The next day, Saeko arrived at the hospital to find Sota sitting at the windows, playing his guitar, his legs hanging out of the building.
This is dangerous.
Some girls were gathering on the street, enjoying the performance.
"Hey, you there in the uniform!" he called out eyeing her with a teasing grin. "I've got a song just for you!"
"I can't believe this crazy brat," Saeko muttered. She burst into to building marching into his room with seething anger. And for the first time she really raised her voice.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Sota, still lounging at the window with that infuriatingly charming smile, strummed a final chord and said, "I was giving a serenade to my favourite nurse."
"That's not going to work on me," Saeko shot back. "I would never date a guy like you." She didn't hesitate, her voice cold.
"This is a hospital and not a festival to fool around with your band. There are people here trying to rest and recover, and they have serious conditions, unlike you. Please, do everyone a favour. Pull yourself together quickly and get the hell out of here for once," words gushed, her face flushed with the heat of it all.
The room fell silent, the air thick with tension as Saeko stood there, panting from a strange sense of satisfaction. An inexplicable relief washed over her, much like the feeling she had experienced after fighting off Sota's attacker.
Sota, wearing his usual calm smile, climbed back through the window.
"Glad I could help you get it out again," he said, a smug smile playing on his lips.
Was he actually trying to get under my skin on purpose? Did he team up with Mr. Fujimoto or something?
Before she could snap back, a commotion erupted in the hallway—footsteps thundering, voices shouting.
"There's an emergency!"
Saeko rushed out immediately.
"Tanaka has disappeared from his room," one of the doctors said urgently.
Tanaka. He was that teenage patient on suicide watch, severely bullied for his obesity by his peers. How could he have managed to flee? He was under constant surveillance.
Saeko's heart sank.
"Someone check the roof!" another voice shouted from further down the hall.
Moments later, another nurse sprinted toward them. "The rooftop door is blocked! We can't get through!"
Saeko bolted for the exit stairs, the scene unfolding in her mind before her eyes could confirm it. Outside, a small crowd had already gathered on the street, pointing upward.
She followed their gaze and froze. There he was, on the edge of the hospital roof.
"The fire department is on the way," someone beside her murmured.
It wouldn't be fast enough.
"They still need time to break through the door," another added.
That won't do it.
Her voice cracked as she shouted up to him. "Tanaka! Please, step back! Listen to me!"
The guy on the roof didn't budge. Can't we do more?
And then, as something strange caught her eye in her peripheral vision, she saw a figure climbing up the side of the building.
The murmurs around her grew louder. "Is that a person?!"
"Is he insane?"
Phones appeared in people's hands, recording the unbelievable sight.
That is Sota.
"What is that lunatic doing?!" she whispered, panic mounting.
He was scaling the wall without any safety gear, climbing with his bare hands, gripping onto window ledges, pipes, and anything else that would hold his weight.
"He's going to kill himself too!" someone muttered.
Saeko felt dizzy just from looking at him. Every second stretched into an eternity as Sota climbed, relentless, inching closer to the rooftop.
Then, cheers erupted from below as Sota swung himself over the ledge.
He made it. Finally!
As he did, he simply sat down casually beside Tanaka, as if he'd come just to enjoy the view. Instead of pulling the man to safety, he settled comfortably, his legs dangling off the edge, leaning back on his hands, staring into the distance like they were two friends casually chatting at a bar.
"Does he not feel even a hint of fear?" Saeko grumbled.
The crowd below fell silent, their breaths held as one.
They had no idea what they were talking about. It was impossible to hear from down below. At some point, it seemed as if he was only making the boy more agitated.
He'll jump, she screamed inside.
„What are you doing?" Saeko clenched her fists.
Sota remained calm, sitting as if he had no intention of intervening. Though he didn't move, he seemed to continue talking steadily.
From a distance, the sound of fire trucks could already be heard.
Hold on a little longer!
Tanaka now seemed to be placated. Sota stood up, extending his hand, and the boy, gripping it tightly, stood up and stepped away from the edge.
