JSWGAS Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

When Kokonoe Zhíyě walked into the ward, his grandson was leaning against the hospital bed in a nonchalant posture, holding a red, green, and white volleyball high in one hand, deliberately turning it left and right, mischievously teasing the little boy who was trying to get the ball back from him.

Seeing him bullying the child with great relish, Kokonoe Zhíyě first apologized to the old man on the hospital bed near the door: “I’m sorry, Mr. Kageyama, this child is causing you trouble.”

The old man on the hospital bed quickly waved his hand. On the cabinet next to his bed were several books with dog-eared pages, and the name “Kageyama Ichiya” was written on the cover in a free and sharp font. If you looked closely, you would also find a few very childish characters squeezed into the corner: “Kageyama Tobio.”

“What trouble is there?” he said with a smile. “This child is very sensible. Because I have difficulty moving around, he helps me get water and plays with my energetic little one.”

Kokonoe Zhíyě felt a little helpless. After chatting for a few more words, he walked to his grandson’s bed. The latter slightly bent down, stuffed the volleyball into the black-haired little boy’s arms, ruffled the boy’s nice hair a couple of times, and then sat up straight.

The little boy who got the volleyball couldn’t wait to slip away, rushing to Kageyama Ichiya’s bed to talk to him.

“Grandpa,” Kokonoe Taka sighed in distress, raising his right hand, “I feel like I’m fine, why can’t I be discharged from the hospital?”

“Doctor Meido said you can’t use your right hand for at least a month, or it will affect your recovery,” Kokonoe Zhíyě stood firm. “If I didn’t keep you in the hospital, who knows where you’d run off to?”

Kokonoe Taka: “…Don’t be so distrustful of me, Grandpa.”

Kokonoe Zhíyě snorted, “Take good care of your injury.”

He said these words with great difficulty—the person who caused his grandson and daughter-in-law to be in this situation was his own son. The thing he had been worried about finally became a reality, which made him feel a heavy sense of guilt every time he talked to his grandson and daughter-in-law.

When Kokonoe Zhíyě received that phone call, he stumbled out of bed, woke up Kokonoe Yū, put on his coat, slipped on his shoes, and called the station to ask if there were any train tickets to Miyagi Prefecture that night.

Sitting on the bullet train heading to Miyagi, he looked at his reflection on the pitch-black car window: tired eyes full of bloodshot, messy hair, and chapped lips. His wife, Yū, nestled beside him, half-closing her eyes and grabbing his sleeve, occasionally sobbing softly.

The night outside the window was as thick as the night when he named his grandson, and the city lights still on were like two men standing in the yard lighting cigarettes. After a moment ofTrance, the night was still the night, and the lights were still just lights. The reflection on the car window only showed a tired man with white hair at his temples and his wife.

Zhíyě silently held his wife’s hand, pulled her into his arms, and the two leaned on each other all the way from Tokyo to Miyagi.

As soon as they arrived in the city, the two immediately started dealing with the mess. Kokonoe Yū stayed with the unconscious Kokonoe Sumiko and Kokonoe Taka in the hospital, while Kokonoe Zhíyě contacted the police station and found a lawyer.

He saw his son, who was also lying in the ward. After Kokonoe Hikohito woke up, he had a brief conversation with him, which ended with Kokonoe Zhíyě slamming the door shut with a livid face.

“I want to sever ties with Hikohito.”

No one knew how much determination this upright and firm man had when he made this decision. After his wife heard these words, she chose to silently support his decision.

After that, the Tsurumi couple arrived half a day late, found a doctor, and transferred Sumiko and Taka to the University of Tokyo Hospital. On the other side, the police’s investigation and evidence collection were also proceeding in an orderly manner—until today, when the results finally came out.

Kokonoe Zhíyě felt as if he was carrying a heavy cross on his back.

At this time, Kokonoe Taka seemed to notice his entanglement, “What’s wrong?” His gray eyes looked over, and a mist-like pressure squeezed the surrounding air.

Kokonoe Zhíyě couldn’t help but reach for the cigarette in his pocket, but he put his hand down halfway. “Hikohito…Kokonoe Hikohito, he won’t be prosecuted.” Damn, his voice was so hoarse. But Kokonoe Taka was already staring at him thoughtfully. Kokonoe Zhíyě smiled wryly and shrugged.

