C19

Chapter 19: Things Coming into Focus

"......I was confessed to."

Hearing Reo's words, Kawahira did not reply immediately.

Stopping his hand holding the pen, he dropped his gaze to the medical chart and paused for a brief moment of thought.

(Changes in romance or human relationships can sometimes affect mental and physical health. Is this confession related to what's going on, too?)

Still, it was too early to jump to conclusions at this stage.

Kawahira raised his gaze back.

"Was that confession recent?"

"Yes."

Reo answered shortly.

"Do you remember around when it was?"

"Last Tuesday."

Kawahira nodded and recorded it in the chart.

"Were you and the other person acquainted beforehand?"

"Same class."

"I see."

Kawahira moved his pen while observing Reo's demeanor.

There was no change in expression. No trembling in his voice, either. Even so, something slightly different from his previous responses bled through.

(I still can't say anything definitive from just this. Let's listen a bit more before thinking about it.)

Kawahira paused once and chose his next words.

"Can you tell me a little more about what happened then?"

Reo lowered his gaze as if thinking for a moment.

Kawahira did not rush him, waiting quietly until the words came. He understood that silence, too, was precious time for understanding a patient's state.

"We ended up going out."

"Hmm."

Kawahira continued recording.

"Did anything happen after you started dating?"

Reo dropped his gaze ever so slightly.

"I was told it was a lie."

Kawahira's hand stopped.

A few seconds.

He observed Reo's expression.

(A lie...? He was confessed to and they started a relationship. But that relationship itself was denied...)

Rather than proceeding on mere guesswork, Kawahira confirmed the facts.

"When did that happen?"

"Monday after school, in the classroom."

Kawahira noted it down in the chart.

(If it was a classroom after school, were they talking alone? Even so, the possibility that someone else was around has to be considered.)

Thinking thus, Kawahira asked to be sure.

"Were the two of you alone at the time?"

"......No."

"Ah, so there were other people present?"

"I think most of the class students were still remaining."

Kawahira's pen stopped, and he directed his gaze toward Reo's face.

(A classroom after school. In a situation where many students remained around, he was told that their relationship was a lie...)

Kawahira dropped his gaze to the chart once more.

(Their relationship ended in the classroom after school... How did he find out about it?)

"Did the person you were dating tell you it was a lie at that time?"

"......No."

Kawahira's pen halted.

He looked at Reo for a split second.

(Not from the person he was dating...?)

Without changing his expression, Kawahira continued.

"You mean someone else told you?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember what was said to you then?"

Reo paused for a moment, keeping his gaze cast downward.

"I was told that it was all a lie from the beginning."

Kawahira quietly recorded it in the chart.

(All a lie from the beginning... That the confession itself, and the dating afterward, were all a fake.)

This was clearly different in nature from the interpersonal issues within a romantic relationship he had first imagined.

Kawahira carefully verified further.

"Did the person you were dating admit to that as well?"

"Yes."

A few seconds.

Kawahira stopped his pen, let out a single breath to organize what he had heard so far in his head, and then slowly raised his face.

"That confession was..."

He paused briefly to choose his words.

"...meant to be a lie from the very beginning?"

Reo averted his gaze slightly.

"......Yes."

Kawahira gave a small nod.

(The confession itself was a lie... Was it orchestrated from the start? Moreover, with a large number of classmates still remaining, there might have been other students who knew the details...)

Kawahira continued.

"Do you think there were other people involved at the scene?"

"......I think so."

Kawahira nodded slightly and dropped his gaze back to the chart.

The pen tip moved quietly.

(Aside from the student who confessed, multiple people might have been involved. The details aren't clear yet, but at least that's how he perceives it.)

Asking any further questions might put a heavy burden on Reo-kun. Judging so, Kawahira decided to wrap up the conversation here.

A few seconds.

Only the sound of the pen echoed through the examination room.

Finishing writing, Kawahira slowly lifted his face.

"I understand."

He nodded shortly.

"Judging from everything you've shared with me so far, the burden Reo-kun bore at that moment was by no means small."

Kawahira's voice was quiet.

There was no forced sympathy, nor any attempt to offer cheap comfort. It was a calm, gentle voice that quietly accepted what Reo had shared and aligned itself with his feelings.

Reo said nothing.

Kawahira did not force that silence to be filled, watching Reo's state quietly for a while.

Before long, a mild voice rang through the room.

"Let me confirm one thing. Have you not told your mother about what you just shared with me yet?"

"I haven't told her."

Kawahira nodded quietly.

"I see."

He dropped his gaze to the chart once more.

"After this, I plan to listen to your mother's perspective for a bit as well. At that time, I'd like to convey what you've just told me... Is it alright with you if I share it with your mother, provided you are comfortable with it?"

Kawahira took a beat, smiling softly to put him at ease.

"Of course, you don't have to force yourself. If you prefer, we can keep this matter strictly between you and me, and that would be fine, too."

Reo did not answer right away.

Keeping his gaze lowered for a while, he remained silent as if pondering something.

Before long, he slowly and slightly nodded.

"It's fine."

Kawahira nodded quietly.

"Understood. Thank you for telling me."

He closed the chart.

"Reo-kun. Talking about all this must have been quite difficult. You've talked plenty for today, so from here on, I'm going to talk with your mother a bit as well. I'm sorry, but would you mind waiting in the waiting room for just a little while?"

"Yes."

Reo stood up quietly, bowed lightly to Kawahira, and left the examination room.

The door closed quietly.

Kawahira let out a deep breath just once.

(I was able to hear about what happened at school from him himself. Next, let's hear about how things are at home from his mother.)