Mitsuhiro Tenge’s thoughts upon seeing Namihei’s corpse…
My son, Namihei Tenge, was dead. He was dead, sitting in his reclining chair in his private room, as if asleep.
The building manager frantically called 119, and the paramedics who rushed to the scene examined Namihei but only shook their heads.
He was likely beyond any resuscitation efforts.
They reported, in hushed tones, that he was deceased, sadly.
This meant rigor mortis had begun, or livor mortis was already visible…
If it had been a short time after death, they might have been able to freeze the body and transplant his organs into me…
The moment I thought that, I vomited. It was such a violent expulsion that I felt like I was vomiting my stomach itself, not just its contents.
I couldn’t suppress the nausea brought on by my own unspeakable depravity.
Even though my son, whom I had been estranged from, had died…
…I… before I could mourn my son’s death… I thought about transplanting his organs to myself!
…Disgusting… Am I truly human!
The paramedics hastily helped me onto a bed and aspirated the vomit.
In their eyes, I must have appeared as a father who, in a state of shock from suddenly losing his son, had vomited.
The truth was different. I had realized I was a hideous monster, unable to bear the stench emanating from my abominable soul.
My consciousness faded, my vision blurred with white.
…… I hated everything now… I wanted to not wake up… Please, don’t let me wake up…
“……Where… is this…”
“……It seems you’re awake. This is Kyouseikai Hospital. You were unconscious and asleep for two days.”
It was the voice of my estranged wife, Fumiyo… My consciousness was returning… That’s right! Namihei!
“What happened to Namihei!”
Fumiyo shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
“……Namihei is… no longer here. …He’s gone…”
“……I see… The cause of… suicide?”
If it was suicide, it was my fault. As a father, I had done nothing for Namihei. I had only given him money and cast him out.
…Soon, I too, afflicted by the plague (Chimera), might go to where Namihei is. Or perhaps not. I might be able to obtain forgiveness.
…I don’t expect to be forgiven, but I want to convey my regret.
“……It wasn’t suicide, nor was it murder. The cause of death was dehydration (Kasshi).”
“Dehydration!? You mean he died of thirst? We’re not in a desert, how could that happen!”
Fumiyo broke down crying and didn’t answer. She seemed much more distraught than I was.
Naturally… unlike a monstrous being like myself, Fumiyo is human.
The hospital room door opened, and Amemiya, dressed in a white coat, peeked his head in.
“Tenge-san, you’re awake. That’s good.”
“……It might have been happier if I hadn’t woken up. But Amemiya, I’m grateful for the treatment.”
“……Namihei-kun was unfortunate… There was nothing that could be done.”
No matter how brilliant a doctor, they cannot bring the dead back to life. Amemiya is not to blame. …If anyone is to blame, it’s me.
“……Fumiyo is more exhausted than I am. Amemiya, can you handle it?”
“Yes, I’ll call a nurse right away. Fumiyo-san hasn’t slept or eaten properly. We’ll have her receive an IV drip and rest.”
Two nurses called by Amemiya helped Fumiyo out of the room, supporting her on both sides.
…Fumiyo cried the entire time… Even in this situation, I can’t shed tears. Truly a monster, I’m disgusted with myself.
“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble. While you’re at it, please take care of Fumiyo. She needs not only physical but also mental care.”
“Yes, I am a doctor. I always stay by my patients’ side. That is my job.”
“Please do that for my patients, not for me.”
“……As I thought, Tenge-san, you’re not like an ordinary person. I knew you were exceptional, but you’re surprisingly composed.”
“……Psychopaths are like this. They only think of themselves. Even I am surprised I can’t cry in this situation.”
“Don’t self-diagnose without being a psychiatrist. Tenge-san, you’re not a psychopath. Look at your hands.”
I looked at my hands. Both were bandaged.
“I can see you’re injured, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“Your fingernails were dug into your palm from clenching your fist so tightly. There are other ways to express sadness besides crying.”
“……Once I regain consciousness, shouldn’t the police be called? It seems unlikely to be a crime, but an interrogation will be necessary, right?”
“Yes, you should be able to undergo questioning in your condition. We’ll call them now.”
“Before that, can I ask something?”
“Of course. Do you want to ask about Namihei-kun?”
“Yes, is the cause of Namihei’s death really dehydration?”
“It is. It’s an extremely rare case. Normally, a person cannot consciously die of thirst. There are many other ways to commit suicide. Therefore, it wasn’t suicide. And of course, it wasn’t murder either.”
The room was sealed, and Namihei wasn’t restrained to the chair, yet he died of dehydration. It certainly doesn’t feel like a crime.
“What are the possible theories?”
“……It’s just speculation, but I believe Namihei-kun, for some reason, lost consciousness while seated in his chair. I reviewed his autopsy report, and his stomach was empty.”
“When I entered the room, there was a finished convenience store lunch box on the side table. That means Namihei survived for several days while unconscious. Humans die of dehydration faster than starvation. He likely remained unconscious for several days, became dehydrated, and died.”
If I had gone to see Namihei just a little sooner… I could have saved him…
“However, there’s something I don’t understand.”
“Something you don’t understand? What is it?”
“I don’t understand why Namihei-kun became unconscious. …There were no abnormalities in his brain or anywhere else in his body. I’ve never heard of a healthy person suddenly falling into a vegetative state. It’s a phenomenon that seems beyond medical explanation, almost supernatural.”
If his soul had left his body and become a wandering spirit, that would be one thing. He could curse me to death for all I care… Just appear before me.
“A vegetative state… Even if he had entered a vegetative state, there was still hope. Just like my father, Shohei.”
“That’s right. Tenge Shohei-shi’s miraculous recovery two years after a traffic accident became a topic in the medical world at the time. Perhaps the same miracle could have happened for Namihei-kun… I’m sorry, I’m not blaming you.”
“It’s fine. In fact, I feel like being severely scolded by someone. No one is as smart as they think they are. But in my case, it’s excessive. …What have I been doing all this time? I’ve been a complete fool, a laughable clown. …I truly hate myself. Perhaps being afflicted with the plague (Chimera) was fortunate. It will end this life I’m so utterly sick of.”
“……Don’t give up. You still have a chance to be saved. ……I said that before, but if you’re willing, I’ll be your doctor. I can’t offer false hope by saying I’ll definitely save you. But as a doctor, and as a friend through our long association, even if it was a fleeting friendship… I can promise to do my utmost.”
…It seems I had a terrible judge of character.
Keisuke Amemiya, whom I had thought of as a spoiled rich kid, turned out to be a remarkable doctor.
“Okay, please do. …No, that’s not right… Please, be my doctor.”
I, who detested bowing to anyone, was able to bow my head in all honesty.
Amemiya smiled and nodded slowly.
“Tenge-san, you… have changed remarkably in such a short time.”
“When you’re afflicted with a fatal illness and have little time left, your perspective on life changes. But the real change will come now. Amemiya, the chances of my survival are slim. However, as a power-hungry individual, I will not die. Even if I die, I want to die as a living person, not a specter. After regaining a heart that beats with blood… I intend to die.”
Facing death is the “privilege” of the living. As a specter, I have no right to face death.
Rights are not given; they must be earned. Therefore, I want to use the remaining time to reclaim myself.
I will embark on a journey of the heart. A journey of atonement that may never be forgiven. …Even if sinful, at least to die as a human…
Speaking of Namihei, the sponsor for Sazae-san is changing, isn’t it.
