Kyouko's phone rang.
She dried her hands quickly with a towel and walked over to check the screen.
"Hmm… who's number is this?"
A number she didn't recognize.
No name. No label.
She hesitated… then slowly slid her thumb across the screen to accept.
"Hello?"
A calm voice answered on the other end—professional, but serious.
"Is this Harusawa Kyouko?"
Her fingers instinctively gripped the phone tighter.
"Yes… this is Kyouko speaking."
There was a brief pause on the line, as if the speaker was choosing their next words carefully.
"This is from Tokyo General Hospital. A man named Nakagawa Haruki was admitted a short while ago."
Kyouko's breath caught.
"Admitted…?"
"He was involved in a traffic incident. He's currently being treated. We're calling because your contact was listed as his emergency reference."
Her knees weakened slightly.
The room tilted just a little.
"Is he… is he conscious?" she asked, voice soft.
The nurse's voice was calm but noncommittal.
