"Hisaka, Hisaka! Are you awake yet?"
My mother's voice called out from downstairs, warm but firm, slipping easily past the half-closed door of my room.
"Yes, I'm awake!"
"Then hurry up, take a bath and get ready. I've already prepared breakfast."
Her tone carried that familiar blend of command and affection I'd grown used to hearing every morning.
"Alright mom…" I answered quietly, my legs dangling from the stool as I went on reading.
My name is Hisaka Midori. I'm ten years old, a fourth grader in elementary school. Right now, I live in Tokyo—a city that never seems to rest, even in mornings like this.
The truth is, I always wake up early.
Not because someone tells me to, but because of one habit I never skip, reading a book before starting my day.
What kind of book?
Hmm… if you're curious, take a look at this.
I—Hisaka Midori—set the book I was reading onto the dining table. Even while eating breakfast, my eyes remained fixed on each page, afraid to miss even a single word.
"Hisaka, when you're eating, focus on eating first. The book can wait until later."
Mother's voice drifted gently from across the table—tender, though firm enough to leave no room for argument
"Yes, Mom."
Her gaze suddenly fell upon the book I had placed beside my plate. Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she reached out with her right hand.
"Solomon… Gate's? What kind of book is this? A novel?"
"No," I replied, shaking my head. "It's about King Solomon's history from the past."
"Heeeh… amazing. My child actually enjoys reading history books. Have you finished it?"
I shook my head again. "Not yet, I just started."
"I see."
Mother closed the book gently, then placed it back where it belonged.
"Come on, let's eat first."
"Itadakimaaasu!" we both chimed in, clapping our hands together in the morning routine we never skipped.
This morning's menu was the same as always—sandwiches with two sunny-side-up eggs and salad tucked in between. Warm, savory, with just a hint of sauce that made it even more appetizing. Mother had the same dish, but… somehow it felt incomplete. Usually, there were three of us at this table.
"Mom, where's Dad?" I asked, my eyes turning to the empty chair at the end of the table.
"Looks like he stayed overnight at the office. Last night he said there was a pile of work he needed to finish."
"Oh… I see. Sounds like Dad's having a rough time."
"Well, about that… he did say he wanted to give you a surprise this week."
A faint smile curved on Mother's lips, her eyes carrying a secret only she and Father knew.
"Really? I wonder… what could it be?"
"Hmmm… what could it be? I don't know either."
Her tone was playful—it was obvious she was deliberately teasing me.
"Don't keep secrets from me…"
I pouted, narrowing my eyes at her in protest, hoping she'd cave in and spill the truth.
"Alright, alright… now finish your breakfast. Don't forget to drink your milk too."
"Fiiine…" I answered half-heartedly, but still did as I was told.
Mother rose from her chair and walked lightly toward the sink. The sound of running water echoed as she washed her hands, then placed the dirty dishes into the basin.
***
Using the family car, Mother and I set off for Father's office.
As always, she kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, hands steady on the wheel, while I sat in the back seat—my gaze glued to the book I hadn't finished that morning.
Outside the window, the scenery kept shifting—towering buildings, rows of small shops, and hurried pedestrians rushing across the street. But I hardly paid any attention to them.
The gentle vibration of the engine traveled through the seat, causing the pages in my hands to tremble faintly. The familiar scent of the car's interior—a mix of synthetic leather and the lingering trace of Mother's perfume—hung in the air. From time to time, distant car horns blended with the rhythmic hum of the tires rolling across asphalt.
Why was I sitting in the back seat instead of the front? I honestly didn't know.
Mother never gave me a reason, and I never asked.
Not that I didn't care about her.
Of course, I loved her deeply.
To me, Mother and Father were the most precious treasures in the world.
When I was with them, it felt as if the world around me was bathed in warmth—like the gentle rays of morning sunlight brushing against my cheeks—and every moment was wrapped in laughter.
I believed with all my heart that whatever they did for me… it was always for the best.
