I didn't look back, didn't let them know I knew they were there. Instead, I walked out of the main door, my shoulders trembling as if the weight of the world had settled on them. The cool hospital air hit my face, but I didn't stop. I sat down on a bench outside, my mind racing with the next move.
I sensed Kasumi and Fumiko following me, their footsteps hesitant, their breaths shaky. Kasumi was about to reach me, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear.
I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I video-called Haruna.
"Hello, Jack…" Haruna's cheerful voice filled the air as she picked up. I angled the phone carefully so she could only see me, not Kasumi and Fumiko standing behind me, frozen in shock.
Kasumi and Fumiko stopped in their tracks, their ears straining to catch every word.
"How are things at the hospital?" Haruna asked, her voice warm and concerned.
