The bowl of porridge now empty, it rested quietly on the small table beside the bed. A few minutes later, the door creaked open. A middle-aged doctor in a white coat stepped inside, followed by a young nurse pushing a trolley filled with examination tools. Not long after, Issei entered as well—looking a little awkward, though he tried to mask it with a warm smile.
"Good morning," the doctor greeted kindly. "How are you feeling today? Still in pain, or does your body feel lighter?"
I nodded slowly. "Lighter, Doctor. Not as heavy as yesterday."
The doctor made a quick note on his digital clipboard, then glanced at the IV still attached to my arm. "Alright, we'll do one quick check-up. After that, we can remove the IV so you'll feel more comfortable resting. Your condition has stabilized, but don't push yourself too hard once you return home."
From behind, Issei stepped forward, nervous. "Uh, Doc… so he's really fine now, right? I mean… there won't be any serious complications?"
The doctor gave him a faint smile. "He's safe. His body's still recovering, but safe. If he's discharged, there are clear conditions: plenty of rest, proper meals, no overexertion. As for the memory loss—it may take time. That's normal. What matters now is that physically, he shows no dangerous signs."
Relief washed over Issei's face. "That's… good to hear."
The doctor turned to me again. "Alright then, let's begin. Please, take a deep breath."
I obeyed. The cold end of the stethoscope pressed against my chest, as the doctor listened intently to the rhythm of my heart and lungs. He asked me several times to inhale deeply, then exhale slowly.
"Stable heartbeat, clear lungs," he remarked.
The nurse carefully removed the IV needle from my hand. A small sting, then the site was quickly covered with a neat bandage. "All done," she said gently.
"Now, try standing up slowly," the doctor instructed.
Pulling the blanket aside, I lowered my legs to the floor. My body wavered for a moment, unsteady—but eventually, I stood. Though slightly off balance, I no longer felt like I was carrying dead weight.
"Good," the doctor nodded. "Your coordination is returning."
The nurse handed me a set of clean clothes—a pale blue shirt and loose trousers, far more comfortable than the hospital gown. With her assistance, I changed. For the first time, I felt as though I was truly preparing to leave this place.
Issei scratched the back of his head, muttering, "Feels weird seeing you up on your feet again… yesterday you looked like a corpse, you know."
I only gave him a faint glance. "Thank you… for your concern."
He chuckled awkwardly, while the doctor closed his notes. "That will be all. You may sit again. We'll observe you briefly, then discuss the discharge plan. Don't worry, everything's under control."
...
Morning light filtered through the thin curtains of Chitoge's room, painting the ceiling in shades of gold. The alarm buzzed shrilly at her bedside until she lazily reached out and silenced it. With a half-asleep groan, she rolled once more before finally sitting up, her hair tousled, her eyes still heavy with drowsiness.
Dragging herself to the bathroom, warm water splashed over her, washing away the fog of sleep and the remnants of dream. She dressed in a soft pastel outfit and descended to the dining room.
The scent of coffee and toasted bread filled the air. Claude was already waiting, standing by the table with his usual stoic presence. He politely pulled out a chair for her.
"Please, Ojou-sama," he said simply.
Chitoge sat and began eating slowly. The silence lingered—until Claude's voice cut through, low and serious.
"Ojou-sama… there's unfortunate news this morning."
She froze mid-bite, raising an eyebrow. "What is it? Don't drag it out."
Claude exhaled. "The incident in the snow yesterday… it wasn't minor. Someone slipped badly."
"Who?" she demanded.
"Ichijou Raku," Claude answered bluntly. "Whether it was carelessness or sheer bad luck, I'm not sure. But the reports say… he's lost his memory. Amnesia."
The spoon slipped from Chitoge's hand, clinking against the bowl. "What?! Seriously—amnesia?!"
Claude's grave nod was all the confirmation she needed.
Her heart lurched. 'We only just started this fake relationship… if he's truly forgotten, then what happens to the three-year deal? Am I finally free… or is this going to become even messier? That stupid bean sprout—always causing trouble. But… why does it feel like… I'm worried?'
She pressed her lips tight, masking her unease with an indifferent expression. "Fine. After breakfast, I want to see him myself. I need to confirm it."
Claude bowed. "As you wish. I'll ready the car."
But when they arrived at the hospital and opened the door to room 210, what Chitoge saw silenced her.
Raku sat on the bed, staring blankly out the window. His gaze—calm, distant, almost hollow—belonged to someone unfamiliar. Issei busied himself tidying items on the side table, his expression heavy with sadness.
"Ah, Claude. And you too, Ojou-chan," Issei greeted softly. "He'll be discharged soon… but strict rest is necessary."
Claude's sharp eyes landed on Raku. "The amnesia… is it really this severe?"
Issei handed him the doctor's notes. "Severe enough. They had to explain even the basics—technology, daily routines. His mind is like a blank page."
Chitoge skimmed the papers, then looked back at Raku. Her chest tightened. This wasn't the boy who used to chatter nervously, panic over the smallest things, and constantly irritate her. The boy before her was… silent. Still. Empty.
Then Issei said, "Raku, this is Claude. And this here is Chitoge Ojou-chan. Your girlfriend."
Slowly, Raku turned his head. His voice was calm, almost detached. "Hello. I'm Raku. I may not remember, but… thank you for visiting. By the way… Father, what's a girlfriend? Is it food, or something else?"
The room froze. Claude adjusted his glasses, masking his shock. Chitoge, meanwhile, felt her breath catch.
Claude took the document and read it quickly and carefully. His brow furrowed. "It looks like it was quite a severe blow. Extreme care is required."
Soon after, Issei and Claude excused themselves, leaving the two of them alone.
Silence wrapped the room once again. Raku's eyes drifted back to the snow outside, while Chitoge sat by his bedside, hands clasped tightly in her lap.
'This… this isn't Raku. Normally he'd be loud, restless, asking endless questions. But now… he doesn't even flinch. He doesn't even look lost. No… it's as if he's deliberately shutting something away. That gaze… it's the gaze of someone carrying a hidden weight.'
When Raku finally spoke, his voice was quiet, steady. "Could you hand me the glass of water over there? My body can move, but… I need to conserve strength for later."
Chitoge stood without a word, bringing him the glass. "Here. You should rest."
He accepted it with a faint smile. "Thank you." After sipping slowly, he placed it back and asked, "So… what is a girlfriend, really? I don't understand it yet."
She hesitated, then let out a long sigh. "It's… a relationship between a boy and a girl. More than just friends. That's… all you need to know for now."
Raku's eyes lingered on her, unwavering. Then he nodded. "I see. Thank you. Maybe I'll read a book about it later."
And just like that, he turned back to the window. His gaze was serene, yet unsettling—like staring into a vast, empty sky.
Chitoge's fists tightened in her lap, her unease growing heavier by the second.
'This isn't just amnesia… is it?'