Fragments Of Past - Forgotten Promises

chapter 2 - present part 2

When I came to, I found myself in a hospital bed, the rhythmic beeping of machines a distant soundtrack to my thoughts. Ayame's voice broke through the haze, full of relief.

"Yuki-kun! You're awake!" she exclaimed, leaning over me with concern etched on her face.

"The boy..." I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper. "Is he okay?"

"Thanks to you, he's fine," Ayame replied, her eyes glimmering with gratitude. "You really scared me back there."

A wave of relief washed over me. "I didn't know what else to do. I thought—"

"You saved him," Ayame interrupted softly. "That's what matters."

As Ayame stepped out to fetch the doctor, my mother, Kazumi, walked in, her expression a mix of worry and exasperation.

"So," she began, sarcasm lacing her voice, "decided to play hero again, did you?"

I averted my gaze, unable to meet her eyes. "I didn't have a choice."

Kazumi sat beside me, her tone shifting to one of concern. "One of these days, Yuki, you're going to get yourself killed. And then what? What will I do without you?"

"I don't know, Mom," I replied quietly. "I'm just trying to make things right."

Her gaze softened, worry still lingering. "Just be careful, okay? I can't lose you too."

I stayed silent, her words weighing heavily on me. I had never revealed my secret—the ability to travel back in time, to rewrite moments of my life. It was a burden I carried alone, always lurking in the shadows of my mind.

Kazumi, ever perceptive, sensed my hesitation but chose not to press. Instead, she changed the subject.

"Have you eaten anything today?" she asked gently.

"No," I admitted, the chaos of the day consuming my thoughts.

"Let's get you something to eat," she said, standing up. "You need to take care of yourself."

As she left, I was left alone in the quiet room, the distant hum of machinery accompanying my racing thoughts. The pills I had pocketed were lost in the chaos of the day. The events replayed in my mind—a stark reminder of how thin the line was between life and death.

I stared at the ceiling, my mother's words echoing in my head: "You're going to get yourself killed." She wasn't wrong. Each time I tapped into that power, it felt like I was flirting with disaster, walking a tightrope that could snap at any moment. But what choice did I have? Once you discover you can change things, walking away isn't an option.

Kazumi sighed, breaking the silence. "You're so much like your father, you know? Always diving headfirst into danger without thinking it through." Her voice softened, and I could hear a crack in her usually strong demeanor. "He wouldn't have wanted this for you."

At the mention of my father, a familiar ache settled in my chest. His death loomed over us both, an unresolved mystery that haunted our lives. I yearned to tell her that maybe this power could help me uncover the truth of what happened to him. But I couldn't— not yet, not until I was sure I could control it.

"I'll be fine, Mom," I assured her, keeping my voice steady. "Just... give me time."

Her expression softened momentarily, but she stood abruptly, brushing off her jeans as if shaking off her worries. "Just be careful, Yuki. That's all I'm asking."

I nodded, unable to find the words. She shot me one last glance before walking out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Lying back, I listened to the steady beeping of the heart monitor, grounding me in the present. Yet my mind drifted back to that boy on the bike. I had saved him this time, but what about next time? What if I couldn't save someone else?