Sunset in a Frame [Weekly Short-Short Note]

After leaving the hospital where his father, Torago, was admitted, Nobuto and his mother, Fusae, waited at the bus stop for the bus to the station.

Torago had been living with a woman he had taken care of in the past. She had contacted them to say that Torago had fallen down the stairs, hit his head, and was hospitalized. The injury itself was not serious, but the fact that he was showing symptoms of dementia was the real problem.

Nobuto was a child born when Torago was 50 years old. Torago had vowed to live until he raised Nobuto to the age of 20.

"I want to eat omurice."
"I've started craving omurice too."

It had become a tradition to eat his favorite dish, omurice, at Hokkyokusei in Namba on Nobuto's birthday.

"Dad didn't seem to recognize me, did he..."
"..."

"I wonder if he'll pass away without ever remembering who I am."
"Don't say such ominous things."

In the hospital room, Nobuto had avoided eye contact with Torago, instead gazing at the sunset visible through the window, thinking that perhaps he would live out the rest of his life without ever recovering.

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