Cheers erupted from the crowd below.
It was over.
Saeko exhaled deeply. She watched as Sota walked back to the ledge, his calm demeanor never wavering. The crowd slowly started to disperse, but Saeko's eyes remained locked on him, still processing everything that just happened.
By the time she finally got around to apologizing to him, she found an empty bed, and his belongings gone.
"I didn't realize he was actually supposed to leave the hospital today…" She muttered to herself, then dashed toward the exit, drawing some incredulous glances. Well, she was the last person anyone would expect to chase after a man in such a hurry. But she wasn't the type to avoid responsibility or run away from difficult situations.
"Hey, wait!" she shouted after him as she caught a glimpse of him.
Even if just for a brief moment, genuine astonishment flashed across Sota's face, which was almost instantly replaced by that confident smile.
"Do you already miss me?" he teased her. She bit back the harsh response that almost slipped out and composed herself.
"I wanted to apologize for yelling at you. It was completely unacceptable and unprofessional of me to behave in such a manner with a patient. Please accept my apology for my behaviour," she said, bowing deeply. Her apology was polite and proper but it was clear she wasn't entirely sincere. She did feel guilty in a way, though not for scolding him—there was something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"I think I owe you an apology too. I crossed the line on purpose. I thought it might help you release some of that pent-up tension. You seem to be holding a lot in," he said, leaning in closer, his eyes locked onto hers.
This guy is really getting on my nerves. She couldn't keep her composure any longer.
"You have no right to provoke me like that, especially at work. Even if it wasn't with bad intentions, I'm not your problem," she replied firmly, with an emotionless face. She didn't raise her voice, speaking with quiet resolve.
He watched her walk away, his expression serious and determined, but not the least bit intimidated.
Few weeks later:
Finally, everything returned to normal and quiet again. Quite comfortable. Maybe a bit empty too. But it's definitely better, isn't it?
Plus, she hadn't had any anger issues since then. It was all that guy's fault, anyway.
Two weeks had passed since he left.
Yet, why did she keep searching for him in every patient who resembled him, even just a little? Maybe I got traumatized and it's just paranoia. She thought, unconsciously starting to avoid a guy.
"Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?" a familiar voice said, amusement clear in his tone.
Startled, she turned to face him. She had been so aware of him, she'd sensed his presence without even seeing him.
Speaking of the devil.
"What are you doing here? You can't be here…"
"Why? Can't I visit the patients here?" He showed a gift bag in his hand. "I brought some presents to Tanaka."
"Oh, really? I mean… Sure," she said flushed from embarrassment.
"Don't get too disappointed; I am here for you too," he smiled. She snorted at that, but somehow it sounded less annoyed as she intended.
"Saeko, please… stop flirting around during work hours" Mr. Fujimoto shouted at the end of the corridor so everyone could take a notice of her. She lowered her head in humiliation. Sota took her hand and pulled her away from the spotlight.
"Here's the deal: I promise not to make any moves on you from now on."
It caught her by surprise, but after a moment, she quickly shot back, "Took you long enough."
"In exchange, if you ever change your mind, you'll be the one making the first move."
"Deal," she agreed with a scoff. Well, I wouldn't worry about that.
"Then accept this final gift," he started, letting the silence hang for a moment, "I made you a check list of things that could help you blow off some steam outside of work," handing her the paper. She stood there stunned.
"Ah, by the way," he added with a grin, "at some of these events, you might just catch me there too."
She shot him a suspicious glance.
"It's not a date," he added quickly, raising his hands defensively. "And you don't have to promise anything. Just come if you feel like it," he said, handing her the list.
"I'll see," she replied, her voice neutral.
"See you," he said with a wave, winking as he turned to leave. Confidence radiated off him.
I would never fall for his charm. I won't let him lead me on. I am not that stupid.
She looked at the list. It was quite detailed and versatile. One of the places was marked with red circles and exclamation marks. The dojo he attended, where they held open workshops with combat demonstrations at the weekends.
She rolled her eyes without even realizing a slight smile on her face.