.
She wore a lonely expression, constantly stroking her left wrist with her right hand.
“Although I can’t remember what it is, I feel extremely uneasy; it should be right here—”
Nagina’s final, soft whisper pierced through Kanade’s newly built emotional defenses…
Because what she always wore there was—
…
…
In the end,
the childhood friend named Kanade did not answer her question.
He only said “I have to go” before hanging his head and rushing out of the hospital room as if escaping.
“Did…I hurt him?”
Looking at his painfully retreating figure, Nagina couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pain in her heart.
But she didn’t know what was causing this pain.
Yet it gave her an idea.
She must recover her memories as soon as possible—
Otherwise, she might hurt others like this.
Just then,
it seemed a doctor was passing by in the corridor, and someone stopped the doctor.
Nagina’s keen hearing caught the conversation between the two.
The voice that addressed the doctor seemed somewhat familiar to Nagina.
The doctor who had just introduced himself to her; it seemed he was her brother.
And the content of his conversation made Nagina’s spirits lift—
“Doctor, I would like to ask if my sister has a habit of keeping a diary; if she were to read her diary, would it assist her in recovering her memory?”
A diary!?
She didn’t expect to have such a habit!
Nagina’s emotions became a little excited.
If she kept a diary—
That would be wonderful; it seemed she would soon be able to discover her past and find out what kind of person she truly was.
