I stared at Kasumi, my thoughts racing. The cool beauty who had fascinated me in the hospital now stood before me, dressed in a simple waitress apron. After weeks of searching, of uncertainty, I had found her here. By chance. Was it fate? Or just… folly? I had to say something. "Kasumi-san?" I said softly. She looked at me, her eyebrows slightly raised. For a moment, she didn't seem to recognize me. Then a flicker of surprise crossed her gaze. "Oka-kun?" Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. Then she seemed to compose herself. Her professional distance returned. "Can I get you anything else?" "No, thank you," I said. "I'd like the bill." Kasumi nodded and pulled out a small notepad. As she wrote the bill, I watched her. Her hands were nimble and sure, her movements efficient. She seemed so different from the Kasumi who had told me about her dreams and fears in the hospital. She placed the bill in front of me. The amount covered everything Hana and I had consumed. Kasumi avoided looking at me, and her voice was curt as she stated the amount. I looked at her, and in that moment, there was a silent struggle between us. I wanted to say so much to her, ask so many questions. But I didn't know where to start. Kasumi turned away to serve another table. I had to do something. I rummaged in my bag for a pen and wrote my phone number on the back of the bill. Call me when you finish work. I'll wait. I placed the bill with the money in the small leather folder, stood up, and left. I could feel Kasumi's gaze on my back. I didn't go far. Near the station, there was a small noodle restaurant. I was hungry, and sharing the cake with Hana hadn't been enough to fill my stomach. I sat down at a table by the window and ordered ramen soup. As I ate, a storm raged inside me. I had found Kasumi again. And she had changed. Or had she just put on a mask for me in the hospital? And what about Hana? She was my girlfriend now. But… Kasumi wouldn't let me go. I blushed at the thought. What was I doing here? I pushed the thoughts aside. Kasumi probably wouldn't call anyway. I finished my soup and left. Just as I opened the restaurant door, my phone vibrated. An unknown number. I opened the message. 10 PM. Behind the café. Okay? It was Kasumi. My heart skipped a beat. It was already 8 PM. Only two hours left. What should I do? Should I go? Was this a good idea? My heart sank, but the opportunity was too tempting to pass up. I needed to talk to someone. I reached for my phone and dialed my mother's number. "Hello, Mom," I said, my voice sounding hoarser than intended. "Nobuyuki? Is everything okay?" she asked immediately, concerned. "You sound so strange." "Yeah, yeah, everything's fine," I hurried to say. "I just wanted to tell you I'll be home a bit later tonight." "Later? What's wrong?" she asked. "Did you hurt yourself again?" "No, Mom, really not," I laughed softly. "I'm just meeting… meeting a girl." A short silence. Then: "With Hana-chan?" I blushed. "Um, yeah. We… we're going out for something to eat." My mother knew Hana from her hospital visits. She remembered her as friendly and helpful. "Okay," my mother finally said. "But be careful, okay? And let me know if it gets late." "Will do, Mom," I promised. I hung up and took a deep breath. The call had calmed me down, but the decision to meet Kasumi still felt risky. The next two hours were the longest of my life. I wandered aimlessly through the streets, ate another small snack to kill time, and tried to sort out my turbulent thoughts. Finally, it was almost 10 PM. I went to the meeting spot behind the café and waited. Kasumi came out a few minutes later. She was no longer wearing the waitress apron, but a dark jacket and jeans. She looked determined and mysterious. "Come with me," she said softly, without greeting me. I followed her, my heart hammering in my chest. What does she want now? I wondered. Kasumi led me into a narrow side alley. A car was parked there. It looked fast and sleek. I thought it must be a Honda. An S2000, if I wasn't mistaken. Yellow. I knew a little about cars, but not as well as Shigeo. Kasumi walked to the car, unlocked it, and glanced at me. "Get in." I hesitated for a moment, then obeyed. Kasumi started the engine, and the car came to life with a deep, sonorous roar. It was a powerful sound that sent a slight tingle through my stomach. Kasumi glanced over her shoulder and drove off. She drove calmly and safely, but with a determination that brooked no argument. We left the brightly lit streets of the city center and drove into a darker area. Tall warehouses and factories passed by, sparsely lit by streetlights. The silence was broken only by the roar of the engine and the