NAKU JOSEI'S
GOODBYE

That afternoon they arrived at one of the hospitals in Osaka. They put Yuki in the treatment room to check her health.

"Thankfully, there were no serious injuries. You'll be fine" said the woman's doctor.

After checking Yuki's health and changing his bandage, the doctor stepped towards the exit.

"I'll let you out of this room if you want. You can also get out of the hospital today. But ... My advice is to take a break to recover your strength, "he said again, stepping his foot out, then closing the door.

Moments later, Jack came into the room to see her.

"Hi, how is it going?" (Hey, how are you?) greet Jack.

"Good," (good) Yuki answered briefly.

Jack walked over and sat down next to his bed. Then suddenly Yuki clasped Jack's hand.

"Jack .. I want to get out of here. I don't feel at home" he lamented.

"Of course .. You can go out today. But just rest for tonight. Tomorrow morning we're leaving from aini."

Yuki nodded her head. He tried to get up and sit down.

"Eh .. just sleep." Jack held his shoulder.

Yuki made Jack face up to her by pulling the collar of the jacket she was wearing, then he kissed her lips. This surprised Jack.

"Thank you, Jack," Yuki said with a smile.

Groggy and surprised, Jack could only react with a smile and say, "Ah, of course."

*****

That afternoon, Jack accompanied Yuki there.The two of them sat telling stories for hours about what they would do after this. Yuki says that she will go to see the state of grandma tomorrow morning, and maybe she will soon leave Japan, because her cut is almost over.

Later that night, Jack says he'll be out for a while to pick up some food.

"I won't wait long, yes," said Jack; walking out of the room.

Out there, Jack meets Nori-san as well as Yoshino-san who is standing in the hospital hall.

"How is he doing?" ask Yoshino-san.

"He's fine. How're you? Looks like your legs are getting better."

"Yes, I told you my legs just sprained. It still hurts after treatment, but at least I can walk a little more normally" Yoshino-san said.

"Thank God then."

"We have given all the testimonies about the incident at Raion temple and in the forest to the police. They will conduct an investigation on the case" explained Nori-san.

"What all the skulls found there were ...."

"Yes" Nori-san said. "Not wrong anymore ... They are all victims of missing children. According to their investigation, it's all a child's skull."

"Did you also tell them about Naku Josei?" ask Jack again.

"Of course not. Do you think they'll believe in that kind of thing!" nori-san.

A little while later, some policemen came over to the three of them. The police said that they would be a little introspective with Jack and Yuki, as they were both foreigners or American citizens. At the same place, Jack is given some questions that he has to answer, while Yoshino-san says that he will take the other policeman to the room where Yuki is being treated.

After taking the food, Yoshino-san went with the police to the 4th floor. As with Jack, there Yuki was also given some questions.

After retrieving all the data they needed, the policemen left.

Before Yoshino-san steps out of the room, Yuki asks Yoshino-san about her situation.

"I'm fine, my injuries aren't severe" Yoshino-san explained.

"Yoshino-san, can I say something to you? But it's a secret" pinta Yuki.

"of course. What do you want to say?"

Then Yuki told Yoshino-san to come closer, then she whispered something into her ear.

"Alright .. I understand," said Yoshino-san who then walked out of the room.

Out there, he runs into Nori-san and Jack.

"It looks like he's fine" Yoshino-san said. "Oh yeah. Tomorrow morning I must return to the temple of Sora. What about you, Nori-san?"

"I'm going back to Kyoto, too. It seems like tomorrow is farewell to all of us, yes," he replied.

*****

"Oh yeah, it looks like you lost your parchment necklace, Yuki-chan," Nori-san said.

"Ah, I gave it to Aoi while we were in the hospital."

"That's it, huh?" Nori-san took off the parchment necklace she was wearing around her neck, then thrust it at Yuki.

"This, take. I will give mine to you. Besides I can also make this kind of thing as much as I want" Nori-san bargained.

For a moment, Yuki looked at Nori-san, then she said, "Ah, it seems like I don't need anything like this anymore. After all, this is all over, Nori-san," she refused.

"alright. I'll keep it." Nori-san walked a few steps, then she turned her body and said again, "I'll call you if I go on vacation to America" he said. "Then .. until later, yes."

They also split up there. Nori-san returns to Kyoto; Yoshino-san returns to her temple; while Jack and Yuki go to Hannan to meet Nadeshiko's grandmother, Miyako's aunt, and Aoi.

Along the way, Jack sat there staring out the window, while Yuki was seen asleep leaning on his shoulder.

For a moment, Jack was pensive and thought about all the things he had just experienced. It was as if he did not want to believe it, but on the other hand, he also accepted it.

'It's over .. It's over.' That sentence continuously flashed through his mind.

That afternoon, they both arrived at the hospital. Miyako and Aoi's aunt were sitting next to Grandma who was still lying on her bed. Yuki ran; hugging and kissing her grandmother's cheeks.

"Everything will be fine, Grandma" Yuki said.

He also told her all the things that happened to Aunt Miyako. They all sat down and told me until the afternoon. Yuki tells Miyako's aunt and grandmother that she and Jack will return to America the day after tomorrow.

"Alright, I'll keep mom here. His condition has also started to improve. Maybe in the next few days she can get out of the hospital; I'll take her to live with us in the district" Miyako's aunt said.

*****

Time goes by too fast. It had been three days since the sealing event.

Two days earlier, Yuki and Jack had already booked their flight tickets, and that morning, the two of them were already getting ready to go to the airport.

"Sorry I can't take you to the airport, Yuki-chan," Miyako's aunt said.

"It's okay, Bi." Yuki hugged her aunt and whispered something into her ear. Yuki's whisper could not be heard by Jack because of the distance they were several meters away.

Then she also walked towards Nadeshiko's grandmother; hugging and kissing her forehead. "Goodbye, Grandma" he said, walking out of the room with Jack.

On the way to the airport, Jack asks Yuki what she whispered to Miyako's aunt.

"You know .. You make me curious" said Jack.

"It's nothing. I just whispered a farewell sentence to her," Yuki replied with a smile.

At 1:15 PM.

They finally arrived at Osaka international airport. While waiting for the flight time, Jack and Yuki go to a nearby restaurant for lunch.

Jack occasionally looked at Yuki's face with a strange look. Jack is confused to see Yuki's behavior change slightly from before. He felt that since that event, Yuki had become more carefree and smiled a lot. At first glance she also recalled the incident when Yuki kissed her in the hospital. I don't know why, but it makes Jack confused.

"Did he like me too ?" inner Jack.

And again, Yuki only returned Jack's gaze with a smile on her face.

Yuki looked back at him. "I'm happy .. 'cause it's over, Jack. Now there's nothing else I need to worry about."

"Certainly that?" ask Jack.

"Of course ...."

For a moment, Yuki fell silent, then suddenly he patted his own eel because of something that came to his mind.

"Ah, of course there's something else, my God! I can't imagine how much of my work has piled up ...," he said, covering his face with both palms.

"Ha.ha.ha.ha .. like we've just been dealing with a more annoying thing, yeah ...," Jack quipped.

That afternoon, the two of them chatted with each other. Again, Jack made up his silly jokes, and they both laughed together.

A little later, they finally took off, and began the journey home to America.

Along the way, Yuki is only seen sitting dreamy while staring out the window with a very empty look.

.

.

*****

CONNECT ...