Frightening revelation

Keith and Akira entered the kitchen, the air still thick with the residue of unspoken tensions. Akira, her half-finished plate of food forgotten, sat at the table, while Keith, with a thoughtful frown pulling at his brows, began to wash the dishes. 

The memory of her words—"He… has a lot going on right now"—swirled in his mind, a thorny question that snagged his attention.

Just what heavy sorrow is Kyotaro wrestling with? An unbidden wave of sympathy washed over Keith. 

Despite his guarded nature, seeing someone in genuine anguish, raw and unvarnished, stirred something inside him that his usual cynicism couldn't suppress.

I don't usually get involved, He mused, the warmth of the dishwater a strange comfort. But that outburst earlier—it wasn't just anger. It felt like a dam breaking, and his expression said it all... Maybe I'm just drawn to people who understand pain. Mostly because, I can kinda relate to them.

He finished the last dish, wiping his hands dry before taking off the apron and hanging it back on its hook. He sat across from Akira, the gentle clink of the plates settling the quiet.

"Hey, Akira-san."

"Yeah?"

"If you don't mind," Keith began, his voice hesitant, "I... I wanted to ask you something about your brother."

"Of course, what did you want to know?"

"Well, uhm... you said he's going through some things, but it feels like it's something specific... I'm not trying to be nosy, really—"

Akira's soft giggle cut him off, a sound like wind chimes in the heavy air. 

"Hehehe, don't worry, I know." Her expression turned serious, though her eyes remained warm. "You're right. It is something specific, or at least, some-one,"

"Oh, I see," Keith said, nodding slowly, his eyes fixed on her, waiting.

"Remember I told you he was visiting a friend in the hospital?"

Keith's nod was almost imperceptible.

“Well, that friend is actually a girl. To put it simply, she's basically my brother's reason for living.” 

Akira's voice dropped to a near whisper, her eyelids fluttering shut for a moment. 

“Her name's Minami, and she's my Onee-chan. Or at least, that's what I call her. Onee-chan is… sick, and from the way Onii-chan was acting, it means she probably isn't getting any better."

"That's pretty rough," Keith murmured, his brow furrowed in sympathy.

"Yeah... it is. And I feel so helpless. I wish there was something I could do, but… It's out of my hands. All I can do is put my faith in the doctors. I just know they'll save her," 

Akira said, a forced optimism in her voice that didn't quite reach her eyes. Minami wasn't just a part of Kyotaro's life; she was a beacon of hope for both of them. 

The knowledge that Minami was sick sent a cold dread through Akira's heart, a feeling that was about to get a lot worse. She stood, picked up her now-cold plate, and offered Keith a small, hearting smile. 

"Don’t worry about my brother. He'll be fine."

With that, she headed for the sink, washed her plate, and disappeared up the stairs, leaving Keith alone with his thoughts. 

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as the memory of his aunt at the train station flickered behind his eyes.

Where are you right now? Are you safe? He pondered, his face a smooth, blank mask. It seems all I'm good for—is asking questions… How pathetic.

After a moment, Keith rose and made his way to the bathroom, shedding his troublesome thoughts like clothes as he sank into a warm bath.

*****

Meanwhile, Akira stood before Kyotaro's door, the silence on the other side heavy and unnatural. After several unanswered knocks, she gently pushed the door open. Inside, Kyotaro was sprawled on his back across the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

A small smile of relief touched her lips. She retrieved a folded blanket from the foot of the bed and draped it over him. As she did, his phone, which lay half-hidden beneath his hand, shifted. The screen, now lit, revealed a list of startling specificity.

List of things to do before it's too late

– Take her on a date to eat her favorite food

– Take her to the movies

– Go to the beach with her

– Go to an amusement park

– Take her shopping

– Look at the stars with her

– Take her to our tree one last time

Akira froze, as her eyes reverted to the last line: "one last time." The words felt like a physical blow. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, fixated on the device. 

Her mouth fell open, a silent scream caught in her throat. The phone slipped from her trembling hand and clattered softly onto the bed. Taking a step back, she shook her head in violent denial.