"Today for lunch, we'll be eating out with your father,"
Mother's voice suddenly pulled me out of my thoughts.
"What would you like to eat, Hisaka?" she asked, stealing a quick glance at me through the rearview mirror.
"Eh… lunch is still a long way off. I haven't thought about it yet. Besides, I'm still full," I answered with a shrug, trying to turn my attention back to the book.
"Ahaha, forgive me…"
She let out a small laugh, her voice soft, as if to lighten the mood. Her hands stayed steady on the wheel, while her reflection in the rearview mirror carried that gentle warmth I knew so well.
I simply nodded, then returned my gaze to the book resting on my lap.
The hum of the engine and the rhythm of the tires rolling against the asphalt blended into a soothing background, slowly drawing me back into the world of words on the page.
But just as I was about to flip to the most important part—
Wiiiii…!
The blaring wail of a police siren tore through the air, sharp enough to sting my ears.
At that moment, we had stopped at a red light, waiting to make a right turn.
"So noisy… I wonder what's going on?"
Mother turned her head left and right, her eyes searching for the source of the sound.
I glanced outside the window too, but… nothing seemed strange. Everything looked normal, or so I thought. So I lowered my gaze again, returning to the book.
Right then, the faint click, click, click of the right turn signal echoed inside the car.
And out of nowhere—
a SUV car came rushing at full speed, heading straight for us just as we began to make the turn.
In an instant, the front of that car filled my vision.
It was far too close.
Everything slowed down… and I knew, this was something I could not escape.
My body froze.
I wanted to scream, but my voice was locked tight in my throat.
And then—
"Hisaka!!"
Mother's voice rang out, filled with panic. I caught a glimpse of her hands wrenching the steering wheel to the left.
And after that—everything was swallowed by darkness.
***
In the footage of the city's CCTV cameras, at a major intersection, a black sedan could be seen preparing to make a right turn.
Suddenly, from its left side, an SUV came hurtling at full speed—blatantly running the red light.
The black sedan swerved sharply to the left in an attempt to avoid it, but the collision was inevitable.
The rear end of the sedan was struck with brutal force, sending it rolling across the asphalt for nearly fifteen meters.
The SUV too lost control, flipping over and skidding in the same direction as the sedan. Thick white smoke began billowing from its hood, swallowing the scene in a choking haze.
On the roadside, people froze.
Some covered their mouths, others staggered back in shock, and soon, screams tore through the air.
Meanwhile, about fifty meters from the crash site, a convoy of police cars—who had been pursuing the SUV—screeched to a halt, their sirens still wailing and red lights spinning wildly in the chaos.
In the pitch-black darkness, I drifted in and out of consciousness…
My body felt unbearably heavy, every breath dragging out a groan of pain.
"Mom…" I called out weakly, though I wasn't even sure if the sound ever left my throat.
The only thing that answered me was the acrid stench of smoke searing my nose, mingling with the oily heat of scorched asphalt.
Faintly, through the ringing in my ears, I caught the voices of strangers.
"Oi, hurry! The cops are right there!"
"Wait, the suitcase spilled open!"
"Idiot… you wanna get caught?!"
"This isn't the time—leave it, we can grab it later!"
"Damn it… fine, let's move!"
Footsteps thundered past, fading quickly into the distance.
At last, I managed to pry my eyelids open—even though they felt as heavy as stone.
I had to get up… I had to find Mother.
But something was wrong.
My body… wouldn't move.
My arms, my legs, felt as if they were bound by invisible chains.
I tried to open my mouth, to scream, but only a strangled gasp escaped.
Move… please move!
I begged my paralyzed body, forcing every ounce of will into my trembling muscles.
Nothing happened.
All I could do was cry.
Hot tears spilled down my cheeks, mingling with the blood trickling from the wounds on my face.
Why… why does this have to happen?
I never did anything wrong… I always loved Father and Mother with all my heart.
