Harumi stood in front of the hospital.
Big.White.Silent.
Imposing in that very hospital kind of way — like it was silently judging every life choice you had ever made.
She put her hands on her hips.
A pair of sunglasses she had found somewhere and had absolutely no idea who they belonged to — but they looked stylish.
An apparently expensive handbag.Apparently.
She took a deep breath.
Determined.
…
Okay.
Before this, we need to explain how this creature ended up here.
Because it was not simple.
It is never simple with Harumi.
A few hours earlier:
WHACK!
Takeru's pillow strike landed directly on her face.
— WAKE UUUUP! — his voice came with it, dry, efficient, punctual like a Japanese alarm clock.
Harumi opened her eyes.
Blink.
Then dramatically raised one arm toward the heavens.
— YOOOCHA!!!
Silence.
And Takeru's deeply unconvinced expression.
"How does someone wake up with this much energy?"
She got up.
Drank her vitamin juice.
Felt powerful.
Lay down on the couch.
— …I'm tired.
Footsteps.
Takeru walked through the living room carrying a plate that had just dried.
Harumi froze.
Eyes wide.
— THE HOSPITAL!!!!
"Today's the day I uncover everything about the coldest woman in Japan!"
She jumped to her feet.
Ran.
Hurricane-speed outfit change.
Wrong sunglasses.
Shirt possibly inside out.
But determination?
Untouched.
Mei was dropped off at Grandpa Hiroshi's garden, perfectly happy and promising to take care of the plants like it was an official government position.
Takeru stayed home.
Probably playing video games.
Probably silently judging Harumi's decisions.
And Harumi?
She took the first train.
And now…
Here we are.
Back to the present — hospital:
Harumi walked in whistling.
Elegant posture.
Gentle smile.
Mode: polite and completely normal citizen.
She walked up to the reception desk.
— Good morning! I came to visit someone very dear to me…
The receptionist looked at her with professional but kind attention.
— Patient's name?
— Mizuki... — she remembered she had no idea what the last name was and awkwardly moved her mouth like she could summon one from memory. — Na... Nakamura!
The receptionist typed the name.
— Hmm, we don't have a Mizuki Nakamura in the system, but there is a Mizuki Kobayashi.
— That's the one! Nakamura was her maiden name… ahhh, I'm so forgetful!
— Of course, that happens!
Harumi clasped her hands dramatically against her chest.
And the acting began.
— Ah… she means so much to me… I've wanted to see her for so long… but I know she doesn't accept visitors… still… you know… hope is the last thing to die…
Sparkling eyes.
Shaky breathing.
Freshly invented poetic tone — looks like drama club finally paid off.
— Faith… is like a flower… blooming even in winter…
The receptionist blinked.
Slightly moved.
— Let me check again.
Harumi nodded solemnly.
— It's always worth trying.
Click.
Keyboard.
Search.
The receptionist returned.
— Unfortunately… she is still refusing visitors.
Harumi placed a hand over her heart.
— I understand… my dear, longtime friend… has always been difficult…
Dramatic silence.
Then:
— …would there happen to be… some sort of little radio… where I could speak to her?
The receptionist instantly made that face.
"Oh dear God, she's about to do something."
— We can't do that.
— Ah… of course… of course… understandable…
Harumi inhaled.
— …a little note, then?
— …
— Tiny one…
— …
— Many lives depend on it.
— Ma'am—
— Children are involved…
— Ma'am—
— Deep emotional suffering—
— We cannot deliver notes.
Harumi lowered her head.
— I understand…
She breathed out.
— Thank you… I'll think of something…
She left.
While walking upstairs toward the exit… she overheard two nurses talking from opposite ends of the stairwell:
— Mia, don't forget Mrs. Mizuki changed rooms!
— Wait, she finally moved?!
— Yeah, honestly, took them long enough…
— Right? Especially after that incident with that crazy woman who came kicking her door down… the door literally broke!!
— Crazy, right?! Anyway, she's in Room 21 on the second floor now.
— Okay, thanks!
And Harumi was listening to ALL OF IT.
Making faces.
Reacting silently like this was premium gossip.
But she already had another plan.
OUTSIDE:
Harumi walked through the courtyard.
Looked at the hospital.
Thought about the past.
Thought about last time.
Thought about the kicked door.
— No. I'm a new person now. Calm. Peaceful. Evolved.
Deep breath.
Then she saw it.
The pipe.
She looked up.
Second floor.
Looked at the pipe.
Looked at the floor above.
— …two floors is nothing for someone who survived school sports festivals and PE races…
She placed a foot on it.
Climbed 3 centimeters.
Slid down 4.
Tried again.
Slid again.
A security guard watched from far away while chewing on something.
— …this is not gonna work.
Harumi climbed down in defeat.
Looked at the big green courtyard…
And got another idea.
— Okay. Plan C.
Back at reception.
— Miss… sorry to bother you again…
The receptionist already knew.
— Yes?
Harumi placed a hand dramatically over her chest.
Shaky voice.
— I got a call… from her children… crying… saying they miss her… and now my heart is in pieces…
The receptionist's eyes widened.
Harumi continued:
— I stepped outside for some air… and noticed some patients go outside to breathe a little…
Silence.
Hopeful stare.
— …by any chance… would you happen to know… what time she comes down?
The receptionist hesitated.
Sighed.
Looked around.
Quietly:
— Today… at two.
Harumi froze.
— …seriously?
— But please, respect her wishes.
Harumi grabbed both of the receptionist's hands.
— YOU SAVED LIVES TODAY.
— Ma'am—
— CHILDREN'S HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON THIS.
— Ma'am—
— THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Both women were nearly crying.
For very different reasons.
Quick cut *
Clock: 1:59 PM
Harumi hiding.
Clock: 2:00 PM
Door opened.
Nurse walked out with Mizuki.
Harumi's eyes widened.
— THIS IS IT!!
She ran out.
Practically skipping.
Huge smile.
— MIZUKI!!! I—
WHACK.
A handbag flew.
Straight.
Into her face.
Harumi didn't even see where it came from.
Only heard:
— Go away.
Silence.
Harumi stood there.
Handbag to the face.
Whose handbag was it? No idea.
But not every enemy announces where they came from.
In Harumi's life, they just spawn out of nowhere.
And…
the chapter ends here.