Taiyou wa Shizumanai

At the lawyer's office, Ami sits alone in the dark, waiting. The door opens & Kirino enters, turning on the light & noticing Ami's presence "Oh..." Ami says with a smile "I heard you'd be coming back, so I was waiting..." Kirino walks to her desk "What's wrong?" & putting down her bag, realizes that the photographs of Isetani & Kitayama are on the table. Turning them face down, she hurriedly puts them back on the table. Ami tells her "I've heard the side of the hospital's story from my father..." Kirino turns around & looks at Ami, not saying anything. Ami adds "...please don't lose to Shoei Sogo Hospital....." At that moment, Nao comes up the stairs & as he approaches the door, he hears Ami asks "Is there anything that I can do? I want to help Nao!" Hearing Ami's offer Nao opens the door & enters the office. Before Ami can say anything, Kirino lies "I was the one that called her here...I did..." Ami looks at Kirino gratefully but Nao says to Ami "I'm sorry...can you leave? Because I don't want you to get involved....can you go home?" Quietly, Ami gives Kirino a bow "I'm sorry...." Kirino shakes her head & Ami, with an "Excuse me...." walks past Nao & out the door, closing it behind her gently. Pausing for a long moment outside, Ami then walks off. Inside, Kirino looks at Nao in silence. Finally, Nao approaches Kirino "That theory you mentioned...what is it? Please tell me....."

At the hospital, Ikezawa speaks in a rather overbearing tone "No matter what the other party claims, other than the mesu, they don't have any evidence...why, because Masaki Teruko's body has been cremated...as long as no one says anything, they won't be able to find out more..." placing a drink on the table in front of nurse Kikui. Kukui replies "I only...." Ikezawa takes a seat next to her "You're only the kind older sister thinking of your sister..." Kikui doesn't say anything & Ikezawa continues "I'm worried too.....what's going to happen to your sister...." Listening to Ikezawa's words loaded with meaning, Kikui looks across to Isetani in silence as he tells her "From the hospital's point of view, we're also thinking of how to protect you..." Kikui looks away, unable to say anything. At the far end of the table, Minami sits pondering in silence.....

Kirino explains to Nao "Your mother's medical problem was in her chest...." Nao ponders "Then, Minami-sensei overlooked the problem in her chest, suspecting choukanmaku kessenshou & operated on her abdomen...." Kirino says "If Dr Minami himself said that, then let's use that as evidence..." Nao asks "But Kirinio-san, how did you know it was her chest?" "Remember what the first person who found her, Tadokoro said..." They both recall visiting Tadokoro & him saying "...no matter what I asked, all she did was moan....what's your name?.....ummmm....contact number?...ummmm.....no choice, until the ambulance came...." Kirino continues "He didn't hear from your mother directly that her stomach was hurting..." When Kirino asks Tadokoro "Do you remember which part of a abdomen she was pressing down on?" Tadokoro answers "Abdomen, abdomen....below the chest..." Kirino says to Nao "...below the chest....the solar plexus...where your mother was pressing down on is where all the nerves from the chest & abdomen converge....it's not only from the abdomen....even when the chest hurts, this part hurts as well...." Kirino gets up & takes a document from her table, handing it to Nao "There's a medical case similar to your mother's...trauma sustained from being severely hit in the back...kekkikyou..." "kekkikyou?" asks Nao, looking at the document in his hands. Kirino explains "...one symptom of which is a hole in the lungs....but if appropriate medical treatment is carried out right away, it's not life threatening..." Nao looks at Kirino "Eh?" Kirino says "If Dr Minami had noticed it, your mother would now be healthily making okonomiyaki....." Nao thinks & then asks "How do we prove this?" Kirino replies "I'm thinking of calling that nurse to be the first witness...she called wanting to tell me something...I'm sure she....." Turning back to look at Nao, she tells him "I too, don't want to lose the heart that believes in people...leave the rest to me...you concentrate on your studies...." Nao protests "That..." but Kirino's nod & smile silences him. Kirino says half to herself "Everything will come to light in court...."

