The day of my discharge felt surreal. After weeks in the sterile, whitewashed rooms of the hospital, stepping back out into the glaring reality was almost overwhelming. My parents were there to pick me up; both had taken time off, which was unusual. Mother Naomi hugged me carefully, her eyes moist but full of relief. Father Takahiro patted me firmly on the shoulder, a rare sign of affection.

  "Are you sure you feel well enough, Nobuyuki?" my mother asked worriedly as the doctor and nurse bid us farewell. "Yes, Mom, it's okay," I assured her. "The doctors say everything has healed well. I just shouldn't overdo it right away." The nurse, Nurse Ayumi, winked at me. "We'll miss you, Nobuyuki-kun. Come visit us again soon – but not as a patient!" I smiled. "Promise."

  In the elevator taking us to the underground garage, there was a strange silence. My parents seemed almost hesitant, as if they didn't know how to act. I wasn't used to them having so much time for me. Their careers had always been very demanding. The drive home was quiet. I leaned back and watched the passing city, which felt so familiar and yet so strange. It was as if the world had kept turning while I was trapped in my hospital bubble.

  We lived in a high-rise building, right at the top. The entire floor belonged to us. It was a luxurious home, a silent testament to my parents' success. But it also had its downsides. Sometimes I felt isolated, cut off from the world outside.

  Arriving in my room, I collapsed exhausted onto my bed. It felt strange to be back here, surrounded by my familiar things. My phone vibrated. A text from Hana. "Hey Oka-kun! How are you? Are you home already?" A smile crept onto my face. "Yeah, for a few hours now. The mangas are great, thanks! When could we see each other again?" I typed the message and sent it. It didn't take long for a reply. "Tomorrow maybe? I'd love to talk with you again." "Tomorrow sounds good. Coffee?" I typed back. "Perfect. I'll text you later where and when." I put my phone down and closed my eyes. The anticipation of meeting Hana mingled with the urge to finally find Kasumi.

  My mother called me for lunch. My little brother Kiyoshi was already back from school. We had my favorite meal, which my mother had cooked especially for me. "How are you really, big brother?" Kiyoshi asked worriedly. "Fine, Kiyoshi. Just a little tired," I replied, giving him an encouraging smile.

  In the afternoon, I got a call from Shigeo. "Hey Oka! How was coming home?" he asked excitedly. "Good, Shigeo. But I'm pretty exhausted." "I'm coming over anyway!" he announced. "I absolutely have to tell you about all the things that have happened in the last few weeks." I agreed.

  It wasn't long before Shigeo was at my door. He had never been to the upper floors of our building before. His eyes widened as he entered the huge apartment. "Holy crap, Oka!" he stammered. "I knew your parents were successful, but this... this is a palace!" I shrugged. "It's just... our home." Shigeo wandered through the rooms in awe, as if visiting a museum. I had gotten used to the luxury, but through Shigeo's eyes, I suddenly saw our home in a new light.

  Eventually, we ended up in my room. Shigeo dropped onto my bed and sighed dramatically. "Man, Oka, you're really missed at school. It's not the same without you." "Oh yeah?" I asked, grinning. "How so?" "Well, the girls are already worried. Emiko always flares up when she hears them asking how you are. I think she's afraid you'll forget about her while you're lying here in the hospital being pampered by nurses." I rolled my eyes. "Emiko is just worried about my health." "Sure, sure," Shigeo said, but his look said otherwise. "And then we have this new English teacher. Miss Tanaka. Super nice, but almost all the guys in class have a crush on her. It's chaos." We talked about school, about the missed parties, about the little dramas of everyday life. It was nice to laugh with Shigeo again, to reclaim normality.

  At some point, Shigeo's expression turned serious. "Have you heard anything more from Hana?" he asked casually. I nodded. "Yeah, we exchanged numbers. She brought me some mangas." I told him about the texts. Shigeo grinned broadly. "Uh oh! A little hospital romance, huh? Didn't expect that. And she saved you too, right? Must be fate." He chuckled. "Emiko definitely won't like that." I sighed. "I don't think it's anything romantic. But... I can't get Kasumi out of my head."