My chest felt as if it were being crushed—burning, aching, and weighed down by disappointment.
One by one, the happy memories I had with them flickered through my mind, like a film playing before my eyes.
…Was this the end of my life?
And then—just as I thought everything was about to end—
Through the blur of tears clouding my vision, something caught my attention.
A ring—darkened silver—rolled slowly across the asphalt and stopped right in front of me.
A faint glimmer danced across its surface…
But I didn't care.
I didn't even want to know what it was.
All I felt was the overwhelming drowsiness, as though my entire body was sinking into a silent, endless sea.
Just before my eyelids shut completely, I faintly heard hurried footsteps drawing near… frantic shouts that no longer made sense to me.
And after that—
Silence.
I heard nothing anymore.
***
Within the endless darkness—
Only silence drifted, swallowing me whole.
I didn't know where I was.
I didn't know what I was using to see… or to hear.
I couldn't even feel my own body.
As if… I had become the darkness itself.
"Hisaka! Hisaka!!"
That voice… Father?
"Dad… help me… it's dark… I'm scared…"
"Hisaka! Hold on, my girl! Stay strong!!"
His cries echoed from nowhere, then vanished, leaving behind a silence even more suffocating.
"Hisaka!!!"
—And in that instant, the pitch-black world shattered.
A blinding light pierced through my eyes. My breath caught in my chest, and I gasped—
like someone dragged back from the edge of death.
My eyelids trembled, then slowly lifted. My gaze wandered, capturing a spotless white ceiling, a long LED light shining brightly, blue curtains swaying faintly, and a window letting in warm sunlight. Below, a soft blanket wrapped around me snugly.
"Where… am I?" I whispered faintly.
I turned my head ever so slightly, letting my eyes drift downward.
"D… Dad." My voice was hoarse, caught in my throat. I wasn't sure if he could even hear it.
My small fingers quivered as they reached out, gently brushing through strands of his hair. I stroked it softly, hoping the touch would be enough to wake the figure who must have been keeping watch by my side all night.
a moment later, Father stirred. He slowly lifted his head, revealing a weary, disheveled face. His bloodshot eyes told of countless sleepless nights.
There was no mistaking it—Father had been carrying a heavy weight in his heart.
"Hisaka!!" she suddenly cried out. She leapt to her feet and pulled me into a warm embrace.
On her face was a mixture of joy and sorrow, a sight that tightened my chest.
Without realizing it, tears streamed down my cheeks. I wanted to return her embrace… but my body was still too weak to move.
"Thank goodness… thank goodness…! Thank you, God!" Father cried, lifting his face toward the ceiling, his voice breaking at the edges.
"I-I'm sorry… Father… Hisaka is so sorry…"
My voice faltered between sobs, words spilling out as tears drenched my cheeks.
"Why would you ever apologize…?"
Father gripped my hand tightly, his voice trembling, yet he forced himself to stay strong in the midst of tears.
"This isn't your fault… not Mother's… not anyone's!"
My sobs grew harsher, as if they were swallowing my very breath. And before I knew it, a scream tore from my lips.
"Mother…!"
"Calm down, sweetheart… Mother's fine. Everything… will be fine…"
Her voice was gentle, carrying a trembling warmth that both soothed and pierced my heart.
But my tears only poured harder, as though the pain buried deep inside my chest had exploded, flooding the room where I lay.
Even breathing felt unbearably heavy.
***
Three days later.
"Excuse me, may I come in?"
A woman's soft voice accompanied a light knock at the door. Moments later, a nurse in a white uniform stepped inside, carrying with her the familiar scent of antiseptic that lingered in hospitals.
"How are you feeling, dear? A little better now?" she asked with a kind smile, her eyes shining with sincerity.
"Um… I guess I feel a bit better," I responded.
"Thank goodness… and your mother is recovering too, you know."
My eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes, really," she said with a firm nod. "But she still needs to stay under care for a while longer, so her body can fully heal."
