Purple Savior 《Chapter 10: Blue of a Slight Fever》【Creative Awards 2025】

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Chapter 10: Blue of a Slight Fever

　A single filter on the window softens the sunlight, even in a place like a hospital. That gentleness, which quietly blocks out the cold air, might perhaps be the way a hospital is truly meant to be.　Hino-kun grew so accustomed to walking that he almost forgot he was wearing a brace. Still, I knew that in the middle of the night, he would invariably stroke the leg that was no longer there while lying in bed. For him, with his increased activity, the most important thing was to get at least some sleep. Remembering how to sleep—that, too, was an important part of his treatment.　I wanted to help Hino-kun move forward in time. When I am with him, a feeling like a slight fever quietly ignites deep within my chest.　Hino-kun's heart is still fragile. I want to embrace his soft heart, which laughs like a puppy, and his shadows completely. Watching his back as he walks, my tears hesitate to stream down my cheeks. My emotions begin to stir quietly, as if overflowing.　The frequency of administering pain-relieving injections has decreased, and I was aware that I was reaching out to his depths, going beyond my professional reason as a nurse. I felt that this helping hand might serve as forgiveness for Yayoi-san, who had let go of her life.　The form of dependency might not just be a comfort, but a chain that slowly tightens around my heart. The coldness I felt in my relationship with Aki seems to have melted away little by little during the time I spend with Hino-kun. But will that warmth now tighten around me, refusing to let me go?

　At first, Hino-kun was barely managing just to get used to wearing the brace. The moment he put the brace on his residual limb, his footing became unstable, and even his first step was heavy; he dragged his leg as he moved, over and over again.　"I don't need a leg like this..."　Hino-kun muttered, looking so small he might disappear at any moment.　Yet, he overcame that anxiety, that suffering, and that pain, little by little.

「Kawakita-san, your rehab is nowhere near enough." "You've got a good look on your face. Don't rush. It'll be okay."

　Today, too, the two of them start walking. Their voices overlapping in the hallway soaked into my chest.　Hino-kun was nearing the end of the 60-day period he could stay in the convalescent rehabilitation ward.　Diagnosed as recovering well, he was granted discharge by his attending physician.　Hino-kun is practicing walking on his own in the large rehabilitation room again today. Only the sound of his cane rings out quietly.　"Alright, good work."　I hand Hino-kun a plastic bottle of Crystal Geyser soft water.　"Oh, you're thoughtful, Nurse."　Hino-kun puts down his cane, stands straight, and gulps down the water in one go, his Adam's apple bobbing.　"Hey, you're being discharged next week, right? Let's actually go on a date next time."　I peer into his face and force a pinky swear with his thick, sturdy little finger.　"Wait, I'm not going to be your smoking buddy."　"I know, I know."　I sink my emotions deep into my chest, lower my eyes, and smile softly. Because I wanted to be a kind nurse in front of Hino-kun as much as possible. Like remembering the murmuring of a small stream. I tuck the existence of Aki away in my pocket and gaze at Hino-kun.　"Hino-kun."　"Yeah?"　I stand on my tiptoes and pat Hino-kun's head. He leans down slightly to meet me, and he is kind again today, just as always.　"Whoa, what's with the sudden move?"　"Hino-kun, you're wonderful."　Hino-kun turns his face away, looking embarrassed, hands me the half-finished bottle, and starts walking again. Ahead of his gaze is a small staircase.　Hino-kun's stride was straight. Slowly, he moves forward, one step at a time.

「Chisaki-san." "Hmm?" "It's nothing."

