In the midst of a powerful sunshine that reminds one of a midsummer sun, the baseball youths chased after their white ball freely.
Even the chorus of the cicadas, which makes the heat stand out even more, is nothing more than another sound of cheering for the children right now.
Of course, the children are still properly doing their basic practices, as well as exercising to build stamina.
But the children are really not fond of such P.E. class-like sessions, the free matches that came after the practices are what's really fun for them.
Hinamizawa's school is really nothing more than a site borrowed from the forestry management office.
Because of that, the school yard is made of gravel, which isn't really suited for intense sports.
Compared to that, the grounds over here at this school in Okinomiya is a properly equipped sports ground, so the children can become even more energetic here than usual.
Well, with the kind of energy that the Hinamizawa kids have, a school ground made of gravel probably wouldn't have mattered to them anyway.
Since the other supervisors are watching over the children's matches, Irie used this chance to go buy some juices for the children.
Satoshi: "Kantoku, where are you going?"
Irie: "I'm thinking about going to buy some juices for everyone. If Satoshi-kun's free, it'd be a big help if you can lend me a hand too."
Satoshi: "Ah, yes. I'll help out."
After replying obediently, Satoshi-kun came along with me on the shopping trip.
Since choosing juices with an adult's sense tends to result in complaints, it's great that he chose to come along with me.
Together with Satoshi-kun, we left for the nearby supermarket in the car.
Satoshi: "......Kantoku. How is Satoko doing right now...?"
Irie: "Yes. She's doing well so far. It's slow, but Satoko-chan's emotional wounds are healing as well. It's probably a good idea to let her rest for a little while longer."
It's natural for Satoshi-kun to be worried.
Because it has been 2 weeks since Satoko-chan was admitted into the clinic.
Of course, he doesn't know anything about the fact that his own sister has caught the Hinamizawa Syndrome, and is even on the borderline of L5 and could go mad at any moment.
That's why he's believing that she's only down from the shock of their parent's accident.
Trying to cheer his sister up, he came everyday to visit her, but...... since Satoko-chan's mood became unstable and started to show dangerous signs recently, we had to call off the visits too.
To be honest...... Satoko-chan's condition is not looking good.
The L5 condition that Satoko-chan displayed already puts her at an abnormal level.
The man last year, who was at the same level, was in a condition so abnormal it would even make a terminal narcotics patient run away scared.
...There's absolutely no guarantee that Satoko-chan won't end up just like that as the result of some small trigger.
It's true that we learned of the Hinamizawa Syndrome's true identity and much of it's mechanisms from the dissection of the man last year.
.........We also made valuable discoveries that connects to the development of a treatment.
But a treatment method still remains uncertain... If Satoko-chan is to fall into an unrecoverable state right now... then it's possible that she could be dissected, just like the man last year....
At the borderline of his sister's life and death... I cannot tell Satoshi-kun about it, the only thing I can do is to lie to him like this with vague responses by saying she's recovering nicely.
If something were to happen to her,
......Then it would make me an unforgivable liar to Satoshi-kun.
...The tiny bit of conscience that's still left within me hurts with a prickling pain.
Satoshi: ".........If it's not too much trouble for Kantoku's clinic.... ...It might be a good idea to keep her there for a while longer."
Irie: "......What do you mean by that?"
I figured Satoshi-kun would wish for his sister to be able to leave the hospital as early as possible, so I'm a little surprised.
Satoshi: "Well, no....... actually, Satoko....... isn't fitting in very well with our aunt's family."
Irie: "I have heard that Satoko-chan didn't have a very good relationship with your parents, but...... is it the same thing with the uncle's family where you two are living at right now as well...?"
Satoshi: "............... Satoko...... doesn't open herself up to adults very much, that's why."
I have heard about Satoko-chan's unfortunate upbringing from Satoshi-kun before.
......The constant remarriage of their mother has deeply wounded the children's hearts.
Satoshi-kun was able to overcome it, but Satoko-chan was far too young at the time to be able to expect the same from her.
