Yui's mother came into the room with a large bowl of warm, steamy, tantalizing rice. There was a bowl of miso soup, a grilled fish and tamagoyaki as well. She sat down next to Yui and touched her face lightly to wake her.
Yui woke slowly. Her crimson eyes crinkled at the edges as she smiled at her mother. "Good Morning!" she greeted her.
"Good Morning, honey. How are you feeling?"
"Fine! Breakfast looks great!"
Her mother smiled. She scooped a little rice and began to feed Yui. She gladly accepted the food and relished each morsel with great appreciation. Soon her mother spooned the last of the miso into Yui's mouth. "Thanks Okasan!"
Her mother nodded and picked the tray up from her bedside. She took the remote and turned on the TV. "Is this channel okay, Yui-chan?"
"Of course!" She smiled brightly at her mother.
Her mother smiled at her reaction. She left to do some chores and go to work.
Yui still sat with the smile on her face. Her pink eyes filled with a large burdening sadness. A few tears managed to escape her eyes. She quickly sniffed and left the tear to run down her face and land in her lap.
She hated burdening her mother. All she could do was apologize all the time. She could supply her with happiness, but how far can that take anyone? How long will she have to live like this? Surely not forever. God couldn't be that cruel.
The ball was hurtling at him at an alarming rate. He stood fearless against it. He strengthened his stance. He built up a swing and finally unleashed it onto the ball.
"Home Run!" The coach shouted much to Hinata and his team's delight. They crowded around him. They pat him on the back. The coach waddled up to him and smiled, "Just like that for the games, and we're a shoe-in to win!"
"Thanks Kōchi!" Hinata smiled at his coach and started to pack up his things.
But Hinata was far from done. He was headed over to one of his favorite empty sandlots to play baseball.
He asked a few friends to come throw the ball to help him practice.
"This is so stupid..." Shiina sighed as she crosses her arms and leaned against the fence of the old sandlot.
"Here," Kanade held out a small toy cat. "If you wind it on the bottom, it rolls. You can play with it."
"That's stupid." Shiina blushed taking the small toy.
Matsushita stood in the outfields prepared to catch anything that would come his way. Noda stood on the base line. Otonashi smiled at Kanade then looked at Hinata. "You ready?"
"Sure," Hinata set up his stance. Otonashi threw the pitch. Hinata slowly eased his weight into the swing. The crack told him that it was out of there. Way out of there. Maybe Hinata put too much into the pitch.
"Wow. Way to go Hinata!" Otonashi cheered. A few of the others clapped and gave a few woots while Hinata's face grew more and more wary. He slowly dropped his bat and headed off in the direction of the ball. "Where are you-?"
Otonashi's thoughts were cut off by the sound of shattering glass.
"Shit!" Hinata shouted as he raced toward the sound of the crash.
A look fell over Otonashi, Kanade saw this and began to walk toward him,"What's wrong? Aren't you going with him?"
Otonashi shook his head, "Today might be the day he remembers," Otonashi turned and started to pack up the equipment.
