"Mom, I'm coming with you!"
Akira stood up from the tatami at once. Hearing that his grandmother had been hospitalized made him anxious—when elderly people fall, it's not like kids who can just bounce back after a tumble.
Shizuka Miyamura nodded and rubbed Shouko's head gently where she sat. "Shouko, you head home for now, okay? I'll let Akira come over to play later."
Shouko stood up obediently and gave a slight bow. "Then… Auntie, please be careful." She then walked out with Akira and Shizuka.
Shizuka slipped into her outdoor shoes faster than the other two and said before opening the front door, "Akira, wait here a bit—I heard that—"
Before she could finish, Akira interrupted while still putting on his sneakers, "I know, Mom. Go get the car ready. I'll come out when I hear the engine."
Before leaving, Shouko gave Akira a worried look and said softly, "Don't worry. Grandma Miyamura's going to be fine."
She wanted to hug him, but stopped herself, embarrassed. Akira gave her a small nod and said, "Shouko, go home first—and stay indoors, okay?"
After seeing Shouko off safely, he got into the car with his mother.
They hadn't driven far when Shizuka glanced in the rearview mirror. Akira hadn't said a word since getting in. Her voice softened. "Don't worry, Akira. Grandma's going to be fine."
"Yeah," Akira replied, then added after a pause, "Just drive safely, Mom. No need to rush."
As he sat there, his thoughts drifted to Grandma Miyamura. Truthfully, his memories of her were a bit vague. He only really saw her during holidays or New Year visits.
Still, he remembered how full of energy she always was. Whenever they visited, his parents would try to persuade her to move in with them—especially his mom, who promised Grandma wouldn't have to lift a finger if she did.
But Grandma always refused. She'd laugh and say she wasn't used to their lifestyle. At her place, she had her mahjong buddies, neighborhood walks, and all the local gossip. "If I moved in with you, all I'd do is sit and watch TV all day," she'd say.
Eventually, Shizuka and Daiki gave up trying to convince her. After all, her apartment was only a 30-minute drive away, and the neighbors kept an eye on her.
They arrived at the hospital about twenty minutes later. Shizuka had called ahead and found out from a neighbor which hospital her mother had been taken to.
"Mom! How is she? What did the doctor say?" Shizuka called out the moment they reached the ward.
Akira trailed behind, walking more calmly. Just as he reached the doorway, he heard a familiar voice grumbling from inside:
"I told them I'm fine, but the doctor still won't let me leave!"
He looked in and saw a silver-haired woman with a warm, grandmotherly smile reclining in bed, a half-eaten red apple in one hand.
Crunch. Another bite.
Then her gaze shifted toward the door.
"Akira!?" she said with surprise and delight.
"Grandma," he replied quietly, stepping to her bedside.
"Come closer—let me take a look at you." She handed him the apple and began gently feeling his cheeks, inspecting him like he was a melon at the market. "Hmph… you've lost weight. You're not eating enough, are you?"
Before Akira could answer, she clicked her tongue. "Is it your mom's cooking? Not to your taste?"
"Grandma, I eat just fine," he said quickly, worried she might think his mother was neglecting him.
Meanwhile, Shizuka was thanking the older woman who had accompanied Grandma Yū to the hospital.
"Haha, no need to be so polite." The woman waved her hand with a chuckle, then gave a final glance at her friend on the bed. "Well, I see you're in good hands, Yū. I'll head out."
"No, no, stay with your mom."
Unable to insist further, Shizuka returned to the room.
Grandma Yū, still seated upright, cupped Akira's face again. "Your cheeks aren't as soft as they were during New Year's, hmm? You sure you're not skipping meals?"
"Grandma, I'm really eating normally."
Shizuka approached with a folder in hand and interrupted, "Mom, the doctor says everything's okay. Just to be safe, they suggested you stay for observation—but I'd rather take you home and look after you there."
Grandma Yū looked conflicted. "But… I was supposed to meet my friends for mahjong later…"
Shizuka gave Akira a nudge on the shoulder and a meaningful look.
Akira caught on instantly and leaned in close, speaking with exaggerated sweetness. "Grandma, will you come stay with me for a few days? Please?"
He immediately regretted it—not because it didn't work (in fact, it worked too well)—but because he was thankful Shouko wasn't around to witness the embarrassing act.
Even Shizuka, who had just meant for him to say a few kind words, was now laughing to herself. I should've recorded that, she thought.
Grandma Yū's resolve melted at once. "Alright, alright, I'll stay with you."
Just then, a panting voice called out from the doorway.
"Mom! What happened?!"
They turned to see Daiki Miyamura clutching the doorframe, sweating and out of breath.
Before Yū could speak, Shizuka hurried to his side. "It's okay, everything's fine. Did you run here?"
"I couldn't wait for the elevator—it was packed. So I took the stairs," Daiki explained, catching his breath as Shizuka handed him a towel and a bottle of water.
Yū gave her son a fond but amused look. "Didn't I tell you over the phone that I'm fine?"
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