
"What drove you, to try and kill Rigel and our fellow heroes?" Yuri asked sadly, towards Takatsumi who was about to die soon.
Not giving Yuri the answer directly, Takatsumi chose to tell her story. After all, it won't be long, even without Rigel taking revenge to set up this stage, Takatsumi will still die for something.
"I have a sister who is 4 years younger than me. She was so beautiful with a soft face, white skin and hair like me. But he has a shortcoming. His legs are paralyzed, he can't walk anymore and he can't see, since he was a child..."
Kilas life.
The school bell rang, signaling the lesson hour was over. All of the disciples immediately tidied up the luggage, rushed home and some headed for their respective extracurricular rooms.
"I'm first."
"Ahh, Takatsumi, wait! This afternoon, we're going to the movies, do you want to come?"
"I'm sorry I'm passing by for today. I have a work schedule now, so I don't have time." Leaving those words behind, Takatsumi ran out of the classroom.
The classmate who tried to take her to the cinema started talking about Takatsumi, along with the 2 girls who were with her.
"I thought he would refuse."
"Yes. What is his attitude. Wasn't he trying to keep his distance from the classmate? really annoying!"
"But, I don't think he intends to stay away. But because of his forced circumstances to sacrifice his own pleasure. You know that he's an orphan, right? she also has to take care of her poor sister."
A few months ago, his house caught fire, causing both his parents to die and his sister to experience complete paralysis and trauma.
Hearing that, instead of being concerned, her classmates laughed at her.
"Hahaha, if I were her, I would throw away such a useless sister and just be troublesome."
Takatsumi who actually did not really go home, but eavesdropped from beside the classroom door heard clearly, what people said in two-faced.
Thinking that debating them was just a waste of time, he chose to let go of those people and head to his place of working part-time.
She works at a minimarket not far from her home and where her sister is. Takatsumi moves items, sweeps and checks expiry dates and caters to visitors. He worked so hard, for a dime, that the sky began to darken.
"Thank you for the hard work!" Takatsumi told the Shop Manager.
"Yes, good job. You can go home, Takatsumi." Gently, he gave Takatsumi salary money and let her go home.
"Thank you, manager."
After bowing respectfully, she took off her work clothes and rushed back, towards where her sister was.
At a hospital not far from where he works, Takatsumi goes upstairs, where his sister is being cared for. At the door was the patient's name which read 'Haneda Nita' which was Takatsumi's goal.
As she slowly opened the door and entered the room, she saw a beautiful girl sitting on her bed.
"Good night, Nita. Why haven't you slept?" Takatsumi smiled tiredly, because attending school and working at the same time took a lot of energy.
A soft, familiar voice in his ear pierced through the eardrum. Nita happily smiled and greeted him.
"Welcome, brother! I waited for my sister to visit me and talk to my sister before I went to bed."
"Haha, as usual." Takatsumi smiled as he gently pinched his sister's cheeks which made a cute expression.
Seeing Nita can smile as usual makes her calm and exhausted as if her body is restored.
"What about your school, brother? you're not ditching or fighting, are you?" Nita asked in an attitude like a mother worried about her child.
"What do you think of me? how could someone as gentle and crazily as me fight or even skip school, right?"
"Hahaha, right too. Brother has a geeky childlike personality, so there's no way you're doing that." Nita laughed amusedly, as Takatsumi gently fought the argument.
Nita slowly grabbed Takatsumi's face and fumbled to find out what her face was like.
"I never had a chance to see big brother's face, I can only imagine it and I'm sure my brother is quite handsome." Nita smiled gently, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Takatsumi can't help anything about that. All she could do was take care of her sister and make her happy as much as possible. He was willing to sacrifice his youth to look after his sister and do anything for the happiness of the only family he had.
Nita noticed a change in Takatsumi's facial wrinkles, "What's the matter?"
"No, there's nothing. I was just thinking, if my beautiful sister says that I'm pretty good looking, then why haven't I got a girlfriend until now." Takatsumi switched the conversation, but Nita knew that she was hiding her sadness and fatigue.
"Hehe, maybe they're confused about how to approach big brother," Nita chuckled for a moment, "Umm, big brother, can you sit here and give me your back?"
Without needing to ask her purpose, Takatsumi complied and sat down beside Nita. He slowly touched Takatsumi's back, slowly massaging her shoulders that you gently.
"I know my sister is so exhausted. How's it feel?"
Although the energy released by Nita is not strong enough, but it feels quite a relief.
"It's not bad, I feel the pain in my back is slowly disappearing." He smiled gently while letting Nita massage him.
"... You know what, brother? right now there is only you by my side. Mom and Dad are gone. My legs are paralyzed and I can't see the world. I don't have any friends, or anyone I can talk to besides you. You are my brother, my friend, my father and also my best friend," Nita began to stop massaging, her hands trembling, "So, never leave me alone. The world is so dark, only sound reaches me. But with your presence, I can see the light, your figure is so sparkling that it penetrates my darkness. I want that light to stay with me, no matter what happens, I want to stay with you, sis..."
Nita hugged Takatsumi, her trembling body getting stronger, sobs started to sound and water droplets started to wet her back.
Life without ever recognizing the color, appearance and face of the person he loves, coupled with the suffering of paralysis on his feet. If all the suffering can be moved, without the slightest doubt, Takatsumi will ask for all in the move on him.
No matter she could not walk anymore, as long as Nita could run under the sun alone was enough. No matter if she can no longer see, as long as Nita knows the color of the world is enough for her. No matter if he has to lose happiness, as long as Nita is happy enough.
