"No, I Wasn't Going to Jump, Okay?!"
The wind was gentle at the rooftop. The sky was dusted with stars, blinking quietly above the cityscape. Naoki stood by the edge—not too close, but just enough to feel the breeze brush against his cheeks. For the first time in months, he could breathe. The fresh air kissed his lungs like a long-lost friend. The view was breathtaking, the city glowing like scattered stardust.
Then—
"DON'T DO IT!!"
A scream tore through the peace.
Naoki blinked. "Huh?"
Before he could turn around, someone yanked him back from the edge like a sack of rice. He stumbled and fell on his butt, completely caught off guard.
"I swear if you jump, I'll haunt you! And I'm not even dead yet!" a voice exclaimed, panicked but oddly energetic.
Naoki turned to see a girl—probably his age—pale but fiery-eyed, panting, and glaring at him like he'd just committed a crime. Her hair was short and messy, her cheeks flushed with frustration. She was in a patient gown like him, clearly from the same hospital.
"Why do you guys always do this, huh?! Just end it? That's it? That's your solution?!" she said, placing her hands on her hips like an angry nurse.
Naoki raised a brow. "Excuse me?"
"There are people who want to live, you know?! People like me who count every breath they take and still hold onto hope—and here you are, playing superhero in reverse!"
"I wasn't going to jump—"
"I know that rooftop look! That 'this is my final scene' stare! I've watched too many dramas not to recognize it!"
Naoki opened his mouth again. "Seriously, I was just—"
"Yeah yeah, they all say that! 'I was just getting air!' or 'I was just looking at the stars!' And next thing you know—whoosh! Gone! Then a two-minute silence on the news and sad violin music."
Naoki narrowed his eyes, lips twitching. "Will you let me talk—"
"Why would you even—! Okay wait… no, listen. I'm sorry. I shouldn't scream at you. But you scared me. And I'm just tired of seeing people give up when I'm still here trying so hard to live."
Naoki finally stood up straight, brushing his pants off.
"I wasn't going to jump," he said with exaggerated calm. "I just woke up from a coma. My legs are stiff, and I came up here because it looked peaceful. I wanted to breathe. Not fall."
She stared at him, blinking rapidly.
"...Oh."
"Yeah. 'Oh.'"
A beat of silence passed.
She suddenly burst out laughing. "Wait, you just woke up? Like, Sleeping Beauty style?"
"More like Sleeping Baka," Naoki muttered, folding his arms.
"Okay, that's fair," she chuckled. "Sorry again. You scared me, that's all."
Naoki softened at her honesty. "It's alright. You're kind of funny when you're panicking."
"Pfft. Thanks, I guess? Name's Hope, by the way." She offered a small bow with a lopsided grin. "Yes, ironically fitting for a terminal patient."
Naoki paused, then gave her a respectful nod. "Naoki."
"Well, Naoki... welcome back to the land of the conscious. Glad you're not jumping. Also, your hair's a mess."
"I just woke up from a coma!"
"Exactly. You have no excuse now," she teased.
They stood beside each other at the rooftop's railing now, both gazing into the horizon.
"I get what you mean, though," Hope said quietly. "About breathing. I… sometimes pretend I'm healthy. That I'll walk out of here someday and never look back. Silly, huh?"
"Not silly," Naoki replied. "Sounds like someone who hasn't given up."
She looked at him, surprised. "Hey… you're pretty poetic for someone with bed hair."
He gave a soft chuckle. "You're pretty dramatic for someone who tackled a stranger."
They shared a quiet laugh.
Eventually, Hope rubbed her arms. "Anyway, I should probably head back before the nurse finds out I snuck out again. She already threatened to ban my TV privileges."
"Go," Naoki said with a small smile. "You've done your superhero duties for the night."
She turned and walked away, waving lazily. "Don't fall asleep standing up, Naoki."
"Don't tackle any more patients, Hope."
When he returned to his room, Naoki opened the door to find chaos.
"W-WHERE IS HE?!" Uncle Gosei yelled, panic etched in every corner of his face as the nurse tried to calm him down.
"I—I told you he was missing when I came in to check his IV!"
"MY NEPHEW JUST WOKE UP AND HE'S MISSING—DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DRAMAS START LIKE THIS?!"
Naoki raised an eyebrow. "I'm right here."
Both heads whipped around.
The nurse gasped.
Gosei froze. His mouth opened and closed like a fish. His eyes watered. And then—
"NAOKIIII!!" He dashed toward him and hugged him so tightly it made Naoki stumble.
"Uncle—air! I need air!"
"SHUT UP, YOU MIRACLE CHILD!"
And in that single moment, both laughing and crying, Naoki felt something warm flicker inside his chest.
Life.
And this time… he didn't mind waking up to it.
End of chapter