(-= CJ =- I for the life of me cannot find the English medical term for kekkikyou 血気胸 in any of the Life Science bilingual dictionaries I've come across. I've only managed to come up with kikkyou 気胸 (pneumothorax) & kekkyou 血胸 (hemothorax). Both medical conditions are as follows ~ Pneumothorax is when there is air in the chest outside the lung. This can occur spontaneously following a fractured rib, occur in the wake of chest surgery, or be deliberately induced in order to collapse the lung. Hemothorax is essentially blood in the pleural space of chest, ie between the chest cavity and the lung....any medical experts out there, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong......but these two conditions give me a rough idea of what these folks are talking about.....)

Kirino leans against her scooter, waiting. Finally, she sees someone approaching her...Kikui Mayu...standing up, Kirino gives her a nod.....

Nao & his friends gather in the okonomiyaki restaurant to study together. Nao answers a question by Kota "...I wonder what happened to Bob..." Kota gives him an ok sign & Kenji comes by muttering "Who's Bob?" Nao replies "That question came out in the mock exam the other day...." Kenji retorts "Looking at me like that! I came in 2nd for the mock exam!" The other guys mutter "...if you can't from the last....shh....shut up!.... " As Nao refills his friends' glasses with ice, Kota asks him "Nao...you're only aiming for the national university?" Nao replies "I can't afford to go to private university..." All of a sudden, one of the guys say "Ah yes, next time call your girlfriend too...called Ami right?" Nao pauses, ice dripping from his hand, as he hears his friends banter "Apparently her school is bilingual.....definitely....call her friends too...get them to teach us English...." Nao continues refilling the glasses "What are you saying....they're a year younger..." "That's got nothing to do with it....it's a good school...doesn't matter if they're younger.....they definitely know more than us....." Nao finally serves them the drinks "What rubbish are you talking about? Here, tea...."

At the Isetani house in the living room, Ami watches her mother put together a decoration piece. Akiko says "....this is for Fujisaki's party...." Ami asks "Why did you marry Dad?" A little embarrassed, Akiko laughs "Why ask that all of a sudden...." Seriously, Ami presses on "Are you happy right now? Do you love Dad?" Avoiding Ami's eyes, Akiko replies "I do....as much as you do..." Ami starts to say "Dad's..." but stops. Akiko looks at her but Ami turns her eyes away. Standing up, Ami says "gochisousama...." but Akiko asks "Dad's what?" Ami looks at her mother "I won't marry someone like Dad...." After a pause, Akiko smiles "What...." Ami firmly states "After I graduate I'll leave home...I've decided..." & goes into her room....

Nao sees his friends off "Bye...." Left alone in the okonomiyaki restaurant, he recalls the day Ami's mother telling him "Return the stolen medical records!" Nao, not knowing what she was talking about at the time, asked "What's this about?" Akiko lunges out & slaps him hard across his cheek "Don't pretend! Turning my daughter into a thief!" With a big sigh, Nao cleans up the mess after his friends.....

Suddenly, Kirino's fingers pause on the keyboard as she recalls her meeting with Kikui.....

Kikui asks "Testify as witness?" Kirino assures her "Questioned with your position as a nurse protected....would you be willing to testify on the witness stand? Even if it's just to say that you called me...." Kikui replies "That was just because I wanted to ask you something...." Kirino looks at her "Eh?" Kikui asks "Will you please give me your card again?" Kirino nods "What did you want to ask?" At that moment, someone comes running up "One-chan! You forgot your season ticket...." Kikui's younger sister hands the ticket over & then nods a greeting to Kirino which Kirino returns. Back in the office, Kirino ponders over the meeting & then recalls the first time she visited the nurses station. In the tense atmosphere, a young nurse walked in waving a file "Excuse me, where should I take this?" Kirino realizes that the young nurse is Kikui's younger sister & various scenes of their past meetings flash across her mind. Kirino runs her fingers through her hair, pondering at the implications....

Morning comes & there's a big commotion going on at the Masaki house. Yuko says "It's not here!" Shiro yells "No way!" & with shaving cream lathered all over his face, anxiously runs up to Yuko who's digging in a chest of drawers "You must have been mistaken! Yuck, what's with that...." Shiro tells her "Look carefully!" Nao comes down the stairs "What's all the commotion about?" Looking into the living room, he finds Runa all dressed up, trying to decide on a hair ribbon. Yuko yells "Found it! Dad! Found it!" Shiro comes running up & takes the tie out from the wrapper. Nao looks on with a questioning look "Uhm..." but Shiro holds the tie out "How is it? Too flashy?" Yuko bluntly retorts "Old fashioned..." Shiro stammers "It's not...this this necktie...." Nao tells him "Calm down...there's no need for everyone to go..." Shiro says "Don't talk rubbish!" Yuko tells Nao "We want to see Kirino reveal the truth in court!" Nao explains "Today is just the first oral proceedings..." Shiro nervously stammers out "How can we not go for the first one..." Nao tells them "Today's court session isn't a big deal....just me alone will be enough....Kirino-san said..." When the whole family reply "Eh?" Nao backs down "...Kirino-san said...."

