First Boyfriend (Part Three)

As visions of stories danced in his brain, recounting the tragic fate of an elderly man who perished in this very apartment because help did not arrive in time, Koji felt a surge of panic and let out a piercing scream. The grip on his arm tightened and Koji swiftly directed his flashlight toward the source of this terrifying vice-like hold. Before him knelt a white-haired man, clad in his pajamas, a look of surprise etched on his face as he clutched his chest. His gaze was haunting as he murmured in a voice so soft it barely reached the air, "Please help me."

In that moment, Koji's eyes widened as the truth dawned upon him; this was no mere figment of his imagination, but a real, living person caught in the throes of a medical crisis. In a moment of urgency, Koji swiftly grabbed his cellphone and dialed for an ambulance.

In a matter of moments, the EMT arrived at the senior living facility and swiftly ascended to the fourth floor. The man with white hair lay in an unconscious state on his pristine white futon mattress, his hand resting firmly against his chest. The team rallied together, pouring their efforts into reviving the man, and in the end, they made the crucial decision to take him to the hospital.

All the while, Koji and Hiroshi stood silent and motionless.

As the dust settled, Hiroshi rested his hand on Koji’s shoulder and spoke softly, “You did what you could. His fate now rests in the hands of the doctors.” Without casting a glance at Hiroshi, Koji replied, “I believed this apartment was empty.” Hiroshi replied with a hint of defiance, “It was supposed to be.” Koji remained silent; his eyes fixed on the vacant futon mattress spread across the floor. Hiroshi paused, his gaze steady and contemplative as he scrutinized his subordinate. He finally declared, “Lock this place up and return to the office; I will be waiting for you there.” Koji lingered a bit longer, wandering through the apartment, his gaze sweeping over the man's belongings, the photographs capturing moments, the newspaper resting undisturbed, and the gray slippers patiently waiting for the old man’s return in the hallway.

The phrase, “Help arrived too late,” echoed relentlessly in Koji’s mind, a haunting refrain that would not fade away. He was burdened by a heavy weight of remorse. With his head hanging low, Koji switched off the lights, secured the apartment, and set off on his journey back to the office.

As he entered the office, Hiroshi sat at his desk, lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the phone before him. As the sound of Koji's footsteps reached his ears, he lifted his gaze. With a heavy heart, he uttered, "The hospital called, the man did not make it." Upon hearing those words, Koji froze, his feet rooted to the ground, unable to move an inch forward. His heart raced while a sharp ache throbbed in his head. The haunting phrase, "Help arrived too late," reverberated endlessly in his mind.

Hiroshi stood from his seat and made his way to Koji. "You did all that was within your power..." Koji interjected with a curious tone, "Did I?" His eyes pierced through Hiroshi's. Listen here, kid, this is a senior living facility. It’s only natural for events like this to take place every now and then. It's time to release the weight of self-blame you have placed on yourself. How about you take a little time off? A few days away could do wonders. Go spend some time with your girlfriend. When you feel better, you can return to work. I will be waiting for you.

As Hiroshi walked through the door of his apartment that evening, he was greeted by a flurry of messages from his girlfriend. Engrossed in the unfolding drama, he remained oblivious to the relentless stream of notifications erupting from his phone. He reclined on his bed, his fingers gliding over the screen as he probed each message. With a heavy heart, he shielded his eyes with his hand and let the phone slip from his fingers, landing softly on the bed. After a half hour had slipped by, he decided to reach out to Ai.

Her heart soared at the sound of his voice, a jubilant shriek escaping her lips as she eagerly accepted his call. Yet, just moments later, the thrill shifted into a gentle reprimand for failing to answer her calls. He allowed her to speak, his attention drifting away from the words. When she finished talking, he recounted the events that had unfolded that night. Ai remained quiet. He then told her that he had been granted a brief respite. Her enthusiasm bubbled up once more as she began to talk about using that time to visit the places they had talked about. The places she had talked about.

The following day, a more relaxed Koji arrived at his girlfriend's house, his car horn echoing through the air. A delighted Ai emerged from the house, her feet barely touching the ground as she skipped along, a picnic basket swinging from her arm. With a burst of joy, she enveloped him in a warm embrace as she settled into the car, her delight at seeing him radiating from her smile. She was excited for the day ahead and talked about it endlessly. With a warm smile, he leaned closer and inquired about the contents of the basket. Ai told him that when her mother discovered their plans for an outing, she lovingly prepared a basket filled with delightful food and snacks for them to enjoy together. Koji's heart swelled with joy upon hearing this. He felt a warm glow of happiness at Ai's mother's approval of him. As the two prepared to embark on their journey, Ai's mother emerged onto the balcony, her smile radiant as she waved at the couple. As they drove away, Koji and Ai exchanged warm smiles and waved back.

It turned out to be a remarkable day filled with a series of enchanting adventures, journeying from one interesting location to another. They savored a delightful picnic in the park, and now, they were making their way to the jinja, where Ai sought to pick up an omamori amulet to safeguard their love. Koji was skeptical of such absurdities, yet he indulged her whims without protest. As they approached the jinja, Koji found himself in awe of the countless stairs that awaited him, each step leading him closer to the entrance. Forty-nine steep stone steps. The whirlwind of adventures with his youthful girlfriend left him feeling utterly drained by this time. With a lively spirit, Ai leaped up the stairs, while Koji followed behind, his steps heavy and deliberate.

As she reached the top of the stairs, Ai's movements abruptly halted, freezing her in place. As Koji's eyes fell upon her, he was momentarily relieved, believing she had paused, granting him the chance to catch up to her. Yet, as he drew near, Ai remained silent, offering no reply. She lingered in silence, her head bowed low, long black hair cascading over her face like a curtain of shadows. Koji grabbed her arm in confusion and called her name. With a voice full of desperation, she cried out for him to release his grip on her. In a moment of bewilderment and disbelief, Koji let go of his hold. In a swift motion, Ai pivoted and dashed down the stairs, with Koji hot on her heels.

As she arrived at the first landing, with twenty stairs still to go, she came to an abrupt halt. Koji halted just shy of the landing, utterly astonished by the unfolding events. Then, in a heartbeat, as if fate had taken a cruel turn, Ai came tumbling down the stairs. With a desperate cry, Koji called out her name, his feet slipping as he rushed after her. As her body tumbled down to the foot of the stairs, Koji's gaze fell upon the wound on her head, blood seeping from the injury.

With a voice filled with urgency, he cried out for assistance, pleading for someone to call for an ambulance. Ai lay there stunned, her head gushing blood from the deep cut she sustained when she knocked her head against the stone stairs. Her arms and legs were covered in scratches. As Koji's voice echoed through the air, a group of concerned men and women hurried to his side, drawn by his urgent calls for help. When they asked what happened, Koji gestured towards the top of the stairs, revealing that she had tumbled down the steps. In that instant, as he gazed upward toward the uppermost level of the stairs, his eyes fell upon a white-haired man poised at the top. He remained still. Koji shouted towards him, "Hey you!" "Did you see what was happening?" The man disappeared without uttering a word.

 (To be continued)