soft hiss of the tires. I sat tensely beside Kasumi, my hands gripping the seat. What did she want to show me? Where was she driving? "Where are we going?" I finally asked, my voice hoarse. Kasumi didn't answer immediately. She concentrated on the road, her eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. "To a place where we can talk," she finally said softly. After a few minutes, Kasumi left the main road and turned onto a narrow, bumpy street. The warehouses gave way to a dark forest on the side. We drove up a small hill and came to a stop in a parking lot. From here, there was a breathtaking view of the nighttime city, its lights twinkling like scattered stars. Kasumi turned off the engine, and silence descended upon us. "Here we are," she said softly. I looked around, overwhelmed by the beauty of the view and the mysterious atmosphere of the place. What would happen now? Suddenly, Kasumi did something unexpected. She came towards me and hugged me tightly. "I'm so glad," she whispered in my ear. "I'm so glad you're okay. And that you're… normal again." I was surprised, but the warmth of her hug felt good. I returned it hesitantly. "Normal?" I asked as we separated. "What do you mean?" Kasumi took a step back and looked at me with serious eyes. "That you can walk again. That you didn't… suffer any permanent damage." "Oh," I said. "Yeah. The doctors say I just shouldn't overdo it. But otherwise, everything's fine." Kasumi exhaled in relief. "Thank God. I… I was so scared." She turned away and looked down at the city. Her voice was quiet, almost self-accusatory. "I wanted to ask you… why didn't you come back?" I asked carefully. Kasumi hesitated. "I… I told Shigeo everything the day before you woke up. About the races. About my role in them." I nodded slowly. "Yes, he told me." "I didn't know… I didn't know how you would react if you knew," Kasumi continued. "Whether you would even want to see me anymore. And… the most important thing for me was to see that you were awake again. That you were okay." Her words hit me. She had been worried about my well-being. She had put her own feelings aside. "I'm so sorry," Kasumi whispered. "It should never have gone this far. It should never have happened that a third party got hurt." She turned to me, her eyes full of remorse. "The races… normally we always drive them on the mountain pass in the evening. But that night… they wanted to start in the city. Because of the prize money. I was against it. But… I couldn't say no. And I thought, at that time of night, there wouldn't be many people around." Her voice broke off. I looked at her, trying to process her words. She had felt guilty. She had been afraid of my reaction. And she had told me the truth. I took a step closer and placed my hands hesitantly, but gently, on her arms. "Hey," I said softly, my voice trembling slightly. "It wasn't your fault. You weren't the one who hit me." Kasumi looked at me with wide, surprised eyes. Her lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out. "I heard…" I began, my voice gaining confidence as I spoke. "I heard that you stopped. That you administered first aid as best you could. That you even rode with me in the ambulance." Kasumi's eyes widened even further, and I could see a hint of moisture gathering in them. She swallowed hard. "How… how do you know all this?" I smiled slightly, a mixture of nervousness and courage in my smile. "I heard everything, Kasumi. Everything you said when you visited me in the hospital. Every evening. Your quiet voice in the darkness, the stories about your university, your job, your family. The music you played for me, hoping I could hear it. I know you left home to study mechanical engineering in this huge city. I know you work in that little café to finance your studies." I stepped closer, and the wind blew a breath of night air towards us. The moon cast long, eerie shadows. Kasumi was speechless. Her hands trembled slightly, and I felt her arms tense beneath my hands. Her eyes shone in the faint city light. "I know you felt guilty," I continued, my voice becoming quieter, more intense. "And I know you didn't want it. That you tried to prevent worse. I know you're not reckless." I took her hands in mine. They were cold as ice, but I felt a faint pulse in them. "When I woke up… the first thing I saw was you. Bathed in the soft light. You were beautiful. And then you were gone. I only knew your first name and your field of study. I had to find you." I looked at her, and in that moment, there was more than just curiosity. There was a deep connection, a strange familiarity that had developed between us, a bond that went beyond the accident and the guilt. Kasumi swallowed hard, and a single tear ran down her cheek. Her chest rose and fell quickly. "Nobuyuki-kun…" "I want to understand you," I said, my voice almost a whisper. "I want to get to know you. The real Kasumi." I looked at her, and the wind whistled around us. Kasumi swallowed hard, and a single tear ran down her cheek. Her chest rose and fell quickly. "Nobuyuki-kun…" "I want to understand you," I said, my voice almost a whisper. "I want to get to know you. The real Kasumi." Kasumi slowly withdrew her hands from mine. