I Risked My Life To Save The Cheeky Girl, And As A Result, I Lost My Right Arm. - Chapter 4.1: With Everything Kept Hidden. (Part 2)

With Everything Kept Hidden. (Part 1)

After the trees outside the window shed all their leaves, they began to sprout new buds in preparation for spring. As if in sync with this, my body gradually began to heal as well.

Even though phantom limb pain still occurred, it had become less intense compared to before, and the discomfort from not having an arm had slowly started to feel more bearable.

Four months after the accident, on March 5th, I was finally able to be discharged from the hospital.

Of course, I still had to visit the hospital for check-ups about once every two weeks, but being able to leave was a huge step forward for me.

“Thank you for everything,” I said as I bowed my head to the doctors and nurses who had taken care of me during my stay, around five o’clock in the evening in the hospital parking lot.

After getting into my father’s car, I left the hospital behind. For the first time in four months, I was able to look out the car window and observe the scenery of the city. It was a view I had seen countless times before, but now it filled me with a sense of excitement, as if I was seeing it anew.

“Reijiro, what do you want to eat tonight? We’ll have your favorite for dinner,” my father said cheerfully, sitting in the driver’s seat.

Feeling upbeat about my discharge, I jokingly shouted, “A full-course French meal!”

Hearing that, both my father and mother laughed out loud.

“Hahaha, sure, Reijiro. Should I make a reservation for French cuisine?” my father responded.

I hadn’t expected him to take my joke seriously, so I quickly replied, “No, no, Dad, I was just kidding!”

“I don’t even really know French food. Uh, actually, I think I’d like to have ramen, something simple.”

“Is ramen good enough? It’s your discharge day, so why not have something a bit more special?” my father asked.

“That’s right, Reijiro,” my mother added. “Don’t hold back! How about sushi? You like sushi, don’t you?”

“Well, it’s just… um… the hospital bills were pretty high, right? Plus, I’ll probably need more money in the future, and I don’t want to burden you guys too much,” I said hesitantly.

“Idiot, don’t be so considerate in the wrong places. Just tell us what you want to eat,” my father scolded playfully.

“……………”

“Come on, this is an investment for the future! When you grow up, you’ll be taking care of your old, frail mom and me!”

“What?! That’s not unconditional love?!”

“Hahaha! Sorry, no such thing! I’ll feed you, but I expect you to repay me later!”

“Ugh, reality’s harsh…”

“That’s right! So, Reijiro, don’t hold back. Eat whatever you want, as much as you want.”

“……………”

Of course, I understood. This was my father’s way of showing kindness.

I glanced at my right arm. Under the long sleeve, there was nothing—just the limp, empty sleeve hanging down.

“…Then, I guess I want sushi,” I said in a small voice. My father, clearly pleased, responded cheerfully, “Alright!”

“While you were in the hospital, I found a great place. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s been said to be incredibly delicious,” he continued.

“……………”

“Your mother and I were talking, and we’d like to go there together once you get out of the hospital.”

“…I see.”

I glanced at my mother in the passenger seat. She was sniffing and wiping away tears.

I whispered softly, barely audibly, “Thank you.”

***

After finishing our meal, our family returned home around 8:30 PM.

My home, after four months, seemed larger than usual. It was a two-story house, just an ordinary house in the suburbs, but coming back to it now, it stirred something in my chest.

“I’m home,” I said as I stepped inside, heading to the dining room. I sat down at the square table, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

Ah, I’ve finally come back. I’ve returned to this space.

Now that I could finally relax, my body felt heavy, as if the tension had been cut, and my eyelids began to feel weighted.

“Reijiro, I’m making cocoa. Do you want some?” my mother asked.

“Yeah, I’d like some,” I replied.

“Fuh… Oh, it’s already 8:30. Isn’t it about time ‘that person’ arrives?” my father said, glancing at the wall clock.

“Oh, you’re right,” my mother responded.

“Then we should make cocoa for that person too.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“…That person? Mom, Dad, who are you talking about?” I asked, confused.

“Ah, we hadn’t told you yet? Actually, starting today, there’s someone who wants to live with us,” my father explained.