“The police are advocating domestic violence, and the lawyer’s advice is that it will be difficult to send him to prison based on the current evidence.”

There was no answer. Kokonoe Zhíyě had no choice but to continue: “I also told your mother about this… She wants a divorce and wants to get custody of you back. Even if the demands are lowered to this level, the time and money spent throughout the process will only increase, not decrease.”

Kokonoe Zhíyě almost felt ashamed and embarrassed—how could he tell Taka this bad news? It was like exonerating Hikohito. His back had completely collapsed, as if he had exhausted all his strength.

Kokonoe Taka didn’t speak, he listened calmly to his grandfather’s difficult narration.

He finally said the last sentence: “He wants to see you.”

A short period of detention and a fine, that’s the price they paid for running around. Of course, after the Tsurumi couple confirmed that their daughter and grandson were out of danger, Mr. Tsurumi took over the follow-up processing and follow-up with an unquestionable attitude.

They couldn’t treat Kokonoe Hikohito’s father with a smile, but they also sympathized with the pain he was in. Kokonoe Zhíyě had already prepared himself to be scolded by Sumiko and Taka and never see each other again, but he found that his grandson had no resentment towards them.

This made them even more ashamed and painful.

The man with graying temples bowed deeply, as if apologizing, as if confessing. The air was silent for a full five minutes. The old man in the next bed thoughtfully took his grandson out, leaving the space to them again.

In the almost frightening silence, Kokonoe Zhíyě’s voice was hoarse, “I’m so…”

Suddenly, another voice interrupted him, “Don’t apologize, Grandpa.” Kokonoe Taka stood up and put his hand on his shoulder, “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

——So, there’s no need to apologize.

Kokonoe Zhíyě followed his meaning and slowly straightened up, but did not raise his head.

“If I—”

“There are no ifs.” He interrupted again.

His tone was too firm, and Kokonoe Zhíyě couldn’t help but raise his head, revealing moist and sorrowful eyes. He thought he would see disappointment, pain, sadness, and reluctance in his grandson’s eyes. But in the end, those fell like snow melting in a peaceful and gentle gray haze.

Kokonoe Taka patted his grandfather’s broad shoulders again.

“It’s okay,” he said again, calmly and maturely, “I will go see him.”

After giving him enough time to digest his emotions, Kokonoe Taka changed the subject and spoke in a light tone, “Did you get dust in your eyes? Wipe them quickly.” He took out a piece of paper and pressed it on his grandfather’s eyes, and after blocking those eyes, “You’re so careless, Grandpa.”

Before Kokonoe Zhíyě could reply: “Can I be discharged from the hospital now?” His tone was expectant.

Kokonoe Zhíyě: “…”

He took a deep breath, wiped his face a few times at random, and when he put his hand down, he changed back to the upright and steady man he was. “Not allowed!”

Kokonoe Taka: “?”

“Before you recover from your injury,” Kokonoe Zhíyě messed with a few of his face, and when he put his hand down, he turned into that upright and calm man again, “stay here obediently for me!”

“…” He added: “Also, stop bullying Mr. Kageyama’s grandson!”

“…I didn’t bully him?”

……

…………

A week later, Kokonoe Taka finally got permission to be discharged from the hospital. He got up early in the morning to pack his things, and said goodbye to Kageyama Ichiya, who was in the same ward, before reluctantly ruffling the head of his child, who was looking at him expectantly.

“Ah, it’s a pity, I was originally planning to introduce you to the people I know who play volleyball.”

Kageyama Tobio—Kageyama Ichiya’s grandson, influenced by his grandfather, was so enthusiastic about volleyball that he was obsessed with it. Every time he snatched his ball, he would rub against him like a small animal with longing and aggrieved eyes, and his expression was so cute that it made people want to continue bullying him.

What’s even more interesting about this child is that he doesn’t hold grudges very much. He’s usually very dull, and sometimes he can even look at Kokonoe Zhíyě with clear eyes and refute: “Kokonoe-san isn’t bullying me.”

Whenever this happened, Kokonoe Zhíyě would show Kokonoe Taka a look that said, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for bullying such a well-behaved child?”