Nao peeps into the courtroom & sees Kirino waiting "Kirino-san?" With a smile she looks up to see Nao & then looks surprised to see the rest of the Masaki family walk in. Nao tells her "Everyone came after all...." Everyone greets Kirino with a "Good afternoon..." Awkwardly, Kirino replies "Good afternoon..." Shiro nervously asks "This won't do?" Kirino says "No, it's ok...." but Shiro tells her "No....this...won't it do?" pointing to his necktie. Not understanding, Kirino looks at Shiro "Eh?" Shiro stammers "My wife chose this necktie...I'm always dressed sloppily...but she said there are times & places where one has to dress up properly....bought this at Ginza...both of us strolling along Ginza...." Nao stops him "Dad...." Everyone laughs a little nervously.....

As Runa unwraps her mother's photograph & takes it out, it's taken away by a court official.....

Runa asks Nao "Why?" Nao looks across to Kirino who shakes her head. Nao tells Runa "It's not allowed..." & puts his hand on her head, consoling her. The court session starts....

"The attorney for the plaintiff...will you make your statement?" asks the judge. Kirino stands up & replies "The statement will be made..." "The defense attorney....will you be making the reply statement?" Ikezawa stands up & replies "The statement will be made..." "Attorney for the plaintiff?" "Yes...statement will be made...." "Then let's decide on the next hearing date..." Ikezawa says "Request for the next hearing to be in September...." "How about September 8th?" Kirino replies "That's acceptable..." "That's all then...."

As Nao waits in the corridor, Ikezawa comes by with a colleague laughing "...he was here too..." "That's true..." When Ikeawa sees Nao, he says to his colleague "Excuse me...go on ahead...." "Alright..." As his colleague walks away, Ikezawa takes a seat next to Nao "Generally this is something most people avoid...however, bringing something like that photograph here....the road ahead is long....don't know how many years it's going to take before the judgment will be passed....don't get overenthusiastic & run out of breath half way....." Before Nao can reply, Kirino walks up "So please don't drag this out on purpose..." Ikezawa stands up & retorts "That would depend on your next move....writing some strange theory in the preparation statement....what's with that...." When Kirino doesn't reply, Ikezawa says "I worry that you'll make a fool of yourself in court...." & turns to leave. Kirino tells him "You should be more worried about your own side rather than me......" Ikezawa turns back to look at Kirino as she smiles "There might be someone who gets out of breath half way & start talking....saying 'wow, wow' along the way...." Ikezawa smiles. Kirino tells him "The road ahead is long...." Ikezawa gives a nod & walks off, Kirino & Nao exchange smiles....

On the way home, Kirino tells Nao "For the time being, whatever's written in both statements will be verified...the schedule for the next court proceedings will be as simple as the one today...." Nao says "Deciding on a date...that can be settled on the telephone..." Kirino laughs "That's true..." Nao adds "A little annoying somehow..." Kirino continues "But this is reality....although you said that you don't want to get her involved...but once the taking of evidence starts, it'll be unavoidable...she might have to take the witness stand too...." Nao stops in his tracks. Kirino turns around & looks at him "Of course at that point in time, she'll be on your side...." Nao murmurs "But....." Kirino continues "Not only her....but other parties not concerned with the case might have to get involved too...." as she starts walking on. Nao listens as Kirino adds "Because we don't have concrete evidence, we can only rely on testimonials from other people....from now on people will get involved...get hurt....even so....we have to go on fighting...." With a troubled expression on his face, Nao looks at Kirino....

