While waiting for news at the hospital, Seiko dialled her dad's number. As usual, it went to answer phone. “Hi Daddy," she said. "It's me Seiko. Just to let you know, I'm not going to be able to cook tonight, ok? Are you cool to get a take out? I'm in hospital with a friend, you see. Ok, gotta go. Ring me when you get this... Love you!”
Just as she hung up, the doctor came to tell her that she could see Kaito, so she followed man into a small, white room filled with bleeping machines, Kaito lying in a bed. He looked awful! However, she was pleased to see that he was awake. She smiled, and was about to say something, when all of a sudden this horrid woman barged in and started hitting Kaito for no apparent reason!
Shocked and appalled, but not knowing what to do, Seiko simply stood there with her mouth open, eyes like two saucers and ears flat! And she stayed like that, even after the woman had left! Then, her expression darkened. “I'll be right back!” She said to Kaito, showing her teeth a little. “I promise!” She added, and then marched up to the help desk.
“Who let that woman in?!” She demanded to the secretary who was manning it.
“Which woman?” The secretary asked.
“Black hair. In her forties…!”
“Oh! You mean Kaito’s mum…?”
“I don't care who she is!” Seiko snapped. “You are NOT to let that woman in here! DO you understand?!”
“And why is that, miss?” the secretary replied cooly.
“She just attacked Kaito! She's probably the reason he's sick!”
“Alright,” said the woman. “If an assault has just been committed, then it is hospital protocol to call the police. They will be waiting if the Mrs Shion comes back. And, don't worry. She won't be allowed back in. However, the police WILL want a statement from both you and Kaito.”
“Ok. Thank you,” said Seiko, and then headed to the nearest toilets. Locking the door, she reached into her satchel and pulled out a little pouch, which she then unwrapped and selected a scalpel from the array of sharp implements she had. Then she rolled down her tights and slowly cut a line into her thigh, gasping a little, but then feeling a warm sensation… a feeling akin to euphoria and a sense of leaving her pain behind. The events for the last few hours had shaken her right to her foundations. She couldn't let it show, but she needed to release it. And this was the only way she knew how.
The feeling only lasted a few seconds before her leg started to hurt, so, while she pressed a square of gauze into the cut, she did the same on the other leg… although the feeling wasn’t as intense. Her stupid body had been expecting it that time! Disappointed and angry with herself for pushing her luck, she cleaned the cuts, stuck plasters on them, rolled her tights back up and went to wash her hands, before heading back to check on Kaito. She walked back into the room to find him still sobbing, but a doctor was with him. “I’m going to put you in touch with our psychiatric team,” he was explaining to Kaito...