"No, this can't be real… it can't!"

She stumbled backward out of the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. She slid down the wall, her body trembling uncontrollably, her face a mask of abject fear. 

Sweat, cold and slick, beaded on her forehead. The air felt thin, her lungs starved for breath. The emerald green in her eyes dulled, her racing heartbeat echoing a thunderous rhythm in her ears.

At that moment, Keith emerged from downstairs, a towel slung around his neck. The sight of Akira, pale and paralyzed by fear, stopped him cold. 

He had never seen her look so terrified, and a wave of panicked confusion washed over him. He dropped the towel and knelt before her, his hands hovering uncertainly.

“Akira-san, what's wrong? Are you okay? What happened?”

Akira couldn't answer. Her gaze was distant, as if she were staring into a void. Keith felt a surge of uselessness, his own inadequacy screaming in his mind.

What should I do? She's panicking—help her, dammit! Do something! Anything! Move! Be useful for once in your REDUNDANT LIFE!

He fought his own demons of hesitation, an internal storm raging in his head. She had been so kind to him, and this was his chance to repay her. But the fear of doing the wrong thing paralyzed him.

In a burst of desperate determination, he punched himself lightly on the cheek, a sharp sting that jolted him into action. Taking a deep breath, he came to a decision. 

It was a risky move, an act of boldness that went against his very nature.

"I'm… sorry in advance for this, Akira-san," 

He murmured, his voice a low rumble. Then, gently, he pulled her into a tight embrace. It was a contact she hadn't experienced since she was a child. 

The warmth of his body, the firm pressure of his arms, was a shock that momentarily arrested her trembling. 

Keith realized his comfort wasn't enough. He began to stroke her head rhythmically, a gentle, soothing motion. 

"It's okay, Akira-san. Everything's going to be fine. I'm here for you. Just breathe."

Slowly, the frantic pace of Akira's breathing subsided. Her heartbeat returned to a more normal rhythm, though still faster than usual.

The emerald light returned to her eyes as his voice and touch grounded her. She gripped him tightly, releasing a final shuddering breath.

Then, the shock of their intimacy registered. She pulled away abruptly and bowed her head in embarrassment, while Keith remained kneeling, his cheeks burning a furious crimson.

"Please forgive me for worrying you, Keith."

"Don’t apologize. You didn't do anything wrong," 

He reassured her, the color on his face slowly receding. He smiled inwardly at the irony. 

Just yesterday she was telling him not to apologize, and yet now he was telling her the exact same thing. 

He rose to his feet, and they stood facing each other, a lingering awkwardness hanging between them.

"Akira-san… I don't know what happened, and I'm not going to ask. But just so you know… I'm here for you. I want to help you in any way I can, so don't hesitate… to ask me for help."

Her eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. The fear had receded, replaced by a profound relief.

"Thanks, Keith… that means a lot—"

Her voice trailed off, her eyes fluttering shut as she swayed and collapsed. Keith reacted instantly, catching her in his arms before she hit the floor. 

He carried her to her room, her weight a testament to her sudden weakness. After laying her gently on her bed, he found a pen and a notebook. 

He tore out a page, wrote a quick note, and left it beside her before quietly exiting the room. He descended the stairs, a thoughtful silence settling over him as he reached the kitchen. 

Keith glanced around the empty house, the memories of yesterday’s drama and today’s panic replaying in his mind. A soft, genuine smile crossed his face. He opened the door, turned, and murmured:

"See you soon, Akira."

The noon sun was brighter than ever, casting a brilliant light over the front step. Most of the snow had melted, and the sky was a clear, vivid blue.

"The weather's pretty beautiful today," he muttered to himself, "I really need to find those keys." 

He began to walk away, a new determination in his stride. The note he left behind read:

Dear Akira-san

Thanks for everything. Not a lot of people would invite a stranger into their house, especially at night. So I'm really grateful for the kindness you've shown me. And with that I say Arigato, wait is it say or write, ugh never mind.

See you soon...

Your friendly stranger 

Keith Yamasaki.

『To be continued…』