Chapter 5 - Encounter

Akira felt unwell on Sunday morning, the beginning of a new week. She woke up feeling sick, weakness taking over her entire body, making it difficult to leave the comfort of her bed. To make matters worse, she was alone at home, with no one to care for her.

Currently, Akira's parents are away on a business trip in the Philippines. They had left just the day before, and her eldest sister was out of town visiting her coffee shop in Kyoto. Another one of her sisters resided abroad with her husband and daughter. Their family belonged to the middle class, and Akira had lived in Ibaraki since she was born. However, the Philippines held a special place in their hearts as it was their second home, where her parents first met and married. Among her siblings, Akira was the youngest, with two older sisters.

Glancing at the clock, Akira noticed it was only five in the morning. Realizing she needed more rest, she decided to go back to sleep to feel better. Afterwards, she planned to visit the convenience store to purchase medicine and food supplies.

Time flew by, and it was already ten o'clock in the morning. Akira remained fast asleep, unaware of the vibrations of her phone. Gin's call went unanswered as she was still lost in sleep. It took another two hours before she finally stirred awake, wobbly rising from her slumber.

“Argh!” Akira groaned, clutching her pounding head. Her body felt slightly lighter, and she managed to stand up. She knew she needed to go out and buy some medicine and supplies. She left the bed, changed her clothes, and wore a mask and jacket, still feeling terrible.

While walking down the street, the skies turned from gray to black, signaling that heavy rain could pour down at any moment. She started to walk as fast as she could, despite her body's weakness. After a minute, she finally reached the convenience store.

One of the convenience store staff members greeted Akira, saying, “Good morning, ma'am.”

She responded with a slight smirk and inquired, “Could you please direct me to the section where I can find medicine for my cold?”

He pointed her in the right direction, and she walked towards that area. After gathering all the needed items, she went to the counter to pay.

Just a few minutes later, the rain started pouring heavily. “Oh no! They don't have any umbrellas in stock at the convenience store. What am I supposed to do now? I can't risk getting even sicker by rushing home in the rain,” she murmured in frustration.

With no other option, she decided to wait until the rain subsided, even though it seemed like it would take a while. She stepped outside the store and, fortunately, spotted a bench nearby. She took a seat, hoping for a miracle that the rain would cease soon.

As time passed, her vision blurred, her head throbbed with pain, and her body grew feverish—she felt miserable.

An hour later, as the rain continued relentlessly, Akira felt a gentle poke on her shoulder, rousing her from her slumber. Opening her eyes, she was taken aback to see none other than Mr. Inei Mizuki standing before her.

She was stunned and found it hard to believe. He inquired if she was alright, his face displaying genuine concern.

“Hey, Akira, are you okay? And you look pale and weak. What are you doing here?” Mr. Mizuki asked with concern.

“I just bought some medicine and other essentials at the store, but then the heavy rain started pouring, and I didn't have an umbrella. I thought of buying one there, but they were out of stock. Now I'm stuck here, waiting for the rain to stop, hoping for a miracle…”  she explained. 

“Wait, how did you know my name?” Akira asked, feeling a strange sense of curiosity.

“Ah, well, I asked your teacher, Mr. Ayumu Ito, and he told me your name,” he responded with a hint of shyness in his voice.

“Why did you ask him about me? What is your purpose? Please tell me,” she inquired.

“I've been attracted to you since I saw you at school. I asked you a random question as an excuse to talk to you,” he confessed. However, Akira was increasingly dizzy, and his words blurred in her ears—she felt weak and unstable.

“Hey, Akira, what happened? You're trembling. I'll take you home. Just wait here, and I'll go get my car,”  he offered with concern.

Mr. Mizuki hurriedly ran towards his car and reached Akira's location within a few minutes. He helped her into the car and swiftly got in himself.

“Hey, Akira. Please tell me where you live. Let me know your exact address,” he requested urgently. In her dazed state, she managed to hand him her school ID from her small bag, hoping he would find the necessary information.

“My address is written there. Please take a look,” she whispered weakly before succumbing to unconsciousness.

Mizuki felt a surge of concern as Akira lost consciousness. He carefully held onto Akira's School ID, taking note of the address. With a sense of urgency, he swiftly drove towards Akira's residence, his mind filled with worry and thoughts of how to help.

Upon arriving at Akira's place, Mizuki carefully carried Akira out of the car and swiftly made his way to the front door. He pressed the doorbell, anxiously waiting for someone to answer and offer assistance. Unfortunately, it seemed that no one was home at that moment. Mizuki's concern grew as he pondered the following action to help Akira. What would unfold for Akira and Mizuki in this situation?