At the hospital, Minami reads the statement provided "Minami states that a wrong diagnosis choukanmaku kessenshou...." Ikezawa says "Do you understand? Don't leak out any more information again!" Minami replies "All I said was that I suspected it could've been choukanmaku kessenshou....other than that I said nothing more...." Ikezawa retorts "That goes without saying! What on earth were you thinking of!?" Minami gets up from his seat "I've got an important appointment with Sasaki-sensei...." "Sasaki-sensei?" "Yes...he was my senior at university...right now he's teaching at the Chuou Medical University Hospital...." "Ah I see...just in case we lose the court case, you're thinking of depending on him getting you to move to another hospital....do you think the Chuou Medical University Hospital will accept a doctor that has committed an error in medical treatment?" Minami coolly replies "Wow...but I'm not the one at fault....." Ikezawa warns him "Don't take that attitude in court!" Minami turns to leave, muttering "& I wasn't the one who caused her to die...." Hearing that, Ikezawa suddenly says "Wait a minute!" Minami pauses at the doorway as Ikezawa steps up to him "Are you hiding anything from your lawyer?" Minami looks at Ikezawa insolently & without a word, nods & walks out the door, slamming it shut. Immediately Ikezawa picks up the phone & makes a call....

As Kirino is about to walk out the office, the phone rings & she returns to answer it "Nonaka Lawyers....ah, I'm Kirino...." Calling from a public phone, Kikui says "Right now I'm on my way to pay a visit to Masaki Teruko's family..." Kirino responds in surprise "Eh?"

At the same time, Ikezawa is on the phone "...yes, check up on Chuou Medical University Hospital's Professor Sasaki...& also the on the his relationships with Dr Minami & Shoei Sogo Hospital...."

Kikui explains "I can't appear in court to help you....in exchange I'll meet with the family....& tell them whatever I know...." Kirino doesn't reply....

As Kikui starts making her way to the Masaki home, she stares at two little girls walking by....

Kirino makes a phone call & putting on an accent "....I asked a nurse named Kikui...because visiting hours were over...said to pass it to my boyfriend in hospital...a present....when I asked my boyfriend he said he never got it...did that Kikui make a mistake & take it?" On the other end of the line, Kitayama replies "Kikui has resigned from the hospital..." Shocked, Kirino says "Eh?" before recovering her composure "I'm not asking about the older sister, the younger one..." Kitayama replies "Both of them have resigned...she was still a trainee nurse so she wasn't very attentive...." Digesting the news, Kirino finally says "That's disgusting....." Kitayama says "I'll check it up for you...will you get in touch again? I'm the head nurse Kitayama...what was the present?" Kirino hurriedly comes up with an excuse "Necktie....a necktie to use at the appropriate time & place....a necktie bought in Ginza...thank you...." & hangs up abruptly...

The whole family, including Kirino, gather around the table in silence, waiting for Kikui to tell her story. Finally Kikui starts "When the ambulance arrived...." Kikui recalls the time Teruko was brought in to the hospital. As the paramedics lift Teruko out of the ambulance & push the stretcher into the hospital, one of them hand Teruko's sandals to Kikui. As Teruko is rushed in, Kikui asks "Can you say your name?" but all Teruko can do is moan in pain...

Nao asks "Then? What happened then?" Kikui replies "That's all..." Nao looks puzzled "Eh?" Kirino asks "You were the one who handed her over to Minami-sensei?" Kikui says "The one in charge was head nurse Kitayama...." Kirino asks again "But you were the one that was first in charge...." Kikui replies "Yes....no....the one in charge was Kitayama...." Nao asks "Didn't you come here because you wanted to talk to us?" Kirino says "That's not what you want to say...you're either saying what you've been told....or else covering up for someone...." Nao says "Please tell us....." but Kikui merely replies "What I wanted to say...I've just said....everything..." Reaching for a paper bag beside her, she puts it on the table "This..." Kirino notices the Ichigiya logo on the bag. Nao takes it & opening it, looks inside. Slowly, he takes out his mother's pair of sandals. Everyone looks at the sandals & then at Kikui who explains "After changing to hospital clothes, I put all her clothes in the paper bag...I only realized I forgot these later...I had to return them...it's been on my mind all this while...." Kirino asks "Where were they?" Kikui looks her straight in the eyes "At the end, one more time....I searched for them...." As she answers, she recalls looking under the bed & finding Teruko's sandals. Nao says "At the end?" Kirino asks "When did she change into hospital clothing? Where did she change? Where did she sandals disappear?" Kikui remains silent. Runa reaches out & takes the sandals from Nao & mutters "Mom...." To Kikui, Runa says "Thank you....thank you for bringing them back...." starting to cry. Nao says to Kikui "Please answer Kirino's question!" but Kikui continues to remain silent. Nao gets angry & raises his voice "Don't keep quiet! Answer the question!" Shiro tells him "Enough! The rest....in court..." Nao retorts "It's not good..." but Shiro says "We'll leave it to Kirino-san in court.....Kirino-san, the court case...yoroshiku onegaishimasu....." bowing to Kirino. Everyone looks at Runa holding onto her mother's sandals, crying....