She gently helped me sit up, adjusting the pillow behind my back so I could rest more comfortably. The warm blanket covering me was lifted slightly.
"Alright then, let's change your bandages, okay? Lift your right arm a little," she said as she sat beside me. Her fingers carefully unraveled the cloth from my upper arm, peeling it away layer by layer.
"Thinking about it now… your recovery is truly remarkable. It feels like just yesterday the wound was still partly open, and now it's almost closed."
"Oh, I see…" I murmured faintly, not knowing what else to say except a small nod.
"Perhaps it's thanks to your strong body. I bet your white blood cells simply refused to let their master stay bedridden and sad."
Her voice was soothing, filled with conviction—calming the unease that lingered in my heart "That's why you need to regain your spirit. So you can be with your family again… and return to school like always."
Her tone was gentle yet filled with certainty—it calmed the restless feelings in my heart.
"Ooh, what a lovely ring. Did your mother buy this for you?" she asked, her eyes catching the faint glimmer from the ring on my finger.
I could only stare in silence. For some reason… I couldn't remember when this ring had ever slipped onto my finger.
But, not wanting to disappoint her, I gave a small nod and answered half-heartedly.
"Um… yes, it was Mother who bought it for me."
"I see. What a beautiful ring…" her words fell with quiet grace, her eyes fixed on it as though admiring its faint glimmer.
Gently, she lowered my arm back onto the blanket, her movements careful, as if trying not to cause me any pain. Then, rising from her seat, she peeled off the disposable gloves and reached for a bowl of apples that had already been neatly sliced on the table.
"Well then, time for some fruit. You'll need the energy to get your strength back," she said with a light smile, her tone casual yet sincere.
"Sorry… would it be alright if I ate it later? My stomach is still full—I just had a bowl of porridge."
"Of course, I understand. I'll leave it here for you then. If you need anything, just press this button." She placed the remote in my hand with a gentle smile.
"Um… thank you, Sis."
"Alright then, I'll be going now."
The room fell into silence once more after the nurse left.
Still propped up against the pillow, I found no peace in my thoughts. My eyes remained fixed on the ring encircling the fourth finger of my right hand. Since when had it been there?
Slowly, I raised my hand toward the ceiling, letting the light above catch its surface. My gaze traced every carved detail of the ring—
as though hoping it might whisper its secret to me.
"Thank goodness… you're finally awake, Midori."
A man's voice echoed from nowhere—deep, heavy, and without form.
My body froze. I couldn't move an inch, as if time itself had stopped. A strange sensation crept from my toes to the crown of my head, like an electric current forcing every muscle into stiffness. Goosebumps prickled along my arms, and cold sweat slid down my temple.
My eyes darted toward the small table on my right—the remote lay there. But what good would it do? My legs wouldn't move, my hands felt bound by invisible chains of fear.
My mouth opened, yet no sound escaped.
Somebody… anyone… help me…! Aaaah! I screamed in my mind, struggling against the silence that devoured the room.
"Calm down. There's no need to be so afraid."
The voice came again, softer this time, slipping straight into my ears.
The white curtains by the window swayed with the wind—and then, out of nowhere, a gray cat with black markings above its eyes leapt inside, landing on the blanket near my legs. It stared at me with what looked like annoyance, all while scratching its neck with one paw.
"A… cat?"
Suddenly, every trace of fear disappeared, wiped away like it had never existed. My body loosened, and I could finally move again.
"Then… whose voice was that just now?"
"Mine, of course. Who else?"
—Eh?!
Wait… it can hear my thoughts? Where—what—?
"Right here, in front of you. Don't tell me you can't see me? Quit joking."
I kept glancing around, searching for the source of that annoying, grumbling voice. But strangely, I no longer felt afraid. Instead, my eyes fell on the gray cat calmly licking its paw, as if nothing at all was out of the ordinary.