　Hino-kun said just that and walked on with a smile. As a nurse, I wanted to bring warmth to Hino-kun's heart. The essence of the warmth I learned through my contact with Aki. If I were to give this feeling a name, it might be "love."　"Chisaki! You're in a place like this again. If you're going to slack off, you should invite me too!"　Aya puffed out her cheeks and clung to my arm.　"I'm not slacking off, I just came to bring him a snack."　"Oh, is Aoyama slacking off?"　Kawakita-kun pops his head out from the back of the rehab room and calls out.　"I'm not slacking off, and give me back the feelings I had when I entrusted Chisaki to you!"　"What are you talking about?"　"You're useless!"　Aya is bickering with Kawakita-kun again, laughing and shouting. Watching that scene, I, too, started walking one step at a time.　How would Hino-kun feel if he saw my back? I must not stop walking. The back of Dr. Sato's white coat flashed through my mind. A radius of 1 meter. In such a small world, I want to be a light that guides someone, even just a little.　The following week, we stood in front of the escalator at Yokohama Station.　"This is a bit tough. It's scary. It's fast. It's too fast. What happened to the barrier-free access?"　Hino-kun appeared in a suit, holding a cane in his left hand. The brace on his right leg was hidden by his trousers at a glance, and from the outside, no one would know he was missing a leg.　As promised, I was happy that he had casually kept his word to wear his regular commuting suit for his return to society.　We stood close together and stepped onto the escalator.　"Chisaki-san, don't tap out a weird rhythm."　"I-I'm not tapping anything, I'm just bad at getting off escalators."　"Why do you need a running start to get off an escalator?"　"You're noisy, I'm just as bad at it as you are."　The attending physician had carefully explained his condition to the industrial physician. And his workplace was also beginning to prepare to accept him little by little. I planned an interdisciplinary conference. To help him integrate the change in his body image—losing a leg—into his daily life. Hino-kun's life was beginning to move forward, little by little, with the help of many people.　His wish. To walk home with his colleagues, forgetting about his leg. To walk normally, even without an elevator. To climb stairs, even if slowly. To say goodbye to friends at the station ticket gate, using the escalators provided at the station.　For that purpose, we went up and down the escalator many times.　Under the guise of a date.　Depending on the time of day, it was crowded, and I found out that there was an escalator marked "High Speed" at the station nearest to his workplace.　His leg, which had become thin from muscle loss, and the unfamiliar brace that made it difficult to move. The flow of people and the people walking in a hurry. His height was large to begin with.　He is not someone who is easily looked after by those around him. The impact if he were to fall would be significant, and the effect on those around him, including the person supporting him, would be by no means small.　That's why I had secretly asked for a helper to be nearby. Kawakita-kun gladly accompanied us on that date. I felt a pang of pain in my chest at my own insensitivity, pretending not to notice that he had been watching over me in the ward, and taking advantage of his kindness. "Chisaki, all we can do is watch over his efforts." I remember Kawakita-kun patting my shoulder and smiling at me. His words left a lingering impression on my heart.　"Hino-kun, shall we go for one more?"　"You got it, Kawakita-san. This time for sure..."　Before I knew it, the two of them had become a great team. I felt relieved by the atmosphere of mutual trust, like brothers.　"Chisaki-san, thank you."　Hino-kun looked down at me.　"If you don't work hard, you won't be able to treat me to a meal, right? We still haven't fulfilled that promise for monjayaki, have we?"　"That's why I'm the younger one! How long is that promise going to last?"　Hino-kun laughed. Kawakita-kun, and I, too.　The image of him running powerfully after a rugby ball crossed my mind.　The back of Hino-kun climbing the escalator suits the midday sun well.

　I saw a certain hope in the light.　It's okay. He can walk on his own now.　We are about to say goodbye.　The story of me as a nurse and Hino-kun ends here.

　Yayoi-san's face floats behind my eyelids.　Yayoi-san, will you forgive me?　May I also bathe in the sunlight and move forward?　Even though I knew the voice in my heart would never reach her, I couldn't help but think it. Hino-kun's back looks so large and sturdy.　"Chisaki-saaan! I made it to the top!"

　Hino-kun and Kawakita-kun are waving from the top of the escalator. That figure reflected in my eyes shimmered like a light seen from afar. The movement of the escalator slowed, and for a moment, the air stopped time.　The sound of my racing heart is pleasant. I stand rooted to the spot. When I close my eyes, the surrounding sounds fade, and everything feels as if it has come to a standstill. In that moment, the sunlight in the corner of my vision seemed to ripple slowly. A cool breeze brushes against my cheek. I hold down my hair and burn the image of Hino-kun into my eyes.　As if to carve this fleeting beauty into my heart. I slowly raise both hands and make a large circle with them.　"You passed!"　Next time. When we meet next time—　I cannot help but wish that we will be able to meet again with natural smiles under a bright blue sky pouring with sunlight.

⇩Chapter 11: The Temperature of Goodbye⇩

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