Chapter 1

The peaceful windy night makes it easier for people to sleep soundly. This given creation is incomparable to the creations that we humans have created. And that is why we have to learn to appreciate what nature has given us.

Atsuko Shirogane is the name of the doctoral graduate. People often call him Shiro as he preferred the name much more than his full name. Shiro has recently gotten a job offer that is quite far away from the city. Hence, he moved outside of the city to live close to his workplace.

Tet tet tet tet

The sounds of an alarm clock ringed through the bedroom of the doctoral graduate. Shiro woke up with light shining on his face. The rays of sunlight have covered almost the entirety of his bedroom. Shiro looked around as he slowly adjusted to the light and looked at his alarm clock. He slowly realised that….

“No! I’m late for work” Shiro rushed out of his bed and rushed to the bathroom, almost toppling things along his way. He quickly got ready inside the bathroom trying to look as he didn’t just get out of bed 5 minutes ago. Shiro spent a long amount of time on his hair to appear as a neat and clean person to others. I’m so dead was repeating constantly in his head as he went out of his front door and ran to the bus station. Luckily, Shiro made it just in time for the arrival of the bus. He stood with an anxious face and that seems to be the reason why the passengers are giving him weird glances.

When he arrived at the hospital, a doctor that worked there came up to him. “Are u Atsuko Shirogane?” said the doctor with a hint of excitement in her voice. Shiro was visibly sweating with thousands of thoughts in his head. She’s probably going to scold me for being late. Shiro's heart was racing out of his body and if he could’ve chosen an option between feeling like this or having to eat a bag of insects, he would’ve chosen the latter one. Shiro nodded his head, gulping a lump in his throat. “I have been waiting to meet you!” said the doctor with a beaming smile across her face. Shiro stood there trying to register what he had heard from the doctor.

“Welcome to our hospital, I’d be delighted to show you around, if you would like to?” urged the doctor politely. Shiro felt relieved that she didn’t bring up the fact that he was late and instead has been really nice to him. “The name given is Eri Shouko , you can just call me Shouko.” began the doctor. “I hope we can be more friendly in the future!” continued the doctor while flashing a wide smile at him. God, she is so pretty, thought Shiro with glistening eyes. Shiro snapped out of his thoughts when the sound of an ambulance could be heard outside the hospital.

A lot of nurses and doctors rushed to the ambulance to bring the patients to the emergency ward. The patients that were brought in had to use the help of a mechanical ventilator to help bring oxygen into their lungs. Most of the patients have gun wounds especially on their thigh and shoulder.

“We need a doctor here!” shouted one of the nurses to get help on the patient that was brought by him. Shiro’s surroundings have become busier with nurses running here and there to get equipments for the patients. There were doctors that had just finished their shift, and were told to change back into their scrubs to provide more help in the emergency ward. Shiro wanted to help even though he is still a resident in the hospital. He had been preparing for this moment ever since he made up his mind that he was going to be a doctor someday.

“Bring her to the treatment room right now!” said Shiro with a firm voice. Shouko was flabbergasted with the way Shiro was being strict and serious. Shiro knew when to assert strictness in a situation and he knew how to handle a situation without a doubt in his mind. Shouko had no more doubt in her mind that Shiro could handle this because he went into one of the most prestigious med schools and had passed all of his exams. The surgery led by Shiro and helped by Shouko was a success as he did the work very precisely and steadily for a guy who had just worked at the hospital.

After a day full of work, the consequences had to be paid with Shiro’s body. His body was sore and all he wanted to do was go to sleep. Therefore, he made the choice to rest for a while in the designated room for doctors and nurses. Shiro let his body rest on the chair beside the door and closed his eyes. Not even a few seconds after that, a knock was heard and after that was Shouko’s voice, “Can i come in?” Shiro’s eyes blinked for a while and opened the door for Shouko.

“You were amazing today!” said Shouko, referring to the fact he was quick to take over a situation without thinking twice. Shouko leaned on the wall beside him and crossed her arms. “There were tons of doctors praising you for helping out,” Nurul said with pride in her voice. Shiro’s ears turned pink hearing that and he smiled awkwardly while rubbing the back of his neck. Suddenly, Shiro felt as if there were burning eyes staring right through his soul. He felt uncomfortable and his guts told him that someone was staring at him from the window on the door.

Shiro saw a woman at the window from the corner of his eyes. Is she staring at me? Shiro thought blurring out whatever that was spoken to him by Shouko. Shiro turned his head towards the window to have confirmation that the woman was indeed staring at him. All he actually saw clearly was a woman with hair white as snow turning her head to get away.

Shiro stood up from his seat abruptly, making Shouko stand up straight while uncrossing her arms and staring at Shiro with confusion sprawled on her face. Shouko turned her attention to the door since that seemed to be what Shiro was focussing on. “Atsuko are u alright? What are you looking for?” Syakir shaked out of his stance ang began to turn his body towards Shouko. “Oh it’s nothing. I thought I saw someone” Shouko stared at him and then to the door and then back at him. Shiro could read from her eyes that she was thinking of something and he had a feeling it wasn’t good. “There’s no way you saw..” Those words spoken by Shouko made Shiro feel worried. “Saw what?”