The deafening wail of sirens echoed throughout Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
Police officers pushed the growing crowd back as paramedics rushed towards the wrecked S13.
Several bystanders pulled out their phones and began recording.
Others desperately tried to help.
Within minutes…
News vans arrived.
Television reporters hurried across the scene while cameramen adjusted their equipment.
The rescue team carefully forced open the driver’s door.
After several tense moments…
They finally pulled Akira from the wreckage.
His body hung limp in their arms.
Blood slowly trickled down the side of his forehead.
He remained unconscious.
The crowd gasped.
Person 1 (shocked): “That’s Isamu Sawada!”
Person 2: “Quick!
Get him into the ambulance!”
Person 3 (worried): “I hope he’s alright…”
Person 4: “No way…”
The paramedics quickly placed Akira onto a stretcher before rushing him into the ambulance.
The doors slammed shut.
Moments later…
The ambulance disappeared into the morning traffic.
Somewhere else…
Inside Akira’s house…
Hanoka slowly opened her eyes.
She stretched lazily before climbing out of bed.
After washing her face, she quietly walked downstairs.
The house felt unusually quiet.
She glanced towards the living room.
No sign of Akira.
Hanoka (thinking): “He already left…”
She opened the refrigerator, took out yesterday’s leftovers and warmed them up.
A few minutes later…
She sat down on the couch.
With the television remote in her hand, she switched on the TV.
The morning news was already underway.
At first…
She paid little attention.
Then…
One sentence froze her completely.
Reporter (on TV): “Breaking news.
Famous actor Isamu Sawada was involved in a serious traffic accident earlier this morning.”
Hanoka’s hand slowly lowered.
The smile on her face disappeared.
The reporter continued.
Reporter: “Witnesses say his Nissan Silvia S13 lost control before crashing head-on into a roadside tree near Shibuya Scramble Crossing.”
Images of the wrecked S13 appeared on the screen.
The front of the car was almost unrecognisable.
Reporter: “There were no reports of a fire.
However, Mr Sawada suffered serious injuries and was found unconscious inside the vehicle.”
Another image appeared.
Paramedics lifting Akira onto a stretcher.
Reporter: “The accident occurred at approximately 8:30 this morning.”
Reporter: “He is currently being transported to Keio University Hospital.”
Silence.
Hanoka stared at the television.
She didn’t move.
She didn’t blink.
The plate slipped from her hands…
Clink.
It hit the floor.
She didn’t even notice.
Hanoka (barely whispering): “…No…”
Her breathing became uneven.
She shook her head repeatedly.
Hanoka: “No…”
Tears welled in her eyes.
Hanoka (voice trembling): “No…!”
She sprang to her feet.
Hanoka: “Akira!”
Without wasting another second, she grabbed her phone with shaking hands and booked the nearest taxi.
The wait felt endless.
Finally…
A taxi pulled up outside the house.
Hanoka rushed inside.
Hanoka (desperately): “Keio University Hospital, please!”
The driver looked at her through the rear-view mirror.
Seeing the panic on her face…
He immediately understood.
Driver: “Got it, ma’am.”
The taxi sped away.
The ambulance came to a sudden stop beneath the emergency entrance of Keio University Hospital.
The rear doors flew open.
“Move!
One, two, three!”
Paramedics carefully wheeled Akira’s stretcher through the automatic glass doors.
Doctors and nurses immediately surrounded him.
Doctor: “Male.
Eighteen years old.
High-speed frontal collision.”
Paramedic: “Found unconscious at the scene.
Head injury with forehead laceration.
Pulse stable.
No signs of cardiac arrest.”
The doctor nodded.
Doctor: “Take him to Emergency Room Two.”
Within seconds, Akira disappeared behind the swinging doors.
Several minutes later…
A taxi screeched to a halt outside the hospital.
Before it had completely stopped, Hanoka opened the door.
She hurried towards the reception desk, struggling to catch her breath.
Hanoka (worried): “Excuse me…
Isamu Sawada…
he was brought here after a car accident…”
The receptionist looked up before checking the hospital records.
After a brief moment…
Receptionist: “Yes.
He arrived a few minutes ago.”
Hanoka’s heart sank.
Hanoka: “Can I see him?”
Receptionist: “I’m sorry.
He’s still undergoing examination.”
Hanoka lowered her head.
“…I understand.”
She quietly walked to the waiting area.
The emergency room doors remained firmly shut.
Every passing second felt painfully slow.
The ticking clock echoed through the silent corridor.
Stretchers came and went.
Families whispered prayers beneath their breath.
Hanoka could only stare at the closed doors.
Her fingers trembled.
She clasped her hands together tightly, hoping they would stop shaking.
Hanoka (whispering): “Please…”
“…Please be okay.”
The words barely escaped her lips.
Nearly forty minutes passed.
Finally…
The emergency room doors opened.
A doctor stepped outside.
Hanoka immediately stood.
Hanoka: “Doctor!”
The doctor removed his mask before speaking.
Doctor: “Are you a family member?”
Hanoka hesitated for a second.
Then nodded.
Hanoka: “Yes.”
The doctor offered a reassuring smile.
Doctor: “He’s fortunate.”
Hanoka’s eyes widened.
Doctor: “He suffered a concussion, several cuts and bruises, and a minor fracture in his left wrist.”
He paused.
Doctor: “However…
none of the injuries are life-threatening.”
Hanoka’s knees nearly gave way.
A breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding escaped her.
Tears slowly welled in her eyes.
Doctor: “He’s still unconscious, but we expect him to wake up later today.”
Hanoka covered her mouth.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Hanoka (quietly): “…Thank you.”
The doctor nodded.
Doctor: “You may see him now.”
Hanoka slowly walked into the room.
The steady beeping of a heart monitor filled the silence.
Akira lay peacefully on the hospital bed.
A white bandage wrapped around his forehead.
An IV drip rested beside him.
He looked unusually fragile.
Hanoka quietly pulled a chair beside the bed.
She reached out…
…and gently held his hand.
It was still warm.
She lowered her head.
For a long moment…
She said nothing.
Then, with a small, trembling smile…
Hanoka (softly): “Idiot…”
Another tear slipped down her cheek.
Outside the hospital window…
The afternoon sky remained bright.
Unseen by anyone…
Far across the street…
A lone figure dressed in black stood beneath the shade of a tree.
His hands rested inside his coat pockets.
A golden ring glinted beneath the sunlight.
Without a word…
He turned around…
…and disappeared into the crowd.