Walking together on the way home, Kirino asks Kikui "You & your sister resigning from the hospital together, what are you going to do? Why did you both resign together I wonder..." Kikui replies "It's got nothing to do with my sister..." & starts walking off. Kirino follows "Your sister was a trainee nurse....her job consisted of being asked to deliver things...handing things over to whoever...things like that....calling me was to find out if what your sister did could be charged of any crime..." Kikui stops in her tracks & looks at Kirino who asks "Do you still remember that movie I talked about before? The lead character gets into the car & instructs the chauffeur to 'go'...the chauffeur turns around & asks 'where to now?' That lead character in the movie said this to the chauffeur...10 years ago...he said 'back in time 10 years ago...'..." Kikui listens without a word. Kirino tells her "Whenever you're hesitating undecided...remember these words....." Kikui looks at Kirino...

Nao grumbles "Just when Kirino managed to ask her out...." Shiro reading the papers, replies "That's why I said to leave it to Kirino-san....everyone bullying her, poor thing....she's not an evil person...also pretty...." "What are you saying?! From now on, a lot of people will be dragged into this...can't say that everyone's pitiful...." Yuko walks in "A lot o people?" Nao replies "Like Mari's mother, the guy who first discovered Mom & others...." Shiro says "Not the people from the shopping area....we can't get them in trouble...." Yuko however, says "The fact that we've been alienated by the folks from the shopping area is not only because we're suing the hospital..." Nao asks "What do you mean?" Yuko asks "Do you know about the cleaning up of the Kawahara embankment?" Nao looks puzzles "Huh?" Yuko says to Shiro "Dad, do you know the trash collection days, taking turns with the folks from the shopping area to clean the trash area?" When Shiro doesn't reply, Yuko says "I remember....linking us to the folks from the shopping area was all through Mom...whatever Mom did didn't look like it was anything important....but in actual fact, they were all important things...." Nao thinks about his mother....recalling the day Teruko arrived at the Kendo training camp & apologized to the coach...

At that moment, he recalls himself saying "Aren't you being stupid?" as if admitting to himself that rather than his mother, it was he that was stupid.....

Sitting up, Nao sees Wasuke looking at him. Wasuke glances at the sandals placed on the altar & Nao, takes a look at them before going outside. Sitting down, he fondles Wasuke....

As Kirino delves into a thick book doing research, Ikezawa holds a meeting at the hospital advising the nurses & doctors involved in the trial. With the slide projected up on the screen, Ikezawa explains "For the medical lawsuit, everyone related to the medial field are shielded by the following 3 barriers...the first...."senmonsei no kabe" (barrier of specialization)......regarding medical treatment, all of you naturally know more than the other party....

Nao goes to the Yoshida store & speaks to Mari's mother. In surprise, she says "As a witness?" Nao replies "When the trial starts & you're called to appear...onegaishimasu...." bowing to her. Yoshida smiles "But of course!" Nao smiles "Thank you..." bowing low....

Ikezawa continues "Second..."mishitsu no kabe" (barrier of secrecy)...only those of you in the hospital & in the operation theatre know the real truth...."

In the office, Kirino makes a phone call "This is Kirino from Nonaka Lawyers...thank you for your help the other day...I'd like to ask more about the matter regarding kekkikyou......" speaking to Kawabe.....

Izekawa moves on "Third..."houkensei no kabe" (feudalistic barrier)....in the medical world there's still this feudalistic system in place...just like everyone, there's a strong tendency to cover up...all you have to think of is that everyone related in the medical field are allies...." As he says this, Isetani looks up sharply.....

Ikezawa arrogantly assures everyone "These 3 barriers will protect us....it means that everyone can take the witness stand without fear...."

Tadokoro finally arrives back at his workplace to find Nao waiting for him "...at that time...onegaishimasu...." bowing to him. Tadokoro tells Nao "The company will find out..." but Nao merely bows to Tadokoro "onegaishimasu!"