"Who are you calling nagging, you little brat!"
No, wait… I'm certain I just heard a human voice. Where did it come from? From the speaker above? But the light was off.
Could it be… a ghost?!
"Nooo, hey! That's meee!!"
The cat suddenly stood on its hind legs, its fur bristling, glaring at me like a tiny warrior ready to fight.
"EEEEEHHHHH!!" I nearly jumped off the bed, heart pounding, terrified out of my mind.
"Dad, help me!! There's a talking cat!!" I screamed, sliding to the edge of the bed, tears streaming down, my chest hammering.
"I already told you, I'm right here in front of you," it snapped. "And why are you so scared? I'm just a cat! You little brat." The gray furball scratched at my blanket, as if to emphasize its point.
"No way! You're not a cat… you must be a ghost! Go away!! Don't bother me!"
"I-A-M—JUST-A-CA—"
Its eyes glowed like embers, tail flicking sharply. Its tiny front paws balled up like little fists. Wait… is it going to punch me?
I won't let you do whatever you want! Before it could finish its sentence, my reflexes acted faster than my brain. I grabbed the pillow I had been leaning on—and SMASH! I swung it straight at its face.
"KW-BHFUUUFH!!"
The cat toppled backward, fur all ruffled like it had been swept by a wild wind. For the first time since this started, its nagging mouth fell silent.
BANG! The door was slammed open.
"Hisaka!!" my father shouted, panic lacing his voice. Heavy footsteps pounded behind him as the door flew wide open. He stepped in, flanked by two nurses.
They froze for a moment at the sight of my messy room. I stood on the bed pressed against the wall, my face pale with fear.
Dad rushed forward, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for me. "What's going on? What happened here?"
"There… there was a ghost cat…" I stammered, my eyes still darting wildly at the disheveled blanket.
"A… ghost cat?" My father paused, his face a mix of confusion and concern.
Meanwhile, one of the nurses tried to calm me, gently rubbing my back. "Maybe you're just tired. It's alright, everything's fine."
"Ohh… so it's this cat, huh."
The other nurse suddenly spoke up, holding a gray cat with black markings above its eyes.
"Meow~"
The cat's voice was normal, even a bit spoiled… as if everything I just experienced had been nothing more than my imagination.
"This cat likes to wander around the hospital. Maybe it was just playing outside earlier. It's a good cat," the nurse said with a warm smile. Her words slowly eased the panic gripping my mind.
I took a deep breath and dared to look at the gray cat again.
But—
"Heheh."
It grinned, its eyebrows twitching as it smirked, clearly mocking me. For some reason, instead of fear, I felt annoyed. The more I looked at it, the more it seemed to taunt me.
"Alright, I'll take the cat out for now."
—Ah, lucky me, I haven't had lunch yet. Bring me something delicious, servant.
Huh!? I froze. Seriously? It actually just spoke!
But… my father and the two nurses didn't react at all. They simply smiled calmly, as if they hadn't heard a thing.
"Meow~"
"Then, if you'll excuse me, sir," said the nurse holding the cat.
Yet, before she could leave the room, my ears caught that strange chatter again.
"After lunch, I want to have a private talk with you, Midori. Wait right there."
I froze. My lips sealed shut, swallowing hard.
Did… did it really just say that? Its gaze carried such authority that goosebumps ran down my spine. I felt like I was being threatened… by a cat.
***
I lay back down on the bed once more. This time, my father sat beside me, patiently feeding me pieces of apple, each one perfectly sized for my mouth.
We shared a quiet conversation, and he never stopped trying to comfort me. As I looked at his face—a face that seemed to never grow tired—my heart filled with gratitude. He said Mother was much better now, all thanks to the hard work of the doctors and their assistants, and that alone was enough to put my mind at ease.
I hoped that my days could return to normal.
But… could they really?
Even as my lips smiled at him, he had no idea that something strange had already begun in my life.
To be continued…