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Shigeo's grin vanished. He looked at me hesitantly. "Um, Oka... there's something you should know. About Kasumi." "What is it?" I asked impatiently. Shigeo cleared his throat. "She was... she was at the race. Not as a spectator. She was one of the drivers." The words hit me like a blow. Suddenly, some strange things made sense. Her guilt, her nightly visits, her strange distance. "What?" I whispered. "That... that can't be." Shigeo nodded slowly. "I'm sorry to tell you like this. But I thought you should know. She wasn't the one who hit you, but she was part of the race." I sank back onto my bed, overwhelmed by this revelation. Kasumi, the delicate, beautiful Kasumi, was an illegal street racer. She was part of that dangerous world. A storm raged inside me. Anger, confusion, disappointment, but also a strange, involuntary fascination. Who was this woman really?

  "Are you sure?" I finally whispered, my voice hoarse. "Is there no... no misunderstanding?" Shigeo looked at me seriously. "Yeah, Oka. I'm sure." He hesitated briefly. "She told me." "Kasumi?" I asked incredulously. "When?" Shigeo lowered his gaze. "The day before you woke up. She... she couldn't handle the pressure anymore. She had to tell someone." I was speechless. Kasumi had confided in Shigeo. That was... unexpected. "But why didn't you tell me sooner?" I finally asked. Shigeo shrugged. "I didn't know how you would react. You were still so weak. And... I didn't want to take away your hope." Hope? What hope? Was there really hope? "But... why?" I asked quietly. "Why does she do it?" Shigeo sighed. "She needs the money. And... she loves it. The adrenaline, the speed, the control." Control. The word echoed in my head. Did she really have control? Or was she just another player in a dangerous game? "And... and she hit me?" I asked hesitantly. Shigeo shook his head. "No. She wasn't the one. But she was still part of the race. She was there." A wave of relief washed over me, but it was immediately replaced by a new sense of confusion. She hadn't hit me, but she had still been part of it. "I don't understand," I mumbled. "She seems so... so different." Shigeo put a hand on my shoulder. "I know, man. It's confusing. But... watch out for yourself, okay? She's dangerous."

  Dangerous. The word echoed in my head. Was she really dangerous? Or was she just... complicated? "I have to meet her," I said suddenly. "I have to talk to her." Shigeo looked at me, horrified. "What? Are you crazy? Oka, don't. She's not good company for you." "I need to know," I insisted. "I need to know who she really is. I can't just... ignore her." Shigeo tried to talk me out of it, arguing with reason, with my health, with the risk. But he saw the determination in my eyes, the stubbornness that had always characterized me. Finally, he ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Damn it, Oka. If you're this serious, I can't do anything about it. I've known you too long. You're a damn stubborn mule." He sighed deeply. "But... Emiko? Are you going to tell her? That you're meeting the racer who almost killed you?" I hesitated. Emiko's reaction was unpredictable. She had always been so... protective. "No," I said finally. "Emiko doesn't need to know about this. Not yet." Shigeo raised an eyebrow. "And what about Hana? She's not exactly thrilled about Kasumi either, right?" I smiled slightly. "Hana is... different. She's sweet. She tried to save me. And she hurt herself doing it. I feel responsible towards her. And... I don't know exactly what it is yet, but there's something there." Shigeo shook his head. "You're getting yourself into something, Oka. I hope you know what you're doing." "I don't know exactly," I admitted honestly. "But I have to find out. And... I think things will take their course." Shigeo sighed again, but this time there was resignation in his tone. "Okay, Oka. But be careful. And if you need help... you know where to find me." He stood up and patted my shoulder lightly. "I have to go now. But call me if anything comes up."

  After Shigeo left, I lay on my bed for a while, lost in thought. Shigeo's words echoed in my head. Be careful. She's dangerous. Was Kasumi really dangerous? Or was she just a person caught in a complicated situation? I didn't know. But I knew I had to find out. The curiosity, the fascination, the confusion – all these feelings mixed into an undefined urge to see Kasumi again, to understand her. Tomorrow I would meet Hana. A meeting I looked forward to, but one that also brought a certain complication. Emiko's unspoken feelings, Hana's own affection... it was a triangle I found myself involuntarily in. And then there was Kasumi. The biggest question mark of all. The next few days would be crucial. I would return to normality, go to school, meet my friends. But beneath the surface, an unease simmered, an urge for answers that wouldn't let go. I was back in life. But my life had changed forever.