It was the same now. Kageyama Tobio obediently let Kokonoe Taka touch his head up and down, “So Kokonoe-san doesn’t play volleyball?” That’s all he cared about.

Kokonoe Taka hmm’d, “I play tennis more.”

Kageyama Tobio tilted his head, “But it feels like Kokonoe-san is very skilled when he touches the ball.”

“That’s because my friends play, and I sometimes go with them to help toss the ball or something.”

Kageyama Tobio oh’d, “Um, why do you keep touching my head…”

Kokonoe Taka deceived the child without changing his expression, “Because the thought of not being able to see you later makes Kokonoe-san so sad.”

Kageyama Tobio was straightforward, “But aren’t we both in Miyagi? And we can also call… And that has nothing to do with touching my head.”

Kokonoe Taka: “I really don’t know if you’re stupid or smart, kid.”

He rubbed it twice more, watching Kageyama Tobio show a blank expression again.

“Then see you next time, little Kageyama.”

“Ah? …Oh, goodbye, Kokonoe-san.”

Kokonoe Taka walked out of the hospital gate with his things, and when he raised his eyes, he saw Kokonoe Zhíyě lighting a cigarette and leaning against the door of the rented car.

“Smoking will make your lungs turn black, Grandpa,” he reminded.

“I’m used to it,” Kokonoe Zhíyě waved his hand, but he also took the opportunity to extinguish the cigarette.

“Tsurumi called and said that Sumiko still needs to recuperate in Tokyo for a while,” he helped put the things in the car, got into the driver’s seat and started the engine, and let Kokonoe Taka fasten his seat belt, “Her condition has improved a lot, Tsurumi and the others don’t want her to come back here…”

Because of the short period ofasphyxia, Kokonoe Sumiko, although her life was not in danger after being sent to the hospital in time, was left with sequelae of headaches when she was emotionally agitated or nervous. After being transferred to Tokyo, the doctor gave a more professional judgment.

——Stress-related mental disorder. The clinical manifestation is a reactive depressive state. Patients continue to be emotionally depressed after being subjected to mental stimulation, lacking interest, energy, and a sense of pleasure. It often develops gradually on the basis of sustained long-term mental trauma.

She had suffered from mild postpartum depression since Kokonoe Taka was born. Due to a lack of effective treatment measures, and because the family failed to fulfill their responsibilities of companionship, it developed into depression. Although she had gradually improved as Kokonoe Taka grew up and became sensible, this blow caused the emotional lesions accumulated in her heart to explode violently, coming on fiercely and quickly crushing her spirit.

The Tsurumi couple were extremely guilty and decided to stay in Tokyo to accompany their daughter for the time being. Kokonoe Zhíyě let them live in his house temporarily to take care of Kokonoe Sumiko, and instructed Kokonoe Yū to notify him if anything happened, while he himself returned to Miyagi Prefecture with Kokonoe Taka.

“Actually, I think you should also recuperate for a while,” Kokonoe Zhíyě couldn’t help but say, “You can take a long leave or a leave of absence from school…”

Kokonoe Taka was helpless and said softly: “That way I’ll turn into a stiff puppet sooner or later, and I’m not that fragile.”

“…”

Kokonoe Zhíyě looked at him worriedly.

“Also, before Mom gets better, it’s best if I don’t appear in front of her,” he said in a low voice. “Seeing me will also cause her emotions to become intense and abnormal, and Grandma isn’t in the best of health. Staying in Tokyo can also reduce the fatigue of traveling back and forth, and you’re embarrassed to appear in front of Grandpa and Grandma.”

“Don’t you want to live with me for a while?” he raised his voice and made a face, “That won’t do, old man.”

Kokonoe Zhíyě: “…Smart aleck.”

But in any case, seeing his grandson, who was in good spirits, relieved him.

“Has that person not agreed to sign the divorce agreement yet?” Kokonoe Taka changed the subject again.

“Yeah, he insists on seeing you before talking about anything else.”

“He really knows how to cause trouble for people. Can I go see him tomorrow? Let’s settle this matter sooner rather than later.”

“Is it okay?”

“What could be wrong with me—” Kokonoe Taka spread his hands. Seeing that his expression was not feigned, Kokonoe Zhíyě said, “Okay, I’ll arrange it.”