"Thank you very much, dear. I'm sure this'll do wonders for my back pain." The old woman stated, holding a small bag of medicine and giving Mitsuri a friendly smile.
"It was no problem, ma'am, just doing my job," Mitsuri replied, a cordial smile on her face as she bowed and turned around, walking out of the courtyard of the small village house. This was the last house in the village, and Mitsuri was planning on heading back to Sapporo early the next morning. She was a traveling nurse, and Akiruiyama was the last village on her route before needing to return for more supplies.
She was lost in thought as she walked through the village, considering what supplies she would need and how long her stay should be before she went back out on the road again, when someone grabbed her shoulder. Mitsuri yelped in fright, turning around with a hand over her heart.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Fumiya, I didn't mean to startle you." A middle-aged man apologizes. He was the son of the elderly village head Mitsuri had treated earlier in the day. Satoshi was his name, if Mitsuri remembered correctly.
"It's quite alright, is there something you need, Mr Satoshi?" She asks kindly, fingers nervously tapping on her medicine bag as she recovered from the small fright.
"I wanted to inform you that there is another resident in our village, a young girl who lives with her grandmother up at the abandoned shrine on the mountain. I haven't seen her grandmother in quite a few months, so I was wondering if you could check it out?" He asks politely, his eyes crinkling with worry.
"Of course, thank you for letting me know. I will head up there right away." She thanks him, bowing slightly. He smiles at her before saying goodbye and taking off in another direction. Mitsuri wandered around the village as she tried to locate the path that would take her up the mountain.
The village was small and mostly filled with elderly people. It was one of the many villages where the young people went off to the city for work and school, leaving behind the older folks to take care of things. Mitsuri didn't blame them, but there was something so heartbreaking about the entire situation.
When she finally found the path leading up the mountain, the sun was already starting to set, but Mitsuri was determined, so she started heading up the path. It was a beautiful trail, the orange rays of the dying sun peeked through the tree leaves, casting a golden glow on her brown hair as she huffed up the trail. Eventually, it got too steep, and she was met with a staircase leading up to the shrine.
Mitsuri was already shaking in exhaustion. Despite her frequent traveling, she wasn't built for the constant muscle strain of a steep hike. She took a minute to collect herself before starting up the steps. Eventually, she reached the top and found herself staring in awe at the torii gates that marked the entrance to the shrine.
A subtle sound made its way into her ears, and she turned slightly to see a young woman sweeping, lost in thought. She had silky black hair done up in a half-bun, her eyes were dark, and she was slightly chubby; she was wearing an informal purple kimono, decorated with white flowers and a yellow obi. Mitsuri let out a small gasp at the sight of her, causing the woman to turn in surprise, her eyes widening. The woman let go of the broom, and it clattered to the floor. Her face started to turn red as Mitsuri let out a small puff of laughter.
"Ah, I'm sorry, here, let me help you." Mitsuri quickly recovers, rushing over to pick up the broom and place it back in the young woman's hands.
"Oh, thank you, forgive me if this is rude, but, uhm, who are you?" The woman asks, her expression guarded as she takes a slight step away from Mitsuri.
"I'm Fumiya Mitsuri, but you can just call me Mitsuri." She introduces.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Mitsuri. I'm Yumeko." The young woman, Yumeko, responds.
"Oh, you can drop the Miss, I'm sure we're near the same age." Mitsuri waves off the formality, hoping to make Yumeko more comfortable.
"Alright Mi- I mean, Mitsuri." Yumeko blushes slightly when saying her name; it stirs an odd feeling in Mitsuri's chest, and she smiles.
"To answer you're earlier question, I am a traveling nurse. I was told you lived up here by Mr. Satoshi from the village. I came to ask if you needed any help?" Mitsure questions, holding up her medicine bag as a sign of proof. Yumeko's eyes widen for a split second before she rushes forward and grasps Mitsuri's hands.
"Please, can you help my grandma?" She begs, her expression wide-eyed and fearful. Mitsuri is taken aback for a moment before gently removing her hands from Yumeko's. The woman's expression falls, and Mitsuri quickly places her hands comfortingly on Yumeko's shoulders.
"Of course, I'll see what I can do," Mitsuri reassures her. Yumeko smiles gratefully, brushing away a few tears.
"Thank you, thank you so much." She breathes out. Yumeko grabs Mitsuri's arm and starts to lead her toward the shrine while babbling, "I don't know what's wrong with her. A few months ago, she started getting worse, and now she can't even get up from bed. I've been so worried, but I had no idea what to do, I mean, I barely have enough money to take care of her now, let alone going to the hospital and…sorry, I didn't mean to ramble." Yumeko cuts herself off, a slight blush on her face. Mitsure only giggles at the cute reaction.
"It's no problem, I can tell you really care about her." Mitsuri comforts, letting Yumeko drag her through the main area of the shrine before arriving at the living quarters. She's taken into a kitchen and living room area as Yumeko slides the door shut behind her.
Mitsuri takes the chance to look around the room she's in. The kitchen is very simple, with only a fridge, a stovetop, and some cupboard and counter space. The living room has a small table and two pillows placed on the ground across from each other.
