The Summer Day When I Met You - Chapter 11 - The Day You Disappeared

Chapter 11 – The Day You Disappeared

The only world I have ever seen is the view from my hospital room.

That’s why the scenery I saw when I was with everyone was new to me.

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The bus we boarded, lit by the setting sun, headed for the station.

Everyone was sound asleep, probably because they were tired from playing.

In the middle of all this, I saw Kokoa sitting in front of me.

Before I knew it, I became aware of Kokoa.

Every time I see her, I fall more in love.

I’ll confess before the end of summer holiday… That’s what I had decided.

＊＊＊

After about 10 minutes into the bus ride, it was almost time to reach the station.

Before I knew it, I fell asleep and had woken up.

I looked around and everyone was still sleeping.

But there was one thing that was different from the time before I fell asleep.

“Kokoa…?”

There was no sign of Kokoa that should have been sitting in front of me.

“Hey, Karin. Where’s Kokoa?”

I woke up Karin, who was sleeping next to Kokoa, who had just been there, and asked her.

“Hmm? …Kokoa? …! Ah, she’s not here!”

Half asleep, Karin woke up in a panic when she realized that Kokoa was gone.

“What’s going on? It doesn’t look like she got off by mistake…”

Karin panicked at the sudden situation.

When I looked at the passengers on the bus, Kokoa was nowhere to be seen.

So, we can only assume that she got off the bus…

“Hinata-kun? What’s wrong?” From the back seat, Sayo asked.

“Kokoa is gone.”

“What!? Kokoa-chan’s gone!?”

Sayo was so surprised that she let out a loud voice and covered her mouth.

“For the time being, I’ve emailed her and asked her where she is,” Karin said to me.

“Let’s call her. But let’s get off this bus first,” said Sayo as she woke Rino and Kensuke who were sleeping.

＊＊＊

We got off the bus at the front of the station, which was not where we wanted to go.

“It’s no use. She didn’t pick up the call.”

Karin shook her head and said that the call didn’t connect.

“Kokoa, where could you be?” Rino muttered anxiously.

“Anyway, it’s already dark today, let’s go to the police station and ask about Kokoa.”

Everyone nodded at Kensuke’s suggestion.

Eventually, everyone went home that day.

And from that day onwards, I didn’t see or hear from Kokoa, and the summer holiday was over.

18 Sept.

The summer holiday was over and the second semester had begun.

School was supposed to be the same as it was before the summer holiday, but something had changed.

I found myself wondering how Kokoa was doing.

After school, I went with Sayo on her errands.

“I’m sorry you had to go with me to visit my sister,” Sayo said apologetically.

“No, it’s okay, I wanted to see Ayane-chan after a long time.”

While talking happily with Sayo, we arrived at our destination, and the two of us entered the hospital.

“I want to buy some water from the vending machine, wait for me.”

“Yeah, okay.”

While waiting for Sayo, who was on her way to the vending machine, I tried to watch the TV nearby, when I heard two women talking in front of me.

“Yamaguchi-san, long time no see.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

“How is your daughter?”

“She’s still…”

“I see… I hope she’s feeling better.”

The relationship between the two women seemed to me like a friendship between mothers.

Come to think of it, Kokoa’s surname was Yamaguchi, wasn’t it?

“Next time, I’ll go to see Kokoa-chan with my daughter.”

“Thank you very much. I’m sure Kokoa will be very pleased.”

Just now… Did she say Kokoa…?

I thought I heard it wrong at first, but the second time I heard it, I heard it clearly.

The next thing I knew, the two women were walking away from me.

I didn’t hesitate to call out to one of them.

“E-Excuse me!”

“?”

“Are you the mother of Yamaguchi Kokoa-san?”

Anyone would be suspicious if asked this.

However, I made up my mind to ask.

“Yes, that’s right, but… Who are you?”

“I’m Takigawa Hinata. Erm…”

Because I spoke to her on the spur of the moment, I had no idea what to say next.

“Calm down, Takigawa-kun… Can you follow me for a minute?” Kokoa’s mother said so and started walking.