Katsuta Mizuki took Tsukasa Higashino and Chihaya Higashino up, and the three of them quickly came to a single ward.

Tsukasa Higashino glanced at the name on the door number of the ward.

Mizuki Yui.

Just looking at this name, should it be Katsuta Mizuki's relatives?

Tsukasa Higashino groaned and did not speak.

It's getting to the point where you need a single room companion... Presumably, this Mizuki Yui may be suffering from some serious illness.

"Please come in, Higashino-san." Katsuta Mizuki didn't hesitate to simply open the door and invite Tsukasa Higashino in.

It's already here, and Higashino Tsukasa didn't say hello to Mizuki Katsuta, so he nodded simply, and took Higashino Chihaya to follow Mizuki Katsuta into the ward.

As soon as he walked into the ward, Tsukasa Higashino found the Kumamon peripherals he had given to Katsuta Mizuki two days ago next to the bed.

Kumamon's keychain, Kumamon's doll...

Tsukasa Higashino counted the number in his heart, and found that it was exactly the same as the number around Katsuta Mizuki.

And in addition to these cute Kumamon peripherals, the puppet, there is also a little girl half-sitting on the bed.

This girl is about seven or eight years old, with a thin face and a shriveled figure, and she does not have the feeling of being chubby and round at this age.

The other party's face was also very pale, and the whole person looked weak and weak, only the big black and shiny eyes left a slightly deep impression on Higashino Division.

Mizuki Yui was still playing with the Kumamon little puppet that Mizuki Katsuta brought to him, and when he saw Mizuki Katsuta, he shouted very happily: "Katsuta... There you are? Ay? ”

Her little face quickly stopped, and she immediately saw Tsukasa Higashino standing next to Katsuta Mizuki.

And then—

"It's Bear's father?!"

Mizuki Yui obviously wanted to get to Higashinoji's side, she was very excited and wanted to jump off the bed, but was stopped by Mizuki Katsuta: "Ah Wei, your physical condition is not stable yet... Let's lie in bed first. Higashino-san is here... And it won't be eaten by my brother. ”

Katsuta Mizuki said this with a smile, reaching out to gather the few hairs scattered in front of Mizuki's forehead.

is different from the previous stall owner's happy down-to-earth attitude, when he said these words, his eyes were a little lovely, and his tone was also very light, as if he was afraid of scaring Mizuki Yui.

At this point, Tsukasa Higashino can be considered to have roughly understood Katsuta Mizuki's motives for taking away Kumamon's surroundings and asking him about Kumamon's creative process.

Mizuki Katsuta probably did these things for Mizuki's sake.

Higashino Tsukasa also noticed it, but after moving for a moment just now, Mizuki Yui was already out of breath now, and his face also revealed a sickly flush, revealing a state of extreme weakness.

Thinking of this, Higashino Tsukasa also consciously walked next to Mizuki Yui and nodded to her with a smile: "Hello, Mizuki sister, I'm Higashino Tsukasa." ”

Mizuki Yui's expression had already calmed down, but when she saw Higashino Tsukasa take the initiative to come over to say hello, her face immediately turned red, and at the same time she showed an incredible look: "It's true... It's really a bearish father. ”

Then she turned her head and had a dreamlike feeling: "Katsuta, you really weren't bragging..."

"What do you mean by bragging?" Mizuki Sheng was quite thick-skinned when he was usually with other people, but as soon as he heard his sister say this, he was a little inexplicably angry: "It's all said, brother, I never brag." ”

"You've been bragging and lying to me too much since you were a kid."

Mizuki Yui wrinkled her little nose, but soon she turned her head happily: "Higashino-sensei!" I've always loved the one yours... Kumamon. Could you please shake my hand? ”

The other party was incoherent with excitement.

It's just that the contrast in attitude towards this treatment is too great.

Higashino didn't even have to feel it, he could know that Mizuki Katsuta's resentful gaze was eager to pierce himself.

He stretched out his hand and shook the hand with Mizuki Yui, then looked at the sketchbook and crayon stick she had in her hand, and asked curiously, "Sister Mizuki, is this drawing Kumamon?" ”

"Hmmm! It's confident! It just so happens that Higashino-sensei is here too, and I've always wanted you to see it... That one... You are my idol. It's so cute. ”

She said very earnestly and earnestly as she handed the sketchbook to Tsukasa Higashino.