Tears began to fall from his eyes.
"Yes... L'm... I'll stay, on, by your side... Whatever happens, I will accompany you... Whatever happens..."
"It remains my light, the light that will continue to illuminate the darkness I see..."
"... Yep... I promise..."
The night was so cold, the night was so silent, carrying all the burdens and sorrows passed with the night sky. Stars shine, the moon shines and lights up the night sky.
After Nita stops crying, Takatsumi says goodbye to her and returns to the house she rented for a bargain. Financing his own school, the cost of eating and renting a house is very burdensome. Lucky that they have accident insurance, so he does not need to finance Nita hospital. But it only takes time until that happens.
"If you think about it, I haven't eaten anything today. My money won't be enough to pay the rent, it looks like I'll have to put up with fasting and just eat some bread."
Ignoring to fill the stomach that kept ringing, Takatsumi rushed to take a shower and went to her bed, preparing to start tomorrow.
The next day, time passed quickly but felt so slow with the stomach that had not filled since yesterday. Lunch breaks arrived, Takatsumi went to the cafeteria and returned to class to eat the two egg-filled sandwiches she bought with mineral water.
It is not so filling, but enough to block hunger in the stomach. While eating his food, the same two-faced person as yesterday approached him.
"Yo, good afternoon Takatsumi. I heard your sister's still in the care, is she okay?"
His tone was a little mocking, yet he did not worry about her with the intention of not wanting to make a fuss.
"He's fine." Reply indifferently, keep eating the sandwich.
"Well, you mean stay lying paralyzed and blind for the rest of his life??"
"Ahahaha, it must be very sad, right?"
"Wait for you both! anyway that's too much!"
The other two scoffed, while a girl who was with them also yesterday tried to defend. Of course, the defense will not mean anything, because the two people still speak of their insults.
"How yes... If I were in your position, I would definitely throw away that useless sister. Ahh~ I'll probably sell it to a perverted om-om or semaca—"
*DAR!
The bottle of mineral water in his left hand was shattered, when Takatsumi clutched him so tightly. Water splashed everywhere, until his clothes and three people were wet.
"What's your problem?!!" Shouted the girl who insulted him.
"No... My hand slipped, because I heard someone insulting my sister. Maybe that's just my feeling, right? If so, then it is fortunate that only water and not blood flooded the classroom. I'm sorry."
Carrying his bag with himself, got up from the chair and left the classroom. His mood was bad, there was no more zeal to continue the class, he was going home early today.
There was no work he had to do at this hour, he decided to go to see Nita without having to follow the lesson to the end.
Takatsumi arrives at the hospital where Nita is being treated. Perverted to the floor where he was, the administration nurse called out to him.
"Excuse me, Takatsumi-San, can we talk for a second?"
What kind of thing does the nurse want from me? could it be about Nita?
Various thoughts popped into his head, it was impossible for him not to feel worried about anything.
"Umm, what do you want to talk about? is this about my sister, Nita?" He asked worriedly and the nurse nodded.
"Yes, however this is not related to the condition, but to the cost part. During this time the patient on behalf of Haneda Nita hospital costs are borne by the existence of accident insurance. But the insurance is not valid forever, there is a limit where the insurance loses its cost so from now on you are allowed to bear the cost yourself."
As expected, it was only a matter of time until he actually had to bear the cost himself.
"Umm, what is the estimated cost of Nita hospital per day?"
"Yes, an estimate of about 20,000 to 30,000 Yen for 2 days of stay."
"All right, I'll try to pay for it. Thanks for the information, excuse me."
"Yes. Do you feel confident that you can bear it, Takatsumi-San? I don't mean to be condescending, but not too long ago you lost your parents and had to handle it alone, did you?" Ask the nurse worriedly.
His parents were rushed here during a fire that claimed their lives. It's no surprise that the nurse knew.
"Yes, I'm fine. Maybe it will be very difficult for me to pay off, but how will I find a way out. Thanks for your attention, excuse me." After bowing respectfully, he went towards the top floor.
As he headed for the elevator, a man who had previously been sitting not far from where he was talking went to the same elevator. Takatsumi pressed the button to the floor he was on first before the man. As the elevator began to rise, the man by his side began to speak.
"Umm, sorry. I overheard your conversation with the nurse earlier. From what I see you're in need of money, right?"
There was no one else but him and Takatsumi inside the elevator. He did not try to answer the man because it was so suspicious.
"I also heard that your family is not only paralyzed, but visually impaired. If you like, I have one solution that can make you make money quickly."
Takatsumi raised an eyebrow, but still had no intention to answer. Of course, the reason was because he was suspicious. The elevator stops at the destination floor and Takatsumi is about to leave the elevator.
"I'm sorry but I'm not interested in anything you mean. Excuse me." Takatsumi started walking, but the man did not give up by saying,
"I'm sure the money will be more than enough for your family's eye donation."
Takatsumi stopped walking, his eyes widened in shock, hearing the word 'eye donation.' which meant there was still a chance for Nita to see the world.
The old man was really great at doing business, saying something that really attracted his clients at the end.
"If you are interested, please contact me anytime, this is my business card. Details about what you should do I will let you know when you call me back. Excuse me."
As Takatsumi picked up his business card, the man went down the floor with a smile on his lips. He looked at the business card and found Dr. Hendricson's on his card.
He did not know who the man was, but for the time being he would keep the card well if circumstances began to pin him down, he would contact the old man.