They said that it has become a trauma for her, and she gained the tendency to strongly dislike guardians who are not related to her by blood.
......No, everybody would probably dislike a guardian who's not related to them by blood. It's not something that's only limited to Satoko-chan.
But still, even if they don't like it in their hearts, most people would usually suppress and endure through it.
......However, it looks like that Satoko-chan is just not able to do that....
Satoshi: "Ojisan doesn't come back home very much... even if he's around, he's always either sleeping or watching TV, so there's not much problem there, but.... ......Obasan gets on Satoko's back a lot."
Irie: "......Why is she disliked that much, I wonder...?"
I have a general idea.
......Since Satoko-chan's parents were dam supporters, the uncle's family probably also received punishments just because they're Houjou family too.
On top of that, they went ahead and passed away in an accident just like that, pushing two children onto the uncle's family, there can only be hate, no gratitude, I guess.
Even then, if Satoko-chan had stayed obedient at least on the surface like Satoshi-kun did, then there wouldn't have been much trouble.
......But Satoko-chan cannot be obedient.
And that would soon show in her attitude and expressions, resulting in a big fight.
Satoshi: "......I have explained Satoko's situation to Obasan too, but.... I just can't get her to understand somehow......."
Irie: "And everytime something happens, Satoshi-kun would cover for Satoko-chan. I think that's a model behaviour for an Oniisan, you know. ......For Satoko-chan, Satoshi-kun may be her only relative left now, after all."
Satoshi: "...I suppose so....... I can kind of sense that too."
Mixed with a small sigh, Satoshi-kun said.
...He's not saying it out loud, but... It looks like Satoshi-kun is also feeling tired for being dragged into having to cover for Satoko-chan everytime she has a fight with their Obasan.
He is a nice person and a nice brother.
That's why he'll probably always fight on to protect his little sister.... But that's a very very tiring thing.
Satosh-kun has been living a life like this since they were with their parents.
And then, the balance in his heart finally collapsed, and he fell ill, that's when he visited my place.
I figured now that the source of his symptoms, his parents, have passed away, his conditions would have improved, but....
It would appear that his condition has gotten even more serious than before....
Irie: "I understand. ......If we let Satoko-chan leave the hospital like this, it's possible your heart symptoms might come back again.... Please don't worry about the hospital fees. Until Satoko-chan truly recovers, I'll take responsibility for it."
......While pretending to be someone who truly listened to his wish, I felt a little disgusted at my own slyness for making up these self-serving excuses.
What "I'll take responsibility"?
.......And I know perfectly well that Takano-san in the process of preparing her dissection plan outline right now too....
Satoshi: ".........If you can do that...... it'll help me out a bit too."
Irie: "Excuse me...?"
Satoshi: "...No, ............It's just that, if Satoko can stay at the hospital for a while longer... then I can, relax for a bit too....... that's all."
Irie: "What... do you mean by that?"
Satoshi: ".........If Satoko comes back... I think she's probably just going to fight with our aunt again. ...If that happens, it'll be days of fighting and yelling again...... and once I think about how I might get dragged into that too............ Maybe the most relaxing thing for me would be to have Satoko stay at the hospital forever?...... I would end up thinking about something like that ............and I would hate myself...."
Irie: ".........Satoshi-kun...."
Satoshi-kun is a nice brother who always covers for his little sister.... But, that doesn't mean he doesn't feel any burdens either....
Satoshi: "......Then I would think "what a bad brother I am, to think of such a thing"....... And the more I think about that... the more I become disgusted at myself................................."
Saying that, Satoshi-kun sniffed his nose once.
His expression was filled with anguish... as if he's feeling his own sin....
The feeling of wanting to be a model brother has cornered him.
.........Although Satoko-chan is worthy of pity... In a different way, Satoshi-kun is also worthy of pity as well.
As someone who knows the both of them well...... I felt with my whole body that I must be an ally for these two children, who is cared for by no one....