“... Why is this still bothering Higashino-san? Can you show me? Mizuki Katsuta was just about to reach out and pick up the sketchbook that Mizuki Yui handed out.

But before he could stretch out his hand, he was pinched by Mizuki Yui and hit the back of Mizuki Katsuta's hand: "I'm going to show Higashino-sensei!" What are you trying to do! Aren't you just a very ordinary American college student? How could it be more powerful than Higashino-sensei. ”

"Hey... What is ordinary, I'm from Musashino Art University..."

Mizuki Katsu was too aggrieved, and before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Mizuki Yui: "Okay, okay, I know!" Don't get in the way of me and Higashino-sensei. ”

Katsuta Mizuki was very aggrieved, so he could only watch as Tsukasa Higashino took over Yui Mizuki's drawing book - even he hadn't seen his sister's drawing book... Why was the peach picked by Tsukasa Higashino?

Higashino felt the complaining gaze of his little daughter-in-law, and he was also a little speechless.

It seems that Mizuki Yui didn't know what Musashino Art University meant to an art student, otherwise he wouldn't have said something like an ordinary beauty student.

However, looking at the only face of Mizuki full of interest, Higashino Tsukasa did not hesitate at all, took Mizuki Yui's painting book and flipped through it page by page.

There are indeed a lot of Kumamon drawings on it, and it can be seen that Mizuki Yui is indeed an avid fan of Kumamon.

And maybe it's Katsuta Mizuki's tutoring, Mizuki Yui's drawing is much better than the average elementary school student - at least the drawing has the appearance of a bear, not an alien.

"It's a nice drawing." Tsukasa Higashino smiled and handed the painting book back to Yui Mizuki and praised it.

"Really?" The praised Mizuki was only timid, and after a while she asked in a low voice, "Then can you trouble Mr. Higashino to sign for me?" ”

"Okay." Higashino didn't refuse, and nodded directly: "But it's not interesting to just sign it." Is there a black stylus here? ”

He asked Katsuta Mizuki.

Katsuta Mizuki didn't have any ink, so he simply took a black stylus from the drawer next to him and handed it to Tsukasa Higashino.

Tsukasa Higashino held the pen and quickly drew a simple and cute Kumamon on the back page of the sketchbook, and at the bottom of the Kumamon also left the signature of 'Tsukasa Higashino Gift Mizuki Yui'.

Mizuki Yui saw the cute Kumamon on the sketchbook, and happily refused to let go.

Mizuki Katsuta next to him was inevitably a little surprised: "I can also draw Kumamon, and it's not difficult to draw, give me the picture book, and my brother will draw one for you." ”

In this regard, Mizuki Yui glanced at him with disgust: "Katsuta, you're bragging again." ”

Their brother and sister were noisy again, and it was seen that Higashino Tsukasa also took Higashino Tsukasa to sit down with Higashino Chihaya, who was already half-full, and began to chat with the Mizuki brothers and sisters without saying a word.

Higashino Tsukasa is still very talkative, and soon established a good relationship with Mizuki Yui, and the other party called Dongye's brother affectionately.

About half an hour later, Tsukasa Higashino and Katsuta Mizuki came out of the hospital room together.

"Higashino-san... I'm really bothering you today. Katsuta Mizuki bowed embarrassedly to Tsukasa Higashino.

"Just a trifle... And Mizuki sister is also a fan of Kumamon ... Just do this thing. Tsukasa Higashino smiled and waved his hand.

It's really a trivial matter, Mizuki is actually quite well-behaved, and she looks very precocious, not like a bear child of her age, which is annoying.

I just don't know what kind of disease Mizuki Yui is suffering from.

Just chatting with Mizuki for only half an hour, the other party was already a little sleepy and yawned.

As if sensing Higashino Division's thoughts, Mizuki Katsuta hesitated for a while before he took the initiative to say, "Ah Wei actually suffers from leukemia. ”

“... Sorry, Mizuki-san. Although it was Katsuta Mizuki who took the initiative to inform himself, Tsukasa Higashino still apologized softly.

Leukaemia...

This is something that Higashino did not expect at all.

Thinking of Mizuki Yui's cheerful and smiling expression just now, his mind sank slightly.

"Ah Wei actually knows about this... Higashino-san has no need to apologize. Mizuki Katsuta smiled, but rubbed his palms restlessly.

His smile was actually very forced, and it didn't feel natural at all.