Returning home, getting a carton of juice out from the fridge & drinking it straight out of the carton, Nao recalls Ami saying "Don't lose to Shoei Sogo Hospital....I want to help Nao....." Thinking about Ami, Nao recalls Kirino telling him "...she might have to take the witness stand too...." "Eh?" "But of course at that point in time, she'll be on your side..." Nao stands alone in the kitchen, thinking....

Walking in a park, Ami sees Nao sitting on a bench waiting for her & walks up to him. Noticing her, Nao gets up "Calling you out....sorry...." Ami shakes her head "It's ok...." but Nao merely repeats "Sorry...."

Nao & Ami walk along a bridge, Nao chattering on "....that...was the most famous world title....4 blows in succession, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang....you don't know?" Ami looks at him "Do you like boxing?" "Not really...." replies Nao, falling silent. As they walk on, Nao confesses "I like you....I like you....that's why it's better if we don't meet....I don't want Kirino-san to ask you to get on the witness stand....I don't want you to regret it later..." Ami stops in anger "Why do you say that?! If it's better not to meet anymore why confess that you like me? So hard to meet & all you say is bang, bang, bang, bang...what's that?!" Nao retorts "Because you kept quiet all the time!" "That's because you were talking about trivial things!" "Didn't I say so? Not to get on the witness stand!" "That's for me to decide! If I'm asked by Kirino-san, I'll think about it & decide for myself! If you think we shouldn't meet than leave me alone!" Nao replies "I see...then good bye...." & starts walking away. Ami frowns "Goodbye..." & Nao nonchalantly replies "Goodbye..." not looking back. Annoyed, Ami yells "Goodbye!" but Nao ignore her, walking on. Thinking, Ami suddenly takes something out of her bag & runs after Nao & throws it at him, hitting him on his back. Nao turns around & Ami says "Goodbye....." running off. Nao looks at her & then bends down to pick up what Ami threw at him. Looking at the little pouch, Nao opens it & takes out the amulet & the accompanying note from Ami. Opening the note, he reads it "This is an amulet for your studies...the university entrance exam...go for it!" & the little postscript "PS. love you, Ami" Looking up, Nao sees Ami in the distance. Seeing him, Ami runs off...

January 2001 & Nao lies asleep in the living room, books spread all over the table. Runa comes in & places a blanket over Nao but Yuko grabs a book & rolling it up, whacks Nao "Get up! The exam's coming soon, get up, get up....Runa come help me...." Nao sleepily gets up....

At the hospital, Minami says "You were checking on something?" Ikezawa replies "Regarding Chuou Medical University Hospital's Professor Sasaki...how he's entangled with this case, I finally understand at long last...." Minami says "Entangled?" "That day....the day that Masaki Teruko died....Professor Sasaki was called by someone & rushed here to Shoei Sogo Hospital for some reason...." Minami doesn't say anything & Ikezawa, taking a sip of his coffee, states "The one who called him...it was you, wasn't it...." Minami turns to look at Ikezawa, without a word, smiles & takes a sip of his coffee.....

As Kitayama walks to her car in the car park, she hears someone say "So did you find that necktie I bought in Ginza?" Looking up, she sees Kirino approach. Kirino says "Looks like that girl made a mistake after all..." Kitayama replies "So you were the one that made that phone call after all..." Kirino continues "I wonder what mistake she made..." Kitayama says "The necktie bought in Ginza...." Kirino coolly says "More like the X-rays..." Momentarily stunned, Kitayama finally says "What are you saying..." Kirino tells her "The X-rays of Masaki Teruko were wrongly handed over to Dr Minami by that trainee nurse...Dr Minami neglected to verify the X-rays & overlooked the fact that the medical problem was really in the chest...." Kitayama remains silent & Kirino continues "That trainee nurse is Kikui's younger sister....in order to cover up for her own sister's error, she's remained silent....& who are you covering up for?" Both women stare at each other......

With the amulet Ami gave him placed on the table among his books, Nao sits at the living room table, warmly tucked under the kotatsu (Japanese quilt) & recalls Kirino telling him "Leave it to me... "

でも、
これは、本当は、
他の誰にもない．．．
僕の戦いで．．．

真っ先に戦い、
傷つかなければならないのは、

僕だったのだ．．．