“Huh? What? That’s sudden.”

“It was their strong request. That person asked to come on the night you were discharged.”

“The night I was discharged…?”

Ding dong

Just as my father and I were talking, the doorbell rang.

“Ah, that must be her,” my father said.

My father stood up from his chair and headed toward the entrance. Curious about who it might be, I followed him.

Click, creak…

When the front door opened and we looked outside, a girl standing with a suitcase caught our attention.

It was Hasegawa.

“Eh!? H-Hasegawa!?” I exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing my voice, Hasegawa gave a small bow.

At the square dining table, the four of us—my family and Hasegawa—sat together.

Hasegawa sat to my right, with my father across from me, and my mother next to him. In front of each of us was a cup of warm cocoa, releasing gentle white steam.

“Actually, Reijiro,” my father began after clearing his throat, “this is how it came about.”

He paused for a moment before continuing.

“This young lady, Hasegawa Yuzu, asked if she could live with us to help take care of you.”

“To take care of me…?” I asked, processing what he said.

“Yeah. She wants to be by your side 24/7, stay in your room, and watch over you all the time,” he explained.

“………………”

I turned to look at Hasegawa’s profile. She had her head bowed, took a deep breath, and then, in a nervous tone, said, “I-I’m sorry for asking such a selfish request. I’ll cook my own meals, and I’ll pay for utilities like electricity and water… I’ll take care of everything.”

“That’s not necessary,” my mother calmly reassured her.

“You don’t need to go that far. I’ll help with your living expenses, and I’ve heard your mother will contribute too.”

“………………”

“So, please, take good care of Reijiro.”

“Y-Yes, I’ll do my best!” Hasegawa replied, her voice filled with determination.

Hasegawa awkwardly bowed her head.

(What… Hasegawa…? Honestly, I didn’t think she would go this far…)

“So, from today, Hasegawa here will be living with us. Reijiro, if anything happens, you can rely on her,” my father said, his tone firm.

“Dad…?”

“To be honest, Reijiro, neither your mother nor I have particularly good feelings toward Hasegawa here,” he continued.

“………………”

“This girl is the one responsible for the accident. If Hasegawa hadn’t carelessly stepped into the street, you wouldn’t have been in that accident. It was an unavoidable fact, even though it wasn’t intentional.”

“But… the driver was the one who was truly at fault, right? He was drunk, and he didn’t notice Hasegawa standing in the middle of the road.”

“You’re right. The driver was the one at fault, and we do plan to seek a large compensation from him.”

“So then, what about Hasegawa…?”

“However, Reijiro, this isn’t something that can be explained logically.”

“………………”

“Of course, I know Hasegawa came to visit you every single day. She’s the girl who tried to save you with her life, and I’m sure she’s not a bad person. Your mother and I want to believe that. But we also know that, in the past, she often teased you and laughed at you. We’ve heard about that too.”

“………………”

“From the outside, she seemed to act recklessly. Apparently, she often laughed at you and called you ‘uncool, uncool,’ and since you forgave her, it turned out okay. But honestly, that kind of behavior could easily be seen as bullying, and there’s no denying that.”

“…Well, about that…”

At this point, I couldn’t find a way to properly defend Hasegawa. The teasing from her had been quite intense, and she often said things that were incredibly cheeky. I couldn’t lie about that fact.

“You lost your arm to save someone like her. As a parent, it’s as frustrating as it gets. You can’t help but think, ‘Why for someone like this?’ It’s hard to shake that feeling,” my father said, his voice heavy with emotion.

“Dad…”

“I know this isn’t the most tolerant or understanding response. Your mother and I don’t want to hate a child like Hasegawa. But… we can’t just say ‘I forgive everything’ right here. It leaves a lingering feeling in our hearts. That’s why we agreed to this arrangement—so we could properly feel her sincerity.”

“………………”

“Of course, we won’t treat her coldly or lash out at her out of frustration. But until we’re sure of her sincerity, I want her to keep trying her best,” my father continued, turning his gaze to Hasegawa. “So, from now on, we’ll be relying on you.”

Hasegawa quickly bowed her head, replying, “Yes, I’ll work harder than ever.”