Ultra Symphony
Chapter 22: Does the Idol weep?
***
Mikono was a little surprised at how poorly her legs were functioning as she made her way down the hospital corridor. She kept her head down the whole time, her hair falling into her face. Striving for anonymity in a hospital where everyone knew her story wasn't the most sound of ideas, but at this point, she was feeling awful enough that it no longer really mattered how clearly she was thinking.
She self-consciously tugged at the hem of her hospital coat, turning her face away from the pair of nurses who were walking past, talking ominously amongst themselves. A couple of weeks ago, she thought, those same nurses could have been fans, writing letters, seeing her on the street and singing song lyrics together, and now if they knew her at all it was likely that they either felt pity or contempt for her.
She looked out the window of the small skyline she'd entered, surveying the small garden next to the hospital. Happy children skipped, carrying balloons and stuffed animals.
They didn't have a clue... the pain inside Mikono, the awful things that were going on... the city could very well be in grave danger... possibly because of her own selfish fear..
She was so tired..
Continuing on her way, she saw a group of abandoned chairs up ahead. A TV had been left on, giving the area a strangely ominous feeling, one of anticipation, as if the tv was waiting for its viewers to return.
But, that could have been the sedatives talking.
Mikono plopped down on a red couch, panting. A few days of inactivity had really done a job on her. It was the doctor's idea to send her on a walk, and since no nurses had been available at the time, she had just gone by herself.
How easy would it be...she thought, to just disappear and never be seen again?
The show on TV was some childrens anime, with an adorable girl in a skimpy, pink leotard, high boots with ice skates and a magic wand fighting evil.
Mikono's bloodshot red eyes closed, and she felt a breeze pass her.
Suddenly, the high-pitched wail of the superheroine was replaced by gunshots. Her eyes opened, and the image on the tv changed to that of a cop drama.
"Darn it, which channel is news?" a voice asked. Mikono looked over and saw an older woman of about 40, fidgeting with the tv's remote control.
"Try channel 6.." Mikono said, not even aware she had said it until the words were out. The woman seemed to see her for the first time and smiled. "Thank you. I thought I heard an explosion outside, and I want to see if there's any coverage yet."
Mikono nodded, staring blankly at the screen.
"Oh darn it.. I'm so bad with these things.. can you try it, dear?" she asked, handing Mikono the remote.
Mikono had barely touched it, and the channel immediately switched to a screaming woman being dragged out of a burning building.
"Oh, goodness, is that all I had to do?" The woman asked, sighing.
The two watched the images on the screen for awhile. Children, women and men alike crying with pain and mental anguish, protesters screaming and waving signs, all taking place in different places around town.
"Goodness.. all that rioting.. three buildings have been destroyed so far. It's horrible. And all over that.. singer."
Mikono's eyes widened, filling with tears. Over me?!
"It's as if the city has gone completely insane.." She sighed and went over and turned the tv off. "That's enough of that.."
Mikono nodded, hands in her lap. The woman looked at her curiously. "A pretty young girl like you should be out flirting with boys, not stuck in this stuffy hospital.. what are you in for?"
Mikono smiled, despite herself. She sounded like a prison inmate.
"Well.. I.." She wasn't sure what to say. It seemed that this woman didn't know who she was.. and she felt inclined to keep it that way.
"I just.. need an operation." She said.
The woman nodded sympathetically. "So I guess you weren't at that concert."
"Which concert?" Mikono asked.
"Which concert!" The woman said, laughing bitterly. "Which other concert?"
"Oh.. no, I wasn't.." Mikono said, biting her lip. "But I heard it was..."
The woman cut her off. "My goodness.. now that I get a good look at you, you look a lot like her. Has anyone ever told you that? That you look like Mikono Hayagane?"
Mikono rubbed her cheek. "I've.. heard it.."
The woman nodded. "It's amazing.."
They sat in silence for a minute, and then she spoke again.
"My niece was."
"Was what?" Mikono asked.
"At that concert."
Mikono's blood chilled, and she looked away.
"She was thirteen. Idolized Hayagane like she was a goddess. She had posters up all over her room. That's how I know you look like her."
Mikono nodded, eyes wide.
"She told her mother she'd do anything, anything to go to that concert. Her birthday was coming up, so we both chipped in half for the ticket, and she came to stay with me. I live closer to Toeatoro Stadium." Her voice was tired.
There was silence, and Mikono silently dreaded what she was about to say. When she looked up, however, the woman's body was racked with silent sobs. She attempted to control herself, and when she spoke, her voice was choked with tears.
"She left.. and she was so happy... she was taking the bus for the first time. But I had this feeling.. and I told her to be careful.. and not to sit by any strangers.."
Mikono clenched a fistful of her robe, and felt her nails digging into her palm.
"When they found her.. FOUND her.. she was underneath a seat.. she'd been trampled by people trying to.. to escape.. and I got the call.." She inhaled sharply, and her lungs rattled.
Mikono stared at her in horror. But then, as soon as she had begun to sob, she stopped.
"But it's okay now.. it's okay. She's not in pain anymore. She's okay now."
The dread in Mikono's body eased up, and she felt slight relief.
"Thank.. thank god.." she whispered.
The woman looked at her with irony. "Why yes.. thank God. That's exactly right."
Mikono looked up slowly.
"She's with him now." The woman said, tragedy dripping from every word.
Mikono shook her head. "N-no..." She whispered.
"The people.. out there. They're weeping, rioting for someone.. for HER. The idol. But she isn't the only one.. And I wonder if they even know that there were people.. CHILDREN who died because of our selfishness.."
Mikono slid away from her, her eyes wide, brimming with tears.
"I just have to wonder... does the idol weep for her fallen worshippers?" the woman asked.
Mikono got up, backing away.
"I'm sorry dear, I never learned your name."
Mikono took off running, leaving the woman to her own sorrow.
***