"Ever since Kumamon appeared, Yui has always loved Kumamon... So two days ago, I asked Higashino-san for a lot of Kumamon periphery... Maybe this will bother Higashino-san, but I'm the one who should say I'm sorry. ”

He bowed to Tsukasa Higashino again.

Those surrounding Higashino Tsukasa didn't really care, he only thought for a moment before asking, "Is there any hope of healing?" ”

"The doctor said yes, but the hope was very weak." Mizuki Katsuta sighed deeply, and glanced at the ward a little worriedly: "The doctor also said that Ah Wei must recuperate and maintain a happy mood." ”

That's why I asked for a lot of Kumamon peripherals...

Tsukasa Higashino nodded thoughtfully.

"Ah Wei actually had a major operation recently." Mizuki Katsuta rubbed his hands again: "To be honest, I've always been worried about whether Ah Wei has been forcing herself, and I asked Higashino-san to show up today to make her happy." I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. ”

But the gloomy expression soon floated up: "Actually, Ah Wei failed in an operation before... That time left a big psychological shadow on Ah Wei..."

Katsuta Mizuki said, wiping his eyes lightly with his hand, as if muttering to himself, "I thought, maybe Kumamon can give Ah Wei some encouragement." But I learned later that Ah Wei seemed to be mentally prepared for a long time. If this operation fails..."

When he said this, he couldn't say any more, and he felt out the periphery of Kumamon from his pocket, and looked at the surrounding Kumamon who was smiling and grinning, and his nose was inexplicably a little sour.

Tsukasa Higashino did not speak.

In fact, in this situation, even he has nothing to say.

It's not that you're talkative or untalkative, it's that people are very powerless in some things.

"Ah Wei said before that his goal... She wanted to go to Kumamoto Prefecture to see Kumamon with her own eyes when her condition improved. I... I'm afraid her wish won't come true. ”

When Katsuta Mizuki said this, his voice finally couldn't hold back, and tears came out of his eyes.

"I, I want to do something for Ah Wei. But it can't be done... Sometimes I really feel powerless. Although my father and mother didn't say it, they actually gave up a little, to be precise... It's a little numb. ”

Numbness...

This encounter was also experienced in Higashino's previous life.

I remember my aunt who felt very sorry for him when I was a child... The other party also suffered from a terminal illness.

At that time, Higashino Tsukasa was very worried at the beginning, but then he was silent, and gradually accepted the reality, and even in the end you had to visit with a smile - you can't visit without a smile, you always have a lifeless, painful face, which will also affect the patient's mood.

Once a person knows that death is coming, he can only try to accept it.

It's a process of adaptation, but it's also a process of numbing.

Not that the process is bad.

It's just that Higashino hates the feeling of being able to watch his relatives weaken day by day.

But again, it's a normal thing, and it's like that for everyone.

Therefore, when the news of his aunt's death reached the ears of Tsukasa Higashino, Tsukasa Higashino's heart actually did not fluctuate much.

And the mood of my aunt's family is not how good it is, but it can't be said how bad it is... Because they have already accepted this fact in their hearts.

It's kind of a very calm feeling, 'Oh, that person is dead.'

There were no friends beating their chests on white things, no family members crying bitterly, everyone was just calm and a little serious—after all, this was something that had been expected for a long time.

"But I'm not willing to accept the result yet." Mizuki Katsuta said softly.

He seemed to be saying to Tsukasa Higashino, and as if he was emphasizing to himself.

Looking at Mizuki Katsuta, whose eyes were red, Higashino Tsukasa also shook his head, and then he thought about it and said, "Maybe I can do Mizuki-san a favor." ”

These words made Mizuki Katsuta stunned, and then he took a deep breath, "Higashino-san... You're different from everyone else. The relatives who knew Ah Wei's condition made me strong and cheered when they saw me... Someone like you who just says yes... It's really still the first one. ”

Come on, be strong... Katsuta Mizuki is actually a little tired of hearing these words, people like Tsukasa Higashino... Really the first.

"I can only help a little." Higashino smiled and waved his hand.

It's not that Tsukasa Higashino is kind, nor is it something gentle or anything like that.

He was only touched by Katsuta Mizuki's words, so he offered to ask for help.

Human beings are emotional creatures and are often easily influenced by a word or a behavior.

As for how to help...

Tsukasa Higashino turned his head and looked at the ward—

Since Mizuki Yui wants to see the Kumamon in kind... Then let her see.