"My grandma is this way," Yumeko says, bringing Mitsuri's attention back to her. She follows Yumeko down a hallway, watching as she gently slides open a door and kneels next to an old woman lying on a futon. She grasps the old woman's hand gently before opening her mouth to speak.
"Grandma, a nurse is here, she's going to make you feel better, okay?" Yumeko tells her gently. The old woman's eyes crack open a sliver, moving from Yumeko to Mitsuri. She has long gray hair, spread out behind her head in a fan, she's wearing an informal white kimon, draped loosely on her body to give her more freedom of movement.
"I told you not to put too much effort into me. Where did you find a nurse?" The old woman questions, turning back to her granddaughter. Yumeko opens her mouth to answer, but Mitsuri steps in, heading to the other side of the woman.
"I'm a traveling nurse. I was in your village to check up on everyone who lived here. Mr. Satoshi informed me that you lived up here. I couldn't leave without checking to make sure everything was okay." Mitsuri answers simply. She set down her medicine bag and opened it, grabbing out her supplies.
"Well, thank you for making the hike up here. It couldn't have been easy. I'm sure your presence is enough to ease my granddaughter's worries." The old woman starts to have a coughing fit as Yumeko frets over her.
"Grandma! What did I tell you about talking too much!" She scolds.
"Oh, I'll be fine, talking a bit isn't going to kill me faster." The old woman jokes. Yumeko simply sighs, apparently used to this behavior. Mitsuri hides a smile as she pulls on her gloves and starts to give the old woman a basic checkup.
"My name is Fumiya Mitsuri, but you can call me Mitsuri. What's your name?" She asks the old woman as she works, hoping to distract her from the physical examination.
"Hinamori Satsuki, you can just call me Satsuki, I don't mind." The old woman, Satsuki, answers. Mitsuri nods her head absentmindedly.
"Would you mind telling me your symptoms and when they started?" Mitsuri questions. Satsuki starts to speak, but Yumeko interrupts her with a glare.
"She started coughing about five months ago. I tried to give her some of the local herbs for coughs, but they didn't work that well. Four months ago, she started having difficulty swallowing bigger foods. She's complained of chest pain, and because of the lighter diet I had to put her on, she's lost a ton of weight." Yumeko lists the symptoms, the worry evident in her tone.
"Hm, I don't see anything based on the physical examination. She is a bit more underweight than I'd like, but, hearing the situation, it's a good thing it isn't worse. I would strongly recommend taking her to a hospital." Yumeko's expression freezes, and Mitsuri considers her next words carefully, "But if that is not an option, I don't mind extending my stay for a few days to see if I can pinpoint the issue." She finishes, watching Yumeko's face light up again.
"Please, I appreciate it." Yumeko bows gratefully. Satsuki, who had been watching the situation with one eye open, gives Mitsuri a light smile before closing her eyes to sleep again.
"Now, about the payment-" Mitsuri starts, but is interrupted when Yumeko grabs her arm to stop her.
"Not here." She says, motioning for Mitsuri to follow her. Mitsuri does, watching Yumeko curiously as she follows her to the living room. Yumeko rubs her hands together nervously before taking a deep breath and steeling her gaze.
"I don't have enough money to pay you, but I need my grandma to get better. I can't let my grandma know…but my only option is to…sell myself, in order to get the money I need." Yumeko explains, crossing her arms and biting her lip harshly. Mitsuri's mouth opens in shock as the young woman's words connect in her brain.
"Wait, let's not be hasty, I'm sure there's a better option-" Mitsuri is cut off by a sigh from Yumeko.
"There isn't. I've looked into so many different jobs, I'm not qualified for any of them, and I don't want to leave my grandma alone during the day. This is my only option if I'm to pay you on top of getting all the supplies I need." Yumeko states, a few tears slipping down her face, showing her frustration.
"Yumeko," The young woman looks up sharply at Mitsuri's use of her name, "I'm going to help you and your grandmother, and I'm going to do it free of charge. No young woman should have to feel like she should sell herself just to get basic care; it's not right." Mitsuri states indignantly. She became a traveling nurse to help people. This kind of situation leaves Mitsuri with a quiet rage, wishing the world weren't as cruel as it was.
"A-are you sure?" Yumeko asks, keeping her head down, but her wobbly voice betrays her hope.
"I am quite sure, you are a lovely young woman, Yumeko, and I will not see you or your family suffer any longer," Mitsuri says determinedly.
"Thank you, thank you so much!" Yumeko rushes forward and hugs her. Mitsuri is surprised, but doesn't take long to wrap her arms around the girl. Mitsuri feels her cheeks warm at the gesture, but finds herself missing it as Yumeko pulls away. She shakes her head to try and refocus herself.
"You can stay in my room. I think I have an extra futon lying around somewhere. I seriously can't thank you enough." Yumeko talks animatedly as she flits about the room, heading off into the hallway and sliding open a door leading to a closet.
"It's no problem," Mitsuri says gently, watching the girl with a smile. She can't help but find her mannerisms adorable, despite having only met her an hour ago. Mitsuri can only hope that she can help Satsuki; she worries about what the death of her grandmother will do to the cheerful Yumeko. Despite it all, Mitsure can't help but smile as she follows Yumeko into her room.