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of surprise and something I couldn't quite decipher. Vulnerability? Gratitude? She turned away and looked down at the city again. Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant, when she spoke. "The races… they're not just about the money. It's… it's a feeling. The speed, the control, the adrenaline. For a moment, I feel free. Strong." She took a deep breath. "My father… he was a racer. He died in an accident when I was little. Maybe… maybe I'm trying to be closer to him when I drive." Her words struck me. I hadn't expected her to tell me so much about herself. That she would be so open. "I understand," I said softly. "That's… that's sad." Kasumi nodded. "It is what it is. But… I never wanted anyone to get hurt. Never." She turned back to me, her eyes serious. "You're different, Nobuyuki-kun. You're… gentle. And you're good. You forgave me." "There's nothing to forgive," I said. "It wasn't your fault." Kasumi took a step closer. "But I was there. I was part of it." "You tried to save me," I reminded her. Kasumi shook her head. "Anyone would have done that." "Not everyone did," I countered. "Only you." We stood facing each other in silence, the nighttime city below us. The distance between us seemed to dissolve. Suddenly, Kasumi did something I hadn't expected. She gently placed her hand on my cheek. Her fingers were cold, but her touch was tender. "Will you stay with me?" she whispered. "Will you stay with me?" she whispered. Her question hit me like lightning. What should I answer? What did she want from me? Friendship? More? My heart raced. My mind was blank. I thought of Hana. Her radiant smile, her open kindness. She had given me her heart. And I had accepted it. But there was also Kasumi. Her mysterious aura, her vulnerability, her passion. She drew me in a way I didn't understand. I hesitated. The silence stretched. I want to stay with her, I thought. I want this closeness, this intensity. But… I can't. Not yet. What would my parents say? They wouldn't understand Kasumi. They would warn me, want to protect me from her. And Hana? She was my girlfriend now. How could I do this to her? How could I hurt her like that? And what would Shigeo and Emiko say? They would think I was crazy. They wouldn't understand me. I took Kasumi's hand from my cheek and held it tightly. Maybe a little too tightly. I looked into her beautiful eyes, shimmering mysteriously in the moonlight. The whole scene had something magical, something fateful about it. But I had to refuse. At least for now. "Kasumi," I said softly, my voice rough. "I… I don't know what to say. You're… you're incredible. And I feel drawn to you. But… I can't do this. Not now." Kasumi's eyes darkened slightly. "Why not?" she whispered. "I… I don't know you well enough," I said honestly. "I only know a few things from the hospital visits. You barely know me either." I tried to choose my words carefully. "Maybe it's just guilt that motivates you. Maybe this is all… too fast." Kasumi withdrew her hand. Her eyes were hard to read. Was there disappointment? Hurt? "I understand," she finally said softly. "You need time." "Yes," I said. "I need time. To get to know you. To get to know myself. To figure out what I really want." I looked at her, hoping she understood my honesty. "But… that doesn't mean I don't want to see you," I added quickly. "I want to see you again, Kasumi. I want to learn more about you." Kasumi nodded slowly. Her eyes were still serious, but there was also a hint of hope in them. "Okay," she said. "Then… then we'll see each other again." "Yes," I said. "Yes, we will." We stood there silently for another moment, the unspoken words and feelings between us. Then Kasumi turned and walked to her car. I watched her get in and start the engine. The roar of the engine cut through the silence of the night. Kasumi gave me one last look before driving away. Her expression was hard to decipher. I was left behind, alone in the parking lot, feeling more confused and agitated than ever before. What had I just done? Had I made the right decision? Or had I made a big mistake?

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.